MARKETS RALLY AFTER U.S. STRIKES TRADE DEALS WITH JAPAN, PHILIPPINES, INDONESIA Global markets rallied on Thursday following the announcement that the United States has finalized new trade agreements with Japan, the Philippines, and Indonesia—three key economies in the Indo-Pacific region. Investors responded positively to the news, viewing it as a major step toward strengthening economic … Read more
AUSTRALIA CONFIRMS US$800M AUKUS PAYMENT IS SCHEDULED SUPPORT FOR SUBMARINE PROGRAM Australia has officially confirmed that its US$800 million payment to the United States is part of a scheduled commitment under the AUKUS security pact, aimed at supporting the development of its future nuclear-powered submarine program. The payment, made public this week, has drawn attention … Read more
UN URGES MAJOR PUSH TOWARD LOW‑CARBON ENERGY AS RETURN OF FOSSIL FUELS SLIDES In a strong call to action, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has urged world leaders to ramp up efforts toward low-carbon energy systems, warning that the era of fossil fuels is fast fading. His remarks come amid new data indicating a sharp … Read more
ASEAN‑AZERBAIJAN MINE CLEARANCE INITIATIVE LAUNCHED A major new international effort aimed at tackling the devastating legacy of landmines was launched this week, as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) joined hands with Azerbaijan to kick off the ASEAN‑Azerbaijan Mine Clearance Initiative. The partnership, announced in a high-level forum in Baku, marks a significant step … Read more
ACHIM STEINER STEPS DOWN AS UNDP HEAD AFTER TWO DECADES Achim Steiner, the long-serving Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has officially announced his resignation, marking the end of a distinguished career that spanned more than two decades at the forefront of international development and environmental leadership. His departure signals a pivotal moment … Read more
HACKERS EXPLOIT ZERO‑DAY FLAW TO HACK MICROSOFT SHAREPOINT A newly discovered zero-day vulnerability in Microsoft SharePoint has been actively exploited by hackers, raising serious concerns about enterprise security worldwide. Cybersecurity researchers and government agencies have issued urgent warnings after multiple intrusions were detected targeting this flaw, which allows attackers to execute arbitrary code and potentially … Read more
MOUNTAIN LION MAULS 4‑YEAR‑OLD IN OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK, USA A 4-year-old boy is recovering from serious injuries after being mauled by a mountain lion while on a family camping trip in Olympic National Park, Washington State, on Saturday. The rare and terrifying incident occurred near Lake Angeles in the popular Heart O’ the Hills area, … Read more
FERRY FIRE IN INDONESIA KILLS AT LEAST 3, INCLUDING A PREGNANT WOMAN A tragic fire broke out aboard a passenger ferry in eastern Indonesia on Tuesday, killing at least three people, including a pregnant woman, and injuring several others, according to local authorities. The ferry, identified as KM Mutiara Berkah 1, was carrying over 200 … Read more
AT LEAST 85 PALESTINIANS KILLED WHILE TRYING TO REACH AID IN GAZA At least 85 Palestinians have been killed and over 150 injured in a tragic incident in northern Gaza after a crowd of civilians attempting to reach desperately needed humanitarian aid came under fire, according to Palestinian health officials and international observers. The mass … Read more
25 NATIONS CONDEMN “INHUMANE KILLING OF CIVILIANS” IN GAZA In a powerful and unified diplomatic rebuke, 25 nations from across the globe have issued a joint statement condemning what they described as the “inhumane killing of civilians” in the Gaza Strip, urging an immediate end to hostilities and unrestricted humanitarian access to the besieged enclave. … Read more