Lebanon’s parliament has elected the country’s army chief as president, ending a power vacuum that has lasted more than two years. Joseph Aoun’s candidacy was backed by several political parties, as well as the US, France and Saudi Arabia. A rival backed by the Hezbollah militia withdrew on Wednesday and endorsed the commander. The presidency…
Indian authorities say they have arrested a Canadian man at Delhi airport for carrying a crocodile skull in his luggage. The 32-year-old man was at the airport on Monday to catch his flight to Canada when he was first stopped during security check. “Upon examination, a skull with sharp teeth, resembling the jaw of a…
David Swanson/Reuters At least five different wildfires are still raging around Los Angeles, with the latest one engulfing the iconic Hollywood Hills. Five people are confirmed dead, with more than 130,000 evacuated in what have become the most destructive wildfires in LA’s history. California fire chief David Acuna said there was “zero progress” in containing…
EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock Earlier this week Donald Trump Jr amplified his father’s claims with a private visit to Greenland Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said Russia is closely monitoring the situation, after US President-elect Donald Trump refused to rule out military action to take Greenland from Denmark. Peskov said the Arctic was in Russia’s “sphere of national…
Jerome Powell, chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve, at a news conference after a Federal Open Market Committee meeting in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 18, 2024. Al Drago | Bloomberg | Getty Images This report is from today’s CNBC Daily Open, our international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything…
Much of the heart of Hollywood is blanketed in thick smoke. You can barely see the tops of the towering palm trees that line streets here. It is utter chaos on the streets near the fire. People are using sweatshirts to cover their faces so they can breathe. Many are carrying bags and suitcases looking…
Elon Musk’s plan to host a chat with the leader of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party on his X social media platform has angered European politicians— but they’ll struggle to stop him. The tech billionaire is set to speak on Thursday with Alice Weidel, head of the AfD — Germany’s far-right party. It is…
A mandatory evacuation order has been issued in the Hollywood Hills following the spread of the wildfires raging across Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) said there was an “immediate threat to life” in the area and that it was being legally closed to the public. At least five fires are currently active…
BBC Firefighters in Los Angeles are battling a number of blazes in city suburbs, as tens of thousands of residents are forced to flee. The rapidly changing situation is compounded by Santa Ana winds and extremely dry conditions. Currently authorities say there is no possibility of bringing some of the fires under control. The Palisades…
Singapore has the world’s most powerful passport, according to the 2025 Henley Passport Index. The nation-state was one of six countries which tied for the top spot in 2024 in the list produced by the migration consultancy Henley & Partners, which ranks passports by the number of destinations that holders can access without needing a…
