Mount Etna Erupts In Sicily, Italy
Mount Etna in Sicily, Italy, erupted again, sending ash and smoke high into the sky. Authorities confirmed there was no danger to residents, and flights at Catania Airport continued without disruption.
Al Jazeera reported the eruption was caused by a partial crater collapse, triggering lava flows—Etna’s 14th eruptive phase in recent months.
Access to the summit was closed as a precaution, with officials confirming the lava remained within the volcano’s natural boundaries. Tremors were detected nearby, and video was soon shared on social media.
Malawi 100th WTO member to formally accept Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies
On 28 May, WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala received Malawi’s instrument of acceptance of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies from Malawi’s WTO Ambassador Caroline Bwanali-Mussa. Malawi brings to 100 the number of WTO members that have deposited their instrument of acceptance with the WTO, WTO reported.
DG Okonjo-Iweala said: “The depletion of marine fish stocks globally requires our urgent collective action. I thank Malawi for joining this crucial collective effort. With Malawi's instrument of acceptance, we have reached a milestone for putting into motion a multilateral deal that will support more sustainable use of our oceans and fisheries for current and future generations. With this 100th instrument, we now need just 11 more to add the Agreement to the WTO rulebook!”
Ambassador Bwanali-Mussa said: “Malawi is committed to the multilateral trading system. Although we are not a coastal country, we fully support WTO members' collective efforts to protect the environment, conserve global fish stocks and combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. These efforts are integral to the protection of the livelihoods of vulnerable populations who rely on aquatic ecosystems for food security, employment, health and socio-economic resilience.”
For the Agreement to enter into force, formal acceptances from two-thirds of WTO members are required — representing 111 members. The list of the 100 WTO members which have deposited their instruments of acceptance with the WTO is available here, according to WTO.
At the WTO's 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) held in Geneva in June 2022, ministers adopted by consensus the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, setting new, binding, multilateral rules to curb harmful fisheries subsidies. The Agreement prohibits subsidies for illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, for fishing overfished stocks, and for fishing on the unregulated high seas. Ministers also recognized the needs of developing economies and least-developed countries by establishing a fund to provide technical assistance and capacity-building to help governments which have formally accepted the Agreement implement the new obligations.
WTO members also agreed at MC12 to continue negotiating on remaining fisheries subsidies issues. The objective is to find consensus on additional provisions to further strengthen the disciplines on fisheries subsidies.
Philippines calls for health emergency as HIV cases among youth surge
The Department of Health (DOH) has recommended declaring HIV a national public health emergency in the Philippines due to a 500 percent increase in cases among youth aged 15 to 25, Xinhua reported.
DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said the country recorded an average of 57 new HIV cases daily from January to March 2025 — the highest rate in the Western Pacific region. In comparison, daily cases were at 21 in 2014 and rose to 48 in 2024.
From January to April 2025, the average rose to 56 cases per day, 44 percent higher than the same period last year. The predominant mode of transmission is sexual contact, mainly among males having sex with males, according to Xinhua.
Kanti Highway to remain shut for four days
The Kanti Highway is to be closed for four days beginning tomorrow for the construction of a Bailey bridge.
The new infrastructure is to be set up over the Bagmati River at the border of the Bhimphedi Rural Municipality in Makawanpur and Baguwa of Lalitur district.
The Makawanpur District Administration Office informed about this by issuing a public notice today.
During the closure period (from June 4 to 7), potential commuters have been urged to use an alternative route.
