What happened while you were on Holiday?

While you enjoyed your summer holidays at the beach, the world kept moving with some exciting, surprising, and important events. From sporting triumphs to weather extremes and social media upsets, there’s plenty to catch up on. Here’s a quick look at some of the biggest stories that happened while you were away from school.

Around the world, big events made headlines during the holidays. New York announced a $9 congestion fee to reduce traffic in the city, making it one of the first in the United States to try such a plan. In Tibet, a strong earthquake shook the region, causing damage and worries for locals. Meanwhile, wildfires in Los Angeles burned large areas, forcing many people to leave their homes. In other news, some countries discussed banning TikTok over security concerns, sparking debates about the popular app. Sadly, the world’s oldest person, a 116-year-old woman from Ashiya, passed away, marking the end of an incredible life story.

In Aotearoa, there was plenty of national news to keep Kiwis talking. The government announced an increase in the minimum wage, giving workers a boost to help with rising living costs. A Chicken farm in Otago had an outbreak of bird flu and they had to ensure steps were in place to protect people and poultry. A new list of the most popular Pacific baby names for 2024 was released, celebrating the rich cultural heritage of the Pacific Islands.

Sports fans had plenty to cheer about over the holidays. Kiwi racing star Liam Lawson made waves by joining the Red Bull Formula 1 team, showing the world New Zealand’s driving talent. In darts, 17-year-old Luke Littler won the World Championship, becoming the youngest winner in history. Back home, the ASB Classic tennis tournament thrilled crowds, with Gael Monfils taking the male trophy and Clara Tauson in the women’s finale. Meanwhile, Australia took victory in the SailGP series, defeating the Spanish and Brits in the final.

Some strange and surprising stories made the news over the break. ACC revealed that it handled 300 cockroach-related injury cases last year, proving that even tiny bugs can cause big problems. In Australia, a man survived a close encounter with one of the world’s deadliest snakes. The snake was hiding in his shoes, but quick thinking saved the day.

The summer holidays may be over, but the stories that unfolded during the break will keep us talking for weeks to come. From global events to local updates, there was no shortage of news while you were away.