Medan, Indonesia – Nusantara, the future capital city of Indonesia, will be inaugurated on the country’s Independence Day on Saturday, as the country looks to replace Jakarta, which has served as the capital since Indonesia declared independence from the Dutch in 1945. A heaving metropolis of at least 11 million residents, Jakarta is plagued by some of the world’s worst traffic jams, thick smog and overcrowding. It is also reportedly sinking due to unregulated groundwater extraction, and Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency has warned that by 2050, about 25 percent of the city could be submerged. Indonesian President Joko…
Author: THE CONNECTING NEWSPAPER
At least 449 people were likely sickened by cucumbers tainted with Salmonella bacteria, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday. Since June, the agency has been investigating an outbreak linked to cucumbers originating with producers in Florida. In its latest update, it said individuals in 31 states and the District of Columbia reported becoming ill after eating affected cucumbers, with 125 ending up hospitalized, though no deaths were reported. The agency still lists its investigation as active — but it emphasized that there are no more affected products in stores and that there is “likely no ongoing risk…
BELMOPAN, Belize – Prime Minister John Briceno through the Belize Trade and Investment Development Service (BELTRAIDE), with grant financing of Bz $800,000 provided by the CARICOM Development Fund (CDF), launched the Belize Enterprise Empowerment Project (BEEP) with the aim of providing financial support to 95 micro, small, and medium enterprises across Belize. The BEEP aims to address economic challenges faced by MSMEs by enhancing their business skills, financial literacy, and digital capabilities. Over the course of the project, 95 MSMEs will benefit from business skills training tailored for startups, maturing businesses, and exporters seeking to expand their market reach and…
Reports have now confirmed that Chelsea have begun talks to give another player in the squad a contract extension as the new season draws closer. According to reports Chelsea have shown interest in offering a Senegalese player, Nicolas Jackson a new deal to once again show his importance in the squad.Jackson, who signed a deal with Chelsea till the 2031–2032 season, made a big difference, especially with his goal-scoring ability, and according to reports, is expected to receive a new deal with a significant salary increase putting his compensation more in line with that of some of Chelsea’s best players,…
The Falcons could be building something special with their recent defensive moves.As significant as Atlanta’s additions of outside linebacker Matt Judon and safety Justin Simmons are, what makes them even sweeter for the organization is how much they sting the division-rival Saints.By acquiring Judon from the Patriots, the Falcons have a seemingly huge advantage over Saints tackle Trevor Penning, who struggled mightily in training camp and in Week 1 of the preseason. The teams play in Weeks 4 and 10, and Judon should be able to expose New Orleans’ glaring weakness.The Simmons signing (one year, $8 million) might sting even…
Kinmen, Taiwan – On Taiwan’s sandy shores, Liu Xi Jiu puts on his goggles as he prepares to race across one of the most dangerous stretches of water in the world. Originally from Beijing, he is competing in the only event of its kind, a seven-kilometre (4.3-mile) swimming race across a geopolitical hotspot, from Taiwan’s offshore Kinmen Islands to the city of Xiamen on China’s east coast. Around him, 200 athletes from China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau laugh and joke as they warm up. In front of them, past the rows of anti-invasion spikes that line Kinmen’s golden beaches,…
Trader Joe’s is recalling 653,000 scented candles because they pose an elevated fire hazard. In a release on the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s website posted Thursday, Trader Joe’s said the flame on its Mango Tangerine candles can spread from the wick to the wax, causing a larger than expected flame. The products were sold in June. Trader Joe’s said it had received three reports of minor property damage and two reports of minor burns from users of the products. Users should return the candle to any Trader Joe’s store for a full cash refund of $4, or complete a product feedback form online to receive a…
By David Lammy For months, the Middle East has been teetering on the brink of full-scale conflict. None of us can know precisely how close we are to falling into the abyss of all-out war. But everyone recognises that this is a critical moment for the stability of the entire region. And that the risk of things spiralling out of control has been growing sharply. The new British government is doing all it can to push for de-escalation. At the end of my first full week in office, I travelled to Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Ramallah, meeting Israeli and Palestinian leaders…
Nigerian Afrobeats sensation, Rema, has revealed the inspiration behind his latest album, HEIS, and the bold decision to deviate from his signature sound. In an interview with Complex Music, Rema shared his desire to connect with his roots and explore new musical directions, despite initial reservations from his record label.Additionally, Rema explained that he aimed to represent his generation and create a cultural link for fans worldwide. Also, he emphasized that his artistic choices are deliberate and aimed at leaving a lasting impact on Afrobeats.Meanwhile, Rema’s determination to experiment and innovate a sound has resulted in the critically acclaimed album,…
Aaron Judge made history again this week, becoming the fastest player to hit 300 career home runs with his three-run blast on Wednesday against the Chicago White Sox. Judge reached the milestone in just 955 games – 132 games fewer than previous record holder, Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner – despite frequently getting the Barry Bonds treatment at the plate over the past few seasons. Judge trails only teammate Juan Soto in walks since 2022 with 301, with many managers recently admitting they don’t intend to pitch to Judge unless absolutely necessary. This season Judge is on top of the…