Author: News Desk

Paris, France: Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris reopened its doors on November 7th, marking a triumphant milestone in its restoration five years after a devastating fire brought the iconic 12th-century landmark to the brink of collapse. The ceremony, led by Paris Archbishop Laurent Ulrich, drew an assembly of global leaders along with French President Emmanuel Macron including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and US President-elect Donald Trump, making his first overseas visit since his recent election victory. The evening ceremony began with Macron addressing the crowd, expressing gratitude to the firefighters, artisans, and donors who contributed nearly $1 billion to the cathedral’s…

Washington: TikTok’s legal battle to prevent a ban or forced sale of its operations in the United States has suffered a major setback. A federal appeals court has rejected the company request to overturn a law that mandates the removal or sale of the app by early 2025, citing national security concerns over its ties to the Chinese government. TikTok had argued that the law, which it claims infringes upon the free speech of its 170 million US users, was unconstitutional. In its appeal, the company described the law as a “staggering” threat to free speech, particularly for its American…

Seoul: South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has issued a public apology following his controversial declaration of martial law, which was quickly rescinded after overturned by the National Assembly. The apology came amidst growing political unrest and speculation about his potential impeachment. In a brief television address, President Yoon expressed deep regret stating that, “I am very sorry and would like to sincerely apologise to the people who were shocked.” Yoon confirmed that no further martial law declarations would be made and reassured the public that the situation would be handled by his ruling People Power Party (PPP). The martial…

Seoul: The World Bank has successfully raised nearly $24 billion in a new funding round to support its concessional lending arm, the International Development Association (IDA). The funds, which include loans and grants, will help the World Bank leverage up to $100 billion in total spending power, marking a significant increase in its ability to assist the world’s poorest nations. Donor countries committed a total of $23.7 billion, a slight increase from the previous round three years ago, where $23.5 billion was raised. These funds will be used by the World Bank to borrow from financial markets, allowing the institution…

French Guiana: Europe’s Arianespace has launched the Vega-C rocket, marking a triumphant return for the upgraded Italian launcher, which had failed during its debut commercial mission two years ago. The rocket successfully carried the Sentinel-1C satellite into orbit for the European Union’s Copernicus Earth observation programme. At 6:20 p.m. (2120 GMT) on Thursday, Vega-C blasted off from its launch pad at the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana, soaring into leaden skies. “Parameters on board are normal,” said Jean-Frederic Alasa, the range operations manager, confirming a smooth launch. Prior to reaching orbit, the satellite was placed into “barbecue mode” to…

Melbourne, Australia: Worshippers at Melbourne’s Adass Israel synagogue was forced to flee after it was set on fire in what Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has condemned as an “act of hate.” The fire, which occurred early on 6th of December morning, left the synagogue severely damaged, with one person injured. Firefighters arrived just after 4:00 AM local time and found the building engulfed in flames. Several people were inside for morning prayers and reported seeing firebombs thrown at the synagogue. Witnesses described hearing banging on the door and window, followed by flames rapidly spreading inside. One individual was injured while…

Paris: French President Emmanuel Macron announced that he will appoint a new Prime Minister “in the coming days” after Michel Barnier resigned following a no-confidence vote in parliament. The vote, which saw 331 MPs support the motion against Barnier, marked the first time in more than 60 years that a French government had been voted out of office. Barnier had only been in office for three months after his appointment by Macron, and his resignation was triggered by the New Popular Front (NFP) and Marine Le Pen’s National Rally (RN) uniting to challenge his leadership. In a 10-minute address to…

Washington DC: A major cyber-espionage campaign attributed to the Chinese hackers group “Salt Typhoon” has stolen metadata from telecom companies worldwide, including at least eight US providers. The campaign, which targeted senior US government officials and political figures, has raised concerns about the scale and scope of the breach. US officials confirmed that while no classified communications were compromised, the stolen metadata—such as call records—could expose sensitive details about individuals’ personal lives, relationships, and work. Deputy National Security Adviser Anne Neuberger revealed that the hackers infiltrated telecom infrastructure in multiple countries, gaining access to large volumes of communications data. The…

Sinaloa, Mexico City: Mexico has announced its largest-ever Fentanyl seizure, intercepting more than a tonne of pills in the coastal state of Sinaloa. The operation, which involved two separate actions, led to the arrest of two men and the confiscation of firearms. In a statement, Omar Garcia Harfuch, Mexico’s Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, said that, “In Sinaloa, the largest historical seizure of fentanyl was achieved,” and explained that “more than a tonne of fentanyl pills” were intercepted. This record seizure is part of Mexico’s ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking, with rising pressure from the United States to…

Washington: In a groundbreaking study, scientists have uncovered the first direct evidence of the diet of ancient humans who roamed North America during the last Ice Age. The research reveals that mammoths were a primary food source for these early settlers, with a focus on megafauna, including mammoths, elk, and bison, making up nearly all of their diet. The breakthrough came through the analysis of chemical clues in the bones of an 18-month-old boy, found in southern Montana. The child, known as the Anzick Boy, was still nursing at the time of death, and the chemical signatures in his bones…