World News

By Jackie Wattles and Ross Levitt, CNN In this photo from NASA, astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams appear inside the vestibule between the forward port on the International Space Station's Harmony module and Boeing's Starliner spacecraft in June. Photo: NASA/AP via CNN Newsource NASA has announced that it is delaying the SpaceX Crew-10 launch, a move that will keep astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams - who already had their stay aboard the International Space Station unexpectedly extended - in orbit even longer. Williams and Wilmore launched to space in June, piloting the first crewed test flight of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. Their trip, expected to last about a week, ballooned into a monthslong assignment after their vehicle experienced technical issues en route t...

By Zoe Sottile, Josh Campbell and Artemis Moshtaghian, CNN Photo: Brian Glenn/TMX/AP via CNN Newsource Mysterious flying objects overhead. Concern and confusion. And calls for military intervention. This isn't the plot of "War of the Worlds," but rather the result of numerous possible drone sightings in the US in recent weeks. The flying objects have been spotted over residential neighborhoods, restricted sites and critical infrastructure. The sightings have put intense pressure on federal agencies to provide more information about the aircraft, as officials have urged calm and emphasized there is no evidence suggesting the sightings pose a security threat. The Biden administration has not identified "anything anomalous or any national security or public safety risks over the civilian...

By Andrew Osborn and Dmitry Antonov, Reuters Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov was the chief of Russia's Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Protection Troops. Photo: Russian Ministry of Defence / SUPPLIED Russia says it has detained an Uzbek man who had confessed to planting and detonating a bomb which killed a top general, Igor Kirillov, in Moscow on the instructions of Ukraine's SBU security service. Kirillov, who was chief of Russia's Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Protection Troops, was killed outside his apartment building on Tuesday along with his assistant when a bomb attached to an electric scooter went off. He is the most senior Russian military officer to be assassinated in Russia by Ukraine. Ukraine's SBU intelligence service took responsibility for the killing after Ukrain...

Rescuers search damaged buildings in Vanuatu for anyone trapped after the 7.3 earthquake. Photo: Supplied / Vanuatu Police Force There are warnings the death toll is likely to rise as rescue efforts continue in Vanuatu for people trapped in collapsed buildings. The government confirmed yesterday at least 14 people had died, though a former Vanuatu prime minister said officials told him that had already risen to 19. Hundreds more were injured. International military and emergency support was on the way, including from New Zealand. But access was difficult with the international airport still closed for commercial flights. Follow RNZ's liveblog for the latest updates: Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every w...

Vanuatu seasonal workers check into a hotel in Nadi to await the resumption of commercial airline services to Port Vila. December 2024 Photo: RNZ Pacific/Koroi Hawkins Dozens of Vanuatu workers returning home from working on orchards and vineyards in New Zealand are stuck in Fiji with commercial flights yet to resume to the quake-stricken country. Local authorities said on Wednesday the Bauerfield International Airport would likely remain closed until at least Saturday. Similar scenes were playing out for their colleagues across the ditch, with Australian airlines the first to announce the cancellation of flights to Port Vila. RNZ Pacific caught up with a cohort of more than 80 workers trying to sort out their accommodation for the night at the Grand Melanesian Hotel in Nadi. Danson Kir...

A damaged building after a strike in the city of Zaporizhzhia on 10 December, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Photo: HANDOUT Far from their homes in one of the world's most isolated and secretive states, about 11,000 North Korean soldiers find themselves at the centre of Europe's biggest conflict since World War II. Little is known about the North Korean troops deployed to support Russia in its devastating yearslong war in Ukraine - or what exactly they will be ordered to do - and their presence hasn't even been officially acknowledged by Moscow or Pyongyang. US, Ukrainian and South Korean intelligence says the North Koreans have already engaged in combat operations, joining a Russian force of tens of thousands to carry out an assault on Ukrainian positions in Russia's western Kur...

As the search for those feared trapped continues, New Zealand Defence Force is among those from several countries being sent to assist. Photo: AFP / NZ Defence Force / Sgt Maria Eves New Zealand emergency workers from both the Defence Force and Fire and Emergency are joining the race to save those trapped under buildings that have collapsed in Port Vila after a 7.3 earthquake hit Vanuatu. There are fears some remain trapped under landslides also. The death toll climbed to 14 on Wednesday while at least 200 are being treated for injuries. Two Chinese nationals were among the fatalities, the Chinese ambassador told Reuters. There were concerns for two New Zealand embassy staff who were unaccounted for overnight but they were safe, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters announced this mor...

By Maki Shiraki and Norihiko Shirouzu, Reuters A combined Honda and Nissan would create a $54 billion company. Photo: 123RF Honda and Nissan face competition from Tesla and Chinese EV makers. Merger would create $54 billion company, world's number 3 auto group by vehicle sales. Honda, Nissan also exploring ways to cooperate with Mitsubishi - source. Honda and Nissan are in talks to deepen ties, two people said on Wednesday, including a possible merger, the clearest sign yet of how Japan's once seemingly unbeatable auto industry is being reshaped by challenges from Tesla and Chinese rivals. A combined Honda and Nissan would create a $54 billion company with annual output of 7.4 million vehicles, making it the world's third-largest auto group by vehicle sales after Toyota and Volkswa...

By Holly Tregenza and Ethan Rix for ABC Alan Jones arrives at court in Sydney where he faced another eight charges. Photo: ABC / Ethan Rix Alan Jones's lawyer has told a Sydney court the veteran broadcaster will plead not guilty to a total of 34 charges relating to alleged indecent assault and sexual touching incidents spanning two decades. Eight new assault with act of indecency charges relating to a tenth complainant were laid against Jones in court on Wednesday. The charges now include 11 counts of aggravated indecent assault, 19 counts of assault with act of indecency, two counts of sexually touching another person without consent and two counts of common assault. Last month the 83-year-old was charged by the Child Abuse Squad with a total of 26 offences against nine victims. Fac...

The series creator, Joe Brumm, also announced his decision to step away from the popular children's animated show. Source link