Rare wildflowers blanket Atacama desert
One of the world's driest deserts is transformed into a sea of wildflowers after a rare bloom.
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Icebreakers and golf spark Trump and Finnish leader's unlikely friendship
Alexander Stubb has become a key voice for Europe at the White House amid the Ukraine war.
Three people dead after light plane crashes on take-off near Wollongong
The aircraft caught on fire soon after taking off from Shellharbour airport at about 10am on SaturdayGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThree people have died after a light plane crashed at Shellharbour Airport on Saturday morning near Wollongong in New South Wales.The plane took-off at about 10am before crashing and catching fire. Continue reading...
Unease at slow pace of change in Nepal one month on from gen Z protests
Promised crackdown on corruption is not happening fast enough for many who saw government toppled within a day of protestsPrakash Bohora was one of the first of Nepal’s gen Z protesters to feel the sting of a police bullet. Like thousands of other young people, he had taken to the streets of the capital last month to protest against corruption and a draconian ban on social media.He had no idea on that day in Kathmandu that the demonstration would escalate into what is now described as Nepal’s gen Z revolution, which has led to the toppling of the government within a day, the dissolution of parliament and appointment of a new interim prime minister, the anti-corruption hardliner Sushila Karki, by the end of the week. Continue reading...
US President Trump says Israeli captives to be released from Gaza on Monday
The US president told reporters that the bodies of Israelis who died in captivity in Gaza are 'being unearthed'.
After uproar, Pete Hegseth clarifies Qatari air force facility in Idaho is not a foreign base – as it happened
Earlier, Pentagon chief shared that location would host ‘contingent of Qatari F-15s and pilots’. This blog is now closed.White House announces federal worker layoffs as government shutdown nears third weekAs the shutdown enters its 10th day, and both chambers are out of session today, House speaker Mike Johnson has defended not passing a separate bill that would keep members of the military paid throughout the shutdown.“Republicans have voted to OPEN the government and get our troops, Border Patrol, TSA, and veterans PAID,” Johnson said, before blaming Democratic leadership for refusing to pass the House-passed continuing resolution. “Chuck Schumer is terrified of a challenge from the Marxist left – so he and the Democrats voted to CLOSE the government-and to STOP PAYCHECKS from being issued.” Continue reading...
Trump completes ‘semiannual’ physical before traveling to Middle East
White House had described doctor visit as ‘routine yearly checkup’ although president had annual physical in AprilDonald Trump – the oldest person ever to be elected US president – had what he has described as a “semiannual physical” at the Walter Reed national military medical center on Friday.The visit, which the White House announced earlier this week, comes as Trump is preparing to travel to the Middle East on the heels of a ceasefire deal in the Israel-Hamas war. The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, described it as a “routine yearly checkup”, although the president had his annual physical in April. Continue reading...
Denmark to boost Greenland defence with new ships, jets and HQ
Denmark will buy US F-35 fighter jets and new ships to defend Greenland - a resource-rich Danish territory that President Trump wants to control.
Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,325
Here are the key events from day 1,325 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
White House announces federal worker layoffs as shutdown nears third week
AFL-CIO fights issue in court as union leader warns of ‘devastating effects’ for AmericansThe White House announced layoffs of federal workers on Friday, making good on a threat it had made in response to the US government shutdown, which now appears set to stretch into a third straight week.Russell Vought, the director of the White House office of management and budget, wrote on social media that “RIFs have begun”, referring to the government’s reduction-in-force procedure to let employees go. Continue reading...