Browsing: Main Headlines

Incoming US President Donald Trump has picked RFK Jr as his health secretary calling him a great mind in his first speech since election night. Trump said RFK Jr, a known vaccine sceptic, will “help make America healthy again” by protecting them from “harmful chemicals, pollutants, pesticides, pharmaceutical products, and food additives”.

The controversial legislation, introduced by the Act Party, seeks to legally define the treaty’s principles, which have been incorporated into laws addressing historic injustices against Māori. Act argues the changes would ensure fairness, claiming the current approach divides the nation by race.  

HRW has accused Israel of committing war crimes by forcibly displacing nearly 90% of Gaza’s population, amounting to about 1.9 million people. In its report, HRW says this constitutes “forcible transfer” and possibly “ethnic cleansing,”

In South Africa, approximately 4,000 illegal gold miners are hiding underground in Stilfontein as the government move to cut off their access to food and water, in an attempt to force them out.

The city is blanketed in thick smog, with pollution levels far exceeding what is considered safe by the World Health Organization (WHO). On Thursday, fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) in the air was reported at over 50 times the safe limit, posing severe health risks.  

Republicans have officially won control of the US House of Representatives, securing the 218 seats needed for a majority. Alongside victories in the Senate and Donald Trump’s return to the White House as president-elect, the GOP now holds full control of the federal government.  

Thousands of protesters marched through Paris on Wednesday night, denouncing a secretive gala organised by Israel’s far-right. The event aimed to raise funds for Israel. It comes on the eve of the France-Israel football match and there are fears of violence.

Several airlines have suspended flights to and from Bali as dangerous ash clouds from Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki threaten air travel safety. The volcano, located near the popular Indonesian tourist destination, erupted over the weekend, sending a towering ash plume 9km into the sky.

Inflation in the US rose slightly in October, halting recent progress in stabilising prices. According to the Labor Department, consumer prices increased by 2.6% over the past year, up from 2.4% in September, driven largely by higher housing and food costs.  

Heavy rains and flooding have forced thousands of people to leave their homes in Málaga and the surrounding Costa del Sol region of southern Spain. Aemet has issued the highest-level weather alerts for Málaga and Catalonia, warning that extreme conditions could last until Friday.

A man was found dead following two explosions near Brazil’s Supreme Court in Brasília on Wednesday evening. The area, home to the country’s top government institutions—the Supreme Court, parliament, and presidential palace—was shaken by the blasts, prompting an evacuation of the court building.  

Billionaire Elon Musk has been tapped by Donald Trump to co-lead a new body aimed at overhauling government operations. The body aims to streamline bureaucracy and cut federal spending. Trump described the organisation as an external advisory body working alongside the White House and the Office of Management and Budget.

The US will not limit arms supplies to Israel as it claims Israel has not violated laws regarding the obstruction of aid in Gaza. But the UN has contradicted the assessment saying aid levels in Gaza are at their lowest in a year and warns of famine in the north.

At least 35 people have been killed and 45 injured in a car attack at a stadium in Zhuhai, southern China, marking one of the deadliest public violence incidents in the country in decades. Police say the driver deliberately crashed into groups of people exercising at the Zhuhai Sports Centre.

Delhi and its neighbouring regions are battling a toxic smog crisis as air quality has plummeted to “severe” levels, far exceeding WHO safety standards. AQI readings in several areas of Delhi, Noida, and Gurgaon have hit the maximum 500 mark, with pollution levels 30-35 times the WHO’s recommended limits.

VW has partnered with Rivian in a $5.8 billion joint venture aimed at accelerating EV innovation. The move will see both companies sharing advanced technologies to address slowing global EV demand and increasing competition from Chinese manufacturers.

Azerbaijan’s President defended the country’s oil and gas resources, calling them a “gift of god” and arguing that nations should not be blamed for having fossil fuel reserves. He criticised “Western fake news” about Azerbaijan’s emissions, saying the country’s share of global gas emissions was just 0.1%.

Florida Senator Marco Rubio is reportedly in talks to become secretary of state whilst Florida congressman Michael Waltz is being lined up as national security advisor, according to sources, and other Trump loyalists have been put in key positions.

PM Christopher Luxon issued a formal apology in Parliament to survivors of abuse in state, foster, and faith-based care. His apology acknowledged the widespread abuse, neglect, and exploitation endured by hundreds of thousands of children and vulnerable adults over seven decades.  

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has denounced Israel’s actions in Gaza as “genocide,” marking one of the strongest criticisms of Israel by a Saudi official since the conflict began.  

Local media report that at least 20 people were hurt, many of whom were exercising on the stadium’s designated walking track at the time. Victims, including elderly individuals, teenagers, and children, were rushed to local hospitals for treatment.  

The Spirit Airlines flight was scheduled to land at Toussaint Louverture International Airport around midday when it was struck. Videos circulating on social media purportedly show bullet holes inside the aircraft, particularly in the crew seating area used during takeoff and landing.  

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukraine’s ongoing operation in Russia’s Kursk region is tying down an estimated 50,000 Russian troops, significantly impacting Moscow’s ability to launch attacks inside Ukraine.

Cuba continues to face a wave of natural disasters that are straining the island’s already fragile infrastructure and deepening economic hardships for its population.  

A Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) supervisor has been dismissed after allegedly instructing hurricane relief teams to avoid assisting households displaying signs supporting Donald Trump.