Author: News Desk

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…

United States: A powerful storm developing off the coast of the US Pacific Northwest is expected to bring severe weather conditions to over seven million residents across several states. The storm, which began affecting the region on Tuesday, is forecast to intensify through the end of the week, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The storm referred to as a “bomb cyclone” due to its rapid intensification, is causing a sharp drop in air pressure, which has resulted in high winds, heavy rain, snow, and flash flooding. In addition to these conditions, the storm is likely to…

London: Thousands of British farmers are gathering in Parliament Square to protest the planned removal of an inheritance tax exemption, a move they claim endangers family-run farms and the nation’s food supply. Finance Minister Rachel Reeves announced in October that from 2026, farmers owning land valued at over £1 million ($1.26 million) will no longer be able to transfer their farms tax-free to their heirs. The policy, part of a broader strategy to fund public services, has drawn sharp criticism from the farming community, who argue it undermines the viability of agricultural businesses. Critics of the so-called “tractor tax” argue…

Cairns, Australia: Recent data from the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) reveals alarming levels of coral mortality in parts of the Great Barrier Reef due to mass bleaching, two cyclones, and flooding. In-water surveys conducted between Lizard Island and Cardwell from August to October found that up to 72 percent of coral was lost on 12 reefs. The Cooktown-Lizard Island sector, in particular, saw more than a third of hard coral cover vanish, marking the largest annual decline in 39 years of government monitoring. The coral damage is attributed to the Austral summer, Tropical Cyclones Jasper and Kirrily, and…

Wellington, New Zealand: After a nine-day hīkoi (peaceful protest), over 35,000 people gathered outside New Zealand’s parliament in Wellington to oppose a proposed bill aimed at redefining the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi, the foundational document between British settlers and the Māori. The bill, introduced by the Act Party, a junior member of the governing coalition, aims to provide a legal framework for the treaty’s interpretation, arguing it has fostered racial divisions. Act leader David Seymour, who has Māori ancestry, defended the proposal, stating it seeks to ensure equal rights for all New Zealanders. Seymour said that, “My Treaty…

Taiwan: A Hong Kong court has sentenced leading pro-democracy activists to prison, with Benny Tai receiving a 10-year term, marking a significant escalation in the territory’s largest national security case. The sentences follow a controversial trial involving 47 activists and lawmakers accused of subversion under Hong Kong’s stringent national security law (NSL), which was imposed by Beijing in 2020. Tai, a 60-year-old legal scholar who played a prominent role in Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests in 2014 and 2019, was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Prosecutors portrayed Tai as the organiser of a conspiracy dating back to July 2020, involving…

Sydney: Australia’s Senate has censured Indigenous lawmaker Lidia Thorpe after she interrupted a visit by King Charles III to Parliament last month. The motion, led by the governing Labor Party, passed with 46 votes in favour and six against. Lidia Thorpe, a Gunnai, Gunditjmara, and Djab-Wurrung woman representing Victoria, released a statement before the vote, declaring that she would not be silenced. Thorpe emphasized that the Senate’s censure was symbolic, as it has no legal power to remove senators and that, “I will not be silent. The truth is, this colony is built on stolen land, stolen wealth, and stolen…

New Delhi: Authorities in India’s capital have implemented drastic measures, including school closures, halting construction, and banning non-essential trucks, after air pollution levels reached their worst this season. A toxic smog engulfed much of northern India on November 18, worsened by dense fog, with air quality in parts of Delhi’s National Capital Territory (NCT) reaching a hazardous new high of 1,081, according to IQAir’s live rankings. India’s pollution control authority reported a 24-hour AQI of 484 in Delhi, classified as “severe plus,” marking the highest reading this year. Experts note that Air Quality Index (AQI) scores may vary across countries…

Colombo: Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has reappointed Harini Amarasuriya as Prime Minister. The significant move signals commitment to continuity in leadership as the island nation begins to recover from a severe economic crisis. Dissanayake, whose leftist coalition won a commanding 159 out of 225 parliamentary seats in the general election, also reappointed veteran lawmaker Vijitha Herath to head the Foreign Affairs ministry. The president’s decision to retain the finance portfolio for himself marks a continuation of leadership approach since September, following his presidential victory. Sri Lanka’s President Anura Kumara Dissanayake today appointed a Prime Minister and Cabinet following…

London: Britain will seek support from United Nations Security Council members on Monday for its call to end hostilities in Sudan and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid, the British Foreign Ministry announced. As the UK currently holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council, Foreign Minister David Lammy is set to chair a vote on a draft resolution co-sponsored by the UK and Sierra Leone. The resolution urges an immediate cessation of violence and emphasises the protection of civilians in Sudan, which has been engulfed in conflict since April 2023. The war, sparked by a power struggle between the…