Author: News Desk

Beijing: China has successfully test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) carrying a dummy warhead into the Pacific Ocean, for the first time in decades. Beijing’s defence ministry said that, “The ICMB was launched and fell into expected sea areas,” adding that the test launch was a part of its routine and ‘annual training.’ China typically conducts its nuclear weapon tests domestically, having previously test-fired ICBMs westward into the Taklamakan Desert in the Xinjiang region. This is thought to be the first instance since 1980 that the country has launched an ICBM into international waters. The type of missile and its flight…

New York: US President Joe Biden has emphasized the United States’ commitment to preventing a full-scale war in the Middle East. Biden made his remarks in the final address at the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79). Biden addressed the rising conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, stressing that, “full-scale war is not in anyone’s interest, but the Israel-Lebanon crisis is now on the brink,” and urged for a diplomatic solution. Biden also said that, “The rise of violence against innocent Palestinians on the West Bank, and the need to set the conditions for a better future, which…

Washington DC: TikTok has banned multiple accounts linked to Russian state media a significant move ahead of the upcoming U.S. elections. This decision stems from concerns about covert influence operations aimed at manipulating public opinion and disrupting the electoral process. The accounts affected belong to the media group Rossiya Segodnya, which operates the RIA Novosti and Sputnik news services, as well as TV-Novosti, the parent organization of the RT news channel. TikTok stated that these accounts had previously faced restrictions in the UK and EU, and their global content was labelled as state-controlled media. However, they are now believed to…

Beirut, Lebanon: World leaders and the United Nations called for an urgent ceasefire, amid escalating war tensions. At least 492 people, including 35 children, were killed, and 1,645 others wounded following a day of intense Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon, as reported by the country’s Health Ministry. Hezbollah retaliated with missile attacks on Israeli airbases. Gaza death toll has hiked to over 41,000, while more than 1,139 Israelis have died since the Hamas-led attacks on October 7. UN Secretary-General António Guterres.  says that he is alarmed by the escalating situation and the large number of civilian casualties, amidst the most intense Israeli…

Colombo, Sri Lanka: Anura Kumara Dissanayake has officially taken the oath as the 9th Executive President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka in the presence of Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya at the Presidential Secretariat. The ceremony, marks a significant moment in the country’s political landscape. After taking the oath Dissanayake said that, “I will do my best to fully restore the people’s confidence in politicians, I am not a conjurer, I am not a magician, there are things I know and things I don’t know, but I will seek the best advice and do my best. For that,…

Hawthorne, California: Elon Musk has asserted that he would take “anyone” to Mars except if Kamala Harris becomes President of the United States. Musk informed his followers on X that within two years, he plans to launch five spaceships to Mars. Musk said that, another Democratic presidency “would destroy the Mars programme and doom humanity, we will never reach Mars if Kamala wins.” This is also a point Republican candidate Trump gave while his speech, he vowed to reach Mars during his presidency if his supporters get him to the White House. Trump said that, “I’ll talk to Elon, to get those…

Singapore: Singapore, widely recognized for its low corruption levels, is preparing for a major corruption trial and this marks the largest scandal in 4 decades for the city-state. Former Transport Minister S. Iswaran is at the centre of a high-profile corruption case. Iswaran is set to stand trial soon facing 35 charges that include receiving valuables as a public servant, corruption, and obstructing justice. Singapore’s regulations prohibit civil servants and political figures from accepting gifts valued over 50 Singapore dollars (about $38) in the course of their official duties. The charges stem from his alleged involvement in receiving over 400,000…

Bern: Switzerland has held a popular vote on two of its major national issues. The first demanded that authorities take more action to protect biodiversity, while the second was a government-backed reform on pension funding. Projected results show that voters rejected both proposals. The “biodiversity initiative,” which sought to amend laws to reserve additional land for conservation besides the borders of areas already protected in the Alpine Republic, had already been rejected by the parliament and government. The Green Liberal Party of Switzerland expressed disappointment with the result and stated that more work needs to be done to protect the environment. Half of Switzerland’s habitats and…

Ishikawa, Japan: Thousands of residents in Ishikawa Prefecture have been ordered to evacuate as unprecedented rains have triggered severe floods and mudslides in the region. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued its highest alert level for Ishikawa and that 3 people were reported missing in the prefecture’s Wajima city due to the flood. Approximately 44,700 people in Wajima, Suzu, and Noto town have been ordered to evacuate. JMA forecaster Satoshi Sugimoto informed reporters that the affected areas were experiencing “unprecedented levels of heavy rain” and stressed that, “It is a situation where immediate safety measures must be taken.” An additional…

Kyiv, Ukraine: Ukraine has implemented a ban on the use of the messaging app Telegram for officials on state-issued devices, citing security concerns as the primary reason. This decision, announced by the government, reflects ongoing worries about the potential for information leaks and the app’s vulnerability to foreign influence. The National Security and Defence Council announced the restrictions following a presentation by Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukraine’s GUR military intelligence agency. He provided the council with evidence demonstrating that Russian special services could monitor activities on the platform. They also mentioned that, the ban was a ‘matter of national…