Author: News Desk

Africa: A new report has found that plastic waste is “spiralling out of control” across the African continent. According to the charity Tearfund, at current levels, enough plastic waste to cover a football pitch is openly dumped or burned in sub-Saharan Africa every minute. The Tearfund report is based on statistics from a database of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and is published in Global Policies Outlook. If the situation continues, the region will end up with 116 metric tonnes of plastic waste annually by 2060, six times more than the 18 metric tonnes of waste produced in…

Kenya: The United Nations (UN) warned that countries planning to expand the fossil fuel industry would push the world far beyond the Paris deal’s 1.5 ºC global warming limit. Most of the world’s fossil fuel producers have committed to achieving “net-zero” emissions by 2050. It aligns with the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to well below two degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels and ideally keeping it at a safer 1.5 degrees Celsius. The report comes ahead of the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which is scheduled to…

United States: Netflix has revealed that it will reopen the iconic Egyptian Theatre to mark its 101st anniversary of opening. The theatre will reopen with a screening of The Killer, followed by a question and answer section with its director David Fincher. The streaming giant is also planning to use the location as a venue for premieres and events. Netflix said that “the one-of-a-kind venue is now ready to return as a must-visit landmark for local film lovers and visitors from around the world.” The reopening on November 9, 2023, is the result of a three-year partnership with Netflix and…

United States: Two new studies have found that older adults who do not smoke tobacco but use marijuana are at higher risk of both heart attack and stroke when hospitalized. The studies presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions in Philadelphia noted that people who use marijuana daily are 34 percent more likely to develop heart failure. “Observational data are strongly pointing to the fact that cannabis use at any point in time, be it recreational or medicinal, may lead to the development of cardiovascular disease,” Dr. Robert Page II, chair of the volunteer writing group for the 2020…

United States: The White House has announced that US President Mr. Joe Biden does not support an Israeli military occupation of the Gaza Strip after the end of the Israel-Hamas war. “Mr. Biden believes a reoccupation by Israeli forces of Gaza is not the right thing to do,” the White House national security spokesperson Mr. John Kirby told reporters. The statement came a day after Israeli Prime Minister Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu commented that his country would take control of security in Gaza after the war. Mr. Kirby noted that “there needs to be a healthy set of conversations about what…

France: A new global survey has found that more than 85 percent of people are concerned about the impact of online disinformation. The survey, conducted in 16 countries, further noted that 87 percent believe that the spread of misinformation has already affected their country’s politics. According to Mr. Audrey Azoulay, Director General of the UN’s Culture Body, UNESCO, false information and hate speech spread online pose “major risks to social cohesion, peace, and stability.” “Regulation was urgently needed to protect access to information while at the same time protecting freedom of expression and human rights”, Ms. Azoulay commented while presenting…

United States: Shared office firm WeWork has filed for bankruptcy in the US. It comes as the company’s share value dropped by 98.5 percent this year because of the costly leases and cancellations of contracts as more employees worked from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. The firm, which was once valued at $47 billion, said it will “remain open and operational and the Company will continue to provide its signature member experience.” According to the data, the firm is now worth less than $50 million. WeWork, headquartered in New York, will face consequences following the bankruptcy. “WeWork’s locations outside of…

London, UK: The UK Prime Minister, Mr. Rishi Sunak’s first king’s speech reportedly will encompass criminal justice measures and a smoking ban. King Charles will deliver the speech, the first in more than 70 years, at the State Opening of Parliament ceremony, which marks the start of the parliamentary year. The King’s Speech, which would be devised by the PM, allows the government to outline its priorities for the months ahead. As crime and punishment will be the key focus of the speech, the UK PM will confirm the bill introducing specific provisions that affect murderers who have committed particularly horrible…

Mali: The United Nations has stated that some 22 UN peacekeepers have been injured in northern Mali after their convoy was hit by two improved explosive devices (IEDs). According to UN spokesman Mr. Stephane Dujarric, there have now been six incidents since the peacekeepers left their base in northern Kidal on October 31 to make the estimated 350-kilometre journey to Gao, injuring a total of at least 39 peacekeepers. “On Saturday, the convoy encountered two other improvised explosive devices near the town of Anefis,” Mr. Dujarric told reporters in New York, noting that he did not know if the devices…

Palestine: The United Nations labour agency has stated that Gaza has lost at least 61 percent of its jobs since the Israel-Hamas war began on October 7. The UN agency further warned that the economic fallout will reverberate for “many years to come.” According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the employment losses in the Palestinian territory are equivalent to 182,000 jobs. “Our initial assessment of the repercussions of the tragic current crisis on the Palestinian labour market has yielded extremely worrying results, which will only worsen if the conflict continues,” Ms. Ruba Jaradat, the ILO’s Regional Director for Arab…