Author: Trainee Reporter

Cyprus: The government of Cyprus has halted the processing of asylum applications from Syrians after a significant rise in arrivals this month, officials report. More than 1,000 individuals have reached Cyprus on boats from Lebanon in recent weeks due to escalating tensions in the Middle East. This mass movement of people resulted in calls from Nicosia to its European Union allies to provide more aid to Lebanon, as well as rethink the situation of war-torn Syria, which is currently deemed unsafe for repatriating asylum seekers. According to Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, this is an emergency measure and a challenging decision, taken…

Gaza: Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip, has declared its support for Iran after the latter’s launch of hundreds of missiles and drones against Israel in retaliation for an attack on its consulate in Damascus, Syria. In a statement released by the Palestinian Hamas group, stated that it professed ‘the natural right’ of Middle Eastern countries and populace to safeguard themselves ‘against Zionist aggression.’ The group said that, “The military operation carried out by Iran against the Zionist entity is a natural right and a due response to the crime of targeting the consulate in Damascus.” The Iranian military launched a…

As parents, we all want our children to be healthy, and vaccinations are an essential part of safeguarding them against preventable diseases. However, the fear of needles and the associated pain can make the vaccination process daunting. Currently, there are two main options available for vaccinating your child; painless vaccines and non-painless vaccines. But, the question remains which option is better? Here we will discuss everything you need to know about these two options and also debunk some myths. Painless vaccinations; what are they? Painless vaccination, also known as the DTaP vaccine, combines three essential immunizations – diphtheria, acellular pertussis…

United Kingdom: The Government of UK has announced a £1.5 million fund for new technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) to reform occupational health services. The aim is to reduce work sickness and boost economic activity through the use of unique technology and AI. Five projects are selected to receive funding for designing innovative methods to enhance occupational health assistance. The purpose is to ultimately create these services obtainable to small businesses to help them support their workers to stay at their jobs. One of the successful companies that received funding is Kinseed Limited, which is inventing a revolutionary cloud-based occupational fitness…

Ireland: The newly appointed Ireland’s Taoiseach is set to meet with Spain’s PM to discuss their shared plan to recognise Palestine as a nation-state. They will also talk about their efforts to compel the European Union to consider Israel’s human rights obligations as a prerequisite for their trade agreement with the bloc. Pedro Sánchez, the Spanish PM, will be arriving in Dublin, and it will be the first time Simon Harris, the Taoiseach, will meet with a foreign premier in his new position. Since the Hamas attacks in October and Israel’s offensive in Gaza, Spain and Ireland became the EU’s most…

Germany: The government of Germany will encounter a lawsuit from human rights groups to halt all arms sales to Israel. This comes amid rising public concern about the high number of casualties and destruction in the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The rights groups filed a case in German domestic courts demanding that the government urgently revoke all arms licenses to Israel issued since October 2020, when Hamas launched its attack on Israel. Germany is known to be the second largest arms exporter to Israel after the United States and is a more significant provider of arms than the United Kingdom. The…

South Africa: The Electoral Commission of South Africa is appealing to the highest court for clarity on whether Ex-President Jacob Zuma can run as a candidate. In a statement issued, the commission said that it submitted an ‘urgent and direct’ plea to the Constitutional Court seeking a definitive interpretation of the constitutional article that relates to the candidacy of individuals who were convicted. It is important to clarify the current matter not only for a live issue but also for future elections. This statement was made about the ongoing legal dispute regarding the eligibility of senior politician Jacob Zuma. An…

Hong Kong: A Portuguese citizen with Hong Kong residency has become the first European imprisoned under China’s National Security Law. This law was widely criticised by human rights organisations. Joseph John, also known as Wong Kin-Chung, was formerly based in the UK and was arrested for posting pro-independence and anti-China content on social media. In 2022, he returned to Hong Kong to visit his family and was convicted in February of ‘secession.’ He was sentenced to five years in prison. ‘Secession’ is the act of promoting Hong Kong’s separation from China, which is considered a crime under the law. John previously…

London: Baldur’s Gate 3 has won five Bafta Game Awards including the coveted title of best game, making it the most successful game at the 20th ceremony.  This role-playing game, based on Dungeons & Dragons, received awards for its music and narrative, as well as an acting award for Andrew Wincott’s portrayal of fan-favourite devil Raphael. Super Mario Bros. Wonder received two awards, while Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, despite holding six nominations, failed to win any awards. In the meantime, Viewfinder, a photography-based puzzle game, won the award for best British game at the event. According to the Digital Entertainment…

Washington: Japan, the Philippines, and the US have expressed ‘serious concerns’ about China’s moves in the South China Sea at the Trilateral Summit. In recent years, Beijing increased its activities in the strategic waterway, leading to heightened pressures, especially from the Philippines, one of several Southeast Asian nations that claim parts of the sea around their shores. Last month, President Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines announced that Manila would carry countermeasures against China after a conflict with Second Thomas Shoal resulted in injuries to Filipino soldiers and damage to ships. The leaders of three countries held their first-ever summit in…