China's anti-corruption campaign under President Xi Jinping reached a new peak in 2024, with a record 56 high-ranking officials investigated, a 25% surge from 2023. The campaign has intensified scrutiny on central party agencies and the military, including the PLA Rocket Force, while cases in the financial sector decreased.
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NASA astronaut Don Pettit's video of dressing in zero gravity has gone viral. In the clip, Pettit uniquely slides into his pants with both legs simultaneously, showcasing the lighter side of life on the ISS. The video has garnered significant social media attention, highlighting the novelty and challenges of mundane tasks in space.
A watchdog investigation reveals the US department of health and human services' migrant grants significantly increased from 2020 to 2024, with $22.6 billion distributed. The grants supported vehicle purchases, housing, and business credit development, with over $10 billion allocated in fiscal year 2023 alone.
Vice President Kamala Harris is reportedly saddened by President Joe Biden's claim that he could have won the 2024 election, revealing a strain in their relationship. Despite endorsing Harris, Biden's comments have led to speculation about underlying tensions. Kamala Harris told her friends that Biden's statement in one of his last interviews shows "one-sided loyalty".
German prosecutors charged an Iraqi couple, Twana HS and Asia RA, with enslavement, torture, and war crimes for holding two young Yazidi girls captive. The victims were subjected to physical and sexual abuse, forced labor, and religious oppression. The couple's actions were linked to the Islamic State's campaign against the Yazidi community.
Snowy conditions led to numerous crashes in Virginia and North Carolina, including a fatal incident involving over 50 vehicles on I-40. Emergency services responded to nearly 1,200 collisions in North Carolina and 500 in Virginia. The severe weather caused power outages and flight cancellations, with forecasts predicting further snowfall.
US President Trump suggested Ukraine should hold elections to potentially remove President Zelenskyy, who he inaccurately claimed has a 4% approval rating. Trump criticized Zelenskyy's handling of the war with Russia and the use of US funds. He also implied Ukraine began the conflict, despite Russia's invasion in February 2022.
The CIA has shifted its stance toward favouring the theory that Covid-19 emerged from a lab in Wuhan, citing conditions in high-security labs as partial evidence. This new assessment, however, is held with 'low confidence' due to fragmentary data. This change comes amid debates over whether China sufficiently regulated its markets or lab security.
Japanese police arrested seven people, including a Brazilian national, for running an illegal prostitution ring disguised as massage parlors in Tokyo’s Kabukicho red-light district. The group, led by 54-year-old Kazuki Sudo, allegedly targeted foreign tourists, with 60-70 per cent of clients from abroad. They operated an English-language website and accepted multiple currencies. Authorities are concerned that Japan’s tourism boom is fueling the underground sex industry.
Ken Martin has been elected as the new chair of the Democratic National Committee, succeeding Jaime Harrison. Martin aims to strengthen party infrastructure, regain working-class support, and enhance rapid response against Donald Trump, as the Democratic Party grapples with low approval ratings and internal divisions.
Luigi Mangione, a 26-year-old Ivy League graduate, was arrested in Pennsylvania for the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Mangione was found with a 3D-printed gun, silencer, and forged ID. A manifesto detailing anti-capitalist views and grievances against the healthcare industry was also recovered, suggesting a possible motive.