Author: News Desk

London: Paddington Bear – official name Paddington Brown – has been granted a British passport by the Home Office in a delightful nod to the character’s British heritage. This whimsical gesture comes just ahead of the release of his latest film, Paddington in Peru, scheduled for November 8, 2024. The passport features playful design elements that set it apart from standard UK passports, including unique fonts and humorous details. As an iconic figure in British culture, Paddington’s passport symbolizes not only his adventures but also the warmth and charm he brings to audiences worldwide. Fans are excited about his upcoming…

Kazan: As the BRICS summit convenes in Kazan, Russia seeks to emphasise the growing influence of the non-Western world, but faces mounting pressure from partners such as China, India, Brazil, and the Arab world to find a resolution to the war in Ukraine. BRICS: A Rising Global Force The BRICS bloc- representing 45 percent of the world’s population and 35 percent of global economic output (by purchasing power parity) showcases the shifting dynamics of global power, with China contributing more than half of the group’s economic strength. Russian President Vladimir Putin highlights that the group does not oppose the West…

Canberra: King Charles faced a direct protest from Indigenous senator and activist Lidia Thorpe at Australia’s Parliament House on Monday, shortly after delivering a speech in which he paid “respects to the traditional owners of the lands.” On his 16th official visit to Australia and his first major foreign engagement since a cancer diagnosis, Charles had just concluded his address when Thorpe interrupted with a passionate protest against colonialism. “You committed genocide against our people. Give us our land back. Give us what you stole from us—our bones, our skulls, our babies, our people. You destroyed our land. Give us…

Jakarta: The newly elected President of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto officially swore in his cabinet on Monday. The ceremony signals a major commitment to maintaining the core policies of his predecessor, Joko “Jokowi” Widodo. Prabowo, who took office on Sunday as Indonesia’s eighth president, addressed lawmakers with a passionate speech emphasising his administration’s focus on eradicating corruption and achieving self-sufficiency in food and energy. The cabinet comprises 48 ministries and includes over 100 ministers and deputies, with several key figures from Jokowi’s administration retained in their roles. Notably, Sri Mulyani Indrawati has been reappointed as Finance Minister, along with Bahlil Lahadalia…

Lancaster, Pennsylvania: Kamala Harris celebrated her 60th birthday on Sunday (October 20) during the crucial final weeks of a tight U.S. election. Harris made campaign stops at Black churches in Georgia while her 78-year-old opponent, Donald Trump, served fries at a Pennsylvania McDonald’s to attract blue-collar voters. At one of Harris’s events in a suburb of Atlanta, music icon Stevie Wonder sang a special rendition of “Happy Birthday” to her, encouraging voters to “consider more than just themselves when casting their ballots.” In brief remarks Harris echoed sentiment, saying that, “Ours is a country that is about doing things that…

Cairo: Egypt has officially been certified malaria-free, with the World Health Organization (WHO) EMRO, praising the achievement as “truly historic” after nearly a century of efforts to eradicate the disease. A historic achievement WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement that, “Malaria is as old as Egyptian civilization itself, but the disease that plagued pharaohs now belongs to its history and not its future.” The Director emphasized that the certification is a testament to Egypt’s commitment to eliminating the ancient scourge. Global context Worldwide, 44 countries and one territory have now been certified as malaria-free by the WHO.…

Stockholm: Eutelsat, the world’s third-largest satellite operator by revenue, has successfully launched 20 satellites for its communications network on Sunday. The launch, conducted by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, marks the company’s first move following its merger with OneWeb last year. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base at 0513 GMT, carrying the Eutelsat satellites into orbit. The mission is particularly significant, as it represents the first OneWeb launch since the two companies merged in September 2022. “This is the first OneWeb launch of the satellites since the merger. We will be launching more satellites over…

Havana: The Cuban government has restored electricity to nearly 20 percent of the population after a catastrophic collapse of the national grid, which plunged millions into darkness twice within 24 hours. The unprecedented blackout compounds the struggles of the nation’s 10 million residents, who are already grappling with severe shortages of food, medicine, and fuel. Lazaro Guerra, Cuba’s chief electricity official, stated that the grid operator was working diligently to restore power, but cautioned that the process would be slow. Rushing repairs could lead to further blackouts and a deterioration of service. As of Saturday evening, the capital, Havana, remained…

New York: The UN Security Council has unanimously voted to expand its arms embargo on Haiti due to serious concerns about the alarming levels of gang violence in the country. The embargo now covers all types of arms and ammunition in Haiti, which is grappling with numerous challenges. The resolution empowers the 193 UN member states to take “appropriate steps” to prevent the illegal trafficking and diversion of arms and related materials into Haiti. Additionally, it extends a travel ban and asset freeze on gang members and other criminals listed on the UN’s blacklist. Haiti has experienced years of instability,…

Washington DC: Donald Trump referred to US District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan as “the most evil person” after the Judge unsealed over 1,800 pages of evidence in Special Counsel Jack Smith’s election conspiracy case against him. Trump criticized the Judges’ decision to reject his request to delay the release of this evidence until after the upcoming vote, claiming it constituted “election interference.” The nearly 1,900 pages of documents compiled by Special Counsel Jack Smith were originally sealed to assist US District Judge Tanya Chutkan in determining which allegations could proceed to trial. This followed a Supreme Court ruling in July…