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The World Bank has raised its economic growth forecast for China in 2024, now projecting a 4.9% increase in the country’s GDP. This marks a slight improvement from the previous forecast of 4.8% in June, driven by policy easing and stronger export performance. The revised forecast is close to China’s own growth target of 5%, though the country continues to face significant economic challenges.
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In a groundbreaking gesture of solidarity, Pope Francis visited Rebibbia prison, one of the largest prisons in Italy, on Thursday, where he opened a special "holy door" as part of the Catholic Church’s 2025 Jubilee celebrations. This historic act marks the first time a sacred portal has been opened at a jail, symbolizing the Pope's closeness to detainees and his message of hope.
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In a dramatic turn of events on Christmas Day, at least 6,000 inmates escaped from the high-security Maputo Central Prison in Mozambique following a violent rebellion. The mass escape occurred amidst escalating post-election riots and violence that have gripped the country since the October elections, which saw the ruling Frelimo party confirmed as the winner by the constitutional council.
A stunning sixth-century Anglo-Saxon sword has been uncovered in a rural cemetery in Kent, leaving archaeologists astounded by its exceptional preservation. The artifact, which rivals the famous sword found at Sutton Hoo, boasts a silver-and-gilt hilt adorned with intricate decorative patterns and features a blade etched with a runic script. Remarkably, even parts of its leather-and-wood scabbard and beaver fur lining have survived over the centuries.
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Fourteen security personnel and three armed men were killed in violent clashes in Syria's Tartus province on Wednesday, following an attempted arrest of a former officer linked to the infamous Sednaya prison. The incident, which occurred in Tartus, a stronghold of the Alawite minority loyal to ousted president Bashar al-Assad, marked a significant escalation in the power struggle between the country's new authorities and the remnants of Assad's regime.
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A devastating outbreak of bird flu has led to the deaths of 20 exotic cats, including a Bengal tiger, four cougars, a lynx, and four bobcats, at the Wild Felid Advocacy Center in Shelton, Washington. The feline fatalities, which occurred between late November and mid-December 2024, are part of a wider spread of the virus, which has been affecting wild and domestic animals across the United States.
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Kris Mayes, the Attorney General of Arizona, has pledged to push back against former President Donald Trump’s anticipated immigration policies should he return to office in 2025. Mayes, a Democrat, stated that any attempt by Trump to remove protections for "dreamers" or set up deportation camps in Arizona would be met with strong legal opposition.
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Authorities are investigating the discovery of a dead body in the wheel well of a United Airlines plane that arrived at Kahului Airport in Hawaii on Tuesday. The body was found in the main landing gear of Flight 202, which had traveled from Chicago to Maui, United Airlines and the Maui Police Department confirmed in statements.
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At least eight deputies from the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department have been dismissed for their involvement in the arrest and beating of transgender man Emmett Brock in February 2023. The incident, which has sparked widespread outrage, is still under investigation by the FBI.
As the US prepares for Donald Trump’s second term, business leaders and executives are pouring significant funds into his inaugural committee, with donations expected to surpass the record-breaking $107 million raised in 2017. This surge in contributions comes after Trump’s decisive victory in November, as industries and financial leaders look to secure favor with the incoming administration.
The 2024 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race has been marred by tragedy, with two sailors killed in a series of deadly incidents caused by severe weather and hazardous conditions. Amid the chaos, a third fatality was narrowly avoided when a crew member was rescued after being swept overboard.
Conspiracy theories surrounding "chemtrails," the notion that airplanes are dispersing harmful chemicals into the atmosphere as part of a government plot, have found new momentum in the United States. This resurgence coincides with growing concerns about geoengineering efforts aimed at tackling the climate crisis.
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The United Nations has condemned the rising tensions between Yemen's Houthi rebels and Israel, following a series of Israeli airstrikes on Thursday that targeted key locations in Yemen, including the international airport in Sana'a. The strikes, which led to the deaths of at least six people according to Houthi media, have drawn international concern, especially after the attack occurred just as the head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, was about to board a plane at the airport.
South Korea's National Intelligence Service has confirmed reports that a North Korean soldier was captured by Ukrainian forces, marking a potential first in the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia. The soldier, reportedly injured, was detained by Ukrainian special forces in Russia’s Kursk region, a location that has been the site of heavy fighting as Ukrainian forces continue their offensive.
Authorities in Russia and Kazakhstan are urging caution amid growing speculation regarding the Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash that claimed 38 lives on Christmas Day. A U.S. official has suggested that early evidence points to a Russian anti-aircraft system as a possible cause, while conflicting reports and ongoing investigations leave the incident shrouded in uncertainty.
California’s northern Pacific coastline is under siege by massive waves, prompting urgent warnings for residents to steer clear of the ocean and all waterside structures. The National Weather Service (NWS) has forecast waves towering 20 to 30 feet high, creating life-threatening conditions expected to persist throughout the week.
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New York Governor Kathy Hochul has taken decisive action against 14 employees at the Marcy Correctional Facility, including 13 correction officers and a nurse, following the death of 43-year-old Robert Brooks, an incarcerated individual. Brooks passed away on December 10, one day after an alleged violent incident at the state prison in central New York.
Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino firmly ruled out negotiations with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump regarding control of the Panama Canal, asserting that the vital waterway remains solely under Panamanian authority. Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Mulino dismissed claims of Chinese interference and rejected the possibility of reducing tolls for U.S. vessels, despite Trump’s threats.
South Korea’s Constitutional Court commenced hearings on Friday to deliberate the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol following his controversial imposition of martial law earlier this month. The court has a 180-day deadline to determine whether Yoon will be reinstated or permanently removed from office. Should the court uphold the impeachment, a presidential election must be held within 60 days.
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The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced Thursday that its analysis of samples from the first severe human case of bird flu in the country has revealed rare genetic mutations. These mutations were not present in samples collected from an infected backyard poultry flock on the patient’s property.
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President-elect Donald Trump has announced Miami-Dade County Commissioner Kevin Marino Cabrera as his nominee for U.S. ambassador to Panama. In a statement on his Truth Social platform, Trump praised Cabrera as “a fierce fighter for America First principles” and highlighted his contributions to economic growth and international relations.
Outgoing Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has emphasized that judges appointed during Joe Biden’s presidency will play a critical role in safeguarding his administration’s accomplishments from the policies of President-elect Donald Trump. In a recent interview, Schumer outlined the Democrats’ strategy to leverage the judiciary as a counterbalance to the Republican control of the White House and Congress.
Former President Donald Trump issued a scathing Christmas Day post on his Truth Social platform, denouncing President Joe Biden's decision to commute the death sentences of 37 federal inmates. In the controversial message, Trump wished ill upon those granted clemency, saying, “GO TO HELL!”
The incoming Trump administration plans to reinstate the controversial policy of detaining families with children in immigration centers, according to Tom Homan, the newly appointed "border czar." The initiative is part of a broader effort to deport undocumented immigrants, including families with U.S.-born children, Homan confirmed in an interview with The Washington Post.
Former President Bill Clinton, 78, was hospitalized on Monday after developing a fever, though his condition is not considered an emergency. Clinton was admitted to MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C., where he is undergoing tests as a precaution.
For the first time in its 900-year history, St. Paul’s Cathedral in London will feature girls in its choir during the Christmas Day service. The choir, which includes both adults and children, will perform under the grand 365-foot dome of the iconic cathedral on Wednesday.
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Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence startup, xAI, has successfully raised $6 billion in its latest funding round, bolstered by investments from prominent U.S. venture capitalists, chipmakers NVIDIA and AMD, as well as investment funds from Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Launched in July 2023, xAI has quickly emerged as a significant player in the competitive AI landscape, with its flagship product, the Grok chatbot. The company is now valued at approximately $50 billion, positioning it among the world’s top startups, though still trailing OpenAI, which boasts an estimated valuation of $157 billion.
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Eight weeks, 12 matches, and nine defeats into Manchester City's puzzling drop in form, manager Pep Guardiola has pinpointed the cause behind their struggles. After a loss to Aston Villa at Villa Park, Guardiola reflected on the issue, stating simply, “We haven’t scored the goals we scored before, and we have conceded the goals we didn’t concede.” This straightforward analysis marks a stark contrast to a team once celebrated for its dynamic, mesmerizing football, now unrecognizable and struggling to find form.
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The Methodist Church in Birmingham is facing accusations of silencing and marginalizing members of an LGBTQ+ congregation following the arrest of a man on suspicion of sexual assault. The man, who held a senior role within Inclusive Gathering Birmingham (IGB), was arrested in November after several former members alleged that they had been subjected to inappropriate touching, groping, and harassment during church services and social events.
Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets in Christian neighborhoods of Damascus on Tuesday, protesting against the burning of a Christmas tree in the town of Suqaylabiyah, near Hama, in central Syria. The protests, driven by anger over the incident, saw protestors march toward the Orthodox patriarchate headquarters in the Bab Sharqi neighborhood, chanting, "We demand the rights of Christians."
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Tonga's government has elected a new leader following a political crisis that saw the resignation of former Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni. Veteran politician ’Aisake Valu Eke was chosen as the new prime minister in a parliamentary vote on Tuesday, securing 16 votes to his opponent Viliami Latu’s eight. Eke's election comes two weeks after Sovaleni's abrupt resignation, which was fueled by a power struggle with the Tongan monarchy, particularly King Tupou VI.
As extreme weather events continue to devastate parts of China, officials and residents alike are grappling with the increasing frequency and intensity of flooding. Dongting Hu, the country’s second-largest freshwater lake, provides a stark example of the challenges posed by climate change. This year, the lake's protective dams and dikes were overwhelmed by floodwaters from the Yangtze River, prompting widespread evacuations and rescue operations.
Brazilian authorities have halted the construction of a new electric vehicle factory for Chinese company BYD after over 160 Chinese workers were found living in “slavery-like” conditions. The workers, employed by contractor Jinjiang Construction Brazil, were laboring under extreme conditions at the construction site in Bahia, a state in northeastern Brazil. Investigations revealed the workers endured excessively long hours, sometimes working seven days straight, while living in squalid and degrading conditions.
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An investigation has been launched following a disturbing incident in which a rail passenger was forced to run alongside a moving Elizabeth line train with his hand trapped in the doors. The incident occurred just after midnight on December 24 at Ealing Broadway station in west London. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) confirmed that the passenger’s hand became caught in the door as the train began to depart, causing him to be dragged for several metres along the platform.
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On Christmas Eve, Pope Francis officially inaugurated the jubilee year of Catholic celebrations by opening the “Holy Door” of St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, marking the beginning of a significant year of reflection and renewal for Catholics worldwide. The 88-year-old pontiff, despite battling a cold, was pushed in a wheelchair to the massive bronze door, where he knocked and opened it, symbolizing the start of the Jubilee Year. This event, watched by thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square, set the stage for the next 12 months, during which more than 30 million pilgrims are expected to visit Rome.
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Augustus Holm, an 18-year-old from San Diego, recently achieved a remarkable feat by organizing a footwear drive that set a Guinness World Record for the largest donation of shoes in 24 hours. On December 7, 2024, Holm and his team of volunteers collected and distributed over 21,600 pairs of shoes, surpassing the previous record of 17,526 pairs. The event, held at the Spectrum Center in San Diego, aimed to provide new footwear to families in need, especially during the holiday season.
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NASA’s Parker Solar Probe is making history with its closest-ever flyby of the Sun, passing just 3.8 million miles from its surface on Christmas Eve. This milestone, known as perihelion, occurred at 6:53 AM Eastern Time (11:53 GMT) on December 24, 2024, marking a significant moment in the spacecraft's seven-year mission to study the Sun and its influence on space weather.
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As JD Vance approaches the historic moment of becoming the second-in-command to the President of the United States, his hometown of Middletown, Ohio, remains notably indifferent to the achievement. Despite the excitement typically accompanying such a milestone, the city has yet to fully embrace the political ascent of its most famous son.
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Haiti’s fragile security situation took a tragic turn on Tuesday when armed assailants opened fire on a group of journalists attending a press conference to announce the reopening of the State University of Haiti hospital in Port-au-Prince. The attack resulted in the deaths of two journalists and a police officer, with several others left injured.
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The return of former Medellín cartel operator Fabio Ochoa to Colombia after being deported from the United States has reignited a fierce debate among victims of the notorious drug cartel, many of whom are dismayed by the Colombian authorities' decision to release him without charges.
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A passenger plane operated by Azerbaijan Airlines crashed near the city of Aktau, Kazakhstan, on Wednesday, with preliminary reports indicating there were survivors, according to Kazakhstan’s emergencies ministry.
American Airlines briefly halted all domestic flights on Tuesday morning due to an unspecified technical issue, sparking concerns among travelers during the busy Christmas season. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the airline initiated the hour-long ground stop, which has since been lifted.
A federal judge has ruled that sections of Arkansas Act 372, a controversial law that sought to impose criminal penalties on librarians and booksellers for distributing material deemed "harmful" to minors, violate the Constitution.
Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK and a known ally of Donald Trump, has expressed his willingness to work with Labour’s Peter Mandelson, recently appointed as the UK’s ambassador to the United States, to navigate relations with the incoming Trump administration.
Actor and director Justin Baldoni has had his Voices of Solidarity Award rescinded after actor Blake Lively filed a complaint accusing him of sexual harassment and orchestrating efforts to damage her reputation.
The U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has unveiled a final wave of $1,400 payments for approximately 1 million taxpayers who missed out on claiming funds under the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit program. This marks what could be the last installment of pandemic-era stimulus payments.
A devastating explosion in the engine room of the Russian cargo ship Ursa Major led to its sinking in the Mediterranean Sea, between Spain and Algeria, leaving two crew members unaccounted for, according to a statement from Russia's foreign ministry.
Toyota has reportedly pledged $1 million to support Donald Trump’s inauguration next month, according to a company spokesperson cited by Reuters. This contribution places Toyota alongside other major corporations like Ford and General Motors, which have also committed $1 million each to the president-elect’s inaugural fund.
President-elect Donald Trump has declared his intent to reinstate aggressive use of the death penalty for violent crimes, following President Joe Biden’s commutation of 37 federal death sentences. In a post on Truth Social, Trump pledged to direct the Department of Justice (DoJ) to "vigorously pursue the death penalty" upon his inauguration next month.
Former U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton has expressed deep concerns about the risks of a second Donald Trump presidency, predicting a higher likelihood of an international crisis due to Trump’s erratic approach to foreign policy. Bolton, who served as Trump’s longest-standing national security adviser, criticized the former president’s decision-making style as impulsive and devoid of strategic coherence.
