Author: Elizabeth Jenrola Oso

The United States Defence Secretary, Pete Hegseth, has intensified attacks on Arizona senator Mark Kelly by directing the secretary of the navy to investigate comments made by Kelly and fellow Democrats in a recent social media video. The order, issued on Tuesday in the form of a memorandum to Navy secretary John Phelan, requires a review of remarks that reminded serving soldiers and intelligence officers of their right to refuse unlawful orders. Hegseth requested a briefing on the matter by 10 December. The Pentagon confirmed on Monday that it had already opened an investigation into Kelly for possible breaches of…

Spain’s chief prosecutor, Álvaro García Ortiz, has resigned following a supreme court ruling that found him guilty of leaking confidential information in a case involving a businessman linked to a prominent rightwing politician. The decision marks an unprecedented moment in Spanish judicial history and delivers a significant blow to Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s coalition government. García Ortiz, appointed in 2022 by Sánchez, has consistently denied wrongdoing. In a letter addressed to Justice Minister Félix Bolaños, he explained that his resignation was motivated by “profound respect” for judicial rulings, even though he intends to appeal. “Though my decision stems directly from…

Pauline Hanson has reignited controversy in the Australian Senate after appearing in the chamber wearing a burqa, repeating a stunt widely condemned when she first attempted it in 2017. The One Nation leader was ejected from the chamber on Monday after refusing to remove the garment, prompting a suspension of proceedings for more than an hour. Hanson claimed her actions were intended to highlight what she described as national security concerns associated with the burqa. However, when pressed, she was unable to cite a single incident in which the garment had posed a security risk. Asked for evidence, she told…

Chinese President Xi Jinping has reiterated Beijing’s uncompromising stance on Taiwan during a phone call with United States President Donald Trump, underscoring the island’s centrality to China’s foreign policy amid mounting regional tensions. According to China’s foreign ministry, Xi told Trump on Monday that Taiwan’s “return” to China was an integral part of the post-war international order, forged in the joint struggle of China and the United States against fascism and militarism. Beijing insists Taiwan is part of its territory and has vowed to annex it, by force if necessary. Taiwan’s democratically elected government rejects this position outright, maintaining that…

The mayor-elect of New York City, Zohran Mamdani has reiterated his view that President Donald Trump is both a “fascist” and a “despot”, despite a surprisingly warm encounter between the two men at the White House last week. Appearing on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday, Mamdani was asked whether he still considered Trump a threat to democracy. He replied firmly: “Everything that I’ve said in the past I continue to believe. I think it is important in our politics that we don’t shy away from where we have disagreements.” The remarks followed his victory speech on 4 November, in…

Dharmendra

A volcano in Ethiopia’s north-eastern Afar region has erupted for the first time in nearly 12,000 years, sending towering plumes of ash and smoke into the sky and drifting across the Red Sea towards Yemen and Oman. The Hayli Gubbi volcano, situated about 500 miles north-east of Addis Ababa near the Eritrean border, erupted on Sunday for several hours. The eruption produced thick columns of smoke rising up to nine miles (14 kilometres) into the atmosphere, according to monitoring agencies. Local officials confirmed that no casualties had been reported, but warned of significant economic consequences for communities living in the…

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a flagship initiative of President Donald Trump’s administration, has apparently been dissolved with eight months still remaining on its contract. The move brings an abrupt end to a controversial campaign that saw federal agencies invaded, budgets slashed, and hundreds of thousands of workers dismissed. Confirmation of Doge’s demise came earlier this month when Scott Kupor, director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), told Reuters that the department “doesn’t exist” and was no longer a “centralised entity”. His remarks formalised suspicions that had been circulating for months about the department’s future. Doge was created…

Israel has dramatically escalated its confrontation with Hezbollah after an airstrike in Beirut’s southern suburbs killed one of the group’s most senior military commanders. The attack, which took place on Sunday evening in the densely populated Haret Hreik district, claimed the life of Haytham Ali Tabatabai, Hezbollah’s chief of staff, according to the Israeli military. Lebanon’s health ministry reported that at least five people were killed and 28 wounded in the strike, while the national news agency said three missiles were fired at the targeted building. Footage from the scene showed extensive damage to residential blocks in the area, a…

New Zealand has announced plans to eradicate feral cats by 2050, marking a significant expansion of its world-leading Predator-Free strategy. The move, unveiled by Conservation Minister Tama Potaka, represents the first time a new predator has been added to the programme since its inception in 2016. Potaka confirmed on Friday that feral cats would join the list of targeted species, which already includes ferrets, stoats, weasels, rats and possums. The minister described the animals as “stone-cold killers” and said their removal was essential to restoring native biodiversity and protecting the country’s heritage landscapes. More detailed plans for the eradication effort…