Author: HeraldStar

Lithuania’s Defence Minister, Dovile Sakaliene, has called for greater European contributions to defense spending, labeling the current reliance on the United States as inequitable. Speaking at the Reuters NEXT conference in New York on Wednesday, Sakaliene stressed the urgent need for Europe to strengthen its defense industries to counter threats from Russia and China. Europe’s Role in Defense Under Scrutiny “Europe must pull its weight,” Sakaliene stated, emphasizing that the disproportionate share of defense spending borne by the United States was unfair. Her remarks echoed long-standing calls from Washington for European nations to increase their defense investments, an issue that…

Nigeria experienced a widespread electricity blackout on Wednesday following the collapse of its national grid, according to statements from the country’s power distribution companies. This marks yet another failure in a year that has seen at least 10 partial or total grid collapses, attributed to faults and vandalism of critical power installations. The collapse occurred at approximately 12:33 GMT, plunging Africa’s most populous nation into darkness. Data from the Transmission Company of Nigeria revealed a dramatic drop in electricity generation, from 3,087 megawatts just before the grid failure to zero by 14:00 GMT. The recurring collapses underline the fragility of…

For the second consecutive year, Sudan has ranked first on the International Rescue Committee’s (IRC) annual global humanitarian crisis watchlist, underscoring the devastating impact of conflict and instability. Released on Wednesday, the 2025 watchlist also highlights other critical hotspots, including Gaza and the West Bank, Myanmar, Syria, and South Sudan. The IRC, a New York-based humanitarian aid organization, initiated this watchlist over 15 years ago as a tool to guide internal planning. However, CEO David Miliband emphasized its growing importance as a global call to action, urging coordinated efforts to address escalating humanitarian crises. Humanitarian Need Reaches Record Highs The…

John Dramani Mahama, Ghana’s former president, has reclaimed the country’s highest office after being declared the winner of the presidential election on Monday. In a decisive victory, the 65-year-old Mahama secured 56.5% of the votes cast, equating to 6.3 million ballots, according to the Electoral Commission of Ghana. His primary opponent, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), conceded defeat on Sunday after garnering 41% of the vote, or 4.6 million ballots. Electoral Commissioner Jean Mensa confirmed that while vote counting continued in nine constituencies, the results would not alter the overall outcome. Voter turnout stood…

New federal filings reveal a mixed financial situation for the Democratic Party after its setbacks in the November elections. While the Democratic National Committee (DNC) appears to be in a strong financial position, a leading liberal super PAC is grappling with tens of millions of dollars in unpaid bills. The DNC reported a healthy bank balance of over $47 million as of November 25, with no debts, despite recent staff reductions following the election. In contrast, Vice President Kamala Harris’ defunct campaign, which had spent over $1 billion in an unsuccessful bid to defeat Republican Donald Trump, had just $1.8…

Oil prices dropped more than 4% on Wednesday after the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies, known as OPEC+, announced the delay of an important meeting that was scheduled for Sunday. The meeting was anticipated to address potential further cuts to global oil production. By late morning ET, Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, fell by 3.7% to $79 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude, the U.S. benchmark, dropped 3.8% to $75 a barrel. This decline in oil prices could offer some relief to U.S. drivers heading into the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, with the…

Shares of major health insurance companies, including UnitedHealth Group, continued their downward trajectory on Friday, two days after the fatal shooting of Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealth’s health insurance unit, outside a Manhattan hotel. Authorities are still searching for the gunman, and the motive behind the attack remains unclear. Thompson’s death has sparked widespread outrage on social media, with many users expressing frustration over the challenges of navigating the U.S. health insurance system, especially when medical expenses are not covered or claims for care are denied. This incident has amplified existing criticisms of the industry, particularly regarding its handling…

The collapse of France’s government on Wednesday could have significant consequences for Europe’s energy markets, potentially leading to soaring electricity prices across the region. As Europe’s largest electricity exporter, France plays a crucial role in supplying power to neighboring countries, accounting for approximately 60% of net electricity exports in 2024, according to energy data from energy-charts.info. This year, France’s record electricity exports have provided neighboring nations with a vital source of affordable, clean power while the region grapples with high energy costs, sluggish economic growth, and political instability. However, with the country now facing significant political turmoil, questions are being…

A coalition of climate-vulnerable nations is seizing a key U.N. meeting this week to advocate for a major overhaul of the global credit rating system, urging that it reflect the investments made in climate resilience. The push comes as heads of state prepare for a major finance conference in Spain next year, where international leaders will seek to accelerate efforts to meet global climate and sustainability targets. At the forefront of the discussions are 39 Small Island Developing States (SIDS), including nations such as Cuba, Haiti, Fiji, and the Maldives, which are facing the worst impacts of climate change. These…

Novo Holdings has officially received unconditional approval from the European Union for its $16.5 billion acquisition of U.S. contract drug maker Catalent, a deal that is set to further strengthen its foothold in the pharmaceutical industry. The European Commission concluded that the acquisition would not pose any competition concerns in the European Economic Area (EEA), paving the way for Novo Holdings to finalize the transaction by the end of this year. In its statement, the European Commission confirmed that the merger would not significantly affect competition in the markets under review. Specifically, it stated that there are sufficient alternative competitors…