Author: News Desk

Austin: The Texas State Board of Education has narrowly approved a contentious new curriculum, known as the “BlueBonnet” programme, which incorporates Bible-based teachings into public school classrooms for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. While school districts are not mandated to adopt this curriculum, they are offered a financial incentive of $40 per student for purchasing the materials, which include lessons from the books of Genesis, Psalms, and the New Testament. The decision passed with a slim 8-to-7 vote, reflecting deep divisions within the board, as three Republicans joined all four Democratic members in opposition. The passage of Bluebonnet Learning…

Jerusalem: The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas military leader Mr Mohammed Diab Ibrahim Al-Masri, commonly known as ‘Deif’, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity. This is the first time that leaders from a democracy and a Western-aligned country have been charged by the ICC, marking a significant moment in the court’s history. Netanyahu’s office condemned the decision as “antisemitic.” https://twitter.com/netanyahu/status/1859699642809843868 The ICC alleges that Netanyahu and Gallant are responsible for crimes including murder, persecution, inhumane acts, and war crimes such as starvation,…

Washington: President-elect Donald Trump has selected veteran prosecutor Pam Bondi as his nominee for attorney general, following Matt Gaetz’s withdrawal from consideration. Bondi, who has a long history in law enforcement, previously served as Florida’s attorney general. A strong Trump ally, she was part of his legal team during his first Senate impeachment trial and supported him during his hush money trial in New York. In a social media post announcing her nomination, Trump praised Bondi’s nearly 20 years as a prosecutor, highlighting her tough stance on violent criminals and her efforts to keep Florida’s streets safe. Bondi has been…

Minsk, Belarus: Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has granted pardons to 32 political prisoners, including those convicted of “extremist crimes.” The office reported that 17 of those pardoned are suffering from chronic illnesses, and nine are over 50 years old. The Ministry of Internal Affairs will oversee their compliance with the law. This move marks the sixth round of pardons since July, releasing a total of 178 prisoners, according to human rights groups. However, critics argue that political repression continues, with over 1,200 individuals still imprisoned since the 2020 protests, sparked by allegations of electoral fraud after Lukashenko’s disputed re-election. Among…

Moscow, Russia: Russian President Vladimir Putin has further solidified his growing ties with North Korea by gifting more than 70 animals to the country’s primary zoo. This unusual gesture, delivered by Russian Environment Minister Alexander Kozlov aboard a cargo plane, included a lion, two brown bears, two yaks, five cockatoos, and a variety of pheasants and mandarin ducks. The animals were flown to Pyongyang, marking the latest in a series of symbolic exchanges between Moscow and Pyongyang, as both countries strengthen their political and military alliance. Kozlov’s visit also featured a courtesy call on North Korean leader Kim Jong Un,…

Brisbane: The Australian government has unveiled plans to ban children under 16 from using social media platforms, with multimillion-dollar fines proposed for companies that fail to enforce the restriction. Introduced by Communications Minister Michelle Rowland, the amendment to the Online Safety Act seeks to make Australia a global leader in social media reform, aiming to protect young users from online harm and reduce the exposure of minors to cyberbullying and other risks. “This reform is about protecting young people and reassuring parents that we’ve got their backs,” Rowland said. If passed, the bill would establish 16 as the minimum age…

Chisinau: Britain and Romania have reaffirmed their commitment to Moldova offering critical support as the country continues to navigate the fallout from Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. The partnership was formalised with the signing of a new security and defence agreement, aimed at bolstering Moldova’s resilience against external threats. The announcement came during a visit by the foreign ministers of Britain and Romania, just over two weeks after Moldova’s pro-European President Maia Sandu secured re-election, albeit with a narrower margin than anticipated. Pleased to meet @DavidLammy on his visit to Chișinău. We discussed expanding trade, tackling corruption together, building Moldova’s…

Port-au-Prince, Haiti: Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has suspended its operations in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, citing “violence and threats from police.” The international medical health organization (IMHO) stated that, over the past week, its staff had been repeatedly stopped by police officers who made threats of death and rape. Haiti has faced escalating violence and instability in recent years, with police and vigilante groups engaged in a brutal battle against gangs that have controlled much of Port-au-Prince since earlier this year. MSF has been one of the few providers of quality healthcare in the region, but it announced that patient admissions have…

Malaga, Spain: Rafael Nadal’s illustrious tennis career came to a poignant end as Spain lost to the Netherlands in the Davis Cup on an emotional night in Malaga. The 38-year-old, who has won 22 Grand Slam titles, had previously announced that this men’s team event would mark his final appearance in professional tennis. In front of a packed and passionate crowd, Nadal lost 6-4, 6-4 to Botic van de Zandschulp, putting the Netherlands ahead in the best-of-three quarter-final tie. Spain’s new star, Carlos Alcaraz, managed to beat Tallon Griekspoor 7-6 (7-0) 6-3 in the second singles match, keeping Nadal’s hopes…

United Kingdom: ‘Manifest’, a word meaning to dream or will something into existence, has been named the Cambridge Dictionary’s Word of the Year 2024, following its surge in popularity due to celebrity endorsements and social media trends. Though ‘manifest’ is not a new term, its modern usage as a verb, reflecting the power of visualisation and positive thinking in achieving dreams, has gained considerable traction. Originally an adjective meaning “clear” or “obvious,” the word has been in the English language since at least the 1300s. However, its contemporary meaning -to speak or think dreams into reality has captured the public’s…