The United Nations announced on Tuesday that global infant vaccination levels have stabilized after a decline during the COVID-19 crisis. However, the organization issued a warning that misinformation and drastic cuts in aid are exacerbating dangerous coverage gaps, putting millions of children at risk. According to data published by UN health and children’s agencies, in 2024, 85% of infants globally, or 109 million children, received three doses of the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP) vaccine. The third DTP dose serves as a key indicator for overall global immunization coverage. This represents a “modest” gain of a one-percentage-point increase and an…
Author: Raja Zahid Khanzada
Peggy Whitson, a retired NASA astronaut turned private space explorer, safely splashed down in the Pacific Ocean early on Tuesday, marking her fifth journey to the International Space Station (ISS). She was joined by her crewmates from India, Poland, and Hungary, who were returning from their respective countries’ inaugural ISS missions. A SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, carrying the four-member team, parachuted into the calm waters off the Southern California coast at approximately 2:30 AM PDT (0930 GMT). This controlled descent followed a fiery reentry through Earth’s atmosphere, capping a 22-hour journey from orbit. This return flight concluded the fourth ISS…
On Monday, US President Donald Trump committed to delivering “top-of-the-line weapons” to Ukraine through NATO allies. Concurrently, he issued a stern warning to Russia, threatening it with extensive secondary tariffs if a peace agreement is not reached within 50 days. This declaration followed a meeting in Washington between President Trump and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, where both leaders signaled a substantial escalation in Western support for Ukraine amidst Russia’s ongoing invasion. “We want to make sure Ukraine can do what it wants to do,” Trump told reporters at the joint press conference. Rutte affirmed that the United States had agreed…
Authorities reported that a fire at an assisted-living center in the Boston area on Sunday night resulted in the deaths of at least nine people and left more than 30 others injured. The blaze erupted around 9:30 PM on Sunday (0130 GMT Monday) at the Gabriel House Assisted Living Facility in Fall River, Massachusetts, which housed approximately 70 residents. Jake Wark, a spokesperson for the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services, confirmed these details on Monday. Wark stated that about 50 firefighters responded to the incident in Fall River, located approximately 60 miles south of Boston. The city has established a…
On Monday, senior church leaders and foreign diplomats representing more than 20 nations visited the Christian-majority town of Taybeh in the occupied West Bank. Their purpose was to convey solidarity with local residents and to unequivocally denounce the escalating violence being perpetrated by Israeli settlers in the region. The visiting delegation comprised representatives from countries including the United Kingdom, China, Russia, Japan, Jordan, and the European Union. This visit was prompted by a series of settler attacks on Taybeh, which have intensified in recent weeks amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza and a broader surge in tensions across the occupied…
On Monday, US President Donald Trump announced the provision of new weaponry for Ukraine and issued a stark warning: he would impose sanctions on buyers of Russian exports unless Russia agrees to a peace deal within 50 days. This marks a significant policy shift, reportedly driven by frustration with Moscow. Seated alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office, Trump informed reporters of his disappointment with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He stated that billions of dollars worth of weapons would be supplied to Ukraine. “We’re going to make top-of-the-line weapons, and they’ll be sent to NATO,” Trump declared,…
On Monday, Iran declared that new nuclear negotiations with the United States would not proceed if they were contingent on Tehran abandoning its uranium enrichment activities. Washington and Tehran had engaged in multiple rounds of talks aimed at reaching an agreement on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program. However, these discussions were disrupted when Israel launched a series of surprise strikes against its regional adversary, igniting a 12-day conflict. Following the cessation of hostilities, both Iran and the United States have signaled a willingness to resume discussions. Nevertheless, Tehran has firmly stated it will not relinquish its right to the peaceful…
Rescuers in Indonesia are currently searching for 11 individuals who remain missing after a boat overturned in turbulent weather near the Mentawai Islands in West Sumatra province. The local search and rescue agency confirmed this on Tuesday. The incident occurred on Monday morning, and so far, eight people have been successfully rescued. According to a statement from the rescue agency, the boat had 18 people on board, including ten local government workers, when it departed from Sikakap for a nearby town within the Mentawai Islands. On Tuesday, two boats and dozens of rescuers were deployed to locate the missing individuals.…
India has instructed its airlines to examine the fuel switches on various Boeing aircraft models. This directive follows last month’s crash of an Air India jet, which resulted in the deaths of 260 individuals. A preliminary report, released on Saturday by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, indicated that the fuel switches had moved from the ‘run’ position to ‘cutoff’ shortly after takeoff. The report did not offer any definitive conclusions or assign blame for the June 12 disaster. However, it did mention that one pilot questioned the other about cutting off fuel, and the second pilot denied doing so. On…
New Zealand Cricket announced on Sunday that wicketkeeper-batter Devon Conway will replace the injured Finn Allen in the New Zealand squad for the upcoming 20-overs tri-series in Zimbabwe. Allen has been ruled out of the tournament after sustaining a foot injury while playing for the San Francisco Unicorns in the Major League Cricket (MLC) in the United States. “I was looking forward to working with him and to see him continue his form from the MLC but unfortunately, injuries happen,” a New Zealand Cricket spokesperson stated. “We’re lucky to be able to call on someone of Devon’s quality to replace…
