Category: News
Kremlin Confirms Readiness for Putin to Meet Trump
Trump Transition The president-elect had said the Russian leader wanted to meet him to discuss the war in Ukraine. The Kremlin stopped short of that, saying it could only happen after he takes office. By Ivan Nechepurenko The Kremlin said on Friday that Russia remains open to a meeting between President Vladimir V. Putin and…
‘Telford model’ is more effective for child abuse inquiries, says former chair
Tom Crowther KC says public inquiries seen as ‘Rolls-Royce solution’ but local review in Shropshire led to real progress Public inquiries are seen as the “Rolls-Royce solution” to tackling the grooming gangs scandal but local reviews are more effective, the former chair of the Telford child sexual exploitation (CSE) inquiry has said. Tom Crowther KC…
Weather tracker: powerful Santa Ana winds fuel California wildfires
Gusty conditions have enabled fires to take hold and spread at great speed. Plus, a cold snap grips South Korea The rapid spread of one of the most destructive wildfires in the history of Los Angeles is believed to have been fuelled by strong Santa Ana winds and months of drought. Santa Ana winds occur…
Belgium’s Food Agency Advises Against Eating Your Christmas Tree
The country’s food agency warned against using evergreens in food after the city of Ghent suggested an unusual form of recycling: spruce needle butter. By Amelia Nierenberg Amelia Nierenberg reported from London. She bought a potted holiday tree this year, which she plans to water, but not eat. Go ahead and recycle your Christmas tree.…
Q&A: CIA Chief on how the U.S. intel community handled Russia, China and Mideast
By Mary Louise Kelly , Noah Caldwell , Ashley Brown During his four years at the helm of the Central Intelligence Agency, William Burns has witnessed firsthand a dizzying number of international crises. Early in his tenure, in the summer of 2021, he flew to Kabul to negotiate with the Taliban over the U.S. withdrawal…
Sainsbury’s to raise pay to £12.60 an hour due to ‘tough’ inflation
Sainsbury’s has said it will raise hourly pay though it is cautious about recruiting new staff this year due to rising costs. The supermarket chain said wages would rise 5% to £12.60 but it will be introduced in two phases “to help manage a particularly tough cost inflation environment”. Sainsbury’s expects costs to jump due…
‘High demand’ for City of Culture opening ceremony
Additional tickets for the opening ceremony of City of Culture have been released due to “high demand”, organisers have said. Despite minus temperatures being forecast for Rise, the curtain-raiser for Bradford 2025, the event is expected to be popular. The open-air performance in City Park tonight has Bradford-born magician Steven Frayne, formerly known as Dynamo,…
South Africa police find 26 naked Ethiopians held by suspected traffickers
Three people arrested after group escapes Johannesburg house by breaking a window and burglar bar South African police have rescued 26 Ethiopians from a suspected human trafficking ring in Johannesburg after the group broke a window and burglar bar to escape from a house where they were being held naked. Three people were arrested on…
Israeli Hostage Declared Killed in Gaza as Fears for Captives Mount
Middle East Crisis Hamza Ziyadne, 23, was abducted in the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel alongside his siblings and father, whose body was also recovered this week. By Aaron Boxerman Reporting from Jerusalem The Israeli military said on Friday that Hamza Ziyadne, an Arab citizen of Israel held hostage in Gaza, had been killed in…
Ontario leader warns of ‘pain’ for US if Trump moves forward with tariffs on Canada
Premier of most populous province says rhetoric clouds trade relationship worth hundreds of billions of dollars The United States will “feel pain” if Donald Trump doesn’t back down from his threat to impose steep tariffs on its northern neighbour, the leader of Canada’s most populous province has warned. After a tumultuous week that left Canadian…
Venezuela’s Autocrat Detains U.S. Citizens As He Tightens Grip on Power
President Nicolás Maduro will be sworn in for another six years on Friday, and he is hoping to use foreign prisoners to get his way on the global stage. By Julie Turkewitz and Genevieve Glatsky Reporting from Bogotá, Colombia He is an autocrat condemned inside and outside his country as having stolen the nation’s last…
Sites without sound: Oslo leads in quiet, low-emission electric construction
Norwegian capital’s sites were 98% free of fossil fuels last year, and it aims to increase use of electric machinery Quiet electric machines like these make it easy to work in the city centre, the construction manager said – and keep the neighbours happy. “If they have less noise, we get fewer complaints.” The peaceful…
Fire evacuation alert sent to millions in error
Residents were already on edge as more fires erupted across the Los Angeles region, traumatising millions of people who feel that after four days there’s no end in sight. Then on Thursday afternoon came another jolt in the form of a text alert. This one was mistakenly sent to every cell phone in the county…
10 people have died in the wildfires spreading across Southern California
By Ayana Archie This is a developing story. For the latest local updates head to LAist.com and sign up for breaking news alerts. Fires continue to rage on in Southern California, as tens of thousands of acres of land have been decimated, and the flames have been partially contained. The latest on the fires | What’s been lost…
21 Products That Reviewers Say Actually Helped Solve “Gross” Problems
Our writers and editors independently determine what we cover and recommend. When you buy through our links, E! may earn a commission. Learn more. If you’re looking to hit the refresh button on all your pesky problems, from personal care to home maintenance & more, it may be time to do a little shopping. But…
UK security officials monitor Elon Musk’s posts
UK officials are monitoring social media posts by Elon Musk and others as a possible security risk. The monitoring is being carried out by a team in the Home Office’s Homeland Security group, which is responsible for reducing national security risks and, according to a government website, “focuses on the highest harm risks to the…
Lebanon Turns a Political Page as Hezbollah’s Hold Is Weakened
Syria’s Civil War News Analysis A stinging defeat in war has left the once untouchable group on its most uncertain footing in years. By Christina Goldbaum For decades, Hezbollah’s grip on Lebanon was iron tight. With its vast arsenal, the militant group was more powerful than the country’s national military. It controlled or held sway…
Kenya court rules that criminalising attempted suicide is unconstitutional
The judgment has been welcomed as an important shift in perceptions by human rights and mental health groups A Kenyan judge has declared as unconstitutional sections of the country’s laws that criminalise attempted suicide. In a landmark ruling on Thursday, Judge Lawrence Mugambi of the country’s high court stated that section 226 of the penal…
Shui Ka-chun, Hong Kong Activist, Dies
A social worker and teacher imprisoned for his activism, he later wrote about the toll of incarceration and worked to help others behind bars. By Tiffany May Reporting from Hong Kong Shiu Ka-chun, a former social worker and pro-democracy lawmaker in Hong Kong who devoted his last years to helping protesters imprisoned after a crackdown…
Jimmy Carter is no saint in my house
You’re reading the Code Switch newsletter, written by Jasmine Romero, our outgoing interim executive producer. listen to the Code Switch podcast to hear about all the messy and meaningful ways race shows up in all of our lives. Let’s take a stroll through history: It’s early January and we’re a few weeks away from the inauguration of…
Alec Baldwin sues prosecutors in Rust trial
Alec Baldwin has filed a lawsuit against those involved in pursuing criminal charges against him over the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the film set of Rust. The US actor is suing the defendants, including special prosecutor Kari Morrissey and Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies, for malicious prosecution and civil rights violations. Baldwin…
What do Greenlanders make of Donald Trump’s advances for their home?
Though few welcome idea of being acquired by the US, status quo as part of Denmark is not universally popular Greenland’s prime minister has called for unity and calm after Donald Trump reheated his global row with Nato allies on Tuesday, when the US president-elect said he was prepared to use tariffs or military force…
Visa-waiver system could overwhelm UK immigration services, law firm warns
There are also fears electronic travel authorisation will threaten post-peace tourism sector in Northern Ireland The UK Home Office’s already burdened immigration services could be overwhelmed this summer when a new visa-waiver system comes into force for European business travellers and tourists in April, a leading law firm has said. There have also been fresh…
‘We want the whole truth’: residents of Queensland city plagued by foul odours fear inquiry won’t clear the air
After years of enduring fetid smells from waste plants, some in Ipswich are sceptical of a freshly announced inquiry into the health impacts Residents of a city who have endured years of noxious odours from waste plants are divided over the announcement of an inquiry into the health impacts. For the last six years, residents…
Streeting defends NHS use of private sector but says it must ‘pull its weight’
Health secretary accused of talking ‘utter nonsense’ about private sector’s ability to help cut NHS waiting times Wes Streeting has defended the growing use of the private sector to help tackle long waiting lists for treatment but said providers must “pull their weight” and not take resources away from the NHS. The health secretary, who…
Jimmy Carter Funeral: Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood Show United Front
Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood attended President Jimmy Carter’s funeral, where they performed, three months after Brooks was accused of sexual assault in a lawsuit. Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood are momentarily stepping back into the spotlight. While the couple have remained largely out of the public eye since an anonymous woman filed a sexual…
‘The scale is blowing my mind’: Bradford ready to shift perceptions as city of culture
From a spectacular theatrical opening to Afrobeat brass bands via David Hockney and Wallace and Gromit, the city has big plans Below-zero temperatures are forecast at City Park on Friday evening but the warmth radiating from Bradford’s mighty UK city of culture opening will undoubtedly put everyone in the mood to celebrate. The city was…
Children born and raised in secret for years to get NSW birth certificates
Tribunal finds young couple faced ‘difficult situation’ and were too afraid to tell their ‘conservative’ parents in China about the pregnancies A young woman who kept two pregnancies secret and gave birth at home was afraid to speak up in part due to her conservative Chinese background. At 19 years old the woman gave birth…
Musk interviews German far-right frontwoman
Elon Musk took his endorsement of Germany’s far-right party to the next level on Thursday, hosting a live chat with its frontwoman, Alice Weidel. The 74-minute conversation ranged across energy policy, German bureaucracy, Adolf Hitler, Mars and the meaning of life. The world’s richest man unequivocally urged Germans to back Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) in…
Gerald Ford Tells Jimmy Carter “Welcome Home Old Friend” in Eulogy
Before President Jimmy Carter is laid to rest, his colleagues and loved ones are honoring his life. And that includes the late President Gerald Ford, who had made an agreement with President Carter during their lifetimes to write and read the other’s eulogy at their funeral. But, given that Ford—who died in 2006—was 11 years…
Libya expels 600 Nigeriens in ‘dangerous and traumatising’ desert journey
Largest known deportation of people back to Niger to date comes as EU is accused of outsourcing cruelty to reduce Mediterranean crossings More than 600 people have been forcibly deported from Libya on a “dangerous and traumatising” journey across the Sahara, in what is thought to be one of the largest expulsions from the north…
Israeli settlers in West Bank see Trump win as chance to go further
On a clear day, the skyscrapers of Tel Aviv are visible from the hill above Karnei Shomron, an Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank. “I do feel different from Tel Aviv,” said Sondra Baras, who has lived in Karnei Shomron for almost 40 years. “I’m living in a place where my ancestors lived thousands…
Michael Sheen to fund new national theatre for Wales
Hollywood actor Michael Sheen is funding a new theatre company to fill the gap left by the folding of National Theatre Wales. He will be the artistic director of Welsh National Theatre, which will aim to tell “big stories on big stages for big audiences”. The first production, due in autumn 2026 and starring Sheen…
2024 Is Officially the Hottest Year on Record
Earth Surpasses 1.5 Degrees C in Hottest Year on Record 2024 was the hottest year on record and the first to top 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming. All 10 of the hottest years have been in the last decade By Andrea Thompson edited by Dean Visser Join Our Community of Science Lovers! It’s official: 2024…
Los Angeles fires burn through city as death toll expected to rise
Burned areas cover more than 30,000 acres of LA and teams search for casualties as fires continue to rage Crews were combing through the rubble in Los Angeles with cadaver dogs in search of additional victims from the still burning fire siege that has forced tens of thousands to flee and reduced entire neighborhoods to…
Violent protests in China after student falls to his death
The death of a teenage boy sparked violent protests in a city in north-west China, the BBC has confirmed through verified video. In the videos shared on social media, protesters can be seen hurling objects at police and officers beating some demonstrators in Pucheng in Shaanxi province. Authorities said the teenager fell to his death…
Winter Storm Cora brings cold and snow to the Southern U.S.
By Nate Perez Sleet and snow began to fall across much of the southern U.S. Thursday and more is expected Friday as the second major winter storm sweeps across the country. Winter Storm Cora is expected to bring between four to six inches of snow between Texas and the Carolinas by Sunday. But parts of…
Reeves heads to China as pressure continues over market trouble
The Chancellor Rachel Reeves is travelling to China in a bid to boost trade and economic ties, as she faces pressure over government borrowing costs hitting their highest level in years. The three day-visit has been criticised by some Conservatives who claim she should have cancelled the trip to prioritise dealing with economic issues at…
Trump special counsel report in limbo despite appeals court ruling
Injunction barring the release of Jack Smith’s report remains in place for at least three more days A federal appeals court on Thursday rejected an attempt to block special counsel Jack Smith from releasing his final report into the two federal criminal cases he brought against Donald Trump but, crucially, did not lift a temporary…
Jimmy Carter Laid to Rest in Georgia Next to Wife Rosalynn Carter
Jimmy Carter—the 39th president of the United States, who died on Dec. 29 at 100—was laid to rest at the Georgia home he shared with wife Rosalynn Carter. Former President Jimmy Carter has reached his final resting place. The 39th president of the United States was laid to rest Jan. 9 next to his wife…
Boeing and Google give $1m each to Trump’s inauguration
US aviation giant Boeing has told BBC News it is donating $1m (£812,600) to an inauguration fund for President-elect Donald Trump. Google has also confirmed that it has made a similar donation as the two firms join a growing list of major American companies contributing to the fund. Trump’s inauguration, marking the start of his…
Sydney synagogue vandalised with swastikas in attack in NSW premier’s electorate
Police launch investigation as Chris Minns condemns ‘monstrous, appalling’ incident in Allawah, Kogarah Nazi swastikas have been scrawled across a Sydney synagogue in another episode of antisemitism, horrifying the Jewish community. The attack on the Southern Sydney Synagogue, in Allawah in NSW premier Chris Minns’ electorate of Kogarah, was committed by “bastards … with hate…
2024 first year to pass 1.5C global warming limit
The planet has moved a major step closer to warming more than 1.5C, new data shows, despite world leaders vowing a decade ago they would try to avoid this. The European Copernicus climate service, one of the main global data providers, said on Friday that 2024 was the first calendar year to pass the symbolic…
Police officer and man shot during physical altercation in Brisbane
Two in hospital after Queensland police were called to reports of a disturbance at a house on Tamar Street in Annerley A police officer and a man are being treated for potentially life-threatening injuries after both were shot in an altercation in Brisbane’s south on Friday morning. Queensland police were called to reports of a…
Gunman in ‘Pizzagate’ conspiracy attack fatally shot by North Carolina police
During traffic stop, officers fire at Edgar Welch, 2016 shooter at eatery mistakenly thought to be center of pedophile ring The gunman involved in the 2016 “Pizzagate” conspiracy theory attack on a Washington DC pizza restaurant that was mistakenly thought to be at the center of a pedophile ring has died after being shot by…
Price of resale tickets to be capped under plans to tackle touts
The government has announced plans to cap the price of resale tickets in a clamp-down on ticket touts who bulk buy tickets and then resell them for huge profits. The cap would apply to tickets in the live events industry including sport, music, comedy and theatre. It was one of the government’s election promises, after…
Inside the UK’s first legal drug consumption room
Welcome to the Thistle – the UK’s first and only drug consumption room. After nearly a decade of deadlock and wrangling over drug laws the centre is finally ready to open. On Monday it will welcome its first clients who will come in to inject illegally-bought heroin or cocaine under medical supervision. The Thistle is…
Trump loses Supreme Court appeal to block hush-money sentencing
Ximena Bustillo A divided U.S. Supreme Court rejected President-elect Donald Trump’s request to stop his sentencing in the New York hush-money case, scheduled for Friday. The court, in a rationale for its order Thursday, said Trump could address his issues with the verdict through appeals, and that “the burden that sentencing will impose on the…
9/11 guilty pleas delayed after US government objects
The US government has succeeded in temporarily blocking the accused mastermind of the 9/11 terror attacks from pleading guilty amid a dispute over the terms of a pre-trial agreement. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two co-defendants reached deals last summer to plead guilty to all charges in exchange for not facing a death penalty trial. In…
Craig Melvin Details Hoda Kotb’s Final Days Before Today Exit
Today anchor Craig Melvin exclusively told E! News that it’s been “bittersweet” as they get ready for Hoda Kotb’s Jan. 10 departure: “Everyday it’s just a rollercoaster of emotions.” Craig Melvin will be missing Hoda Kotb today and everyday. The NBC anchor—who will be replacing Hoda after her final appearance on Today Jan. 10—shared what it’s been like as the…
Supreme Court rejects Trump bid to halt hush-money case sentencing
The US Supreme Court has rejected Trump’s last-minute bid to halt his Friday sentencing in his hush-money criminal case. The president-elect had urged the top court to consider whether he was entitled to an automatic stay of his sentencing, but the justices rejected the application by 5-4. Trump was found guilty of falsifying records to…
TikTok Plans to Shut Down in U.S. Jan. 19 Due to Ban
TikTok said it will shut down by Jan. 19—the proposed date of the social media app’s U.S. ban—if the Supreme Court does not intervene. TikTok‘s time in the United States may be up. After all, the social media platform said it plans on shutting off in the Unites States Jan. 19 unless the Supreme Court…
The Best Running Gear for Beginners
It’s never too late to start running. Here’s the essential gear you need for the trail or the treadmill. Our writers and editors independently determine what we cover and recommend. When you buy through our links, E! may earn a commission. Learn more. When I first started running over a decade ago, I didn’t know what…
World Health Organization head on bond with Jimmy Carter: ‘I consider him my mentor’
By Gabrielle Emanuel The late President Jimmy Carter and Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus — the director-general of the World Health Organization — knew each other for 20 years. And they clearly had deep respect for each other. In 2011, Tedros was the first non-American recipient of the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Humanitarian Award. In 2023, Rosalynn…
Ed Sheeran stuns pupils with surprise appearance
Ed Sheeran stunned pupils when he made a surprise appearance during a school concert in Cardiff. The pop superstar performed for a crowd of 2,000 in the main hall at Fitzalan High School, before moving to a community centre in Splott. “It got me shaking,” said 17-year-old Year 12 pupil Kia, adding: “I had goosebumps.”…
Reasons given for Boris Johnson peerages ‘inadequate’, campaigner says
Martin Rosenbaum fought for 18 months to reveal who had supported nominations of two former special advisers The reasons given for a peerage awarded by Boris Johnson have been described as “inadequate” and a “mystery” by a freedom of information campaigner after an 18-month struggle. Charlotte Owen, a former special adviser in the Conservative government,…
Met bans pro-Palestine march from gathering outside BBC headquarters
Scotland Yard imposes Public Order Act owing to proximity of Broadcasting House to a nearby synagogue Scotland Yard has banned a pro-Palestine march from gathering outside the BBC’s London headquarters, owing to its proximity to a synagogue. Protesters were planning to gather outside Broadcasting House in Portland Place on Saturday 18 January before marching to…
Los Angeles Fires Could Push California’s Insurance System to the Brink
Los Angeles Fires Could Push California’s Insurance System to the Brink Damages from the recent fires in the Los Angeles area could overwhelm California’s already stressed insurer of last resort By Blanca Begert, Camille von Kaenel, Thomas Frank, Zack Colman & E&E News A cyclist pedals along Pacific Coast Highway past burning homes in Malibu,…
Se esperan fuertes vientos que alimentan los incendios forestales de California hasta el viernes
By Chandelis Duster This is a developing story. For the latest local updates, head to LAist.com. Also, sign up for NPR’s breaking news alerts. Red flag warnings have been extended through Friday for parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties as gusty winds whip across the area and multiple fires burn out of control. A red flag…
Friday Briefing: Racing to Control Los Angeles Fires
Plus, renovating a wrecked palazzo. By Emmett Lindner Officials hoped that a drop in wind speeds yesterday would give firefighters a window to take control of the fast-moving blazes that have raged unchecked this week. At least five people have been killed, but that figure is expected to rise. Almost 180,000 people were under evacuation…
Lebanon elects Joseph Aoun as president after two-year vacancy
Army commander’s election increases confidence that ceasefire with Israel will hold Lebanon’s parliament has elected the army commander Joseph Aoun as the country’s new president, ending a more than two-year vacancy and increasing confidence that a ceasefire with Israel will hold. Aoun received 99 out of 128 votes in the 13th attempt by a deeply…
Danes struggle with response to Trump Greenland threat
Copenhagen’s gloomy January weather matches the mood among Denmark’s politicians and business leaders. “We take this situation very, very seriously,” said Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen of Donald Trump’s threats to acquire Greenland – and punish Denmark with high tariffs if it stands in the way. But, he added, the government had “no ambition whatsoever…
Venâncio Mondlane Returns to Mozambique, Declaring Himself President
Unrest in Mozambique After a self-imposed exile, Venâncio Mondlane was welcomed home by delirious crowds supporting his claim that the country’s last election was stolen from him by corrupt elites. By John Eligon and Tavares Cebola Reporting from Maputo, Mozambique He stepped off a gray jumbo jet to the excited but subdued applause of a few…
Venezuela’s Opposition Leader, Maria Corina Machado, Is Freed After Being Detained
During her detention, an aide said, Maria Corina Machado “was forced to record several videos.” She has garnered enormous support for her opposition to Nicolás Maduro. By Julie Turkewitz Reporting from Bogotá, Colombia Venezuela’s popular opposition leader, María Corina Machado, was freed on Thursday afternoon after a brief detention by adversaries during an antigovernment protest…
Jeremy Hunt apologises to Letby victims’ families
Mr Hunt opened his appearance at the Thirlwall Inquiry at Liverpool town hall by saying that Letby’s crimes had been committed “on [his] watch”. The inquiry is looking into how Letby, 35, was able to kill seven babies and try to kill seven others while working at the Countess of Chester hospital between 2015 and…
Lebanon chooses a new president after two years without one
By Emily Feng , Jawad Rizkallah BEIRUT — Lebanon’s parliament has chosen the head of the country’s armed forces, Joseph Aoun, to be its next president, after going more than two years without one. Aoun’s selection on Thursday is one important step toward addressing a decimated economy and financial system, and to marshal funds to…
Australia violated rights of asylum seekers on Nauru, UN watchdog rules
United Nations human rights committee says decision should serve as warning to other nations considering outsourcing asylum processing Australia violated the rights of asylum seekers arbitrarily detained on the island of Nauru, a UN watchdog has ruled, in a warning to other countries intent on outsourcing asylum processing. The UN human rights committee published decisions…
The man who could become Canada’s future PM
At 20 years old, Pierre Poilievre already had a roadmap for Canada. Canada’s Conservative Party leader – now 45 – laid out a low-tax, small government vision for the country in an essay contest on what he would do as prime minister. “A dollar left in the hands of consumers and investors is more productive…
BBC goes inside hospital battling unprecedented winter pressures
“Can that chap sit, do we think?” asks Dr Raj Paw, a senior consultant in the emergency department at Warwick Hospital. He is speaking about a patient in his 90s who was brought in after collapsing at home, where he was found cold and confused. Now he is stable. Could that open up a bed?…
Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado ‘kidnapped’, allies say
Leader reportedly ‘violently intercepted’ after sneaking out of hideout to lead protest against authoritarian president Nicolás Maduro Allies of Venezuela’s most influential opposition leader, María Corina Machado, say she has been “kidnapped” from the streets of Caracas by regime officials after sneaking out of her hideout to lead a major protest against the authoritarian president,…
Venezuela’s Opposition Leader, Maria Corina Machado, Detained at Protest
Ms. Machado has garnered enormous support for her opposition to the country’s autocrat, Nicolás Maduro. By Julie Turkewitz Reporting from Bogotá, Colombia Venezuela’s popular opposition leader, María Corina Machado, was detained during an antigovernment protest in Caracas on Thursday, according to a statement on X by her party, Vente Venezuela. Ms. Machado had been living…
Prince Harry & Meghan Markle Make Plea Amid California Wildfires
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made a call to action for residents of California as the deadly wildfires continue to devastate the greater Los Angeles area. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are sharing support for their community. Amid the wildfires burning across the greater Los Angeles area that has left five people dead and thousands…
LA wildfires among costliest in US history
The Los Angeles wildfires are on track to be among the costliest in US history, with losses already expected to exceed more than $50bn (£40bn). In a preliminary estimate, private forecaster Accuweather said it expected losses of between $52bn and $57bn as the blazes rip through an area that is home to some of the…
Lammy challenges Trump’s rhetoric days before White House return
When David Lammy is asked about the new government’s relations with the incoming US administration, he likes to talk about the dinner he and the prime minister had with Donald Trump in New York last September. “We had a very good meal,” the foreign secretary said on Thursday. “We had a long time to discuss…
US seizure of Greenland is ‘not going to happen’, says David Lammy
UK foreign secretary plays down idea of Trump taking control, in speech exposing differences with president-elect The UK foreign secretary, David Lammy, has said a US military seizure of Greenland is not going to happen, as he played down Donald Trump’s threats to seize the territory from Denmark. “No Nato countries have gone to war…
The 20 child abuse inquiry proposals – what has happened so far?
In October 2022, child protection expert Prof Alexis Jay finished a seven-year inquiry into the countless ways children had been sexually abused in England and Wales. She had presided over hundreds of days of evidence in which victims described their treatment and those who had the duty to protect them answered for their failings. Her…
Best Flannel Sheet Deals From Brooklinen, Lands’ End, Amazon & More
Keep your bed warm and toasty in the cold with these budget-friendly picks. Our writers and editors independently determine what we cover and recommend. When you buy through our links, E! may earn a commission. Learn more. If you love to snuggle into a warm and toasty bed, especially in the winter, then a flannel sheet…
Italian mayor pledges to stop sale of Neapolitan islet to speculators
Bacoli mayor says his administration will purchase Punta Pennata and turn it into an ‘open-air museum’ An Italian mayor has vowed to do everything in his power to stop Punta Pennata – a slice of island paradise close to the heart of Naples, from where a fleet departed to rescue survivors of the AD79 eruption…
House Passes Bill to Sanction I.C.C. Officials for Israeli Prosecutions
Middle East Crisis The action put the measure on track for likely enactment given strong support for it among Republicans, who now control the Senate, and President-elect Donald J. Trump. By Karoun Demirjian Reporting from Washington The House on Thursday passed legislation that would impose sanctions on officials at the International Criminal Court, making a…
Giorgia Meloni hopes to attend Trump’s inauguration after receiving invite
Italy’s prime minister confirms she is on guest list for 20 January event and ‘will happily go’ if her agenda allows Giorgia Meloni has confirmed she has been invited to attend Donald Trump’s inauguration as US president and “will happily go” if her agenda permits, ending weeks of speculation over whether the Italian prime minister…
Will Rogers’ Historic Home Destroyed in Devastating Palisades Fire
Actor Will Rogers’ historic home, along with other historic buildings in the Will Rogers State Historic Park, was destroyed amid the raging Los Angeles wildfires. The historic home of late actor Will Rogers was lost in the Los Angeles fires. As the fire in the city’s Pacific Palisades neighborhood—one of several wildfires engulfing Southern California—spread…
Murder investigation in Spain after body of missing Belfast man found
Family ‘heartbroken’ after discovery of body of John George, 37, who went missing in Alicante area in December A murder investigation is under way in Spain after the body of a 37-year-old man from Northern Ireland was found three weeks after he went missing. John George from Belfast, a father of two children, was in…
Winter pressures ‘as bad as strain of pandemic’
The pressures in A&E are as bad as they were in the pandemic, NHS bosses say. With flu cases continuing to rise and the cold weather, NHS England medical director Prof Sir Stephen Powis said hospitals were under “exceptional pressure” and facing “mammoth demand”. He said some staff were saying the strain being placed on…
How Travis Kelce’s ex Kayla Nicole Really Feels About Taylor Swift
Travis Kelce’s ex-girlfriend Kayla Nicole spoke about the impact his relationship with Taylor Swift has had on her and revealed her feelings on the singer. Kayla Nicole is trying to shake off the Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift chatter. On the second episode of Fox’s Special Forces: The World’s Toughest Test, Jan. 8 the sports…
Greenland’s prime minister calls for calm after Trump comments
Pro-independence Múte Egede says Greenland must stay unified after becoming centre of US-Denmark spat Greenland’s prime minister has called for unity, urging citizens not to panic, after being thrown into a geopolitical battle between the US and Denmark by Donald Trump’s interest in taking control of the territory. Múte Egede said he understood people may…
Why Michelle Obama Missed Jimmy Carter’s Funeral
For former president Jimmy Carter’s funeral, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, as well other former presidents, were joined by their spouses while Barack Obama attended solo. Michelle Obama is sending her condolences to late president Jimmy Carter from afar. After the former president died Dec. 29 at the age of 100, President…
Lily Allen to take podcast break over mental health
Lily Allen has said she is taking a break from her podcast for “a few weeks” because her mental health is “spiralling” and she is not “in a good place”. Speaking on the latest episode of Miss Me?, the BBC Sounds show she hosts with Miquita Oliver, the pop star-turned-actor said she had been going…
What rising borrowing costs could mean for Labour’s economic plan
Nothing has been more important to the Labour Party under Sir Keir Starmer than economic credibility. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has set out clear fiscal rules, such as getting debt falling as a share of national income by the end of this parliament, and she has made sticking to these rules a crucial test of the…
Australia weather: rainy week forecast for Sydney and Brisbane – but BoM says summer isn’t over yet
Showers are expected to continue for Sydney and Brisbane throughout much of the coming week, but summer isn’t over yet, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. This week, south-east Queensland and eastern New South Wales were “tipping towards those wetter conditions”, Bradbury said on Thursday. “Our seven-day forecast for Sydney, for example, does suggest a…
Jimmy Carter’s Funeral: Donald Trump & More Leaders Attend Service
Nearly two weeks after former U.S. President Jimmy Carter died at the age of 100, public figures including President-Elect Donald Trump and former President Barack Obama, gathered to honor him. Jimmy Carter‘s loved ones and fellow public figures are paying their respects to the former president. Nearly two weeks after Carter passed away at the…
Campbell “Pookie” Puckett Undergoes Surgery to Remove Pre-Cancer
Two months after welcoming their daughter Paloma, Jett Puckett revealed that his wife Campbell “Pookie” Puckett underwent surgery amid a pre-cancer health scare. Campbell “Pookie” Puckett is sharing insight into her unexpected health scare. The TikToker and her husband Jett Puckett—who tied the knot in 2018—shared that Campbell is in recovery from surgery just two…
With Trump Arriving, Zelensky Urges Allies Not to ‘Drop the Ball’
Russia-Ukraine War In an impassioned address to officials from countries supporting Ukraine, Mr. Zelensky said ‘a new chapter’ would be starting for Europe and the rest of the world, requiring even more cooperation. By John Ismay Reporting from Ramstein Air Base in Germany President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday implored representatives from roughly 50 nations to…
Here’s what’s behind Russia cutting off its last gas line to Europe
By Charles Maynes MOSCOW — On the morning of Jan. 1, Russia pumped its last cubic meters of natural gas directly to Europe, ending decades of trade that had benefited all sides — and heated homes — through some of the darkest winters of the Cold War and well into the 21st century. Russia’s invasion…
Politics content to be pushed to Instagram and Threads users
The firm says its part of its reorientation towards “free expression” – a move that saw it ditch fact checkers on Tuesday. The change will be introduced in the US this week before being expanded globally next week. Users will not be able to turn off unsolicited political posts but can choose between three settings…