Author: News Desk

São Paulo: Nearly 1.4 million households in São Paulo, Brazil, were without electricity on 12th of October, nearly 24 hours after a strong storm hit the city. The storm, which briefly swept through South America’s largest city, resulted in the deaths of at least seven people. Authorities in São Paulo state reported that, record wind gusts reaching up to 67 mph (108 kph) brought down transmission lines and uprooted trees, leading to significant damage in several areas. The storm also caused the closure of several airports and disrupted water services in various areas, according to the state government. Authorities reported…

Florida: The devastating impact of Hurricane Milton, which claimed the lives of 16 people in Florida this week, was intensified by human-caused climate change, according to a report released by a team of international scientists. The analysis, conducted by World Weather Attribution, indicates that global warming increased wind speeds by approximately 10 percent and rainfall by 20 percent to 30 percent. Milton rapidly intensified from a Category 1 storm to a fierce Category 5 hurricane in less than 24 hours, fuelled by record-high sea temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico. The hurricane ultimately made landfall in Florida as a Category…

Naqoura, South Lebanon: The United Nations peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon confirms that its headquarters in Naqoura was hit by explosions for the second time in 48 hours, a day after Israeli forces struck the same position. Two peacekeepers from the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) were injured after two explosions occurred close to an observation tower, the UN mission said in a statement. The statement also mentions that, “This is a serious development, and UNIFIL reiterates that the safety and security of UN personnel and property must be guaranteed and that the inviolability of UN premises must be respected at…

United States: Boeing announced plans to cut 17,000 jobs, representing 10 percent of its global workforce, and delay the first deliveries of its 777X jet by one year, as the company struggles with significant losses of $5 billion in the third quarter. The announcement comes during an ongoing month-long strike involving 33,000 US West Coast workers, which has halted production of critical aircraft, including the 737 MAX, 767, and 777 models. In a message to employees, CEO Kelly Ortberg emphasised the necessity of these workforce reductions to “align with our financial reality.” Ortberg stated that, “We reset our workforce levels…

Sweden: Han Kang, a South Korean writer, has been awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature 2024 by the Swedish Academy for her “intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life”. This made her the first Korean writer and the first Asian woman to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. The 53-year-old novelist has previously won the Man Booker International Prize for her book The Vegetarian, which was published in 2007. This is the 18th time a woman has won the literature prize, which has been given out by the Nobel Prize committee since…

Brussels: The European Union has announced another postponement of its planned fingerprint and facial scan check system for non-EU citizens at all EU borders. Originally set to launch on November 10, 2024, the rollout has been delayed due to readiness issues raised by Germany, France, and the Netherlands. EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson confirmed that there is currently no new timetable for implementation, stating that, “It’s clear that we’re not going to be ready for the 10 November. We will be going for a phased approach, step by step.” The recent announcement adds to the string of delays that…

Florida: Floridians awoke to scenes of devastation in a number of counties. It will take days for the damage to be assessed. The death toll from Hurricane Milton climbed to at least 10. Among the fatalities, five were reported in a senior community in St. Lucie County, where a tornado, generated by Milton’s outer bands, struck before the hurricane made landfall near Sarasota. The category 3 hurricane caused significant property destruction and left over 3.5 million homes and businesses without power. Alejandro Mayorkas, the Homeland Security Secretary, from the White House said in a briefing that, “Our hearts break for…

Los Angeles: Elon Musk unveiled Tesla’s latest innovations, including a robotaxi with futuristic gull-wing doors and no steering wheel or pedals, at a high-profile event in Los Angeles. The event marked a significant shift for Tesla, as the company transitions from a mass-market automaker to a leading robotics manufacturer. Musk arrived on stage in a “Cybercab,” a fully autonomous electric vehicle set to enter production in 2026, with a price tag under $30,000. Musk also emphasised the low operational cost of the vehicle, projecting that over time it will cost just 20 cents per mile to operate. The Cybercab, like…

New York: Former President Barack Obama criticized Donald Trump as a divisive leader lacking genuine concern for Americans during a campaign rally supporting Kamala Harris in Pennsylvania. Speaking at the University of Pittsburgh, Obama emphasized that the country cannot afford another four years of Trump in the White House. Obama said that, “We are ready for a better story, one that helps us work together instead of turning against each other. Pennsylvania, we’re ready for a President Kamala Harris.” The event marked Obama’s first appearance on the campaign trail for Harris, as the election race heats up less than a…

London: The Conservative Party is set for a significant leadership change as two right-wing former ministers, Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick, have emerged as the final contenders in the race to succeed the current leader. The contest is critical for shaping the future of a party that has seen its dominance wane in recent years. In a vote held Wednesday among Conservative lawmakers, Badenoch secured the top position with 42 votes out of 120, closely followed by Jenrick with 41 votes. In a surprising development, James Cleverly, who had previously led in earlier rounds, was eliminated from the contest despite…