Author: Amanda Martinez

Maricopa County, Arizona, is taking unprecedented measures to safeguard the voting process. Drones, snipers, and officers on horseback are on standby to protect vote-counters. The county’s tabulation center resembles a high-security facility, with razor wire, metal detectors, and bomb sweeps. The intense security was a response to the 2020 presidential election when conspiracy theories and unfounded claims of voter fraud sparked violence and harassment. Maricopa County Sheriff Russ Skinner says, “We treat this like a major event, like the Super Bowl.” The sheriff’s department has trained deputies in election laws and handles security at polling stations and the tabulation center.…

Spanish rescuers are focusing on underground garages and a multi-storey car park for Valencia’s flood search for missing people after last week’s devastating floods. Officials fear shoppers and workers became trapped in the car park at a shopping mall in Aldaia on the city outskirts when floodwaters deluged the area. During the inspection, police confirmed that they found no victims in the first 50 vehicles checked near the car park’s entrance. However, large portions of the parking structure remain underwater, and teams have yet to explore these submerged areas. Using drones, police assessed conditions inside while generators pumped out flood…

When Yang Seung-ji, a 25-year-old job seeker, heard about thousands of North Korean soldiers reportedly training in Russia, she started searching for nearby emergency shelters. She worries that South Korea’s support for Ukraine can heighten tensions. Reports from the United States Department of Defense claim up to 10,000 North Korean soldiers are training in Russia to support the war. South Korea fears that in exchange, North Korea could receive nuclear technology, raising further security concerns. Last week, North Korea also tested a new intercontinental ballistic missile, Hwasong-19, which flew for 86 minutes. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has vowed…

Proposals for a massive 2,000-acre solar farm in north Wiltshire’s Malmesbury area have sparked fierce opposition, with 88% of the respondents rejecting the current plans in the initial consultation phase. The lime-down solar park would span multiple villages, including Norton, and generate enough power for 115,000 homes. Island Green Power (IGP), the project’s developer, received over 750 responses, citing concerns about visual impact, soil and farming, biodiversity, heritage, transport, drainage, and battery safety. The campaign group Stop Lime Down has been vocal in opposition, arguing the project would disfigure the countryside. Phil Moore, a campaign member, emphasized that opposition isn’t…

An Indonesian volcano erupts, claiming at least 10 lives, officials confirmed. Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki, located on Flores Island in East Nusa Tenggara province, erupted at 23:57 local time on Monday. Fiery lava and rocks rained down on villages about 4k from the crater, burning and damaging homes. The eruption affected seven villages, with fires breaking out in residential areas due to incandescent material ejected from the volcano. Hadi Wijaya, a spokesperson for the Indonesian Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation, issued a warning, raising the volcano’s status to its highest alert level. He further ordered the immediate evacuation of…

The Middle East Conflict is heating up, with Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, vowing to deliver a crushing response to Israel and the US. This comes after Israel’s attack on Iran last week, which killed four Iranian soldiers and was retaliation for Iran’s missile attack on Israel earlier in October. The tensions between Iran and Israel have been escalating with Israel launching a major operation in Gaza that has resulted in over 43000 deaths and Israel’s offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon killing over 28000 people and displacing 1.2 million others. Historically, the US and Iran have had strained relations…

Spain’s flood relief efforts are underway as the country struggles to cope with the devastating aftermath of flash floods that have claimed over 200 lives in Valencia. The floods, which scientists link to climate change, have left thousands stranded without access to necessities like water, food, and electricity. Heavy rains that began on Monday have destroyed bridges, inundated towns with mud, and severed communication lines. Residents are outraged, citing the government’s slow response and lack of warnings before the flooding. Amparo Andres, a 40-year-old shop owner, narrowly escaped the floods but lost her business and home. The federal government in…

President Mokgweetsi Masisi, in office since 2018, led the Botswana Democratic Party’s (BDP) campaign, promising “change” to the nation. However, voters weren’t convinced that the BDP had the solution to the country’s problems, leading to a disappointing outcome for the party. In the capital city of Gaborone and other parts of the country, the Botswana general election results have sparked mixed reactions. The BDP”s failure to secure a decisive victory has raised questions about the party’s ability to address the nation’s pressing issues. Masisi’s message of change didn’t resonate with enough voters, casting doubt on the party’s future. The electoral…

Russia fines Google a staggering  $20 million for restricting Russian propaganda channels on YouTube. This unprecedented penalty stems from Google’s restriction of Russian propaganda channels on YouTube. Seventeen Russian TV channels filed legal claims against Google. The fine has ballooned due to a weekly doubling of the initial amount, resulting in a staggering figure with 34 zeros. This dwarfs Google’s market value of $2 trillion and the World’s GDP of $110 trillion. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov acknowledged the fine’s symbolic significance. Google’s parent company, Alphabet, has not commented. The tech giant closed its Russian division in 2022 following Vladimir Putin’s…

In Ukraine’s frontline city of Kherson, a surge in Russian drone attacks has claimed the lives of 30 civilians since July 1. Serhiy Dobrovolsky, a hardware trader, was among the victims. He died instantly when a drone dropped a grenade in his yard. His wife, Angela, witnessed the horrific incident. “They can see who they are killing,” she says, struggling to hold back tears. Eyewitness testimony and credible evidence suggest Russia is using drones to target civilians. The BBC verified six videos showing drone attacks on pedestrians and motorists. In each video, the remote operator tracks the target before dropping…

North Korea has launched a banned intercontinental ballistic missile, marking its longest flight yet, with a duration of 86 minutes before landing in waters off its east coast. This launch defies United Nations sanctions and occurs amidst escalating tensions between North and South Korea. The missile, fired at a sharply raised angle, reached an altitude of 7,000 kilometers (4,350 miles), indicating it could travel further if launched horizontally. South Korea’s defense ministry believes the test aimed to develop weapons with enhanced range and altitude capabilities. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un justified the launch as “appropriate military action” to counter…

Israel has bombed Gaza’s Beit Lahiya again, killing 19 Palestinians, just hours after a devastating strike killed 93 people, highlighting the escalating Gaza conflict violence. The latest bombing targeted homes belonging to the Al Louh family, according to the Palestinian Civil Defence in Gaza. This attack comes less than a day after Israel’s military bombed a five-story building belonging to the Abu Nasr family, killing at least 93 people and wounding dozens more. At least 25 children were among the dead, the Ministry of Health in Gaza reported. The Israeli military claims it launched the offensive to stop Hamas fighters…