Author: News Desk

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…

Washington: Donald Trump has officially nominated Brooke Rollins, a longtime ally, as the Secretary of Agriculture, finalizing his cabinet appointments. Rollins, the president of the America First Policy Institute, a MAGA-aligned think tank, is tasked with leading efforts to support American farmers, according to Trump. Rollins previously served in key roles during Trump’s first term, including as director of the Office of American Innovation and acting director of the Domestic Policy Council. Trump made the announcement tapping the head of Maga-backed think tank the America First Policy Institute for the job. Trump said in a statement that, “As our next…

London: An artificial intelligence (AI) tool called Squirrel Agent is being hailed as a potential game changer in the battle to save red squirrels in the UK. Developed by Genysys Engine, the system boasts 97 percent accuracy in distinguishing red squirrels from grey squirrels, promising to revolutionise conservation practices. Smart Monitoring Trained on thousands of images, Squirrel Agent uses advanced AI algorithms to identify the species of squirrels visiting feeders. Red squirrels gain access to feeders with nutritious food, while grey squirrels are directed to feeders containing contraceptive paste to manage their population. Emma McClenaghan, the co-founder of Genysys Engine,…

Baku, Azerbaijan: COP29 in Azerbaijan concluded with a landmark pledge from wealthier nations, committing $300 billion (£238 billion) to help developing countries prepare for and mitigate the effects of climate change. However, the talks, which ran 33 hours over schedule, nearly collapsed when developing nations and climate-vulnerable countries staged a walkout on November 22nd afternoon, protesting the slow progress. By 24th November, after some key adjustments to the agreement, the deal was finally passed with mixed reactions. While the announcement was met with applause, India’s impassioned speech underscored ongoing frustrations with the outcome. Several countries, including Switzerland, the Maldives, Canada,…

London: The National Health Service (NHS) is ramping up its vaccination efforts to stave off a potential ‘tripledemic’ this winter, delivering more than 300 vaccinations per minute. Between 30 September and 17 November 2024, the NHS administered a staggering 3.4 million vaccinations each week, with a total of nearly 25 million jabs given to date. The surge in vaccinations, aimed at tackling COVID-19, flu, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), follows concerns over a possible rise in cases during the colder months. The NHS has rolled out an RSV vaccine for the first time this year, targeting vulnerable groups, including older…

Austin: The Texas State Board of Education has narrowly approved a contentious new curriculum, known as the “BlueBonnet” programme, which incorporates Bible-based teachings into public school classrooms for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. While school districts are not mandated to adopt this curriculum, they are offered a financial incentive of $40 per student for purchasing the materials, which include lessons from the books of Genesis, Psalms, and the New Testament. The decision passed with a slim 8-to-7 vote, reflecting deep divisions within the board, as three Republicans joined all four Democratic members in opposition. The passage of Bluebonnet Learning…

Jerusalem: The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas military leader Mr Mohammed Diab Ibrahim Al-Masri, commonly known as ‘Deif’, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity. This is the first time that leaders from a democracy and a Western-aligned country have been charged by the ICC, marking a significant moment in the court’s history. Netanyahu’s office condemned the decision as “antisemitic.” https://twitter.com/netanyahu/status/1859699642809843868 The ICC alleges that Netanyahu and Gallant are responsible for crimes including murder, persecution, inhumane acts, and war crimes such as starvation,…

Washington: President-elect Donald Trump has selected veteran prosecutor Pam Bondi as his nominee for attorney general, following Matt Gaetz’s withdrawal from consideration. Bondi, who has a long history in law enforcement, previously served as Florida’s attorney general. A strong Trump ally, she was part of his legal team during his first Senate impeachment trial and supported him during his hush money trial in New York. In a social media post announcing her nomination, Trump praised Bondi’s nearly 20 years as a prosecutor, highlighting her tough stance on violent criminals and her efforts to keep Florida’s streets safe. Bondi has been…