Author: News Desk

Ukraine:  The British defence company BAE Systems has stated that it set up a local entity in Ukraine and signed deals with the government to support Kyiv’s supply of weapons and equipment. The move will allow BAE to work directly with Kyiv officials to explore potential partners for a plan to ultimately produce 105-millimetre light guns, a kind of artillery weapon, in Ukraine and to better understand its capability requirements. Being the United Kingdom’s biggest defence contractor, BAE has manufactured many of the weapons that Britain and other governments have provided to Ukraine during Russia’s invasion. Britain is one of…

Iceland: Iceland’s government has ended its summer suspension on whaling and has now permitted hunting to resume under strict regulations. Fisheries and Foods Minister Ms. Svandis Svavarsdottir acknowledged that she comprehends the sentiments of the majority of Icelanders who wish to see an end to whaling. However, the Minister explained that she had to adhere to a legal framework established by the license granted earlier this year by her predecessor. “We are the last nation in the world that is fishing for large whales in this way, and there is only one party doing this whaling,” Ms. Svavarsdottir told reporters.…

China: Hong Kong has taken several measures as Typhoon Saola approaches the southern coast of China. These measures include grounding flights, closing the stock market, and shutting down schools. Saola had wind speeds exceeding 205 kilometres per hour (127 miles per hour) as it approached within 230 kilometres (142 miles) east-southeast of the financial hub at approximately 8:00 AM local time (00:00 GMT), as reported by Hong Kong’s observatory. The observatory stated that the weather would worsen quickly during the day and cautioned about the potential for significant flooding in coastal areas with low elevation. The public was advised to…

United Kingdom: A new study has found that brain fog and fatigue often experienced by people with ‘long COVID’ might be linked to blood clots. Long COVID refers to symptoms that persist for weeks to years after a COVID-19 infection. In a United Kingdom study conducted on 1,837 people admitted to hospitals because of COVID-19, researchers noted that two blood proteins indicate to clots as one cause. It is thought that 16 percent of such patients have had trouble thinking, concentrating, or remembering for at least six months. Long-term COVID can also develop after milder infections. However, the research team,…

United States: A White House adviser said that the United States might step in to help resolve the border dispute between Lebanon and Israel, which has led to tensions and cross-border violence in recent months. After a two-day visit to Lebanon, Mr. Amos Hochstein stated that it was “natural” to resolve the problem, building upon the 2022 agreement that defined the maritime border between Lebanon and Israel. The White House adviser mentioned that he visited southern Lebanon during his trip to gain a better understanding and gather information about what’s necessary to possibly achieve an outcome. “It is time for…

Gabon: The African Union’s Peace and Security Council has announced that it has decided to “immediately suspend” Gabon following the military coup in the country. The Council posted on X that it “strongly condemns the military takeover of power in the Republic of Gabon” and has decided “to immediately suspend the participation of Gabon in all activities of the AU, its organs, and institutions”. The statement came after a meeting of the council on the coup in Gabon that followed disputed elections in which President Mr. Ali Bongo Ondimba was declared the winner. The meeting was chaired by the African…

London, UK: Mr. Grant Shapps was named as the new Defense Secretary after Mr. Ben Wallace resigned. This marks Mr. Shapps’ fifth cabinet position in less than a year, having previously served as Energy Secretary, Transport Secretary, and briefly as Home Secretary. Mr. Ben Wallace will not seek re-election as an MP in the upcoming election. In a statement, Mr. Shapps expressed his commitment to carrying on Mr. Wallace’s backing of Ukraine in their struggle against Mr. Putin. Mr. Shapps expressed his honour at being appointed and praised Mr. Wallace’s significant contribution to UK defence and global security during the…

United States: The United States has approved military aid to Taiwan under a programme that is usually used to assist sovereign states. The move is likely to anger China, which claims the self-ruled democratic island as its own territory. The US Department of State informed Congress about the $80 million package, which marks the first time Washington has provided assistance to Taipei under the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) programme. The move is likely to increase tensions with Beijing, which has not ruled out the use of force to take control of Taiwan. The State Department stressed that the first-ever aid under…

Mexico: The opposition party in Mexico has chosen a female senator as their candidate for the 2024 presidential race. Ms. Xóchitl Gálvez, aged 60, is a computer engineer and entrepreneur. Her nomination increases the possibility of Mexico having its first female president. Ms. Claudia Sheinbaum, a former mayor of Mexico City, is seen as the leading candidate for the Morena party, which is led by leftist President Mr. Andrés Manuel López Obrador. Ms. Gálvez receives support from a three-party coalition that includes the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), which held significant political power in Mexico until 2000. As a child, she…

United Kingdom: A new health review has found that teenagers, young adults, pregnant women, drivers, and mentally ill people should avoid cannabis. The findings were based on an umbrella review conducted by an international expert team over the last two decades. The in-depth evidence review of ‘cannabis and health’ was published in the medical journal BMJ. The study noted that even though cannabis compounds could help people with certain medical conditions, taking the drug could have an adverse effect on some other groups of people. The researchers analysed data from 101 meta-analyses on cannabis use. The studies were published from…