Author: Fathima T K

Sydney: Unseasonal spring snowfall has covered parts of south-eastern Australia as a powerful cold blast brought sharply lower temperatures across New South Wales (NSW), Victoria and Tasmania. Snow was recorded at several well-known alpine destinations, including Thredbo, Perisher and Mount Hotham. Falls were also reported on Kunanyi/Mount Wellington overlooking Hobart in Tasmania. The cold conditions  brought an unusual winter-like spell to the region during spring. The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) had forecast the snowfall before the cold weather system moved across the region. Although snow in November is uncommon, it is not unprecedented. Several locations affected by the latest falls…

England: A major multi-vehicle crash involving more than 30 vehicles on the M20 in Kent has left 2 people seriously injured and forced the closure of the motorway in both directions. The collision occurred on the London-bound carriageway near Hollingbourne in Maidstone at around 6.41pm on November7. National Highways stated that thick fog covered the area at the time of the incident. The poor visibility is a key factor surrounding the crash, although authorities have not confirmed the precise cause. The scale of the collision prompted a major emergency response. Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) dispatched 3 fire engines…

Austin: Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla has signalled plans to scale back Tesla’s Cybertruck production at its Texas Gigafactory around mid-2027 to make way for increased manufacturing of the company’s autonomous Cybercab. The planned production shift reflects Tesla’s growing focus on its robotaxi ambitions. Musk announced the expected timeline on November 6, 2026, but did not clarify whether Cybertruck manufacturing would move to another facility or end altogether. The company has yet to identify an alternative production location. Introduced in 2023, the Cybertruck was presented as a futuristic electric pickup designed to compete with established models from traditional automotive manufacturers,…

Washington: Donald Trump, the US President has signed an executive order declaring the Oval Office a national monument in an effort to prevent future presidents from making substantial changes to its historic structure and architectural character. Trump announced the measure on November 5, saying the designation would protect the office from being demolished or significantly altered by future administrations. The order also covers some surrounding rooms and describes the Oval Office as a national symbol. It calls for its historic features to be preserved while allowing the president to change decorations and furnishings or make routine operational and security adjustments.…

Jakarta: Australia is sending aircraft to support Indonesia’s wildfire waterbombing operations as the country battles its most intense fires in 11 years. The blazes and resulting haze have been linked to more than 400,000 cases of acute respiratory infections. Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) stated that the New South Wales Rural Fire Service had dispatched a C-130 Hercules aircraft and a Cessna Citation aircraft. Both are expected to join firefighting operations from November 6 to 12 to assist Indonesian teams in containing the fires. Kristomei Sianturi, head of BNPB, noted that Indonesia continues large-scale efforts to tackle the fires.…

Seoul: South Korea is planning to expand the operations of its Cheonghae anti-piracy unit to waters closer to the Strait of Hormuz as growing pressure from Donald Trump, US President for support during the Iran war. The Defence Ministry stated that the proposal would extend the unit’s area of operation towards waters near the Omani port of Duqm. The port is around 650 kilometres (403 miles) from the Strait of Hormuz. The plan requires parliamentary approval before it can take effect. The proposal will be submitted to parliament and must also receive approval from  Lee Jae Myung, President of South…

Cambodia: The Villa Vie Odyssey cruise ship has departed Cambodia without passengers after more than 200 people were forced to leave the vessel following a suspension of operations linked to rising fuel costs. The ship sailed from the port town of Sihanoukville early on November 4, with around 50 crew members on board. Taing Sochitkrishna, head of the Sihanoukville tourism department, confirmed the departure and noted that the vessel had left without passengers. More than 200 passengers were living on board after paying tens of thousands of dollars for the opportunity to stay at sea for years. The ship’s owner,…

Sydney: Canva has announced a major workforce restructuring that will affect 1,271 employees, or 22 percent of its staff, as the Australian design platform responds to slower growth and changes in its business. Melanie Perkins, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer described the decision as the most difficult moment in the company’s 13-year history. The changes will not involve job losses alone. Some employees will be asked to relocate or move into different roles as part of the restructuring. Perkins remarked that the business had experienced its hardest year so far. Growth slowed for the first time in a decade, prompting…

New York: A child has died from measles in rural northern New York, marking the state’s first fatal case of the disease in 30 years as infections continue to rise across the United States. Kathy Hochul, New York Governor confirmed the death in Lewis County, around 93 miles (150 km) north of Syracuse. Hochul expressed grief over the loss and described the incident as a serious warning about the consequences of weakening vaccination protections. The governor also criticised the federal government’s approach to immunisation and noted that reduced support for established vaccine protections could undermine decades of progress against preventable…

Jakarta: Indonesia’s wildfire haze continues to spread across parts of maritime Southeast Asia, affecting communities in Singapore and Malaysia and creating diplomatic tensions over the recurring environmental crisis. Smoke from fires in Kalimantan, Papua and Sumatra travels across borders, exposing residents to toxic air pollution linked to respiratory illnesses and headaches. The prolonged episode puts neighbouring governments under pressure to address public concerns without damaging relations with Jakarta. Indonesia faces seasonal wildfires every year. The fires are widely associated with large-scale land clearing for agricultural activities, including oil palm cultivation. This year’s blazes have proved particularly difficult to contain as…