Wednesday, November 13, 2024

World

2024 on track to be hottest year on record

BAKU: The year 2024 is on track to be the warmest year on record after an extended streak of exceptionally high monthly global mean temperatures, according to a report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

US President-elect Trump announces Kristi Noem as Homeland Security Secretary

WASHINGTON: US President-elect Donald Trump has selected South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem as his next Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

Trump nominates Mike Huckabee to be US ambassador to Israel

WASHINGTON: President-elect Donald Trump has said that he has named former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee to be the US ambassador to Israel, to help steer foreign policy in the Middle East with the region in crisis.

Bangladesh launches lounge for millions of migrants at Dhaka airport

DHAKA: The Bangladeshi government has launched a special lounge for the country's millions of migrant workers at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) in the capital, Dhaka.

Trump's focus on allies' security aligns with our foreign policy vision: South Korean FM

SEOUL: The foreign policy focus of the incoming US administration of President-elect Donald Trump "aligns closely" with South Korea's vision of taking responsibility as a leading country, Seoul's top diplomat said on Tuesday.

Iran, Russia link national payment systems

TEHRAN: Iran and Russia linked their national payment systems on Monday, a significant move to bypass the US dollar in bilateral transactions, local media reported.

Australia: Three hospitalised following Sydney house fire caused by e-scooter

SYDNEY: Three people have been hospitalised after a house fire in Sydney, the capital city of Australia's state of New South Wales (NSW), that authorities believed was sparked by a battery of a charging e-scooter on Tuesday.

Four killed after bus overturns in Iran

TEHRAN: At least four people were killed and 42 others injured after a bus overturned on an intercity road in the western Iranian province of Kurdistan, local media reported early Tuesday.

Japanese PM to visit Peru, Brazil for APEC and G20 Summit

TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will be on a two-nation visit starting Thursday to attend the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Peru and the G20 Rio de Janeiro Summit thereafter, during which he is also scheduled to hold individual summit meetings with the leadership of both countries and exchange views on the regional situation.

New Zealand govt officially apologises for abuse in care

WELLINGTON: New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon officially apologised on Tuesday to all New Zealanders who were abused in the care of state and faith-based institutions after a report in July set out in detail some of the most serious crimes ever committed in state care.

Baku climate talks: India not attending World Leaders Climate Action Summit

BAKU: India is not attending the two-day World Leaders Climate Action Summit (WLCAS) beginning Tuesday with country statements at the 2024 UN climate conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan that is focussed heavily on securing a new climate finance target for countries most vulnerable to climate impacts.

4.1-magnitude earthquake hits Sydney

SYDNEY: An earthquake measuring magnitude 4.1 struck north of Sydney in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) on Tuesday, causing power outages for thousands of properties.

Lalabalavu sworn in as President of Fiji

SUVA: Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu was sworn in as the seventh President of Fiji at the State House in national capital Suva on Tuesday.

UNGA president calls for global action to ensure success of Pact for the Future

UNITED NATIONS: Philemon Yang, president of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, has described the adoption of the 'Pact for the Future' as "a milestone and an extraordinary achievement, an expression of strong support to multilateralism" while calling for coordinated action for its effective implementation.

India-backer Rubio set to be Trump’s secretary of state: Media reports

NEW YORK: Foreign policy hardliner and India backer Marco Rubio will be President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for the nation’s top diplomatic job, according to several media outlets.

Alix Didier Fils-Aime swears in as new Haiti PM

BEIJING: Alix Didier Fils-Aime was sworn in as Haiti's Prime Minister, local media reported.

Netherlands to impose extra border checks from December 9

THE HAGUE: The Netherlands will temporarily impose extra border checks starting on December 9 in order to limit "irregular migration and human trafficking," Minister of Asylum and Migration Marjolein Faber announced.

New Bulgarian parliament fails to elect chairperson in 1st session amid political tensions

SOFIA: Bulgaria's newly-elected National Assembly held its first session amid internal disputes and public protests.

Hungary's Finance Minister submits 2025 'peace budget' amid recession concerns

BUDAPEST: Hungarian Finance Minister Mihaly Varga submitted the government's 2025 budget proposal to Parliament, branding it 'the peacetime budget.' The draft aims to counter recessionary pressures and support growth.

Israeli army says officer killed in Gaza

JERUSALEM: An Israeli military major was killed in the northern Gaza Strip, the Israeli army said in a statement.

Spanish PM unveils new flood relief package for Valencia

MADRID: Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced a second aid package for those affected by the devastating flash floods that struck the Valencia region on October 29.

India warns 'least common denominator' model of UNSC reforms could derail major change

UNITED NATIONS: India has warned that a 'lowest common denominator' approach to reforming the Security Council could derail real major change.

3 injured after rocket barrage from Lebanon hits Israel

JERUSALEM: The Israeli military has said it struck a rocket launcher in southern Lebanon after a barrage of 90 rockets crossed into the country from Lebanon, injuring three people.

Harris appears with Biden for first time since conceding election

WASHINGTON: US Vice President Kamala Harris made her first appearance since delivering her concession speech, participating in a wreath-laying ceremony for Veterans Day at Arlington National Cemetery.

25 killed in Israeli bombings in Gaza

GAZA: At least 25 people were killed and more than 30 others injured due to intense Israeli bombings in a refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, and a tent sheltering displaced people in the southern Gaza Strip.

Trump names Lee Zeldin as Environmental Protection Agency administrator

FLORIDA: US President-elect Donald Trump has selected former New York Representative Lee Zeldin to serve as his administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

India Caucus co-chair in Congress Mike Waltz is Trump's new NSA

WASHINGTON: In the most significant appointment yet for India from the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump on Monday announced Mike Waltz, a Congressman from Florida who is the co-chair of the India Caucus, as his new National Security Adviser.

Trump appoints immigration hawk Stephen Miller as Deputy Chief of Staff

NEW YORK: President-elect Donald Trump is appointing immigration hawk Stephen Trump as his Deputy Chief of Staff.  While Trump has not officially made the announcement, Vice President-elect JD Vance confirmed it in a post on X congratulating him on the appointment.

Melania Trump to skip White House meeting on Wednesday with Jill Biden: Sources

WASHINGTON: Melania Trump will not be attending the traditional White House meeting on Wednesday with first lady Jill Biden, sources said.

Trump names Elise Stefanik as UN permanent representative

UNITED NATIONS: President-elect Donald Trump on Monday announced fierce critic of the world organisation, Elise Stefanik, as the US permanent representative, a cabinet-level position.

Vladivostok sets new temperature record amidst warming trends across Russia

MOSCOW: Vladivostok set a new 30-year high-temperature record, reaching 14 degrees Celsius and surpassing the previous record for this date by 0.9 degrees Celsius, the Primorye Hydrometeorology Center said.

Russian Deputy PM hails growing business ties with India amid 'external economic pressure'

MUMBAI: Highlighting that Russia-India business relations continue to strengthen amid the "external economic pressure", Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov on Monday outlined development of the transport industry and increasing the potential of the nuclear sector among the priority technological areas of future cooperation between Moscow and New Delhi.

ADB approves $21.95 million loan, grants to Maldives

MANILA: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Monday said it has approved a financing package of $21.95 million to boost Maldives' capacity to combat the effects of climate change and ensure the sustainability of its food systems.

Natural disasters leave 12 dead in Laos so far in 2024

VIENTIANE: Over 255,000 people have been affected by natural disasters so far this year, in which 32 people were injured, 12 people were killed, and one person is still missing, according to Laos' Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare.

Pure fiction, completely untrue: Russia denies Trump-Putin conversation

MOSCOW: Russia on Monday denied US media reports which claimed that the US President-elect Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have spoken over phone after the former's win in the presidential election, last week.

Japan MSDF minesweeper sinks after catching fire, one crew still missing

TOKYO: A Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) minesweeper vessel capsized and sank on Monday after catching fire off the coast of the southwestern prefecture of Fukuoka the previous day, local media reported.

Three more advisors to Bangladeshi interim govt take oath

DHAKA: Three more advisors to the Bangladeshi interim government took oath on Sunday.

Indonesia's Semeru volcano erupts again, spewing ash 1 km above summit

JAKARTA: The Semeru volcano, located in Indonesia's Java, erupted again early on Monday at 03:35 a.m. local time, spewing thick grey ash up to 1 kilometre above its summit.

Shigeru Ishiba re-elected as Japanese PM

TOKYO: Leader of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Shigeru Ishiba was re-elected as the country's Prime Minister on Monday after securing the most votes in both houses of the Japanese Diet.

Adult dead, child injured after truck crashes into Australian kindergarten

SYDNEY: One adult is dead and one child has suffered serious injuries after a truck crashed into a kindergarten in Australia's state of Victoria on Monday, local police said.

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