News
ISIS Says It Inspired New Orleans Attack, but Doesn’t Claim Responsibility
New Orleans Attack The attacker who killed 14 pedestrians on Bourbon Street was “influenced by the discourse and messaging of the Islamic State,” the terrorist group said in a bulletin dated Thursday. By Eve Sampson The group said the attacker who ran over pedestrians walking on Bourbon Street was “influenced by the discourse and messaging…
Former NFL WAG Shares What Her Husband’s Salary Was Really Like
Bryce Watts Hansen—who is married to retired NFL player Chad Hansen—revealed the harsh reality of sharing finances with a professional football player, saying, “These contracts aren’t guaranteed.” Bryce Watts Hansen is setting the record straight. The NFLadies podcast host—who is married to former NFL player Chad Hansen—shared that the life of a professional football player…
Biden Officials Say the Truth About Havana Syndrome Is Still Unknown
The White House contradicts a new intelligence assessment on the mysterious ailments that diplomats and spies have reported for years. By Julian E. Barnes Reporting from Washington White House officials said on Friday that the truth behind the mysterious ailments known as Havana Syndrome was still unknown, contradicting a new intelligence assessment about what had…
Gaza death toll 40% higher than official number, Lancet study finds
Analysis estimates death toll by end of June was 64,260, with 59% being women, children and people over 65 Research published in the Lancet medical journal estimates that the death toll in Gaza during the first nine months of the Israel-Hamas war was about 40% higher than numbers recorded by the Palestinian territory’s health ministry.…
Gaza war death toll could be significantly higher, researchers say
The Palestinian death toll from the war in Gaza could be substantially higher than official figures reported by the Hamas-run health ministry, research published in The Lancet medical journal suggests. The UK-led study covered the first nine months of the war, which began when Hamas gunmen attacked Israel on 7 October 2023. It used data…
Rachel Lindsay Slams Take She Chose Career Over Bryan Abasolo Marriage
Rachel Lindsay broke her silence on divorce from Bryan Abasolo after reaching a $500,000 settlement and slammed the notion she chose a career over a family. Rachel Lindsay is telling her side of the story. After the Bachelorette alum finalized her divorce from Bryan Abasolo—which includes her paying him $500,000 as part of the settlement…
Ukraine’s highest profile combat unit to recruit English-speaking soldiers
Ukraine’s highest profile combat unit is seeking English-speaking recruits at a time when the impending presidency of Donald Trump means that Kyiv is expected to come under intense pressure on the battlefield. Azov, a volunteer brigade whose decade-old nationalist origins have made it a target of Russian propaganda, plans to form an international battalion to…
Second pair of lynx captured in Cairngorms
A second pair of lynx have been captured after being found near Kingussie in the Cairngorms National Park. Two other lynx, released illegally, were caught in the same area on Thursday. The RZSS confirmed that the latest pair had been captured at about 18:30 near the Dell of Killiehuntly, where the two other lynx were…
Slender Man Case: Morgan Geyser to Be Released 11 Years After Stabbing
Morgan Geyser, who stabbed Payton Leutner in 2014 in an effort to please the fictional character Slender Man, is set to be released from a Wisconsin psychiatric hospital, a judge ruled Jan. 9. A new update has emerged in the Slender Man case, over a decade after the terrifying ordeal. Nearly 11 years ago, Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier lured…
Dave Coulier Details “Roller Coaster” Chemotherapy Cancer Treatment
Full House’s Dave Coulier shared how he’s been adjusting to the side effects of chemotherapy treatment amid his battle with stage 3 Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Dave Coulier is not taking anything for granted. Nearly two months after the Full House star shared his diagnosis with stage 3 Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a type of blood cancer involving the…
Firefighters battling LA fires make some progress, but harsh winds threaten gains
By Juliana Kim , Ayana Archie This is a developing story. For the latest local updates head to LAist.com and sign up for breaking news alerts. California firefighters have begun to see some progress against the wildfires that are raging for a fourth day. At the same time, those gains continue to be threatened as powerful, dry winds…
Warwick Davis to receive prestigious Bafta Fellowship
Actor and TV presenter Warwick Davis will receive this year’s Bafta Fellowship, the British Academy’s highest honour. The Surrey-born actor is known for appearing in the Harry Potter and Star Wars film series and has presented the ITV game show Tenable since 2016. In a statement, Davis described the Fellowship as an “incredible honour” and…
World’s ugliest lawn winner says she leaves watering to Mother Nature
New Zealand garden takes first prize in global competition designed to promote water conservation A sun-scorched patch of lawn near Christchurch, in New Zealand, has been crowned the ugliest lawn in the world. Now in its second year, the World’s Ugliest Lawn competition rewards lawn owners for not watering their parched yellow grass and patchy…
‘My mum died after four days on an A&E trolley’
Mary Lamerton was a joyous person who always saw the funny side of life. She was the type of person who made sure her family remembered each other’s birthdays. Daughter Sue described her 86-year-old mother as the “lynchpin” of the family. She recounted how Mary spent the last four days of her life on a…
Trump’s Erroneous Claims about the Los Angeles Fire Response, Debunked
Trump’s Erroneous Claims about the Los Angeles Fire Response, Debunked President-elect Trump has incorrectly blamed California water management for the destruction from the recent fires in the Los Angeles area By Camille von Kaenel & E&E News Firefighters battle the Eaton Fire in strong winds as many homes burn on January 7, 2025 in Pasadena,…
2024 was the hottest year on record. The reason remains a science mystery
By Alejandra Borunda The numbers vary slightly. NOAA reports 1.46 degrees C of warming, NASA, 1.47; and the EU’s Copernicus, 1.6. “The real punchline is, it was another really warm year,” says Russell Vose, a climate scientist at NOAA’s National Center for Environmental Information, the group that produces the temperature estimates. The 1.5C number gained…
Oldham abuse survivors criticise government over inquiry decision
The BBC has changed the names of the women in this article in order to protect their identity. Three women who were left devastated by historical child sexual exploitation in Oldham have told the BBC ministers should have spoken to survivors before deciding not to conduct a government-led inquiry into grooming gangs in the town.…
Trump avoids prison or fine in hush-money case sentencing
A judge has sentenced US President-elect Donald Trump to an “unconditional discharge,” bringing to an end the first criminal trial of a former US president. The sentence in the hush-money payment case means the incoming president has been spared any penalty, including jail time or a fine, but he will still take office as the…
Tom Holland’s Dad Shares Insight Into Zendaya Engagement
After Zendaya hinted at her engagement to Tom Holland at the 2025 Golden Globes with her stunning ring, the Spider-Man star’s dad Dominic Holland confirmed he popped the question. Tom Holland became the greatest showman for his proposal to Zendaya. Just days after the Spider-Man actress turned heads at the 2025 Golden Globes with a…
Paris Hilton Shares Heartbreak After Home Was Destroyed by L.A. Fires
Paris Hilton detailed the emotional return to her Malibu home after it was burned to the ground in the devastating Los Angeles fires. Paris Hilton is sharing insight into the devastation caused by the Los Angeles fires. The heiress—who shares kids Phoenix, 2, and London, 14 months, with husband Carter Reum—reflected on the loss of…
Mauro Morandi, Italy’s Robinson Crusoe, Dies at 85
He was the sole resident of Budelli, an undeveloped sliver of paradise off the northern coast of Sardinia. He embraced the solitude, until he was evicted. By Elisabetta Povoledo reporting from Rome Mauro Morandi, whose 32-year sojourn on an uninhabited Mediterranean island led to his being known as Italy’s Robinson Crusoe, died on Jan. 3…
Faisal Islam: Mortgage rates are not rising yet but Reeves has to act
It has not been a good week for Chancellor Rachel Reeves. Government borrowing costs have hit their highest level in 16 years and the pound has fallen to a 14-month low against the dollar. She has gone on a planned trip to China amid accusations from opposition parties that she is leaving at a moment…
‘I have nothing to go back to’ – BBC reporter tells of LA fires heartbreak
It’s been four days since Los Angeles became an inferno – and my home became a pile of smouldering embers. I’m now staying at a friend’s house in La Crescenta, north of the city, after evacuating my condo in the Palisades, 30 miles (48km) away from where the fires first started on Tuesday morning. I…
What is the flame retardant that planes are dropping on the LA fires?
By Bill Chappell This is a developing story. For the latest local updates, head to LAist.com. Also, sign up for NPR’s breaking news alerts. Air tankers are dropping thousands of gallons of red flame retardant in the hills around Los Angeles as firefighters attempt to limit the devastation from multiple wildfires. Images of vivid red clouds enveloping…
Venezuela’s Maduro sworn in amid outrage over alleged election theft
President, who has led country in an increasingly repressive direction since 2013, has failed to provide proof he won vote Venezuela’s authoritarian president, Nicolás Maduro, has been sworn in for a third term despite domestic outrage and a chorus of international condemnation at his alleged theft of last year’s election. “This is a great victory…
Mandy Moore Slams Critics After Sharing Fundraiser for Relatives
While sharing a fundraiser to support her relatives that have lost their homes in the Los Angeles fires, Mandy Moore responded to critics questioning whether she was giving them support herself. Mandy Moore is doing whatever she can for her family—including clapping back at the haters. After her relatives lost their home in the devastating…
Biden Raises Bounty For Nicolás Maduro to $25 Million
The move is a retaliatory measure meant to punish the Venezuelan autocrat for refusing to give up power By Julie Turkewitz Reporting from Bogotá, Colombia The Biden Administration said on Friday that it was offering $25 million for information leading to the arrest of Nicolás Maduro, the president of Venezuela. The announcement is Washington’s retaliatory…
US announces $25m reward for arrest of Venezuela’s Maduro
The US has announced an increased $25m (£20.4m) reward for information leading to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on the day he was sworn in for a third six-year term in office. The inauguration ceremony was overshadowed by recrimination from the international community and Venezuelan opposition leaders. Rewards have also been offered for…
Police search for two sisters reported missing in Aberdeen
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both 32, were last seen crossing a bridge in the city centre on Tuesday morning Police are searching for two sisters reported missing in Aberdeen, who were last seen three days ago. Police Scotland has asked for the public’s help to trace Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both 32, who were last…
President-Elect Donald Trump Sentenced, Officially a Convicted Felon
President-elect Donald Trump was sentenced on Jan. 10 to an unconditional discharge in his hush money case in New York, making him the first president to be sentenced on criminal charges. President Donald Trump’s legal journey has come to an end. The 78-year-old’s hush money case in the state of New York—the only one of…
‘The worst way of dying’: scientists urge coordinated effort to stop whales getting tangled
Experts recorded 45 entanglements off Australia’s east coast in 2024 – but believe that’s ‘the tip of the iceberg’ At least 45 whales were entangled by fishing ropes and line on the east coast in 2024, and experts are calling for better management of fishing gear in Australia to prevent marine suffering. Dr Olaf Meynecke,…
Israel Strikes Ports and a Power Plant in Houthi-Controlled Parts of Yemen
Middle East Crisis Israel and its allies have escalated strikes against the Houthis to try to force them to stop firing on Israel and Red Sea shipping lanes, but it was not clear whether they would deter the Iran-backed militia. By Aaron Boxerman and Ismaeel Naar Aaron Boxerman reported from Jerusalem and Ismaeel Naar from…
Bride’s fury after Instagram stunt wedding turns out to be real
A woman in Australia has annulled her marriage after realising that a fake wedding ceremony she took part in for a social media stunt was in fact real. The unknowing bride said her partner was a social media influencer who convinced her to take part in the ceremony as a “prank” for his Instagram account.…
Hunters Disagree on the Threat of Chronic Wasting Disease in Deer
Hunters Disagree on the Threat of Chronic Wasting Disease in Deer The prion disease that causes deer, elk and other cervids to waste away could someday jump to humans, but many hunters are not convinced they should worry By Sophie Hartley Aaron Skarlupka, a hunter in northeast Wisconsin, was recently thrilled when he got his…
Mel Gibson’s Home Burned Down During His Joe Rogan Interview
Mel Gibson revealed that he lost his Malibu home in the Los Angeles fires while in Austin filming an episode of Joe Rogan’s podcast The Joe Rogan Experience. Mel Gibson is mourning the loss of his home. The What Women Want actor revealed that the Malibu home that he’d lived in for nearly 15 years burned…
Met inspector’s WhatsApp chat ‘breached standards’
The head of the Met’s Black Police Association (MBPA) has been found to have committed gross misconduct over a group chat where racist, sexist and inappropriate messages were sent and received. Insp Charles Ehikioya was in a WhatsApp chat with former officer Carlo Francisco where offensive messages were shared. The officer had denied the allegations…
Today’s Hoda Kotb Reveals Plans for Her First Day Off
Today‘s Hoda Kotb revealed what she plans to do on her first Monday off from the show, as Craig Melvin takes her place alongside Savannah Guthrie, and her answer is guaranteed to make you smile. Come Monday morning, Hoda Kotb won’t be tuning into Today. During the beloved co-anchor’s final day after 17 years with…
Burning is risky – so why are tan lines having their time in the sun on social media?
Gen Z influencers spruik tan lines as summer’s ‘fav accessory’ to generation ‘obsessed’ with looks In life, there are lots of pleasurable things that we know aren’t that good for us: simple carbs deep-fried in vegetable oil, drinking one or two wines over the recommended limit at dinner with friends, and sitting in the Australian…
U.S. Imposes New Sanctions to Squeeze Russia’s Energy Sector
Russia-Ukraine War The Biden administration is cracking down on the Russian “shadow fleet” and taking steps to curb oil and gas production. By Alan Rappeport Reporting from Washington The United States on Friday announced new sanctions targeting Russia’s energy sector and its “shadow fleet” of oil tankers in what could be a final attempt by…
CW Stars Courtney Ford, Brandon Routh Divorce After 17 Years Together
Legends of Tomorrow costars Courtney Ford and Brandon Routh announced their breakup after 17 years of marriage. The actress filed for divorce on Jan. 8. Courtney Ford and Brandon Routh are exiting the Waverider solo. The DC’s Legends of Tomorrow costars shared they have broken up in a joint post on Instagram one day after…
‘I felt less human, not human at all’: Australia faces moral crossroads over Nauru
Who is accountable for what happens in an offshore processing centre? It’s remarkable this is still a question in Australia Aarash lost his youth to offshore processing. Sixteen when he was sent to Nauru, he says he cannot remember a single birthday in more than a decade. “When I see younger ones that age, having…
Kelly Clarkson’s Kids Remy & River Make Guest Appearance on Show
Kelly Clarkson made a recent episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show a family affair by welcoming her kids Remy and River to the studio. Kelly Clarkson is keeping it in the family. During the Jan. 8 episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show, the “Since U Been Gone” singer welcomed her kids River, 10, and Remy,…
Sisters seemed fine before going missing, says brother as police launch search
Two 32-year-old sisters missing in Aberdeen seemed “fine” in the days running up to their disappearance, according to their brother. Eliza and Henrietta Huszti – who are part of a set of triplets – were last seen in Market Street at Victoria Bridge at about 02:12 GMT on Tuesday. Police have launched a major land,…
Giant pink slug makes a comeback on extinct volcano in NSW national park
Exclusive: The kaputar slug, which can grow longer than a human hand, was almost wiped out in the black summer bushfires of 2019-20 A giant, fluorescent pink slug’s comeback on Mount Kaputar has been mapped by eager citizen scientists. The kaputar slug grows up to 20cm long – outstripping the average human hand – and…
UK has enough gas says No 10 after supply warning
The UK has enough gas to meet winter demand, the government has said, after British Gas owner-Centrica warned about “concerningly low” supplies. Centrica, which owns the country’s largest gas storage facility, said the UK “has less than a week of gas demand in store” due to the colder-than-usual weather. The government said it monitors energy…
Nick Viall Reveals He’s on “Water Fasting” Diet
Nick Viall is taking new steps in his dietary habits for 2025. The Bachelor alum revealed he’s on a “water fasting” diet. New year, new diet for Nick Viall. The Bachelor alum kicked off 2025 by revealing that he is doing an unconventional water diet that has left him “hangry.” “I haven’t eaten in 36…
‘It was extraordinary’: Spanish captain recalls rescue of woman who gave birth in dinghy
Mother and newborn saved from inflatable boat off Canary Islands, on a route on which thousands have died The call that would lead to one of the most poignant images of the humanitarian emergency in the deadly waters off the Canary Islands came at 4am Monday morning. The command centre of Spain’s Salvamento Marítimo (Maritime…
Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag Share the Items Left After Losing Home
Spencer Pratt uncovered several items from the ruins of his family home with Heidi Montag after losing everything in the Palisades fire. Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag are seeing what’s left of their home. The reality star couple—who lost their home in the Pacific Palisades fire—has been documenting the aftermath of their devastation, including Spencer returning…
Thursday Briefing
Devastating wildfires in California. By Natasha Frost Multiple wildfires raged across thousands of acres in Southern California, displacing tens of thousands of people and ravaging entire Los Angeles neighborhoods, as strong winds and a dwindling water supply stymied firefighters’ efforts to stop the destruction. At least five people have died, the authorities said, and the…
Minister rejects Burnham’s call for grooming inquiry
A cabinet minister has rejected a call from Labour’s Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham for a new national inquiry into grooming gangs, while leaving the door open for a future investigation. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said she disagreed with Burnham’s support for a fresh inquiry into historical child sexual abuse in areas including Oldham and…
Wildfire victims report looting. And, Trump set for sentencing in hush money case
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. Firefighters were able to slow the spread of wildfires in Los Angeles yesterday after the Santa Ana winds eased, allowing crews to drop water from above. Red flag warnings,…
Bob Woodward told key Republican Biden was corrupt, new book claims
Washington Post reporter said ‘everyone in DC’ knew Biden ‘allowed his family to sell access to him’, James Comer says In a new book, James Comer of Kentucky, the Republican chair of the powerful US House oversight committee, claims that in a private conversation the Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward told him “everyone in DC…
Trump set for sentencing in his New York felony conviction
Ximena Bustillo After months of legal twists and turns, Donald Trump’s most active criminal case is finally reaching a conclusion. The former and future president is scheduled to appear in a Manhattan courtroom on Friday for his sentencing on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to conceal a payment to an adult film star.…
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…
‘Pizzagate’ gunman killed by police in North Carolina, authorities say
By The Associated Press KANNAPOLIS, N.C. — A man who fired a gun inside a restaurant in the nation’s capital after a fake online conspiracy theory called “Pizzagate” motivated him to do so nearly a decade ago was shot and killed by North Carolina police during a weekend traffic stop. Edgar Maddison Welch was a…
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…