Author: Fathima T K
Fathima T K
Fathima T. K. holds a BA in English Literature and Communication Studies and a B.Ed from Mahatma Gandhi University. With nearly two years of professional teaching experience, she is now pursuing a career in journalism as a trainee desk reporter at Britain Herald and Emirati Times, both operated by WellMade Network.
Rome: The United Nations has warned that the window to restore the world’s forests is narrowing as rising environmental pressures threaten ecosystems, food security and livelihoods. More than 489 million hectares (1.2 billion acres) of forest was cleared since 1990. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) called on governments to make forest and landscape restoration a national priority. The latest State of the World’s Forests report recognises progress in forest protection and tree planting. However, FAO noted that the efforts have not kept pace with existing commitments. FAO added that restoration efforts remain uneven and are insufficient to…
Bangkok: Thailand’s floods have disrupted Thai Airways services and baggage operations as Bangkok works to clear floodwater following days of heavy rain. The country’s flag carrier has struggled to restore regular flights after heavy rainfall caused flooding across Bangkok and other parts of Thailand. The government expects water levels in the capital to recede within 3 days if no further rain falls. Bangkok received about 320 mm (12.6 inches) of rain over 2 to 3 days. The amount was close to the rainfall the low-lying capital normally receives throughout the entire month of September. The flooding has affected transport and…
India: The food safety crackdown in India has intensified as regulators step up inspections of eateries and branded food businesses while plans for warning labels put pressure on the packaged food industry. The country is a major growth market for global consumer companies including PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, Mondelez and Nestle. Thousands of smaller domestic businesses also sell traditional savouries and sweets. At the same time, concerns over food hygiene and adulteration remain widespread. India’s food safety challenge is particularly large because of its population and the scale of food consumption. Food inspectors have tested more than 100,000 samples each year since…
Taiwan: The Taiwan President Lai Ching-te has called for deeper drone cooperation with democratic partners as Taiwan expands unmanned systems development and defence capabilities. Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for a new drone development centre in Chiayi, Lai stated that unmanned systems have become an important part of modern defence. Lai pointed to developments from the Ukrainian battlefield to wider Indo-Pacific security and the new centre gains greater importance. Taiwan’s government made defence modernisation and higher spending a core policy as military pressure from China has increased. Beijing views Taiwan as part of Chinese territory, while Lai and the government…
New Delhi: India has ordered 112 captive coal-fired power plants to operate at maximum capacity from October 1 through December 31 as electricity demand is expected to rise in the coming months. The Ministry of Power issued the order under emergency provisions of the Electricity Act. The directive covers captive plants with installed capacity of at least 50 megawatts. Generators must sell surplus electricity through power exchanges after meeting their own requirements. The plants mainly supply industrial facilities including aluminium smelters, steel manufacturers, cement factories and oil refineries. Companies covered by the order include Vedanta, Tata Steel, Hindalco Industries, JSW…
Washington: TikTok and parent company ByteDance will pay Alabama at least $100 million (£75.45 million) under a settlement that introduces new limits on children’s use of the platform in the state. The settlement was reached shortly before a jury trial was due to begin on September 28. The case centred on allegations that TikTok was designed to keep children using the platform for long periods and that the company had misled consumers about its safety measures. The agreement marks TikTok’s first settlement with a US state. Under the deal, children in Alabama will face a 2-hour daily usage limit. The…
Athens: The explosion has caused a 2-storey residential building to collapse in the busy Plaka district, injuring 3 people and damaging nearby homes, shops and vehicles. The blast occurred in the historic centre of Athens near major attractions including the Acropolis and the Temple of Zeus. The force of the explosion sent rocks and broken glass as far as three blocks from the building. Fire crews and ambulances rushed to the scene as smoke rose above the historic monuments. The damaged structure was reduced to twisted metal, broken balconies and hanging concrete slabs. Debris was scattered across nearby streets and…
Riyadh: Saudi Arabia has intercepted 6 ballistic missiles fired by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis as concerns over possible supply disruptions pushed oil prices to high. The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen stated that the missiles were directed towards Taif in western Saudi Arabia and the Yanbu area on the Red Sea. The Houthis noted that the attacks targeted a sensitive site in Riyadh and Saudi Aramco facilities in Yanbu. Oil prices rose by about 3 percent as the attacks increased concerns over Saudi Arabia’s ability to maintain oil exports through the Red Sea. Prices later moved below session highs after reports that…
London: US packaged food makers could help delay around 150,000 diet-related deaths each year by shifting sales towards healthier products already available in the market, according to a study published on September 24, 2026. The research was conducted by the Netherlands-based Access to Nutrition Initiative and NGO ShareAction. The organisations analysed nearly 10,000 packaged food and beverage products sold by 24 major manufacturers operating in the United States. The 24 companies included in the research account for an estimated 37 percent of the US packaged food and beverage market by sales value. The study examined the potential health impact of…
Berlin: Europe’s car market grew in August as rising demand for electrified vehicles offset a sharp decline in petrol and diesel registrations, according to data from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA). New car registrations in the European Union rose 5.3 percent to 832,637 vehicles during the month. Battery-electric vehicle registrations climbed 52.2 percent. Plug-in hybrid registrations increased 13.5 percent, while hybrid registrations rose 3.4 percent. Together, the 3 electrified vehicle categories accounted for more than 73 percent of all new vehicle registrations. ACEA noted that demand received support from market measures and a wider choice of models available to…