Author: HeraldStar

A devastating gas explosion in a coal mine located in Iran’s South Khorasan Province has resulted in the deaths of at least 51 individuals and left 20 others injured, according to state media reports on Sunday. The incident, attributed to a methane gas explosion, occurred in two sections of the mine operated by the Madanjoo company. Ali Akbar Rahimi, the governor of South Khorasan Province, revealed that this region supplies approximately 76% of the country’s coal, with around 8 to 10 major companies, including Madanjoo, actively operating in the area. The rescue operation in block B has concluded, with 30…

The Board of the Fund for responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) has announced the selection of Ibrahima Cheikh Diong as its first Executive Director, for a four-year term beginning November 1, 2024. This is a key step towards responding to loss and damage by bringing finance to millions of people in developing countries on the frontlines of climate change. A Senegalese and American national, Mr. Diong brings over three decades of global experience in climate change, finance, and development. He will provide strategic leadership and oversight of the Fund’s Secretariat and assist the Board in delivering on the Fund’s…

The upcoming United Nations meetings in New York may hold the key to resolving significant differences over increasing global climate finance, but the looming US presidential election threatens to derail progress. With the election scheduled for November 5, countries are hesitant to stake out their positions before knowing who will emerge victorious and set climate policy for the next four years. The US election uncertainty has cast a shadow over global climate talks, with governments carefully analyzing scenarios for possible wins by Vice President Kamala Harris or former President Donald Trump. A third scenario, involving a delayed or disputed election…

In a brazen attack, militants opened fire on a security post in Pakistan’s restive northwest region late Thursday, killing at least six security personnel. The assault, claimed by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Islamist militant group, marked one of two intense encounters along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border within a 24-hour span. According to the military’s information wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations, troops bravely repelled the intrusion attempt, engaging in a fierce exchange of fire that resulted in the deaths of six security personnel. Five assailants were also killed in the encounter, which occurred in the tribal district of South Waziristan. In a…

India’s northeastern state of Manipur has been placed on high alert due to intelligence reports suggesting a potential influx of 900 suspected Kuki militants from Myanmar. The state’s security adviser, Kuldiep Singh, revealed that various intelligence agencies have been informed and border police are on high alert, with combing operations underway in hill districts. The warning comes amid ongoing violence between the majority Meitei and minority Kuki communities, driven by disputes over economic benefits and quotas. Since May 2023, the conflict has resulted in at least 237 deaths and displaced over 60,000 people. The Kuki people, sharing ethnic ties with…

A powerful rainstorm has struck Japan’s Ishikawa region, resulting in one death and seven missing persons, according to official reports. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued its highest alert level, warning of life-threatening conditions. Torrential rains, described as unprecedented by JMA forecaster Sugimoto Satoshi, have caused widespread flooding and landslides in the coastal region still recovering from a deadly January earthquake. Over 40,000 residents across four cities have been ordered to evacuate due to burst riverbanks. Rescue teams are battling to reach affected areas, with landslides blocking access to some sites. Four workers repairing roads damaged by the earthquake are…

Women’s rights advocates are demanding the immediate implementation of a nearly 30-year-old gender equity bill which Ghana’s president signed into law on Thursday. This ends a process which began in 1998, with the bill shuffling between parliaments until the legislature passed it in July this year. Many campaigners faulted Ghana’s law-making body for the long delay. Ghana now joins Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, Mozambique and others in Africa that have working affirmative action laws. These countries have a 30% quota for women in decision-making bodies, in parliament and other state agencies. What changes does Ghana’s new law bring in? Ghana’s Affirmative…

Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the son of Uganda’s long-serving President Yoweri Museveni, has made a surprising announcement that he will not run for presidency in the 2026 elections. Instead, he has thrown his support behind his father’s bid for a seventh term, sparking widespread speculation about the country’s future leadership. President Museveni, 80, has led Uganda since 1986 and has altered the constitution twice to extend his rule, fueling accusations from the opposition that he is attempting to establish a monarchy. Museveni denies these claims, but his extended rule has raised concerns about democratic processes and human rights in the country. Human…

Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides has urged restraint amid escalating Middle East tensions, following separate phone calls with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Christodoulides expressed strong concern over the rising tensions, emphasizing the need for immediate action to prevent further destabilization and wider regional repercussions. The tensions have been escalating between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah since explosions killed 39 and injured thousands of Hezbollah members, and an Israeli airstrike killed 31 people, including 16 Hezbollah members. Christodoulides stressed the importance of resolving disputes through dialogue and diplomacy, within the framework of UN resolutions and international…

Sri Lankans cast their ballots on Saturday in a highly anticipated presidential election, seeking a leader to steer the country out of its worst financial crisis in decades. The election is a three-way contest between incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe, main opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, and Marxist-leaning challenger Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who narrowly led in a recent opinion poll. Voting was peaceful across the South Asian island nation, with over 13,000 polling stations set up and 250,000 public officials deployed to manage the election. A total of 38 candidates are vying for the top spot, with more than 17 million people…