Author: News Desk

London: The Keir Starmer-led government is facing criticism for failing to appoint new members to the EU-UK inter-parliamentary partnership assembly (PPA) for over four months since the July general election. The delay comes as calls grow for the UK to strengthen ties with the European Union following Donald Trump’s recent re-election to the White House. Sandro Gozi, the newly elected chair of the 70-member PPA and former Italian government minister, joined forces with Stella Creasy MP, chair of the Labour Movement for Europe, to emphasise the urgency of restoring the PPA’s function. Established in 2021, the PPA serves as a…

Valencia, Spain: A large number of people have taken to the streets in Valencia, protesting the authorities’ response to the recent deadly floods and calling for the resignation of regional leader Carlos Mazón. Over 130,000 people flooded the streets of Valencia, protesting the authorities’ handling of the recent deadly floods. Demonstrators chanted, “We are stained with mud; you are stained with blood.” More than 200 people lost their lives in the flooding that struck Valencia and surrounding provinces in October, caused by torrential rains. As of now, 80 people remain missing. Protesters are accusing local authorities of issuing flood warnings…

Cape Town: Prince William has expressed his desire for the monarchy to evolve, stating he wants to fulfil his duties with a “smaller r in the royal.” During his recent visit to South Africa, where he combined both informal and traditional royal elements, the Prince of Wales explained that he was aiming to approach his role differently. While in Cape Town, Prince William met with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and also participated in casual events and dressed informally. When asked about his approach to royal engagements, Prince said that, “I can only describe what I’m trying to do, which…

Doha: Qatar has decided to pause its mediation efforts between Hamas and Israel, demanding that both sides demonstrate “willingness and seriousness” to resume peace talks, according to a statement from its foreign ministry on Saturday. The decision comes amid ongoing violence in Gaza, which has seen over 43,500 Palestinians killed since the war escalated in October 2023. The Gulf nation, which has been working closely with the United States and Egypt to broker a ceasefire and secure the release of hostages, has faced challenges in advancing negotiations. Qatar’s latest move could complicate the already frail diplomatic efforts. The country had…

London: Britain appointed Jonathan Powell, former chief of staff to Prime Minister Tony Blair, as its new national security adviser. In this critical role, Powell will address global security threats and work to strengthen ties with the incoming US administration under President-elect Donald Trump. Powell, who served as a diplomat in the UK Foreign Office for a decade, is best known for his pivotal role in negotiating the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, which helped end decades of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland. His extensive experience in global conflict resolution has earned him praise as “uniquely qualified” to tackle national security…

Washington: President Joe Biden will make history as the first sitting US president to visit the Brazilian Amazon, a move symbolising his administration’s climate priorities amid an impending shift under President-elect Donald Trump. Biden will travel to Manaus, a major city in the heart of the Amazon rainforest, as part of his South American tour of Brazil and Peru from November 14 to 19. The White House confirmed Biden’s visit to Manaus, where he will meet with local and indigenous leaders dedicated to preserving the Amazon, a crucial ecosystem in the fight against climate change. The vast Amazon forests absorb…

Buenos Aires: According to the Argentine prosecutor’s office, three individuals have been charged in connection with the death of One Direction singer Liam Payne. Argentinian authorities have been investigating Payne’s final days at the hotel and they reported that Payne had traces of alcohol, cocaine, and a prescription antidepressant in his system at the time of his death. They had reviewed over 800 hours of security footage from the hotel and surrounding public areas and gathered numerous testimonies from hotel staff, family members, friends, and medical professionals. The individuals charged include someone close to Payne, a hotel staff member, and an…

California: Thousands of residents have been ordered to evacuate parts of California as a devastating wildfire continues to spread. The blaze, which was first reported near Moorpark—about 40 miles northwest of Los Angeles—has been fueled by strong winds. Governor Gavin Newsom confirmed that over 10,000 evacuation orders have been issued, with 3,500 homes and other structures at risk. Federal funds have been allocated to assist in firefighting efforts. The National Weather Service forecasts a significant drop in wind speeds by Thursday night, but cautioned that conditions for heightened fire risk will remain in effect. Ventura County Fire Chief Dustin Gardner…

Sydney: Australian breaker Rachael Gunn, known as B-girl Raygun, has decided to retire from competition after the backlash surrounding her performance at the Paris Olympics 2024. Despite not scoring in any of her three rounds, Gunn’s routine, which featured unconventional moves like the sprinkler and kangaroo hop, gained international attention but also sparked ridicule and conspiracy theories about her qualification. The 37-year-old university lecturer at Macquarie University, who initially planned to continue competing, cited the upsetting response as the reason for her retirement decision. Gunn faced a flood of violent messages after the Olympics and was the target of an…

Brussels: The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) of the European Union has announced that 2024 is “virtually certain” to surpass 2023 as the hottest year on record. The data release comes ahead of the UN COP29 climate summit next week in Azerbaijan, where nations will aim to negotiate a significant increase in funding to combat climate change. However, expectations for the summit have been tempered following Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election. From January to October, global temperatures have been so elevated that 2024 is guaranteed to be the hottest year ever recorded unless the temperature anomaly drops…