Author: HeraldStar

The grieving parents of a young girl, one of three murdered at a Taylor Swift-themed event in northern England last month, have made a heartfelt appeal for an end to the widespread rioting that erupted across the country following the tragic incident. Alice da Silva Aguiar, 9, along with two other girls, lost her life in a stabbing attack during the event in the seaside town of Southport two weeks ago. The brutal incident also left eight others injured, sparking days of unrest in Southport and spreading to towns and cities across the United Kingdom. The violence was fueled by…

A fast-moving wildfire erupted on Sunday near Athens, forcing residents to flee their homes as the blaze, driven by hot and windy conditions, tore through trees, houses, and vehicles, sending plumes of smoke over the Greek capital. The wildfire, which ignited around 3 p.m. local time near the village of Varnavas, approximately 35 km (20 miles) north of Athens, quickly spread, propelled by strong gale-force winds. By nightfall, the flames had engulfed the area, casting an orange glow across the sky as firefighting aircraft were grounded until dawn. Over 400 firefighters, supported by 16 water-dropping planes and 13 helicopters, were…

China has taken a significant leap in unmanned aerial technology with the successful maiden flight of its latest large twin-engine transport aircraft. The groundbreaking flight took place on Sunday at Zigong Fengming General Airport in Sichuan Province, signaling a major advancement in the nation’s air cargo transportation capabilities. The aircraft, developed by Sichuan Tengden Sci-tech Innovation Co., Ltd., a leading company in intelligent aerial vehicle research and manufacturing, completed a 20-minute test flight where all systems reportedly functioned normally. This achievement reflects the company’s growing expertise and leadership in the field of unmanned aerial technology. This new transport aircraft boasts…

The Philippines and China exchanged accusations on Saturday following an aerial encounter over a disputed region in the South China Sea. The Philippine military condemned what it described as “dangerous and provocative actions” by the Chinese air force, while the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) maintained that its actions were professional and lawful. This marks the first time the Philippines has publicly criticized the actions of Chinese aircraft, rather than navy or coast guard vessels, since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assumed office in 2022. According to a statement from the Philippine military, two Chinese Air Force aircraft executed hazardous maneuvers…

In a breathtaking and audacious stunt, a climber was arrested by Paris police after attempting to scale the north face of the Eiffel Tower without any safety equipment on the final day of the Olympics. The incident occurred at approximately 2:45 pm when the climber was spotted making his way up the iconic structure, skirting the giant Olympic rings installed for the Games. Bare-chested and without ropes, the climber quickly gained attention as onlookers captured the daring feat on video. In one clip circulating on social media, the climber, grinning and seemingly unfazed by the risk, is heard joking with…

In a shocking and emotional twist, American gymnast Jordan Chiles has been stripped of the bronze medal she earned in Monday’s women’s floor final, following a controversial ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) confirmed that Romania’s Ana Barbosu, who had initially placed fourth, has now been awarded the bronze after CAS upheld an appeal by the Romanian Olympic Committee. The dispute arose when Chiles’ score was upgraded following an inquiry by her coach, Cecile Landi, regarding her difficulty rating. The adjustment briefly placed Chiles in third, bumping Barbosu to fourth. However, the…

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently confirmed a significant offensive by Ukrainian forces into Russia’s western border region of Kursk, underscoring Ukraine’s determination to extend the conflict into the territory of the aggressor. Zelenskyy made this announcement during his Saturday evening address, where he commended the strategic operations carried out by the Ukrainian military. During his speech, Zelenskyy highlighted the efforts of Army Chief Oleksandr Syrsky, noting that Syrsky had repeatedly briefed him on the progress at the frontline and the advancement of the war into Russian territory. The president expressed deep appreciation for the Ukrainian Defense Forces units involved in…

From the time of their introduction in December 2020 through to March 2023, COVID-19 vaccines reduced deaths due to the pandemic by at least 59%, saving more than 1.6 million lives in the WHO European Region. These are among the findings of a new WHO/Europe study published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine. It reveals that today’s known COVID-19 death toll in the Region, currently at 2.2 million, might have been as high as 4 million without the vaccines. Most of those saved were aged 60 or older, the group at highest risk of severe illness and death from SARS-CoV-2. The study’s author, Dr…

WHO has today issued an invitation for manufacturers of mpox vaccines to submit an Expression of Interest for Emergency Use Listing (EUL). The WHO Director-General announced on 7 August 2024 that he had triggered the process for EUL of mpox vaccines given worrying trends in the disease’s spread. There is a serious and growing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) that has now expanded outside the country. A new viral strain, which first emerged in September 2023, has for the first time been detected outside DRC. The EUL procedure is an emergency use authorization process, specifically developed to expedite the availability…

At least 93 Palestinians lost their lives in an Israeli airstrike that targeted a school and mosque in Gaza, where displaced civilians had sought refuge, according to Gaza Civil Defense officials. The strike occurred overnight on Saturday at the Al-Tabi’in compound in the Al-Daraj neighborhood, as people were performing dawn prayers. Gaza Civil Defense Spokesperson Mahmoud Basal confirmed the death toll, stating, “We recovered at least 90 people who had been killed, many of them torn apart, many still unidentified.” Disturbing videos obtained by CNN show bodies scattered across the scene, with witnesses reporting no prior warning of the attack.…