Author: News Desk

United States: Tropical Storm Beryl has struck southeast Texas with powerful winds and heavy rain, resulting in at least three fatalities, widespread flooding, and significant disruptions. The storm, initially a Category 5 hurricane, weakened as it made landfall near Matagorda, causing storm surges and intense rainfall across Houston, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC). Beryl had previously left a trail of destruction through Jamaica, Grenada, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, claiming 11 lives in Mexico and the Caribbean before reaching Texas. In Houston, two individuals died when trees fell on their homes, and another person drowned in…

Russia: Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has welcomed India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Moscow, calling him his “dear friend” during Modi’s first visit to Russia since the invasion of Ukraine. On Monday, Putin embraced Modi at his home at Novo-Ogaryovo, just outside Moscow, and showed him around the residence. Official talks in the Kremlin are scheduled for Tuesday. Putin reportedly told Modi that he was “very happy” to see him, the Russian state news agency TASS said. Modi stated he was “looking forward to further deepening the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between our nations” as he shared pictures of…

South Korea: Workers from Samsung Electronics Co. went on strike holding a rally to demand higher pay. This marks the largest organised labour action in the South Korean company’s 50-year history. Large portions of the world’s output of high-end chips are produced by Samsung Electronics, the largest memory chip manufacturer in the world. Thousands of workers gathered outside the company’s semiconductor production and foundry in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi, an hour south of Seoul, wearing raincoats and ribbons that said “fight with solidarity”. Since January, Samsung management and the union have been unable to resolve their differences over benefits, and the company…

South Asia: The recent massive floods have ravaged parts of India, Nepal, and Bangladesh, impacting millions and causing numerous fatalities. Large-scale rescue efforts are in progress, with authorities directing thousands to shelters and distributing food and supplies to stranded families. Major rivers such as the Brahmaputra and the Koshi, which traverse multiple countries, have overflowed their banks due to the continuous heavy rain. Floods and landslides are common during South Asia’s monsoon season, which accounts for up to 90 percent of the region’s annual rainfall. In Nepal, authorities reported 14 deaths, with main highways blocked and several bridges swept away…

United States: Boeing has agreed to plead guilty to a criminal fraud conspiracy charge after the US found the company violated a reform agreement following two fatal 737 Max crashes that killed 346 passengers and crew. The plane manufacturer also consented, according to the Department of Justice (DoJ), to pay a $243.6 million (£190 million) criminal penalties. The relatives of those who perished on the flights five years prior, however, have denounced it as a “sweetheart deal” that would absolve Boeing of all liability for the fatalities. Since two almost identical 737 Max aeroplane crashes in 2018 and 2019, the…

Manila: The Philippines and Japan have signed a reciprocal access agreement (RAA), permitting the deployment of their respective military forces on each other’s territories. This milestone agreement was confirmed amidst escalating tensions in the Indo-Pacific region. The agreement was formalised by Philippine Defence Minister Gilberto Teodoro and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa during a ceremony in Manila, in the presence of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The RAA sets up a framework for enhanced military cooperation, simplifying the entry of foreign personnel and equipment for visiting forces. The agreement, the first of its kind between Japan and an Asian country,…

United States: Nicki Minaj has cancelled her performance at the Saga Festival in Bucharest, Romania, citing “safety concerns.” The US rapper was scheduled to perform on Sunday evening. She added, nevertheless, that she had been advised to make “sound decisions” in light of the “protests in the area” to ensure that she could return home to her son and her team’s families. “Well-being of our team and myself” was her motivation for acting, she claimed. She continued, saying that she still hopes to play Friday at the Wireless Festival in London. In a post on X, Minaj shared that, “Out…

Nigeria: The West African leaders’ summit opened in Abuja, Nigeria, just after the military rulers of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have forged a new alliance, effectively severing ties with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Several West African leaders advocate for a renewed dialogue with the three Sahel countries, which had signed the new defence pact in Niamey, Niger’s capital. The pact, known as the Alliance of Sahel States, was initially announced in September. It enables Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger to collaborate in the face of armed rebellion or external aggression. These countries withdrew from ECOWAS…

London: Sir Keir Starmer is set to meet with First Minister John Swinney in his inaugural visit to Scotland as Prime Minister. This marks the start of Starmer’s nationwide tour following the election victory. The visit significantly bolsters the Labour Party representation in Scotland with 37 MPs, up from just one in 2019. After convening his initial cabinet meeting, Sir Keir announced plans to travel across all four UK nations before attending a NATO summit in Washington. Expressing his commitment to governing all corners of the UK, Sir Keir emphasized the need for a renewed approach to intergovernmental collaboration. “For the…

New York: Jon Landau, the visionary producer behind iconic films like Titanic and Avatar, has passed away at the age of 63. His death was announced by Alan Bergman, co-chair of Disney Entertainment, in a heartfelt statement. The cause of death was not disclosed. “Jon was a visionary whose extraordinary talent and passion brought some of the most unforgettable stories to life on the big screen. His remarkable contributions to the film industry have left an indelible mark, and he will be profoundly missed,” Bergman stated. Landau’s illustrious career began in the 1980s as a production manager, eventually rising to…