Lebanon's Shiite Muslims pay high price in war between Israel and Hezbollah

An Australian bouncy castle operator, Rosemary Anne Gamble, was found not guilty of breaching safety laws related to a 2021 incident that killed six children and injured three at a primary school fair in Devonport, Tasmania. A court determined the tragedy was caused by an unpredictable dust devil, which made it "impossible to predict," despite prosecutors arguing that Gamble failed to secure the bouncy castle adequately. Families of the victims expressed anguish over the verdict,...

In Gaza, Israeli forces have shot at civilians seeking food aid, while in the West Bank, Israel's far-right government plans to build 22 new illegal settlements, marking significant territorial expansion. This collective punishment of Palestinians is seen as an exploitation of Hamas's October 7 attack, which killed 1,200 people, to further occupation and annexation. European nations are beginning to pressure Israel, but stronger actions, including trade sanctions on settlements and formal recognition of a Palestinian...

The alliance between President Trump and Elon Musk deteriorated after Musk’s efforts to undermine a crucial budget bill following his departure from the administration. Initially, Musk expressed skepticism about Trump in 2016 but later engaged closely with the administration before leaving due to climate policy disagreements. Their relationship fluctuated over the years, with Musk endorsing Trump again in 2024 after a campaign rally incident, ultimately using his influence to challenge legislative priorities, marking a dramatic...

SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lawrence Wong stated that Israel's restrictions on aid to Gaza may breach international humanitarian law, reflecting a notable shift in Singapore's stance amidst growing international criticism of Israel's actions. This was echoed by Acting Minister Faishal Ibrahim, aligning with views that Israel is committing war crimes, though Singapore's position remains consistent in advocating for Palestinian rights and humanitarian aid through various initiatives. Recent remarks by European leaders indicate a broader consensus that...

Israeli farmers Aviel Leitner and Eran Braverman have resumed work on their blue agave fields along the Gaza border after the devastation caused by Hamas's October 7 attack. Despite the ongoing violence, they are hopeful about producing Israel's first tequila by early winter 2025, inspired by a family trip to Mexico. The community, supported by the NGO Volcani International Partnerships, is determined to recover and innovate in agriculture, although they face mental strain and lingering...

In a surprise victory, Scottish Labour, led by Davy Russell, won the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election, defeating the ruling Scottish National Party (SNP) by 602 votes amid a turnout of 44%. The result, which shows Labour's vote share at 31.6% compared to SNP's 29.4% and Reform UK's 26.1%, boosts Anas Sarwar's leadership as they aim to challenge the SNP's 19-year dominance ahead of the 2026 elections. The campaign was marred by a racism controversy...