Author: HeraldStar

A federal congressman, Benito Aguas, was tragically assassinated late on Monday in Veracruz, a Gulf Coast state plagued by rising political violence. The Veracruz attorney general’s office confirmed Aguas’ death in a statement shared on social media. Alongside Aguas, another man named Agustin Linares was found dead at the scene, and authorities are currently investigating the suspected murders. Reports indicate that Aguas was shot multiple times in the mountainous municipality of Zongolica, located in central Veracruz. Despite efforts to save him, he succumbed to his wounds at the scene. Ricardo Monreal, the leader of the lower house of Congress, expressed…

The fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime has ushered in a new era for Syria, marked by both hope and uncertainty. Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the leader of the forces that toppled Assad, has vowed to seek justice for those who suffered under the previous administration. In a statement released on state TV, Golani declared that individuals involved in torture or killings during Assad’s rule would be pursued relentlessly, with no room for pardons. He also called on other nations to extradite fugitives implicated in these crimes, emphasizing a commitment to accountability. The international community is closely monitoring Syria’s new leadership to…

The international community must set “several red lines” in discussions with Syria’s new leadership to ensure the country’s future stability, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Luis Albares said on Wednesday. Speaking at the Reuters NEXT conference, Albares emphasized the urgency of establishing key conditions to guide Syria’s transition after rebel forces recently overthrew President Bashar al-Assad’s government. Albares outlined the primary prerequisites for engaging with Syria’s new leadership. These include transforming the rebel factions responsible for the regime change into a legitimate political movement, ensuring respect for human rights and minority protections, and preserving Syria’s territorial integrity. He stressed the need…

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…