Author: Christy Cooney
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed that Yemen’s Houthis will face consequences after a missile launched by the group landed in central Israel. The missile landed in an uninhabited area, indicating a failure of Israeli air defense systems. This marks the first time a Houthi missile has reached central Israel, raising concerns about how it penetrated Israeli territory. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) attempted to intercept the missile multiple times, but it likely fragmented mid-air. The Houthis claimed to have used a new hypersonic missile in solidarity with the Palestinians. The attack caused damage in Modiin and near Tel…
Venezuelan President Maduro Blocks Social Media Amid Spat with Elon Musk Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has signed a decree to block access to the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, for 10 days after clashing with owner Elon Musk. The feud between the two escalated after Maduro’s controversial victory in last month’s disputed presidential election, with Musk calling him a “dictator” and a “clown”, while Maduro accused Musk of inciting hatred and civil war. The election, deemed undemocratic by independent observers, saw anti-government protests and hundreds of arrests. Maduro claimed the election was marred by a cyber coup…
Labour leader Keir Starmer has recently entertained the idea of a youth mobility scheme with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. The proposal was reportedly discussed during a private meeting at the European Political Community summit. Starmer has not dismissed the idea and has committed to considering it further. While Labour’s election manifesto emphasized no return to freedom of movement, striking a bilateral deal with Spain for a youth mobility scheme would not violate this pledge. Currently, the UK has similar schemes with 13 non-EU countries, maintaining requirements such as visa obligations, financial proof, and health surcharges. However, a government spokesperson…
Recently, dozens of individuals in Kampala, Uganda, were detained for participating in anti-corruption protests despite an official ban. The protests, fueled by social media, were prompted by ongoing accusations of corruption among high-profile public figures in the country. President Yoweri Museveni, who has been in power for nearly four decades, had warned protesters against disruption. Despite police refusal to grant permission for the demonstration, protesters, holding signs condemning corruption, marched towards the parliament, only to be met with heavy police presence and arrests. Among those detained were a well-known TV presenter and three protest leaders. Legal organizations are advocating for…
Tragedy struck southern Ethiopia as landslides claimed the lives of at least 50 people following heavy rains. The incidents occurred in a remote mountainous area of the Gofa zone, with the search for survivors ongoing amidst fears that the death toll may rise. Footage captured the aftermath, showing a hillside collapsed and hundreds of people gathered, digging in the earth to rescue those trapped. Women, children, and police officers were among the casualties, highlighting the devastating impact of the landslides. Gofa, located 320km southwest of Addis Ababa, has been hit hard by heavy rain and flooding in recent months, contributing…
Italian journalist Giulia Cortese has been ordered to pay Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni €5,000 in damages over tweets mocking her height, deemed by the judge as defamatory “body shaming.” This legal battle stemmed from a social media spat in October 2021, where Cortese posted an image of Meloni with a fake Mussolini photo, sparking outrage. Despite initially deleting the image, Cortese accused Meloni of orchestrating a media attack, ultimately resulting in the derogatory height-related tweets. Meloni, who stands at 1.63m, won the lawsuit and pledged to donate the damages to charity. Cortese criticized the verdict, highlighting concerns for freedom of…