Author: News Desk

China: China announced that all types of visas will once again be issued, reopening its borders to international travellers for the first time in the three years following the COVID-19 pandemic. Following last month’s declaration of victory by authorities over a recent COVID-19 outbreak, this final cross-border control measure has been lifted. A $17 trillion economy that last year experienced one of its worst rates of growth in nearly 50 years should be revitalised by the boost to the tourism industry. Visa-free entrance will once again be available in parts of China that did not require them before the outbreak,…

Ukraine: Ukraine has stated that Russia’s proposal to extend the wartime grain export deal for 60 days goes against the agreement between the two countries. Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Mr. Oleksandr Kubrakov commented that a 60-day extension contradicts the documents signed by guarantors Turkey and the UN but did not reject the proposal. “The grain agreement involves at least 120 days of extension. Therefore, Russia’s position to extend the deal only for 60 days contradicts the document signed by Turkey and the UN,” Mr. Kubrakov posted on Twitter. “We’re waiting for the official position of the UN and Turkey as the…

United States: A new report has stated that the end of extreme poverty may finally be achieved by 2050, spurred by economic growth in low-income countries. According to a Centre for Global Development (CGD) report, though the COVID pandemic adversely affected efforts to eradicate extreme poverty and additional challenges will emerge, the damage may have a very limited impact on the overall trajectory of economic growth. “We know the world is going to look very different in 2050, and climate change is a huge concern for the future. But we can’t let it overshadow the fact that continued economic growth…

United States: The US government has announced that people and businesses who have money deposited with the failed US bank Sillicon Valley Bank (SVB) will be able to access their cash. A statement from the US Treasury, the Federal Reserve, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) promised that depositors would be fully protected. “The taxpayer will not bear any losses from the move,” the statement added. SVB was shut down by regulators, who recently seized its assets. It was the largest failure of a US bank since the financial crisis in 2008. The move came as the bank was…

Iraq: Iraq’s Prime Minister unveiled a plan to plant five million palm trees as part of a push to mitigate the severe effects of climate change on the country’s water shortage. Iraq, which is oil-rich but war-torn, experiences high summer heat, frequent droughts, desertification, and frequent dust storms, all made worse by a warming globe. More than seven million Iraqis have already been impacted by climate change, and hundreds of thousands have been forced to leave their homes due to drought, according to Prime Minister Mr. Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. The PM listed issues that “threaten food, health, environmental, and community security,”…

United States: The United States has accused Iran of making “cruel” false claims about prisoner exchanges agreed between the two countries. The Iranian Foreign Minister Mr. Hossein Amir-Abdollahian recently commented that a deal had been discussed and would probably come into effect soon. But a White House security spokesperson denied these claims, stating that Iranian officials did not hesitate to “make things up.” “The latest claim would cause heartache for affected families,” the US statement added. Mr. Amir-Abdollahian told that an agreement had been reached in recent days and that “if everything goes well on the US side, I think…

United States: Authorities in the US state of Texas have instructed American citizens not travel to Mexico during the spring break holidays for security reasons. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) remarked that drug cartel violence represented a significant threat for anyone crossing into Mexico. The announcement comes after four Americans were kidnapped recently after crossing the border. Two of them were murdered, while two were released unharmed. In addition, three American women who went to Mexico to sell clothes at a market have been missing for more than two weeks. “Drug cartel violence and other criminal activity represent…

France: The French Senate has approved President Emmanuel Macron’s unpopular pension reform plan, amid thousands of protesters rallying across the country to oppose the changes. Senators passed the reforms by 195 votes to 112, bringing the package another step closer to becoming law. A committee will frame a final draft, which will be submitted to the Senate and National Assembly for a final vote. “An important step was taken this evening with a broad vote on the pension reform text in the Senate,” the French Prime Minister, Ms. Elisabeth Borne, stated after the vote, adding that she believed the government…

United Kingdom: The United Kingdom Prime Minister Mr. Rishi Sunak will fly to San Diego to unveil plans for supplying nuclear-powered submarines to Australia under the AUKUS scheme amid concerns over the growing threat from China. A major announcement is expected to be made when the UK prime minister meets with his Australian counterpart, Mr. Anthony Albanese, and US President Mr. Joe Biden. As a response to concerns about China’s economic coercion and foreign policies, the UK’s defence and security strategy for the 2020s will be updated. The revised version is due to be published at the upcoming meeting in…

Indonesia: One of the most active volcanoes in the world, Mount Merapi in Indonesia, erupted, dumping smoke and ash over nearby towns. According to the nation’s disaster mitigation agency, there were no early reports of injuries. Pictures seen on local media showed ash-covered homes and streets in a community close to the volcano, which is on Java Island and not far from Yogyakarta, the cultural centre of Indonesia. The ash cloud, as reported by the Merapi Volcano Observatory, rose 9,600 feet (3,000 metres) above the summit. After the eruption, which was detected at 12:12 PM, authorities set up a restricted…