Author: News Desk

Freetown: Sierra Leone has taken a significant step in safeguarding children’s rights with the enactment of a new law banning child marriage. The historic moment unfolded at a ceremony organized by First Lady Fatima Maada Bio in the capital, Freetown, where President Julius Maada Bio signed the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act into law. The event, attended by dignitaries including first ladies from Cape Verde and Namibia, underscored Sierra Leone’s commitment to end the harmful practice of child marriage. Under the new legislation, anyone involved in marrying a girl under 18 years old faces severe penalties, including a minimum 15-year…

United States: Democratic lawmaker publicly has urged President Joe Biden to end his re-election bid, raising concerns about his physical and mental fitness for office. Since his awful debate performance against Republican opponent Donald Trump, in which the 81-year-old Democrat stammered and lost his train of thought, Biden’s candidacy has been clouded. “I represent the heart of a congressional district once represented by Lyndon Johnson. Under very different circumstances, he made the painful decision to withdraw. President Biden should do the same,” Doggett said in his statement. Texas Representative Lloyd Doggett was the first person in his party to openly…

Australia: The Australian state of Queensland has ordered a purge of frozen sperm after an audit by its health watchdog found that nearly half of fertility samples were at risk of being misidentified. Advocates claim that such confusion increases the risk of unintentional incest and can deprive parents and donor children of important genetic information and medical records. One of the biggest IVF industries in the nation is based in Queensland, but it is self-regulated and has drawn criticism after several of its major providers were accused of malpractice. The nationwide sperm donor shortage, brought on by increased demand, regulatory…

India: The solemn atmosphere has turned tragic as more than 100 people lost their lives and over a dozen were injured in a stampede during a Hindu religious gathering in northern India. The incident occurred in a village in Hathras district, approximately 200km southeast of New Delhi. According to authorities, the stampede broke out during a sermon by a prominent preacher, exacerbated by a sudden dust storm that sparked panic among attendees as they were leaving the event. The majority of the casualties were women and children, many were crushed or trampled and fell on top of each other. Some…

Gaza: Thousands of Palestinians have fled their homes in southern Gaza after Israeli forces bombarded several areas and issued a new evacuation order for Khan Younis. Health officials reported that during Tuesday’s strikes on many neighborhoods in Khan Younis, at least eight persons lost their lives and over thirty were injured. Weeks after Israeli tanks withdrew from the region, a spate of attacks terrified the locals. 250,000 people reside in the area that the Israeli military has identified as an evacuation zone in Khan Younis, according to Sam Rose, planning director of UNRWA, the UN Relief and Works Agency for…

UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations General Assembly has passed a Chinese-sponsored resolution, supported by the US, urging wealthy nations to close the widening gap with poorer countries and ensure equal opportunities to use and benefit from artificial intelligence (AI). The resolution follows the March 21 adoption of the first UN resolution on AI, led by the United States and co-sponsored by 123 countries, including China. The adoption of both the non-binding resolutions demonstrates that the United States and China, are committed to shaping the future of AI technology and are cooperating on these initial international efforts. The unanimous approval of…

JAMAICA: Hurricane Beryl, now a powerful Category 5 storm, is bearing down on Jamaica’s coastline after a trail of destruction across several Caribbean islands. With sustained winds reaching 165 mph, Beryl has ravaged homes in Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, where many residents live without essential services. The storm is forecast to intensify further and is expected to bring life-threatening winds and storm surge to Jamaica by Wednesday afternoon. This exceptionally early hurricane season has seen Beryl set new records, becoming the earliest Category 5 hurricane on record in the Atlantic and only the second storm of such…

WASHINGTON: In a historic decision, the US Supreme Court has ruled that former President Donald Trump cannot be prosecuted for actions within his constitutional powers as president. The verdict marks the first recognition of any form of presidential immunity from prosecution. The 6-3 ruling, authored by Chief Justice John Roberts, overturned a lower court’s rejection of Trump’s claim to immunity from federal criminal charges related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. The decision saw all six conservative justices in favour, with the three liberal justices dissenting. Trump, the Republican candidate for the upcoming US election in November…

South Africa: South Africa’s president has announced a new cabinet over a month after elections caused his African National Congress (ANC) party to lose its majority. Following weeks of impasse that prevented the establishment of an unprecedented governing coalition, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the names of 32 ministerial seats in the government of national unity late on Sunday. According to the release, the ANC will have 20 of the 32 positions. The Democratic Alliance (DA) party will occupy another six seats, with the remaining seats being divided among many minor coalition parties. After his party, which has dominated South African…

Japan: Mount Fuji, a UNESCO World Heritage site and iconic symbol of Japan, has introduced new regulations for climbers to address overcrowding concerns. Starting today, Climbers must pay a 2,000 yen ($12.40) fee per person, with a daily cap of 4,000 climbers. Koutaro Nagasaki, governor of Yamanashi Prefecture commended that, “By strongly promoting comprehensive safety measures for climbing Mount Fuji, we will ensure that Mount Fuji, a treasure of the world, is passed on to future generations.” Nagasaki also emphasised the importance of reviving traditional mountain climbing from the foot of Mount Fuji, linking it with the Fuji-ko and Oshi…