The UK government will support local inquiries into organized child sexual abuse and conduct a rapid audit on gang-based exploitation, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced. This follows public pressure, partly driven by Elon Musk, who criticized Prime Minister Keir Starmer for not supporting a national inquiry and for alleged failures during his tenure as England’s chief prosecutor. The issue, involving “grooming gangs” linked to cases … Continue reading UK backs local inquiries into child sexual abuse gangs after Musk stoked controversy

A 34-year-old woman from Australia’s Sunshine Coast has been charged with poisoning a one-year-old girl, filming the infant’s suffering, and posting the videos online to gain donations and followers, police said. Authorities allege she administered unauthorized medicines from August to October 2024, ignoring medical advice and using old prescriptions. Hospital staff reported suspicions, and tests confirmed the poisoning. The woman faces charges including administering poison, … Continue reading Woman allegedly poisoned baby and posted videos online for donations, police say

Pope Francis suffered a minor fall at his Vatican residence, injuring his right forearm, which was placed in a sling as a precaution, the Vatican reported. Despite the incident, he continued his duties, offering his left hand for handshakes. At 88, Francis has faced ongoing health challenges, including bronchitis and mobility issues requiring a wheelchair, walker, or cane, the Associated Press has reported. Speculation about … Continue reading Pope hurts arm after falling for second time in month

Israel delayed a cabinet vote on a Gaza cease-fire deal after Prime Minister Netanyahu accused Hamas of breaking parts of the agreement. The deal, mediated in Qatar, involves phased hostages and prisoner exchanges alongside humanitarian aid. Disputes over military withdrawal and prisoner releases remain unresolved. Right-wing Israeli politicians and protests oppose the truce, threatening Netanyahu’s coalition. Despite continued Israeli airstrikes and Hamas attacks, U.S. officials … Continue reading Israel Delays Cease-Fire Deal; Blames Hamas for Reneging

With Donald Trump set to re-enter the White House, Ukraine faces mounting challenges. Its troops are struggling against Russia’s advances, with limited resources and dwindling military aid prospects. Russia continues its offensive, gaining territory in Donetsk while Ukrainian forces defend key positions. Ukraine’s defense priorities include stabilizing frontlines and bolstering capabilities, with allies pledging further aid. Talks of ending the conflict remain unlikely, as Moscow … Continue reading Ukraine losing ground on the battlefield as Trump team pushes ceasefire

Taiwan will enhance surveillance and inspection of foreign-flagged ships after a Chinese-linked cargo vessel allegedly damaged an undersea communication cable. Authorities plan to board suspicious vessels near sensitive areas and strengthen monitoring of undersea cables and landing points. Taiwan’s National Security Bureau emphasized international cooperation with the U.S. and Europe to address cable sabotage risks. The incident adds to concerns over China’s “gray zone” tactics, … Continue reading After cable damage, Taiwan to step up surveillance of ‘flag of convenience’ ships

Russia launched a massive missile and drone attack on Ukraine, targeting energy infrastructure across multiple regions, including Lviv and Kharkiv. Ukrainian forces shot down 30 of 43 missiles and 47 of 74 drones, but emergency power outages were imposed in six regions. The assault aims to cripple Ukraine’s power grid during winter, exacerbating energy shortages. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy urged Western allies to expedite air defense … Continue reading Russian missile attack forces Ukraine to shut down power grid

South Africa’s government faces criticism after cutting off food and water to illegal miners underground, leading to at least 78 deaths and over 100 others presumed dead from starvation at the Stilfontein mine. Rescuers have saved 166 people following a court-ordered operation, with survivors described as severely emaciated. Unions and opposition parties have condemned the government’s handling, calling it a display of negligence. The government … Continue reading South Africa criticized for ‘horrific’ mining crackdown after 78 bodies pulled from underground

Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire deal ending 15 months of conflict, confirmed by U.S. President Joe Biden. The agreement includes a complete ceasefire, Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza, and the release of hostages held by Hamas. UN Secretary General António Guterres emphasized prioritizing aid to alleviate suffering. However, the ceasefire, set to begin on January 19, follows continued violence, with Israeli airstrikes reportedly … Continue reading Israel and Hamas reach Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal

Spain plans to introduce a tax of up to 100% on properties bought by non-EU residents, including those from the UK, to address the housing crisis. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced the measure to prioritize housing for residents and combat property speculation. In 2023, non-EU residents purchased 27,000 homes in Spain, often for profit rather than personal use. Sánchez also unveiled other housing initiatives, including … Continue reading Spain plans 100% tax for homes bought by non-EU residents

Sydney’s Manly Beach and nearby beaches were closed on Tuesday after marble-sized white and gray debris washed ashore. Authorities are investigating the debris, similar to substances found on Bondi Beach in October, which were later identified as decomposed cooking oils, hair, and food waste. The Northern Beaches Council is coordinating with New South Wales’ Environmental Protection Agency to safely remove and test the material, NBC … Continue reading Sydney beaches shut once again over mysterious debris washed on shore

Australian scientists have confirmed a new, larger, and more venomous species of the deadly Sydney funnel-web spider, nicknamed ‘big boy.’ Growing up to 9 cm (3.54 inches), it has longer fangs and larger venom glands than its common counterpart. First discovered near Newcastle in the early 2000s, the spider has been named Atrax christenseni after spider expert Kane Christensen. Despite its potent venom, the existing anti-venom for … Continue reading Bigger and more venomous species of funnel-web spider discovered in Australia

Alleged sabotage of undersea cables in the Baltic Sea has heightened tensions in NATO’s northern theater, prompting allied leaders to boost surveillance and military presence. NATO chief Mark Rutte condemned the attacks on critical infrastructure, citing recent incidents like the Christmas Day damage to Estonia’s Estlink 2 power cable and internet cables. Finnish authorities linked the suspected sabotage to the Eagle S, a ship reportedly part … Continue reading Baltic Sea undersea ‘sabotage’ sets stage for escalating NATO-Russia contest

North Korea fired a ballistic missile on Monday, traveling 1,100 kilometers (685 miles) before landing in waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. South Korea’s military, which detected the launch in advance, condemned it as a serious threat to regional stability. Japan confirmed the missile landed outside its exclusive economic zone without causing damage, the Associated Press has reported. The launch comes weeks before Donald … Continue reading South Korea says North Korea fired a ballistic missile into the sea

A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck southwestern Japan on Monday, prompting a brief tsunami advisory for Miyazaki and Kochi prefectures, which was lifted before midnight. Minor damage included a small landslide, ruptured water pipes, and one man injured in Kyushu. A 20 cm (0.7 ft) tsunami was recorded at Miyazaki Port. Experts noted possible aftershocks but found no immediate connection to the Nankai Trough, a region … Continue reading Tsunami alert lifted after magnitude 6.6 earthquake rattles southwestern Japan

Serbia’s striking university students protested outside the Constitutional Court in Belgrade on Sunday, citing civil rights violations under the populist government and secret service pressure. The rally began with a 15-minute silent commemoration for victims of a canopy collapse in Novi Sad, which killed 14 people and sparked daily anti-corruption protests. A similar rally was held in the southern city of Nis. Students blame corruption … Continue reading Thousands of students protest in Serbia against violation of civil rights, spy agency crackdown

The black boxes from a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 that crashed in South Korea on December 29 stopped recording four minutes before impact, complicating the investigation into the crash that killed 179 of 181 people on board. The plane skidded off the runway in Muan after a bird strike and landing gear failure, striking a concrete localizer structure. Officials are investigating the black box failure … Continue reading Black boxes from South Korea plane crash failed to record final 4 minutes: Officials

Tens of thousands protested in Bucharest, Romania, against a court decision to annul last month’s presidential election after outsider Calin Georgescu emerged as the frontrunner. Demonstrators demanded the election resume from the second round, accusing authorities of undermining democracy. The Constitutional Court cited illegal use of AI, undeclared funding, and digital technologies in its ruling. Georgescu, who gained popularity on TikTok, denies wrongdoing and has … Continue reading Tens of thousands protest in Romania’s capital against annulled presidential race

Millions of Hindu devotees have gathered in Prayagraj, India, to begin the Maha Kumbh Mela, the world’s largest religious festival, expected to draw over 400 million people over six weeks. Pilgrims will perform ritual baths at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers, seeking purification and liberation from rebirth. Rooted in Hindu mythology, the festival rotates among four sacred sites every 12 … Continue reading India kicks off a massive Hindu festival touted as the world’s largest religious gathering

A Patriot Polling survey found that 57.3% of Greenland respondents support joining the U.S., with 37.4% opposing and 5.3% undecided. The poll, conducted among 416 people during Donald Trump Jr.’s visit, aligns with President-elect Trump’s push to acquire Greenland, citing its strategic importance. However, the poll is the first of its kind by Patriot Polling, which holds a low FiveThirtyEight rating, and Danish Prime Minister … Continue reading One poll finds majority of Greenland respondents support joining US

Authorities in Kano, Nigeria, have started evacuating over 5,000 street children, viewed as a security threat amid the region’s economic crisis. The Hisbah police force has conducted midnight raids to remove these children from motor parks and markets. Many of the children are from broken homes and have no access to education or parental care, with many begging or selling items to survive. Kano has … Continue reading Nigeria round up children living on streets to put them in camp “for their rehabilitation”

The U.S. must maintain troops in Syria to prevent the resurgence of ISIS following Bashar al-Assad’s ouster, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said. He emphasized securing detention camps holding thousands of ISIS fighters, including 2,000 deemed highly dangerous. U.S. forces, currently numbering around 2,000, work with the Kurdish-led SDF against ISIS, despite Turkey’s opposition to the SDF’s PKK ties. Austin highlighted the risk of ISIS fighters … Continue reading US troops need to stay in Syria to counter the Islamic State group, Austin says

Iran unveiled an underground missile storage facility and announced the development of “new special missiles,” according to IRGC-affiliated media. The facility, described as a “dormant volcano,” reportedly supported operations against Israel earlier this year. Iran plans to reveal additional “missile and drone cities” during upcoming military drills. Meanwhile, Iranian volunteer forces held a large-scale exercise in Tehran. Despite regional setbacks, Iranian leaders assert their deterrence … Continue reading Iran unveils underground storage facility, claims development of ‘new special missiles’

A stampede near India’s Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Andhra Pradesh killed six and injured 35 as thousands gathered for free visit passes during an auspicious period. The rush occurred when a gate opened, leading to a surge in the crowd. Authorities are investigating the cause, and the temple operator apologized, promising accountability. Andhra Pradesh’s Chief Minister visited the site, while the opposition blamed the … Continue reading Six dead in Indian temple stampede as free passes draw crowd of thousands

Israel launched airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, targeting ports and a power plant used for military purposes, following continued drone and missile attacks by the Iran-backed group. Coordinated with the US, over 20 Israeli aircraft dropped 50 munitions on key locations, including the Hodeidah and Ras Isa ports. Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Katz warned Houthi leaders of further consequences if aggression continues, … Continue reading 20 Israeli jets attack two ports and a power plant used by Houthis in Yemen