Author: News Desk

Nepal: Glaciers in Asia’s Hindu Kush Himalayas are rapidly melting and could diminish by up to 75 percent by the end of the century, according to a report by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). This poses a severe threat of flooding and water scarcity for the approximately 2 billion people residing downstream of the region’s twelve rivers. The report emphasizes that flash floods and avalanches will become more frequent in the coming years, impacting the availability of freshwater for the 240 million individuals living in the area and an additional 1.65 billion people downstream. The study highlights…

United States: The United Nations (UN) has adopted the first-ever international treaty to govern the high seas and protect remote ecosystems vital to humanity after more than 15 years of discussions. UN Secretary-General Mr. Antonio Guterres hailed as a “historic achievement” the pact that will establish a legal framework to extend environmental protections to international waters, known as the high seas, which cover more than 60 percent of the earth’s surface. “Climate change is disrupting weather patterns and ocean currents, raising sea temperatures, and altering marine ecosystems and the species living there,” Mr. Guterres stated, adding that marine biodiversity “is…

Kenya: Kenya and the European Union have signed a trade deal in a coup for Brussels as it seeks deeper economic ties with Africa in the face of competition from China. Kenyan President Mr. William Ruto presided over a ceremony in Nairobi to mark the formal conclusion of negotiations for the EU-Kenya Economic Partnership Agreement. Once ratified and entered into force, Kenya will be granted tariff-free and quota-free access to the European Union, its largest market, to which it currently exports approximately 20 percent of its total exports. Imports from the EU to Kenya, such as chemicals and machinery, will…

New Zealand: New Zealand Prime Minister Mr. Chris Hipkins is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Mr. Xi Jinping, Premier Mr. Li Qiang, and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress Mr. Zhao Leji during his upcoming trip to China. The confirmation came from Mr. Hipkins’ office, just a week after he announced the trip. Accompanied by a 29-member business delegation and Te Whānau-a-Apanui, champions of Te Matatini, Mr. Hipkins will visit Beijing, Tianjin, and Shanghai. The itinerary includes various events such as a sustainability forum, gala dinner, a keynote address at Peking University, and attendance at…

United States: Beneficial changes in the immune system that occur naturally during pregnancy have been discovered by researchers, shedding light on potential treatment strategies for conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS). The study, published in the Journal of Neuroinflammation, highlights the unique immunological condition of pregnancy, where the mother’s immune system adapts to become more tolerant. Despite the foetus containing genetic material from the father, the mother’s immune system does not reject it, showcasing the success of this balancing act. The study specifically focused on T cells, which play a crucial role in the immune system and are important in…

Thailand: Thailand has announced plans to host talks with Myanmar’s military leaders, a move that has drawn criticism for undermining regional unity in addressing Myanmar’s ongoing crisis. The outgoing Thai military-backed government issued a statement stating that the purpose of the informal dialogue is to discuss various topics complementary to the efforts made by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to resolve the situation in Myanmar. According to the statement, the meeting will be attended by representatives from Laos, Cambodia, India, China, Brunei, and Vietnam, as well as Myanmar, a highly contentious issue because ASEAN leaders agreed to exclude…

North Korea: North Korean officials have vowed to make a second attempt at launching a military spy satellite following the failure of their initial launch last month. According to state media, the ruling Worker’s Party of Korea held an enlarged plenary meeting, during which they criticized those responsible for the failed operation and ordered workers and researchers to analyze the launch. The first attempt, which occurred on May 31st 2023, resulted in the projectile and its payload crashing into the sea due to a rocket failure, dealing a setback to North Korean leader Mr. Kim Jong Un’s ambitions of establishing…

Ukraine: The United Nations (UN) has accused Russia of continuing to block humanitarian aid deliveries to Moscow-controlled areas in eastern Ukraine that have been impacted by the recent Kakhovka dam rupture. “The Government of the Russian Federation has so far declined our request to access the areas under its temporary military control,” the UN humanitarian coordinator for Ukraine, Ms. Denise Brown, noted in a statement. According to Ms. Brown, the UN will continue to engage to seek the necessary access. Ms. Brown urged the Russian authorities to act in accordance with their obligations under international humanitarian law. “The UN will…

United States: President Mr. Joe Biden delivered his 2024 re-election pitch to union members in Philadelphia, marking his first political rally since launching his campaign in April 2023. The event, hosted by the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), saw the endorsement of Mr. Biden and Vice President Ms. Kamala Harris, making it the earliest endorsement by the AFL-CIO in a US presidential election. Addressing approximately 2,000 union members, Mr. Biden expressed gratitude for their support and emphasized the significance of the early endorsement, stating it would make a “gigantic difference” in the election. Union workers…

Philippine: 120 people onboard a ferry that caught fire off the Philippine island of Bohol on 18th June 2023 have been successfully rescued, according to the country’s coast guard. The incident involved the MV Esperanza Star, which was carrying 65 passengers and 55 officers and crew members while travelling from Siquijor Island to nearby Bohol Island. Videos shared by the Philippine Coast Guard depicted flames and billows of black smoke emerging from the rear of the vessel. Coast guard firefighters from another ship utilized a water cannon to extinguish the fire by around 0200 GMT. The cause of the fire…