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World News from various sources!

    • Bitter year's ending for Argentines earning more dollars to buy less

      Last year might have meant a battle won against inflation by the Libertarian administration of President Javier Milei. Still, it also represented a significant wage loss for most Argentines if not the disappearance of their livelihoods altogether as it happened to temporary State workers whose contracts were not renewed as customary under previous governments.

    • Brazil takes over BRICS rotating presidency

      Brazil took over Wednesday the rotating presidency of the BRICS bloc which now features at least nine new members. It is the fourth time the South American country has held that position, Agência Brasil noted.

    • "Possible connection" between New Orleans and Las Vegas attacks under probe

      US President Joseph Biden said in a broadcast message late Wednesday that federal law enforcement officers would handle both the attack that left at least 15 dead in New Orleans and the explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump Tower in Las Vegas to find out whether both incidents are linked. He also warned against drawing premature conclusions.

    • Barbados PM says 2025 will define "the legacy of our generation"

      Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley underlined Wednesday that 2025 would define "the legacy of our generation." She said those words upon taking over the 15-member Caribbean Community (Caricom) rotating presidency from her Grenada colleague Dick­on Mitchell

    • Truck explosion leaves one dead in front of Las Vegas Trump Tower

      One person was killed and seven others were injured Wednesday after a Tesla electric vehicle known as a Cybertruck model filled with fireworks exploded at about 8:40 am local time in front of a Trump Tower building in Las Vegas, Nevada. One fatal victim and "seven minor injuries" were corroborated by a Clark County Fire Department spokesman. The person killed was inside the Tesla vehicle, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill told reporters. There was smoke coming from the vehicle before a "large explosion," he added.

    • The Guardian view on the Blair-era archives: fateful decisions come in many guises | Editorial

      Document releases from 2004 show that the Labour cabinet was deeply divided and badly informed on how to handle migration from EuropeJudgments about Tony Blair’s Labour government tend inevitably to focus on the Iraq war. Iraq was traumatic and defining. Britain’s role, driven by Mr Blair, exposed his overly personal system of decision-making. The invasion was a historic and bloody failure, killing hundreds of thousands of Iraqis and sowing dragon’s teeth. At home, the war devastated Mr Blair’s reputation and drained support from Labour.The publication this week by the National Archives of Blair government papers under the 20-year rule does nothing to undermine Iraq’s importance in the history of that period. We read, for instance, of the US deputy secretary of state Richard Armitage complaining that President George Bush thought he was “on some sort of mission from God” in Iraq, and that Mr Blair needed to give the president “a dose of reality”. But by then, tragically, the damage was long done.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...

    • Italian fashion designer and ‘colour genius’ Rosita Missoni dies aged 93

      Founder of renowned knitwear brand was at forefront of bringing Italian ready-to-wear industry to global marketRosita Missoni, the esteemed Italian fashion designer who co-founded the eponymous knitwear brand, has died aged 93.Internationally admired for her colourful fashion house, which she established with her husband, Ottavio, in 1953, Missoni came to be regarded as fashion royalty for being one of a group of designers who brought the Italian ready-to-wear industry to a global market in the 1950s and 60s. Continue reading...

    • Italy presses Iran for immediate release of journalist held in Tehran

      Foreign ministry summons ambassador as Cecilia Sala reportedly tells family she sleeps on floor of prison cellItaly’s foreign ministry summoned the Iranian ambassador on Wednesday and urged the immediate release of an Italian journalist held in solitary confinement in Tehran.Cecilia Sala, a 29-year-old freelance journalist for Il Foglio newspaper and a podcaster, reportedly spoke of the harsh conditions of her detainment in the notorious Evin prison, including having to sleep on the floor of her cell without a mattress. Continue reading...

    • Wholesale gas price hits highest level in 14 months after Russian supplies stop

      Transit agreement with Ukraine expires as storage supply levels in Europe fall at fastest rate since 2021Business live – latest updatesThe wholesale price of gas has risen to its highest level in more than a year after Russian supplies stopped flowing to rest of Europe via Ukraine.Benchmark prices rose on Thursday to the highest level since October 2023, a day after a longstanding transit contract between Russia and Ukraine expired. Russian gas deliveries across Ukraine ended in the early hours of New Year’s Day. Continue reading...

    • German officials call for clampdown on illegal ‘firework bombs’ after five deaths

      Explosives brought in from Poland and the Czech Republic are combined with household items for a bigger bangGerman officials have called for a clampdown on illegally imported and homemade “firework bombs” after pyrotechnics for personal use killed at least five people across the country on New Year’s Eve.The use of personal firecrackers is widespread and only lightly regulated in Germany, leading to hundreds of injuries and massive deployments of police and first responders in cities at the end of every year. Continue reading...

    • Teen kills self live on Instagram, 20+ watch

      A 19-year-old social media content creator from Chhattisgarh's Janjgir Champa district committed suicide on Instagram live. The incident was witnessed by at least 21 followers who were unable to save her. Preliminary investigations suggest she took the extreme step due to a heartbreak. Ankur Nath's parents reported her addiction to social media and constant posting of videos.

    • J&K ACB uncovers Fire & Emergency department recruitments scam

      Jammu and Kashmir’s Anti-Corruption Bureau unearthed irregularities in the 2020 Fire and Emergency Services recruitment, with 109 candidates receiving falsely inflated marks. The investigation revealed candidates’ marks manipulation and selection of officials' relatives. Allegations are under the Prevention of Corruption Act and other IPC sections.

    • 3 found dead in guesthouse in Jammu’s Bhaderwah, asphyxiation suspected

      Three men from Jammu were found dead in a guesthouse in Bhaderwah town of Doda district due to suspected asphyxiation caused by a charcoal heater. Police and forensic experts are investigating the incident, with initial reports ruling out any foul play. A special investigation team and a medical board have been constituted for further inquiry.

    • India ranked second in global cyber attack targets: Report

      India has become the second highest target for cyber attacks globally in 2024, with 95 entities affected by data theft, following the United States. Key sectors impacted include finance, banking, and government. Major breaches involved millions of records and ransomware incidents were significant.

    • Royals to radicals, Art of India show bridges eras with stunning line-up

      The Art of India (AOI) Festival will feature renowned works from the Madras Art Movement, highlighted by R B Bhaskaran's and AP Santhanaraj's masterpieces. Partner galleries will showcase a wide array of Indian art from classical to contemporary, including hidden gems and traditional pieces, offering a platform for both established and emerging artists.

    • Exploring green and organic trends at HKTDC Hong Kong 2025 trade fairs

      [The content of this article has been produced by our advertising partner.] In a showcase of innovation, creativity, and business opportunities, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) hosts three major international trade fairs in early 2025, offering a platform for global suppliers to present cutting-edge products and forge business connections.  The HKTDC Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair, Baby Products Fair and International Stationery & School Supplies Fair run concurrently at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from January 6-9, 2025.  Themed “New Play for All”, the fairs feature over 2,500 exhibitors from 34 countries and regions, presenting a wide array of innovative toys, baby products and stationery solutions.   Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair  The HKTDC Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair focuses on introducing innovative and sustainable toys, with a spotlight on green elements. Featuring Smart-Tech Toys & Games, the fair showcases the latest toys incorporating artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and other interactive technologies.  These products capture the imaginations of both children and adults, offering immersive experiences that blend entertainment with educational value. Moreover, the Kidult World draws attention, with collectible toys, hobby goods and models appealing to adult collectors.  As well as the tech-driven toys, the fair highlights eco-friendly toys, celebrating sustainable materials and designs. Hape International (Hong Kong) Limited (Booth: 1E-C02) is among the exhibitors, excited to showcase its eco-friendly educational toys for children aged 0-6, including STEAM, music and artistic creativity.  According to Andrew Ng of Hape International, the company’s toys are made from sustainably sourced materials, such as bamboo. They use non-toxic, water-based paints and finishes, and their toys undergo rigorous safety testing to meet or exceed international standards.  "Sustainability is actually part of our mission, and we…

    • Hong Kong box office receipts fell to HK$1.34 billion in 2024, lowest since 2011

      While earnings were down by 6.2 per cent over 2023, one bright spot offered hope: local films sold more tickets than Hollywood productions.

    • Hong Kong public dental clinics log 26% absence rate despite e-booking launch

      Authorities launched new booking system amid intense demand for public dental services, but 40 people missed appointments on Tuesday, Thursday.

    • Rare butterfly flies 3,000km from Japan to Hong Kong in migratory record

      Chestnut tiger butterfly found in Repulse Bay by researcher from HKU after being released in Fukushima four months earlier.

    • Hong Kong’s environmental hygiene department reports alleged data theft

      More than 100 residents’ personal data, containing names and contact information, believed to have been stolen.

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