Author: HeraldStar

Most Palestinian refugees residing in camps in southern Lebanon and near Beirut have been forced to flee due to intensified Israeli airstrikes, according to UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini. This alarming trend mirrors the mass displacements seen in Gaza, as refugees continue to experience a long history of upheaval. Lazzarini emphasized that the plight of Palestinian refugees, who have been repeatedly uprooted, reflects the ongoing violence and instability in the region. Israel has significantly escalated its military actions over the past three weeks, issuing evacuation warnings for over 100 towns in southern Lebanon, including strikes on the Burj al-Barajneh and Rashidiyeh…

Toshiyuki Mimaki, co-chair of Nihon Hidankyo, a grassroots movement of atomic bomb survivors, expressed overwhelming joy when the organization was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. However, his happiness quickly turned to sorrow as he reflected on the violence in Israel and Gaza, where children suffer amid ongoing conflicts. Nihon Hidankyo, formed in 1956 by survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings, was honored for its tireless efforts to abolish nuclear weapons. Mimaki emphasized the urgency of the group’s mission, criticizing nuclear-armed nations and expressing frustration with world leaders who wage war while citizens yearn for peace. Mimaki, who survived…

Bosnia’s Constitutional Court has suspended a controversial section of the school curriculum introduced by the Serb Republic’s education ministry, which portrayed convicted Serb war criminals Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic as heroes. The module, aimed at final-grade students in the Serb-dominated region, presented a revisionist perspective of the 1992-95 Bosnian War, glorifying the leaders convicted of genocide and war crimes by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). The court’s decision, made at a plenary session on Friday, came in response to a request by 13 national parliament members who argued that the curriculum would deepen ethnic divisions…

Following the assassination of its leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah is bracing for a long war of attrition in southern Lebanon, with a newly established military command now directing its operations, according to sources familiar with the group’s activities. Despite sustaining major losses from three weeks of devastating Israeli airstrikes, including the elimination of much of its leadership, Hezbollah continues to launch rockets and engage Israeli troops that have crossed into Lebanon. While Hezbollah has lost significant military assets and infrastructure, sources report that the group retains a stockpile of powerful precision-guided missiles, which it has yet to deploy in…

The Japanese organization Nihon Hidankyo, a grassroots movement of atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for its tireless advocacy for a world free of nuclear weapons. The Norwegian Nobel Committee honored the group for its efforts to educate the world about the horrors of nuclear warfare and to uphold the “nuclear taboo” through the testimony of survivors, known in Japan as “hibakusha.” Nihon Hidankyo, founded by atomic bomb survivors, has long been a voice for the global abolition of nuclear weapons. The hibakusha, who witnessed the unimaginable devastation of the atomic bombings…

The World Bank’s executive board has approved the establishment of a Financial Intermediary Fund (FIF) to support Ukraine, with contributions expected from the United States, Canada, and Japan, according to sources familiar with the decision. This new fund, which will be administered by the World Bank, aims to bolster Ukraine’s economic stability by tapping into up to $50 billion in pledged funding from Group of Seven (G7) countries. The United States, Japan, and Canada are expected to be the primary contributors to the fund, although the exact amounts are still being finalized. The FIF will be partly backed by interest…

On Thursday night, Israeli airstrikes hit central Beirut, killing 18 people and wounding at least 92, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. The strikes targeted a densely populated area, including a gas station, resulting in widespread destruction. A senior Hezbollah figure was reportedly the intended target, although their identity remains unclear. The attack marks an escalation in hostilities, as Israel had previously focused its strikes on Hezbollah’s southern Beirut stronghold. Rescue workers searched through the rubble for survivors amid large fires caused by the explosions. The area hit had not been targeted by Israel in previous strikes, raising concerns about further…

Global Leaders Gather to Advance Climate Negotiations Before COP29 Today, the COP29 Presidency hosted global climate leaders, government officials, constituencies, and delegates at the opening of Pre-COP in Baku, Azerbaijan. Pre-COP provides an important platform for Parties to advance climate negotiations ahead of the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), set to take place in November. Pre-COP discussions will focus on making progress on key priorities before COP29, including climate finance, specifically the New Collective Quantified Goal, mitigation, adaptation, and supporting vulnerable communities in global climate solutions. In an address delivered on…

The World Health Organization (WHO) has listed the first mpox in vitro diagnostic (IVD) under its Emergency Use Listing (EUL) procedure, an important step in improving global access to mpox testing. The approval for emergency use of the Alinity m MPXV assay, manufactured by Abbott Molecular Inc., will be pivotal in expanding diagnostic capacity in countries facing mpox outbreaks, where the need for quick and accurate testing has risen sharply. Early diagnosis of mpox enables timely treatment and care, and control of the virus. Limited testing capacity and delays in confirming mpox cases persist in Africa, contributing to the continued…

The Pre-COP meeting, a significant gathering of global climate leaders, government officials, and stakeholders, is set to commence tomorrow, October 10th, in Baku, Azerbaijan. This pivotal event will play a crucial role in advancing climate negotiations ahead of the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), scheduled for November. The opening ceremony of the Pre-COP will be livestreamed, allowing individuals around the world to engage with the proceedings. Starting at 9 AM AZT (UTC+4), viewers can access the livestream on YouTube via the following link: COP29 Pre-COP Opening Ceremony Livestream. This year’s…