South Korea’s Yoon gets 5 years in prison for obstructing justice during martial law bid
A South Korean judge sentenced former president Yoon Suk-yeol on Friday to five years in prison for obstructing justice and other charges linked to his disastrous martial law declaration and its chaotic aftermath. It is the first in a series of verdicts for the disgraced ex-leader, whose brief suspension of civilian rule in South Korea on December 3, 2024, prompted massive protests and a showdown in parliament. Now ousted from power, Yoon faces multiple trials for actions taken during that... [Continue Reading]
Support for Central Bank Independence Stressed Amid Construction Tragedy
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has expressed strong support for the independence of central banks, particularly in the context of a criminal investigation into US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Chalmers defended Powell as a diligent leader after President Donald Trump initiated inquiries into alleged misconduct related to extensive renovations at the Federal Reserve's headquarters. In a statement, Chalmers emphasized the critical role of central banks in setting interest rates free from political influence, reflecting a global consensus among banking leaders. The Australian Reserve Bank's Governor Michele Bullock publicly endorsed Powell, signing a joint statement alongside 15 other central bankers. This show... [Continue Reading]
New Challenges Emerge in High-Profile Assault and Parliamentary Inquiry Cases
Tim Picton, a significant figure in Western Australia's political and mining sectors, remains in a medically induced coma following an alleged assault. The incident occurred in Northbridge on December 27, and the severity of Mr Picton's condition has drawn considerable media attention. He is well-known for his role as the director of strategy for mining company MinRes, as well as his past contributions to the Labor party's success in 2021. His injuries are reportedly life-threatening, including a fractured skull and multiple bleeds, necessitating surgical intervention at Royal Perth Hospital. The individual charged with the assault, 20-year-old Brodie Jake Dewar from... [Continue Reading]
South Korea court sentences ex-president to 5 years in martial law case
Former President Yoon Suk Yeol found guilty of obstructing justice and other charges linked to declaring martial law. [Continue Reading]
Authorities say Heidelberg sinkhole caused by 'test that should not have happened'
The state's road building authority says a planned test should have been aborted given the circumstances, as tunnelling recommences for the North-East Link tunnel project. [Continue Reading]
Far-right weaponising anti-Roma hate in EU elections
Discrimination against Roma is still common all over Europe, with far-right parties using an 'us versus them' narrative to gain support in elections. [Continue Reading]
Latest news bulletin | January 16th, 2026 – Morning
Catch up with the most important stories from around Europe and beyond this January 16th, 2026 - latest news, breaking news, World, Business, Entertainment, Politics, Culture, Travel. [Continue Reading]
China’s US envoy says world faces ‘stark choice’ as 2026 opens with instability
China’s top diplomat in the United States delivered a sharply worded rebuke on Thursday over US President Donald Trump’s tumultuous approach to global relations, laying out a stark choice between a world informed by China-led stability and one battered by Washington. Chinese ambassador Xie Feng’s comments to the 1,000-member China General Chamber of Commerce come two weeks into Trump’s second year of his latest term in the White House. The past fortnight has already seen the Trump administration... [Continue Reading]
Chinese woman swallows raw fish gallbladder, hoping to relieve headache, ends up in ICU
A woman from eastern China ended up in the intensive care unit (ICU) hours after swallowing a raw fish gallbladder, believing it would cure her headache. The 50-year-old woman, surnamed Liu, from Jiangsu province, adhered to the folk remedy that claimed raw fish gallbladders could clear heat, detoxify the body, and alleviate a persistent migraine that had been troubling her. On the morning of December 14, Liu bought a 2.5kg grass carp at the market, extracted the gallbladder at home, and... [Continue Reading]
Iran’s Regime Is Losing Its Greatest Weapon: Fear
The bulwark of Iranian oppression is fear. The latest round of demonstrations shows it has been breached. [Continue Reading]
Trump-linked figures lead talks on $200m European pipeline contract
Exclusive: Jesse Binnall and Joe Flynn, who campaigned to overturn 2020 election, seek to win Bosnia deal for little-known US firmLeading members of Donald Trump’s campaign to overturn the 2020 presidential election are seeking a huge European pipeline contract, the latest figures from the US president’s circle to mix business and geopolitics.Jesse Binnall, a lawyer who worked on legal actions advancing Trump’s baseless claim that the vote was stolen from him, and Joe Flynn, who also sought to undermine Joe Biden’s victory, have been in Bosnia this week to discuss the project. Continue reading... [Continue Reading]
BP accused of ‘insidious’ influence on UK education through Science Museum links
Campaigners claim firm has bought sway over the teaching of science, technology, engineering and maths Campaigners have accused BP of having an insidious influence over the teaching of science, technology, engineering and maths (Stem) in the UK through its relationship with the Science Museum.Documents obtained under freedom of information legislation show how the company funded a research project that led to the creation of the Science Museum Group academy – its teacher and educator training programme – which BP sponsors and which has run more than 500 courses, for more than 5,000 teachers. Continue reading... [Continue Reading]
‘I felt like I was going to have a heart attack on the set of my record-breaking movie’
The harrowing movie received a 23-minute standing ovation. [Continue Reading]
Excitement builds as Daingean Uí Chúis head to Croke Park
The footballers of Daingean Uí Chúis in the Corca Dhuibhne peninsula in west Kerry will head to Croke Park this weekend, seeking their first all-Ireland title. [Continue Reading]
As the world warms, extreme rain events are coming hard and fast
When it comes to extreme rainfall, it is hard for climate scientists to say what's natural and what's caused by climate change, but they do know the most extreme events are dropping more rain, more often. This is why. [Continue Reading]
Syrian swimmer Sarah Mardini cleared by Greek court over migrant rescues
Mardini was among 24 volunteer rescuers acquitted by a Greek court on charges of migrant trafficking. [Continue Reading]
Breaking: Alleged attacker of WA Labor figure accused of separate 'unprovoked' assault
The man accused of assaulting former Labor strategist Tim Picton allegedly knocked another man unconscious two days prior. [Continue Reading]
MPs back challenge to ruling on forcing witnesses to front NSW inquiries
In December, the president of the legislative council said he would not seek to overturn a finding that laws allowing no-shows to be arrested were invalid, but this week he reversed course. [Continue Reading]
Jim Chalmers defends Fed boss Jerome Powell as Trump attacks
Treasurer Jim Chalmers defends US central bank boss Jerome Powell as professional and diligent after the Trump administration launched a criminal investigation into the Federal Reserve chair. [Continue Reading]
No inquest to be held into deaths of workers killed by concrete slab
The family of the two men killed when a wall crushed them at the racecourse are disappointed there will be no inquiry into the events of the "terrible day". [Continue Reading]
South Korea's ex-president Yoon guilty of abuse of power in martial law bid
This is the first of the verdicts in the four trials linked to Yoon's shock decree in 2024. [Continue Reading]
Saudi to Sudan: Can Pakistan expand military footprint across Arab world?
Multiple countries have shown interest in Pakistani weapons and jets. But Pakistan won't find it easy to deliver. [Continue Reading]
Canada PM Mark Carney hails strategic China partnership in Beijing meeting with Xi Jinping
According to Carney, the relationship "will not only deepen our bilateral ties to the benefit of our peoples but will also—from our judgement—help improve the multilateral system—a system that, in recent years, has come under great strain." [Continue Reading]
Missing man's body found at Darwin's East Point after large-scale search
NT police say they have recovered the body of a missing 44-year-old man, following a large-scale search-and-rescue operation in a Darwin reserve. [Continue Reading]
Hong Kong’s Chris Tang defends police’s ‘difficult decision’ to shoot knife-wielding man
Hong Kong’s security chief has defended police’s “difficult decision” to shoot a man who brandished a knife and took a woman hostage in a shopping centre, praising their bravery and decisiveness in saving lives. After police fatally shot the 34-year-old man on Thursday, Security Secretary Chris Tang Ping-keung revealed the suspect was mentally unstable at the time, possibly influenced by drugs, with suspected substances found in his possession. “It is obvious that [the suspect] was acting insane... [Continue Reading]
Major Fire Erupts in Makeshift Homes Near Seoul's Wealthy District
A significant fire has erupted in Guryong Village, a makeshift settlement located near the affluent Gangnam district of Seoul, South Korea. The blaze began at 5 AM local time on Friday, prompting authorities to raise the fire alert to the second-highest level, mobilising around 300 firefighters to combat the flames. The capital is witnessing yet another emergency situation as residents are forced to evacuate their homes in this area, identified as one of the last remaining shantytowns in the city. The fire department has reported no initial casualties, but numerous residents were seen fleeing their homes as thick black smoke... [Continue Reading]
Woman whose daughter died of drug overdose calls for changes to SA law
The mother of a woman who died of "mixed drug toxicity" is pushing for South Australia to implement penalties for those who do not call emergency services in a medical emergency. [Continue Reading]
Canadians and Chinese Leaders Discuss Strategic Partnership in Beijing
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Chinese President Xi Jinping held critical talks in Beijing, marking the first meeting between the two nations' leaders in eight years. Carney's visit comes at a time when Canada seeks to diversify its trade relationships, particularly following the imposition of tariffs on Canadian goods by the United States under former President Donald Trump. During the discussions, Carney referred to a "new strategic partnership" aimed at fostering cooperation between Canada and China, two countries that have had a complicated relationship in recent years. In his opening remarks at the Great Hall of the People, Carney... [Continue Reading]
Battles Over Truth Rage Online Amid Iran’s Internet Blackout
The shutdown of online discourse within Iran has allowed both the government and its critics to flood social media outside the country with disinformation campaigns and fake images. [Continue Reading]
Uber’s Quest to Crack Japan Leads Through a Rural Hot-Springs Town
The ride-hailing giant’s chief executive has made a bet on how it can finally grab a bigger piece of one of the world’s largest taxi markets. [Continue Reading]
Cloth wraps treated with ‘dirt cheap’ insecticide cut malaria cases in babies
Soaking fabrics in a commonly used insect repellent is a simple and effective tool as mosquito bites become more common during daytime, study showsFrom Africa to Latin America to Asia, babies have been carried in cloth wraps on their mothers’ backs for centuries. Now, the practice of generations of women could become a lifesaving tool in the fight against malaria.Researchers in Uganda have found that treating wraps with the insect repellent permethrin cut rates of malaria in the infants carried in them by two-thirds. Continue reading... [Continue Reading]
Death of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s son prompts calls for overhaul of Nigeria’s healthcare sector
Pleas for scrutiny of system fraught with accusations of negligence after one-year-old’s death in hospitalNigerians have called for urgent reforms to the healthcare sector after the death of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s 21-month-old son prompted an outpouring of grief and accounts of negligence and inadequate care.In a leaked WhatsApp message, the bestselling author said she had been told by a doctor that the resident anaesthesiologist at the Lagos hospital treating her son Nkanu Nnamdi had administered an overdose of the sedative propofol. Continue reading... [Continue Reading]
Rightwing leaders endorse Viktor Orbán in Hungarian election campaign video
Italy’s Giorgia Meloni and France’s Marine Le Pen among figures showing support for Hungary’s prime ministerRightwing leaders from around the world have come together to endorse Hungary’s Viktor Orbán, hinting at the symbolism that the country’s elections hold for global far-right movements even as the populist leader lags in the polls.A campaign video published online by Orbán this week includes endorsements from nearly a dozen leaders including Italy’s Giorgia Meloni and Matteo Salvini, France’s Marine Le Pen and Germany’s Alice Weidel. Continue reading... [Continue Reading]
I discovered my girlfriend’s secret 400 days ago — I haven’t had sex since
It's time to get back out there. [Continue Reading]
‘Agatha Christie wrote Seven Dials 96 years ago – but it’s a modern Netflix thriller’
The three-part murder mystery has just arrived on Netflix. [Continue Reading]
U.S. Says It Erred in Deporting Student Traveling for Thanksgiving
The Trump administration acknowledged it mistakenly deported a college student to Honduras despite a court order barring the removal. But the government has not moved to drop the case. [Continue Reading]
Carney calls for China-Canada relationship that adapts to ‘new global reality’
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney pitched a new China-Canada relationship that could bring security and prosperity for both nations, in talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday. “Together we can build on the best of what this relationship has been in the past, and create a new one that adapts to [the] new global reality,” Carney said during his opening remarks, adding that it could deliver stability, security and prosperity for both nations. Carney is on a state visit to China, the... [Continue Reading]
S Korean firefighters tackle huge blaze in last of Seoul’s ‘shanty towns’
No casualties reported as huge fire breaks out in makeshift homes on fringe of Seoul's upmarket Gangnam district. [Continue Reading]
Australia Faces Criticism Over Detention Practices and Antisemitism Issues
The recent findings from a United Nations committee have intensified scrutiny around Australia's immigration detention policies, particularly concerning practices at offshore facilities. The UN Committee Against Torture has concluded that Australia breached the Convention Against Torture by subjecting an Iranian asylum seeker to prolonged and harsh conditions during his detention at Manus Island in Papua New Guinea. This Iranian man initially arrived in Australia in 2013 and was subsequently moved to Manus Island for processing. His complaints to the UN detailed severe maltreatment, including violent assaults from security personnel, which severely impacted his physical and mental well-being. After years of... [Continue Reading]
Maroons captain calls time on Origin career to focus on club duties
Ali Brigginshaw announces she has played her last State of Origin game for Queensland as she looks to focus on one final NRLW season with Brisbane. [Continue Reading]
US and Japan Reaffirm Defence Cooperation Amid Regional Tensions
The relationship between the United States and Japan remains robust, with both nations reaffirming their commitment to mutual defence and regional security. During a recent meeting, US Pentagon chief Hegseth assured Japanese Defence Minister Koizumi that the alliance is unshaken, despite the shifting focus of the Trump administration towards the western hemisphere. Koizumi expressed confidence about the ongoing collaboration between the two countries, emphasizing their strategic partnership during these turbulent times in the Asia-Pacific region. Koizumi indicated that both countries are planning to enhance the presence of their forces in the Nansei Islands, which span from Okinawa to Taiwan. This... [Continue Reading]
Canada's Carney begins talks with Xi in Beijing
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Chinese President Xi Jinping began talks in Beijing, marking the first meeting between the countries' leaders in China's capital in eight years. [Continue Reading]
Rescue and Legal Developments in Queensland Create Public Interest
The dramatic fall of an 18-year-old climber and ongoing legal proceedings surrounding a teenager's murder have captured public attention in Queensland, highlighting the complexities of emergency response and criminal justice in the region. On November 30, Jake McCollum embarked on what was supposed to be a routine solo bushwalk on Queensland's Mount Walsh. However, his adventure took a tragic turn when he accidentally fell 80 meters from a rocky pinnacle, suffering serious injuries including a fractured spine, broken ribs, and internal bleeding. Despite the severity of his situation, Mr. McCollum's quick thinking and the foresight of his parents led to... [Continue Reading]
Australia Faces Criticism Over Treatment of Detained Asylum Seekers
Australia's immigration policies have come under renewed scrutiny following a ruling by a United Nations committee that found the country breached the Convention Against Torture by subjecting an Iranian man to prolonged detention in Papua New Guinea. The man, who had initially arrived in Australia via Christmas Island, was transferred to Manus Island, where allegations of torture and poor living conditions emerged. The UN's Committee Against Torture highlighted the psychological and physical harm the man endured, including episodes where he suffered violence at the hands of guards. After nearly three years in harsh detention conditions, he was finally moved back... [Continue Reading]
Can Machado actually transfer the Nobel Peace Prize to Trump?
While it can be gifted, refused or displayed, the Nobel Peace Prize itself — once awarded — belongs to its original recipient forever. [Continue Reading]
Japan and US Strengthen Military Ties Amid Cold Weather in Region
Japan's Defence Minister, Yasuhide Koizumi, has highlighted the unwavering partnership between Japan and the United States during a meeting with US Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth. Koizumi stated that the alliance remains "completely unshaken," despite concerns regarding the future of US involvement in the Asia-Pacific region under the current administration, which has been focusing more on the western hemisphere. During their discussions, both officials examined the possibility of enhancing military cooperation, particularly within the Nansei island chain, which includes Okinawa and extends toward Taiwan. They agreed to prioritise joint military exercises and collaboration in their respective defence industrial sectors. This move... [Continue Reading]
High chance of cyclone forming off Kimberley coast
A tropical cyclone is highly likely to form off Western Australia's far north coast next week, with the Bureau of Meteorology closely monitoring conditions between the Kimberley and Northern Territory. [Continue Reading]
Rescues and Legal Battles Highlight Recent Events in Queensland
Recent events in Queensland have showcased both the desperate situations individuals can find themselves in and the complexities of the justice system. Two distinct cases highlight the resilience of the human spirit in crises and the ongoing struggle for justice in the face of tragedy. On November 30, Jake McCollum, an 18-year-old from Bundaberg, faced a life-threatening situation after plunging 80 meters from a rocky outcrop near the summit of Mount Walsh. The incident occurred during what was intended to be his first solo bushwalk. After suffering severe injuries, including a fractured spine and internal bleeding, McCollum was left stranded... [Continue Reading]