Author: News Desk

Gaza City: Four Israeli female hostages Daniella Gilboa, Liri Albag, Naama Levy, and Karina Ariev, held captive by Hamas since October 7 (477 Days), have been freed and returned to Israel as part of a ceasefire agreement. The release, facilitated by the Red Cross, occurred in Gaza City’s Palestine Square and was marked by a highly choreographed handover. Masked Hamas gunmen escorted the women onto a stage adorned with flags and a machine gun, emphasizing a display of both bureaucracy and strength. The hostages, wearing lanyards with ID badges, were provided with documents and personal items by Hamas before their…

Washington DC: Pete Hegseth, nominated by Donald Trump for US Defense Secretary, was confirmed by the Senate following a contentious confirmation process marred by allegations of misconduct. Vice-President JD Vance cast the tie-breaking vote in Hegseth’s favor after three Republican senators, including former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, voted against him. During his confirmation hearing, Hegseth faced tough questions regarding allegations of sexual assault, which he has repeatedly denied, as well as accusations of infidelity and excessive drinking. Despite these allegations, Hegseth, a veteran of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, was confirmed to oversee the Department of Defense, which…

Edinburgh: Storm Éowyn has caused widespread chaos across the UK and Ireland, with over 1,000 flights cancelled, major roads blocked, and power outages affecting nearly 100,000 homes. The Met Office has issued a rare red “danger to life” alert for parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland, warning of 100mph (160km/h) winds and severe disruption. Amber and yellow alerts remain in place for other areas. The storm, classified as a “weather bomb” due to rapid explosive cyclogenesis, has brought record-breaking gusts, including a peak of 114mph in Ireland, the fastest recorded since monitoring began. Flying debris, fallen trees, power cuts, and…

Los Angeles: A fast-moving wildfire, the Hughes fire, erupted in Los Angeles County, forcing tens of thousands of residents to evacuate the area, which is already grappling with its worst fire season. The blaze ignited near Castaic Lake, 45 miles northwest of Los Angeles, and has rapidly grown to over 9,400 acres, fuelled by dry brush and strong winds. Although no homes or businesses have been damaged, about 31,000 people are under mandatory evacuation orders, with another 23,000 under warnings. Interstate 5, a major highway running along the US West Coast, has been closed. This fire is burning north of…

London: The UK government will introduce digital driving licenses later this year as part of a broader initiative to overhaul public services using technology which will be available via a new Government app. GOV.UK Wallet app These digital licenses, accessible via a new mobile app, will serve as valid identification for purchasing restricted items like alcohol, voting in elections, and proving one’s right to drive. In addition to driving licenses, the “GOV.UK Wallet” app, launching this summer, will also feature veteran cards, DBS checks, Blue Badges, and other government-issued credentials. The app aims to make it easier for people to…

New York: Netflix will raise subscription prices in several countries, including the US, Canada, Argentina, and Portugal, after adding nearly 19 million new subscribers in the final months of 2024. The price increases come as a result of successful programming, including the second season of Squid Game and high-profile events like the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson boxing match. In the US, prices will rise across almost all plans, including the standard no-advert subscription, which will increase to $17.99 per month from $15.49. The membership with adverts will also rise by $1 to $7.99. This marks the second price hike…

Washington: A groundbreaking study has revealed that people with diabetes who use weight-loss jabs, such as Saxenda, Wegovy, and Mounjaro, experience a reduced risk of 42 health conditions, including psychotic disorders, infections, and dementia. The research, which is the most comprehensive of its kind, compared health outcomes between individuals with diabetes who received typical care and those who used GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) like liraglutide, semaglutide, and tirzepatide. Health Benefits The results showed that those on GLP-1RAs had a significantly lower risk for conditions like opioid-use disorders (13%), bulimia (19%), Schizophrenia and Psychotic disorders (18%), suicidal ideation and attempts (10%),…

Washington DC: Donald Trump has been sworn in as the 47th President of the United States, with Vice President JD Vance by his side. The new president and vice president are attending three inaugural balls to celebrate the occasion. Trump, who arrived directly from the Oval Office, signed a flurry of executive actions earlier in the day. Among the most notable was the issuance of nearly 1,600 pardons related to the Capitol riots on January 6, 2021. Many of these pardons are expected to be released shortly. Speaking to US Military members based in South Korea via a video call…

Washington DC: On the eve of her husband’s inauguration, incoming First Lady Melania Trump launched the $MELANIA cryptocurrency, just one day after President-elect Donald Trump introduced his own $Trump coin. Both coins have experienced volatile trading but have seen significant gains. Melania announced the launch on the social platform X, posting, “The Official Melania Meme is live! You can buy $MELANIA now.” The $MELANIA coin is a crypto asset created and tracked on the Solana blockchain, with a market valuation of around $1.3bn, while $Trump’s coin is valued at approximately $8.7bn. Both coins include disclaimers stating they are “not intended…

Gaza City: Ninety Palestinian prisoners were released early on Monday, January 20th, as part of the first phase of a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, according to the Israeli prison service. This move follows the release of three Israeli hostages by Hamas to the Red Cross in Gaza City, which occurred hours after the ceasefire began.  The hostages—Doron Steinbrecher, Emily Damari, and Romi Gonen—are in stable condition and receiving treatment in a Tel Aviv hospital. Hamas has stated that for every Israeli hostage freed, 30 Palestinian prisoners will be released from Israeli jails. The majority of the prisoners freed…