देश-विदेश

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    Powerful El Niño could push 49 million more into …

    ByJustpaste.in

    A powerful El Niño weather event could push nearly 49 million more people into acute hunger by the end of 2027, the United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) has warned, raising fresh concerns about a worsening global food crisis driven by climate change and extreme weather. According to a new WFP report released on Wednesday, there is an 81 percent probability that the developing El Niño will become a very strong event, with Pacific Ocean temperatures already reaching their highest levels since at least 1982. If current forecasts hold, it could become the strongest El Niño recorded since 1950. El Niño is a naturally occurring climate pattern that warms surface waters in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean. Although it originates in the Pacific, it disrupts weather systems worldwide, often triggering droughts, delayed monsoons, floods and unpredictable rainfall that damage crops and threaten food supplies. The WFP estimates that 274 million people across 45 vulnerable countries could face acute food insecurity by the end of next year, representing a 22 percent increase from current crisis levels. Central America and Southern Africa are expected to suffer the most severe consequences. Food insecurity in Central America could rise by 83 percent, while Southern Africa may experience a 75 percent increase. More than 12 million additional people in Southern Africa, South America and the Caribbean could struggle to access enough food. Jean-Martin Bauer, Director of WFP’s Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Service, said previous strong El Niño events have repeatedly triggered major hunger emergencies. “These are events that in the past have caused widespread food crises,” Bauer said, urging governments and humanitarian organisations to prepare before conditions worsen. Although global food markets entered this El Niño cycle in a relatively stable position following strong harvests in 2025. Bauer warned that ongoing conflict in the Middle East and possible crop failures caused by extreme weather could push food prices higher. While worldwide price spikes are not considered inevitable, regional shortages could make food increasingly unaffordable for millions of vulnerable families already struggling with poverty. The report also highlights another growing concern—declining humanitarian funding. Budget cuts from major donors in the United States and Europe have significantly reduced WFP’s ability to monitor food security. Household surveys dropped from 1.1 million in 2024 to around 800,000 in 2025, with further reductions recorded this year due to funding shortages. Experts warn that limited data collection could delay the identification of emerging hunger hotspots, making humanitarian responses slower and less effective. The WFP also forecasts below-average rainfall across parts of East Africa, the Sahel, Central America and the Caribbean, while countries such as Somalia could face an increased risk of flooding. Across South and Southeast Asia, delayed monsoons, drought and localized floods are expected to disrupt agricultural production and livelihoods. Despite the alarming outlook, the UN agency stressed that forecasts remain uncertain and impacts will vary from region to region. To reduce future losses, the WFP has expanded its anticipatory action programmes in 18 countries, providing cash assistance and emergency support to more than 1.3 million people ahead of expected climate shocks. The agency says acting early will be critical to preventing millions more people from falling into hunger as one of the strongest El Niño events in decades continues to develop.

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    Justice for Kashmir begins with implementing UN re…

    ByJustpaste.in

    Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the UK, Tipu Usman, has urged the international community to play a more proactive role in resolving the Kashmir dispute, declaring that “justice for Kashmir begins with implementing United Nations Security Council resolutions” and reaffirming that Pakistan’s support for the people of Jammu and Kashmir “remains unwavering and unconditional.” He was addressing a seminar organised by the Pakistan High Commission in London to observe Youm-e-Istehsal Kashmir, marking the anniversary of India’s August 5, 2019 decision to revoke the special status of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). The event brought together British parliamentarians, diplomats, community leaders and members of the British Pakistani and Kashmiri diaspora, who condemned India’s revocation of Article 370 and reiterated support for the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination. In his keynote address, Tipu Usman called upon the international community, particularly the United Kingdom, to stand on the side of justice by urging India to reverse the unilateral measures introduced on August 5, 2019, restore the rights and special status of Jammu and Kashmir, and honour the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. “Pakistan’s support for the people of Jammu and Kashmir remains unwavering and unconditional,” he said, adding that a peaceful and lasting settlement of the dispute must be achieved in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people as reflected in the UN resolutions. The seminar was attended by Lord Qurban Hussain, Baroness Nosheena Mobarik, Afzal Khan MP and Adnan Hussain MP, alongside prominent community figures including Councillor Yasmine Dar, UK-Pakistan Kashmiri Councillors Forum Chairman Liaqat Ali MBE, Jammu Kashmir Self Determination Movement International Chairman Raja Najabat Hussain and former Deputy Mayor of Peterborough Mohammad Nadeem. Speakers strongly criticised India’s constitutional changes of August 2019, describing them as illegal and unconstitutional. They expressed concern over the human rights situation in IIOJK and called for an immediate end to alleged rights violations. Participants stressed that the Kashmir dispute remains an internationally recognised issue that should be resolved through dialogue and in line with UN Security Council resolutions. The seminar also proposed a strategic roadmap to enhance engagement with policymakers, parliamentarians and international stakeholders to build support for a just and lasting resolution of the Kashmir dispute. Messages from the President of Pakistan, the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister were read out during the event, reiterating Pakistan’s continued diplomatic, political and moral support for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The ceremony concluded with participants observing a minute’s silence in memory of those who lost their lives in the Kashmir conflict.

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    Police arrest suspect in the murder of British woman

    ByJustpaste.in

      Authorities in Greece have detained a suspect in connection with the brutal murder of 38-year-old British national Elizabeth Jane Ross, whose body was discovered inside a suitcase in Athens. The case has attracted significant public attention due to the disturbing circumstances surrounding the crime and the victim’s humanitarian work. According to police, Elizabeth Jane Ross had been visiting Greece for several years and was well known for her involvement with organizations that supported refugees and other vulnerable communities. Through her humanitarian efforts, she worked with various charities and non-governmental organizations dedicated to assisting people in need. Friends and colleagues described her as a compassionate and caring individual who devoted much of her time to helping disadvantaged groups. The investigation began after a homeless man discovered a suspicious suitcase in a car park in the Kypseli district of Athens on 18 July. After noticing the abandoned luggage, he alerted the authorities, who responded to the scene and opened the suitcase. Police were shocked to find the body of a woman inside. The victim was later identified as Elizabeth Jane Ross through official procedures. Following the discovery, Greek police launched an extensive investigation involving forensic experts, detectives, and crime scene specialists. Investigators collected evidence from the suitcase and surrounding area in an effort to determine the identity of the perpetrator and reconstruct the events leading up to the murder. According to reprts, the suspect is a 26-year-old Afghan national who was taken into custody in central Athens. Police believe he may have been directly involved in the killing of Elizabeth Jane Ross. During the initial stages of

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    Woman arrested after four men stabbed near Covent …

    ByJustpaste.in

    Police arrested a woman on Wednesday after four men suffered stab wounds during an incident near London’s Covent Garden district, with investigators saying they believe the attack stemmed from a mental health related episode. Officers detained the woman, who is in her forties, on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon and assault. She remains in custody as the investigation continues. Police described the incident as mental health related, though they have not released further details about what led up to the attack. Emergency crews found four men, aged 34, 39, 42 and 52, suffering from stab wounds at the scene. A spokesperson for the London Ambulance Service said paramedics treated all four men on site before transporting them to a nearby trauma centre for further care. Authorities have not yet released updates on the men’s conditions. The stabbings took place on Endell Street, a road situated about a quarter of a mile from Covent Garden square, one of London’s most visited tourist destinations known for its street performers, shops and market stalls. The area typically draws large crowds of visitors and locals throughout the day, and Wednesday’s incident occurred in a part of the city usually associated with heavy foot traffic rather than violent crime. Police have not disclosed whether the woman and the four victims knew each other before the attack, nor have they indicated a specific motive beyond the reference to a mental health related incident. Investigators are continuing to gather evidence at the scene and are expected to provide further updates as the inquiry progresses. London has periodically grappled with knife related violence in public spaces, prompting ongoing debate over policing resources and mental health support services across the city. Incidents involving individuals in psychiatric distress have drawn particular attention from advocacy groups, who argue that stronger community mental health infrastructure could help prevent similar episodes before they escalate into violence.

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    Overnight missile barrage on Kyiv region kills 17,…

    ByJustpaste.in

    Russia launched a large scale missile assault on Kyiv and the surrounding region on Wednesday, killing at least 17 people and leveling warehouses belonging to major retail chains, according to Ukrainian officials, as Kyiv’s dwindling stock of air defence interceptors leaves the capital increasingly exposed. Explosions tore through the region overnight, lighting up the sky above the Ukrainian capital, which has faced missile attacks roughly every three to four days in recent weeks as Moscow has ramped up its aerial campaign. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Telegram that ballistic missile interceptors could have prevented the deaths recorded on Wednesday, calling on Ukraine’s international partners to replenish the country’s interceptor stocks. He said shipments of air defence missiles have arrived at only a third of the pace seen in 2025. Ukraine’s air force said its defences shot down close to 90 percent of the 115 drones Russia launched but failed to stop any of the 24 ballistic missiles or four Zircon cruise missiles fired during the same assault. Russia’s Defence Ministry said its forces struck seven logistics centres in Kyiv and the wider region, claiming the sites were used to store or move dual use goods and drone components. Ukraine has struggled for months with a shortage of interceptor missiles for its US supplied Patriot systems, currently the only weapon in its arsenal able to shoot down Russian ballistic missiles traveling at many times the speed of sound. Since the outbreak of the Iran war in February, Patriot interceptors originally intended for Ukraine have instead gone to the US military and its Gulf allies. Russia has used the opening to intensify ballistic strikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities even as its ground advances have slowed markedly this year. Officials said the attack injured more than 40 people in addition to those killed. At a commuter rail station in the Kyiv suburb of Brovary, rescue workers found seven bodies scattered across the platform, with an eighth victim discovered nearby in nearby bushes. Volodymyr Bigun, head of the local administration in Brovary, said residents had missed their last train home when the strike hit, and confirmed eight deaths in the district so far. He said five logistics warehouses sustained damage there, including one belonging to food retailer Fozzy, and accused Russian forces of continuing to target civilian infrastructure. Both Russia and Ukraine have consistently denied targeting civilians throughout the war, which began with Russia’s full scale invasion in February 2022. Ukraine has continued striking back at Russian territory as part of its own campaign, hitting a logistics hub belonging to Russian online retailer Wildberries in the Tula region overnight, adding to more than a dozen similar facilities Kyiv has damaged in recent operations. Epicentr, Ukraine’s largest home improvement retail chain, said two major logistics facilities and a manufacturing plant were destroyed within minutes during Wednesday’s strikes, and that it was still working to determine the full extent of the damage. The company described the attack as a deliberate effort to undermine Ukrainian manufacturing, logistics, employment and the broader capacity to recover from the war. Food retailer Silpo said on social media that at least six of its employees died in the strikes and that two of its distribution centres caught fire. Iryna Chechotkina, co founder of the online retailer Rozetka, said she watched overnight as three ballistic missiles destroyed years of work, describing the experience as devastating while stressing that her company remains operational. Ukraine’s economy has shown considerable resilience over more than four years of war, sustained in part by billions of dollars in financial support from Western governments, but business losses have mounted this year as strikes on commercial infrastructure have grown more frequent. The Kyiv regional military administration said Wednesday’s attack damaged 13 warehouses, a manufacturing facility, four private homes and dozens of vehicles. Prime Minister Sergii Koretskyi, who took office last month following a government reshuffle, said officials would hold an emergency meeting with business leaders to determine how to keep logistics and trade operations running smoothly. Kyiv has renewed its request for additional PAC-3 interceptors, the newest generation of Patriot missile. Separately, the United States is continuing talks that would allow Ukraine to manufacture Patriot missiles domestically, according to four people familiar with the discussions, even after President Donald Trump expressed skepticism about such an arrangement.

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    Female UEFA officials lead pushback against Infantino amid FIFA turmoil

    ByJustpaste.in

    Two women sitting on UEFA’s executive committee have become the most visible faces of opposition to FIFA President Gianni Infantino as he confronts the toughest test of his ten years leading world football’s governing body, raising fresh questions about whether the sport is ready for female leadership at the top. Laura McAllister of Wales and Lise Klaveness of Norway, the only two women on UEFA’s executive committee, have taken outspoken public stances against Infantino during a crisis triggered by the collapse of his plan to push through a private equity backed venture called FIFA Football Enterprises. The backlash against that failed proposal has opened up a broader conversation about whether football, an industry historically run by men, could realistically be led by a woman. McAllister, who serves as a UEFA vice president, told a foreign news agency that seeing a woman elected FIFA president would be a welcome development, though she cautioned that the path there remains complicated. “I’d like to think we’re not far off having a female president,” she said, adding that she worries football still lags behind broader social progress on gender. The conversation gained additional traction after former FIFA President Sepp Blatter publicly said this week that the time had come for a woman to lead the organization, singling out Klaveness for praise. McAllister welcomed the sentiment but pushed back on the idea that installing a female president would be straightforward. She said a woman could well be the strongest candidate available, but stressed that FIFA’s global politics do not operate as a simple meritocracy. Her comments follow the unraveling of Infantino’s FFE plan, which fell apart after UEFA and several other regional federations mounted fierce resistance. Wales became the first national association to publicly withdraw its backing for Infantino’s re election bid, and opposition quickly spread through other parts of FIFA’s membership. Infantino was scheduled to hold an emergency meeting in Morocco on Wednesday as the fallout continued. McAllister, whose call for national associations to boycott FIFA events won unanimous backing at UEFA’s emergency meeting last week, said the current unrest points to governance failures that run deeper than any single controversy. She said the organization appears to be approaching a genuine crisis point, if it has not reached one already. She cited a string of episodes that have chipped away at confidence in Infantino’s leadership, including FIFA’s connections to the failed European Super League proposal, political controversies tied to the World Cup, and the federation’s decision to overturn a red card issued to American forward Folarin Balogun after President Donald Trump publicly urged Infantino to revisit the call. McAllister said these incidents collectively point to serious flaws in how FIFA governs itself. She framed the standoff as a fight to preserve football’s core principles, tracing her outlook and Klaveness’s back to their shared history as international players for their respective countries before they moved into administrative careers, Klaveness as a lawyer and McAllister as a political scientist. She said both are driven by a strong sense of values, warning that football risks losing its essential character if those values slip away. She added that women in the sport sometimes bring a clearer focus on football’s fundamental purpose rather than getting absorbed in its business side, arguing the game belongs to everyone, from grassroots participants to elite professionals, spanning wealthy and poor countries alike, and should remain free from private capital control or political interference. Only 10 of FIFA’s 211 member associations currently have a woman at the helm, Klaveness among them. Any serious bid for the FIFA presidency would require support stretching well beyond Europe, and McAllister urged patience rather than a rushed push for female leadership. She said building momentum gradually often proves more effective than trying to force rapid change. Michael Payne, a former marketing director at the International Olympic Committee, said football’s governing bodies have historically trailed other sports when it comes to advancing women into leadership positions. He drew a contrast with the IOC, now led by Kirsty Coventry, noting that the Olympic movement has spent roughly two decades pursuing gender equity and has reached full parity between male and female athletes at the Games, a benchmark football’s World Cup has yet to meet. The dispute over FIFA’s direction reflects broader tensions playing out across international sports governance, where longstanding institutions face growing pressure to modernize leadership structures and diversify decision making bodies that have remained largely unchanged for decades. As football’s global profile continues to expand, the question of who holds power at its highest levels, and how that power gets exercised, appears likely to remain a central point of contention well beyond the current crisis surrounding Infantino’s leadership.