Author: Amanda Martinez

Authorities in the eastern and southern parts of Spain have issued new alerts and started taking action due to the continuous torrential rains. Two weeks ago, floods in Spain killed at least 215 people, prompting evacuations and the closure of schools.  Aemet, the official meteorological office, increased the alert level for several provinces on Wednesday, including Málaga in Andalucía, due to the prediction of dangerous weather. The Andalucían government took immediate action by closing schools in Málaga and Granada. Thousands of residents living near the Guadalhorce River were evacuated, and high-speed rail services between Málaga and Madrid were stopped. Meanwhile,…

The meeting between Biden and Trump marks a return to the traditional power transfer, which was largely abandoned in 2020. Joe Biden gave his full support for the transition, and Donald Trump promised a seamless handover of power at their meeting on wednesday. Long-time political foe Biden congratulated Trump on his win and promised him the administration’s support when they met in the Oval Office. In return, Trump thanked Biden for his cordial welcome and dedication to a seamless transition despite their prior conflicts.  Whereas, Melania Trump declined the invite to meet First Lady Jill Biden. The White House stated…

Israeli construction in Syria´s buffer zone has alarmed the UN, which claims that the actions violate a ceasefire agreement that has existed for 50 years. Recent trenches and earth berms constructed within the Area of Separation (AoS), a strip under UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) surveillance, are visible under satellite pictures. The construction has prompted warnings of heightened tensions along the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. The captured footage shows the ongoing construction, including military vehicles and freshly dug earthworks near Majdal Shams and further south. While most of the construction is said to be done in Israel-controlled areas, UNDOF Chief of Mission…

Volkswagen Group and Rivian are intensifying their collaboration with a joint venture now valued at a $5 billion investment. Rivian’s shares surged over 9% in after-hours trading. The partnership enables both companies to share critical technology, reducing development costs and accelerating innovation. Volkswagen will use Rivian’s technology in its vehicles, with the first models arriving in 2027. Developers and engineers from both firms will collaborate in California, and additional facilities will open in North America and Europe. Rivian gains crucial funding amid slowing electric car demand.  Volkswagen faces challenges: higher costs, weakening sales, and Chinese competition. The company plans significant…

Bali flight disruptions are underway. Airlines are canceling flights between Australia and Bali due to volcanic ash clouds from Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki, disrupting travel plans for thousands. Qantas, Jetstar, and Virgin Australia alerted passengers to the disruptions, citing unsafe flying conditions. Ten people were killed in the volcano’s eruption, which spewed a massive 9km ash column into the sky. Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology warns that the ash may drift to northern parts of the country. In response, Jetstar canceled all Bali flights until Tuesday, noon Australian Eastern daylight. Virgin Australia followed suit, canceling Wednesday’s flights. To mitigate the disruption, Jetstar…

Shell, an oil and gas company headquartered in London, England, recently won a landmark appeal in Dutch courts, overturning a previous ruling that mandated a 45% reduction in carbon emissions. This Shell court appeal opposed the one made in 2021, where Friends of the Earth and 17,000 Dutch citizens won their case against Shell, demanding a significant emission cut in line with the Paris Climate Accords. According to the Hague Court of Appeal, Shell lacked a social standard to care to cut emissions by this particular amount. The court recognized the company’s responsibility to limit emissions, although it did not…

Germany lost a substantial $1.1 billion profit due to its choice to sell about 50,000 Bitcoins early. Due to Germany’s Bitcoin sale, authorities made about $2.8 billion by selling 49,858 Bitcoin between June 19 and July 12 at an average price of $53,000 per coin. During the criminal case known as “Movie2k,” the assets were seized. However, the sold assets might have brought in over $3.9 billion, given that Bitcoin recently surged to an all-time high of $77,000. This result emphasized how complex Germany’s asset liquidation regulations are. Current regulations require that illegal assets be sold if their market value…

A devastating car attack in Zhuhai, China, has resulted in numerous injuries, sparking concerns over public safety during Zhuhai car attack injuries. On Monday evening, a car plowed into a crowd outside a sports stadium, leaving multiple people hurt. Eyewitnesses describe the chaotic scene as the car struck people exercising at Zhuhai Sports Centre. Mr. Chen, who witnessed the incident, said his group had just completed their third lap around the stadium when the car suddenly charged toward them at high speed, knocking down many people. Meanwhile, local reports estimate that at least 20 people got injured including elderly individuals,…

A critical legal battle kicks off today as environmental groups Greenpeace and Uplift challenge the UK’s decision to greenlight the Rosebank oil field and Jackdaw gas field projects. Campaigners gathered outside Edinburgh’s Court of Session, demanding Equinor stop Rose Bank, citing concerns over environmental damage and climate impact. The judicial review centers on regulators allegedly ignoring emissions from burning extracted oil and gas when granting consent. Moreover, Greenpeace UK” ‘s Philip Evans emphasizes that the Supreme Court has ruled emissions must be assessed before approving new projects. “Oil companies prioritize profits over environmental damage,” he says. In contrast, oil companies…

There has been a massive uproar due to the James Olive’s book controversy. In response to criticism from Indigenous Australians, British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has taken his children’s book Billy And The Epic Escape off the market. The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Corporation denounced the fantasy book for spreading negative preconceptions and cliches about First Nation People, particularly their spirituality and connection to nature. A subplot involving an Indigenous girl in foster care was the subject of criticism, which claimed that it trivialized and stereotyped First Nations communities’ experiences. In response, Oliver expressed deep regret and…

Following Donald Trump’s massive victory in the US presidential election, the price of Bitcoin has soared beyond  $80,000 for the first time in history. This achievement comes as Republicans near total congressional power, having captured the presidency and a Senate majority. Throughout his campaign, Trump claimed to make the United States “the crypto capital of the planet.” Furthermore, Trump’s cryptocurrency deregulation could boost bitcoin prices but bring market volatility. This year, the world’s biggest cryptocurrency has increased by 80%. Notable increases are also seen in other cryptocurrencies like dogecoin, which billionaire Elon Musk backs. Hopes for liberalization in the cryptocurrency…

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called on Israel to immediately cease its military operations in Gaza and Lebanon. This happened during a summit of Arab and Muslim leaders in Riyadh. He condemned the massacre of Palestinians and Lebanese civilians while speaking at the combined Arab League and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation summit. He urged world leaders to exert pressure on Israel to acknowledge Palestinian sovereignty and put an end to additional violence. Like the crown prince, the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, denounced Israel’s military actions. He talked about the need for lasting peace…