Author: HeraldStar

Pacific Island leaders are convening for the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders Meeting in Nuku’alofa, Tonga, from August 26-30, bringing together over 1,000 international dignitaries to address the region’s most pressing issues. The summit comes at a critical time, as the Pacific region faces a complex web of challenges, including climate change, human security, transnational drug trafficking, and geopolitical competition. The meeting’s theme, “Build Better Now,” reflects the need for tangible results and outcomes, as the region grapples with existential threats and a growing sense of urgency. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will attend the summit, five years after his…

President Joe Biden spoke with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, discussing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the recent unrest in Bangladesh. The call comes after Modi’s visit to Kyiv, where he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and expressed India’s support for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. According to a posting on X by Modi, the two leaders discussed “India’s full support for early return of peace and stability” in Ukraine. Modi also raised concerns about the safety of Hindus and other religious minorities in Bangladesh, following the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina earlier this…

A devastating flood has struck Bangladesh and northeast India, claiming the lives of at least 36 people and affecting nearly 4.5 million individuals. The disaster has forced hundreds of homes underwater, leaving residents stranded on rooftops, and has caused rivers on both sides of the border to reach extreme levels. In Bangladesh, 13 people have died, and almost 200,000 have been evacuated from flooded areas. The country’s Disaster Management ministry has reported that nearly 4.5 million people have been affected by the flooding, with hundreds of homes underwater. In the northeastern Indian state of Tripura, which borders Bangladesh, at least…

A powerful typhoon is barreling towards Japan’s southern island of Kyushu, prompting warnings of widespread disruptions to transportation services and daily life. Typhoon Shanshan, currently packing maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour (65 knots) near its center, is forecasted to approach Kyushu on Tuesday or Wednesday. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the storm is located south of Japan’s main islands and is moving west-northwest at a speed of 20 kilometers per hour. As Typhoon Shanshan draws closer, railway operators have warned of potential service disruptions, while airline companies have already begun canceling flights in anticipation of the…

Renowned Swedish football manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has died at the age of 76 after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Eriksson, who made history as the first foreigner to lead the England national team from 2001 to 2006, passed away on Monday surrounded by his family, leaving behind a legacy of achievements and memories in the football world. Eriksson’s illustrious career spanned multiple countries and clubs, including Swedish, Portuguese, and Italian teams, which he led to major trophies in the 1980s and 1990s. His success and experience made him an ideal candidate to take the reins of the England national…

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has overseen a successful test of domestically-developed attack drones, state media KCNA reported on Monday. The test, conducted at the Drone Institute of North Korea’s Academy of Defense Science, showcased the capabilities of the country’s latest military technology. Photos released by North Korean media depicted a white drone with X-shaped tails and wings crashing into and destroying a target resembling South Korea’s K-2 main battle tank. Kim, surrounded by advisers, emphasized the importance of drones in modern warfare and called for accelerated development and production of various drone systems. The tested drones are intended…

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump used the third anniversary of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan to launch a scathing attack on his Democratic rival, Kamala Harris, blaming her for the chaotic and deadly pullout. At a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, Trump honored the 13 servicemembers killed during the US exit, before later delivering a fiery speech to the National Guard Association of the United States in Detroit. Trump claimed that the withdrawal, which led to the collapse of American credibility and respect worldwide, was caused by Harris and President Joe Biden. He described the withdrawal as “catastrophic” and…

A devastating wave of coordinated attacks by separatist militants in Pakistan’s Balochistan province has resulted in the deaths of at least 73 people, including civilians, security personnel, and militants. The assaults, which targeted police stations, railway lines, highways, and buses, are believed to be the most widespread in years, sparking concerns of a rapidly escalating insurgency. According to officials, 14 soldiers and police, 21 militants, and 38 civilians were killed in the violence, which has left the region reeling. The chief minister of Balochistan, Sarfraz Bugti, described the attacks as a “well-thought-out plan to create anarchy in Pakistan,” highlighting the…

A recent surge in violence in the occupied West Bank has resulted in the deaths of five Palestinians, according to a statement released by the Palestinian health ministry. The fatalities occurred during an Israeli airstrike on the Nur Shams refugee camp near Tulkarm, which targeted a militant operations center. In a separate incident, a Palestinian individual was critically injured after being shot by Israeli settlers in the Wadi Rahal area near Bethlehem. The Palestinian Red Crescent reported the incident. The West Bank has witnessed a significant increase in clashes since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza last year.…

Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of the popular messaging app Telegram, was arrested in Paris over the weekend over allegations that his platform is being used for illicit activity such as drug trafficking and the distribution of child sexual abuse images. Durov, who was born in Russia, spent much of his childhood in Italy and is a citizen of France, Russia, the Caribbean island nation of St. Kitts and Nevis and the United Arab Emirates. He was taken into custody at Paris-Le Bourget Airport in France on Saturday after landing from Azerbaijan. In a statement posted to its platform, Telegram said…