Author: HeraldStar

A Tunisian court has sentenced presidential candidate Ayachi Zammel to six months in prison on charges of falsifying documents, his lawyer confirmed to Reuters on Wednesday. This marks the second prison sentence against Zammel within a week, just days before the country’s highly anticipated presidential election. Last week, Zammel received a 20-month prison sentence for allegedly falsifying popular endorsements, which his defense team denounced as politically motivated. The court’s decision has intensified concerns about the fairness of the upcoming election, with opposition parties and civil society groups accusing the Tunisian government of attempting to rig the vote to ensure President…

Somalia has accused Ethiopia of smuggling weapons into the country, escalating tensions between the two Horn of Africa neighbors amid fears that arms could fall into the hands of Islamist militants. The accusation came a day after an Egyptian warship delivered a shipment of heavy weaponry to Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, under a security agreement signed in August. This marks the second such delivery, heightening concerns over regional security and the potential for arms trafficking. The spat between Somalia and Ethiopia has grown following Ethiopia’s plans to build a port in the self-declared independent region of Somaliland in exchange for potential…

The United States is preparing to unveil a significant military aid package exceeding $8 billion for Ukraine during President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s visit to Washington on Thursday. The Biden administration is set to announce two major aid components, totaling $8 billion, as part of its ongoing efforts to support Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s invasion. U.S. officials confirmed the aid, which is aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s military capabilities, will include resources drawn from U.S. weapon stocks and new purchases through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI). The first segment of the aid package, valued at $5.6 billion, will come from a drawdown…

Russia has launched a weapons program in China to develop and produce long-range attack drones intended for use in the ongoing war against Ukraine, according to European intelligence sources and documents obtained by Reuters. The project is spearheaded by IEMZ Kupol, a subsidiary of Russia’s state-owned arms manufacturer Almaz-Antey. Kupol has reportedly developed a new drone model, the Garpiya-3 (G3), with the help of Chinese experts, and is now capable of large-scale production at a Chinese factory. The G3 can travel up to 2,000 km with a payload of 50 kg, and early prototypes have already been delivered to Kupol…

Small tsunami waves splashed ashore on Japan’s remote islands on Tuesday morning after a magnitude 5.8 earthquake, likely triggered by volcanic activity, shook the area. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued a tsunami advisory, warning of waves up to 1 meter above tide levels along the Izu and Ogasawara island chains, although the tremor was not felt on land. The earthquake struck offshore, approximately 180 kilometers (111 miles) south of Hachijo Island, which lies about 300 kilometers (186 miles) south of Tokyo. The U.S. Geological Survey reported the quake’s magnitude as 5.6. Within 30 minutes of the quake, a tsunami…

Tropical Storm Helene has formed in the Caribbean Sea and is expected to intensify into a major hurricane as it moves north toward the United States. Already, heavy rains and large waves have impacted the Cayman Islands, prompting some residents in Florida to evacuate and prepare for potential flooding by filling sandbags. Hurricane watches are now in effect for portions of Cuba, Mexico, and parts of Florida’s coastline, including Tampa Bay, as reported by the U.S. National Hurricane Center. A tropical storm warning has also been issued for parts of the Florida Keys. As of now, the storm is located…

Coca-Cola has announced it will discontinue its Spiced flavor just six months after its launch, marking a swift conclusion to a product aimed at enticing younger consumers. The company stated that it is constantly evaluating customer preferences and making adjustments to its flavor lineup. “As part of this strategy, we’re planning to phase out Coca-Cola Spiced to introduce an exciting new flavor in 2025,” a spokesperson confirmed. The decision to remove Spiced from the market is surprising, particularly as Coca-Cola initially promoted it as a permanent addition to their offerings. While the exact reasons for the flavor’s discontinuation have not…

A Pennsylvania health care system has reached a landmark settlement of $65 million with victims of a ransomware attack that exposed sensitive patient data, including nude photos of cancer patients. This agreement, described as the largest settlement of its kind in terms of per-patient compensation, follows a cyberattack in February 2023 by a hacker group that targeted Lehigh Valley Health Network, which operates 15 hospitals and health centers in eastern Pennsylvania. The settlement is still pending judicial approval and serves as a crucial warning to other major U.S. health care providers about the significance of safeguarding sensitive patient records. According…

The Lebanese Football Association (LFA) has indefinitely postponed all football matches in its affiliated domestic tournaments due to the escalating violence and humanitarian crisis caused by Israel’s recent attacks in southern Lebanon. The decision comes as the situation in the region continues to deteriorate, raising fears of an all-out war. According to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, at least 558 people, including 50 children, have lost their lives, with 1,835 others reported injured since the bombardment began on Friday. The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) has reported that tens of thousands of people have been displaced from their homes, with…

India’s chess masters have etched their names in history by clinching gold medals in both the men’s and women’s team competitions at the 45th International Chess Federation (FIDE) Chess Olympiad held in Budapest. This monumental achievement not only highlights India’s growing dominance in the world of chess but also showcases the talents of its emerging young stars. Alongside the team championships, India walked away with four individual gold medals, solidifying their impressive performance throughout the tournament. The men’s team, consisting of Gukesh Dommaraju, Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, and Arjun Erigaisi, secured victory in the Open event. The women’s team, featuring notable players…