World
- WorldBBC
Malaysia flooding forces over 120,000 from homes
There are worries in Malaysia and neighbouring Thailand that disastrous flooding could get worse as more rain comes.
1 min read - WorldINSIDER
Israel's powerful air defense systems look increasingly vulnerable to attack
Two retired generals say Israel's air defenses need more protection from low-flying drones, which it's struggled to counter in attacks by Hezbollah.
5 min read - WorldBBC
Syrian rebels take control of majority of Aleppo, observers say
Russia launched air raids in parts of the city overnight "for the first time since 2016", a monitoring group says.
4 min read - Businessdpa international
European Commission approves Lufthansa deal with Italy's ITA
The European Commission has authorised the entry of Germany's Lufthansa into Italian state-owned ITA Airways after more than a year of negotiations. With the package of remedies proposed by the German carrier, the conditions for the deal had been fulfilled, the commission announced in Brussels on Saturday. Under the concessions, Lufthansa will leave flight connections in Italy to its competitors Easyjet, Air France-KLM and International Airline Group. With the green light from Brussels, Europe's
1 min read - Worlddpa international
Thousands demonstrate near Knesset for hostage release
Thousands of mainly women in Israel blocked an access road to the Israeli parliament or Knesset as they demonstrated on Friday for the release of hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, according to a story in the Jerusalem Post. There have been weekly demonstrations demanding the hostages be released, but these normally occur on Saturday evening, after the Jewish holy day of Shabbat is over. The Friday protests were organized by a group called Shift 101 that has been holding sit-in shifts acr
1 min read - Worlddpa international
German police: 6,889 people stopped in border checks in October
Police patrolling Germany's borders detected 6,889 attempted unauthorized entries in October, Germany's Federal Police said in a press release on Friday. The figure is very similar to the number of people stopped in September. From March to August, the number was between 7,000 and 7,800 each month, according to the Federal Police, and lower in January (6,906) and February (5,998). Whether the decline in the past two months has anything to do with the Germany Interior Ministry's decision to expan
2 min read - Worlddpa international
Hezbollah to hold ceremony for Nasrallah, who was killed by Israel
The Shiite Lebanese militia Hezbollah is set to commemorate on Saturday its slain leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed by an Israeli strike on the milita's headquarters on September 27. The event will be held in the southern suburbs of Beirut, a stronghold of the Iran-backed group. The ceremony, titled Light from Light, has been announced for 5:45 pm local time (1545 GMT). Hezbollah supporters are expected to gather at the sacred site of martyrdom – the former location of the organization's h
1 min read - WorldFox News
Imprisoned Kremlin critic convicted again, receives 3-year sentence for opposing war in Ukraine
Imprisoned Kremlin critic Alexei Gorinov was convicted again on Friday and sentenced to three years in prison for opposing Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine.
3 min read - WorldBBC
Zelensky suggests war could end if unoccupied Ukraine comes under Nato
But Zelensky points out no-one has yet made such an offer and whether Nato would consider a move is doubtful.
2 min read - Worlddpa international
Ukraine sends new forces to the front, Zelensky suggests NATO shield
Fresh Ukrainian troops are being redeployed to the heavily threatened front-line regions of Pokrovsk and Kurakhove, while Ukraine's president said he could agree to a ceasefire if NATO agrees to protect areas under Ukrainian control. The new deployments are in response to the Russian advance in eastern Ukraine, Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi announced on Friday. They are tasked with thwarting the enemy’s broader plans, "which go far beyond these front line sections," Syrskyi s
4 min read - Worlddpa international
Palestinian reports: Some 120 killed in Gaza; W Bank gunman wounds 4
At least 120 people have been killed in Israeli military attacks in the Gaza Strip since Thursday night, according to Palestinian reports on Friday. Palestinian medics told dpa that about 25 people were killed in northern Gaza, with an additional 20 fatalities reported in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central region. Civil defence sources also reported 75 deaths in Beit Lahia, a town in northern Gaza. The figures do not distinguish between combatants and civilians and cannot be independently
2 min read - USAssociated Press
Mexico's congress votes to charge cruise ship passengers $42 per head for port calls
Cruise ship industry players are up in arms after the lower house of Mexico’s Congress voted this week to charge a $42 immigration levy for every passenger on cruise ships that dock in Mexico. Two-thirds of the money raised, moreover, would go to the Mexican army, not to improve port facilities. The Mexican Association of Shipping Agents cried foul late Thursday, saying the charges could make Mexico uncompetitively expensive for cruise ships.
2 min read - Worlddpa international
Hezbollah leader vows to implement ceasefire with Israel in Lebanon
The leader of the Lebanese militant Islamist movement Hezbollah, Naim Qassem, has said his group plans "high-level coordination" with the Lebanese army to implement a ceasefire deal with Israel that began on Wednesday. "Coordination between the resistance and the Lebanese army will be of a high level to implement obligations of the agreement," Qassem said in a televised statement on Friday. "The agreement was concluded with full respect for Lebanese sovereignty. We agreed to it with our heads he
3 min read - Worlddpa international
At least 120 killed in Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip
At least 120 people have been killed in Israeli military attacks in the Gaza Strip since Thursday night, according to Palestinian reports on Friday. The Israeli military, when contacted, stated that it requires the precise geographic coordinates of the attacks to comment further, though such details are rarely available due to the widespread destruction. The information from both sides could not be independently verified. Palestinian medics told dpa that about 25 people were killed in northern G
1 min read - Worlddpa international
Several injured in attack on a bus near West Bank settlement
Several people have been injured after a gunman opened fire on a bus near an Israeli settlement in the West Bank. Three people were seriously injured by gunfire and another person suffered moderate injuries, the Israeli rescue service Magen David Adom reported on Friday. Other people were injured by broken glass, it said. The alleged perpetrator opened fire on the Israeli bus, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on X. He was "neutralized" at the scene. The Palestinian man was reported dead by t
1 min read - Worlddpa international
Russia condems advances by Syrian rebels around Aleppo
Russia, a close supporter of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has condemned the unexpected advance of anti-government Islamist rebels on the city of Aleppo as an attack on Syria's sovereignty. "Of course this is an encroachment on Syria's sovereignty in this region," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov in Moscow. However, his words suggested that Moscow did not see itself as responsible for stopping the offensive. "We are in favour of the Syrian authorities bringing order to the region as quic
2 min read - Worlddpa international
Hezbollah chief vows to support ceasefire implementation in Lebanon
The leader of the Iran-allied Hezbollah militia, Naim Qassem, has said his group plans "high-level coordination" with the Lebanese army to implement a ceasefire deal with Israel that began on Wednesday. "Coordination between the resistance and the Lebanese army will be of a high level to implement obligations of the agreement," Qassem said in a televised statement on Friday. "The agreement was concluded with full respect for Lebanese sovereignty. We agreed to it with our heads held high in our r
1 min read - Worlddpa international
Germany's far-right AfD to campaign to leave EU, euro and Paris deal
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) plans to campaign on calls for the country to quit the European Union, the Paris climate agreement and the euro currency ahead of the early election expected in February. The policies are spelled out in the AfD's draft party platform, which will be discussed and voted on by AfD members at a national party conference on January 11 to 12. The 85-page paper also calls for a tightening of abortion laws, an end to economic sanctions against Russia and the r
2 min read - WorldModern Car Collector
Ferrari Impounded After Driver Clocked at 76 km/h Over Speed Limit
A 61-year-old South Australian man faces severe penalties after his Ferrari 812 GTS was allegedly caught speeding at 76 km/h over the legal limit. The incident occurred on May 11, 2024, in Paracombe, approximately 22 km northeast of Adelaide. South Australia Police reported that a speed camera captured the Ferrari traveling at 156 km/h in an 80 km/h zone. As a result, the driver has been charged with multiple offenses related to dangerous and excessive speeding. Authorities immediately suspended
2 min read - WorldBBC
Israel warns against returning to 60 Lebanon villages
The warning comes as Israel and Hezbollah accuse each other of breaking the fragile ceasefire.
3 min read - WorldPeople
Starbucks Opens New Store with Views into North Korea
The chain opened the doors to its new location in Aegibong Peace Ecopark in Gimpo, South Korea, on Friday, Nov. 29
3 min read - Worlddpa international
Experts warn German automotive industry must become more productive
A panel of experts appointed by Germany's Economy Ministry has cautioned that the German automotive industry must improve its efficiency to remain competitive. "This is the only way it will remain internationally competitive in the medium to long term," states a recommendation paper released on Friday by a group of automotive industry experts. "It's really about producing more in the same time and reducing costs," says Ina Schaefer, who is a professor of software engineering and automotive infor
1 min read - Businessdpa international
German drugstore group Müller to open new stores in Spain
The German drugstore chain Müller is planning to expand its activities in Spain. The family-owned company is to open five to seven new locations in the country next year and the year after, both on the islands of Ibiza and Menorca and on the mainland, a spokeswoman said at the company's headquarters in Ulm, Germany on Friday. The retail group wants to invest around €25 million ($26.3 million) in the expansion in 2025 and 2026. The company's first Spanish branch was opened in Mallorca in 1993. Mü
1 min read - Worlddpa international
Brussels vets countries' compliance with EU fiscal rules
This week, the European Commission assessed the multiannual spending plans of the 21 member states who submitted them – giving passing grades to 20 and failing one. The passing countries: Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden. However, the commission rejected the multiannual plan put forward by the Netherlands. The Hague has been asked to prepare a
5 min read - WorldAssociated Press
UN refugee agency expresses concern over rise in fatal migrant shipwrecks in Greece
The United Nations refugee agency has voiced concern at a rise in deaths of migrants trying to reach Greece by sea in small boats from Turkey, following two fatal shipwrecks this week. The UNHCR said in a statement Friday that 17 people have died in such accidents this month, while the total so far this year is at least 45 deaths. The UNHCR representative in Greece, Maria Clara Martin, said the migrant deaths “highlight the urgent need for long-term responses and safer and credible alternative
2 min read - WorldNBC News
Brew with a view: Starbucks opens shop overlooking Korean DMZ
Visitors to Aegibong Peace Ecopark have an extra reason to take in its observation tower: it now houses a Starbucks with views of the DMZ and North Korea.
3 min read - WorldAFP
'Mamie Charge': Migrants find safe haven in Frenchwoman's garage
Brigitte Lips opens her home in northern France every weekday to dozens of migrants seeking a moment of calm -- and a phone charger -- despite some pushback from the local community.Despite pushback from some in the local community, the grandmother of eight said her decision to open her home is rooted in her deeply held Catholic faith.
3 min read - Worlddpa international
Scholz assures Zelensky of Germany's support as war rages in Ukraine
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz once again assured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of Germany's solidarity in a telephone call on Friday. "We will continue our military support for Ukraine in close coordination with our European and international partners," Scholz said in a post of X after the call. The chancellor said he had agreed with Zelensky to remain in contact "also with a view to possible paths to a just peace" to end Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. After the phone call, Zelen
5 min read - WorldAssociated Press
Death toll in Uganda landslides rises to 20 as search for more casualties presses on
More bodies buried under the mud were retrieved in eastern Uganda on Friday and an injured person died in a hospital, bringing the death toll from this week's landslides to 20, officials said as search efforts pressed on in the stricken area. Heavy rains had triggered the landslides that engulfed six villages in the mountainous district of Bulambuli, 280 kilometers (175 miles) east of Kampala, Uganda's capital, on Wednesday night. The Uganda Red Cross Society spokesperson Irene Kasiita told re
1 min read - Worlddpa international
Macron visits Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris ahead of reopening
One week before the official reopening, French President Emmanuel Macron visited the construction site at the Notre-Dame Cathedral for a final time. The shock of the reopening will be as great as that of the fire which destroyed the world-famous church, but this time it will be a shock of hope, Macron said. The French president's visit officially marks the end of the construction work. Five years after the fire, Macron's visit provided the first glimpse of the restored and reconstructed cathedra
2 min read - WorldAFP
France shows off restored Notre Dame after 'impossible' restoration
France on Friday showed off to the world the gleaming restored interior of Notre Dame cathedral, just over a week before the 850-year-old mediaeval edifice reopens following painstaking restoration after the devastating 2019 fire.- 'Insane challenge' - After the devastating fire Macron set the ambitious goal to rebuild Notre Dame within five years and make it "even more beautiful" than before, a target that the French authorities say has been met.
4 min read - Worlddpa international
Scholz again assures Zelensky of Germany's support for Ukraine
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz once again assured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of Germany's solidarity in a telephone call on Friday. "We will continue our military support for Ukraine in close coordination with our European and international partners," Scholz said in a post of X after the call. The chancellor said he had agreed with Zelensky to remain in contact "also with a view to possible paths to a just peace" to end Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. After the phone call, Zelen
1 min read - WorldAssociated Press
Namibia's decision to extend election voting due to technical issues draws opposition complaints
Voting in Namibia for a new president and parliament has been extended into the weekend by the electoral agency due to shortages of ballot papers, a move challenged by the main opposition which is alleging fraud. The southern African country’s elections management body said polling stations that should have closed on Wednesday will now close on Saturday night after some ran out of ballot papers. The opposition Independent Patriots for Change party on Friday claimed that the extension is illega
3 min read - WorldBBC
Eritrean refugees describe police crackdown in Ethiopia
Hundreds have reportedly detained in recent weeks as relations between the two countries worsen.
3 min read - ScienceHowStuffWorks
The Komodo Dragon Will Feast on Its Own Young
Found only in Indonesia, the Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) roams the rugged terrain of islands like Komodo Island and within Komodo National Park, a protected sanctuary for these unique reptiles.
4 min read - Businessdpa international
Amazon workers in Germany stage protest on Black Friday
Hundreds of Amazon employees from across Germany staged protests on Friday against what trade union representative say are unfair working conditions and the company's lack of a collective wage agreement. Demonstrators marched from two directions to a central rally in a hall in Bad Hersfeld in the state of Hesse. Amazon has two logistics centres in the town. They carried banners and signs with slogans like "Even if [Amazon boss] Jeff Bezos doesn't like it, we want the collective agreement." It's
1 min read - Worlddpa international
Germany's Baerbock plans to raise thorny issues in Beijing
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock is due to meet her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing on Monday against the backdrop of numerous international conflicts. A Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Friday that Baerbock wants to discuss the Russian war against Ukraine and the human rights situation in China, among other things. Beijing is considered Moscow's most important ally. Further political talks are planned in the capital, Beijing, as well as a meeting with German business represent
1 min read - WorldInteresting Engineering
Canada plans nuclear graveyard 2,600 feet below Ontario to bury radioactive waste
Canada selects Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation and Ignace to host its first deep geological repository for used nuclear fuel.
3 min read - Worlddpa international
Rheinmetall to build munitions factory in Lithuania by 2026
Rheinmetall has taken the next step towards building a new plant to manufacture 155-millimetre artillery shells in Lithuania. The German arms company and the government of the Baltic EU and NATO country signed a lease agreement on Friday for a 340-hectare state-owned property in the small town of Baisogala and a contract for the purchase of 155-mm ammunition. The State Chancellery in Vilnius said the munitions factory is expected to start operating in mid-2026 and, once completed, will produce t
1 min read - Worlddpa international
Israel prevents return to dozens of villages in southern Lebanon
Israel's army has banned residents of several villages in southern Lebanon from returning home until further notice. An Israeli military spokesman announced on X in Arabic that the military didn't want the villagers to be put in danger of being targetted. He listed more than 60 villages near the Israeli border that are part of a restricted area which Lebanese people are currently not allowed to enter. The painstakingly negotiated ceasefire agreement includes a provision that Hezbollah withdraw t
1 min read - WorldAFP
Old video shows former Kenyan president receiving charity award, not becoming a Mason
Amid ongoing tension between Kenya's church leaders and President William Ruto, a video has resurfaced online claiming to show the late Daniel arap Moi, the country’s second president and a member of the same ethnic community as Ruto, being inducted into Freemasonry. In Kenya, Freemasonry has long been associated with devil worship in a country where over 80% of the population identifies as Christian. But the claim is false; the video dates back to 1980 and shows Moi being invested as a Knight o
4 min read - WorldBBC
Macron praises 'impossible' Notre-Dame restoration
French President Emmanuel Macron visits the rescued, renovated and refurbished cathedral in what is a breathtaking visual treat.
6 min read - ScienceLive Science
Hailin impact crater: China's newly discovered meteor pit born from a 'nuclear explosion level' event
The Hailin impact crater is a newly-discovered scar in the mountains of Northeast China left behind by a meteor impact, but geologists aren't sure exactly when this happened.
3 min read - WorldBBC
France admits colonial 'massacre', says Senegal's leader
Dozens - perhaps hundreds - of West African troops who fought for France in World War Two were killed.
3 min read - Businessdpa international
German economic crisis hits west as pre-Christmas retail sales dip
Germany's economic crisis is hitting the industrial centres in the west of the country particularly hard, analysts said on Friday, as national data showed a still difficult outlook for Europe's largest economy. In the first study of its kind, the Munich-based Leibniz Institute for Economic Research (ifo) examined quarterly economic data in each of Germany's 16 federal states. According to the estimate, gross domestic product (GDP) shrank in eight of Germany's western federal states in the third
4 min read - WorldBBC
Chad cuts military agreement with France
The Central African nation cites "sovereignty" as it ends a years-long deal with its former colonial ruler.
2 min read - WorldFox News
Israel destroys Hezbollah's 'largest precision-guided missiles manufacturing site' as group vows to 'fight'
Israel's military says it has destroyed Hezbollah's largest precision-guided missile manufacturing site, located along Lebanon's border with Syria.
2 min read - Worlddpa international
China announces visit by German Foreign Minister Baerbock
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock will be visiting China next Monday and Tuesday at the invitation of her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, the Foreign Ministry in Beijing announced on Friday. Baerbock has recently repeatedly criticised China's role in several international crises, including climate policy and Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine. The German government's assumption is that Moscow is receiving help from its most important partner in the form of drones, and Baerbock recently w
1 min read - Worlddpa international
Poland deploys Leopard 2 tanks in Latvia to reinforce NATO defence
Poland has deployed Leopard 2 battle tanks in Latvia to reinforce the NATO brigade in the Baltic EU and NATO country. The armoured vehicles were moved by train to the Adazi military base after their arrival, the Latvian army said on Friday. They are to replace the PT-91 battle tanks that have been stationed there so far, a Polish development of the Soviet T-72 tank. No information was provided on the exact number. The multinational brigade is led by Canada. "The arrival of the Polish Leopard 2PL
1 min read - WorldINSIDER
Spain approves law allowing 4 days of 'paid climate leave' after recent deadly floods
Spain's new law offers four days of paid climate leave to workers who are unable to get to work safely or work remotely during climate catastrophes.
2 min read
