Author: HeraldStar

As the Nov. 5 presidential election nears, former President Donald Trump and several Republicans have raised alarms about the potential for noncitizens to vote in significant numbers, a scenario they claim could favor Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. However, a review of various studies and state officials’ reports reveals scant evidence of noncitizen voting in recent U.S. elections, raising questions about the validity of these concerns. According to the left-leaning Brennan Center for Justice, an analysis of 23.5 million votes from the 2016 election identified only 30 instances of noncitizens casting ballots. In a similar vein, the conservative Heritage Foundation documented…

In a tragic incident that underscores the ongoing tensions surrounding migration in Mexico, six migrants lost their lives after Mexican soldiers opened fire on a group traveling in a pick-up truck on Tuesday evening. According to the Mexican defense ministry, the incident occurred while the group of 33 migrants attempted to evade a military patrol on a highway near Huixtla, located about 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Tapachula, close to the Guatemalan border. The deceased included nationals from Egypt, Nepal, Cuba, India, and Pakistan, although their specific nationalities were not disclosed. The defense ministry reported that soldiers, responding to what…

Japan’s newly appointed Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has named Katsunobu Kato, a supporter of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s “Abenomics” policies, as the new finance minister. This strategic appointment comes as Ishiba seeks to address concerns over the future direction of the cabinet’s economic policy. Kato, 68, has a rich background as a finance ministry bureaucrat and has held several key positions, including health minister, under the Abe administration. His selection signals a potential shift back toward expansionary fiscal and monetary policies, which Ishiba has recently downplayed in favor of fiscal discipline. In a statement during his campaign, Kato expressed…

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) stated on Thursday that the Bank of Japan (BOJ) should continue to adopt a data-dependent approach and gradually raise its policy rates in alignment with inflation trends. This recommendation underscores the IMF’s confidence in the BOJ’s ability to steer Japan’s economy back toward its inflation target of 2% per year. IMF spokesperson Julie Kozack, speaking at a regular news briefing, emphasized the importance of a measured response to inflation data. “Our advice is that the BOJ should continue to be data-driven and to gradually raise the policy rate over its policy horizon, if the inflation…

Palestinians in Gaza fear that the ongoing crisis in Lebanon, marked by escalating clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, is diverting global attention away from their own conflict, where Israeli airstrikes have killed dozens in recent days. Many in Gaza are concerned that the focus on Lebanon is diminishing already slim hopes for a ceasefire in the war with Israel, now stretching into its second year. The conflict between Israel and Hamas, which began in October last year, has devastated Gaza. With the Lebanese front grabbing headlines, Gazans like Hussam Ali, a resident of Gaza City, worry that the war in…

Kenya’s government has formally requested the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to conduct an official assessment of its corruption and governance issues, according to sources familiar with the matter. This move follows pressure from Western nations and aims to address concerns over whether governance vulnerabilities and corruption are undermining the country’s financial stability and revenue generation. The request seeks the IMF’s “governance diagnostic,” a specialized assessment that examines a country’s susceptibility to corruption and the effectiveness of its governance structures. The diagnostic will investigate how corruption and weak governance practices could be draining public resources or contributing to fiscal inefficiencies. IMF…

Ghana has reported its first case of mpox this year, marking a fresh challenge for the country’s health system. The Ghana Health Service confirmed the case but did not disclose which variant of the virus was involved, stating that further testing is underway. A health official told Reuters that authorities are particularly concerned about the possibility of the clade Ib strain, a variant of mpox that has triggered international alarm due to its rapid spread and the limited understanding of its behavior. The patient, identified as a young male, presented with symptoms including fever, a rash, and body aches, which…

South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has dismissed Akol Koor Kuc, the country’s long-serving intelligence chief, replacing him with a close ally, Akec Tong Aleu, according to a presidential decree announced on state broadcaster SSBC. Kuc had led the internal security bureau of the National Security Service (NSS) since South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011, playing a significant role in shaping the country’s controversial security apparatus. The dismissal follows the government’s decision to extend the transitional period by two more years and delay national elections, originally scheduled for 2022, for a second time. The delay in elections has drawn…

Zambia is currently facing its most severe electricity crisis in recent history, despite being home to the mighty Zambezi River and the hydro-powered Kariba Dam. Frequent blackouts, sometimes lasting for up to three days, have disrupted daily life for the 43% of Zambians connected to the national grid, leaving many frustrated and disillusioned. The widespread power cuts are a direct result of one of the worst droughts in decades, exacerbated by the El Niño weather phenomenon, which has dramatically reduced Zambia’s power generation capacity. The drought has dried up key water reservoirs that supply up to 84% of Zambia’s electricity,…

The World Health Organization (WHO) congratulates Brazil for having eliminated lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem. “Eliminating a disease is a momentous accomplishment that takes unwavering commitment,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “I congratulate Brazil for its efforts to free its people of the scourge of this painful, disfiguring, disabling and stigmatizing disease. This is another example of the incredible progress we have made against neglected tropical diseases and gives hope to many other nations still fighting against lymphatic filariasis that they too can eliminate this disease.” Lymphatic filariasis, commonly known as elephantiasis, is a debilitating parasitic…