World News

Firefighters in Portugal battled to contain wildfires engulfing thousands of hectares amid soaring temperatures.

Around 800 personnel attended a fire near the southern town of Odemira overnight, with more than 1,400 people having to evacuate and at least nine firefighters being injured. Temperatures in excess of 40C (104F) are expected to hit much of the Iberian peninsula this week.

Three major fires that scorched hundreds of hectares in Spain over the weekend have been brought under control, but weather alerts remain in place across much of the country. Temperatures of 46.4C (116F), the hottest of the year so far, were recorded in Santarém.

Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), with support from the Investing in Forest and Protected Area for Climate Smart Development (IFPA-CD) project graduated 80 youths in practical skills to improve their livelihoods. In a statement issued by Hangi Bashir, Head of Communication, Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), the graduation ceremony was held at Seyeya Courts Hotel in Kagadi town.

The Caribbean’s longest running workboat regatta, the Carriacou Regatta Festival, under the theme ‘Timeless Culture on the Sea.’ The regatta, which got its start in 1965 by the late J. Linton Rigg, brings the story of Carriacou’s rich boat building history to life.

Each year in August, the Carriacou Regatta Festival features races for multiple classes of workboats, including the highly anticipated deck sloop around the island race. Along with the action on the sea, there are onshore activities for all to enjoy, such as donkey racing and walking the greasy pole – both traditional activities to the festival. Evening entertainment and delicious cuisine complete the Carriacou Regatta experience.

According to a Turkish official, the recent excavation of the ancient city of Aizanoi’s agora in western Turkey is set to bring fresh insights into the city’s trade life. Kutahya Governor Ali Celik mentioned that the excavation work in the area has gained significant momentum lately.

Governor Celik revealed that they will uncover a significant number of shops in the ancient bazaar, called Agora, this year. The excavation work has already commenced, and efforts in this area have been intensified. Specifically, they expect to fully excavate and study five shops in the agora by the end of this year.

Marking their 61st anniversary, from Kingston to Canada, the USA to the UK and many other countries worldwide, the black, gold and green flags were flying high and proud in acknowledgement, Jamaican Independence Day saw natives and others, throughout the diaspora, celebrating and honouring the occasion in many ways.

Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett, identifies Argentina as a crucial part of Jamaica‘s strategic objectives in the Latin American market. Argentina, with a population of 45 million and home to Lionel Messi, represents Jamaica’s largest market in the region.

The goal is to increase arrivals from Argentina as part of their overall strategy to reengage with Latin America after the pandemic. The Minister made the announcement at a special luncheon that hosted over 120 of Jamaica’s travel, trade, and media partners at the Four Seasons Hotel in Argentina.

Jamaican authorities say they plan to introduce a biometric system for passenger checks at the Sangster International Airport (SIA) in the coming winter. In Singapore, a similar system is already in place, and performing well enough that legislators are considering eliminating passport checks.

The Montego Bay Jamaica (MBJ) Airports Limited Chief Executive Officer Shane Munroe was said to have made the announcement recently, saying the novelty is intended to facilitate boarding and bag-drop processes for passengers travelling through the SIA as well as enhance checkpoint security. With the system, passengers will be able to check in from their mobile devices before proceeding to biometric kiosks installed at different counters in the airport for identity verification.

U.S. President Joe Biden on July 25 — what should have been Emmett Till’s 82nd birthday — signed a proclamation creating the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument.

Till, a Black Chicago native, was 14 years old in 1955 when at least two white men lynched him in segregated Mississippi after a white woman accused him of flirting with her. Nobody was held legally accountable for Till’s murder, a tragedy that helped galvanize the Civil Rights Movement.

When the Voting Rights Act was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson on August 6, 1965, a new era began in the United States. With a stroke of his pen, Johnson struck down discriminatory voting practices that had been adopted — primarily in Southern states — to disenfranchise African Americans.

Those practices, many dating back to the end of the U.S. Civil War in 1865, included the imposition of literacy tests and poll taxes that often-blocked Black citizens from exercising their right to vote, as guaranteed under the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Following on the heels of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlawed discrimination based on race, colour, religion, sex or national origin, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 helped to solidify the gains of the U.S. civil rights movement.

In the summer of 2022, Jamaica’s Opposition Leader Mark Golding was a trustee or director of at least five non-profits – one in the U.K., where his father was born, and four in Jamaica. But while the U.K.-based organisation has been in good standing with the charity authority there, all four in Jamaica were outstanding on their filings at the Companies Office of Jamaica (COJ) for multiple years.

 The World Jewish Congress, as part of its work with Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund to fight antisemitism and promote Jewish life, praised the team for participating Friday in a project at the San Diego Jewish Academy that memorializes children killed in the Holocaust. The German soccer club, commonly known as BVB, had trained for much of last week on the grounds of the San Diego Jewish Academy, as part of its U.S. tour. 

Dr. Sultan Al-Jaber, COP28 President-Designate and Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), have called upon G20 nations to take a greater leadership role in climate change mitigation and adaptation. With only 125 days to go, the leaders today issued a joint statement on the sidelines of the G20 ministerial meeting in Chennai, calling on G20 nations to "lead the way" on delivering a positive outcome on mitigation at the COP28 climate conference this year.

Hapuna Beach recorded the cleanest air in America. Located in the rolling hills of South Kohala on Hawaii‘s Big Island, Kamuela is cowboy country. Also known by its original Hawaiian name of “Waimea.”

Popular vacation destinations in Hawaii and Alaska emerged as oases of fresh air, according to research conducted by Biosource.

The United States has rejoined the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) after a nearly 5-year absence, becoming its 194th member state. UNESCO helps protect the world’s cultural and national heritage by designating World Heritage sites. It also plays a key role in promoting international cooperation in education, science, culture, technology and freedom of the press.

Following its launch at the United Nations Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) in 2021, the Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge (“Pledge”) has mobilized an additional USD 215 million in commitments from the private sector. In total, the Pledge has mobilised nearly USD 560 million from 46 companies towards the zero-hunger goal. To ensure the integrity of the Pledge, it is also announcing the launch of its new reporting framework and first reporting process.

Africa's largest economy, Nigeria, is in the process of introducing new banknotes for the first time in more than 20 years. The move is an attempt to reignite confidence in the currency, the naira, which is under severe pressure. With inflation at more than 20%, people are struggling to cope with the rising cost of living. It is leading to the largest exodus of young professionals in years.

Fashion designer Oroma Cookey Gam left Nigeria's biggest city, Lagos, with her young family a year ago for the UK capital, London. Her husband and business partner Osione, an artist, was granted a Global Talent visa, which enables leaders in academia, arts and culture, as well as digital technology to work in the UK.