Author: HeraldStar

Tokyo, Japan – The Japanese government has lifted its week-long megaquake warning, but warned citizens that the threat of a major earthquake remains. The alert, issued last Thursday, had prompted thousands to cancel holidays and stock up on essentials, leading to bare shelves in some stores. Disaster Management Minister Yoshifumi Matsumura announced the lifting of the warning, citing no significant changes in seismic activity or crustal deformation. However, he emphasized that the possibility of a major earthquake has not been eliminated and urged citizens to remain prepared. The initial warning was issued after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake injured 14 people…

A devastating wildfire that swept through mountainous areas northeast of Athens this week has burned 104 square kilometers (40 square miles) of land, according to the European Union’s Copernicus Emergency Management Service. The fire, which was contained on Tuesday after a massive effort, gutted scores of homes and prompted multiple countries to send assistance to Greece. A factory worker lost their life in the blaze, which covered an area almost twice the size of Manhattan and blanketed the Greek capital with a thick cloud of smoke. Greek officials reported that 22 businesses were damaged, and at least 78 homes were…

Alison Davidian, UN Women Country Representative in Afghanistan, briefed journalists in New York on their latest report addressing the plight of women and girls since the de facto authorities returned to power in August 2021. She described this period as “three years’ worth of countless decrees, directives, and statements targeting women and girls – stripping them of their fundamental rights and eviscerating their autonomy.” ‘The horrors have not stopped’ Taliban edicts have denied girls from getting an education beyond the sixth grade and banned women from working for non-governmental organization (NGOs). “Three years ago, the world was watching a takeover that was livestreaming horror after horror,” she…

The COP29 Presidency has today hosted the second meeting of its International Advisory Committee (IAC), bringing together eminent international leaders and valuable perspectives on climate action. Discussions were moderated by Maria Fernanda Espinosa, President of the 73rd Session of the UN General Assembly, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ecuador (2017-2018) and former Minister of Defense of Ecuador (2012-2014). Vaira Vike-Freiberga, former President of Latvia (1997-2007) and Co-Chair of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center was guest of honour at the meeting. In the meeting, further progress was made in operationalising the five contact groups within the Committee. These groups will…

In a damning 310-page report, Human Rights Watch has lambasted local officials and California Governor Gavin Newsom for perpetuating a cycle of criminalization and neglect that has exacerbated the homelessness crisis in Los Angeles. The organization, renowned for its exposés on human rights abuses worldwide, has turned its spotlight on the City of Angels, where the unhoused population has been subjected to a relentless campaign of arrests, citations, and property confiscations. The report, titled “‘You Have to Move!’ The Cruel and Ineffective Criminalization of Unhoused People in Los Angeles,” presents a searing indictment of the city’s approach to homelessness, which…

In a landmark ruling, a Luxembourg court has decisively rejected Nuctech’s claims that the European Commission’s unannounced raids on its premises were illegal, paving the way for a comprehensive crackdown on Chinese companies suspected of receiving state subsidies that distort the European market. The court’s verdict empowers the commission to request access to sensitive information held outside the EU, including confidential data stored in China, a move that has far-reaching implications for Chinese businesses operating in Europe. Nuctech, a leading manufacturer of cutting-edge airport and port scanners, had vehemently argued that complying with the commission’s investigation would compel it to…

In a landmark ruling, a Ugandan court has convicted Thomas Kwoyelo, a senior commander of the notorious Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), of committing atrocities on a massive scale. This unprecedented judgment marks the first time a high-ranking member of the rebel group has been held accountable by Uganda’s judicial system. Kwoyelo’s crimes, which span over two decades, include murder, rape, enslavement, torture, and kidnapping – a grim testament to the LRA’s reign of terror under the leadership of Joseph Kony. The group’s brutal campaign of violence and intimidation left deep scars on Ugandan communities, with thousands of lives lost, and…

In a dramatic turn of events, Thailand’s Constitutional Court has removed Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin from office, citing a “gross” breach of ethics in his appointment of a minister with a criminal record. This marks the fourth time in 16 years that the court has toppled a Thai premier, sparking concerns of political instability and a potential shake-up in the governing coalition. The real estate mogul’s dismissal after less than a year in power triggers a parliamentary vote to select a new leader, plunging the country into uncertainty. Thailand has been plagued by two decades of coups, court rulings, and…

In a shocking move, Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida declared his intention to step down next month, succumbing to the crushing weight of public disillusionment over political scandals and soaring living costs that marred his tumultuous three-year tenure. With his popularity in freefall, Kishida acknowledged that “politics cannot function without public trust” and expressed his determination to “push political reform forward” by relinquishing the reins of power. Kishida’s departure sets off a frenzied scramble to replace him, with the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) slated to hold a high-stakes contest in September to choose his successor as party president and,…

The United States is engaged in a high-stakes diplomatic effort to defuse escalating tensions in the Middle East, as fears of an Iranian retaliatory attack on Israel threaten to plunge the region into chaos. With a critical round of ceasefire talks slated for Thursday, US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield has issued a urgent call for all parties to “turn the temperature down” and avoid a catastrophic regional conflict. However, hopes for a peaceful resolution have been dealt a significant blow, as a senior Hamas official has already rejected participation in the talks, casting a dark shadow over the…