Author: Trainee Reporter

Sweden: The governments of Sweden and Canada have announced that they will resume aid payments to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine Refugees. There were 16 countries, including Sweden and Canada, that suspended funding after Israel accused at least 12 UNRWA officials of involvement in an October 7 attack by Hamas. The United Nations (UN) is scrutinising and France’s foreign minister is directing the review. According to Sweden, the government allotted 400 million kronor to UNRWA for the year 2024. Initially, it would transmit 200 million kronor (£15 million; $19 million), after UNRWA approved more checks on…

United States: OpenAI’s chief executive, Sam Altman, will return to the firm’s board of directors after a brief inquiry into his dismissal and subsequent reinstatement. According to a statement in a blog post by OpenAI, an investigation by law firm WilmerHale found that Altman’s conduct over the past year ‘did not mandate his removal.’ The company stated that Altman’s dismissal occurred due to a “breakdown in the relationship and loss of trust” between the entrepreneur and the former board. After reviewing the law firm’s findings, OpenAI expressed full confidence in Altman’s ongoing leadership of the artificial intelligence startup. The company…

Africa: Kenyan and Zimbabwean authorities and civil society groups have decided to invest in preventing violence against women and girls, and they are implementing a variety of measures to do so. As part of the UN Women’s Generation Equality Forum Action Coalition Against Gender-Based Violence, both the Kenyan government and civil society organisation ‘Yes Trust Zimbabwe’ developed their pathways to reduce violence against women and girls. In Zimbabwe, ‘Yes Trust’ trained over 50 provincial community leaders on the most useful techniques for handling and reporting gender-based violence. Furthermore, the organisation guided them in seeking multimedia projects to increase their cognition about…

United States: NGL, the social media app will launch a new game called ‘Send Love’ in honour of Brain Awareness Week 2024. The game aims to encourage users to be kind to each other in expectation of encouraging users’ cognitive health. The new game will inspire users to send each other’s names in exchange for a compliment from launch day until the weekend. NGL provides different games on the app including the Instagram viral game ‘Confession’. ‘Send Love’ is the app’s first attempt to establish a game for a specific cause. By launching a mental health awareness game during Brain…

Hypocalcemia is a common health condition that occurs when the amount of calcium in your blood is too low. A healthy body needs certain essential minerals to help maintain good health. Calcium is also an essential mineral that plays a vital role in many physiological processes, including bone health, muscle function, nerve transmission, and blood clotting. When calcium in the body declines to optimal levels, it can lead to a variety of signs and health issues. Most people are aware of the fact that low calcium can affect our health, but most of them do not know exactly what is…

Geneva: Volker Turk, UN Human Rights Chief, has condemned Israel’s latest actions in the occupied West Bank. Turk said that the strong acceleration in settlement building would aggravate long-standing patterns of intimidation, violence and discrimination against Palestinians. Turk stated that, “Reports this week that Israel plans to build a further 3,476 settler homes in Maale Adumim, Efrat and Kedar fly in the face of international law.” In a report to the Human Rights Council, Turk noted that the establishment and resumed growth of settlements amounted to Israel moving its civilian population into regions it occupies, which amounted to a war offence…

United States: The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has found water vapour as well as methane and carbon dioxide chemical signatures in an exoplanet about twice the size of Earth and about 70 light-years away. Scientists at the University of Cambridge believe that this chemical mix is consistent with a water world and a hydrogen-rich atmosphere covering the entire ocean’s surface. However, they do not envision a bammy, inviting ocean. Professor Nikku Madhusudhan, who led the analysis commented that, “The ocean could be upwards of 100 degrees Celsius or more. At high atmospheric pressure, an ocean this hot could still…

United Kingdom: The former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Theresa May has publicised that she will not be standing in the next General Election. The Maidenhead MP said that she had decided to step down after 27 years representing the constituency. In 1997, May was first elected as the town’s MP. The lady leader noted that her job on matters including modern slavery and human trafficking was assuming too much time and that she was unable to represent her associates with the commitment they deserved. According to May, it has been an honour and a privilege to serve the…

Hong Kong: Legislative Council members of Hong Kong have begun debating a draft of a new national security law after Chief Executive John Lee said the legislation should be passed rapidly. A 212-page (PDF) draft bill, published online just hours before the session, includes new laws on sedition, espionage, foreign interference, state secrets and treason. Treason is punishable by 10 years and 20 years in prison for breaching state secrets and life in prison for espionage, respectively. Collaborating with foreign powers will also result in stiffer penalties, especially if people appear to be cooperating rather than acting independently. The penalty…

United Kingdom: On International Women’s Day, the British High Commission (BHC) Singapore has launched ‘The Gender Pledge 2024,’ renewing its gender equality commitments. The BHC Gender Pledge 2024 signifies the company’s renewed dedication to gender equality, both within and beyond the workplace. BHC Singapore renewed its Gender Pledge, which was initially adopted in 2019, to better integrate gender equality and inclusion objectives into business planning and corporate culture. The Board of Management at BHC is committed to monitoring and frequently reviewing the pledge. The Gender Pledge will continue to outline the key actions, measures, and best practices for BHC and its staff.…