A recent investigation revealed that Nestlé adds sugar to the majority of Cerelac baby cereals sold in Africa, despite WHO guidelines recommending no added sugars in foods for children under three. Researchers found added sugar in over 90% of the tested samples, with an average of 6 grams per serving. The majority of products without added sugar were imported or recently launched in South Africa, leading to accusations of “double standards” and prioritizing profits over the health of African babies. Nestlé defended its practices, citing the importance of palatable cereals in combating malnutrition and stating that their recipes comply with national regulations, while also announcing the acceleration of its rollout of no added sugar varieties in African countries.
Read More
On Tuesday, Cloudflare, a major US company providing internet infrastructure services, experienced an unidentified issue causing error messages and outages for some of its customers’ websites. The problem, which began around 11:20 am London time, resulted in elevated errors across multiple Cloudflare services and impacted sites like X and OpenAI. Cloudflare implemented a fix by 2:48 pm, though the cause of the unusual traffic spike remained unknown. This incident underscores the internet’s reliance on a limited number of key infrastructure providers, as described by experts such as Professor Alan Woodward.
Read More
South Korea, a major importer of Australian thermal coal, has announced its commitment to phasing out coal-fired power plants by 2040 by joining the Powering Past Coal Alliance. This decision, which will impact Australia’s thermal coal exports, signals a need for Australia to prepare for a shift away from fossil fuels. Experts suggest that Australia should focus on developing green industries and assisting its regional neighbors in embracing clean energy. Australia’s current political landscape contrasts with this shift, focusing more on supporting fossil fuels.
Read More
Over the weekend, an “unprecedented act of sabotage” resulted in the destruction of a train track between Warsaw and Lublin, a crucial route for delivering aid to Ukraine. Polish officials confirmed an explosive device was used, with a second incident also deemed highly probable to be sabotage, and are investigating the events. The incidents have prompted strong condemnation from European leaders, with the EU Commission President emphasizing the need to protect European infrastructure. The attack is the latest in a series of incidents across Europe, fueling concerns of a potential campaign of destabilization, with investigations underway to identify those responsible.
Read More
President Nicolas Maduro has accused “Zionists” of attempting to hand Venezuela over to “devils” amidst escalating tensions. Maduro’s statement aligns with previous accusations against external forces. He framed the situation as a historical battle, drawing a parallel to David versus Goliath. The comments were made during a march with the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV).
Read More
A Russian military convoy, including over 15 pieces of equipment, has arrived in the Syrian province of Quneitra, near the border with Israel and the buffer zone, as reported by 9tv. This deployment is likely connected to ongoing discussions regarding a security agreement in southern Syria, potentially involving the resumption of Russian military police patrols. The Syrian government hopes these patrols will curb Israeli military activities in the region, particularly after Israel’s occupation of parts of southern Syria. Notably, this move follows Russia’s earlier resumption of patrols in Syria and Israel’s previous attempts to influence the United States regarding Russia’s military presence in the country.
Read More
The Royal Navy’s HMS Prince of Wales, now under NATO command, has achieved ‘Full Operating Capability’ with its advanced F-35 fighter jets, marking a significant milestone for European security. During a UK-Italy ministerial meeting aboard the carrier, discussions centered on strengthening defense cooperation and bolstering European security. Exercise Falcon Strike demonstrated NATO’s strength as UK and Italian F-35s operated together. The Carrier Strike Group is set to participate in the major NATO exercise Neptune Strike, further enhancing the alliance’s capabilities.
Read More
Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been sentenced to death in absentia by the International Crimes Tribunal for crimes against humanity related to her crackdown on student-led protests that resulted in 1,400 deaths. The trial, held in Dhaka, found her guilty of allowing the use of lethal force. This verdict follows Hasina’s exile in India after being ousted from power in 2024, where she has denied all charges. While the interim government has requested her extradition, it’s unlikely the sentence will be carried out. This decision comes after a tumultuous period in Bangladesh’s history.
Read More
Urals crude oil prices hit a low of $36.6 per barrel last week, the lowest since early 2023, due to the impact of U.S. sanctions on Russian energy giants. The price drop caused discounts relative to Brent to widen significantly, approaching record levels. This decline is largely due to major buyers in India and China halting purchases from sanctioned companies like Rosneft and Lukoil. Consequently, Russia’s seaborne exports have dropped, and an increasing number of oil cargoes are being stored on tankers.
Read More
The government is set to announce a ban on reselling tickets for more than their original purchase price, effectively ending the practice of ticket touting, which will be enforced by the Competition and Markets Authority. This decision, expected to be included in next year’s King’s speech, follows pressure from artists and concerns over exorbitant markups. While resale platforms will still be able to charge fees, the amount will be capped to prevent artificial inflation. The ban will also apply to social media sites, and resale companies will be legally liable for sellers who do not comply with the new regulations.
Read More
John Q. Hosedrinker