Author: HeraldStar

A devastating flood wave has ravaged central Europe, leaving at least 24 people dead and billions of dollars in damages in its wake. Poland, Czech Republic, Romania, and Austria have been severely affected, with widespread destruction and displacement reported. In Poland, the city of Wroclaw, the country’s third-largest city, braced for peak flood waters on Thursday, with early indications suggesting its defenses were holding firm. Prime Minister Donald Tusk cautioned against premature optimism, stating, “It is too early to announce that the flood in Wroclaw has been overcome.” The Polish army has deployed 16,000 soldiers to assist in the region,…

A U.S. Navy aircraft flew through the Taiwan Strait on Tuesday in what the U.S. called a show of commitment to free and open international airspace, prompting China to scramble fighters over a waterway it calls its own. “By operating within the Taiwan Strait in accordance with international law, the United States upholds the navigational rights and freedoms of all nations,” the U.S. 7th Fleet said of the P-8A Poseidon’s flight. China, which claims sovereignty over democratically-governed Taiwan, calls Western military transits in the area provocations. The Eastern Theatre Command of China’s People’s Liberation Army said jets were scrambled to…

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree ordering a substantial increase in the country’s military personnel, bringing the total number of active servicemen to 1.5 million. This expansion, announced on Monday, would propel Russia’s military to become the second largest in the world, surpassing the United States and India, and trailing only behind China’s 2 million active duty personnel. The move is part of Putin’s broader plan to overhaul the Russian armed forces, citing the need to match the current international situation and the behavior of former foreign partners. According to Andrei Kartapolov, chairman of Russia’s lower house of…

A series of mysterious explosions ripped through Lebanon on Tuesday, killing nine people and injuring nearly 3,000 others, including fighters and Iran’s envoy to Beirut. The blasts, which occurred in southern Lebanon, Beirut’s southern suburbs, and the eastern Bekaa Valley, targeted handheld pagers used by Hezbollah and other groups for communication. Hezbollah quickly accused Israel of perpetrating the attacks, vowing to retaliate and promising “fair punishment” for the blasts. Lebanese Information Minister Ziad Makary condemned the explosions as “Israeli aggression,” while the Israeli military declined to comment. The death toll rose from eight to nine on Tuesday night, with the…

17 September 2024, Geneva – Recognizing the urgent need for a broad-based effort globally to reduce errors in medical diagnosis, the World Health Organization (WHO) is calling on all stakeholders to “Get it right, make it safe!” as part of the World Patient Safety Day campaign on 17 September. The theme ‘improving diagnosis for patient safety’ was selected in consultation with a wide range of stakeholders – from patients to policy-makers – to highlight how everyone has a vital role to play in reducing the risks and impact of errors in diagnosis. “The right diagnosis, at the right time, is the…

The U.S. Secret Service is facing unprecedented strain as the 2024 presidential election enters its final stretch. With approximately 400 fewer employees than Congress has authorized, the agency is struggling to keep up with the demands of protecting an expanded list of officials, including former President Donald Trump and Democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris ¹. This shortage is particularly concerning in light of the recent assassination attempts on Trump’s life, including a gunman who hid undetected for nearly 12 hours on the edge of a golf course where Trump was playing. Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe acknowledged that…

Students in Springfield, Ohio, returned to classes on Tuesday with enhanced security measures in place, courtesy of the state, as the city grapples with threats linked to baseless claims about Haitian immigrants. The allegations, which suggest Haitians are stealing and eating pet cats and dogs, were propagated by former President Donald Trump during last week’s presidential debate. However, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has flatly denied these rumors, emphasizing that Haitian immigrants are vital to the local economy . Springfield, with a population of around 60,000, has experienced significant growth in recent years, largely due to the influx of Haitian immigrants.…

New York, 16 September 2024 – The latest edition of Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals: The Gender Snapshot 2024, launched today by UN Women and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, reveals that progress has been made worldwide on gender equality and women’s and girls’ empowerment. Women hold one in every four parliamentary seats, a significant rise from a decade ago. The share of women and girls living in extreme poverty has finally dipped below 10 per cent following steep increases during the COVID-19 pandemic years. Up to 56 legal reforms have been enacted worldwide that seek to close the gender gap…

Spanish golfer Jon Rahm appealed against outstanding fines to the DP World Tour on Thursday which had thrown his hopes of competing at next year’s Ryder Cup into jeopardy. The two-time major winner originally insisted Wednesday that he had no intention of paying the penalty fees incurred due to his participation in LIV Golf events, escalating the possibility of Team Europe heading into next year’s Ryder Cup without one of its biggest stars. Rahm played a pivotal role in routing the United States in Rome last October, but to be eligible to return to captain Luke Donald’s team for New York, the 29-year-old needs to be a member of…

President Joe Biden has paid tribute to the late James Earl Jones, the iconic actor renowned for his commanding voice and unforgettable roles in film and theater. In a statement released on Tuesday, Biden reflected on his admiration for Jones, whom he last saw when the actor accepted the Lincoln Medal for his exemplary character and accomplishments. Biden shared a personal connection with Jones, noting that they both overcame childhood stuttering to find their voices. “I admired him for something else as well, something we both had in common – overcoming a childhood stutter to find our voice for something…