President Trump is pushing for major federal workforce reductions and program consolidations, focusing on career civil servants. Agencies must submit plans by March 13 and implement changes by September 30, potentially disrupting essential services. Opposition is expected from labor unions and Democratic leaders. The administration justifies this as a fiscal necessity and a strategic shift.
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Ethiopia is conducting forced evictions on an "unprecedented" scale, Amnesty International said on Monday, urging authorities to "immediately pause" urban renewal projects. The international NGO urged a pause in evictions and suspension of the project "until a human rights impact assessment is conducted".
Kash Patel's girlfriend Alexis Wilkins recounted her meeting with President Donald Trump as she spoke after Patel was sworn in. The president asked only one question about Kash: whether he was loyal, and Wilkins was confident in her answer. The country singer posted a photo with Kash and President Trump and captioned it "God Bless America."
Severe weather alerts affected the Midwest and extended to the East Coast, with heavy snowfall, ice storms, and strong winds disrupting transportation. American Airlines issued a travel advisory, and governors declared emergency statuses as residents faced hazardous conditions, power outages, and significant travel disruptions.
A prominent Iranian pop singer who made a song urging women to remove their headscarves said Wednesday that he was willing to pay "a price for freedom" after being flogged 74 times by the authorities as part of his sentence. In a defiant subsequent post, "The person who is not willing to pay a price for freedom, is not worthy of freedom."
As the world welcomed 2025, major global events marked 2024. Record heat tied to climate disasters, political upheavals, a Trump re-election, and Middle East turmoil were notable. Celebrations spanned cities from Paris to Sydney despite challenges. Looking ahead, major events like BTS's return and a revamped Club World Cup await amid rising global temperatures.
Elon Musk publicly urged lawmakers to reject a government funding bill, warning of electoral consequences for supporters. He insisted no bills be passed until President-elect Trump takes office. House Speaker Johnson, who spoke with Musk, is pushing for the bill's passage to avoid a government shutdown and provide disaster relief.
An estimated one million people are expected at Times Square to celebrate New Year's Eve. The NYPD, citing the heightened global threat environment and recent Israel-Hamas tensions, is implementing extensive security measures including drones and a large officer presence to ensure safety, despite no specific threats.
USAID's future is uncertain after being placed under the direction of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, sparking concerns among aid organizations and Democrats. The agency, known for its swift global humanitarian responses, faces potential dissolution amid Republican criticism and budget cuts initiated by Elon Musk's task force.
During a press conference, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau became tearful as he highlighted his government's $10-a-day childcare policy. Some social media users mocked his emotional display, suggesting it was timed for the upcoming election, and criticized him for not showing similar emotions during other crises.
US President Donald Trump called China's AI model DeepSeek a wake-up call for American industries. He emphasised the need for the US to focus on AI innovation. This comes after Nvidia lost nearly $600 billion in market value. DeepSeek's success highlights the growing competition between the US and China in the AI sector.