Author: News Desk

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…

Russia: Russia is expelling Britain’s defence attaché to Moscow in a diplomatic tit-for-tat after the UK accused Russia of sponsoring espionage and hacking attacks against top British officials in a long-term campaign of “malign activity.” Adrian Coghill, the British defence attaché, was labelled “persona non grata” by the Russian foreign ministry. Within a week, he has to depart from Russian Federation territory. It was a reaction to the UK’s decision on May 8 to remove diplomatic status from the Russian-owned Seacox Heath property in Sussex and the Russian embassy’s trade and defence section in Highgate. The UK had accused the…

United States: The US Justice Department has initiated a significant shift in drug policy by moving to reclassify cannabis as a less dangerous substance. The proposal on Thursday does not completely legalize marijuana for recreational use, as is the case in 24 US states as well as the District of Columbia at the moment. Additionally, marijuana is now legal in thirty-eight US states for medical use. “Far too many lives have been upended because of our failed approach to marijuana. I’m committed to righting those historic wrongs. You have my word,” Biden said on Thursday on X. However, in an…

China: Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping have signed a statement to strengthen their countries’ strategic partnership at a summit, emphasizing their relationship as a stabilizing influence in a turbulent world. Speaking at a joint press conference on Thursday, Xi said that “China is willing to … jointly achieve the development and rejuvenation of our respective countries, and work together to uphold fairness and justice in the world.” The visit coincides with Russia’s purported advances on the 1,000 km (600 mi) front line, where Ukrainian forces have been hindered by delayed arms and ammunition delivery from the…

France: France has declared a state of emergency in the island New Caledonia in the Pacific and sent in police and military forces to put an end to days of turmoil over the French government’s decision to alter the regulations governing provincial elections. Despite a nighttime curfew, violence that broke out on Monday night has left three Indigenous Kanak people and a police officer dead. Numerous people have been hurt. The state of emergency, which grants the authorities broad search and arrest powers, went into effect at 5 a.m. on Thursday (18:00 GMT on Wednesday). Five persons have been placed…

Slovakia: Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico has been critically injured after being shot multiple times in a politically motivated assassination attempt, according to the interior minister. The prime minister’s condition is life-threatening, Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok stated at a briefing outside the hospital in Banska Bystrica, the city’s center, earlier on Wednesday. He said that the shooting was “politically motivated and the perpetrator’s decision was born closely after the presidential election,” alluding to the election that an ally of Fico won in April. The shooting shocked the country of central Europe and sparked international outrage in the central town…

Russia: Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit China for the second time in less than a year, at the invitation of Chinese leader Xi Jinping. This is the latest indication of the two countries’ growing alignment at a time when global fault lines are becoming more pronounced as Russia advances in Ukraine and conflict devastates Gaza. Less than a week after taking office again and prolonging his despotic rule until 2030 as the outcome of an election with no real opposition, Putin is scheduled to arrive in China. According to Chinese official media, his visit, which is scheduled on May…

China: A well-known protest song in Hong Kong has been blocked on YouTube, following a court decision granting the government’s request to ban the anthem. YouTube said in a statement on Wednesday that, as a result of a court ruling, 32 online sites that play “Glory to Hong Kong” have been blocked and are no longer accessible in the semi-autonomous Chinese city. When users tried to view the videos—which feature the song’s instrumental and sign language versions—from Hong Kong, they were met with notices that said things like, “This video isn’t available anymore” or “This content is not available on…