Author: News Desk

Gaza: Thousands of Palestinians have fled their homes in southern Gaza after Israeli forces bombarded several areas and issued a new evacuation order for Khan Younis. Health officials reported that during Tuesday’s strikes on many neighborhoods in Khan Younis, at least eight persons lost their lives and over thirty were injured. Weeks after Israeli tanks withdrew from the region, a spate of attacks terrified the locals. 250,000 people reside in the area that the Israeli military has identified as an evacuation zone in Khan Younis, according to Sam Rose, planning director of UNRWA, the UN Relief and Works Agency for…

UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations General Assembly has passed a Chinese-sponsored resolution, supported by the US, urging wealthy nations to close the widening gap with poorer countries and ensure equal opportunities to use and benefit from artificial intelligence (AI). The resolution follows the March 21 adoption of the first UN resolution on AI, led by the United States and co-sponsored by 123 countries, including China. The adoption of both the non-binding resolutions demonstrates that the United States and China, are committed to shaping the future of AI technology and are cooperating on these initial international efforts. The unanimous approval of…

JAMAICA: Hurricane Beryl, now a powerful Category 5 storm, is bearing down on Jamaica’s coastline after a trail of destruction across several Caribbean islands. With sustained winds reaching 165 mph, Beryl has ravaged homes in Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, where many residents live without essential services. The storm is forecast to intensify further and is expected to bring life-threatening winds and storm surge to Jamaica by Wednesday afternoon. This exceptionally early hurricane season has seen Beryl set new records, becoming the earliest Category 5 hurricane on record in the Atlantic and only the second storm of such…

WASHINGTON: In a historic decision, the US Supreme Court has ruled that former President Donald Trump cannot be prosecuted for actions within his constitutional powers as president. The verdict marks the first recognition of any form of presidential immunity from prosecution. The 6-3 ruling, authored by Chief Justice John Roberts, overturned a lower court’s rejection of Trump’s claim to immunity from federal criminal charges related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. The decision saw all six conservative justices in favour, with the three liberal justices dissenting. Trump, the Republican candidate for the upcoming US election in November…

South Africa: South Africa’s president has announced a new cabinet over a month after elections caused his African National Congress (ANC) party to lose its majority. Following weeks of impasse that prevented the establishment of an unprecedented governing coalition, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the names of 32 ministerial seats in the government of national unity late on Sunday. According to the release, the ANC will have 20 of the 32 positions. The Democratic Alliance (DA) party will occupy another six seats, with the remaining seats being divided among many minor coalition parties. After his party, which has dominated South African…

Japan: Mount Fuji, a UNESCO World Heritage site and iconic symbol of Japan, has introduced new regulations for climbers to address overcrowding concerns. Starting today, Climbers must pay a 2,000 yen ($12.40) fee per person, with a daily cap of 4,000 climbers. Koutaro Nagasaki, governor of Yamanashi Prefecture commended that, “By strongly promoting comprehensive safety measures for climbing Mount Fuji, we will ensure that Mount Fuji, a treasure of the world, is passed on to future generations.” Nagasaki also emphasised the importance of reviving traditional mountain climbing from the foot of Mount Fuji, linking it with the Fuji-ko and Oshi…

United States: Hurricane Beryl is set to hit the Caribbean on Monday as a Category 4 storm, breaking records. It poses serious risks to island communities with dangerous storm surges, strong winds, and flash floods. Grenada, St. Vincent, or the Grenadines are most vulnerable to being hit by the hurricane’s centre starting early on Monday morning. As it makes its way through the Windward Islands on Monday and into the Caribbean early this week, Beryl is predicted to maintain her hurricane strength. As the first-ever Category 4 hurricane to make landfall in the Atlantic Ocean and the first storm to…

SYDNEY: Australia announced that it has more than doubled the visa fee for international students. This marks the latest effort to manage record migration levels, which intensified pressure on the already tight housing market. The international student visa fee has increased from AUS$710 ($473.36) to AUS$1,600 ($1,068). Visitor visa holders and students with temporary graduate visas are now banned from applying onshore for a student visa. The revised fees will be effective from today onwards. Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil stated that, “The changes coming into force today will help restore integrity to our international education system, and create a…

Canada: Over 800 flights have been cancelled by WestJet in Canada as a result of mechanics going on strike, upsetting thousands of people’s travel schedules over the long weekend of Canada Day. After the Calgary-based airline and the Aeroplane Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) were unable to come to an agreement on pay and working conditions, some 680 employees went on strike on Friday. Diederik Pen, President and CEO of WestJet, expressed regret to travellers on Sunday for the “unnecessary work stoppage.” Pen released a statement saying, “I am encouraged by our employees’ willingness to rise above the adversity and deliver…

Nigeria: At least 18 people died and dozens were injured in Nigeria’s northeastern Borno State when suspected female suicide bombers set off explosions at a wedding, a hospital, and a funeral. Saturday saw three explosions in the town of Gwoza, which is located over the Cameroonian border, a spokesman for the Borno State police said on Sunday, Nahum Kenneth Daso. A woman carrying a baby on her back “detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) she had on her at a crowded motor park” during one of the attacks, which happened at roughly 3:45 p.m. (14:45 GMT), as per the sources.…