USAID OFFICIALS PUT ON LEAVE AS ELON MUSK SAYS TIME FOR AGENCY TO ‘DIE’

Mon 03 February 2025: US President Donald Trump says he will end all funding to South Africa over government’s land confiscations.  Elon Musk has declared that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) should “die” amid reports that two top security officials at the aid agency were put on leave for refusing his representatives access to […]

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EU LEADERS CONVENE IN BRUSSELS TO DISCUSS WAYS TO ENHANCE EUROPEAN DEFENSE

Mon 03 February 2025: European leaders are gathering on Monday in Brussels for an informal retreat focused on strengthening European defense. The meeting, chaired by European Council President Antonio Costa, will also be attended by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and other high-level officials, with discussions centering on Europe’s security and strategic autonomy. […]

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BRITAIN’S VEHICLE PRODUCTION DECLINES AMID EV TRANSITION, MARKET CHALLENGES

Mon 03 February 2025: UK’s vehicle production fell by 11.8 percent in 2024, totaling 905,233 units, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) on Thursday. Car production experienced a significant drop of 13.9 percent, with 779,584 units produced. By contrast, commercial vehicle output rose by 4.0 percent to 125,649 units, marking its […]

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GLOBAL AIR TRAVEL SURPASSES PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS IN 2024

Sun 02 February 2025: Thanks to a 10.4% year-on-year surge, global passenger demand exceeded pre-pandemic levels by 3.8% in 2024, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) data released on Thursday. The aviation industry also saw its highest-ever load factor for the year, reaching 83.5%. Capacity expanded by 8.7% at an annualized pace, showcasing […]

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NEW ZEALAND MOUNTAIN GRANTED LEGAL PERSONHOOD, WITH HUMAN-LIKE RIGHTS

Sun 02 February 2025: A mountain in New Zealand, which Indigenous people consider an ancestor, has been granted legal personhood through a new law that gives it the same rights and obligations as a human being. Taranaki Maunga, formerly known as Mount Taranaki, is the latest natural feature in New Zealand to be granted legal […]

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TRUMP’S TARIFF MOVE: CHINA ‘FIRMLY’ OPPOSES, CANADA WILL RETALIATE SAYS TRUDEAU

Sun 02 February 2025: China on Sunday “firmly” opposed the US announcement of a 10% tariff on Chinese exports, vowing to take countermeasures to safeguard its interests. “China’s position is firm and consistent. Trade and tariff wars have no winners. The US’s unilateral tariff hikes severely violate WTO (World Trade Organization) rules. This move cannot […]

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GUATEMALA CRACKS DOWN ON ISRAELI JEWISH SECT LEV TAHOR AS CHILD TRAFFICKING PROBE WIDENS

Sun 02 February 2025: Guatemalan authorities have intensified their investigation into Lev Tahor, a controversial Jewish sect accused of human trafficking and child abuse, following the arrest of one of its senior members, according to press reports. Yoel Alter, 35, was detained earlier this week outside a government-run center for minors in Guatemala City, according […]

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CANADA’S TEMPORARY FOREIGN WORKER SCHEME ‘INHERENTLY EXPLOITATIVE’: AMNESTY

Sat 01 February 2025: Rights group urges Canada to end ‘closed’ work permits that leave migrant workers vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. Montreal, Canada – Canada has failed to take meaningful action to address systemic abuses in a decades-old foreign worker programme, subjecting thousands of labourers to an “inherently exploitative” system, Amnesty International says. In a 71-page […]

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