Author: News Desk

Washington DC: The number of people experiencing homelessness in the United States has surged by 18% over the past year, reaching an all-time high of more than 771,000, according to a report released by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The count, conducted on a single night in January 2024, includes individuals in emergency shelters, safe havens, transitional housing, or unsheltered locations but excludes those staying with friends or family due to housing instability. HUD identified the lack of affordable housing as the primary driver of the increase, further exacerbated by rising inflation, stagnant wages for middle-…

Beijing: China has approved the construction of what will be the world’s largest hydropower dam on the lower Yarlung Tsangpo River, sparking concerns over displacement of Tibetan communities, environmental risks, and downstream impacts in India and Bangladesh. The dam, expected to generate three times more energy than the Three Gorges Dam, will require four 20-kilometer-long tunnels drilled through the Namcha Barwa mountain to divert the river. Chinese state media describes it as a “safe project prioritizing ecological protection” that will promote local development and support Beijing’s climate neutrality goals. Human rights groups and experts warn of significant risks, including altering…

Sanaa, Yemen: WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and other UN staff were at Yemen’s Sanaa airport when Israeli air strikes hit, killing at least six people. Tedros said they were about to board a plane when the strikes occurred and stated that, the damage to the airport would delay their departure, adding that the air traffic control tower, departure lounge, and runway were affected. Tedros was in Yemen to negotiate the release of detained UN staff and assess the health situation in the country but provided no further details on the detainees. Three people were killed and 30 injured at…

Taipei, Taiwan: Ko Wen-je, once a rising star in Taiwanese politics and a former Presidential contender, was indicted on corruption charges. The 65-year-old is accused of accepting $500,000 in bribes related to a real estate transaction during his term as mayor of Taipei and of misreporting campaign finances during his presidential run earlier this year. Prosecutors are seeking a prison sentence of up to 28.5 years. Ko, who denied the charges, was arrested in September and has been held in detention. He is one of 11 individuals being prosecuted in the case, and several members of his Taiwan People Party…

Kochi, India: MT Vasudevan Nair, a legendary writer from Kerala, India, has passed away at the age of 91. He died in a hospital in Kozhikode, Kerala, after being admitted due to breathing difficulties. Nair, affectionately known as MT, was a prominent figure in Malayalam-language literature, as well as an acclaimed film director and screenwriter. He is remembered for his exceptional contribution to literature and cinema, earning several prestigious awards, including India’s highest literary honor, the Jnanpith. Born in 1933 in Palakkad, Kerala, Nair developed a passion for reading despite his family’s discouragement. He began writing at a young age,…

New York: The United Nations General Assembly adopted a new convention aimed at preventing and combating cybercrime, bringing a five-year negotiation process to a close. The UN Convention against Cybercrime will focus on strengthening international cooperation and providing technical assistance, particularly for developing countries, to tackle cybercrime more efficiently and effectively. Philémon Yang, President of the UN General Assembly, pointed out that while information and communications technologies have immense potential for societal growth, they also amplify the threat of cybercrime. President stated that the Convention equips Member States with the tools to enhance international cooperation in fighting cybercrime and ensuring…

International Space Station: Stranded Astronauts aboard the International Space Station have sent their Christmas greetings from orbit. Sunita Williams, Barry Wilmore, Don Pettit, and Nick Hague, launched on 5 June for an eight-day test flight, have been unable to return due to technical issues with their Boeing-made Starliner spacecraft. The spacecraft has suffered helium leaks and thruster failures, leaving the crew stranded in space beyond their expected return. In a video message recorded on 23 December, Nick Hague shared that, “The holiday season is about spending time with friends and family and loved ones – this year we’re going to…

Washington DC: NASA’s Parker Probe is making history with its closest-ever approach to the Sun, flying into the star’s outer atmosphere to gather crucial data. The spacecraft, launched in 2018, has already passed the Sun 21 times, but this Christmas Eve pass is record-breaking. At its closest approach, it will be just 3.8 million miles (6.2 million km) from the Sun’s surface, facing extreme temperatures of 1,400°C and intense radiation. The probe is protected by a 4.5-inch-thick carbon-composite shield but will be moving at an incredible 430,000 mph. Scientists hope this mission will solve longstanding mysteries about the Sun’s corona,…

Victoria, Australia: As bushfires continue to rage in Victoria, Australia, residents in the Grampians region have been granted a brief two-hour window to return home and collect their belongings ahead of Christmas. Emergency crews are working to contain the fires, which have already burned over 41,000 hectares (101,000 acres) of land in the past week. Although no fatalities or property damage have been reported, authorities have issued warnings that the conditions in the coming days could be the worst since the “Black Summer” fires of 2019-2020. The heatwave expected to hit on Boxing Day has raised concerns, with temperatures forecast…

Magdeburg, Germany: At least two people are dead and 68 others injured after a car crashed into a busy Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, on Friday, December 20th evening. The attack, described as intentional, occurred in the central square of the Saxony-Anhalt state capital. The driver, identified as a 50-year-old Saudi Arabian doctor, was arrested at the scene. He had been living in Germany since 2006 and was previously unknown to security services. Local officials believe the suspect acted alone, and no further danger to the public is anticipated. Among the injured, 15 are in critical condition, 37 sustained medium…