Author: News Desk

Dharamshala, India: The Dalai Lama has confirmed that the centuries-old Tibetan Buddhist institution will persist after his death, putting an end to years of speculation sparked by earlier remarks suggesting he might be the final holder of the title. In a pre-recorded statement played during prayer ceremonies ahead of his 90th birthday celebrations, the spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhism and Nobel Peace Prize laureate reaffirmed that the selection of the next Dalai Lama should follow traditional Buddhist practices. “The institution of the Dalai Lama will continue,” the Lama said, stressing that the process of identifying his reincarnation must remain aligned…

Bangkok, Thailand: Thailand’s Constitutional Court has suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra as mounting public and political pressure continues to grow over a leaked phone conversation with former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen. In the controversial audio clip, Paetongtarn is heard addressing Hun Sen as ‘uncle and criticising a Thai military commander, remarks that triggered outrage, particularly among conservative lawmakers, and led to a formal petition for her dismissal. The court ruled 7-2 in favour of suspending her while it deliberates the case. Paetongtarn now has 15 days to submit her defence. During this period, the deputy prime minister will serve…

Manila: Facing a mounting waste crisis, Manila’s mayor has issued an urgent call to action as garbage piles threaten public health across the city. Francisco ‘Isko Moreno’ Domagoso, the newly elected mayor of Manila, is warning of a public health emergency as garbage piles up in the streets of the Philippine capital, one of the most densely populated cities in the world. With two major waste collection contractors quitting over unpaid bills, Domagoso has urged nearly two million residents to temporarily stop putting out their trash until the situation stabilises. Domagoso, who officially took office on June 30, revealed that the…

Dharamshala, India: The Dalai Lama is set to speak at a major three-day gathering of Tibetan Buddhist leaders this week, marking a pivotal moment as he approaches his 90th birthday. The highly anticipated event is expected to touch on the topic of his succession, an issue that remains politically sensitive and is fiercely opposed by China. The spiritual leader, who fled Tibet in 1959 following a failed uprising against Chinese rule, has long been branded a separatist by Beijing. China insists it holds the authority to select his successor, but the Dalai Lama has repeatedly countered this stance, stating that…

Beijing: China has officially lifted its ban on seafood imports from most regions of Japan, ending a two-year restriction that stemmed from environmental concerns over the release of treated wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. The ban will remain in place for 10 of Japan’s 47 prefectures, including Tokyo and Fukushima, while imports from other areas will ‘conditionally resume,’ according to a statement issued on June 29 by China’s General Administration of Customs. Beijing’s move follows long-term monitoring results that found no abnormalities in the nuclear-contaminated water discharged from the Fukushima plant. The ban was originally imposed in…

London: With temperatures expected to soar across the UK this weekend, the government is warning that the NHS will face increased pressure, urging the public to take care in the sun to avoid preventable health issues like sunburn. A new amber heat health alert has been issued for England, and dermatologists are emphasizing the hidden dangers of sun exposure. While sunburn may appear as nothing more than red, sore skin, the real damage happens underneath. Dr Rachel Abbott, a consultant dermatologist specialising in skin cancer at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, explains that sunburn is essentially inflammation triggered by…

Washington DC: Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) have signed a significant US-brokered peace deal in Washington, aimed at resolving decades of violent conflict between the two neighboring countries. The agreement, while light on details, calls for the ‘disengagement, disarmament, and conditional integration’ of armed groups operating in eastern DR Congo, an area long plagued by instability, displacement, and resource-fueled violence. The treaty follows a ‘Declaration of Principles’ signed on April 25 in Washington DC by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe, and DR Congo Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, during a…

Brussels: The European Union’s Transport and Tourism Committee has proposed landmark updates to air passenger rights, which, if passed, would require airlines to allow passengers two free cabin bags. The committee voted overwhelmingly in favour of the proposal, with 38 votes for, two against, and two abstentions. Under the proposed changes, passengers would be guaranteed the right to carry one personal item (such as a handbag, backpack, or laptop bag) with maximum dimensions of 40x30x15 cm, and one small hand luggage item, no larger than 100 cm in size and weighing up to 7 kg, free of charge. This proposal…

Ottawa: Canada’s Parliament has passed the One Canadian Economy Act, a landmark piece of legislation that gives Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government new powers to fast-track major national infrastructure and economic projects. The bill, which cleared the Senate, allows the federal cabinet to streamline approval processes and override certain provisions in federal laws for projects deemed vital to Canada’s economy. According to the government, the act will remove trade barriers, accelerate nation-building projects, enhance internal trade and labour mobility, and drive economic growth, with an emphasis on fostering Indigenous partnerships. https://twitter.com/MarkJCarney/status/1938372023580754367 Prime Minister Carney has indicated that the powers could…

Venice: Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his journalist fiancée Lauren Sanchez have arrived in Venice for what’s being dubbed the ‘wedding of the century,’ kicking off three days of extravagant celebrations despite mounting criticism from residents. The wedding festivities are expected to cost between €40 million and €48 million ($46–$56 million) and have drawn high-profile guests from around the world. Bezos and Sanchez were spotted entering the exclusive Aman Venice Hotel on the Grand Canal, where many celebrity guests will be staying. Around 90 private jets are expected to land at nearby airports this week, bringing A-listers from the realms…