News Trending War

Ukraine war: Russia launches second pre-dawn missile attack in three days

By 305 0

Early in the morning, Russia launched a series of missile attacks on Ukrainian cities for the second time in three days. One of the targets was Pavlohrad, a logistics center close to Dnipro, ahead of an anticipated counter-offensive by Ukraine. The attack caused a significant fire, destroyed many homes, and left 34 people injured. The air raid alert was sounded across Ukraine, including the capital Kyiv. According to the Ukrainian army, they were able to shoot down 15 of the 18 cruise missiles fired.

The most severe damage was in Pavlohrad, which is in Ukrainian-controlled territory, approximately 70 miles from the frontline. Social media posts showed a massive blaze. A resident, Olha Lytvynenko, reported that both doors of her home were smashed open by the explosion wave while she was getting dressed to leave.

She ran outside to find her garage destroyed, everything on fire, and glass shards everywhere. She added that if they had been outside, they would have died.

The Dnipropetrovsk military administration in Ukraine referred to the missile attack as a “tragic night and morning,” stating that an industrial site was among the targets. Nineteen high-rise apartment blocks, 25 private houses, six schools and kindergartens, and five shops were also damaged. According to Vladimir Rogov, a Russian-installed official, the strike targeted railway infrastructure and fuel depots. Later, the air raid alert went off in Kyiv at around 04:00 local time, and it lasted for three hours.

However, the military administration confirmed that all missiles and drones aimed at the capital were neutralized. Meanwhile, in the Kherson region, which is partially controlled by Russia, Ukrainian regional authorities disclosed that Russia had conducted 39 shelling, including ground-based weapons, drones, and planes, killing one person.

Recent days have witnessed an increase in attacks in Ukraine, with even areas far from the front lines being targeted. On Friday, 23 individuals lost their lives in Uman, a central city. Ukraine has claimed that it is finalizing plans for a long-awaited offensive against Russian forces, with the support of weapons and military equipment supplied by the West.

Russia, in the meantime, is also preparing for a possible Ukrainian push and has fortified its positions in the occupied territory. Cl Gen Mikhail Mizintsev, who oversaw armed forces logistics as the Russian deputy defense minister, was sacked in the latest change at the country’s military leadership. There have been long-standing complaints that troops on the front line are not receiving enough military equipment and suffer from food and uniform shortages.

On Monday, a Ukrainian official announced that the army had removed Russian forces from some positions in Bakhmut, an eastern city that had been under siege for several months. According to General Oleksandr Syrskyi, the ground forces commander, the situation remained “quite difficult,” but “the enemy is unable to take control of the city.”

Picture Courtesy: Google/images are subject to copyright

News Trending

Pope Francis urges Hungarians to ‘open doors’ to migrants

By 327 0

Pope Francis has called on Hungary and its leaders to open their doors to migrants during his visit to the country. Speaking at an open-air mass in Budapest, he expressed his disappointment that doors were being closed to those who were different.

Despite Hungary’s anti-immigration stance, up to 100,000 people, including Prime Minister Viktor Orban, attended the mass. Pope Francis urged everyone, especially those with political and social responsibilities, to be more open towards migrants and the poor. During the mass, he also prayed for peace between Ukraine and Russia, who are currently at war.

On his flight back home, Pope Francis disclosed that the Vatican was involved in a peace mission to put an end to the war between Ukraine and Russia, though he did not reveal the details of the mission yet. He also expressed his willingness to assist in the return of Ukrainian children taken to Russia since the invasion.

During his three-day visit to Hungary, Pope Francis discussed the conflict in Ukraine with Prime Minister Viktor Orban and a representative of the Russian Orthodox Church. The Pope’s visit to Hungary was his first since he became Pope 10 years ago, and it was driven by his support for Catholics and concern over the war in Ukraine.

Hungary shares a border with Ukraine, and Prime Minister Orban has maintained relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, refusing to support military aid for Ukraine unlike other leaders of the European Union. During his visit, the Pope met with people from all walks of life, including youths, the poor, politicians, and academics.

Picture Courtesy: Google/images are subject to copyright

News Trending

Walrus Freya killed by Norway gets Oslo sculpture

By 334 0

Oslo has revealed a bronze statue of a walrus named Freya, who was previously a famous attraction but was euthanized due to concerns for public safety. The statue portrays Freya lying on her side on a shore and was created by Astri Tonoian, who named it “For Our Sins” to represent how humans treat wild nature and each other.

An online campaign raised $25,000 to fund the statue’s creation, with campaign organizer Erik Holm expressing anger towards the Norwegian Fisheries Directorate and the state’s handling of the situation.

Last August, Freya, who weighed around 600kg, was put down due to safety concerns, which sparked criticism across Norway. The walrus had become famous for climbing onto boats to sunbathe, sometimes causing them to sink.

The local authorities claimed that people had disregarded warnings to avoid getting too close to the animal, endangering themselves and Freya. In one instance, police blocked off a bathing area after the walrus chased a woman into the water. Additionally, the Norwegian fisheries ministry shared a photo showing a large group of people, including children, standing dangerously close to the animal.

Frank Bakke-Jensen, the director general of fisheries, defended the decision to euthanize Freya, stating that it was based on an assessment of the continuing threat to human safety. Bakke-Jensen explained that the public had disregarded recommendations to keep a safe distance from the walrus, and therefore, the potential for harm to people was high, and animal welfare was not being maintained.

He added that the operation to put Freya down was done humanely, and her body was taken for examination by veterinarians.

Freya, who was first seen in Oslo in July last year, was named after the Norse goddess of beauty and love. As a protected species, walruses are typically found further north in the Arctic and generally do not attack humans, although there have been a few rare incidents. In 2016, at a wildlife park in China, a tourist and a zookeeper were killed by a walrus.

The tourist had allegedly been taking selfies with the animal when he was grabbed and pulled underwater, while the zookeeper attempted to rescue him and was also pulled under.

Picture Courtesy: Google/images are subject to copyright

News Trending War

Ukraine war: Crimea oil tank set ablaze by reported drone

By 322 0

A drone strike caused a large fire at an oil depot in Sevastopol, the main city in Crimea, which is controlled by Russia. Social media footage showed flames from the site early on Saturday, but the fire was later extinguished and no injuries were reported. The governor of the region, who was appointed by Moscow, said the preliminary information suggested a drone strike caused the fire.

This incident occurred five days after Russia claimed to have repelled a drone attack by the Ukrainian military in the same area. Crimea has experienced frequent attacks since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine. On Friday, Russia launched airstrikes in several cities in Ukraine, killing at least 25 people, marking the first such attack in months.

In a recent Russian airstrike, a block of flats in the central Ukrainian city of Uman was hit, killing 23 people, including four children, and a woman and her three-year-old daughter died in Dnipro. Kyiv was also targeted for the first time in 51 days, but no casualties were reported. Ukraine’s air defence system intercepted 21 of the 23 missiles and two drones. The Russian defence ministry claimed that Ukrainian army reserve units were targeted and denied deliberately targeting civilians.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for increased global sanctions against Russia and stated that the attacks indicated the need for further international action. Ukraine’s forces claim they are prepared to launch a military offensive, and Western allies have provided them with new equipment. Russia has struggled to make progress in a winter offensive, including a 10-month battle for control of the strategically significant city of Bakhmut.

Picture Courtesy: Google/images are subject to copyright

News Trending

Sperm donor who fathered 550 children ordered to stop

By 343 0

A 41-year-old man named Jonathan from the Netherlands has been ordered to stop donating sperm, as he is suspected of fathering more than 550 children worldwide through sperm donations. The man was banned from donating to fertility clinics in the Netherlands in 2017 after it was discovered that he had fathered more than 100 children.

Despite the ban, he continued to donate sperm abroad and online. The court in The Hague has instructed him to provide a list of all the clinics he used and to order them to destroy his sperm. He was taken to court by a foundation protecting donor children’s rights, and by the mother of one of the children allegedly fathered by his sperm. Dutch clinical guidelines state that a donor should not father more than 25 children in 12 families.

The man misled hundreds of women and helped produce between 550 and 600 children since he began donating sperm in 2007. Some of the children were born in Dutch clinics, but he also donated to a Danish clinic which dispatched his semen to addresses in various countries. The court has said that the kinship network with hundreds of half-siblings is too large. If he tries to donate again, he could be fined more than €100,000 (£88,000).

The court in The Hague has prohibited the Dutch man, Jonathan, suspected of fathering over 550 children through sperm donations, from donating his semen to new prospective parents. The judge has also barred him from advertising his services to prospective parents, joining any organization that establishes contact between prospective parents, or contacting any prospective parents to offer his services. The court found that the donor deliberately misled prospective parents about the number of children he had fathered in the past.

This has resulted in the children being part of a huge kinship network, which could have negative psychosocial consequences for them. Sperm donors are advised to limit the number of times they offer their services to avoid the possibility of siblings forming a couple and having children together unknowingly.

In the past, the Netherlands has experienced fertility scandals, such as a Dutch fertility doctor who was found to have used his own sperm to inseminate patients without their consent, resulting in him being confirmed as the father of 49 children.

Picture Courtesy: Google/images are subject to copyright

News Trending

Climate change: Spain breaks record temperature for April

By 309 0

Spain has experienced its hottest ever temperature for April, with a reading of 38.8C recorded at Cordoba airport. The heatwave, which has lasted for several days, has seen temperatures 10-15C above the expected levels for April, driven by a mass of hot air from Africa and a slow-moving weather system.

Spain’s meteorological office has expressed surprise at the scale of the heat, with temperatures exceeding previous records by as much as 5C in some locations. Climatologist Maximiliano Herrera has described the heat event as “absolutely extreme” and “unprecedented”.

In response to the ongoing heatwave, schools in Spain will be allowed to adjust their schedules to avoid the hottest parts of the day. The Madrid underground is also increasing train frequency to prevent passengers from waiting for long periods on platforms, while public swimming pools are set to open a month earlier than usual.

Experts warn that the poor are most at risk from extreme temperatures, as they are more likely to suffer health issues related to heat. The heatwave in Spain is part of a global trend, with climate change exacerbating naturally high temperatures.

Meteorologists attribute the exceptional temperatures to a combination of factors, including hot weather in North Africa, high pressure weather systems, and clear skies over the Iberian peninsula, where the ground is already too dry to evaporate the heat.

Picture Courtesy: Google/images are subject to copyright

News Trending War

Ukraine war: Twelve dead as Russian missiles hit cities

By 311 0

Russia has carried out a series of airstrikes in several cities across Ukraine, resulting in the deaths of at least 12 people, including a child. One of the attacks targeted a block of flats in Uman, where ten people were killed, and another attack in Dnipro claimed the lives of a woman and her three-year-old daughter.

The cities of Kremenchuk and Poltava also reported explosions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the attacks damaged ten residential buildings in Uman, and called for further international action against Russia, including enhanced global sanctions.

The head of the Kyiv city military administration noted that it was the first missile attack on the capital in 51 days.

No civilian casualties have been reported in the capital city as a result of the missile strikes launched by Russia. According to Ukrainian officials, 21 out of 23 missiles and two attack drones were successfully shot down by the country’s air defense system.

However, a video shared by Ukraine’s State Border Service on Telegram showed an apartment building in Uman badly damaged by the attack. Witnesses described the chaos and destruction caused by the strikes, with one resident reporting blown-out windows and an ensuing explosion.

The motive behind the attack remains unclear, but Russia has previously targeted civilian infrastructure. The attacks come amid reports that Ukraine is preparing for a military offensive, with support from Western allies, and as Russia has struggled to gain control of Bakhmut in a long-running winter offensive.

Picture Courtesy: Google/images are subject to copyright

News Trending

Turkey’s Erdogan falls ill on TV and cancels election rallies

By 335 0

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has halted election campaigning after falling ill during a live TV interview. The broadcast abruptly ended, and after a 20-minute break, he returned to explain that he had contracted a serious stomach flu after two days of intense campaigning.

Erdogan, who is 69 years old, is facing a challenging election campaign, with main opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu being selected to run for a group of six political parties.

The latest polls show a close race between the two men, with Kilicdaroglu having a good chance of winning the election on May 14, with a possible presidential run-off two weeks later. On Wednesday, Erdogan cancelled three appearances in central Anatolia on the advice of doctors.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan cancelled his scheduled events on Thursday, including the opening of Turkey’s first nuclear power station at Akkuyu, due to his illness. The nuclear power station’s inauguration was supposed to coincide with the upcoming election, but Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin will now attend online instead. During a live broadcast on Tuesday, Erdogan fell ill, causing the screen to go blank.

He returned after a break to explain that he had a serious stomach flu. There were speculations on social media that Erdogan had suffered a heart attack, but his head of communications, Fahrettin Altun, rejected the baseless claims and posted screenshots of the accounts spreading the allegations on social media.

Picture Courtesy: Google/images are subject to copyright

News Trending

Pope Francis gives women historic right to vote at meeting

By 332 0

The Pope has announced that, for the first time, women will be given voting rights at a major global meeting of bishops called the synod, which is an advisory body to the Pope. Previously, women were only permitted to attend as observers. The new rules will allow five religious sisters to vote, while men will still cast the majority of the votes.

The change is being viewed as a significant move towards gender equality within the male-dominated Roman Catholic Church. The Women’s Ordination Conference, which advocates for women priests, has hailed the reform as “a significant crack in the stained glass ceiling”.

The Pope also announced that 70 non-clerical members of the religious community will be given voting rights, further breaking from tradition.

The Pope has expressed his desire for half of the non-clerical members with voting rights at the synod to be women and to include more young people. Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, an organizer of the synod, described the changes as important but not revolutionary.

Vatican correspondent Christopher Lamb stated that the reforms were highly significant and reflected the Pope’s efforts to make the Church more inclusive in decision-making. However, Lamb also predicted that the Pope would face resistance from some members of the Church over the decision to allow women to vote. The changes were the result of unprecedented dialogue on the issue of female representation within the Church.

Picture Courtesy: Google/images are subject to copyright

News Trending War

Ukraine’s Zelensky holds first war phone call with China’s Xi

By 316 0

Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky announced that he had a significant and lengthy conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping over the phone, marking their first communication since the beginning of the Russian conflict. Zelensky expressed optimism that the call, coupled with the appointment of an ambassador to Beijing, will positively impact the relationship between the two nations.

China acknowledged the conversation and emphasized their commitment to peace, though they have previously maintained a neutral position regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Notably, President Xi visited Russia recently, indicating a close relationship between the two nations.

During a recent meeting, Ukrainian President Zelensky referred to Russian President Vladimir Putin as his “dear friend” and presented a 12-point peace plan, but did not promise to supply Russia with weapons. Following the meeting, Zelensky invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to visit Kyiv for further discussions, as they had not been in contact since the start of the war in February 2022. In a statement regarding their recent phone call, Xi emphasized China’s commitment to peace and stated that they would not take advantage of the crisis for profit or simply watch from afar.

Picture Courtesy: Google/images are subject to copyright