Author: News Desk

Hanoi, Vietnam: Bank fraud mastermind Truong My Lan, a 68-year-old Vietnamese property tycoon, has lost her appeal against a death sentence for orchestrating the world’s largest financial scandal. In April the trial court found that Truong My Lan had secretly controlled Saigon Commercial Bank, the country’s fifth biggest lender, and taken out loans and cash over more than 10 years through a web of shell companies, amounting to a total of $44bn (£34.5bn). Of this amount, $27 billion was misappropriated, and $12 billion embezzled, leading to her death sentence for the latter—the most severe financial crime. The court upheld the verdict, but…

Nigeria: Nigeria, the country with the highest malaria-related deaths globally, has begun administering a vaccine against the disease for the first time. The milestone marks a significant step in combating a disease that accounts for nearly a third of global malaria deaths annually, with children and pregnant women among the most vulnerable. The vaccine, R21/Matrix-M, developed by the Jenner Institute at Oxford University, is the second malaria vaccine approved by the World Health Organization (WHO). The vaccine is 75 percent effective and is currently being administered to children aged 5 to 15 months. The initial rollout started in Bayelsa and…

Oxford, England: Oxford’s Word of the Year for 2024 is “brain rot,” reflecting growing concerns about the mental effects of excessive social media use and mind-numbing online content. The term, which refers to the supposed deterioration of a person’s mental state due to consuming trivial or unchallenging material, gained prominence this year as a way to describe the negative impact of low-quality content, particularly on social media platforms. More than 37,000 people voted to select the word from a shortlist of six, drawn up by Oxford University Press, the publisher of the Oxford English Dictionary. “Brain rot” was first used…

N’zérékoré, Guinea: Dozens of people have reportedly lost their lives in a stampede following clashes at a football match in N’zérékoré, Guinea’s second-largest city. Prime Minister Mamadou Oury Bah confirmed the incident, urging calm as authorities work to stabilize the situation. Official casualty numbers have not yet been released. A doctor, speaking anonymously, reported that numerous bodies were “lined up” at the local hospital, with the morgue at full capacity. The chaos reportedly began when fans of the visiting team, Labé, threw stones onto the pitch, angry over a referee’s decision. Police responded with tear gas, triggering a stampede. https://twitter.com/bahourykigna/status/1863336632142749979…

The Hague: The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has commenced historic hearings to address the legal responsibilities of nations in combating climate change and assisting vulnerable nations in mitigating its devastating impacts. The hearings, stemming from a 2023 UN General Assembly request, mark a major moment in international climate diplomacy. Over 100 countries and organisations are participating, seeking clarity on state obligations regarding climate action and the repercussions of inaction. REMINDER: the public hearings in the advisory proceedings on Obligations of States in respect of Climate Change will open next Monday, 2 December 2024 at 10 a.m. (The Hague time),…

Washington: United States President Joe Biden has issued a full pardon to his son, Hunter Biden, ahead of his sentencing for gun and tax-related convictions. The decision marks a significant reversal of Biden’s earlier pledge not to use presidential clemency powers for his son. In a statement released by the White House, Biden said Hunter had been “singled out” and subjected to “selective and unfair” prosecution due to his family name. “In trying to break Hunter, they’ve tried to break me. Enough is enough,” Biden declared, defending his controversial decision as a necessary step against what he called a miscarriage…

Geneva: On World AIDS Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Southeast Asia, Saima Wazed, has emphasised the urgent need for global commitment to combat HIV/AIDS, calling on leaders and citizens to address the inequalities that continue to hinder progress in the fight against the disease. Under this year’s theme, “Take the Rights Path,” Wazed stressed the importance of ensuring that people living with HIV have access to essential healthcare free from stigma and discrimination. “A rights-based approach is not just a strategy; it is a commitment to upholding the dignity and health of every individual, especially those…

Malaysia: Devastating flooding caused by heavy rains in Malaysia and neighbouring Thailand has claimed at least 12 lives and displaced over 135,000 people. As storm warnings remain in effect, the toll is expected to rise. In northern Malaysia, more than 122,000 people have been forced from their homes, with the worst-hit area being the northeastern state of Kelantan. In Thailand, southern provinces have also been severely affected, with around 13,000 people displaced. Disaster officials in Thailand report that nearly 534,000 households in six southern provinces have been impacted, while Malaysia has also seen widespread evacuations. The flooding, which began earlier…

London, UK: MPs in England and Wales have voted in favor of a bill to legalize assisted dying, marking a historic step toward changing the law. In the first vote on this issue in nearly ten years. The bill was approved with a majority of 55, receiving 330 votes in favor and 275 against. The proposal allows terminally ill adults with a life expectancy of six months or less to request assistance in ending their lives, provided they meet strict criteria, including approval from two doctors and a High Court judge. Following a deeply emotional debate, campaigners celebrated outside Parliament,…

Sriharikota, India: Final preparations are underway for the European Space Agency’s (£166m) Proba-3 mission, which will use satellites in close formation to create artificial solar eclipses. The mission, ESA’s first venture into precise formation flying, involves two spacecraft orbiting Earth with millimetre-level accuracy, equivalent to the thickness of a human fingernail. Scheduled to launch from India’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre at 4:08 PM IST (10:38 AM UK time) on 4th of December, the spacecraft will travel for four months to reach a highly elliptical orbit ranging from 370 miles to 37,000 miles from Earth. If the satellites function as planned,…