Author: admin@primenews

The first time Jasmijn van Waalwijk van Doorn accompanied her pilot father, Jorrit van Waalwijk van Doorn, to work was a day to remember. It was 2006. Eight-year-old Jasmijn joined Jorrit on a KLM flight traveling from their home country of the Netherlands to Uganda. Pilot Jorrit flew the Boeing 767 there and back. Jasmijn and her mother Ellen were passengers.  Before the flight to Uganda took off, Ellen took a picture of her husband and daughter in the cockpit. In the photo, Jorrit’s clutching the controls, Jasmijn is clutching a beloved lion toy. She’s got one arm around her…

Chinese leader Xi Jinping presented an amicable China ready to improve ties with the United States in a landmark meeting with US President Joe Biden Wednesday, marking a noticeable shift in tone for Beijing as it looks to minimize friction with Washington. Whether that shift is a lasting one for the contentious relationship will be put to an immediate test, however, by comments made by Biden during a solo press conference after the meeting. There, the President reiterated his view that Xi is a “dictator,” after being asked by a reporter whether he stood by a comment saying as much this past June. At that…

The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed his deep concern over the escalating conflict in Myanmar. According to the UN the number of people displaced by the fighting has reached two million, and the Secretary-General appealed to all sides to protect non-combatants and open access for humanitarian aid. The striking success of an alliance of three ethnic armed groups in Shan State in driving the army and police out of large areas along the border with China has emboldened other opposition forces around Myanmar. In Kayah State, south of Shan State along the border with Thailand, ethnic Karenni insurgents,…

Confectionary giant Mars has announced it will buy Hotel Chocolat for £534m to help the UK company expand overseas. Hotel Chocolat said the deal would allow the brand to “grow further and faster”. “We know our brand resonates with consumers overseas, but operational supply chain challenges have held us back.” said Hotel Chocolat chief executive Angus Thirlwell. The company is mostly based in the UK with 124 shops, but has some overseas. Mr Thirlwell said: “By partnering with Mars, we can grow our international presence much more quickly using their skills, expertise and capabilities.” Following the annoucement of the deal,…

Indian authorities trying to rescue dozens of workers trapped for more than 90 hours deep inside a Himalayan mountain have reached out for international help, contacting the Thai team that rescued a boys’ soccer team from a flooded cave in 2018. The 40 men have been trapped since a tunnel collapsed during construction work in northern Uttarakhand state on Sunday, with rescue efforts becoming more urgent amid reports some are becoming ill. Four days after the incident, authorities flew in a high-powered drill from the capital New Delhi to begin work on a rescue tunnel early Thursday as anger grew…

India reached the World Cup final by holding off New Zealand on a memorable night in Mumbai that included Virat Kohli’s record-breaking 50th one-day international century. Superstar Kohli moved clear of his legendary former team-mate Sachin Tendulkar’s hundred tally as India piled up 397-4. But New Zealand threatened to spoil the hosts’ party at the Wankhede Stadium. Daryl Mitchell scored a sublime century of his own and put on 181 runs from 149 balls with skipper Kane Williamson to quieten the febrile home support and give the Black Caps a shot at an improbable victory. India were feeling the pressure…

The US and China have agreed on measures to tackle climate change but stopped short of committing to end fossil fuels, a joint statement said. The world’s biggest carbon emitters will step up co-operation on methane and support global efforts to triple renewable energy by 2030. But the document is silent on the use of coal, and the future of fossil energy. Observers said it was a positive sign ahead of a UN climate summit. The joint statement comes as the presidents of both countries prepare to meet in California, with climate change representing one of the few areas of potential progress.…

Sir Keir Starmer has suffered a major rebellion over his stance on the Israel-Gaza war, with 56 of his MPs voting for an immediate ceasefire. Jess Phillips, Afzal Khan and Yasmin Qureshi were among shadow ministers who quit their roles to back the motion from the SNP. Ten of the party’s frontbenchers have left their jobs over the vote, including eight shadow minsters. Sir Keir has instead backed pauses in the conflict to deliver aid. Announcing she was quitting her role as shadow domestic violence minister, Ms Phillips said she was voting with “my constituents, my head, and my heart”. “I…

The price paid to generate electricity by offshore wind farms has been raised by 66% as the government tries to entice energy firms to invest. Its comes after an auction for offshore wind projects failed to attract any bids, with firms arguing the price set for electricity generated was too low. The government has lifted the price it pays from £44 per MWh to £73. It is hoped more offshore wind capacity will lead to cheaper energy bills. Energy companies have told the BBC that electricity produced out at sea would remain cheaper and less prone to shock increases compared…

A specialist drill machine has been deployed to rescue 40 Indian workers who have been trapped in a tunnel for more than four days. It was flown in from Delhi on Wednesday after attempts to drill through the debris using another machine failed. The machine will help drill a passage so that a pipe can be inserted through which the workers can crawl out. They have been stuck inside inside since Sunday, after a landslide caused a portion of the tunnel to collapse. The accident occurred at 05:00 local time (23:30 GMT) in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand. A portion…