Avanti West Coast workers to strike over Christmas

out of the summary. In a Steve Nease cartoon from December 18, 2024, a humorous and satirical take on current events is depicted. The cartoon likely includes clever visual commentary on a relevant topic, presented in Nease's signature style. Viewers can expect a witty and thought-provoking illustration that reflects the artist's unique perspective on the world around us. Full Article

U.K. inflation rose to 2.6% in November, in line with economist forecasts, with core inflation at 3.5%. Structural issues and government decisions are expected to continue driving prices higher. Services inflation remains strong, ruling out a December rate cut by the Bank of England, despite weaker-than-expected economic growth. Full Article

Vanuatu's capital, Port Vila, was left without water following a destructive magnitude 7.3 earthquake that caused widespread devastation, resulting in at least 14 confirmed deaths and numerous injuries. Rescue efforts continued as people remained trapped in collapsed buildings, with telecommunications severely impacted. The earthquake, centered west of Port Vila, led to damaged infrastructure, including hospitals and water reservoirs, posing significant challenges for aid distribution and recovery efforts in the country heavily reliant on agriculture and...

Sophie Henson, a survivor of strangulation, welcomes new guidance for punishing offenders issued by the Sentencing Council after being strangled by her ex-partner while pregnant. Rachel Williams, a domestic abuse survivor and campaigner, supports the new guidelines and hopes they will lead to more accountability for perpetrators. Johanna Robinson, a member of the Sentencing Council, emphasizes the importance of recognizing the harm caused by strangulation and suffocation, highlighting the need for judges to consider signs...

A religious schism within the United Methodist Church in Nigeria has escalated to violence, resulting in the fatal shooting of a church member and the deaths of two young children in Taraba state. The schism arose from the UMC's decision to repeal LGBTQ bans, leading to the formation of the Global Methodist Church by conservative breakaway churches. The Global Methodist Church held its inaugural general conference recently, with the UMC lifting bans on LGBTQ ordination...

Russian security services have detained a 29-year-old man from Uzbekistan in connection with the killing of senior general Igor Kirillov and his assistant in Moscow. The suspect was recruited by Ukrainian intelligence and confessed to being offered a reward and permission to move to the EU in exchange for carrying out the assassination. Kirillov, head of Russia's Radiation, Chemical and Biological Protection Forces, was killed in a blast outside his apartment block, with Ukraine claiming...