Author: Amanda Martinez

The country’s new president, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, dissolved the parliament on Tuesday to prepare for a Sri Lanka snap election. Scheduled for November 14, this election is almost a year ahead of the original timeline. Dissanayake’s decision follows his recent presidential election, during which he emphasized the need for a new legislative mandate aligned with his agenda. His left-leaning National People’s Power (NPP) group currently controls only three of the 225 seats in parliament. After winning the election, Dissanayake named Harini Amarasuriya as the nation’s next prime minister. As one of the three NPP MPs and a university lecturer, Amarasuriya…

Hezbollah launched a missile attack near Tel Aviv on Wednesday, which Israel intercepted, signaling a significant intensification of the ongoing battle. Alarms startled Tel Aviv and Netanya residents as a missile, the first to pass close to Tel Aviv, triggered the alerts in both cities. Hezbollah said it was preparing strikes on its members after verifying that it had fired a Qadr 1 ballistic missile into Israel’s Mossad spy center. The Israeli military’s immediate announcement of no damage or casualties from the strike is unprecedented for Hezbollah. With lightning speed, Israeli troops intercepted the missile close to Tel Aviv, a…

Biden’s Final UN Address President Joe Biden addressed the UN General Assembly for the last time, urging leaders to prioritize people’s needs overpower. He emphasized the importance of serving the people, not personal interests. Biden reflected on his five decades in politics, citing significant events like Vietnam, apartheid, and 9/11. “Things can get better,” he said, cautioning against despair in the face of global challenges. However, his optimism clashed with the UN’s gloomy tone. Secretary-General António Guterres lamented the lack of “guardrails” and “red lines” that maintained global order during the Cold War. Guterres described the current state as “a…

Thailand has made history by becoming the first country in Southeast Asia to recognize same-sex unions after its king signed the marriage equality bill into law. This milestone marks the culmination of years of tireless campaigning by LGBTQ+ activists. Effective January 22, 2025, gay couples in Thailand can register their unions, enjoying adoption and inheritance rights. The journey to this victory began when Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s Cabinet approved the draft same-sex marriage law. The bill sailed through the House of Representatives with a 400-10 vote and later passed the Senate with a 130-4 vote. Royal endorsement was the final…

Telegram has disclosed a policy change that would provide law enforcement access to user IP addresses and phone numbers in exchange for a legitimate search warrant. According to CEO Pavel Durov, this action aims to prevent illegal users from connecting to the network. Although most users do not participate in unlawful activity, he said that a tiny percentage of users have damaged the platform’s reputation and compromised the security of its almost billion users. Telegram’s privacy policy change represents a significant shift in the company’s stance on user data and privacy. Durov has consistently opposed requests from the government for…

In the ongoing discussions over the Boeing worker strike negotiations, the union representing thousands of striking employees has sharply condemned the company’s most recent compensation offer, which Boeing has also described as its best and final bid. The agreement calls for increased retirement benefits, a performance bonus statement, and a 30% wage rise over four years. The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), whose claims Boeing disputes, said that Boeing made the offer without first engaging in negotiations and that it was rejected. Both parties are holding hard in the difficult discussions surrounding the Boeing worker walkout. Over…

China’s central bank, the People’s Bank of China (PBOC), has announced a comprehensive package to boost the country’s flagging economy. Governor Pan Gongsheng revealed plans to slash borrowing costs and increase bank lending. This move comes after a string of disappointing economic data raised concerns that China might miss its 5% growth target for the year. To address this, the PBOC aims to inject liquidity into the market by cutting reserve requirement ratios (RRR) by half a percentage point. This initial reduction will unlock approximately 1 trillion yuan ($142 billion) for lending. Governor Pan hinted at another potential cut later…

A shocking turn of events unfolded as Subramaniam Iswaran, Singapore’s former Transport Minister, pleaded guilty to receiving gifts worth over $311,882 while in office. Consequently, this high-profile case captivated the nation, tarnishing Singapore’s reputation as a financial hub with a squeaky-clean image. Initially, prosecutors charged Iswaran with corruption, but he pleaded guilty to amended charges, avoiding a lengthy trial. As a result, he now faces up to two years in jail or a fine for each charge of receiving gifts or gratifications. Meanwhile, this case marks a rare instance of a public official being held accountable for corruption in Singapore.…

The Alaska Center for the Performing Arts hosted the fourth annual Anchorage VegFest on Sunday, drawing in Alaskans from all walks of life. Vegans, vegetarians, and non-vegetarians alike gathered to explore the benefits of plant-based living. Alyssa Schaefer, a VegFest vendor, emphasized the event’s uniqueness. “There’s not another event like it,” she said. “If you’re vegan or interested in eating vegan, this is the place to be, worry-free.” The festival featured an impressive lineup of vendors and bakers across Alaska, including Anchorage’s first vegan restaurant. Attendees sampled vegan pastries, dishes, fruits, and vegetables in the lobby. Beyond food, VegFest offered…

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, is scheduled to visit the United States shortly. During Zelenskyy’s US visit, he will present his plan for succeeding in the war with Russia. His objective is to convey this critical position to Congress, President Biden, and presidential candidates Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. Zelenskyy hopes they will listen to his message and recognize the urgency of the situation. He aims to unite his allies under a cohesive plan to increase assistance for Ukraine and address future challenges. His visit coincides with the White House’s efforts to create a new $375 million military assistance…

In Japan’s Ishikawa, floods and landslides have resulted from record rainfall, leaving ten people missing and six dead. The worst catastrophe fell on Wajima and Suzu, which are still recovering from a fatal earthquake earlier this year. Intense rain that began on Saturday and continued until noon on Monday completely inundated the region. Numerous rivers in Wajima and Suzu overflowed their banks on Sunday due to double the rain in September. Throughout Ishikawa, the water blocked highways and shut off more than 100 villages. Authorities discovered two bodies next to a tunnel in Wajima that a landslide had destroyed; one…

Street battles have erupted in Bolivia as former President Evo Morales leads a march to the capital, La Paz, ahead of the 2025 Bolivian presidential elections. Morales, who served as president from 2006 to 2019, is determined to run as the candidate for the ruling Mas party. However, current President Luis Arce also has his sights set on the presidency, sparking tensions between the two factions. The situation intensified on Sunday when Morales’ supporters clashed with Arce’s followers in El Alto. The rival groups hurled firecrackers, homemade explosives, and stones at each other, while police attempted to control the chaos…