World News Hub

Former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife look to end drug charges on immunity grounds

Maduro who has called himself a “prisoner of war” and his capture a “kidnapping” has requested all charges against him and his wife be dropped on grounds of diplomatic immunity. Their attorneys argued that only Venezuelan courts have the right to prosecute them.

A West Virginia high school built in 1923 has reopened 103 years later as a 40-room hotel

A historic high school in West Virginia, originally established in 1923, has been beautifully transformed into a 40-room boutique hotel. The once-abandoned classrooms now serve as cozy guest rooms and inviting lounges, offering visitors a unique stay. This renovation breathes new life into a campus that had been closed for more than ten years, blending its historic charm with contemporary resident...

Girl rescued by free-climbing neighbour from balcony in Turkiye

A man scaled a building to rescue a girl dangling from a 3rd floor balcony in the Turkish city of Diyarbakir.

Gang violence is not ‘out of control’ in Sydney, police minister says after two shootings in two days

Yasmin Catley says ‘we will not be surrendering our streets’ after as many as six suspected mistaken identity shootings since the start of last yearThe New South Wales police minister denies that gang violence is out of control in the state, despite two people being shot dead in suspected cases of mistaken identity in as many days.The police minister, Yasmin Catley, told a media conference on Thur...

US medical groups issue vaccine guidance, urge jabs for flu, COVID and RSV

Top medical groups say current evidence shows these vaccines protect against severe illness and death.

Niger displays arsenal seized after failed military mutiny

Niger’s authorities showed off the arsenal seized during fighting to put down a revolt against the government.

Businessman acquitted in murder of Malta journalist that brought down government

A Maltese court on Wednesday acquitted tycoon Yorgen Fenech of orchestrating the car-bomb killing of investigative reporter Daphne Caruana Galizia, sparking outrage from her family and media freedom advocates. The wealthy businessman had stood accused of masterminding the 2017 assassination of 53-year-old Caruana Galizia, which sparked unprecedented protests and brought down a government. Caruana ...

Meet the other OFWs offering humorous takes on ‘crazy’ life in Philippines’ Makati

Young professionals in Makati City are humorously redefining OFW as “overworked” or “on-site” Filipino workers, parodying the high costs and urban convenience of Metro Manila’s premier financial district. In the Philippines, OFW generally refers to overseas Filipino workers who move abroad in search of better opportunities and pay. But recently, the acronym has been given a new meaning by some Mak...

A reporter bought an abandoned lighthouse and turned it into an 8-storey home

Asia looks to store oil, gas closer to home after Strait of Hormuz crisis

Asian economies are racing to build up storage capacity to reduce their exposure to conflict in the Middle East.

Federal judge blocks Trump's new bid to abolish birthright citizenship citing Supreme Court precedent

The ruling is the second time Trump’s ambitious plans of abolishing a constitutional right were shot down by federal courts. The US Supreme Court earlier blocked an executive attempt at abolishing the right to children born to parents who do not hold legal residence status.

Ranch Shift Protects River: $8m deal secures 1,688-acre Park Ranch; wildlife corridor stays open

A significant eight million dollar grant has facilitated the acquisition of one thousand six hundred eighty-eight acres of land for public use. This area safeguards a crucial wildlife corridor and an undammed river, enhancing conservation efforts for native fish habitats and seasonal wildlife migration. The Park Ranch, located near Markleeville, transitioned to Alpine County's management in August...

US’s Chevron, Italy’s Eni to expand oil projects in Venezuela

Energy firms sign deals in Caracas, days after Venezuela agreed to grant the US control of a fifth of its oil reserves.

US energy firms significantly expand operations in Venezuela after Washington's oil deal with Caracas

US officials denied accusations that the deal was holding Venezuela for ransom, stressing that it is mutually beneficial deal for all, developing an unutilised underground asset.

‘Internal exclusion’ of England secondary school students almost triples in three years

Exclusive: new data shows poorer pupils and those with Send are disproportionately affected by the measureThe proportion of secondary school students in England removed from class and placed in “internal exclusion” as a disciplinary measure has almost trebled in three years, according to new data.The data shows the proportion of secondary pupils removed from normal lessons went up from 5% in the 2...

Proportion of secondary school students in England placed in ‘internal exclusion’ almost triples in three years

Exclusive: new data shows poorer pupils and those with Send are disproportionately affected by the measureThe proportion of secondary school students in England removed from class and placed in “internal exclusion” as a disciplinary measure has almost trebled in three years, according to new data.The data shows the proportion of secondary pupils removed from normal lessons went up from 5% in the 2...

‘I was never taught Welsh history’: Michael Sheen on reclaiming rebel leader Owain Glyndŵr

Actor will play 15th-century hero in sweeping production about Welsh rebellion against English crownThere are myriad films, plays and books focusing on heroes of English, Scottish and Irish history but far fewer that tell the stories of the great figures of Wales.A major new play about the Welsh nobleman Owain Glyndŵr’s early 15th-century rebellion against the English crown will help redress the b...

From flamenco to punk: Granada launches Neorama, festival of young talent

From 3 to 5 September, Granada hosts Neorama, a travelling festival for young talent, with 40 concerts in jazz, classical, rock, punk and electronic music.

UK mortgage approvals fall to lowest level since January 2024 as housing demand weakens

In July, UK mortgage approvals for home purchases hit a new low, highlighting a weakened demand in the housing market amid rising borrowing costs. Additionally, net mortgage borrowing plummeted, falling below the six-month average. While house prices saw slight annual growth, they decreased when adjusted for inflation. Conversely, unsecured consumer borrowing rose, revealing an increasing dependen...

Creative industry mourns Hong Kong advertising ‘queen’ Kitty Lun

The global advertising industry is mourning the death of Meta Greater China creative shop chief Kitty Lun Kit-ying, who drowned in a swimming pool at a residential complex in Hong Kong earlier this week. A source close to the investigation confirmed on Thursday that Lun was identified as the 70-year-old woman who died after drowning in the pool of Ville De Cascade in Fo Tan on Monday. She was seen...

Creative industry mourns Hong Kong advertising ‘queen’ Kitty Lun Kit-ying

The global advertising industry is mourning the death of Hong Kong-born Meta Greater China creative chief Kitty Lun Kit-ying, who drowned in a swimming pool at a residential complex earlier this week. A source close to the investigation confirmed on Thursday that 70-year-old Lun was identified as the woman who died after drowning in the pool of Ville De Cascade in Fo Tan on Monday. She was seen sw...

Australia news live: Labor reveals draft rules for 30% tax on discretionary trusts; dead dolphin tests positive for bird flu

Meanwhile investors fret that soaring oil prices will reignite inflationary pressures. Follow the day’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastShadow treasurer says tobacco plans would bring in extra billions and stop people buying from the ‘black market’Tim Wilson, the shadow treasurer, said the tobacco proposal would bring in an extra $2bn a year as it would stop peo...

Unstable Tibetan Plateau risks cascading disasters as glacier losses mount in Nepal, China

Glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau are likely to become more unstable, which may lead to more collapses and collateral disasters, a senior climate official warns as the death toll from last week’s catastrophic landslide and flood on the China-Nepal border continues to rise. “Over the past 60 years, the glacier area on the Tibetan Plateau has shrunk by around 24 per cent, with around 7,000 small glaci...

Venezuela’s Maduro seeks dismissal of US charges, citing immunity

Ousted Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro urged a US judge on Wednesday to dismiss criminal drug trafficking charges against him, arguing he should be immune from prosecution as the head of a sovereign country. The charges, filed in Manhattan federal court, formed the basis for the US military’s raid on Caracas and capture of Maduro on January 3. The Venezuelan leader, who has been held ‌in a Bro...

Quote of the day by Chuck Feeney: "I don't dislike money, but there's only so much money you can use"