Author: News Desk

Los Angeles: Two major wildfires in the Los Angeles area have claimed at least 10 lives and destroyed around 10,000 homes and structures, with a third fire forcing the evacuation of thousands more residents. The Kenneth fire, which erupted in West Hills on Thursday 9th of January, comes as crews continue to battle the Palisades and Eaton fires, which have already scorched over 30,000 acres and destroyed more than 5,000 structures in each of the affected areas. Nearly 180,000 people are under evacuation orders, with another 200,000 facing warnings to leave. Over 285,000 residents are without electricity, and critical water…

Washington DC: US aviation giant Boeing has announced a $1 million donation to President-elect Donald Trump’s inaugural fund, joining other major firms supporting the January 20 event. Google has made a similar contribution, alongside donations from companies like Meta, Amazon, Uber, Chevron, Ford, General Motors, and Toyota. Boeing said that, “We are pleased to continue Boeing’s bipartisan tradition of supporting US Presidential Inaugural Committees.” The company added that it has made similar donations to each of the past three presidential inauguration funds. Boeing highlighted its tradition of bipartisan support for inaugural committees and noted its ongoing work on the next…

Geneva: As winter settles in across the Northern Hemisphere, several countries have seen an increase in acute respiratory infections (ARIs). This trend is typically driven by seasonal epidemics of respiratory pathogens such as seasonal influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human metapneumovirus (hMPV), and mycoplasma pneumoniae, says WHO in a report released earlier this week. The rise in ARI cases aligns with typical seasonal patterns, with influenza-like illness (ILI) and ARI rates surpassing baseline levels in recent weeks. About the situation Countries across Europe, Central America, the Caribbean, Western Africa, and many parts of Asia are experiencing heightened influenza activity, with…

London: The British pound has fallen to its lowest level in nine months, following a rise in UK government borrowing costs. UK 10-year borrowing costs surged to their highest level since the 2008 financial crisis, when bank borrowing nearly came to a halt, leading to fears of further tax increases or cuts in government spending. Economists have warned that these rising borrowing costs could force the government to raise taxes or reduce spending to meet its self-imposed borrowing target. A Treasury spokesperson emphasized that meeting fiscal rules is “non-negotiable” and that the government will maintain strict control over public finances.…

Los Angeles: California’s Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency as a fast-moving wildfire, fueled by high winds, sweeps through the suburbs of Los Angeles. The blaze is particularly impacting the upscale Pacific Palisades area, known for its celebrity residents. Governor Newsom urged residents of Southern California to remain vigilant, follow local emergency guidance, and take necessary precautions. The wildfire, driven by “life-threatening” winds, has prompted evacuations of approximately 30,000 people in the Pacific Palisades, located between Santa Monica and Malibu. The fire is spreading through the foothills, and its smoke can be seen from as far as…

Menlo Park, USA: Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Meta, has announced major changes to the company’s content moderation policies, which will see a reduction in censorship and a greater emphasis on free speech across platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. In a video message, Zuckerberg revealed that Meta would eliminate fact-checkers and replace them with community-based notes similar to those used by X, the platform owned by Elon Musk, where users add context to posts. Zuckerberg criticized Meta’s current fact-checkers, stating that they have been “too politically biased” and have undermined more trust than they have built. To address this,…

Ottawa, Canada: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced that he will step down after nine years in office, amid increasing pressure from within his own party. Trudeau will remain in office until the Liberal Party selects a new leader, with Parliament prorogued until March 24. During a press conference, Trudeau stated that he could no longer be the best option for the next election, citing the internal struggles within his party as a significant factor in his decision. Trudeau added that, “This country deserves a real choice in the next election,” acknowledging that his personal unpopularity was affecting the…

Washington DC: The US has placed several Chinese technology companies, including gaming and social media giant Tencent and battery maker CATL, on its list of firms it claims have connections to China’s military. The list serves as a caution to American businesses about the potential risks of engaging with these Chinese companies. While inclusion does not automatically result in a ban, it puts pressure on the US Treasury Department to impose sanctions on the firms. Tencent and CATL have denied any involvement with the Chinese military, with Tencent labelling its inclusion on the list as “clearly a mistake.” Tencent, which owns…

New York: The first congestion charge scheme in New York City has officially launched, imposing fees of up to $9 per day for car drivers, with higher rates for trucks and buses. The charge applies to an area south of Central Park, including major landmarks such as the Empire State Building, Times Square, and Wall Street. Janno Lieber, CEO of the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) said that, ‘The system in operation since midnight,” and that covers 400 lanes and utilizes over 1,400 cameras, 110 detection points, and 800 signs to monitor traffic. The scheme is intended to alleviate the city’s chronic…

London: The new year in politics began with billionaire Elon Musk dominating headlines with strong criticisms of UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Musk accused Starmer of being “complicit in the rape of Britain” for his failure to address the child sexual exploitation scandal when he was the Director of Public Prosecutions. While Starmer has chosen not to engage in a public feud, he is firmly defending his record and stressing that political debates must be grounded in verifiable facts. The ongoing debate centres around the government’s refusal to hold a public inquiry into the abuse cases involving vulnerable young…