Author: WTX News

Israel striking Lebanon with ‘full force’ despite ceasefire calls  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has directed the military to continue its offensive against Hezbollah with “full force,” despite growing international pressure for a ceasefire. Lebanon’s health ministry reported that at least 92 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes on Thursday, with hundreds more casualties since the conflict escalated on Monday. Hezbollah confirmed that an airstrike in southern Beirut killed Mohammad Surur, the head of its drone unit. The situation is raising fears of a full-scale war between Israel and Hezbollah after a sharp increase in Israeli strikes on Lebanon. Initially, there…

Why is the Israeli invasion of Lebanon so dangerous Why is the Israeli invasion of Lebanon so dangerous a question on everyone’s lips at the UN general assembly. World leaders including Macron, Starmer and Biden are all urging Israel to back down, because they can see the complications. This isn’t Gaza anymore, this is an attack on sovereign state. Even the Financial Times referred to the attacks as “reckless acts that stoke the flames of conflict.” ‘Step back from the brink,’ says Starmer More than 600 civilians have been killed by Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon since Monday, according local authorities.…

Heavy rain causes power outages in Buckinghamshire ️Heavy rain causes power outages in Buckinghamshire especially in residential areas of High Wycombe. The power went off whilst many people left their homes to go to work. Power Outage in High Wycombe Affected areas High Wycombe Electricity has been out since 9:30 am Services were expected to be restored by midday but are still not fixed. The power outage has predominantly affected the Hazlemere of High Wycombe and went off multiple times last night. Engineers are currently working on site to fix the power outages in these areas. Check if you area…

IMF approves $7bn loan to support Pakistan’s struggling economy The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved a $7bn (£5.25bn) loan to help Pakistan address its ongoing economic challenges. The country will receive the first $1bn immediately, with the remaining funds distributed over the next three years. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the IMF’s decision and expressed gratitude to the IMF Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva, and her team for their support. Pakistan has a long history of turning to the IMF for financial assistance, having taken more than 20 loans from the organisation since 1958. Currently, Pakistan ranks as the IMF’s…

Arrests made over suspected coup plot in Benin: State Prosecutor Three men in Benin, including a former government minister and the head of President Patrice Talon’s security detail, have been arrested on suspicion of plotting a coup, according to the state prosecutor. Among those detained is Oswald Homeky, the ex-sports minister, who was reportedly caught handing over six bags of cash to the head of the Republican Guard, Col. Elonm Mario Metonou. Investigators allege that the money was a bribe intended to ensure Col. Metonou would not resist a coup planned for Friday in the West African nation. Also arrested…

What do we know about Labour’s plans for the economy? What do we know about Labour’s plans for the economy? The short answer is, its more of the same. In fact, some business leaders and economists have accused the government of damaging confidence in the economy by presenting a gloomy picture. But in reality austerity is here to stay, as Labour policies will hit hard for the worse-off in society. Stamrer is keen to appease businesses and shake off the Socialist Labour image. Former Bank of England chief economist Andy Haldane warned the government’s approach had generated “fear and foreboding”…

Global allies call for 21-day ceasefire across Lebanon-Israel border A coalition of global allies, including the UK, US, and EU, is urging for a temporary ceasefire in Lebanon following an escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. The 12-nation group has proposed an immediate 21-day pause in hostilities to allow room for diplomatic efforts aimed at securing a lasting peace, along with a broader ceasefire in Gaza. In a joint statement, the bloc described the current violence as “intolerable” and warned that the situation posed an “unacceptable risk of a broader regional escalation,” which would harm both Israeli…

Lithium prices plummet, impacting Australia’s mining industry Once dubbed “white gold” for its crucial role in rechargeable batteries, lithium, the ultra-light metal that can float on water, has seen its value plunge dramatically over the past year. The drop in prices is largely due to falling global sales of electric vehicles and an oversupply of lithium ore. Since June 2023, the cost of lithium’s primary compound has tumbled by more than 75%. This price crash has hit Australia particularly hard, as the country is the largest producer of lithium ore, responsible for 52% of global output in 2022. Australia also…

Banks must refund fraud cases up to £850000 In a world first, Banks must refund fraud cases up to £85000 within 5 working days. These refunds will become mandatory from 7 October, the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) has announced. Which means the banks can no longer fob you off when you have been scammed by fraudsters. What the PSR has done is they have held both banks responsible, Refunds will be split 50-50 between sending and receiving firms in the past only your bank would provide a discretionary compensation. The scammers bank got away scot-free. Banking Apps like Revolut and…

Shein is being probed for greenwashing Shein is being probed for Greenwashing by the Antitrust agency. Which accuses Shein’s website of trying “to convey an image of production and commercial sustainability of its garments through misleading environmental claims,” the antitrust agency said in a statement. The probe is the latest in a string of investigations by regulators across Europe into potentially misleading environmental claims by companies. Shein’s website appeared to emphasize a commitment to decarbonization which seems to be contradicted by the increase in greenhouse gas emissions shown in Shein’s sustainability reports. Greenwashing is being used by companies to show…

Israel heavily bombing Lebanon as Britons urged to leave Lebanon Israel’s military says it carrying out a new wave of “extensive” strikes in southern Lebanon. Ten people have been killed by the Israeli attacks, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.  The strikes come after Israel says it intercepted a ballistic missile fired by Hezbollah towards Tel Aviv – the first such rocket to target the country’s biggest city. Hezbollah says the attack was directed at the headquarters of Israeli intelligence agency Mossad. Violence is continuing to rise across the region as the government issues a warning to Britons in Lebanon to leave…

Thai king signs same-sex marriage bill into law Thailand has made history as the first country in Southeast Asia to legalise same-sex unions, following the signing of a landmark marriage equality bill by the king. The bill, which passed the Senate in June, received royal endorsement and was officially published in the Royal Gazette on Tuesday. It is set to take effect on January 22 of next year. This moment marks a significant victory for LGBTQ+ activists, who have spent years campaigning for marriage equality in Thailand. The move is seen as a major step forward in LGBTQ+ rights in…

UK stock market does not trust labour Today, the UK stock market has shown mixed reactions, UK stock market does not trust labour reflecting the volatility and uncertainty in the market. The FTSE 100 experienced a rise early in the day, supported by stimulus measures from China, which helped boost sectors like mining and energy. However, volatility remains as global economic concerns persist, especially regarding inflation and interest rate uncertainty. Additionally, Nasdaq and Deutsche Börse have been raided by EU officials investigating whether the exchange groups may have been involved in antitrust violations related to financial derivatives. On the flip…

The European Union’s drive to make its supply chain greener risks leading to a scorched-earth policy. A planned on agricultural imports from deforested land will affect developing countries producing commodities like timber and palm oil. The move is already causing exports to go elsewhere. If she doesn’t want to lose vital commodities, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will either have to offer aid or back down on labour and environmental protections. The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), due to come into force on Dec. 30, will prevent goods that can be traced to deforested land from entering the bloc. Products…

Starmer commits to follow international law Sir Keir Starmer commits to follow international law and is being snubbed by the US president for a meeting Keir Starmer will pledge to reaffirm Britain’s commitment to internationalism and the rule of law at the UN General Assembly on Wednesday. “This is the time to uphold fundamental principles and show our readiness to defend them. To recommit to the UN, internationalism, and the rule of law.” In contrast, Rishi Sunak has distanced himself from the UN and International Law, indicating a willingness to reject any treaty that conflicts with his Rwanda plan. Britain’s…

Sri Lanka’s new leftist president dissolves parliament, calls snap election Sri Lanka’s newly elected president, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, has officially dissolved the 225-member parliament, setting the stage for an early general election. Dissanayake’s National People’s Power (NPP) alliance, which held only three seats in the dissolved parliament, is aiming for a stronger mandate. The snap election is scheduled for November 14, almost a full year ahead of the original timeline, according to a government gazette announcement. In a significant move, Dissanayake appointed Harini Amarasuriya as the country’s new prime minister on Tuesday. This marks the third time a woman has…

Human rights in Russia have “severely deteriorated” says UN Human rights in Russia have taken a significant turn for the worse since the country’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, according to a new UN report. The investigation highlights a “systematic crackdown” on civil society, detailing widespread police brutality, suppression of independent media, and punitive laws aimed at silencing critics of the Kremlin. Mariana Katzarova, the UN’s special rapporteur on human rights in Russia, conducted the investigation remotely after being denied entry to the country. She gathered information from political groups, activists, and legal experts. The report reveals “credible accounts” of torture,…

Gold peaks, Bitcoin surge and consumer confidence drops are the highlights from Monday’s market analysis. A long-running measure of how consumers feel about their finances and the economy has fallen sharply, raising concerns that the government’s warning that the Budget will be “painful” has shaken people’s confidence. Prices of the safe-haven asset have climbed 27% in 2024, their biggest annual rise since 2010, as investors also sought to hedge uncertainties spurred by the Israel’s invasion Palestine and war with Lebanon. The Bank of England has kept interest rates on hold at 5%, but a further cut is expected later in…

Is Labour gaslighting us or following Amazon on productivity? After Amazon announced that it would be time for its employees to return to working from the office full time, the new government is weighing in on the debate of productivity. Productivity is a problem for the UK, since COVID-19 we have more doctors and nurses, but longer waiting lists, similarly, we have more civil servants but longer immigration processing times and passport application delays. But alongside productivity there is a very important commercial element to it, office space in premier locations will lose its value, especially in cities and if…

Donations a feature of our politics – pay to get your way Donations a feature of our politics a brasin remark by Rayner, speaking ahead of the opening of the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, said she understood why people were angry, but added donations were “a feature of our politics”. Labour is in damage control mode, with the Chancellor under pressure to deliver some optimism to take a bit of pressure off Keir Starmer. What that means is, that Labour politicians are courted in this way to the bidding of Lobby groups and individuals. Just like The Tories rewarded…

On Monday morning, and its rain for Denmark as a wet Autumn arrives for many who woke up to fog and a visibility of less than 100 metres. At the end of the morning, the sun will break through and some areas will see the the last beautiful sunsets of a late summer day this round. Rain for Denmark This is what Trine Pedersen, meteorologist on duty at Denmark’s Meteorological Institute (DMI), tells us. “The temperatures will be around 18 to 22 degrees with some or a lot of sun,” she says. If you stay on the coasts towards the…

Israel carries out 80 airstrikes in Lebanon in half an hour killing lebanese civilians and injuring scores in a onslaught of war against Lebanon. With attacks were aimed at towns in eastern and southern Lebanon. Israel carries out 80 airstrikes in Lebanon in half an hour The attacks targeted the towns of al-Tayri, Bint Jbeil, Hanine, Zawtar and the Nabatieh region in southern Lebanon, as well as the areas around the Shaara, Harbata and Hermel regions and the areas around the towns of Shamstar, Taria and Bouday in eastern Lebanon. The Israelis are warned that a day of fierce fighting…

Israel and Hezbollah urged to avoid full-scale war as UN fears catastrophe Israel and Hezbollah both escalated their threats on Sunday, vowing to intensify cross-border attacks despite calls from the international community to avoid full-scale war. The Israeli military reported that roughly 150 rockets, missiles, and other projectiles were fired from Lebanon into Israel overnight on Saturday and into Sunday. Some of the rockets reached farther than previous strikes, prompting thousands of Israelis to seek shelter and causing damage to homes near Haifa. In response, Israel conducted airstrikes on southern Lebanon, targeting what it claimed were Hezbollah’s rocket launchers, reportedly…

Israel bombs Gaza school killing 22 people mostly women and children An Israeli air strike on a school in Gaza City has killed at least 22 Palestinians, most of whom were women and children, according to reports from Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry. The school, which was not operating due to the ongoing conflict, was being used as a shelter for displaced families, the health ministry confirmed. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that the strike targeted a Hamas command centre, which they claim was being used to plan and execute attacks. Hamas, however, has denied any military use of the…

At least 51 dead in Iran coal mine explosion A gas explosion at a coal mine in eastern Iran has claimed the lives of at least 51 workers, according to state media reports on Sunday. The blast, which occurred in South Khorasan province, left more than 20 others injured. The explosion, believed to have been triggered by methane gas, took place in two sections of the Madanjoo mine located in Tabas, roughly 540 kilometres southeast of Tehran.  South Khorasan’s governor, Javad Ghenaatzadeh, revealed that 69 miners were working at the time of the explosion, with 22 in block C and…