Category: News
Twenty councillors quit Labour in Starmer protest
Twenty councillors have quit Labour in protest at the party’s direction under Sir Keir Starmer. The councillors – from Broxtowe Borough Council in Nottinghamshire – claimed the party had “abandoned traditional Labour values” and criticised policies such as cutting the winter fuel allowance for some pensioners. Council leader Milan Radulovic, who had been a party…
Peter Dutton would need to cap partner visas to make his migration cuts, expert warns
Former immigration official Abul Rizvi believes the current planning level for partner visas is acting as an ‘illegal’ de facto cap The Coalition’s proposed cuts to Australia’s permanent migration would require Peter Dutton to legislate to allow a cap on partner visas, a migration expert has warned. Abul Rizvi, a former deputy secretary of immigration,…
Man dies after car hit pedestrians on Christmas Day
A man who was hurt when a car hit pedestrians in London’s West End on Christmas Day has died. Aidan Chapman, 25, died in hospital on New Year’s Eve from the injuries he sustained, the Met Police said. He was one of four pedestrians hit by a car which was travelling on the wrong side…
Australian airlines more delayed than foreign competitors, but government decides not to nudge laws
Experts say lack of competition in Australia’s airline market is a likely factor behind prevalence of delays More than one in four flights operated by major Australian airlines in 2024 arrived at their destinations late, with local punctuality rates lagging significantly behind average carriers in comparable countries. Experts say a lack of competition in Australia’s…
Japan urges Australians to head off the beaten track as record numbers flood tourist hotspots
About 807,800 Australians visited Japan between January and November this year, nearly 200,000 more than the previous record in 2019 Japan’s tourism board has urged holidaymakers to swap Tokyo and Kyoto for towns in Tohoku and Kanazawa as Australian tourists flood Japan’s cities in record numbers. About 807,800 Australians visited Japan between January and November…
Winkleman: ‘New twists have turned The Traitors on its head’
This article includes some discussion of the first episode of The Traitors, including format changes, but does not contain major spoilers such as who the new traitors are or who gets murdered or banished. The Traitors has returned to our screens, with its usual combination of murders, missions and midnight meetings. The number of contestants…
Details on the deadly attack in New Orleans. And, Amazon workers return to the office
By Brittney Melton here to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day. A pickup truck plowed into a crowd on New Orleans’ Bourbon Street early on New Year’s Day, killing at least 15 people and injuring dozens more. The driver, identified…
Biden to honor Liz Cheney, Bennie Thompson with top civilian award
Tamara Keith President Biden will award the Presidential Citizens Medal to former Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., and Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., who led the congressional committee that investigated the Jan. 6 , 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. The Presidential Citizens Medal honors Americans who have performed exemplary deeds of service for their country or…
German officials call for clampdown on illegal ‘firework bombs’ after five deaths
Explosives brought in from Poland and the Czech Republic are combined with household items for a bigger bang German officials have called for a clampdown on illegally imported and homemade “firework bombs” after pyrotechnics for personal use killed at least five people across the country on New Year’s Eve. The use of personal firecrackers is…
Suspected people smugglers face phone and travel ban
Suspected people smugglers will face travel bans, social media blackouts and phone restrictions under new laws aimed at tackling organised immigration crime, the government has announced. Ministers plan to introduce “interim” Serious Crime Prevention Orders (SCPOs) designed to place immediate restrictions on suspects’ activity while a full order is considered by the courts. It comes…
Pigs in blankets and fizz help boost Lidl Christmas sales
Lidl had its most successful Christmas trading period on record, the supermarket chain said, boosted by a rise of a third in party food sales. Revenue rose almost 7% to more than £1bn over the four weeks to Christmas Eve as customers bought 16 million pigs in blankets and a turkey every second. Sales were…
‘They see it is living’: Durham professor’s mission to get more pupils into classics
Arlene Holmes-Henderson wants all children in UK to have equal access to classical education “My business school colleagues tell me that it’s not called levelling up any more, it’s rebalancing,” says Arlene Holmes-Henderson, a Durham University professor. “I think it’s just doing the right thing.” Holmes-Henderson is discussing her mission to help fix a problem…
Within seconds, celebrations turn to mayhem and tragedy in New Orleans
New Orleans was in full swing in the early morning hours of New Year’s Day. Revellers were spilling out of bustling bars and packed clubs in the city’s French Quarter – an area often referred to as the beating heart of the city’s famous nightlife. “It was all young kids out. Lots of 19, 20,…
Hamas police chief among 11 killed in Israeli strike on Gaza, medics say
The chief of Gaza’s Hamas-run police force and his deputy have been killed in an Israeli strike on a tent camp sheltering displaced families. The Hamas-run interior ministry condemned what it called the “assassination” of Mahmoud Salah and Hussam Shahwan, who it said had been “performing their humanitarian and national duty”. Nine other people, including…
Helsinki arena to reopen in spring after being left in limbo by Russian sanctions
Finnish real estate company says deal for sports and entertainment venue will restore it to its former glory Helsinki’s main sports and entertainment arena is expected to reopen in the spring after getting caught in a Russian sanctions drama that left it disused, without power and starting to smell. Helsinki arena, also known as Helsinki…
Twelve people killed in Montenegro shooting spree
A gunman has killed 12 people, including two children, in a series of shootings in southern Montenegro. Authorities said the man – later identified as Aco Martinovic, 45 – had been drinking heavily all day when got into an altercation with another guest at a restaurant in the Cetinje area around 17.30 (16.30 GMT) on…
Toxic waste from site of gas leak which killed thousands removed after 40 years
Authorities in India have removed hundreds of tonnes of toxic waste from an Indian chemical factory that witnessed one of the world’s deadliest gas leaks 40 years ago. A court in December had set a four-week deadline for the waste to be disposed. On Wednesday, the toxic waste – around 337 tonnes – was taken…
First Thing: New year terror as death toll in New Orleans attack rises to 15
Authorities think suspect acted with accomplices. Plus, woman found alive and well after going missing in 1972 Good morning. Terror struck the busy French Quarter of New Orleans at about 3.15am on New Year’s Day, as a vehicle flying an Islamic State (IS) flag was driven into a crowd of people on Bourbon Street –…
World’s most popular YouTuber MrBeast announces engagement
YouTuber MrBeast has announced his engagement to girlfriend Thea Booysen. The 26-year-old revealed that he’d proposed on Christmas Day, sharing photos of the moment he went down on one knee. Now living in the US, the 27-year-old also streams games on Twitch and is a published author. In an interview with People magazine, MrBeast said…
Holiday scams: ‘My heart sank, I felt so disappointed with myself’
Natasha Shek said she “died inside” after realising she had been scammed, just a week before she was due to go on a family holiday in Cornwall. She had found an advert on social media and made ID checks on what she thought was the owner of the property, before paying him a deposit of…
Neil Young pulls out of Glastonbury and says it is ‘under corporate control’
Rock star Neil Young has announced he will not be performing at this year’s Glastonbury, saying he believes the festival, which is partnered with the BBC, is “now under corporate control”. The 79-year-old Canadian wrote on his website that he and his band the Chrome Hearts “were looking forward to playing Glastonbury, one of my…
South Korea’s impeached president Yoon Suk Yeol vows to ‘fight until end’
Yoon issues letter to supporters as he faces arrest over declaration of martial law and alleged insurrection South Korea’s impeached president, Yoon Suk Yeol, has rallied his supporters in a letter saying he will “fight until the end” as he faces an attempt by authorities to arrest him over his short-lived declaration of martial law,…
Ice warning and travel alerts in UK as temperatures drop after flooding
Disruption expected as rain turns to snow, after major flooding incident declared in Greater Manchester An ice warning is in force for much of the UK as temperatures have dropped, after a major incident was declared due to flooding. The yellow Met Office warning indicates there could be some difficult travel conditions across Scotland, Northern…
American football player and aspiring nurse among those killed
A well-known American football player, a young aspiring nurse and a mother of a four-year-old are among the victims of the New Year’s day attack in New Orleans in which at least 15 people were killed. Their names are being released by families and relatives before authorities complete post-mortem examinations. Here’s what we know so…
DWP spent £50,000 trying to stop release of review into disabled man’s death
Previous government spent almost £1m trying to prevent release of documents in 56 legal cases More than £50,000 of taxpayers’ money was spent on lawyers to try to prevent the release of a safeguarding review ordered after a disabled man starved to death in his own home. The costs were part of a bill of…
Searchers find hiking poles of man missing for a week in Kosciuszko national park
Hadi Nazari, 23, last seen on Boxing Day descending the challenging Hannels Spur track Hopes are dwindling that a missing hiker will be found alive as experts warn of the rough terrain and scarce water availability. The 23-year-old hiker, Hadi Nazari, was descending a challenging trail in the Kosciuszko national park about 2.30pm on Boxing…
House prices rose by 4.7% in 2024, says Nationwide
UK house prices ended 2024 some 4.7% higher than at the start of the year, according to the Nationwide. Property prices and housing market activity remained “remarkably resilient” despite affordability challenges facing buyers, the lender said. The average home in the UK cost £269,426 at the end of December, its figures show. Despite the latest…
An armed man kills at least 10 people in a shooting rampage in Montenegro
By The Associated Press PODGORICA, Montenegro — At least 10 people, including two children, were killed and four others were seriously wounded on Wednesday in a shooting rampage that followed a bar brawl in a western Montenegrin city, officials said. The shooter was on the run. Police identified the attacker as 45-year-old Aco Martinovic. He…
‘A man exposed himself to me on a video call – police didn’t properly investigate’
In October, business coach Rebecca Amin opened her laptop to join a video call as her children played in the room next door. When her male client turned on his camera Rebecca was shocked to find he was standing naked from the waist down. “It was disgusting,” she says, “I felt violated.” Rebecca decided to…
The nameless dead: scientists hunt for identities of thousands who tried to reach Europe
Four years ago, the remains of a toddler encased in a lifejacket and a navy snowsuit washed up on a beach in southern Norway, having spent the previous two months being carried on North Sea currents. Though his face was barely recognisable, publicity about the sinking of the migrant boat he had been travelling on,…
Power is restored to nearly all of Puerto Rico after a major blackout
By The Associated Press BAYAMÓN, Puerto Rico — Power was restored to nearly all electrical customers across Puerto Rico on Wednesday after a sweeping blackout plunged the U.S. territory into darkness on New Year’s Eve. By Wednesday afternoon, power was back up for 98% of Puerto Rico’s 1.47 million utility customers, said Luma Energy, the…
The Papers: ‘America under attack’ and crack down on people traffickers
In the words of the Times, the deadly attack in New Orleans marked the moment when New Year celebrations “turned to carnage”. A resident of the city describes, in the Daily Mirror, seeing a number of bodies lying beneath him as he looked down at the scene of the truck ramming from a nightclub balcony.…
Baby Remi, among the first born of new Beta generation, arrives in Australia just minutes after new year
Baby girl born in NSW’s Port Macquarie base hospital at 12.05 belongs to generation Beta, many of whom will live to see 22nd century A baby girl named Remi, born just minutes into the new year on the NSW midnorth coast, is believed to be the first Australian birth of 2025 – and the first…
Falling house prices and drop in Victorian rental numbers could mark rise of owner-occupiers
Buyers looking to move in could benefit from 6.5% drop in market since March 2022 as state claims largest share of first home buyer finance Owner-occupier buyers in Victoria could benefit from an investor sell-off that has been gathering momentum alongside falling house prices, an expert says. Data from Victoria’s Department of Families, Fairness and…
Man questioned over woman’s fall to death from seventh-floor Sydney balcony
Multiple calls made to triple zero before 39-year-old found critically injured outside her high-rise unit block on River Road in Parramatta A man is being interviewed by New South Wales police as they investigate how a woman fell to her death from a balcony in Sydney after a number of calls to emergency services. The…
Police raid Muan airport in wake of South Korea plane crash
The raid came as pressure built on authorities to establish the cause of the Jeju Air crash, which left 179 people dead Police in South Korea have raided Muan international airport, the scene of Sunday’s plane crash, in which 179 people died, as well as the office of the airline that operated the flight, media…
BoM data finds 2024 was Australia’s second-hottest year on record
Rise in greenhouse gases responsible for average temperatures rising to 1.46C above average, with one climate scientist saying this is ‘the norm now’ The average temperature across the country in 2024 was 1.46C above the long-term average, calculated from 1961 to 1990, and was second behind the 1.51C record set in 2019. Sign up for…
Here’s what we know so far about the deadly attack in New Orleans
Emma Bowman A truck plowed into a crowd on New Orleans’ famed Bourbon Street in the early hours of New Year’s Day, leaving at least 15 people dead and dozens more hospitalized with injuries. The driver was identified as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old Army veteran from Houston, Texas, according to the FBI. He was killed…
How did Scotland become a Hollywood hotspot?
From superhero blockbusters to Netflix romantic comedies, Scotland has become an increasingly familiar location for Hollywood to use. In the autumn, Twisters star Glen Powell could be seen in Glasgow shooting scenes for sci-fi tale The Running Man, while Edinburgh and Aberdeenshire will be the backdrop for a new version of Frankenstein. Those productions join…
Giant naan breads and taking on the doubters in Bradford
As Bradford begins its year as UK City of Culture, it is not just trying to show a different face to the rest of the country – it’s also hoping to win over doubters in the city. One of the first productions is a radio play written by broadcaster Nick Ahad, and its theme is…
Alleged attack on Virgin Australia flight crew being investigated by Fijian police
Airline sends support staff to Nadi after reports of assault during a night out in the early hours of 1 January Fijian authorities are investigating allegations Virgin Australia crew were assaulted and robbed while celebrating New Year’s Eve, as a union expressed concern for their welfare. The airline has sent support staff to Fiji amid…
‘She was the sweetest person’: first details of New Orleans victims emerge
Victims identified as Nikyra Cheyenne Dedeaux, 18; Reggie Hunter, 37; Tiger Bech, 27; and Nicole Perez, 28 The first details of the victims of the suspected terrorist attack on New Orleans’s nightlife center of Bourbon Street have begun to emerge as the city and the US absorbed the shocking news. A fast-moving vehicle had ploughed…
The endgame in Ukraine: How the war could come to a close in 2025
“I must say that the situation is changing dramatically,” Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, declared at his end-of-year news conference in December. “There is movement along the entire front line. Every day.” In eastern Ukraine, Moscow’s war machine is gradually churning mile by mile through the wide open fields of the Donbas, enveloping and overwhelming villages…
Three days of heavy snow forecast across UK
Much of the UK could be set for three days of snow as temperatures plunge across the country. A Met Office yellow warning for snow has been issued for all of England and Wales and parts of Scotland this weekend, with icy conditions forecast to continue into Monday. It means there is a risk of…
Tesla Cybertruck Explosion Outside Trump Hotel Kills One Person
A Tesla Cybertruck explosion outside of Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas left one person dead and is now being investigated as a possible terrorist attack, according to authorities. Authorities in Las Vegas are investigating a deadly incident along the city’s famed Strip. The Jan. 1 event, which killed one and minorly injured seven bystanders,…
One dead after Tesla Cybertruck catches fire outside Trump hotel in Las Vegas
CEO Elon Musk says explosion that also injured seven ‘likely to be a terrorist attack’ One person died and seven more were injured on Wednesday when a Tesla truck caught fire and exploded outside Donald Trump’s Las Vegas hotel, authorities said. Las Vegas metropolitan police and Clark county fire department officials in Nevada said at…
Three-day snow warning issued for parts of England, Scotland and Wales
Rain, sleet, flooding and freezing temperatures could lead to hazardous travel conditions, says Met Office The Met Office has issued a three-day heavy snow warning as thousands of households mop up after torrential new year rain led to flooded properties, travel chaos and power cuts. Temperatures could drop to well below freezing at the weekend…
1 dead, 7 injured after Tesla Cybertruck explodes outside Trump’s Las Vegas hotel
By The Associated Press LAS VEGAS (AP) — One person died and seven others were injured Wednesday when a Tesla Cybertruck that appeared to be carrying fireworks caught fire and exploded outside President-elect Donald Trump’s Las Vegas hotel, authorities said. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police and Clark County Fire Department officials told a news conference that…
Prisons in England and Wales record rapid rise in drones delivering drugs
Prisons will need more money to combat the rapid rise in drones delivering drugs, the head of an influential Commons committee has said, as figures showed the number of aerial incursions predicted to have tripled in two years. A freedom of information request by the Guardian found there were 1,296 drone incidents at prisons in…
One killed as cybertruck explodes at Trump Las Vegas hotel
Police are investigating the explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Police said a cybertruck pulled up in front of the hotel on Wednesday near a glass entrance, then smoke started coming from the vehicle and it exploded. The driver was killed and seven people were injured, police said…
Brittany Mahomes Shares Funny New Year Pic in Final Days of Pregnancy
Brittany Mahomes—who is expecting her third baby with husband Patrick Mahomes “any day now”—revealed her hilarious New Year’s workout routine. Brittany Mahomes is ringing in the new year with a new fitness technique. Indeed, the Sports Illustrated model—who is expecting her third baby with husband Patrick Mahomes—posted an adorable video of her workout with kids…
At least four killed and four more wounded in Montenegro shooting
Special troops searching for armed man who opened fire in bar and fled scene in western city of Cetinje An armed man killed at least four people and wounded four others on Wednesday in the western Montenegrin city of Cetinje, police and local media said. A statement said the man opened fire in a bar…
Coventry woman who vanished 52 years ago found alive and well
Mystery of Sheila Fox’s disappearance at 16 solved after fresh police appeal A woman who went missing 52 years ago has been found alive and well after police released a grainy photograph as part of an appeal, solving one of Britain’s longest-running missing person cases. Sheila Fox, now 68, disappeared from Coventry in 1972 when…
The Sugar Bowl is postponed to Thursday after the deadly attack in New Orleans
By Chandelis Duster The Sugar Bowl that was slated to take place in New Orleans Wednesday night has been postponed after a deadly attack during New Year’s celebrations, according to local officials. The game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Georgia Bulldogs, part of the newly expanded college football playoffs, was originally set to go…
What we know about the New Orleans attacker
Ten people are dead and at least 35 injured after a man drove into a large crowd in New Orleans in the early hours of New Year’s Day, authorities have said. Here’s what we know so far. The man who drive the truck through a crowd on Bourbon Street early Wednesday morning has been identified…
10 Killed After Truck Driven Into New Year’s Eve Crowd in New Orleans
Ten people have died and more than 30 others were injured after a man drove his pickup truck into a crowd during an early morning New Year’s Day attack on New Orleans’ Bourbon Street. The city of New Orleans is reeling after a tragedy on New Year’s Day. At least 10 people have died, and…
Twenty missing after falling from boat in rough seas off Libya’s coast
Small vessel tilted after taking in water, according to seven survivors who reached Italian island of Lampedusa Twenty people are missing after falling into the sea from a tilting boat after it started to take in water in rough seas about 20 miles off the coast of Libya, according to survivors. Carrying 27 passengers, the…
Automatic voter registration may be an answer to UK’s troubling turnout gap
Experts say evidence from abroad shows AVR is effective – and it’s one of several proposals to try to boost voting A healthy democracy depends on people participating in it. In the UK, the proportion of people doing so is falling. Voter turnout in general elections stayed above 70% from 1945 through to 1997, hitting…
Israeli strikes kill at least 12 Palestinians in Gaza on New Year’s Day
Officials say most of the victims were women and children as Israel’s war against Hamas continues into the new year Israeli strikes killed at least 12 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip on New Year’s Day, mostly women and children, officials said, as the nearly 15-month war ground on into the new year. One strike hit…
Ukraine halts supply of Russian gas to Europe
Ukraine ends agreement to allow gas to flow through its pipelines, with European supplies set to be tested as cold weather forecast later this week Ukraine has halted Russian gas supplies to European customers through its pipeline network, almost three years into Moscow’s all-out invasion. The move comes after a prewar transit deal expired during…
What we know about the New Orleans attack
Ten people are dead and at least 35 injured after a man drove into a large crowd in New Orleans in the early hours of New Year’s Day, authorities have said. Here’s what we know so far. At 03:15 on New Year’s day, a man drove a pickup truck at speed into a large crowd…
Thousands throng central Birmingham after New Year’s Eve fireworks hoax
Revellers left disappointed after false reports of display in social media Thousands of people gathered in the centre of Birmingham on New Year’s Eve despite a police warning that the announcement of a fireworks display was a hoax. Police and the city council had urged revellers not to travel after false reports there would be…
CCTV shows how burglar carried out £10m jewellery heist
New CCTV footage exclusively obtained by BBC News reveals how a burglar stole more than £10m worth of jewellery and designer handbags from a London mansion. The images show a masked man stuffing handfuls of jewellery into a backpack after creeping into the multi-million pound property. A family spokesperson, who was inside the home when…
21 states are getting minimum wage bumps in 2025
Jaclyn Diaz Minimum-wage workers in 21 states will see a bigger paycheck come the new year. They’re among the many thousands of laws changing as a new year begins. Those wage increases will impact an estimated 9.2 million workers and raise pay by a total of $5.7 billion, according to the Economic Policy Institute, a…
Critic wrongly jailed by former president of Philippines hopes to return to politics
Leila de Lima enraged Rodrigo Duterte when she began investigating killings carried out during his ‘war on drugs’ Leila de Lima, one of fiercest critics of the former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody “war on drugs” who was jailed for more than six years on baseless charges, will try to return to politics in 2025.…
US places sanctions on Australian man over alleged global narcotics trafficking role
David Jonathan Thackray, who was jailed in New Zealand in 2014, is one of three Australians now subject to such sanctions An Australian man has been sanctioned by the US treasury department over his alleged involvement in the global narcotics trade. Australian David Jonathan Thackray and New Zealand national Ho Kai Leung were among 12…
‘The scene was just horrific’ – witnesses tell of New Orleans carnage
Ten people have been killed and 35 injured after a man intentionally drove into a crowd in New Orleans and then began firing a weapon, police have said. Police chief Anne Kirkpatrick said the attacker drove a pickup truck along Bourbon Street “very fast… trying to run over as many people as he could” at…
Trump’s killing of Qassem Suleimani led to fall of Assad, says Tugendhat
Ex-security minister says assassination ordered by Trump set off chain of events that led to revolution in Syria Donald Trump’s decision to sanction the assassination of an elite Iranian commander triggered a chain of events that has revealed Iran as a paper tiger and led to the overthrow of Basher al-Assad, a former UK security…
At least 10 killed and 30 injured in New Orleans as car runs into crowd
Vehicle ploughs into people in French Quarter, with witnesses saying driver then exchanged fire with police Ten people have been killed and 30 injured after a vehicle drove into a crowd in New Orleans’ tourist district in the early hours of New Year’s Day, according to officials, with media reporting the driver later fired a…
Madewell End of Season Sale — Up to 60% off, Styles Start at $7
Use promo code LASTCHANCE to save on the styles you’ve been eyeing all year long — cashmere sweaters, jeans, coats, and more. Our writers and editors independently determine what we cover and recommend. When you buy through our links, E! may earn a commission. Learn more. Now that the holidays are over, the real fun can start.…
Belgium becomes first EU country to ban sale of disposable vapes
Disposable electronic cigarettes banned on health and environmental grounds, while in Milan a ban on outdoor smoking comes into force Belgium has become the first country in the EU to ban the sale of disposable vapes, in an effort to stop young people from becoming addicted to nicotine and to protect the environment. From 1…
‘Trump is a little guy, Musk is a big guy’: historian predicts trouble for president-elect
Timothy Snyder says world’s richest man is likely to exert uncomfortable influence over White House Allies and aides to Donald Trump should be increasingly concerned by Elon Musk’s proximity to and influence on the US president-elect, the Yale historian and bestselling author Timothy Snyder said. “Trump is a little guy, and Musk is a big…
Astrologer Aliza Kelly Reveals 2025 Predictions for Each Zodiac Sign
The stars may be aligning in the new year—but that bright spot won’t come until you get grounded first. “This isn’t a year to charge ahead without reflection,” the It’s All Magic author and host of the Horoscope Weekly podcast explained. “We’re being invited to recalibrate our energy and ensure our actions align with our long-term goals.” And…
Anger, tears and joy after a heart attack at 22
On 6 January 2024, a then 22-year old Faith Harrison began to have a heart attack while driving home from a hockey match. It lasted for seven hours and resulted in emergency surgery and a diagnosis of heart failure. Twelve months later, now 23, life has completely changed for the fitness coach from Shropshire. “Not…
UK small boat arrivals in 2024 up 25% compared with previous year
A total of 36,816 people made journey last year compared with 29,437 who arrived in 2023, Home Office says The number of people arriving in the UK in 2024 after crossing the Channel in small boats was up by a quarter on the previous year, figures show. A total of 36,816 people made the journey…
Ukraine halts transit of Russian gas to Europe after a prewar deal expired
By The Associated Press KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine on Wednesday halted Russian gas supplies to European customers that pass through the country, almost three years into Moscow’s all-out invasion of its neighbor, after a prewar transit deal expired at the end of last year. At a summit in Brussels last month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy…
UK government hires ‘nudge unit’ to help dispel heat pump myths
Behaviour experts say misinformation shared in media and by other stakeholders is impeding uptake Experts from a “nudge unit” have been hired to help ministers fight misinformation about heat pumps to try to encourage take-up of the devices. The appliances run on electricity instead of gas and are regarded as a way of decarbonising homes…
Ambulance pressures remain as critical incident ends
A critical incident declared by the Welsh ambulance service has been stood down. It comes after its boss urged people to “drink sensibly” at new year to help reduce demand, following a 340-call backlog on Monday. “While the critical incident is behind us, significant pressures remain, and it’s really important that the public play their…
Breakaway Moldovan region cuts heating and hot water as Russia stops gas flow
Supply to Transnistria halted as transit deal between Russia and Ukraine expires The breakaway Moldovan region of Transnistria has cut heating and hot water supplies to households after Russia stopped supplying gas via Ukraine. “There is no heating or hot water,” an employee of local energy company Tirasteploenergo said by phone from Tiraspol, Moldova’s main…
Number of migrants crossing Channel in small boats rises to 36,816
Home Office figures released on New Year’s Day show 36,816 people crossed the English Channel in small boats throughout 2024, an increase on the previous year, but not as many as in 2022. The last group, made up of 291 people, arrived on 29 December. The year 2024 was the deadliest on record for the…
Keep Every Last Resolution With These Tips from Robin Arzon
From “exercise snacks” to positive self-talk, head Peleton instructor Robin Arzon broke down all of the must-know tips for sticking to your New Year’s resolutions. Robin Arzon doesn’t want you to drop the ball on your 2025 resolutions. While the beginning of a new year is the perfect time to set new goals, it can also…
Future fizzles: the promises and predictions for 2025 in Australia that came true (or didn’t)
From cheaper energy to recyclable packaging and phasing out Australia Post motorbikes – here’s what has and hasn’t been achieved An Australian republic, renewable-powered supermarkets, recyclable packaging and the phasing out of Australia Post motorbikes. These are just some of the promises, targets and predictions that years ago were set for 2025 – which is…
Scott Morrison rings in the New Year with Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago resort
Former Australian prime minister posted a photograph with himself, his wife Jenny and Donald and Melania Trump on X Former Australian prime minister Scott Morrison has spent New Year’s Eve with US president-elect Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort. Morrison posted a photo on X featuring himself and his wife, Jenny, alongside Trump and his…
Data extracted from first Jeju Air black box – ministry
Investigators have finished extracting data from one of the black boxes from the fated Jeju Air plane that crashed on Sunday, South Korea’s transport ministry has said. The data from the cockpit voice recorder will now be converted into an audio file, though authorities said it would take more time to access the data in…
South Korea plane crash investigators extract data from Jeju Air black box
Authorities hope for vital clues as contents of cockpit recorder are converted into audio format Investigators in South Korea have extracted data from one of two “black boxes” retrieved from a Jeju Air plane that crashed shortly after landing on Sunday, killing all but two of the 181 people aboard. The country’s deputy minister for…
The struggle to reunite children with families in war-torn Gaza
They are smiling now as they play together in the sand at al-Mawasi tent camp in southern Gaza, but the children of the Masri family have survived horrific events. “Their lives were in danger, they were exposed to so much killing and destruction,” says their grandmother, Kawther al-Masri. An Israeli bombing six weeks ago struck…
Top Venezuelan pianist urges music world to snub youth orchestra linked to Maduro
Gabriela Montero asks promoters to cut ties with El Sistema on 2025 Europe tour, after alleged theft of election One of Venezuela’s most celebrated musicians, the pianist Gabriela Montero, has called on concert halls and music promoters to cut ties with her country’s world-renowned youth orchestra as a result of Nicolás Maduro’s alleged theft of…
Former EU environment chief warns against backsliding on climate crisis
Virginijus Sinkevičius, a former environment commissioner, criticises bloc’s decision to delay deforestation law A former EU environment commissioner has warned against backsliding on the protection of nature and the battle against the climate crisis after the bloc decided to delay its landmark deforestation law. Virginijus Sinkevičius, the Lithuanian MEP and a vice-president of the European…
Adrian was ‘gutted’ to be underpaid by the Commonwealth Bank. He hopes new laws will protect workers
Criminal penalties for employers who deliberately underpay workers have come into effect, including up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to $7.8m Commonwealth Bank call centre worker Adrian Thoen was devastated when he found out he was among thousands of workers at the nation’s biggest bank being underpaid to the tune of…
North Carolina governor commutes 15 death row sentences on last day in office
Roy Cooper’s historic clemency action comes a week after Biden’s resentencings shielded dozens from execution The governor of North Carolina has granted commutations to 15 people on death row on his final day in office, changing their sentences to life without the possibility of parole. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, announced his clemency action on New…
Woman dead in scuba accident at popular Queensland swimming spot on New Year’s Day
Emergency services were called to Wave Break Island on the Gold Coast after a woman was pulled unresponsive from the ocean A woman has died in a tragic New Year’s Day scuba diving accident at a popular Gold Coast swimming spot. Emergency services were called to Wave Break Island, in Biggera Waters, at 10.10am on…
Man pushed in front of New York City subway train injured but alive, police say
The incident occurred in the heart of Manhattan and a man has been taken into custody, but charges are yet to be filed A man waiting for the subway in Manhattan was pushed in front of an oncoming train on Tuesday afternoon, but survived with injuries to his leg and head, according to the New…
Why is VAT being added to private school fees?
VAT is now being added to private school fees after new rules came into force on 1 January. The government plans to spend the money raised on more teachers for state schools in England. Private schools say they have already seen a drop in secondary school pupil numbers because of higher fees. Value added tax…
Police praise mostly well-behaved NYE revellers despite firework-related blazes
Melbourne and Sydney fires brought under control, including in Tempe, and stabbings reported in Guildford and the Mornington Peninsula New Year’s Eve revellers have largely been praised for their behaviour at Australia’s biggest fireworks shows, while officers were kept busy with outbursts of trouble around local fireworks. More than a million people swarmed the main…
30 years ago Tomorrow’s World predicted 2025 – how did it do?
In 1995, the BBC’s Tomorrow’s World programme decided to predict what the world would look like 30 years later, in 2025. The show, which is no longer broadcast, featured one of the most famous scientists of the age, Prof Stephen Hawking, who predicted: “By 2025 we can expect big changes.” So, with the help of…
All the 1 January changes in Australia: Centrelink increases, import bans and pay rises
Bigger Austudy and carer allowance payments, higher Medicare safety net thresholds and mandatory corporate reporting on climate also in 1 Jan changes With the new year comes new policies, laws, taxes and reforms. Here’s everything to know about changes on 1 January, 2025 that could affect you. Centrelink payments, including youth allowance, Austudy and carer…
Bus passengers in England face £1 fare cap rise
Many bus passengers in England will face an increase in single fares from £2 to £3 from Wednesday. Leading campaign groups have said it would result in a “costly start” to 2025. The previous limit of £2 was introduced under the Conservative government to help with the rising cost of living. The Department for Transport…
Blurred battle lines: How the wars of 2024 brought together rivals – but created new enemies
This has been one of the most eventful years since I began covering global security for the BBC in the aftermath of the 11 September attacks in 2001. The sudden toppling of Syria’s President Assad, North Korean soldiers fighting for Russia. British and US missiles sent to Ukraine and fired at Russia, Iranian missiles shipped…
Energy prices rise with warnings of more pain to come
Domestic energy prices have risen with little respite expected for billpayers during the rest of the year. The second increase in Ofgem’s price cap this winter takes effect on Wednesday and means someone paying by direct debit and using a typical amount of gas and electricity will pay £1,738 a year. That is £21 a…
Hospital admissions for lack of vitamins soaring in England, NHS figures show
Admissions for vitamin or iron deficiencies up by more than 10% year on year and as much as tenfold on 1998-99 The number of people admitted to hospital in England because of a lack of vitamins or minerals is soaring, according to analysis of NHS figures. In 2023-24 there were 191,927 admissions where the main…