Ishikawa and its Noto peninsula, one of the worst affected areas, has been hit by more than 100 aftershocksJapanese rescuers were scrambling to search for survivors as authorities warned of landslides and heavy rain after a powerful earthquake that killed at least 62 people.The 7.5-magnitude quake on Monday that rattled Ishikawa prefecture on the main island of Honshu triggered tsunami waves more than a metre high, sparked a major fire and tore apart roads. Continue reading...
Lachlan Galbraith says he feels deep regret' for stealing a drink bottle lid, but the Hunting and Fishing store in Queenstown says embarrassment is punishment enough'Ocean Alley keyboardist Lachlan Galbraith has publicly apologised after a shop in New Zealand shared CCTV footage of him shoplifting.Hunting and Fishing Queenstown uploaded footage to Facebook and Instagram showing Galbraith placing a A$17.95 drink bottle lid in his bag on New Year's Eve. The Australian rock band is currently touring New Zealand and is due to play in Wellington on Wednesday and Whangamat on Friday. Continue reading...
Prime minister orders independent investigation into Scott Morrison's government's failure to transfer all documentsAnthony Albanese says Australians deserve an explanation as to why the Howard government committed the nation to war in Iraq, with an independent investigation ordered into the Morrison-era failure to hand over all the 2003 cabinet documents for release.Cabinet documents, including those prepared for the national security committee, are released to the public every 20 years. The confidentiality of the 2003 cabinet papers expired on 1 January 2024. The release of the documents was heavily anticipated for the insights into the decision to commit Australia to the US-led invasion of Iraq. Continue reading...
USS's write down of almost two-thirds comes after utility admitted it cannot afford debt repaymentsOne of the biggest investors in Thames Water has slashed the value of its stake in the debt-laden utility by almost two-thirds, weeks after the company admitted that it does not have enough money to make its debt repayments.A fund controlled by Thames Water's second largest investor, the University Superannuation Scheme (USS), reported a loss of almost 600m last year after writing down the value of the embattled water company as it struggles to shore up its balance sheet. Continue reading...
by Jason Burke International security correspondent on (#6HHWG)
Arouri had talked with Hezbollah of real victory' over Israel after 7 October attacksThe killing of Saleh al-Arouri in Beirut is the first strike in a campaign of assassinations overseas promised by Israeli officials for several months.The target was carefully chosen - one of the most senior Hamas leaders and the organisation's main link to Iran and the Lebanon-based militia Hezbollah. Arouri was also influential in the occupied West Bank, where he was born and where violence has soared in recent months. Continue reading...
by Artem Mazhulin in Kyiv and Pjotr Sauer on (#6HHB8)
Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, says four people were killed and 92 injured across the countryUkraine's capital, Kyiv, and its second-largest city, Kharkiv, have come under heavy Russian missile attacks, killing at least five people, a day after Vladimir Putin warned that Russia would intensify" its assault on Ukraine.Explosions were heard in all districts of the Ukrainian capital on Tuesday morning, shaking buildings in the city centre, in the third successive day of airstrikes on Ukraine Continue reading...
Future debates will focus on government promises and use of Home Office statisticsIt will surprise no one that a general election year has begun with a row over immigration - a crucial issue for voters in key parliamentary seats which will determine the UK's next government.But the intensity of the row - with Rishi Sunak accused by Labour of indulging in a barefaced lie" - is an indication of the way in which future debates will focus on promises made by the government and the use of Home Office statistics. Continue reading...
Hermoso gives testimony as judge investigates former Spanish football federation president over kiss after World Cup winThe Spanish footballer Jenni Hermoso has given evidence to a judge investigating the kiss she received from the then president of the Spanish Football Federation, Luis Rubiales, after Spain's win in the World Cup final last August.Rubiales' decision to take Hermoso's head in his hands and kiss her on the lips caused an outcry and a national and international debate on sexism. It has also led to Rubiales being investigated for alleged sexual assault and coercion by a judge at Spain's highest criminal court, the audiencia nacional. Continue reading...
Flats in Hyde Park, Knightsbridge, Mayfair and Whitehall popular amid fears over safety fears, study findsSuper-rich overseas property hunters are increasingly buying luxurious apartments with private security due to concerns over their personal safety, a study has found, as sales of homes over 15m in London rose in 2023.Wealthy people are buying newly built flats in high-security super-luxury apartment buildings offering concierge security and amenities" in some of the capital's most affluent neighbourhoods, research by high-end estate agency Beauchamp Estates and property service LonRes showed. Continue reading...
After unsuccessful calls for the lane to be renamed Lakeside View, signs have mysteriously disappearedThe Wiltshire town of Westbury is best known for the white horse carved into the chalky hillside above its Victorian streets and visible for miles around.But a more down-to-earth feature of the former mill and ironworks town - a road called Slag Lane - has been causing a stir. Continue reading...
I don't have to motivate the team against China,' says manager after 2-1 win in friendly played behind closed doorsHong Kong have beaten China for the first time in 29 years in a friendly football match in Abu Dhabi.Hong Kong's 2-1 victory over China comes as the former British colony prepares to participate in the Asian Cup for the first time since 1968, when the territory was still under British rule. Continue reading...
by Ashifa Kassam European community affairs correspon on (#6HHC9)
Unless from a wealthy family, internships for many mean chipping away at savings and cutting back on essentialsBy day, he was mostly an unpaid intern, getting a glimpse of day-to-day life in university research as he networked with potential employers.Nightfall would often send him rushing to his second shift; this time, at a library in the suburbs of Paris as he strives to pay his bills.What we see is that, many times, they [internships] are actually replacing entry-level jobsTea Jarc, of the European Trade Union ConfederationUnpaid internships have really become a barrier for the social mobility of young peopleMaria Rodriguez Alcazar, of the European Youth Forum Continue reading...
by Australian Associated Press and Stephanie Convery on (#6HH93)
Heavy rain, strong winds and large hailstones reported in parts of state as BoM warns of potential life-threatening flash floodingMore than 40,000 Victorian homes and businesses were without power and some would remain in the dark overnight as wild thunderstorms swept across the state, causing flight delays at Melbourne airport.A severe thunderstorm warning was issued on Tuesday afternoon for Bendigo, Maryborough, Castlemaine, Kyneton, Ballarat, Bellarine Peninsula and greater Melbourne. Continue reading...
Stanlow operator Essar stopped all imports of Russian fuel in 2022 but has arrangement with LitascoThe owner of one of Britain's biggest oil refineries has extended a loan facility with an arm of an oil company founded and part-owned by a Russian billionaire who is under sanctions.Essar Oil (UK), which owns and operates the Stanlow oil refinery on Merseyside, stopped all imports of Russian fuel in 2022, in the aftermath of the invasion of Ukraine. Continue reading...
In today's newsletter: After events during the last few days, a nightmare scenario including Iran and the US is becoming ever more likely Sign up here for our daily newsletter, First EditionGood morning. So far, the war in Gaza prompted by Hamas's 7 October attack has not precipitated the nightmare scenario - a wider Middle East conflict drawing in the US and Iran. But after events of the last few days, that risk appears to be becoming more serious.The centre of the danger is in the Red Sea, where Houthi forces based in Yemen and backed by Iran have been attacking freighters with real or perceived links to Israel. The US has offered protection to shipping travelling through the region, assembling a multinational naval coalition to uphold the foundational principle of freedom of navigation". But President Biden has said he wants to avoid direct military confrontation with the Houthis for fear of triggering an escalation.Japan | Japan's prime minister has said the country is facing a battle against time" to rescue those affected by a series of major earthquakes which reportedly killed at least 30 people. With aftershocks expected over the next few days, residents of coastal areas were being told not to return to their homes.Ofsted | Ofsted inspections will be halted until assessors have been properly trained in protecting the wellbeing of school staff, the watchdog's new chief has announced, after the suicide of headteacher Ruth Perry.Israel | Israel's supreme court has overturned a law at the heart of Benjamin Netanyahu's controversial judicial overhaul project, potentially plunging the country into political crisis as it fights in Gaza. The judges ruled on Monday by a slim majority of eight to seven to throw out a law that curtailed the court's own powers, saying it would severely damage Israel's democracy.NHS | NHS bosses fear patient safety could be compromised during this week's junior doctors strikes if medics do not honour an agreement to abandon picket lines if hospitals become overwhelmed during the winter crisis. The NHS Confederation warning comes ahead of a six-day strike due to start on Wednesday.Hong Kong | The media tycoon and pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai has pleaded not guilty to all charges at his national security trial. Lai and his Apple Daily newspaper were key supporters of Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement, which saw mass protests across the city in 2019. He could face life imprisonment if convicted. Continue reading...
Tribunal finds 17-year-old seller was not old enough to enter into contracts' after buyer suspected shoes were fakeA Melbourne real estate agent who spent almost $30,000 on sneakers he suspects are counterfeit is not entitled to a refund because he knowingly bought them off a 17-year-old student.The man took the student and his father to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (Vcat) after he came to suspect that the Dior X Air Jordan's he bought in 2020 were high-end counterfeits. Continue reading...
Murguia, who voiced titular character in Oscar-winning animated Pixar film, appeared in more than 100 roles spanning cinema, stage and televisionAna Ofelia Murguia, the Mexican actor who voiced the titular character of Disney and Pixar film Coco, has died aged 90.Her death was announced with deep sadness" on social media by Mexico's National Institute of Fine Arts and Literature, which said Murguia's artistic career was vital for the performing arts of Mexico". Her cause of death was not given. Continue reading...
by Helen Livingstone (now); Maya Yang, Yohannes Lowe, on (#6HGT8)
This blog has now closed. You can read our full report on the latest developments here and read all our Israel-Gaza war coverage hereAt the Vatican, Pope Francis recalled 2023 as a year marked by wartime suffering.During his traditional Sunday blessing from a window overlooking St Peter's Square, he offered prayers for the tormented Ukrainian people and the Palestinian and Israeli populations, the Sudanese people and many others".At the end of the year, we will have the courage to ask ourselves how many human lives have been shattered by armed conflict, how many dead and how much destruction, how much suffering, how much poverty? Continue reading...
Lior Sivan's father says 32-year-old dual citizen was killed in an ambush when he exited a tank hatch to try to shoot a Hamas fighterThe Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Dfat) is urgently seeking to confirm whether an Australian citizen has been killed in Gaza.The ABC has reported that Lior Sivan, a 32-year-old reserves captain, was killed while fighting with an Israeli armoured brigade in southern Gaza. His death was covered by Israeli outlets shortly after but was not picked up by Australian media until Tuesday. Continue reading...
by Kevin Rawlinson and Charlie Moloney on (#6HGVR)
A 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of murder at scene of stabbing on Primrose HillA 16-year-old boy stabbed to death as he waited to watch the fireworks on London's Primrose Hill just before midnight on New Year's Eve has been named as Harry Pitman.Onlookers described ambulances racing to the scene and paramedics performing CPR on the schoolboy but, despite their efforts, he could not be saved. Continue reading...
The quakes, the largest of which had a magnitude of 7.6, started a fire and collapsed buildings on the west coast of Japan's main island, HonshuJapan has dropped its highest-level tsunami alert after issuing one after a series of major earthquakes on Monday but told residents of coastal areas not to return to their homes as deadly waves could still come.The quakes, the largest of which had a magnitude of 7.6, started a fire and collapsed buildings on the west coast of Japan's main island, Honshu. It was unclear how many people might have been killed or hurt. Continue reading...
Naval and commercial access to Somaliland's coast granted in exchange for recognising republic's independenceEthiopia has signed a historic" deal granting it naval and commercial access to ports along Somaliland's coast, in exchange for recognition for the breakaway republic's independence, it has been announced.The Somali government, which has long held that Somaliland remains a part of the country, announced that it would convene an emergency meeting of its cabinet in response to the memorandum of understanding, according to state news agency Sonna. Continue reading...
Court overturns law preventing judges from quashing government decisions they deem unreasonableIsrael's supreme court has overturned a law at the heart of Benjamin Netanyahu's controversial judicial overhaul project, potentially plunging the country into political crisis as it fights a war in Gaza and faces the spectre of regional escalation.The judges ruled on Monday by a slim majority of eight to seven to throw out a law that curtailed the court's own powers, saying it would severely damage Israel's democracy. Continue reading...
Crisis in NHS contributing to nurses being spat at and punched, leading some to leave the profession, Prof Nicola Ranger saysNurses are being put in increasing danger from shocking levels of violence and aggression by patients, a senior nursing leader has warned.Prof Nicola Ranger, the Royal College of Nursing's (RCN) director of nursing, said the crisis in the NHS had fuelled bad behaviour by patients frustrated by worsening delays for treatment since the Covid pandemic. Continue reading...
Airstrikes against Houthi rebels and the prospect of a year-long Gaza conflict will test cross-party thinking at WestminsterTwo developments in the past 48 hours could test the cross-party consensus in Westminster on the conflict between Israel and Hamas: the signal sent by the Ministry of Defence that it is prepared to join the US in launching airstrikes against Houthi sites in Yemen, and statements by the Israeli political and military leadership that the war may take months or even a whole year to complete.Labour has so far largely concurred with UK government policy, which in turn has largely shadowed thinking inside the White House. Continue reading...
Russian president says Moscow will continue to strike sensitive' military targets in Ukraine and says war is turning in Russia's favour. This live blog is closedVolodymyr Zelenskiy vows to unleash wrath' on Russian forces in 2024. But the Ukrainian president's new year's address made almost no direct reference to the situation on the frontline or the limited success of a counteroffensive launched in June.Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of New Year's Day attacks. Five people have been killed in attacks on Ukraine's southern Odesa region and the occupied eastern city of Donetsk.Ukraine claims Russia has launched a record number' of attack drones. Ukraine's Air Force said 87 out of 90 drones had successfully been shot down in the hours leading into New Year's Day.Vladimir Putin calls Ukrainian strikes on Belgorod terrorist act' that will not go unpunished'. Russia's president said it would continue to strike sensitive" military targets in Ukraine.The death toll following Ukrainian strikes on Belgorod has risen to 25, according to region's governor. Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Monday a four-year-old girl died from injuries sustained in the attack.The death toll as a result of the attack on the Russian border city of Belgorod on 30 December has increased to 25, according to the region's governor. Continue reading...
Band alters lyric from American Idiot to I'm not a part of the Maga agenda' during Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve setRock band Green Day altered the lyrics of their well-known song American Idiot to criticize Donald Trump during a televised New Year's Eve performance.During a set on Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve, the lead singer, Billie Joe Armstrong, replaced the line I'm not a part of a redneck agenda" with I'm not a part of the Maga agenda". The song was originally released to criticize former president George Bush in 2004. Continue reading...
by Peter Hannam Economics correspondent on (#6HGZ7)
Price trends are unlikely to be straightforward in 2024, even if the RBA's next move is a rate reductionAustralia's rollercoaster" real estate market faces fresh peaks and troughs in 2024 as the prospect of falling interest rates contend with a recent slowdown in price increases.Renters, meanwhile, are experiencing smaller increases in payments, but the share of income going to rent remains at near-record levels with little relief in sight. Continue reading...
Exclusive: appeal court to hear challenge by Edwin Afriyie after high court rejected his claim over 2018 incidentA black youth worker who was standing with his arms folded when he was shot with a stun gun by officers during a traffic stop has been given permission to appeal over a lost claim for damages against City of London police.Officers claimed in statements that Edwin Afriyie had adopted a fighting stance" before he was hit by the Taser electrical weapon but police body-worn camera footage showed that his arms were folded and he was standing at a distance from them. Continue reading...
Kimberlee Singler will face extradition proceedings after her daughter, 9, and son, 7, were found dead last monthA woman suspected of killing two of her children in the US before leaving the country has been arrested in the UK and has appeared in court in London to face extradition proceedings.Kimberlee Singler's nine-year-old daughter and seven-year-old son were found dead on 19 December when police responded to a report of a burglary at their home in Colorado Springs. Police later said the report turned out to be unfounded. Continue reading...
Giannini, nicknamed Tripolino, had said his secrets were light meals, no stress or smoking and taking each day as a giftItaly's oldest man, who credited light meals and no stress" for his longevity, has died at the age of 111.Tripoli Giannini, nicknamed Tripolino, died at his home in Cecina, near Livorno in Tuscany, on New Year's Eve. He was the second-oldest man in Europe, after Andre Ludwig, a Frenchman who is 75 days older. Continue reading...
Origins of Dorset hillside chalk figure was as muster station for West Saxon armies fending off Vikings, historians concludeFor centuries, historians and archaeologists have puzzled over the origins of the Cerne Abbas giant, the huge, naked, club-wielding figure cut into a chalky hillside in the English West Country. Was he a Celtic god, some sort of ancient fertility symbol, or, perhaps, a more recent lampoon of Oliver Cromwell?Research from the University of Oxford has now concluded that the 60m tall figure in Dorset could have marked an inspiring muster station for West Saxon armies at a time when the area was being attacked by Viking warriors. Continue reading...
In both countries 33% of adults hit the target on a daily basis, with Korea and Israel next highest in OECD figuresOne in three adults in the UK and Ireland consume five or more portions of fruit and vegetables every day, a higher proportion than in any other nation in the developed world, a report suggests.Regular consumption of fruit and veg is associated with improved health outcomes, particularly in lowering the risk of heart disease and certain types of cancer. The World Health Organization recommends eating at least 400g - or five or more portions - each day. Continue reading...
Doug Barrowman says NCA investigation into Covid VIP lane' firm is being used to distract from government incompetenceThe disgraced Conservative peer Michelle Mone and her husband are being investigated by the UK's National Crime Agency, the couple have confirmed in a statement in which they claimed they were being hung out to dry" over the government's Covid-19 PPE failings.Mone's husband, Doug Barrowman, accused the government of using the NCA to threaten criminal proceedings" to make the couple reach a settlement in relation to PPE Medpro, a consortium he led and which is being sued by the UK government for 122m plus costs for breach of contract and unjust enrichment". Continue reading...
Average annual household bill to jump by 94 to 1,928 in some of the coldest months of the yearA 94 increase to the average annual household energy bill has come into effect after the regulator upped its price cap in response to a rise in global gas market prices.The change, taking effect from 1 January, means average households are beginning 2024 with a 5% increase in energy bills - at the start of what could be the coldest three months of the year. Continue reading...
Flight contained 303 Indians en route to Central American country whose light visa requirements have attracted US-bound travelersThe detention in France of a charter plane bound for Nicaragua has renewed attention on the Central American nation's role as a springboard for migrants from across the world seeking to make their way to the United States.The flight, which left the United Arab Emirates on 21 December with 303 passengers of Indian nationality, was grounded during a refueling stop after an anonymous tip-off alleging human trafficking. Continue reading...
New plan bans selling of native timbers and includes transition payouts to sawmills and towns to diversify industryThe end of unsustainable commercial logging in Western Australia could save almost 20,000 square kilometres of forest, the state government says.Chopping down native karri, jarrah and wandoo hardwood in the state's south-west and selling it is banned from Monday. The state's environment minister, Reece Whitby, said it was a historic moment for WA. Continue reading...
Figures showing 133% increase since 2013 derided as smoke and mirrors' amid failure to meet treatment targetsNHS figures that show more people than ever are being checked for cancer have been criticised as misleading" by experts.Official data published on Monday reported that almost 3 million people in England were tested for cancer in 2022, a 133% increase in the decade since 2013. Continue reading...
by Sarah Marsh Consumer affairs correspondent on (#6HGST)
Retailers including Marks & Spencer and Tesco promise to pass on savings to customers after VAT axedWomen can buy period pants for 2 cheaper than current prices after the government abolished a tax on the product.As of Monday, retailers including supermarkets Marks & Spencer and Tesco, as well as clothing shop Primark, have promised to pass on the savings (worth 16%) to customers. Continue reading...
BoM forecasts heavy rain for south-east Queensland and northern NSW, while across the far north temperatures will remain in the 40sParts of south-east Queensland are being battered by heavy rain in a soggy start to the new year, with dangerous flooding predicted.Intense falls in some areas could lead to life-threatening flash flooding, the Bureau of Meteorology warned on Monday afternoon. Continue reading...
by Elias Visontay and Australian Associated Press on (#6HGQV)
Police say one man has serious injuries after terribly serious' fire in suburb of Mill ParkDetectives are investigating an explosion at a New Year's Even house party in Melbourne's north-east which left eleven people in hospital.Emergency services were called to a home on Development Boulevard in the suburb of Mill Park just after 11pm on Sunday, responding to reports of a fire burning in the garden. Continue reading...
Macron says Olympics will bring France a 2024 full of pride' and hope'; some UK New Year's Eve firework events cancelled due to weatherNew Year's Eve is a time of both looking forward, and of looking backward, so before it slips off into the distance, why not test your knowledge on what you can remember from 2023 with our news quiz? Probably best attempted earlier in the evening rather than later.Do the quiz set by Will Dean: Barbie, Beatles and Bankman-Fried: how well do you remember 2023? Continue reading...
World news | The Guardian