Author: Elizabeth Jenrola Oso

Argentina’s president, Javier Milei, was attacked by demonstrators while campaigning near Buenos Aires on Wednesday, as protests over a corruption scandal engulfed his government. The far-right leader was unhurt after his motorcade came under a hail of stones, bottles and plants in the city of Lomas de Zamora, 20km south of the capital. His security detail swiftly removed him from the scene, presidential spokesperson Manuel Adorni confirmed on social media. Milei, who was standing in the back of a pickup truck greeting supporters, was accompanied by his sister, Karina Milei, and senior officials. Their vehicle quickly departed after the attack,…

At least 12 people, including three children, have been killed in a succession of Russian airstrikes on Kyiv, in the most lethal assault on the Ukrainian capital for several weeks. More than 40 people were wounded in the overnight barrage, which struck residential buildings and other sites across the city. The bombardment began shortly after 3am, with further strikes reported around 5.30am. Explosions reverberated through the city centre as officials said more than 20 sites were hit. Part of a five-storey residential building in eastern Kyiv was destroyed, trapping people under the rubble. Rescue teams worked through the morning to…

Discussions are under way about a sequel to KPop Demon Hunters, the animated feature that has become Netflix’s most watched film of all time. Directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, the film has attracted more than 236 million views on the streaming platform. A “singalong” version, released briefly in North American cinemas, topped the box office last weekend with estimated takings of $19.2m (£14.6m). Netflix does not routinely publish viewing or box office figures, and no comparable estimates are available for the UK. Although no details of a follow-up have been confirmed, Kang is expected to return as director.…

Deforestation has caused the deaths of more than half a million people in tropical regions over the past two decades by intensifying heat-related illness, according to new research. The study, published in Nature Climate Change, found that widespread clearance of trees in the Amazon, Congo basin and south-east Asia has driven localised temperature rises by reducing shade, cutting rainfall and increasing fire risk. Researchers estimated that between 2001 and 2020, deforestation contributed to 28,330 deaths each year, more than half of them in south-east Asia. Around a third occurred in tropical Africa and the remainder in Central and South America.…

SpaceX’s Starship megarocket finally roared into the skies on Tuesday evening after two aborted attempts earlier in the week, marking a major step forward for the spacecraft that underpins Elon Musk’s ambitions of reaching Mars and aiding Nasa’s return to the moon. The 403ft (123-metre) stainless steel rocket lifted off from the company’s Starbase site in southern Texas at 6.30pm local time (11.30pm GMT), drawing cheers from SpaceX engineers as it ascended. It was the tenth test of the vehicle and the first in which several new technologies were successfully trialled. In a significant milestone, Starship’s upper stage separated cleanly…

Botswana’s president has declared a public health emergency following severe shortages of essential medicines and equipment, as a prolonged slump in the diamond market and cuts to US aid strain the country’s finances. The announcement came after the Ministry of Health suspended non-urgent surgeries on 4 August, citing shortages of drugs for hypertension, diabetes, cancer, asthma and eye conditions, as well as a lack of bandages, sutures and supplies for sexual and reproductive health. In a televised address on Monday, President Duma Boko said the country’s medical supply chain had “failed” and announced 250m pula (£13.8m) in emergency funding for…

An initiative intended to strengthen ties between Japan and African nations has descended into controversy after misleading reports fuelled claims that the project would bring an influx of immigrants. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) this month named four Japanese cities, Imabari, Kisarazu, Sanjo and Nagai, as “Africa hometowns” linked with Mozambique, Nigeria, Ghana and Tanzania. The scheme, unveiled at the close of an international conference on African development in Yokohama, is aimed at promoting personnel exchanges and cultural events. However, inaccurate media coverage in Africa, and subsequent references in Japanese-language sources, prompted a surge of anger on social media…

Donald Trump has imposed 50 per cent tariffs on most United States imports from India, escalating a trade dispute over New Delhi’s purchases of discounted Russian crude. The duties, which came into force just after midnight on Wednesday in Washington, are expected to deliver a heavy blow to the Indian economy and heap further strain on global supply chains. Earlier this month, the White House raised tariffs on Indian goods to 25 per cent, but the US president announced plans to double the rate, accusing India of indirectly financing Russia’s war in Ukraine through its crude imports. Since returning to…

SpaceX was forced to call off the planned launch of its Starship rocket in Texas on Monday because of poor weather, marking the latest setback for the company. The 71-metre Super Heavy booster and its 52-metre Starship upper stage, together taller than New York’s Statue of Liberty, had been scheduled to lift off from SpaceX’s Starbase site at 7.30pm local time. The attempt was abandoned at the last moment. “Standing down from today’s flight test attempt due to weather,” the company said on X, the social media platform also owned by Elon Musk. The cancelled launch came a day after…

France will take legal action against the Australian streaming service Kick for alleged negligence following the death of a man during a livestream, the country’s digital affairs minister has confirmed. The platform has come under scrutiny after 46-year-old Raphael Graven, known online as Jean Pormanove or JP, died earlier this month while attempting a 12-day livestreaming marathon. His broadcasts were centred on enduring abuse and humiliation from participants. Kick, launched in 2022, is registered in Australia and operates a revenue-sharing model with its content creators. “Kick did not do everything possible to stop the broadcast of dangerous content,” said Clara…