Author: Desk Reporter

Beirut: As the war in Gaza enters its eighth month, reports suggest that Hezbollah is planning an unexpected attack on Israel. Hezbollah’s Secretary-General, Hassan Nasrallah, backed by Iran, warned Israel to brace for some “surprises” in a televised address. His threat came during a message released on the occasion of the 24th anniversary of Lebanon’s Liberation Day. Nasrallah pointed out that Israel has not achieved any of its goals in the war against Hamas, noting that even the head of their National Security Council has acknowledged this. “The recognition of Palestine by three European countries is a significant loss for…

Tokyo: Japan is prepared to take decisive action to counter excessive yen drops, Masato Kanda, the country’s top currency diplomat, announced. This statement underscores Japan’s vigilance and readiness to intervene in the currency market to stabilize the yen if necessary. Kanda emphasized that while a flexible exchange-rate regime typically negates the need for intervention, the government would act if currency volatility adversely impacts the economy. “We are ready to act any time as needed against currency moves,” Kanda said after attending the first session of the Group of Seven (G7) finance leaders’ meeting in Stresa, Italy. This announcement came a…

Gaza City – A spokesman for Hamas’ armed wing announced on Sunday that their fighters had captured Israeli soldiers during clashes in Jabalia, northern Gaza, on Saturday. However, the Israeli military quickly refuted this claim. “Our fighters lured a Zionist force into an ambush inside a tunnel… The fighters withdrew after they left all members of the force dead, wounded, and captured,” said Abu Ubaida, the spokesman for Hamas’ Al Qassam Brigades, in a recorded message broadcasted by Al Jazeera. In response, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) denied the allegations. “The IDF clarifies that there is no incident in which…

Elon Musk is gearing up to challenge tech giants Google and Microsoft with a new ambitious project: building a supercomputer dubbed the ‘Gigafactory of compute.’ Musk, owner and CEO of the artificial intelligence startup xAI, revealed his plans to investors, aiming to have the supercomputer operational by fall 2025, according to a report. Musk’s xAI, known for developing the Grok AI chatbot, will require 100,000 specialized semiconductors to train and run the next version of its conversational AI, Grok, as reported by The Information. Musk has expressed his intention to combine these chips into a massive computing system. “To make…

Tehran: The Iranian news agency has called for prayers for President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, warning that their lives are in danger following a helicopter crash. The incident occurred in Jolfa, near the border with Azerbaijan, 600 kilometers from Tehran on Sunday, as the President was returning from a visit. One of the three helicopters in the presidential convoy crashed, with President Raisi, Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian, the governor of East Azerbaijan Province, and other officials on board. Adverse weather conditions are complicating rescue operations. Despite hope, reports from the crash site are troubling, according to various international…

Columbus, Ohio: An early morning shooting in Ohio’s capital has left three people dead and three others wounded, authorities reported. The incident occurred shortly before 3:00 AM EDT on Saturday in the Italian Village neighborhood north of downtown Columbus, according to Columbus police, who were quoted by the Associated Press (AP). The gunfire, possibly from semi-automatic or automatic weapons, led to a chaotic scene with cars speeding away. Deputy Chief Gregory Bodker stated that officers arrived within two minutes to find six people shot. Two men were pronounced dead at the scene, while a third man died later at a…

Paris: A new report by the University of Limoges’ Centre for Law and Economics of Sport (CDES) predicts a significant economic boost for the Paris region from the 2024 Olympic Games. The report, commissioned by the Paris 2024 Organizing Committee, estimates a net economic gain between €6.7 billion and €11.1 billion for the Île de France region from 2018 to 2034. The economic impact is expected to be driven by construction work, increased tourism, and event organization. The Paris Tourism Office forecasts up to three million tourists during the Games, spending an estimated €2.6 billion. This study builds on a…

Bernard Hill, celebrated for his roles in iconic films such as ‘Titanic’ and ‘The Lord of the Rings’, has died at the age of 79. His death was confirmed by his agent Lou Coulson, who stated that Hill passed away early Sunday morning. Hill’s career spanned several decades, with standout roles that made a significant mark in both film and television. He is perhaps best known for his portrayal of Captain Edward Smith in James Cameron’s ‘Titanic’, and as King Théoden in Peter Jackson’s ‘The Lord of the Rings’ trilogy. His performance in ‘Boys from the Blackstuff’, a BBC drama…

Seoul: South Korea’s healthcare system is in turmoil as over 6,000 junior doctors staged a walkout in protest of the government’s plan to increase medical school placements. This action follows the government ordering more than 1,000 doctors back to work after initial resignations sparked fears of a nationwide healthcare crisis. Causes of the Conflict Doctor Shortage: The government argues that South Korea, with one of the lowest doctor-to-patient ratios in developed countries, needs more doctors to address the ageing population and growing healthcare demands. Doctor Opposition: Doctors fear increased competition due to more graduates, potentially impacting their income and career…

London: The UK High Court will hear WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s last appeal against extradition to the US, where he is charged with publishing classified documents. The hearing, crucial to Assange’s years-long legal battle, could lead to his extradition if unsuccessful. Assange, detained in London since 2019, could appeal to the European Court of Human Rights next. The US accuses Assange of espionage-related to WikiLeaks’ 2010 release of sensitive files. The case has sparked global debate over press freedom, with significant support for Assange, including from Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. If extradited and convicted, Assange faces a possible 175-year…