Author: News Desk

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…

Montevideo, Uruguay: Yamandu Orsi, the candidate from the left-wing Broad Front coalition, is projected to win Uruguay’s presidential run-off, defeating Alvaro Delgado of the ruling National Party in a tight race, while Carolina Cosse has been elected as the Vice President. Despite public opinion polls indicating a close contest leading up to the election, Orsi surged ahead as the results came in. His supporters celebrated in the streets of Montevideo, waving the Broad Front’s red, blue, and white flag. Orsi’s victory marks the return of the Broad Front to power, after a five-year hiatus following the presidency of Luis Lacalle…

Nunavik: The Canadian government has formally apologised to the Inuit of northern Quebec for the mass killing of sled dogs in the 1950s and 1960s. The devastating event had disrupted Inuit communities by depriving them of the means to hunt and travel across the vast northern terrain. Gary Anandasangaree, Canada’s Federal Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, delivered the apology in Kangiqsujuaq, Nunavik. Anandasangaree acknowledged the government’s role in this historical injustice and announced a compensation package of CAD 45 million ($32.19 million) to support the affected communities. The mass slaughter of sled dogs, known as qimmiit, was carried out by the…