Author: HeraldStar

China has urged all parties involved in the Middle East conflict to maintain peace and stability, following a series of deadly explosions in Lebanon that left at least 20 people dead and over 450 wounded. The blasts occurred in handheld radios used by the Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah. China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Lin Jian, expressed concern over the incidents, emphasizing opposition to any infringement on Lebanon’s sovereignty and security. “China is highly concerned about the relevant incidents and opposes any infringement on Lebanon’s sovereignty and security,” Lin said. The explosions are believed to have been caused by Israeli spy agency…

China’s top legislative body has approved a plan to increase the retirement age for men from 60 to 63, and for women from 55 to 58 for white-collar jobs and 50 to 55 for blue-collar work. The changes, set to begin on January 1, will be implemented over the next 15 years, with the retirement age increasing by another three to five years. The move aims to address China’s rapidly aging population and ease pressure on the social security system. However, workers are unhappy about the decision, citing concerns over job security, economic uncertainty, and inequity in pension schemes between…

Mercedes-Benz has cut its full-year profit margin for the second time in less than two months, citing a decline in overall sales volume in China. The luxury carmaker’s decision to trim its outlook follows a similar adjustment made just recently in July, underscoring the ongoing challenges faced by the company in the Chinese market. The Stuttgart-based automaker’s shares listed on the Frankfurt exchange fell 3.4% following the announcement. Mercedes-Benz Cars now expects an adjusted return on sales of between 7.5% and 8.5%, down from the previously forecasted range of 10% to 11%. This implies an expected adjusted return on sales…

Nigeria’s presidency has announced that Coca-Cola plans to invest $1 billion in its Nigerian operations over the next five years. This development comes after a meeting between President Bola Tinubu and senior executives of the soft drinks maker, including John Murphy, President and Chief Financial Officer of Coca-Cola, and Zoran Bogdanovic, CEO of Coca-Cola HBC. Bogdanovic revealed that Coca-Cola has already invested $1.5 billion in Nigeria since 2013 to expand production capacity, improve supply chains, and enhance training and development. He expressed satisfaction with the predictable and enabling environment in place, prompting the additional investment. President Tinubu assured the executives…

The mpox outbreak in Africa continues to spiral out of control, with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) sounding the alarm on Thursday. According to Jean Kaseya, director general of Africa CDC, the disease is still on the rise in several countries, with a staggering 177% surge in cases and a 38.5% increase in deaths compared to the same period last year. This dire situation has prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, citing the emergence of a new variant . The outbreak has spread to…

In the aftermath of devastating floods that swept through Nigeria’s northeastern city of Maiduguri, residents are facing a new challenge: exploitation by canoe owners. The city, reeling from the worst flooding in three decades, has seen canoe owners charge exorbitant fees to transport residents and their belongings to safety. Last week’s floods, triggered by a burst dam wall and heavy rains, left thousands displaced and without access to basic necessities. With vehicles unable to navigate the submerged streets, canoes have become the primary means of transportation. However, what began as a humanitarian gesture has turned into a lucrative business for…

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…