Lilly Larkin
- World News
Pittsburgh synagogue shooter’s malice and hatred described in court
A devastating attack on a Pittsburgh synagogue in 2018, which claimed the lives of 11 worshippers, has been described as an act of “malice and hatred” during the ongoing trial of the accused gunman, Robert Bowers. The 50-year-old is facing over 60 federal charges, including hate crimes resulting in death and obstruction of free exercise of religion resulting in death.…
- World News
Elizabeth Holmes starts 11-year prison term for Theranos fraud
Elizabeth Holmes, the founder of the now-defunct Theranos, reported to a federal prison in Texas to serve her 11-year sentence. The 39 year old was convicted of four counts of fraud related to her failed blood testing start-up early last year. Her request to remain free on bail while challenging the original conviction was denied in mid-May. The Federal Bureau…
- World News
Putin accuses Ukraine of drone attacks targeting Moscow civilians
Vladimir Putin, the Russian President, has accused Ukraine of attempting to intimidate Russian citizens following Tuesday’s drone attacks on Moscow, the capital city. He claimed that civilians were targeted, but the air defences managed to handle the threat effectively. The defence ministry reported that at least eight drones caused minor damage, but Kyiv denies any involvement. This marks the first…
- World News
US punishes Kosovo for forcibly installing Albanian mayors, cancels Nato exercise
Tensions have escalated in northern Kosovo following the forced installation of ethnic Albanian mayors in majority-Serb areas, leading to the United States taking measures against the country. Clashes between police, NATO troops, and Serb protesters in Zvecan resulted in injuries to 30 peacekeepers and 52 demonstrators. In response, NATO plans to deploy an additional 700 troops to the region. The…
- World News
AI extinction risk warning backed by OpenAI, DeepMind chiefs
The potential threat of artificial intelligence (AI) causing human extinction has been highlighted by numerous experts, including the leaders of OpenAI and Google DeepMind. They have endorsed a statement on the Centre for AI Safety’s website, which calls for mitigating the risk of extinction from AI, placing it alongside other global priorities such as pandemics and nuclear war. However, some…
- World News
South Africa to alter law for power to arrest Putin amid ICC warrant
South Africa is planning to amend its law to give itself the authority to decide whether to arrest a leader wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC), according to Obed Bapela, a deputy minister in the South African presidency. This comes amid growing speculation over South Africa’s stance on its invitation to Russia’s President Putin to visit in August. The…
- World News
Ex-Chinese CDC head: Don’t rule out Covid lab leak theory
The possibility of the Covid virus leaking from a laboratory should not be dismissed, according to a former leading Chinese government scientist. Prof George Gao, who was once the head of China’s Centre for Disease Control (CDC), played a crucial role in the pandemic response and efforts to trace its origins. While the Chinese government denies any suggestion that the…
- World News
Kyiv targeted for third night as Ukraine intercepts 20+ drones
Kyiv was subjected to a third consecutive night of attacks as Russia targeted the Ukrainian capital, resulting in several buildings being set ablaze. Officials reported that falling debris caused the fires, while Ukraine’s air defences intercepted over 20 drones. At least one fatality has been reported. Ukraine claims to have downed all missiles and drones in the previous two assaults.…
- World News
Maduro visits Brazil, signals ‘new era’ in relations with Lula
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has made his first visit to Brazil since being banned by former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro in 2019. Maduro was welcomed by the new president, fellow leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, ahead of a summit of Latin American leaders in Brasilia. Lula highlighted the importance of Maduro’s visit, stating it marked the beginning of his…
- World News
Italian intelligence agents among Lake Maggiore boat disaster victims
A tragic boating incident on Lake Maggiore in northern Italy claimed the lives of four individuals, including two Italian intelligence agents and a retired Israeli security forces member. The victims were identified as Claudio Alonzi, 62 years old, Tiziana Barnobi, 53 years old, and Shimoni Erez, 60 years old. The fourth victim was Anya Bozhkova, the 50-year-old Russian wife of…
- World News
Korean War hero’s remains returned to family after 73 years
After 73 years, the remains of a US soldier who perished in the Korean War have finally been returned to his family for burial. Army Cpl Luther Herschel Story was just 18 years old when he was presumed killed in action on September 1, 1950, after being wounded while covering his company’s retreat. Although his remains were found about a…
- World News
Frankfurt police mistakenly arrest stripper with toy gun at stag party
In Frankfurt am Main, Germany, a stripper was mistakenly apprehended by local authorities after receiving reports of a man armed with a gun, which was later discovered to be a toy. The event took place on a Friday evening when a “suspicious man” was spotted in the Nordend district of the city, dressed in a US police uniform and helmet,…
- World News
Russia issues arrest warrant for US Senator over edited video row
An arrest warrant has been issued by Russia for US Senator Lindsey Graham after a manipulated video appeared to show him celebrating the deaths of Russian soldiers. The edited footage, which combined two separate instances, was shared by the office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after the two met in Kyiv last week. The video showed Senator Graham praising aid…
- World News
Biden optimistic on bipartisan deal to suspend US debt ceiling
US President Joe Biden has expressed optimism that a bipartisan agreement to temporarily suspend the nation’s debt ceiling will pass through Congress. The deal must first be approved in the closely-divided House of Representatives before proceeding to a Senate vote. Both Democrat and Republican leaders anticipate it will be passed, although some lawmakers have stated they will vote against it.…
- World News
Turkey’s strategic significance grows amid Ukraine war and global leader congratulations
Turkey’s strategic significance on the global stage has become increasingly apparent amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, as evidenced by the swift congratulations extended to Recep Tayyip Erdogan following his recent election victory. Russian President Vladimir Putin was among the first to congratulate Erdogan, highlighting the Turkish leader’s “independent foreign policy” as a factor in his win. This policy includes…
- World News
Erdogan wins third term, opposition bruised, Putin celebrates
Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s recent election victory in Turkey has left pollsters and analysts surprised, as they had predicted a closer race with opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu. With a difference of just four percentage points, Erdogan begins his third term in office, leading a strategically important NATO nation. Most voters chose Erdogan, a seasoned autocrat, over Kilicdaroglu, an untested democrat who…
- World News
Olympic wrestlers detained amid sexual abuse protest at Delhi parliament opening
Olympic wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik were among those detained by police in India during a protest against the alleged sexual abuse of female athletes. Demonstrators attempted to march to Delhi’s new parliament but were stopped by hundreds of police officers on duty for the building’s inauguration. Footage revealed protesters climbing over barricades and being carried away by police.…
- World News
Twitter engineering chief exits after DeSantis campaign launch glitches
Twitter’s engineering chief, Foad Dabiri, has announced his departure from the company just a day after technical issues plagued the launch of Ron DeSantis’ US presidential campaign on the platform. Dabiri, who served as the engineering lead for Twitter’s Growth organization, tweeted about his decision to leave after almost four years with the company. During the event, a Twitter livestream…
- World News
Queen Elizabeth II faced assassination threat during 1983 US visit, FBI files reveal
Newly disclosed FBI documents have revealed that Queen Elizabeth II faced a potential assassination threat during her visit to the United States in 1983. The files, which were released following the monarch’s passing last year, detail the FBI’s concerns about possible IRA threats during her travels. The specific threat was made to a police officer in San Francisco, who informed…
- World News
Google removes controversial Slavery Simulator game amid Brazil outrage
A controversial game named Slavery Simulator has been removed from Google’s app store following a significant backlash in Brazil. The app, developed by Magnus Games, was launched on April 20 and allowed players to “buy and sell” black characters. The game was downloaded over 1,000 times before being taken down. Brazil is a nation grappling with the legacy of slavery,…
- World News
Melissa Caddick’s death mystery unsolved, coroner rules
The mysterious case of conwoman Melissa Caddick, who vanished from her luxurious eastern Sydney home in November 2020, has captivated Australia. Her partially decomposed foot washed up on a beach months later, sparking numerous theories about her fate. Despite a long-running inquest, a coroner ruled on Thursday that the exact circumstances of her death would remain unknown. Melissa Caddick’s life…
- World News
Yellowstone park kills newborn bison after visitor’s misguided attempt to help
A newborn bison in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, was euthanised after a visitor’s interaction led to its rejection by the herd. The individual attempted to help the calf rejoin its herd after being separated from its mother. However, despite park rangers’ efforts, the herd refused to accept the young bison. Yellowstone is currently investigating the situation. The calf was ultimately…
- World News
France bans short-haul flights with train alternatives to cut emissions
In an effort to reduce carbon emissions, France has implemented a ban on domestic short-haul flights where train alternatives are available. The legislation comes into effect two years after it was initially approved by lawmakers, targeting routes where train journeys can be completed in under two-and-a-half hours. This restriction essentially eliminates air travel between Paris and cities such as Nantes,…
- World News
AI weapon scanner fails in school knife attack, raising security concerns
A security company that provides schools with artificial intelligence (AI) powered weapon scanners is under scrutiny after a student was attacked with a knife that the US$3.7 million system failed to detect. Last Halloween, 18 year old Ehni Ler Htoo was stabbed multiple times by a fellow student at Proctor High School in Utica, New York, despite the school having…
- World News
Officer suspended after Tasering 95 year old woman in Australian care home
A 95 year old woman with dementia was critically injured after being Tasered by a police officer at a care home in Australia. The officer, a 33 year old senior constable, has been suspended with pay as an investigation into the incident continues. Clare Nowland is currently receiving end-of-life care in a hospital, and the police response has been widely…
- World News
Tragedy in rocklin: Man killed while rescuing ducks, teen driver involved
A tragic incident occurred in Rocklin, California, when a 41 year old man was fatally struck by a car driven by a teenager while attempting to help a family of ducks cross the road. The accident took place approximately 25 miles northeast of Sacramento. According to witnesses, Casey Rivara had ensured the ducks reached safety before the collision occurred. No…
- World News
South Sudan airport becomes camp for Eritreans fleeing conflict
Paloich Airport in South Sudan has become a makeshift camp for thousands of refugees fleeing the neighbouring Sudan conflict. They now live in dire conditions without basic amenities such as running water, toilets, or kitchens. Many of these refugees are Eritreans, who had sought asylum in Sudan before being displaced once again due to ongoing violence. They are now waiting…
- World News
Greece’s political earthquake: Mitsotakis wins, Tsipras suffers huge setback
Greece experienced a “political earthquake” as the conservative Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his centre-right New Democracy party secured a significant electoral victory. With nearly 41% of the vote, the party was just five seats short of a majority. Alexis Tsipras, the centre-left rival and leader of the Syriza party, congratulated Mitsotakis as Syriza only managed to secure 20% of…
- World News
Jennifer Lawrence’s film spotlights Afghan women defying Taliban
A young woman confronts a Taliban fighter, accusing him of oppressing women and closing schools and universities, in a scene from the documentary Bread and Roses. The film, produced by Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Lawrence, explores the lives of three Afghan women following the Taliban‘s takeover. Lawrence highlights the importance of showcasing women fighting back, a side of the story not…
