Author: HeraldStar

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…

The World Health Organization (WHO) today launched a global Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan to stop outbreaks of human-to-human transmission of mpox through coordinated global, regional, and national efforts. This follows the declaration of a public health emergency of international concern by the WHO Director-General on 14 August. The current plan is subject to inputs by Member States, who were briefed on the plan on Friday, 23 August. The plan covers the six-month period of September 2024-February 2025, envisioning a US$135 million funding need for the response by WHO, Member States, partners including Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC),…

In anticipation of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, scheduled to take place in Baku this November, the COP29 Presidency, in collaboration with the United Nations Office in Azerbaijan and supported by PASHA Holding and Trendyol, organised a workshop focused on effective media communication strategies. The workshop aimed to provide local media with insight into the COP29 processes and to enhance local capacity to cover the climate conference. The event began with opening remarks from key stakeholders, highlighting the importance of media engagement in the lead-up to COP29.…

A severe blood shortage has been declared in the US, with the American Red Cross reporting a 25% drop in its national inventory in July. The ongoing heatwave has hindered efforts to replenish the supply, with over 100 blood drives impacted across nearly every state. An additional 60 blood drives were canceled in August due to extreme weather conditions. America’s Blood Centers has urged eligible donors, particularly those with O-positive and O-negative blood types, to come forward to meet the demand. To incentivize donations, the American Red Cross is offering $20 Amazon gift cards to those who give blood before…

Italian prosecutors have placed the captain of the superyacht Bayesian under investigation for manslaughter and shipwreck following the vessel’s tragic sinking off Sicily last week, which resulted in the deaths of seven people, including British tech magnate Mike Lynch. Captain James Cutfield, a 51-year-old New Zealand national, is being investigated after being interrogated for a second time, according to a judicial source. The investigation does not imply guilt, and formal charges may not necessarily follow. The Bayesian, a 56-meter-long British-flagged yacht, capsized and sank on August 21 after being hit by a sudden storm while anchored off northern Sicily. Fifteen…

In a significant move to address the country’s energy challenges, the South African presidency has announced plans to establish a specialized body to oversee the raising of 319 billion rand ($18 billion) needed to repair and upgrade the country’s municipal power grids. The Just Energy Transition Municipal Forum and its secretariat will be responsible for managing the funds and ensuring that the upgrades are carried out efficiently and effectively. According to officials who spoke at a conference near Johannesburg on Monday, the new body will also play a crucial role in training municipality staff and ensuring that the poor and…

Freelance photographer Moses Sawasawa, who has been collaborating with The Associated Press since 2021, has taken a powerful photo of a 90-year-old man suffering from mpox in the Congo. The image, taken just days after the World Health Organization declared mpox a global emergency, highlights the impact of the disease on adults, who make up 30% of cases in the region. Sawasawa waited patiently for 20-30 minutes for the elderly man to wake up, capturing a poignant moment that tells a story of resilience and struggle. The photo, taken with a Sony a7R Mark IV and a 24-70mm GM 2.8…