Rahul silences doubters as India openers dominate Australia
India close Day Two of the first Test on 172-0 in their second innings in Perth, leading Australia by 218.
Trump’s pick for budget head worked on Project 2025 – and wants to bypass the US Senate
Russell Vought led the Office of Management and Budget during Trump’s first term and is pushing for a workaround to install president-elect’s picks
Even before Donald Trump tapped Project 2025 architect Russell Vought to lead the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a second time, Vought’s thinktank had gotten to work in recent weeks lobbying for recess appointments – a means by which Trump could attempt to circumvent the US Senate’s confirmation process.
Vought, who served as director of the OMB during Trump’s first term and of the thinktank he launched in 2021, is advocating for the archaic method to install Trump’s nominees, including Vought himself and some of Trump’s most heavily criticized picks.
Continue reading...Hundreds flee deadly sectarian violence in north-west Pakistan
About 300 families relocate after fresh violence between Sunni and Shia Muslims kills 32 people
About 300 families have fled sectarian violence in north-west Pakistan as fresh clashes killed 32 people.
Sporadic fighting between Sunni and Shia Muslims in the mountainous Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan has killed about 150 over the past months.
Continue reading...Revealed: Saudi Arabia accused of modifying official Cop29 negotiating text
Exclusive: News of changes to usually non-editable document ‘risks placing climate summit in jeopardy'
A Saudi Arabian delegate has been accused of directly making changes to an official Cop29 negotiating text, it can be revealed.
Cop presidencies usually circulate negotiating texts as non-editable PDF documents to all countries simultaneously, and they are then discussed. Giving one party editing access “risks placing this entire Cop in jeopardy”, one expert said.
Continue reading...At least 15 killed after Israeli strike flattens building in central Beirut, Civil Defense says – CNN
- At least 15 killed after Israeli strike flattens building in central Beirut, Civil Defense says CNN
- Live Briefing: 15 killed, dozens injured in massive strike on central Beirut The Washington Post
- Israeli airstrikes kill at least 11 in Beirut as diplomats push for cease-fire CBS News
- Israeli Strike in the Heart of Beirut Kills 11 The New York Times
- Airstrike signals new strategy against Hezbollah - analysis The Jerusalem Post
Fighting between armed sectarian groups in restive northwestern Pakistan kills at least 37 people – The Associated Press
- Fighting between armed sectarian groups in restive northwestern Pakistan kills at least 37 people The Associated Press
- At least 18 dead in retaliatory sectarian attacks in Pakistan Reuters
- Funerals held for 42 people killed by gunmen in Pakistan’s Kurram Al Jazeera English
- Pakistani city mourns 42 Shiite Muslims who were ambushed and killed in a gun attack The Associated Press
- Hundreds flee deadly sectarian violence in north-west Pakistan The Guardian
Papal trip confirmed: Here is what Pope Francis will do in Corsica on Dec. 15 – Catholic News Agency
- Papal trip confirmed: Here is what Pope Francis will do in Corsica on Dec. 15 Catholic News Agency
- The pope will visit Corsica Dec. 15 after skipping Paris reopening of Notre Dame The Associated Press
- Pope Francis to visit Corsica on 15 December Vatican News - English
- Pope to push Mediterranean agenda in visit to Corsica Crux Now
- Lebanon says more than 55 killed in Israeli strikes Avery Journal Times
Kayaker’s leg amputated in middle of river after 20-hour rescue
Medics made the "life or death" decision with the tourist after multiple attempts to free him from rapids failed.
Israel and its supporters cannot gaslight the law
Arguments that the ICC is 'criminalising' self-defence by issuing arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant are absurd.
Deadly alcohol poisoning casts shadow over the Laotian backpacker town – The Associated Press
- 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