International news and updates
The president of Panama Laurentino Cortizo signed into law a national moratorium on issuing new metal mining permits after weeks of mass protests in the country against a controversial Canadian project. The legislation of this Central American state also explicitly banned the renewal of the existing concessions after their terms expire. This metal mining ban…
The United Nations (UN) high-ranking official Craig Mokhiber resigned in protest that it failed to stop the Israel-Gaza war and ‘genocide’ of Palestinians through the hands of Israeli forces. In a detailed communication addressed to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, Mokhiber called for the immediate dismantling of what he described as a…
Over the last two years, high inflation has adversely affected the American economy. This inflation crisis is undermining the financial well-being of millions of citizens, especially of the fixed-income population. Notably, basic necessities, like food, fuel, and housing, have become increasingly expensive, further burdening individuals. The high inflation has pushed citizens toward fiscal prudence and…
Can the U.S. De-Escalate Hamas-Israel Conflict? Involving China and Saudi Arabia to Calm Hamas While Not Stopping Israeli Civilian Killings. The United States has asked Saudi Arabia and China to use their influence and pressure Hamas to stop their militant activities, release hostages, and prevent the Israel-Hamas war from spreading. On Sunday, the U.S. Secretary…
Israel has announced to selling of up to $30 billion of foreign currency in the open market to stabilize its own currency ‘Shekel’. This is the first-ever sale of foreign exchange. The Bank of Israel has taken the decision on Monday as the government is feeling the brunt of the ongoing war with Hamas. Owing…
Surprisingly, Saudi Arabia has declared that they are no longer going to engage in any talks concerning normalizing relations with Israel. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was informed that the talks were over, signaling a setback in recent American efforts to bring reconciliation and peace between them. Saudi Arabia’s decision to freeze talks sparks doubts on…
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has predicted that by mid-century, the ratio of the elderly population in India aged over 60 years will double. Presently, a tenth of the Indian population is aged 60 plus, and by 2050, it will be a fifth of the total population. The report says that there are 149…
Russia is likely to relax a ban on pipeline exports of diesel in a few days with quotas to prevent price spikes. The ban on gasoline exports will continue for now, as per the daily Kommersant, citing unknown sources. Despite being the top oil producer, Russia has faced recent fuel shortages locally. It was because…
Mark Zukerberg’s Meta to introduce Facebook and Instagram subscription models for Europeans and charge a monthly fee Meta is considering the possibility of charging Europeans $13/month for ad-free versions of its Instagram or Facebook apps. Mark Zuckerberg’s company is to take the move in response to the European Union’s privacy regulations and ECJ’s recent ruling. Notable,…
Citigroup Inc. has predicted that there shall be a drop in crude oil prices next year, with a likely reduction to US$70 a barrel. This is primarily because of lower demand and an anticipated “peak transport fuel demand” according to the U.S. Bank. Currently, at US$92, oil prices have risen steadily due to production cuts by…
Bangladesh interest rate at 10.2% for October
In a significant development, China inaugurated its high-speed rail line, spanning various bays and tracing the southeastern coastline of Fujian province near the Taiwan Strait, according to reports from state media on Thursday. The maiden voyage of a bullet train took place on Thursday morning, departing from Fuzhou, the provincial capital of Fujian in eastern…
In a covert operation disguised as refugee aid, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been providing substantial support to one faction in the ongoing Sudan conflict, a recent investigation by The New York Times revealed. Multiple sources, including both current and former officials hailing from the United States, Europe, and various African nations, have asserted…
These tech giants, including Alibaba, Baidu, China Mobile, Tencent, and Xiaomi, were responsible for emitting 87 million tonnes in the 2021-22 fiscal year, surpassing Hong Kong’s annual emissions of 34.7 million tonnes, which can collectively eliminate emissions equivalent to 2.5 times that of Hong Kong. Five major Chinese ICT giants – Alibaba, Baidu, China Mobile,…
When I First Saw It, I Thought This Can’t Be Real Archaeologists have unearthed what is believed to be the world’s oldest wooden structure, suggesting that woodworking predates our species by at least 175,000 years. A research team made this remarkable discovery near Zambia’s Kalambo Falls, an area renowned for yielding wooden artifacts and stone…
Congress is facing a government shutdown in five days, with hard-right Republicans pushing for spending cuts, even at the expense of federal services. Speaker Kevin McCarthy is struggling to find a way forward. The House plans to vote on funding bills, but McCarthy’s support is uncertain. The Senate is working on a bipartisan stopgap measure…
Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov At UN Dismisses Ukraine’s Peace Talks, Warns of Conflict, and Rejects Grain Deal Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, in his UN address, criticizes Western nations and specific Ukrainian peace proposals amid the Russia-Ukraine war tensions. He dismissed Ukraine’s 10-point peace plan as “completely not feasible,” and suggested that if Ukraine and…
Gucci at the top of the U.S fashion market
The bodies of two migrants were recovered from the Rio Grande separating the US and Mexico this week, including a three-year-old child. Migrant arrivals at the US southern border have spiked to near-record numbers in September, putting a strain on local resources. The child is believed to have drowned after being swept away while crossing…
(Bloomberg) — The Biden administration plans to seek UN Security Council approval as early as next week to deploy a Kenya-led multinational force to Haiti, people familiar with the matter said. The people asked not to be identified because the timing of the US push hasn’t been publicly released. In his address to the United…