Hamas lists 34 hostages it may free under ceasefire
The list is released as new Israeli air strikes kill dozens in Gaza over the weekend.
Gina Rinehart and Pauline Hanson seen dining together in Thailand – as it happened
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Lambie says Albanese decision to campaign over holidays ‘bizarre’
Senator Jacqui Lambie has questioned whether Anthony Albanese would call an early election, amid his pre-election campaign blitz across multiple states this week.
Most people don’t want to see a politician over this … three weeks, you know, from about the 20th probably to about the 10th or 15th of January. So to be out there and campaigning now, I just I don’t know whether that will just annoy the people more or what …
Going out this early straight after Christmas, this would have to be a first, I reckon. This is phenomenal. So anybody would have to say that he’s going to call an election in late February or early March, surely.
You never see anybody running around campaigns during the Christmas period. This is really bizarre, so I’m not sure how that is going to go down with Australians. But quite frankly, the worst time to do it is the three weeks over the Christmas period. They just don’t like it very much.
Continue reading...Anthony Albanese announces $7.2bn in funding for Queensland’s Bruce Highway in first major election promise
Federal government to fund 80% of upgrades with state paying for 20%, despite previously vowing to split infrastructure projects 50-50
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In the first major promise of the election year, Anthony Albanese has announced $7.2bn in funding for Queensland’s Bruce Highway.
The federal government will fund 80% of the upgrades, with the state funding 20%.
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Continue reading...Skull of child or small person may have been deliberately placed in Gold Coast park, police say
Bushwalker’s discovery in Springbrook national park leaves Queensland police with ‘a lot of questions we need answers for’
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A skull found in a national park may belong to a child and appears to have been deliberately placed in the rainforest.
Police are investigating after a bushwalker made the gruesome discovery about 10 metres from a track in Springbrook national park on the Gold Coast on Friday morning.
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Continue reading...US authorities say New Orleans attacker travelled to Egypt, Canada
US Army veteran also visited the city twice in months leading up to truck attack, law enforcement officials say.
12 complaints said filed against IDF soldiers abroad over alleged war crimes in Gaza – The Times of Israel
- 12 complaints said filed against IDF soldiers abroad over alleged war crimes in Gaza The Times of Israel
- Israeli soldier flees Brazil amid Gaza war crimes investigation Yahoo! Voices
- Israel warns troops off social media after Brazil seeks soldier over Gaza Financial Times
- Israelis should avoid traveling to these countries following Brazilian court incident The Jerusalem Post
- How a War Crimes Arrest Warrant in Brazil Sent Israel Into Panic Mode Haaretz
Collection of rare Barbie dolls worth $15,000 stolen from Victorian town ‘difficult’ to sell off
Police say Tatura owner is devastated after theft of more than 150 dolls stolen last month
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It’s unlikely more than 150 collectible Barbie dolls stolen from their dream house will be sold on the black market, with the close-knit collectors community keeping an eye out for dodgy dealers.
The dolls, as well as Elvis memorabilia and a Jack Daniel’s esky, were stolen from a home in the country Victorian town of Tatura, near Shepparton, in early December.
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Continue reading...Ukraine launches new offensive in Russia’s Kursk region – BBC.com
- Ukraine launches new offensive in Russia's Kursk region BBC.com
- Ukraine's drone jammers are killing it amid a new push into Russian soil, pro-Kremlin milbloggers say Yahoo! Voices
- Ukraine launches surprise operation in Russia’s Kursk region The Guardian
- On The Same Day On The Same Snowy Battlefield, Russia And Ukraine Both Launch Offensives Forbes
- Ukraine updates: Kyiv launches fresh Kursk offensive DW (English)
Hamas says it’s ready to free 34 captives under ceasefire deal, reports say
Israeli and Hamas officials are holding talks in Qatar in renewed push to secure ceasefire deal.
South Korea extends shutdown of Muan airport due to crash probe – Reuters
- South Korea extends shutdown of Muan airport due to crash probe Reuters
- Jeju Air’s Problems Mount After Crash of Flight 7C2216 The New York Times
- Emirates: Social Media Slow To Act On Fake Plane Crash Video Forbes
- South Korea plane crash: Why was there a wall near the runway? BBC.com
- South Korea: Fatal crash cockpit transcript almost complete DW (English)
Venezuela Challenger to Meet Biden, Putting Pressure on Trump – Bloomberg
- Venezuela Challenger to Meet Biden, Putting Pressure on Trump Bloomberg
- Venezuela opposition leader seeks army recognition as commander-in-chief FRANCE 24 English
- He says he won Venezuela’s presidential election. Now he’s returning to South America as his rival prepares for inauguration CNN
- Venezuela offers $100,000 reward for arrest of exiled opposition candidate BBC.com
- Venezuelan opposition leader to travel to Uruguay, Panama in coming days Reuters Canada
Ukraine in new offensive in Russia’s Kursk region
It comes as Ukraine's president says only the US can provide security guarantees leading to an end to the war.
Saving a species: The slow return of the Iberian lynx
After edging close to extinction, there are now some 2,000 Iberian lynxes in Spain and Portugal.
Waitangi Day: record crowds expected amid tensions over Māori policy in New Zealand
Event in February that commemorates signing of New Zealand’s founding document expected to draw tens of thousands but PM will not attend
Organisers of New Zealand’s national day commemorating the signing of the country’s founding treaty between Māori tribes and the British crown are expecting record attendance in 2025, following a year of rising tensions over the government’s policy direction for Māori.
In February, tens of thousands of people are expected to descend on Waitangi, in New Zealand’s Northland region, to commemorate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, which was signed by Māori chiefs and the British Crown in 1840 and is instrumental in upholding Māori rights.
Continue reading...New York first US city to have congestion charge
The scheme has faced resistance, including from President-elect Donald Trump.
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.
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