Nearly 50 million facing hunger in West, Central Africa as conflict spreads
Dakar, SenegalReuters A record 49.5 million people are expected to go hungry in West and Central Africa next year due to a combination of conflict, climate change and high food prices, the United Nations said on Tuesday. The figure is four per cent higher than in 2023. In coastal countries, the number of people facing […]
This Life: A wonderful life worth living
US-based CAROL ROUND reflects on our search for meaning with a nod to the Christmas classic, ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’…
Zelenskiy met by Republican doubts in 11th hour push for US aid to fight Russia
Washington, USReuters Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy faced a skeptical reception from key Republicans during a trip to Washington on Tuesday to seek more military support against Russia, but he won a pledge at the White House that the US has his back. Republicans have been reluctant to sign off on a funding request from Democratic […]
Ukraine’s top mobile operator hit by biggest cyber attack of war so far; US source puts Russian war casualties at 315,000
Kyiv, UkraineReuters Ukraine’s biggest mobile network operator was hit on Tuesday by what appeared to be the largest cyber attack of the war with Russia so far, knocking out mobile and internet services for millions and the air raid alert system in parts of Kyiv region. Kyivstar has 24.3 million mobile subscribers – more than […]
UK’s Sunak sees off revolt to win vote on Rwanda migrant plan
London, UKReuters British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak avoided defeat in parliament on Tuesday on an emergency bill to revive his plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, seeing off a revolt by dozens of his lawmakers that laid bare his party’s deep divisions. Sunak, who has pinned his reputation on the strategy, in the end […]
COP28 forced into overtime as fossil fuel phase-out divides countries
Dubai, United Arab EmiratesReuters The COP28 climate talks went into overtime on Tuesday as countries engaged in shuttle diplomacy to bridge deep international divisions over how to deal with fossil fuels in the summit’s final text. Where the conference lands on the issue will send a powerful message to global investors and markets about the […]
United Nations demands humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza
United Nations Reuters The United Nations on Tuesday demanded an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war after more than three-quarters of the 193-member General Assembly backed the move, which had been vetoed by the United States in the Security Council last week. Washington does not have a veto in the General Assembly. It voted […]
As Israel pounds southern Gaza, Biden warns it is losing support
Cairo, Egypt/GazaReuters Israeli tanks and warplanes bombarded the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, killing dozens of Palestinians, and US President Joe Biden warned Israel it was losing international support because of its “indiscriminate” bombing of civilians in its war against Hamas militants. In a further sign of world concern over the conduct of the conflict, now […]
Myanmar is now world’s largest source of opium, UN says
Bangkok, Thailand Reuters Myanmar has become the world’s largest source of opium, thanks to domestic instability and a decline in cultivation in Afghanistan, the United Nations said in a report on Tuesday. The 95 per cent decline in opium cultivation in Afghanistan after a drug ban by the Taliban in 2022 has seen global supply […]
Push to mobilise turnout as Egyptians vote for president
Suez, Egypt Reuters Egyptians, some arriving on buses or stationed waving national flags outside polling stations, voted on Monday in the second of three days in a presidential election in which Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is expected to sweep to a third, six-year term. Many have shown little interest or knowledge about the election, which is […]