Author: admin@primenews

Efrat Eldan Schechter is a native of the Northern Galilee and never even considered moving anywhere else to bring up her family – that is until the events of 7 October. When she heard and watched reports of what was happening in southern Israel that morning, as heavily armed Hamas gunmen streamed out of Gaza, she was immediately taken back to stories from the “Yom Kippur” or 1973 Middle East war, when Israel was attacked simultaneously on two fronts. “I was terrified. Everyone was sleeping in and I thought it’s going to be ’73 all over again and Hezbollah is…

India’s top court on Monday reversed a state government’s decision to release 11 men convicted of gang-raping a pregnant Muslim woman during Hindu-Muslim riots in 2002, and ordered for them to be sent back to jail. The men were part of a Hindu mob sentenced to life in prison for the gang rape of Bilkis Bano, who was 21 years old and pregnant at the time. The same mob killed 14 members of her family, including her 3-year-old daughter. They were released in August 2022 after serving 14 years of their sentence following a decision made by an advisory panel set…

Oh, how quickly the conversation turns to Taylor Swift whenever there’s a lull in the cultural discourse. Swift, one of the biggest American superstars of her time, is continuing her complete domination of our attentions with blockbuster tours, record-breaking album drops, prized appearances at NFL Sunday night match-ups and, of course, the Golden Globes. It’s no wonder that news outlets and companies drop her name into headlines, interviews, branded content and products in an attempt to ride her moment of mega-fame, from Heinz condiments to news stories about stingrays. CNN isn’t immune to Swift fever, either: Data journalist Harry Enten reported late last year on the odds of Swift and her boyfriend…

The US company behind a proposed Las Vegas-style “Sphere” venue in east London has withdrawn its plans. Madison Square Garden Entertainment (MSG) said it could not participate in a process that was “merely a political football between rival parties”. In December, Housing Secretary Michael Gove used his powers to review the rejection of planning permission by London Mayor Sadiq Khan. MSG had wanted to build its 21,000-capacity Sphere venue in Stratford. In a letter to the Planning Inspectorate, MSG said it was “extremely disappointing” that Londoners would “not benefit from the Sphere’s groundbreaking technology and the thousands of well-paying jobs…

Last year saw the highest number of civilian casualties killed or injured by explosives in more than a decade, according to new research. The UK-based charity Action on Armed Violence (AOAV) recorded a 122% percent increase in civilian fatalities caused by explosives in 2023. The rise is largely due to the war being fought between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Conflicts in Ukraine, Sudan, Myanmar and Somalia also contributed. AOAV is a London based charity which records and monitors evidence of armed violence against civilians worldwide. Its reporting and analysis is used by international forums such as the UN. It…

Norway is likely to become the first country in the world to move forward with the controversial practice of commercial-scale deep-sea mining. The plan, up before a parliamentary vote on Tuesday, will accelerate the hunt for precious metals which are in high demand for green technologies. Environmental scientists have warned it could be devastating for marine life. The vote concerns Norwegian waters, but agreement on mining in international waters could also be reached this year. The vote is expected to pass without hindrance after it secured cross-party backing at the end of 2023. The Norwegian government said it was being…

South Korea has passed a new law, which aims to end the slaughter and selling of dogs for their meat by 2027. The law aims to end the centuries-old practice of eating dog meat. Dog meat has fallen out of favour with diners over the past few decades. Young people especially shun it. Under the law, raising or slaughtering dogs for consumption will be banned, as will distributing or selling dog meat. Those found guilty of doing so could be sent to jail. Those butchering dogs could face up to three years in prison, while those who raise dogs for…

Taiwan issued an islandwide air raid alert after a Chinese satellite flew over its southern airspace days before a crucial presidential election. Mobile phone users across the self-ruled island received a message warning them to “be aware for your safety”. The “presidential alert” underlined jitters ahead of pivotal presidential and legislative elections on Saturday. China has long claimed Taiwan as part of its own territory and has been accused of interfering in the vote. The self-governing island of 23 million people, is a key flashpoint in the tussle between China and the US for supremacy in Asia. Analysts say the…

Alaska Airlines flight 1282 was on a routine flight from Portland in Oregon to Ontario in California, when an unused cabin door broke away a few minutes after take off. The section that fell from the sky was a 27kg (60lb) part of the shell. Known as a door plug, this was used to fill an emergency exit that was built into the plane but not needed by Alaska Airlines. The cabin abruptly depressurised, creating a rush of air that ripped off the flight crews headsets and sent phones and other items flying out of the plane. Why did a…

A 60-day state of emergency has begun in Ecuador after a convicted gang leader vanished from his prison cell. Adolfo Macías Villamar, better known as “Fito”, is the leader of Los Choneros, a powerful gang which is thought to have been behind some of the deadly prison riots in recent months. He was being held in the maximum security wing of a jail in Guayaquil. The emergency measures include the suspension of the right of assembly and a nightly curfew. They were announced in a decree issued by President Daniel Noboa, who took office less than two months ago as…