Author: News Desk

Cameroon: The world’s first malaria vaccine was rolled out in Cameroon, reportedly marking a “transformative chapter in Africa’s public health history.” Children in the West African nation will receive 662,000 doses of the RTS,S vaccine. The first to receive vaccinations following the medication’s successful trials in Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi in 2019 and 2021. It follows successful trial programmes in Kenya, Ghana, and Malawi, where Unicef reports that the vaccine reduced malaria deaths in children of qualifying age by 13 percent. In Africa, where 95 percent of malaria-related deaths occur, the majority of which affect children under five, this signifies…

United Kingdom: The Houthi militant group, which is aligned with Iran, is still attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea. As a result, the United States and the United Kingdom have launched a new round of strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen. Since November, the Houthis, who hold sway over a large portion of Yemen, have attacked dozens of ships in the main waterway, disrupting international maritime trade and igniting fears about the effects on the world economy. Targeting a Houthi underground storage facility as well as missile and surveillance capabilities, the US and UK announced on Monday that they…

Germany: Thousands of Germans demonstrated against the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in the country’s towns and cities. Protests against the AfD took place on Sunday in Leipzig, Dresden, and other traditional AfD voting strongholds in eastern Germany, in addition to Berlin, Munich, and Cologne. According to national polls, the AfD is trailing the main centre-right opposition bloc but ahead of the government parties. However, demonstrations against the far-right party gained momentum after an investigative news website reported on January 10th that a meeting of right-wing extremists in Germany regarding immigration policies had discussed mass deportations of foreign nationals.…

Israel: Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s Prime Minister, has turned down a proposal by Hamas to stop the war, free the prisoners, withdraw Israeli forces, and acknowledge the armed group’s rule over Gaza. Mr. Netanyahu claimed that Israel’s soldiers had “fallen in vain” and that accepting Hamas’ demands would mean leaving the armed group “intact.” Netanyahu is facing increasing domestic pressure to free the prisoners. “I reject outright the terms of surrender of the monsters of Hamas. If we accept this, we won’t be able to guarantee the safety of our citizens. We will not be able to bring evacuees home…

Bristol: The Met Office has issued amber wind warnings for most of the UK, signaling a serious threat from Storm Isha expected tonight. This rare alert highlights the potential “danger to life” in certain areas. Storm Isha, the ninth since September, could bring winds up to 80mph, leading to power cuts, road and bridge closures, and disruptions in rail and bus services. Two amber warnings, effective from Sunday 6pm to Monday morning, cover central, eastern, and western England, along with all of Wales, sparing only London and parts of the South East. The Met Office warns of significant power cuts,…

Ukraine: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has reported that Russian troops have installed mines at a nuclear station in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Oblast, an area under occupation. This action, directly contradicting IAEA safety standards, has raised global concerns, particularly from IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi. In response to the escalating situation, the United States has advised Kyiv to adopt a ‘more conservative approach’ towards the Russian invasion, instead of initiating new ground offensives to reclaim territory. A Western official involved in Ukraine policy suggested that both sides are unlikely to make significant operational breakthroughs in 2024. They recommended an…

Manama: Off the coast of Bahrain, in a startling incident, two British Royal Navy mine-hunter vessels (British Warships), HMS Chiddingfold and HMS Bangor, collided in Bahrain Harbour last Friday. The Royal Navy has confirmed the incident, reassuring that no injuries were reported despite the collision’s severity. Social media captured the event, showing HMS Chiddingfold backing into the docked HMS Bangor, resulting in a loud crash and visible rocking of the latter ship. Although the footage was dramatic, officials reported no personnel injuries, though both ships sustained damage. The Royal Navy, known for its high safety standards and strict training protocols,…

London: Applications are now open for the 2024 Youth Business International (YBI) BootCamp, to be held in London, UK, from 17-21 June. This five-day event offers young entrepreneurs a platform to learn from experts in impact entrepreneurship, collaborate with global peers, and compete for the Global Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. The Bootcamp is free and includes all expenses. Participants will engage in transformational learning, networking, and skill-building in areas such as leadership and pitching. It’s an opportunity to form lasting relationships with business leaders and peers. YBI will cover the cost of flights, visas, accommodation, and catering for…

Belarus: A new military doctrine adopted by Belarus would be the first step towards the country’s nationwide nuclear weapons deployment if it’s approved. “The deployment of tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of the Republic of Belarus is considered an important measure of the preventive deterrence for potential adversaries from unleashing armed aggression against the Republic of Belarus,” Belarusian Defense Minister Mr. Viktor Khrenin said. According to him, Belarus was compelled to implement the measure. To outline the course of action “in the event of armed aggression” against Belarus’ allies in the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) and the Union…

Pakistan: Pakistan and Iran have reached an agreement to ease tension in the two countries following a phone call between Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Mr. Jalil Abbas Jilani, and the Foreign Minister of Iran, Mr. Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. The two countries’ ties were unstable after the exchange of missile and drone attacks this week. “The two foreign ministers agreed that working-level cooperation and close coordination on counterterrorism and other aspects of mutual concern should be strengthened. They also agreed to de-escalate the situation. The return of ambassadors of the two countries to their respective capitals was also discussed,” Pakistan’s foreign ministry said…