Author: Admin

Record-breaking floods on the mid-north coast of New South Wales have left over 48,800 people and 23,200 homes cut off, the State Emergency Service (SES) confirmed on Wednesday. With more rain on the way—up to 200mm expected in the next 24 to 48 hours—authorities remain on high alert. Communities along the Manning River, including Taree, Wingham, and Glenthorne, are facing the worst flooding in living memory, with the river exceeding its historic 1929 peak. Homes and businesses have been submerged, and many residents spent anxious hours awaiting rescue. The SES carried out 284 rescues in just 24 hours, focusing on…

LONDON — Indian writer Banu Mushtaq and translator Deepa Bhasthi were named winners of the International Booker Prize on Tuesday for their work Heart Lamp, a powerful collection of 12 short stories spanning over three decades. The book explores the everyday lives and challenges faced by women in southern India. The announcement was made at a ceremony held at London’s Tate Modern, with acclaimed author Max Porter, who chaired the five-member judging panel, revealing the winners. Notably, this is the first time the International Booker Prize has been awarded to a short story collection. Deepa Bhasthi has also made history…

Climate change and biodiversity loss intensify EU’s chocolate supply risks, report finds A new report warns that the European Union’s so-called “chocolate crisis” is being exacerbated by environmental pressures, with cocoa among six key food commodities heavily dependent on climate-vulnerable nations. According to UK-based consultancy Foresight Transitions, over two-thirds of the EU’s 2023 imports of cocoa, coffee, soy, rice, wheat, and maize came from countries poorly equipped to cope with the impacts of climate change. For cocoa, wheat, and maize in particular, at least two-thirds of imports originated from regions suffering from significantly degraded biodiversity, the analysis revealed. Researchers noted…

Delays in NHS Maternity Reforms Linked to Hundreds of Preventable Baby Deaths Each Year An ongoing failure to improve NHS maternity care is costing the lives of hundreds of babies annually, according to a new analysis. Since 2018, around 2,500 infant deaths in England could have been avoided if hospitals had successfully reduced rates of stillbirths, neonatal deaths, and maternal fatalities, as promised by the government. These figures highlight how far behind the country has fallen on its 2015 pledge to halve these tragic outcomes. The findings come from a joint report by baby loss charities Tommy’s and Sands, which…

Three members of a family, including a five-year-old girl, were killed when a train struck them on a railroad bridge spanning the Sandusky River in northern Ohio, authorities reported on Monday. Search crews using sonar recovered the girl’s body near the bridge on Monday after an overnight search, according to Fremont Mayor Danny Sanchez. The victims, from Fort Wayne, Indiana, had been on a fishing trip along the Sandusky River and were on the bridge Sunday night when a train entered the span, Sanchez said. A one-year-old girl survived and is being treated at a hospital. It remains unclear whether…

Former President Joe Biden diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer Former President Joe Biden Diagnosed with Prostate Cancer, Office Confirms Former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, his personal office announced on Sunday. “President Joe Biden underwent evaluation last week after experiencing increasing urinary symptoms, which led to the discovery of a prostate nodule,” the statement read. “On Friday, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, showing a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with evidence of metastasis to the bone.” The term metastasis indicates that the cancer has spread beyond the prostate to other parts of the…

President Donald Trump is scheduled to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday in an effort he says is aimed at halting the ongoing bloodshed in Ukraine. Trump announced that the call is set for 10 a.m., though he did not clarify which time zone. He also stated he plans to hold conversations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and leaders from NATO. In the lead-up to the high-stakes Trump-Putin conversation, Trump reportedly held talks on Sunday with leaders from the UK, France, Germany, and Italy. A statement from the British government emphasized their call for Putin to take peace…

UK and EU Strike Last-Minute Deal Ahead of Key Brexit Reset Summit The UK and European Union have clinched a last-minute agreement paving the way for a major reset in their post-Brexit relationship, following a breakthrough in disputes over fishing rights and checks on agricultural goods. As European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived in London on Monday morning to meet with Prime Minister Keir Starmer, talks had stretched late into the night. Tensions rose as negotiators raced to secure terms, but a UK government official confirmed that a sticking point had been resolved when Brussels dropped its demand…

Mexican Navy Ship Crashes into Brooklyn Bridge, Killing Two Sailors Two sailors from the Mexican navy were killed and 11 others critically injured after a naval training ship collided with the Brooklyn Bridge during a promotional tour in New York City, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed. The incident occurred Saturday night when the Cuauhtémoc, a historic sailing vessel used for training, lost power while navigating the East River and struck the iconic bridge. Named after the last Aztec emperor, the Cuauhtémoc was carrying 277 people as part of a goodwill voyage when it hit the bridge, snapping all three of…

One of Africa’s largest protected areas, the Niassa Reserve in Mozambique, has been rocked by a wave of violent attacks carried out by extremists linked to the Islamic State, leaving at least 10 people dead. Conservationists working in Niassa say the violence is threatening decades of progress in restoring populations of key wildlife species such as lions, elephants, and African wild dogs. With operations suspended, critical conservation efforts have come to a standstill. The most recent attack occurred on April 29, when militants targeted buildings in the reserve, killing two anti-poaching scouts. Two others are missing, and one was seriously…