Author: Amanda Martinez

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…

China’s space program achieved a major milestone with the successful launch of Shenzhou 19. The spacecraft, carrying three taikonauts, including China’s first female space engineer, Wang Haoze, docked at the homegrown space station after a six-hour journey. This mission aims to conduct experiments and spacewalks over six months, gathering crucial experience for China’s ultimate goal: landing on the Moon by 2030. Beijing declared the launch a “complete success,” showcasing its determination to become a space power. With 100 launches planned this year, China is aggressively pursuing its space program, sparking concerns in Washington. NASA Chief Bill Nelson expressed fears that…

The Israeli parliament has recently passed two controversial bills aimed at prohibiting the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) from operating within Israel and its controlled areas. This Israeli ban on UNRWA operations, set to take effect in 90 days, threatens to disrupt the already tricky aid distribution system, especially as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza intensifies. The new laws could result in the closure of UNRWA facilities in the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, limiting the agency’s mandate to fulfill its duties.  UNRWA has been critical in providing humanitarian assistance in Gaza, which has…

JPMorgan Chase has filed lawsuits against numerous US customers accused of fraudulently withdrawing large sums of money by exploiting a technical glitch in the bank’s ATM. The JPMorgan ATM glitch went viral on TikTok as the “infinite money glitch” allowed users to withdraw funds by depositing fake checks before they bounced. JPMorgan has filed lawsuits in Los Angeles, Houston, and Miami, collectively seeking $660,000 (£509,000) from individuals alleged to have exploited this glitch. The lawsuit did not mention the TikTok trend that gained traction in the summer. Still, the withdrawals mentioned in the lawsuit described the method viral on TikTok,…

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese faces allegations of seeking personal flight upgrades from Qantas’ former CEO Alan Joyce, sparking a Qantas upgrade controversy. A new book by journalist Joe Aston claims Albanese made multiple calls to Joyce, securing upgrades on 22 flights between 2009 and 2019. Albanese, formerly Australia’s federal transport minister, denies any wrongdoing. In a press conference, he refused to confirm whether he discussed personal upgrades with Joyce but emphasized following the rules and transparency. Albanese criticized Aston, saying he’s “trying to sell a book.” Aston’s book, “The Chairman’s Lounge: The Inside Story of How Qantas Sold Us…

Iran has executed German-Iranian dissident Jamshid Sharmahd, sparking international outrage over Iran’s human rights abuse. Sharmahd was convicted of “leading terror operations” and sentenced to death last year for “corruption on Earth”. However, his family and human rights organizations claim he was only a spokesman for the US-based pro-monarchist group, Tondar. Sharmahd’s execution follows a lengthy imprisonment marred by allegations of torture and denial of adequate healthcare. His daughter, Gazelle, had voiced concerns about her father’s treatment, stating, “They’re killing him softly in solitary confinement in this death cell.” She believed Iran sought to make an example of her father…

A water battery created by Chinese researchers performs safer and uses less energy than conventional lithium-ion batteries. According to the team’s Nature Energy research, this battery outlasts its predecessors considerably, lasting more than 1,000 charge-discharge cycles. The energy density of a battery, which evaluates its energy capacity to its size and weight, is a critical factor. Although lithium-ion batteries are popular due to their high energy density, their electrolytes often include organic compounds, which increases the risk of fire and explosion. On the other hand, water batteries are a safer option, but they have a lower energy density due to…