The US Senate confirmed Pete Hegseth as defense secretary with a narrow 51-50 vote, following a contentious debate. Vice President JD Vance cast the deciding vote after three Republicans joined all Democrats in opposition. Hegseth, a military veteran and former Fox News host, faced accusations of misconduct during the confirmation process.
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White it's not know what access DOGE has and to what extent, Donald Trump asserted that DOGE will not touch Social Security. "Social Security will not be touched, it will only be strengthened," Trump recently said adding that he would "weed out" undocumented people from the benefits. “We have illegal immigrants on Social Security and we’re going to find out who they are and take them off… we’re not going to stand for that.â€
Thailand became the first Southeast Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage on January 23, 2025. Over 200 couples registered to marry at an event organized by Bangkok Pride. The law, passed in 2024, grants same-sex couples full legal, financial, medical, adoption, and inheritance rights. Prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra celebrated the historic achievement, acknowledging the LGBTQ+ community's decades-long fight for equality and marking a new era of gender diversity awareness in... Expand
Starbucks workers across the US launched a five-day strike, demanding better contract terms. The union, representing over 10,000 baristas, accuses Starbucks of stalling negotiations and offering inadequate wages. Starbucks defends its compensation package and blames the union for halting talks.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa dismissed claims of persecution against white Afrikaners, countering assertions from US President Donald Trump and Elon Musk. He urged unity within the country, highlighting that the allegations of targeted farm attacks and 'white genocide' lack factual basis and are being used to divide South Africans.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg blamed former COO Sheryl Sandberg for Facebook's inclusivity culture during a meeting with Trump advisor Stephen Miller. Zuckerberg plans to abandon DEI policies and focus on tech products. He announced new guidelines and layoffs to reset the company, signaling alignment with Trump's stance on DEI culture.
A strike by paramilitaries on El-Fasher, the last city in Sudan's Darfur region not under their control, has killed at least 12 people, both the army and local activists said. "The militia bombarded the city of El-Fasher with heavy artillery, killing 12 people and wounding 17," the army's Sixth Infantry Division in El-Fasher said Wednesday.
Economist Raghuram Rajan contested the Trump administration's economic views, rebutting claims that high foreign demand for US Treasuries drives trade deficits. He attributed deficits to excessive domestic spending and warned that aggressive trade policies risk undermining confidence in the US dollar without resolving global imbalances.
Venezuela agreed to resume repatriation flights carrying deported nationals from the US following an agreement between the two countries. This decision addresses the temporary halt from earlier in the month and ensures the safe return of migrants with the safeguard of their human rights.
Meta offers TikTok creators financial incentives, longer Reels video durations, and new editing tools to entice them to Instagram and Facebook amidst TikTok's uncertainty in the US. Despite potential resistance due to Meta's perceived political affiliations, financial rewards may sway creators' and followers' platform choices.
Andrew Furey, the premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, has resigned unexpectedly, announcing his return to his career as an orthopedic surgeon. Furey achieved a historic hydroelectric agreement with Quebec but faced challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic. He cited family considerations and electoral timing as reasons for his decision, remaining in office until a successor is chosen.