- Deadly alcohol poisoning casts shadow over the Laotian backpacker town The Associated Press
- Free shots and beer buckets in party town at centre of suspected methanol deaths BBC.com
- Laotian tourist hotspot overshadowed by string of deadly poisonings South China Morning Post
- Sixth person dies after suspected mass drink-spiking in Laos Yahoo! Voices
- Canada issues travel advisory for Laos after six tourists die from tainted alcoholic drinks Toronto Star
Philippine VP says she’s hired assassin to kill country’s president, wife – The Times of Israel
- Philippine VP says she’s hired assassin to kill country’s president, wife The Times of Israel
- The Philippine vice president publicly threatens to have the president assassinated The Associated Press
- Philippine vice president makes public assassination threat against country's president Fox News
- Philippines VP Sara Duterte threatens Marcos assassination if she is killed Al Jazeera English
- Marcos’ Office Calls Duterte’s Comments a Threat to His Life Bloomberg
Masked gang broke into home of Conor McGregor accuser, Dublin court was told
Incident revealed after civil court found MMA fighter had assaulted Nikita Hand in December 2018
A gang of masked men broke into the home of a woman who had taken a civil case against the mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor that accused him of raping her, it can now be revealed.
The incident was referred to at the start of the court case in Dublin but could not be reported until now as it emerged during legal discussion while the jury were not present.
Continue reading...1000 days of war and the toll on Ukraine’s media
The war in Ukraine hits a new escalation point and the battle of narratives sharpens.
Philippines VP Sara Duterte threatens Marcos assassination if she is killed
The president's security has been boosted after his deputy's 'active threat' that were 'made so brazenly in public'.
Islamic State is primed to be thorn in the side of incoming Trump administration
The terrorist group has been looking to be active this holiday season, with online chatter about attacks increasing
Amid a presidential campaign with foreign policy discussions more focused on the wars in Ukraine, Gaza and Lebanon, the Islamic State stayed under the radar while calling on supporters and operatives to attack Americans on election day.
The FBI thwarted a serious plot in Oklahoma City only weeks before the vote, prompting a similar public reaction to news involving the terror group that has become customary of late: is the Islamic State a renewed threat?
Continue reading...Rich nations raise COP29 climate finance offer to $300 billion as developing nations fume – CNBC
- Rich nations raise COP29 climate finance offer to $300 billion as developing nations fume CNBC
- Rich countries boost COP29 climate finance offer as developing nations seethe Reuters
- Climate-vulnerable islands storm out of COP29 negotiation room in row over funding Sky News
- Pressure ramps up at UN talks to reach a deal for cash to curb and adapt to climate change The Boston Globe
- Poorer countries face $300B take-it-or-leave-it climate deal after testy meeting POLITICO Europe
Beirut strike ‘so powerful it was felt across the city’
An eight-storey building in Lebanon's capital was destroyed when it was struck without warning, the BBC's Hugo Bachega says.
Huge election year worldwide sees weakening commitment to act on climate crisis
Among sweeping rightwing electoral victories across the globe, the ‘big loser of the elections has been climate’
An unprecedented year of elections around the world has underscored a sobering trend – in many countries the commitment to act on the climate crisis has either stalled or is eroding, even as disasters and record temperatures continue to mount.
So far 2024, called the “biggest election year in human history” by the United Nations with around half the world’s population heading to the polls, there have been major wins for Donald Trump, the US president-elect who calls the climate crisis “a big hoax”; the climate-skeptic right in European Union elections; and Vladimir Putin, who won another term and has endured sanctions to maintain Russia’s robust oil and gas exports.
Continue reading...South Africa’s illegal gold miners are locked in an underground standoff with police – NPR
- South Africa's illegal gold miners are locked in an underground standoff with police NPR
- South Africa's illegal 'zama-zama' mining industry: Gang-controlled 'towns' grow underground BBC.com
- South Africa’s underground hypocrisy JNS.org
- South African miners trapped underground: What you need to know Al Jazeera English
- Judgment reserved in saga of trapped miners IOL
Russia will keep testing new ballistic missile, Putin says – CNN
- Russia will keep testing new ballistic missile, Putin says CNN
- Putin says Russia attacked Ukraine with a new missile and threatens Western countries arming Ukraine NBC News
- With Memes and in State Media, Many Russians Cheer on Putin’s Threats The New York Times
- Retired major general reacts to Russia’s use of new weapon in Ukraine CNN
- Putin says Russia will keep testing new missile in combat Reuters
Dozens killed as sectarian violence flares up in Pakistan’s Kurram
Renewed fighting between Sunni and Shia Muslim groups latest in a string of attacks to hit Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Laos pledges justice after suspected tainted alcohol kills tourists
Australia presses Laotian authorities for a full and transparent probe after the deaths of two 19-year-old backpackers.
Kayaker Trapped on Australian River Has Leg Amputated in 20-Hour Rescue – The New York Times
- Kayaker Trapped on Australian River Has Leg Amputated in 20-Hour Rescue The New York Times
- Kayaker's leg amputated at Tasmania river after 20-hour rescue to free him from rocks CBS News
- Kayaker’s leg amputated in 20-hour ordeal trapped between rocks on Australia river CNN
- Tourist’s leg amputated in dramatic 20-hour rescue New York Post
Starmer seeks to hire EU negotiator in pursuit of relations reset
Salary of at least £153,000 offered by Cabinet Office for ‘principal adviser’ to prime minister
Ministers are hiring a new EU negotiator as Keir Starmer seeks to reset Britain’s relationship with Europe.
The post, worth at least £153,000 a year and advertised by the Cabinet Office, would act as a representative for all of the UK’s dealings with the bloc.
Continue reading...Modi’s party set to return to power in India’s richest state
The party and its allies are however looking at a defeat in the mining state of Jharkhand.
Facing the fear of water: Refugees learn to swim in Lesbos
Many refugees who end up on the Greek island are traumatised by water. A swimming programme helps them embrace the sea.
IMF approves third review of Sri Lanka’s $2.9bn bailout, but warns of risks
Global lender says it will release about $333m to crisis-hit nation as signs of economic recovery emerge.
As Band Aid marks 40th anniversary critics take aim at Africa stereotypes
Latest version of Do They Know It’s Christmas fundraiser reignites debate about ‘problematic’ lyrics and imagery
Forty years ago this week, a group of pop stars gathered at a west London studio to record a single that would raise millions, inspire further starry projects, and ultimately change charity fundraising in the UK.
Do They Know It’s Christmas, Bob Geldof and Midge Ure’s festive charity behemoth, would go on to raise almost £150m for famine relief and development in Ethiopia and elsewhere in Africa. To mark the anniversary, on Monday a new version of the single – its fifth – will be released under the name Band Aid 40.
Continue reading...North Korean Troops in Russia Expected to Enter Combat Soon, Pentagon Says – The Moscow Times
- North Korean Troops in Russia Expected to Enter Combat Soon, Pentagon Says The Moscow Times
- Russia Supplies Antiaircraft Missiles, to North Korea, the South Says The New York Times
- Ukraine war briefing: US expects thousands of North Korean troops to enter Ukraine combat ‘soon’ The Guardian
- North Korean Troops Deployed to New Russian Frontline Region Newsweek
- South Korea claims Russia supplied air defense missiles to North Korea in exchange for sending troops to Ukraine PBS NewsHour