The conflict between Israel and Iran continues to escalate, with both countries exchanging strikes and warnings.
A hospital in Beersheba, Israel, was directly hit after Iran fired a wave of missiles, while Israel warned people to evacuate areas near the Arak heavy water reactor in Iran, citing plans to target military infrastructure.
The strikes come as US President Donald Trump has approved plans to attack Iran, but has not made a final decision on whether to strike the country.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei warned Trump of “irreparable harm” if the US intervenes in the conflict. Sirens sounded in Israel overnight, prompting people to take cover, but they have since been allowed to leave their shelters.
The conflict could lead to a wider regional war, with potential involvement from other countries and proxy groups.
The strikes have already caused significant damage to infrastructure and posed a threat to civilians.
The international community is closely watching the situation, with calls for restraint and diplomacy to prevent further escalation.
The Data Protection Authority (DPA) has launched its first-ever Data Protection Awareness Workshop for Government Institutions, marking a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to strengthen data privacy and cybersecurity.
The workshop comes as Malawi begins implementing the Data Protection Act of 2024, which mandates responsible handling of personal data by public and private institutions.
Issac Songea
The new law designates MACRA as the Data Protection Authority, tasking it with ensuring compliance and regulating how personal data is collected, processed, and shared.
MACRA Board Director Isaac Songea emphasized the importance of the law in protecting citizens’ rights, noting that “personal data is one of the most valuable assets in the digital age.”
The workshop aims to build capacity and awareness among government institutions, highlighting the need for transparency, fairness, and accountability in data handling.
Mark Chonde from the Reserve Bank of Malawi stressed that institutions must not take data collection lightly, ensuring that data is stored well and used appropriately.
The DPA has urged all invited institutions to attend and collaborate in safeguarding Malawians’ personal data, reaffirming its commitment to building a digitally secure and rights-based data protection culture.
The initiative demonstrates Malawi’s commitment to protecting its citizens’ personal data and promoting a culture of data protection.
With the Data Protection Act of 2024 in place, Malawi is poised to join the ranks of countries with robust data protection frameworks, providing a safer and more secure digital environment for its citizens.
The High Court in Blantyre has ordered the Inspector General of Police to compensate James Mbendera, a 14-year-old boy who was brutally tortured and injured by police officers in Mulanje.
The court ruled that the police’s use of excessive force and failure to inform the child’s parent or guardian was unlawful and unconstitutional.
The case stemmed from an incident where James Mbendera was tied with elastic rubber and taken to Misanjo Police in Mulanje, where he sustained injuries that led to his amputation at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital.
The police officers involved, Charles Mbewe and Stanley Chigaru, were sentenced to 10 years in jail for causing grievous harm and neglecting their duties.
The court’s decision also emphasized the need for police to comply with constitutional rights and child protection laws when dealing with minors.
The compensation amount will be determined by the Registrar.
This ruling serves as a significant step towards holding law enforcement accountable for their actions and ensuring justice for victims of police brutality.
The most powerful camera ever built on Earth is now ready to peer deep into the cosmos.
Designed with an extraordinary 3-billion-pixel resolution, this massive instrument will capture some of the clearest images of the night sky ever taken.
It resides within a purpose-built observatory, dramatically positioned atop a remote mountain for optimal sky visibility.
With this unmatched imaging power, astronomers will be able to observe cosmic features in remarkable detail, far beyond what was previously possible.
The camera is set to revolutionize space science by collecting vast quantities of data that will fuel discoveries for years to come.
It will track the movements of asteroids, uncover new galaxies, and provide new insights into the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy.
The observatory housing this technological marvel sits against a stunning landscape, where sunsets and mountain peaks add to its mystique.
This groundbreaking project is part of the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile, one of the most ambitious astronomical initiatives of our time.
Its southern location offers a dark, clear sky ideal for space observation, far from city lights and atmospheric interference.
The observatory plays a key role in the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST), a ten-year mission to map billions of celestial objects.
Once operational, the project will produce the most comprehensive and dynamic sky map ever created.
Photographer Marcos Zegers captured the awe-inspiring image featured above for The New York Times, showcasing both the telescope and its dramatic setting.
This achievement marks a major step forward in humanity’s quest to understand the universe.
With every snapshot it takes, Earth’s largest camera will bring us closer to the stars and deepen our grasp of the cosmos that surrounds us.
One of Malawi’s leading private media companies, the Times Group, has officially launched its advanced digital system online news platform, E-Times.
E-Times is a digital platform that combines e-editions of The Daily Times, Malawi News, and The Sunday Times, leveraging communication edge technology to provide breaking news, current affairs, investigative journalism, in-depth analysis, and compelling human-interest stories.
Raphael Chirwa, Chief Commercial Manager, said E-Times offers more than just a digital replica of the print editions, as it provides a reimagined experience that allows readers to switch between a traditional newspaper layout and a modern, streamlined digital view.
He further said the key features include high-resolution images, multimedia integration, text-to-speech functionality, customizable font sizes, and distraction-free reading modes.
“This is a significant milestone in the transformation of the country’s media landscape. E-Times redefines how we engage with our readers. We provide credible, accessible, and affordable news in a format built for today’s world,” Chirwa said.
In his remarks, Times Group Editor-in-Chief Pilirani Kachinziri pledged that with the advancements in the e-edition, there will also be high-quality content.
“A good platform blends well with good content, stories in this case, and we promise our consumers that we will not flinch from doing what we know best. We will engage an extra gear to ensure the advancements in technology are complemented with well-crafted stories,” Kachinziri said.
He added that the Times Group has four media-related platforms: Times Press (print), Times Television, Times Radio, and Times Online.
The launch also featured a panel discussion under the theme “Verified or Viral? Combating Misinformation and Reinventing Journalism in Malawi,” which underscores the urgent need to prioritize accuracy over sensationalism in today’s fast-paced digital media environment.
The panelists included Mr. Pilirani Kachinziri, Editor-in-Chief of The Times Group, who discussed editorial integrity, E-Times digital transition, and fact-checking innovations.
Dr. Sunduzwayo Madise, Legal Scholar and Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Malawi, enlightened the public on media law, consumer behavior, and misinformation trends.
Dr. Jolly Ntaba, Chairperson of the Media Council of Malawi and Head of the Journalism Department at MUBAS, shed light on digital literacy, journalism education, AI, and misinformation risks.
Kelious Mlenga, Deputy Director of Legal (Consumer Affairs) at MACRA, assured the country of policy, governance, and oversight dimensions of truth in the digital space that the newly launched E-Times has undergone.
In an era overwhelmed by misinformation and viral content, this discussion reinforces the shared responsibility of audiences and media practitioners to uphold truth. E-Times can be accessed through the website (www.times.mw//entimes), in 20 different international languages, even in audio form.
