Author: News Desk

Gaydon, UK: Aston Martin has revealed it is seeking to raise funds after issuing its second profit warning in two months. The luxury car maker now forecasts a profit of up to £280m ($352m) for 2024, down from £305.9m last year. The shortfall was attributed to a “minor delay” in the delivery of its exclusive Valiant models. In addition, the company cited weak demand in China, where a slowing economy has impacted sales of high-end goods. To strengthen its finances, Aston Martin plans to issue £210m in new shares and debt. CEO Adrian Hallmark stated that the financing would support…

Washington DC: President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team has signed a memorandum of understanding with the outgoing Biden administration to begin preparations for his second term in the White House. However, the memorandum notably bypassed certain protocols, such as an ethics agreement that would have required transparency about the funding sources for Trump’s transition effort, as well as background checks for nominees to high-level government positions—areas where Trump has deviated from traditional political practices. Despite this, Trump’s incoming chief of staff, Susie Wiles, described the memorandum as a positive step, stating it would allow Cabinet nominees to start critical preparations, including…

Washington/Beirut/Jerusalem: A historic ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, brokered by the United States and France, took effect Wednesday, ending a deadly conflict across the Israeli-Lebanese border. US President Joe Biden announced the agreement on Tuesday, hailing it as a step toward lasting peace. Agreement Details The ceasefire aims to end hostilities that have claimed thousands of lives since the Gaza war reignited regional tensions last year. Approved by Israel’s security cabinet in a decisive 10-1 vote, the accord began at 4 a.m. local time (0200 GMT). President Biden emphasised the pact’s significance, stating that, “This is designed to be a…

Singapore: On Singapore’s outlying island of Pulau Ubin, a group of longtime residents still recount the arrival of a solar grid 11 years ago as a transformative moment. For those living in this small rural haven, the solar power system represented more than just a practical improvement- it was a miracle in a place where electricity had once been a costly luxury. The island, spanning just 10 square kilometers (4 square miles), is a rare patch of nature in contrast to the sleek skyscrapers of Singapore’s bustling urban centre. Home to rich biodiversity and wetlands once at risk of reclamation,…

Northern Ireland: Starting in 2026, food producers in Northern Ireland will be required by law to add folic acid to non-whole meal flour. The legislation, introduced by the Department of Health (DoH), aims to protect newborns from serious brain and spine defects. This move follows a recommendation by the Westminster government’s independent advisory body, and similar laws will be implemented across the UK. Health Minister Mike Nesbitt emphasized that this measure, already adopted in over 80 countries, has proven benefits. Folic acid is crucial during early pregnancy for the proper development of the brain, skull, and spinal cord in babies.…

Sydney: Google and Meta Platforms have urged the Australian government to postpone the introduction of a bill that would ban most social media usage for children under the age of 16. Both tech giants argue that more time is needed to fully assess the potential impacts of the legislation, which is set to be some of the strictest social media regulation for minors globally. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s centre-left government aims to pass the bill, which would impose stringent controls on children’s social media usage, by the end of the parliamentary year. Introduced in parliament last week, the bill opened…

Washington DC: A federal judge has dismissed a major election case against Donald Trump, which alleged that he illegally sought to overturn the results of the 2020 election. The dismissal followed a request from special prosecutor Jack Smith, who cited a Justice Department policy that prevents the prosecution of a sitting president. The case was dismissed “without prejudice,” meaning that charges could be refiled once Trump completes his second term in office. Smith had also asked for the dismissal of a separate case concerning Trump’s handling of classified documents, but that request still requires approval by a judge. Trump, who…

Geneva: A new report by UN Women has revealed a chilling statistic: an estimated 140 women and girls are killed every day by their partner or family member, underlining the global scale of femicide, the gender-related killing of women and girls. According to the report, a total of 85,000 women and girls were intentionally killed in 2023, with 60 percent (51,100) of these deaths committed by someone close to the victim. The UN’s findings paint a disturbing picture, showing that, globally, the most dangerous place for a woman is within her own home, where the majority of femicides occur. Nyaradzayi…

Manila: Huge fire engulfed a closely-built shanty community in the port area of Manila, leaving at least 2,000 families homeless, according to City’s disaster management office. The blaze, which erupted in the morning, destroyed about 1,000 homes constructed from light, combustible materials. Firefighter Alejandro Ramos of the Manila City Fire Department said the fire spread quickly due to strong winds from Manila Bay and the narrow streets of the residential community, which made firefighting efforts difficult. The area, home to illegal settlers, was densely populated, and fleeing residents crowded the streets, complicating access for emergency responders. In response, the Philippine…

Busan: Delegates from 175 countries gathered in Busan, South Korea, on Monday for the fifth round of talks aimed at securing a global treaty to curb plastic pollution. South Korea is hosting the UN Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) meeting this week, which is expected to be the final round of negotiations. The previous round of talks in Ottawa in April ended without a clear pathway forward on capping plastic production. As a result, discussions will now focus on chemicals of concern and other measures, with key petrochemical-producing nations such as Saudi Arabia and China strongly opposing efforts to limit plastic…