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The last two years saw average temperatures exceed a critical warming limit for the first time, Europe’s climate monitor said Friday, as the UN demanded “trail-blazing” climate action.While this does not mean the internationally-agreed 1.5C warming threshold has been permanently breached, the United Nations warned it was in “grave danger”.”Blazing temperatures in 2024 require trail-blazing …

2024 hottest year ever, crossed 1.5 global warming limit Read More »

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro was sworn in Friday for a third six-year term rejected by the opposition as a “coup d’etat” achieved through election fraud and a campaign of repression.Maduro took the oath before parliament, vowing his next term would be a “period of peace,” a day after thousands took to the streets to protest …

Venezuela’s Maduro takes presidential oath, opposition decries ‘coup’ Read More »

Last year set a record for high temperatures across the mainland United States, with the nation also pummeled by a barrage of tornadoes and destructive hurricanes, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said in a report Friday.The announcement came as Europe’s climate monitor confirmed 2024 was the hottest year globally, with temperatures so extreme that …

2024 warmest year on record for mainland US: agency Read More »

A judge sentenced Donald Trump to an unconditional discharge Friday for covering up hush money payments to a porn star despite the US president-elect’s last-ditch efforts to avoid becoming the first felon in the White House.The judge spared Trump prison or a fine even though the 34 counts of falsifying business records on which he …

Trump sentenced to ‘unconditional discharge’ for hush money conviction Read More »

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro was sworn in Friday for a third six-year term, shunned internationally over claims of election fraud and repression but bolstered by a loyal military.Maduro took the oath before parliament, vowing his next term would be a “period of peace,” a day after thousands took to the streets to protest his alleged …

Globally ostracized, Venezuela’s Maduro takes third presidential oath Read More »

The last two years exceeded on average a critical warming limit for the first time as global temperatures soar “beyond what modern humans have ever experienced”, Europe’s climate monitor said Friday.This does not mean the internationally-agreed 1.5C warming threshold has been permanently breached, but the Copernicus Climate Change Service said it was drawing dangerously near.Copernicus …

Last 2 years crossed 1.5C global warming limit: EU monitor Read More »

Massive wildfires that engulfed whole neighborhoods and displaced thousands in Los Angeles have killed at least 10 people, authorities said, as California’s National Guard soldiers readied to hit the streets to help quell disorder.Swaths of the United States’ second-largest city lay in ruins Friday, with more than 10,000 structures destroyed according to the state’s fire …

Los Angeles fire deaths at 10 as National Guard called in Read More »

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro, in power since 2013, is due to take the oath of office for a third term Friday despite a global outcry that brought thousands out in protest on the ceremony’s eve.Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who came out of hiding to lead a demonstration in Caracas Thursday, was briefly detained after …

Venezuela’s Maduro to take presidential oath despite domestic, global outcry Read More »

There will be “real-world harm” if Meta expands its decision to scrap fact-checking on Facebook and Instagram, a global network warned Thursday while disputing Mark Zuckerberg’s claim such moderation amounts to censorship.Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s surprise announcement this week to slash content moderation policies in the United States has sparked alarm in countries …

‘Real-world harm’ if Meta ends fact-checks, global network warns Read More »

South Korea’s presidential security chief resigned Friday as he faced questioning over why his guards prevented the detention of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, and as investigators prepared to make a fresh arrest attempt.Yoon last week resisted arrest in a standoff between his guards and investigators after his short-lived power grab on December 3 plunged …

Security chief of South Korea’s impeached President Yoon resigns Read More »