This year will be world’s hottest on record, EU scientists say

Brussels, Belgium Reuters This year is “virtually certain” to eclipse 2023 as the world’s warmest since records began, the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) said on Thursday. The data was released ahead of next week’s UN COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan, where countries will try to agree a huge increase in funding to […]
Australia proposes ban on social media for children under 16

Sydney, Australia Reuters Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Thursday the government would legislate for a ban on social media for children under 16, a policy the government says is world-leading. Australia is trialing an age-verification system to assist in blocking children from accessing social media platforms, as part of a ban that could […]
Health Insight: Osteoporosis, the silent disease, can shorten your life – here’s how to prevent fractures and keep bones healthy

In an article first published on The Conversation, US orthopedic specialists TINA ZHANG and JIANYING ZHANG look at the causes of osteoporosis and want can be done to lower the risk…
US faith groups resolve to protect migrants, refugees after Trump win

RNS Former President Donald Trump’s election to a second term prompted faith groups that work with migrants and refugees to reaffirm their commitment to continue their work on Wednesday, after Trump campaigned on blocking migration and carrying out record deportations. “Given President-elect Trump’s record on immigration and promises to suspend refugee resettlement, restrict asylum protections, […]
Israeli military says Gaza polio vaccination campaign completed

Jerusalem Reuters The Israeli military said on Wednesday aid organisations had completed a second polio vaccination round for children in Gaza, administering more than 1.1 million vaccinations in different areas of the enclave, achieving 90 per cent coverage. Limits on the area covered by a humanitarian pause in the fighting to conduct the campaign, meant […]
North Korean troops engaged in combat in Kursk for first time, US officials say
Washington DC, US Reuters North Korean troops were engaged in combat in Russia’s Kursk in recent days for the first time, two US officials told Reuters on Wednesday. One of the officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said they took part in combat on 4th November. The officials did not say whether there were […]
Trump’s impending return to White House brings criminal cases to a halt

Washington DC, US Reuters Donald Trump’s US presidential election victory on Wednesday will essentially end the criminal cases brought against him, at least for the four years he occupies the White House. The first former US president to face criminal charges, Trump for much of this year faced four simultaneous prosecutions, over allegations ranging from […]
Germany faces snap election as Scholz’s coalition crumbles

Berlin, Germany Reuters Germany’s ruling coalition collapsed on Wednesday as Chancellor Olaf Scholz sacked his finance minister and paved the way for a snap election, triggering political chaos in Europe’s largest economy hours after Donald Trump won the US presidential election. After sacking Finance Minister Christian Lindner of the Free Democrats (FDP) party, Scholz is […]
Trump presidency: Erratic foreign policy to meet “a world on fire”

MATT SPETALNICK, of Reuters, reports on international reaction to Donald Trump’s election win and the implications for conflicts and tensions around the world…
White Christians made Donald Trump president – again

United States RNS While the United States has become more religiously diverse in recent decades, white Christians remain the largest religious segment of the country, making up about 42 per cent of the population, according to data from the Public Religion Research Institute. And for Donald Trump, their support has once again proved key to […]