Latest News Headlines for Monday January 15, 2024 – In the Republican primary, while many voters see Donald Trump as a strong contender for November, Nikki Haley currently shows a greater lead over Joe Biden in potential head-to-head matchups than either Trump or Ron DeSantis.
As the GOP presidential nomination race unfolds, Trump, Haley, and DeSantis all appear to have a national advantage over President Biden should they become his challenger. However, Haley and DeSantis face more challenging paths to the nomination, trailing significantly behind Trump at this stage.
—
London’s Metropolitan Police apprehended six pro-Palestine activists over an alleged scheme to disrupt operations at the London Stock Exchange.
The investigation revealed that members of the Palestine Action group intended to inflict damage and attach themselves to infrastructure on Monday morning to prevent the stock exchange building from opening. “These are significant arrests,” stated Metropolitan Police Detective Superintendent Sian Thomas.
—
John Kerry, U.S. special envoy on climate, is reportedly stepping down from his role in the Biden administration in the coming weeks, according to sources familiar with his plans.
Kerry, with a background as a senator and secretary of state, was appointed shortly after Joe Biden’s election in 2020 to spearhead global climate change initiatives for the administration. A key figure in drafting the 2015 Paris climate accords, Kerry brought extensive international experience to the role.
—
Denmark’s Prime Minister announced Frederik X as the new king following Queen Margrethe II’s formal abdication. The historic event drew massive crowds celebrating the succession from a revered monarch to her esteemed son.
Queen Margrethe, at 83, became the first Danish monarch in nearly 900 years to voluntarily abdicate the throne. Thousands gathered outside the palace to witness the royal transition, marking the first Danish succession in over fifty years not prompted by a monarch’s death.
—
Ecuador’s prison agency announced the release of all prison guards and administrative staff held hostage by inmates amid nationwide civil unrest.
According to the SNAI prisons agency, 178 employees were taken hostage across five prisons on Monday. Tragically, one guard was killed in the El Oro prison. The hostages, held in facilities in Azuay, Cañar, Tungurahua, Cotopaxi, and Napo, were eventually released.
—
A tragic hot air balloon crash in Eloy, Arizona, resulted in four fatalities and one critical injury on Sunday morning, according to the Eloy Police Department.
The crash occurred in a rural desert area of Pinal County, about five miles north of Eloy, at 7:30 a.m. local time. Eloy’s mayor confirmed that 13 individuals were aboard the balloon, including eight skydivers, four passengers, and a pilot, as reported by local ABC Arizona affiliate KNXV.
—
Following Hurricane Otis’s impact on Acapulco on October 25, the Mexican government deployed 25,000 troops to the resort city. Despite this, violence continued throughout the week.
The Acapulco business chamber reported significant disruptions due to gang threats and attacks, causing approximately 90% of the city’s passenger vans to cease operations, affecting the primary transportation mode. The violence also led to early business closures on Thursday and Friday. The Category 5 hurricane resulted in 52 deaths, 32 missing persons, and extensive damage to nearly all resort hotels.
—
Ruth Ashton Taylor, a pioneering journalist and the first female newscaster on the West Coast, has passed away at the age of 101.
Taylor died on Thursday at an assisted living facility in San Rafael, California, as confirmed by her family. The cause of death was not disclosed. Her daughter, Laurel Conklin, shared on Sunday that her mother’s passing was sudden. Born in Long Beach in 1922, Taylor had an over 50-year career spanning radio and television news.
