Author: HeraldStar

Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is set to elect a new leader next month, marking a pivotal moment in the country’s political landscape. The race comes after Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced his decision to step down, citing the need for a “reset” amid record-low approval ratings and corruption scandals. The contest is expected to be a generational battle between the old guard and a younger generation, with several candidates vying for the top spot. The LDP’s leadership race will not only determine Japan’s next prime minister but also define the direction of the governing party and Japanese politics for…

Pakistan’s efforts to secure a $7 billion loan program from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have hit a snag, with the global lender yet to approve the deal despite a staff-level agreement in July. The delay has sparked concerns about Pakistan’s ability to meet its debt obligations and avoid default. The IMF’s executive board, responsible for ratifying the agreement, has not included Pakistan’s case on its agenda, fueling speculation about whether the country has failed to meet the lender’s conditions. Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has accused the IMF of “deliberately delaying” the release of funds, citing “geopolitical factors”…

Thailand is reeling from the impact of Super Typhoon Yagi, which has claimed at least nine lives in the past week, bringing the total number of fatalities from rain-related incidents to 33 since mid-August. The storm has left thousands stranded, prompting the deployment of military special forces to Chiang Rai province to assist in rescue efforts. Rescue Operations Underway Authorities have issued flash flood warnings for 36 provinces, including Bangkok, and are conducting rescue operations using boats and helicopters, supported by Thai Navy SEALs, to reach those trapped in flood-hit areas. Despite floodwaters receding in some parts, many riverside settlements…

Malaysian authorities have rescued more than 400 children suspected of being sexually abused at charity homes run by a prominent Islamic business organization with links to a banned religious sect. The children, aged between one and 17, were rescued during coordinated raids on 20 premises across two Malaysian states, resulting in the arrest of 171 adults, including Islamic religious teachers. The raids were conducted after reports were filed alleging neglect, abuse, sexual harassment, and molestation at the charity homes operated by Global Ikhwan Services and Business (GISB). GISB has denied the sexual abuse allegations, stating that it does not manage…

Junior doctors in Kolkata are continuing their protests against the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at a state-run hospital, despite a court order to return to work. The protests, which have been ongoing for over a month, have put the West Bengal state government on the back foot. The protests were sparked by the discovery of the body of a 31-year-old trainee doctor on August 9, which led to nationwide outrage in India. A hospital volunteer was arrested for the crime, which is now being investigated by a federal agency. The protesting doctors have set up camp outside…

The US State Department has imposed sanctions on a Chinese research institute and several companies for their involvement in supplying Pakistan’s ballistic missile program. The sanctions target the Beijing Research Institute of Automation for Machine Building Industry, which allegedly worked with Pakistan to procure equipment for testing rocket motors for the Shaheen-3 and Ababeel systems. Additionally, the sanctions target several China-based firms, including Hubei Huachangda Intelligent Equipment Co, Universal Enterprise, and Xi’an Longde Technology Development Co, as well as Pakistan-based Innovative Equipment and a Chinese national. These entities are accused of knowingly transferring equipment under missile technology restrictions. The US…

In a significant move, Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has dissolved the opposition-led national assembly, setting the stage for early legislative elections on November 17. The decision, announced in an evening address, comes after the assembly refused to engage in discussions on the budget law and rejected efforts to dissolve wasteful state institutions. Faye, who took office in April, stated that working with the assembly had become increasingly difficult, prompting him to seek a fresh mandate from the people. “I dissolve the national assembly to ask the sovereign people for the institutional means to bring about the systemic transformation that…

In a significant victory for reproductive rights in the United States, a North Dakota state court judge has overturned the state’s near-total abortion ban, paving the way for abortion to become legal in the Midwestern state for the first time in over a year. Judge Bruce Romanick’s ruling, issued on Thursday, found that the North Dakota state constitution protects women’s right to an abortion before the fetus is viable, aligning with US constitutional precedents. The decision comes after abortion providers challenged the ban, which was signed into law by North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum in April 2023. The law made…

U.S. Steel, a 123-year-old company, is facing a fiery nationalistic and labor backlash over its proposed $15 billion merger with Japanese peer Nippon Steel. The deal, which was announced in December, has been met with resistance from U.S. security regulators, who are expected to reject the transaction due to concerns over national security. The merger would have seen Nippon Steel acquire U.S. Steel, but the deal has been opposed by labor unions and some lawmakers, who argue that it would lead to job losses and compromise national security. The United Steelworkers union, which represents blast-furnace employees, has been particularly vocal…

For Immediate Release: Commenting at the conclusion of the 11th Technical Expert Dialogue and the 3rd Meeting Under the Ad Hoc Work Programme, COP29 President-Designate Mukhtar Babayev said: “The COP29 Presidency was honoured to welcome parties to Baku where we moved on from early negotiating positions and worked to narrow down potential options for the New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance. The conclusion of the final meeting of the Ad Hoc Work Programme marks the beginning of the end. “We have full confidence in the co-chairs of the Ad Hoc Work Programme as they now develop a substantive framework…