Author: News Desk

GAZA: Food distribution in Rafah, in southern Gaza, has been suspended, according to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), because of a shortage of supplies and insecurity in the heavily populated area. In a statement on Tuesday, UNRWA stated that just seven of its twenty-four health centres were operating and that, as a result of “closures/disruptions” at the Rafah and Karem Abu Salem crossings into Gaza (known as Kerem Shalom in Israel), the organization had not received any medical supplies in the previous ten days. Since Israel took control of and blocked the Palestinian side of the Rafah land…

United Kingdom: BMW, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), and Volkswagen (VW) have used parts manufactured by a supplier on a list of businesses prohibited due to possible ties to Chinese forced labour as per the US congressional report. The Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden’s staff research stated that at least 8,000 BMW Mini Cooper automobiles were smuggled into the US using parts from the outlawed Chinese company Sichuan Jingweida Technology Group (JWD). The investigation also stated that once the company was placed on the prohibited list, Jaguar Land Rover began importing spare parts, some of which were components from JWD.…

Australia: The Australian and New Zealand governments announced that they were sending planes to evacuate their citizens from violence-hit New Caledonia. The French government has permitted Australia to send two planes to evacuate tourists and citizens from New Caledonia, amid the violent unrest that has engulfed the French Pacific archipelago, where native people have long sought independence from France, according to Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong. “We continue to work on further flights,” Wong wrote on the social media platform X on Tuesday. There are 300 Australians in New Caledonia, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs. Additionally, New Zealand…

United States: US President Joe Biden has defended Israel against accusations of war crimes in the world’s highest courts. Following the announcement by Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan of the International Criminal Court (ICC) that he was requesting arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant due to suspected war crimes during the Gaza conflict, Biden made his statements. At a Jewish American Heritage Month event held at the White House on Monday, Biden declared, “Let me be clear, we reject the ICC’s application for arrest warrants against Israeli leaders.” On the same day, Khan announced…

Iran: Iranian state media has confirmed that Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi had died in a helicopter crash in hazy weather in the mountains close to the Azerbaijani border. Among the dead was Hossein Amir-abdollahian, the foreign minister. “All passengers of the helicopter carrying the Iranian president and foreign minister were martyred,” the Mehr news agency in Iran said. Concerns have been mounting for the 63-year-old ultraconservative since Sunday, when the plane lost communication with it while flying over foggy mountains in northwest Iran. Later, footage of drone operators scouring the forested slopes surfaced online, and drone photos of what seemed…

Indonesia: Elon Musk has launched SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet services in Indonesia to improve internet access in rural areas. The SpaceX founder told local reporters during the ceremony on Sunday that he was “very excited” to deliver internet services to places with little to no connectivity and that internet connectivity can be “a life-saver to remote medical clinics.” The event was held at a community health facility in Bali. “It is really important to emphasize the importance of internet connectivity and how much of a life-changer and a life-saver it can be,” Musk told local media. In addition to developing…

United Kingdom: Manchester City made English football history by defeating West Ham 3-1 to win the Premier League for the fourth time in a row and break Arsenal’s hearts as Jurgen Klopp left Liverpool in an emotional exit. At a packed Etihad Stadium on Sunday, Phil Foden scored two goals early to put his team in the lead before Mohammed Kudus pulled one back with a fantastic overhead kick. However, Rodri scored just before the hour mark to give City their two-goal lead back, and the home team hardly looked vulnerable as they cruised to victory. Arsenal knew that a…

HCM City, Vietnam: The second Ho Chi Minh City River Festival 2024 is set to take place from May 31 to June 9 at various venues including Nha Rong-Khanh Hoi Wharf, Saigon Cruise Port, and other tourist hotspots. This year’s festival promises a vibrant mix of cultural, culinary, and entertainment activities, according to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA). The festival aims to transform Ho Chi Minh City into a prime destination for waterway tourism. A standout feature of the event is the signature show titled “The Story of a River,” which narrates the history of boats significant to the region.…

Brussels: New reports from the World Bank and European Commission reveal that Europe, the fastest-warming continent, urgently needs increased investment in disaster resilience and climate change adaptation. The reports estimate that annual adaptation costs for the EU could reach up to €64 billion by the 2030s. Last year’s record-breaking temperatures resulted in over €77 billion in disaster-related losses across Europe. Without action, projected costs could reach 7% of EU GDP. The reports highlight that while European countries are taking steps to enhance resilience, more comprehensive efforts are needed. Many critical sectors, including emergency services, are exposed to multiple natural hazards,…

Researchers have warned that people with brain disorders may experience poor health effects from climate change due to its effects on weather patterns and unfavourable weather events. Several illnesses, including stroke, migraines, meningitis, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s, can get worse with rising temperatures and humidity levels. The team, led by Professor Sanjay Sisodiya of the UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, stated that they anticipate a significant impact of climate change on neurological disorders after reviewing 332 studies that were published worldwide between 1968 and 2023. Professor Sisodiya, who founded Epilepsy environment Change and serves as…