Channel migrants: The real reason so many are fleeing Vietnam
More Vietnamese attempted small-boat crossings in early 2024 than any other nationality - what makes them risk this dangerous journey?
Biden signs bill to boost social security payments for millions of public workers
President says Social Security Fairness Act will benefit ‘Americans who have worked hard all their lives’
Joe Biden has signed into law a measure that boosts social security payments for current and former public employees – such as teachers, firefighters, police officers and other public-service workers – in what the White House has described as the first expansion of such benefits in 20 years.
“The bill I’m signing today is about a simple proposition: Americans who have worked hard all their lives … should be able to retire with economic security and dignity,” Biden said. “That’s the entire purpose of the social security system crafted by Franklin Delano Roosevelt nearly 90 years ago.”
Continue reading...Give working parents help with childcare and commuting costs, UK thinktank says
Child poverty plan must address the 70% of families with at least one parent in work, Resolution Foundation says
Labour must offer extra support to working parents, including with childcare and commuting, if it is to fulfil its promise of cutting child poverty, the Resolution Foundation thinktank has argued.
The government’s manifesto promised an “ambitious strategy” on child poverty, and ministers have said they will publish a 10-year plan in the spring.
Continue reading...Harlan Coben says ‘quite a bit of tragedy’ in his 20s made him a better writer
Bestselling author and Netflix producer said extensive early experience of grief was ‘very cruel but effective teacher’
American thriller writer Harlan Coben said experiencing “quite a bit of tragedy” in his 20s made him a better writer.
The bestselling author, who wrote the Myron Bolitar thriller series and novels turned Netflix shows such as Fool Me Once and Missing You, said he was in his 20s when his father died of a heart attack at the age of 59 in 1988.
Continue reading...UK charity steps up campaign against child hygiene poverty
The Multibank, founded by Gordon Brown, receives boost with Amazon-led drive for 250,000 items this month
A charity founded by the former prime minister Gordon Brown is to increase its campaign efforts against child hygiene poverty this year.
The Multibank, which was founded by the former Labour leader, is working with a number of sports clubs across Britain and the Hygiene Bank charity. Over the Christmas and new year period it collected thousands of hygiene products at sporting fixtures.
Continue reading...Swinney to warn opposition of fuelling populism if Scottish budget not passed
Scottish Labour, Greens and Lib Dem MSPs accuse first minister of ‘creating false narrative’
John Swinney, Scotland’s first minister, will warn opposition parties that they will fuel populist forces if they prevent his budget from being passed this month.
In a keynote speech in Edinburgh on Monday to mark the new year, Swinney will say Scottish voters would be astonished and public services damaged if MSPs fail to allow the budget to go through.
Continue reading...Mint Primer | China’s new virus outbreak: what we know so far | Today News – Mint
- Mint Primer | China’s new virus outbreak: what we know so far | Today News Mint
- What is human metapneumovirus, are cases surging in China, and should we be worried? The Guardian
- HMPV Virus: Delhi government directs city hospitals to be prepared Hindustan Times
- HMPV Virus: How deadly is this virus? China's Center for Disease Control and Prevention sheds light on fatality rate The Economic Times
- Viral disease HMPV is on the rise among kids in China — what is it? Livescience.com
FBI investigates potential associates of New Orleans attacker in US and abroad
Officials say evidence supports theory suspect, 42, carried out deadly attack alone but reveal leads are being pursued
Federal authorities investigating the avowed Islamic State (IS) sympathizer who carried out the New Year’s Day Bourbon Street terror attack in New Orleans said they are still investigating his potential associates elsewhere in the US and abroad.
In a news briefing, officials from the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) said they were pursuing leads in Houston, Atlanta and Tampa, Florida. They also revealed that Shamsud-Din Jabbar visited New Orleans twice in the months before the attack, and, on one of those trips, rode a bicycle up Bourbon Street wearing smart Meta glasses and also rode around the French Quarter neighborhood – ostensibly, officials said, to prepare for the attack that he carried out, killing 14 people and injuring dozens more.
Continue reading...Russian newspaper says its reporter killed by Ukraine drone strike
Moscow accuses Ukraine's military of deliberately targeting journalist Alexander Martemyanov.
Expanded seven-day health hubs to help tackle NHS waiting times in England
Proposals to be outlined by Keir Starmer will offer patients 500,000 more appointments a year, as health secretary says without reforms NHS could collapse ‘like Woolworths’
Patients in England will be offered 500,000 more appointments a year via seven-day health hubs under plans to tackle lengthy waiting times, as ministers warned the NHS could collapse like Woolworths without major reform.
Millions of people will be able to access checks, tests and scans closer to home as the health service expands the number of community diagnostic centres (CDCs) opening 12 hours a day, seven days a week.
Continue reading...Austria Coalition Talks Collapse, Raising Prospects for Far-Right Freedom Party – The New York Times
- Austria Coalition Talks Collapse, Raising Prospects for Far-Right Freedom Party The New York Times
- Speculation grows that Austrian far right leader Herbert Kickl will be asked to form a government The Associated Press
- The infighting propelling Austria’s far right to power Financial Times
- Austrian Far-Right’s Kickl Has Foot in the Door to Lead Nation Bloomberg
- Austria’s president to meet far-right leader amid coalition speculation The Guardian
Congo executes 102 ‘urban bandits’ with 70 more set to be killed, officials say – The Associated Press
Fernandes and Amorim upset with United after impressive draw at Liverpool
Manchester United hold title-chasing Liverpool to a 2-2 draw at Anfield, but frustrate their club captain and manager.
Soccer-loving nun from Brazil is world’s oldest person at nearly 117 – CBS News
- Soccer-loving nun from Brazil is world's oldest person at nearly 117 CBS News
- The world's oldest living person is now a football-loving nun from Brazil Sky News
- World's oldest person identified as 117-year-old nun who loves soccer Fox News
- Brazilian nun becomes world’s oldest person at 116 The Associated Press
- Nun becomes world's oldest person at 116 WKRC TV Cincinnati
Mukesh Chandrakar: Body of missing Indian journalist found in septic tank – BBC.com
- Mukesh Chandrakar: Body of missing Indian journalist found in septic tank BBC.com
- Key Accused In Chhattisgarh Journalist's Murder Arrested In Hyderabad NDTV
- Chhattisgarh journalist killed after report on corruption: All we know Business Standard
- Indian journalist found dead in septic tank DW (English)
- Mukesh Chandrakar messaged from Bastar: “Kuch hoga to nahin na?” Months later, he was gone The Indian Express
Hamas approves Israeli list of hostages for potential exchange: Reuters – CNN
- Hamas approves Israeli list of hostages for potential exchange: Reuters CNN
- Middle East updates: Israel unclear on 'status of hostages' DW (English)
- Hamas says it’s ready to free 34 captives under ceasefire deal, reports say Al Jazeera English
- Leaked list names 34 hostages to be freed in 1st stage of Gaza deal; Israel denies progress The Times of Israel
- Israeli sources say Israel and Hamas are approaching partial hostage release deal Haaretz
Musk turns on UK’s Farage and says he should quit as Reform party leader – Reuters UK
- Musk turns on UK's Farage and says he should quit as Reform party leader Reuters UK
- Elon Musk calls for Nigel Farage to be replaced as Reform UK leader BBC.com
- How Musk went from Reform’s $100m donor to calling for Farage’s head The Telegraph
- In Reversal, Musk Trashes Farage, U.K.’s Anti-Immigrant Populist The New York Times
- When egos collide: Trump could be next after angry Musk turns on Farage The Independent
Taiwan suspects China of latest attack on undersea cables – POLITICO Europe
- Taiwan suspects China of latest attack on undersea cables POLITICO Europe
- Taiwan asks South Korea for help over Chinese ship after subsea cable damaged Financial Times
- Chinese ship cuts cable near Keelung Harbor 台北時報
- Foreign freighter being investigated for suspected damaging of undersea cable Focus Taiwan
- Taiwan intercepts ship with Chinese name suspected to have damaged underwater cable Taiwan News
Fact check: JD Vance is wrong about AfD, Nazis – DW (English)
- Fact check: JD Vance is wrong about AfD, Nazis DW (English)
- ‘Don’t feed the troll’: German chancellor responds to Elon Musk comments The Guardian
- Scholz condemns Musk's support for far-right AfD Euronews
- Elon Musk’s praise for the far right infuriates most of Germany The Economist
- In Jab at Musk, Scholz Condemns Foreign Interference in German Election The New York Times
Republicans try to exploit New Orleans attack to push through Trump agenda
Trump loyalists make baseless link between attack and US border and say cabinet nominees must be urgently ratified
Republicans in the US Senate are attempting to exploit the New Year’s Day attack that killed 14 victims in New Orleans, injuring dozens more, to push through Donald Trump’s most controversial cabinet nominations and rocket-charge the incoming president’s anti-immigration agenda – despite the fact that the attacker was a US citizen born and raised in east Texas.
Several Senate Republicans appeared on Sunday’s political shows to call for an urgent approval of the most contentious of Trump’s cabinet selections, who are facing a tough confirmation process. They include Kash Patel, chosen by Trump for FBI director; Pete Hegseth for defense secretary; and Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence.
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