Author: News Desk

Seoul: South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has issued a public apology following his controversial declaration of martial law, which was quickly rescinded after overturned by the National Assembly. The apology came amidst growing political unrest and speculation about his potential impeachment. In a brief television address, President Yoon expressed deep regret stating that, “I am very sorry and would like to sincerely apologise to the people who were shocked.” Yoon confirmed that no further martial law declarations would be made and reassured the public that the situation would be handled by his ruling People Power Party (PPP). The martial…

Seoul: The World Bank has successfully raised nearly $24 billion in a new funding round to support its concessional lending arm, the International Development Association (IDA). The funds, which include loans and grants, will help the World Bank leverage up to $100 billion in total spending power, marking a significant increase in its ability to assist the world’s poorest nations. Donor countries committed a total of $23.7 billion, a slight increase from the previous round three years ago, where $23.5 billion was raised. These funds will be used by the World Bank to borrow from financial markets, allowing the institution…

French Guiana: Europe’s Arianespace has launched the Vega-C rocket, marking a triumphant return for the upgraded Italian launcher, which had failed during its debut commercial mission two years ago. The rocket successfully carried the Sentinel-1C satellite into orbit for the European Union’s Copernicus Earth observation programme. At 6:20 p.m. (2120 GMT) on Thursday, Vega-C blasted off from its launch pad at the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana, soaring into leaden skies. “Parameters on board are normal,” said Jean-Frederic Alasa, the range operations manager, confirming a smooth launch. Prior to reaching orbit, the satellite was placed into “barbecue mode” to…

Melbourne, Australia: Worshippers at Melbourne’s Adass Israel synagogue was forced to flee after it was set on fire in what Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has condemned as an “act of hate.” The fire, which occurred early on 6th of December morning, left the synagogue severely damaged, with one person injured. Firefighters arrived just after 4:00 AM local time and found the building engulfed in flames. Several people were inside for morning prayers and reported seeing firebombs thrown at the synagogue. Witnesses described hearing banging on the door and window, followed by flames rapidly spreading inside. One individual was injured while…

Paris: French President Emmanuel Macron announced that he will appoint a new Prime Minister “in the coming days” after Michel Barnier resigned following a no-confidence vote in parliament. The vote, which saw 331 MPs support the motion against Barnier, marked the first time in more than 60 years that a French government had been voted out of office. Barnier had only been in office for three months after his appointment by Macron, and his resignation was triggered by the New Popular Front (NFP) and Marine Le Pen’s National Rally (RN) uniting to challenge his leadership. In a 10-minute address to…

Washington DC: A major cyber-espionage campaign attributed to the Chinese hackers group “Salt Typhoon” has stolen metadata from telecom companies worldwide, including at least eight US providers. The campaign, which targeted senior US government officials and political figures, has raised concerns about the scale and scope of the breach. US officials confirmed that while no classified communications were compromised, the stolen metadata—such as call records—could expose sensitive details about individuals’ personal lives, relationships, and work. Deputy National Security Adviser Anne Neuberger revealed that the hackers infiltrated telecom infrastructure in multiple countries, gaining access to large volumes of communications data. The…

Sinaloa, Mexico City: Mexico has announced its largest-ever Fentanyl seizure, intercepting more than a tonne of pills in the coastal state of Sinaloa. The operation, which involved two separate actions, led to the arrest of two men and the confiscation of firearms. In a statement, Omar Garcia Harfuch, Mexico’s Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, said that, “In Sinaloa, the largest historical seizure of fentanyl was achieved,” and explained that “more than a tonne of fentanyl pills” were intercepted. This record seizure is part of Mexico’s ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking, with rising pressure from the United States to…

Washington: In a groundbreaking study, scientists have uncovered the first direct evidence of the diet of ancient humans who roamed North America during the last Ice Age. The research reveals that mammoths were a primary food source for these early settlers, with a focus on megafauna, including mammoths, elk, and bison, making up nearly all of their diet. The breakthrough came through the analysis of chemical clues in the bones of an 18-month-old boy, found in southern Montana. The child, known as the Anzick Boy, was still nursing at the time of death, and the chemical signatures in his bones…

United Kingdom: A groundbreaking weight-loss injection, Mounjaro, will soon be available on the NHS in England, but a full rollout could take up to 12 years, according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Mounjaro (tirzepatide), a weekly injection developed by Eli Lilly, is designed to curb appetite by making users feel fuller, leading to significant weight loss. Trials show patients can lose up to 20 percent of their body weight. Who will be Eligible? Starting in March, Mounjaro will be offered to patients with: A BMI over 35 At least one obesity-related condition, such as diabetes,…

Windhoek: Dr Netumbo Ndemupelila Nandi-Ndaitwah, a prominent figure from the South West Africa People’s Organisation (Swapo), has been elected the first female president of Namibia following last week’s contentious election. According to the Electoral Commission, Nandi-Ndaitwah secured over 57 percent of the vote, with her closest challenger, Panduleni Itula of the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), garnering 26 percent. However, the election process has been marred by accusations of electoral malpractice. Logistical issues and a three-day extension to polling in some areas led Itula to claim that his party would not recognise the results. Itula called for an investigation into…