Author: HeraldStar

Britain’s Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported on Friday the detection of another case of the new Mpox variant, clade Ib, marking the fifth confirmed case in the country in recent weeks. The case, identified in Leeds, involves an individual who had recently returned from Uganda, a country currently experiencing community transmission of the variant. UKHSA emphasized that while this new strain is linked to a global health emergency declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) in August, the risk to the general population remains low. The patient is now receiving specialist care, and UKHSA reassured the public that previous cases,…

Oil prices fell on Friday, extending a weekly decline of over 3%, as easing concerns over supply disruptions from the Israel-Hezbollah conflict and expectations of increased global oil supply in 2025 pressured the market. Brent crude dropped by 34 cents, or 0.46%, closing at $72.94 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell 72 cents, or 1.05%, settling at $68, following the Thanksgiving holiday. For the week, Brent lost 3.1%, and WTI dropped 4.8%. The market saw reduced trading activity due to the U.S. public holiday, and the risk premium associated with the Middle East conflict has diminished…

Gazprom, Russia’s largest gas producer, posted a loss of 53 billion roubles ($492.5 million) for the third quarter of 2024, driven primarily by an expected 20% increase in the profit tax rate for 2025. This marks a stark contrast to the 56.4 billion roubles ($529 million) profit the company recorded in the same period last year. Despite this quarterly setback, Gazprom reported a significant rise in its nine-month net income, reaching 990 billion roubles, up from 353 billion roubles in 2023. The positive performance is attributed to higher gas prices, increased supplies, and strong oil sales, as well as the…

November 24, Baku: The COP29 Presidency of Azerbaijan today announced the agreement of the Baku Finance Goal (BFG), a new commitment to channel $1.3tn of climate finance to the developing world each year. Success on the COP29 Presidency’s top priority for the UN Climate Summit represents a significant uplift from the previous climate finance goal of $100 billion and will unlock a new wave of global investment. The Baku Finance Goal contains a core target for developed countries to take the lead on mobilizing at least $300 billion per year for developing countries by 2035. This represents a $50bn increase on…

The push for a green hydrogen market in Germany is largely reliant on public funding, according to energy utility E.ON, which highlighted that only 9% of the country’s 2030 target for electrolysis capacity is currently under construction or has received investment decisions. Despite this, government-backed schemes have been the primary factor accelerating progress. E.ON’s research with the EWI energy institute reveals that high electricity costs and unclear regulations are hindering private investment, making hydrogen production seem unaffordable. Germany aims to develop its own green hydrogen capacity to decarbonize industries, but without better regulatory clarity and cost control, it risks losing…

The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season officially concluded on Saturday, marking an intense and record-breaking year for storms. The season saw a total of 18 named storms, including 11 hurricanes, five of which were classified as major hurricanes, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). This activity exceeded the average for the season and aligned with NOAA’s earlier predictions. Several factors, such as near-record warm ocean temperatures in the Atlantic, contributed to the unusually active season. The season was marked by significant storms, including Hurricane Beryl, the earliest known Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic, which made landfall in…

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum firmly denied claims made by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump that she had agreed to close Mexico’s border with the U.S. during their recent conversation. Trump’s post on Truth Social stated that their talks were “productive,” with Sheinbaum allegedly agreeing to halt migration through Mexico to the U.S. However, Sheinbaum quickly refuted these claims, emphasizing that Mexico’s stance is to address migration through a comprehensive strategy, not by closing borders. In her statement, Sheinbaum outlined that Mexico has worked closely with the Biden administration to reduce U.S. border crossings by 75% in the past year, and she…

At least six Democratic members of Congress were targeted with bomb threats over the Thanksgiving holiday, prompting a swift response from law enforcement. Four Democratic representatives from Connecticut, including Reps. Joe Courtney, Jim Himes, John Larson, and Jahana Hayes, revealed on Thursday that they had received bomb threats while spending time with their families. Senator Chris Murphy’s office also confirmed that his Hartford home was among those targeted. Rep. Seth Magaziner from Rhode Island also reported receiving a bomb threat at his residence. Law enforcement agencies were immediately notified, and in each case, no bomb was found, with all of…

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof on Friday suggested that there could be ways for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to visit the Netherlands without being arrested, despite an active arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC). This statement appeared to soften the position taken last week by Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp, who had emphasized that the Netherlands fully cooperates with the ICC, including acting on arrest warrants for individuals on Dutch soil. Schoof, speaking at a news conference, clarified that while the Netherlands has obligations under the ICC treaty, there are scenarios where Netanyahu might visit without facing…

Australia has enacted one of the world’s toughest social media regulations by imposing a ban on children under the age of 16 from using platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. The move, announced late Thursday after a highly charged national debate, has elicited a mixed response, ranging from anger to relief. The law mandates that tech giants, including Meta Platforms (owner of Facebook and Instagram) and TikTok, prevent minors from logging into their platforms, with penalties of up to A$49.5 million (roughly $32 million) for non-compliance. The enforcement of the ban will begin in January 2025, with full implementation slated…