Miss Earth 2024 Advocates for Sustainable Fashion at Ocean Lovers Festival
Jessica Lane, the first Australian to win the Miss Earth pageant, is championing sustainable fashion and environmental awareness. Participating in the Ocean Lovers Festival at Bondi Beach, Sydney, Lane aims to inspire action for ocean conservation. The festival features markets, music, films, and expert panels. Lane, currently studying environmental journalism, utilizes her platform to promote eco-friendly fashion and practices. During the festival, she engaged in beach clean-ups, delivered educational talks, and presented artworks created by students using litter, reflecting her commitment to environmental conservation and efforts to drive positive change through her Miss Earth role.
Japan, China, and South Korea Hold Trilateral Meeting Amid Geopolitical Shifts
The foreign ministers of Japan, China, and South Korea convened in Tokyo to discuss pressing security and economic issues, marking a significant trilateral engagement amid global uncertainties. Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya emphasized the meeting’s importance, suggesting it occurred at a pivotal historical moment. The ministers agreed to expedite preparations for a trilateral summit in Japan later this year, aiming to address challenges such as declining birth rates and aging populations. This meeting comes as traditional alliances shift, potentially allowing China to strengthen regional ties. However, deep-seated divisions persist on critical issues, including China’s support for North Korea and Russia. South Korea urged China to persuade North Korea to abandon its nuclear arsenal and cease illicit military collaborations with Russia. Additionally, Japan and China discussed import restrictions imposed by China following the Fukushima disaster.
Kabaddi World Cup 2025 Debuts in the UK
For the first time, the Kabaddi World Cup is being hosted in the United Kingdom, featuring 16 men’s and 8 women’s teams from around the globe, including England, Scotland, and Wales. Traditionally popular in countries like India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, kabaddi is gaining international recognition. The tournament runs from March 17 to March 23 across four cities in the West Midlands: Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Coventry, and Walsall. The women’s final is scheduled for March 23 at 1:45 pm, followed by the men’s final at 3:30 pm. Kabaddi involves two teams of seven players each, where ‘raiders’ attempt to tag opponents while holding their breath and chanting “Kabaddi,” aiming to avoid being tackled. Matches consist of two 20-minute halves, with points awarded for successful tags and tackles.
Explosion in Syria’s Latakia Causes Multiple Casualties
An explosion in a four-story building in the Al-Raml Al-Janoubi neighbourhood of Latakia, north-western Syria, resulted in at least three deaths and 12 injuries. The blast trapped several civilians under the rubble, prompting extensive search and rescue operations by civil defence teams. The cause of the explosion remains under investigation, with local authorities working to determine the circumstances leading to the incident. This event highlights ongoing safety and security challenges in the region, affecting civilian populations.
Israeli Airstrike in Gaza Results in Civilian Casualties
An Israeli airstrike targeted a relief team in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip, resulting in at least nine Palestinian deaths, including journalists, and several injuries. The relief team was distributing temporary tents to residents whose homes had been destroyed by Israeli actions. The Health Ministry reported that nine people were martyred and several injured, including critical cases, were brought to the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza following the ongoing Israeli aggression on the strip.
Heathrow Airport Resumes Full Operations Following
Fire-Induced Power Outage
Heathrow Airport in the UK announced it is open and fully operational following a fire that occurred on March 21, which caused a power outage and led to the temporary closure of Europe’s busiest airport, resulting in significant disruptions to global travel.
Qatari-Mediated Ceasefire Reached Between DRC and Rwanda
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda have agreed to a ceasefire mediated by Qatar, aiming to address ongoing conflicts in the eastern DRC. This development reflects efforts to mitigate regional tensions; however, deep-seated disagreements and 
mutual distrust continue to challenge long-term peace initiatives. The situation underscores the complexities faced by African-led peace processes, particularly when regional rivalries and historical grievances are involved. The success of this ceasefire will depend on sustained diplomatic engagement and the commitment of both parties to resolve underlying issues.
Divergent Conferences Highlight Intensifying Abortion Debate
In New York, two simultaneous conferences underscored the escalating global discourse on women’s rights and abortion. The anti-abortion Conference on the State of Women and 
Family (CSWF) featured speakers like Denise Mountenay, who criticized abortion as unsafe and morally objectionable, promoting conservative values and opposing initiatives supporting women’s empowerment, LGBTQ rights, and comprehensive sex education. Concurrently, the UN’s 69th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) saw Secretary-General António Guterres warning of a regression in women’s rights, attributing it to various crises and anti-rights actors undermining gender equality. While a political declaration reaffirmed commitments to women’s rights, it notably excluded sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), raising concerns among activists and healthcare providers about increasing hostility and misinformation affecting access to safe abortions and reproductive health services, especially in the global south.
