Author: News Desk

Iran: Iranian President Mr. Ebrahim Raisi has arrived in Kenya as part of his tour of three African countries, including Kenya, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. The visit is being presented by Tehran as a “new beginning” in relations between Iran and Africa. Mr. Raisi’s arrival in Kenya was met with a warm reception from Kenyan President Mr. William Ruto, including a red carpet welcome. The tour is significant as it marks the first visit by an Iranian president to Africa in over a decade, signalling Iran’s intention to diversify economic ties in the face of US sanctions. Iranian and Kenyan ministers signed…

France: Renowned Czech-French writer Mr. Milan Kundera, best known for his novel “The Unbearable Lightness of Being,” has passed away at the age of 94, according to a statement from the Milan Kundera Library on 12th July 2023. Ms. Anna Mrazova, the library’s spokeswoman in Brno, Mr. Kundera’s birthplace, confirmed his death and stated that he had been battling a prolonged illness. Mr. Kundera had been residing in France since his emigration from Communist-ruled Czechoslovakia in 1975. Throughout his career, he was celebrated as a novelist, poet, and essayist, crafting thought-provoking works that delved into the complexities of the human…

Thailand: Thailand’s Election Commission has sought the intervention of the Constitutional Court to determine whether the leader of the progressive Move Forward Party, Mr. Pita Limjaroenrat, should be disqualified from parliament, as reported by media sources. The referral of the case occurred on Wednesday, just a day before the bicameral parliament was scheduled to vote on Mr. Pita’s candidacy for the position of Thailand’s next prime minister. Mr. Pita, a 42-year-old businessman, enjoys the support of eight parties within an alliance aiming to establish a new government. Mr. Pita has encountered several challenges in his political journey, prompting the election…

Russia: Mr. Dmitry Medvedev, the Deputy Secretary of the Kremlin’s powerful Security Council, has warned that the increased support provided to Ukraine by NATO members brings the risk of a third global conflict closer. Speaking after the conclusion of the first day of the NATO summit in Lithuania, Mr. Medvedev remarked that promises of military assistance from the Western defence alliance to Kyiv would not deter Russia from pursuing its objectives in Ukraine. Russia’s Foreign Minister also issued similar warnings, indicating that Moscow has no intention of ceasing its war. “The completely crazy West could not come up with anything…

North Korea: North Korea has fired a suspected intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), according to reports from Japanese and South Korean officials. The long-range missile was airborne for over an hour before falling short of Japanese waters on the 12th of July 2023 morning. This launch follows Pyongyang’s threats of retaliation against what it claims were recent US spy plane incursions into its territory. Earlier this week, North Korea had warned of shooting down such planes, a claim dismissed by Washington, which maintains that its military patrols adhere to international law. The heightened security tensions on the Korean Peninsula this year…

Cuba: The Cuban government has criticized the presence of a nuclear-powered submarine situated at the United States naval base in Guantanamo Bay, referring to it as a “provocative escalation.” According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the submarine arrived at Guantanamo Bay on Wednesday and remained there until Saturday. “The presence of the submarine makes it imperative to wonder what is the military reason behind this action in this peaceful region of the world, what target it is aiming at, and what is the strategic purpose it pursues”, the statement remarked. The ministry warned of the…

Switzerland: A recent scientific study has revealed that the searing heatwave that engulfed Europe last summer resulted in the deaths of more than 60,000 individuals, highlighting the lethal impact of rising global temperatures exacerbated by greenhouse gas emissions. In Europe’s hottest summer on record, alarm bells were sounded by EU statisticians in August 2022 as sweltering heat, prolonged droughts, and rampant fires engulfed the continent, leading to a significant increase in mortality rates. Public health experts then employed epidemiological models to determine the number of deaths attributed to the extreme temperatures. The study found that between May 30th and September…

France: An International Energy Agency (IEA) report has stated that the market for minerals essential to the clean energy transition experienced remarkable growth, reaching $320 billion in value last year. However, despite this expansion, the market still faces various challenges, including price volatility, supply chain disruptions, and geopolitical tensions. The IEA stated that the market for minerals like lithium, cobalt, nickel, and copper witnessed a doubling in size between 2017 and 2022. This surge can be attributed to the widespread adoption of clean technologies such as solar panels and electric vehicle batteries. Lithium, nickel, and cobalt play critical roles in…

Australia: Prime Minister Mr. Anthony Albanese announced that Australia plans to deploy a surveillance aircraft from the Royal Australian Air Force to Germany. The main objective of this deployment is to provide support to Ukraine by safeguarding crucial humanitarian and military supply routes. The chosen aircraft is the E-7A Wedgetail, renowned as one of Australia’s advanced platforms for early warning and airborne control. It will be stationed in Germany for a period of six months, accompanied by a contingent of approximately 100 crew members and support staff. Albanese shared this information during a press conference held in Berlin. “This is…

Iceland: A volcanic eruption in an uninhabited area of Iceland has unleashed streams of lava, causing small fires in the distance and thick smoke to billow into the air. The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) has stated that there are no immediate risks to communities or infrastructure since the eruption occurred in an uninhabited area. However, the IMO has issued a warning against venturing near the eruption site due to the accumulation of dangerously high levels of volcanic gases. The IMO further cautioned that the wind could carry some of these hazardous gases northward, potentially affecting multiple areas, including the Icelandic…