Author: HeraldStar

In a revealing series of interviews with The New York Times and People magazine, Oscar-winning actor Al Pacino has shared the harrowing details of his near-fatal battle with COVID-19 in 2020, offering insights into his perspective on life and death. The 84-year-old star recounted the moment he realized he was gravely ill, describing a surreal experience where he briefly lost consciousness and had no pulse. Pacino recalled feeling “unusually not good” before succumbing to a fever and severe dehydration. “I was sitting there in my house, and I was gone,” he said. “I didn’t have a pulse.” Reflecting on his…

The final day of Baku Climate Action Week (BCAW) saw powerful commitments and groundbreaking initiatives, strengthening Azerbaijan’s leadership on global climate action ahead of COP29. The week-long gathering, running from 30 September to 4 October, saw over 700 participants across more than 30 events, bringing together international climate experts, government officials, youth and private sector leaders to focus on green finance, the just energy transition, methane abatement, water and sustainable food systems, and more. Key highlights included the launch of the first standalone Agriculture Report of the Breakthrough Agenda. Led by CGIAR and in partnership with the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development…

FTX has received court approval for its bankruptcy plan, paving the way for the repayment of customers using up to $16.5 billion in recovered assets since the collapse of the once-prominent cryptocurrency exchange. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge John Dorsey hailed the plan as a “model case” for managing complex Chapter 11 proceedings during a court hearing in Wilmington, Delaware. The approved plan relies on a series of settlements involving FTX customers, creditors, U.S. government agencies, and liquidators overseeing the company’s operations outside the United States. This framework allows FTX to prioritize repaying its customers, particularly those with balances of $50,000 or…

The 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to US scientists Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for their groundbreaking discovery of microRNA, a molecule that plays a crucial role in regulating how cells function within the human body. Announced by the Nobel Prize committee in Sweden on Monday, the award recognizes the duo’s extensive research that unveiled the intricate processes of gene regulation, allowing for the development of various cell types from the same genetic material. The Nobel committee lauded their work as a revelation of “an entirely new dimension to gene regulation,” emphasizing its fundamental importance…

Manchester City secured a significant partial victory against the Premier League on Monday after an arbitration panel ruled on the club’s Associated Party Transactions (APT) that had previously been blocked. This ruling, seen as a landmark decision by some observers, indicated that certain aspects of the Premier League’s APT rules violated British competition law and were procedurally unfair. The panel specifically noted that decisions regarding two of City’s transactions in 2023 with First Abu Dhabi Bank and Etihad Aviation Group must be overturned due to the unfair application of these rules. The APT rules were designed to prevent clubs from…

Canada Basketball announced on Monday that it has mutually agreed to part ways with women’s national team head coach Victor Lapena, just two months after the team faced a disappointing performance at the Paris Olympics. The national team finished winless in the group stage, ultimately placing 11th after losses to France, Australia, and Nigeria, which led to a reassessment of the program’s direction. Lapena, who signed a contract extension in May to lead the national team through the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup, had a notable record of 17 wins and 10 losses in FIBA competitions since taking the helm…

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. announced on Monday that it will invest an undisclosed amount in ChargeScape, a company specializing in battery charging technology, aiming to enhance services for its electric vehicle (EV) drivers across the United States and Canada. Following this investment, Nissan will acquire a 25% stake in ChargeScape, positioning itself as an equal investor alongside BMW, Ford, and Honda, who currently co-own the joint venture. ChargeScape is dedicated to optimizing EV battery charging through its innovative software and technology, catering to a competitive market dominated by players like Tesla and newer entrants such as ChargePoint, Gridserve, and BP…

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged in critical talks on Monday, marking a significant step in bolstering strategic cooperation between the two nations as the Maldives seeks to recover from an ongoing economic crisis. During their discussions, Modi announced India’s commitment to extend support through a substantial financial package, including a $400 million and a 30 billion rupee (approximately $357.35 million) currency swap agreement, aimed at stabilizing the Maldivian economy. The Maldives has faced mounting concerns regarding its economic viability, with fears that it could be the first country to default on Islamic sovereign debt.…

Haiti’s Foreign Minister Dominique Dupuy has vehemently criticized the Dominican Republic’s newly announced policy to deport tens of thousands of migrants back to Haiti, where rampant gang violence has created a severe humanitarian crisis. “The brutal scenes of roundups and deportations that we are witnessing are an affront to human dignity,” Dupuy stated on X, emphasizing that these “dehumanizing acts” warrant strong condemnation and a demand for respect and justice. Last week, the Dominican Republic revealed plans to deport up to 10,000 migrants per week who are residing illegally in the country, significantly increasing the pace of deportations. While the…

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has announced his intention to expedite efforts to transform North Korea into a military superpower and a formidable nuclear power, according to a report from South Korean news agency News1 on Tuesday. This declaration underscores Kim’s ongoing commitment to bolster the country’s military capabilities amid rising tensions in the region and ongoing international sanctions. During a recent meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea, Kim emphasized the need for enhanced military readiness and modernization of the country’s defense forces. He stated that North Korea would prioritize advancements in its nuclear arsenal and military…