Violence erupted during a pro-Palestine protest in London as Metropolitan Police attempted to disperse the march near St James’s Park. Scuffles broke out as police moved towards the protest leader giving a speech, and attempts to cross Westminster Bridge were prevented. Demonstrators, including groups like Sisters Uncut and Black Lives Matter, chanted slogans and waved Palestinian flags. The Free Palestine Coalition, comprising grassroots organizations, organized the protest to emphasize Palestine as a political priority. Despite police attempts to engage with organizers, they hadn't shared the route, leading to increased deployment for crowd control in central London.

The UK's Labour Party is raising questions about Akshata Murty, wife of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and the recent liquidation of her investment venture, Catamaran Ventures. The Opposition's Pat MacFadden has sent a letter to Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden, seeking clarification on the circumstances surrounding the closure. The letter highlights that Catamaran Ventures received £2 million through government Covid support schemes, devised by Rishi Sunak. It also questions the impact on education start-ups, the settlement of tax liabilities, and notes Murty's decision to make a significant donation to charity following the liquidation. This adds to previous scrutiny over Murty's tax status.

52-year-old British Airways flight attendant collapsed just before takeoff from Heathrow, with passengers onboard. Despite attempts by a first-aid-trained passenger, the crew member couldn't be revived. The flight to Hong Kong was canceled due to the "medical emergency." This incident follows another BA crew member's recent death, raising concerns among staff. No reported underlying health issues add to the shock. BA expressed condolences, stating, "Our thoughts are with our colleagues' family and friends at this difficult time." The aviation community faces a somber start to the year.

Kharkiv's regional prosecutor's office offers evidence supporting Ukraine's assertion that Russia utilized a North Korean-supplied missile in the recent attack on Kharkiv. The spokesperson, Dmytro Chubenko, highlighted visual and technical distinctions from Russian Iskander missiles, stating, "The production method is not very modern. There are deviations from standard Iskander missiles... This missile is similar to one of the North Korean missiles." While the exact model wasn't disclosed, Chubenko emphasized the missile's similarity to North Korean variants. This revelation comes after Russia's missile and drone strikes on Kharkiv this week, resulting in casualties. Ukraine's claim raises concerns given North Korea's existing UN arms embargo.

Newly released documents reveal that convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein emailed Ghislaine Maxwell in 2015 denying allegations that famed physicist Stephen Hawking was involved in an underage sex party. Epstein told Maxwell the accusation was one of the strongest claims made by accuser Virginia Giuffre. Giuffre alleged Epstein forced her into an orgy with Hawking on Epstein's private island. The emails show Epstein asked Maxwell to find ways to disprove Giuffre's accounts. Hawking was pictured on the island for a submarine tour and conference. The revelation comes from thousands of pages of documents recently unsealed in Maxwell's settled lawsuit with Giuffre.

A series of strikes by London Underground workers will cause major disruption to Tube services from January 7-12. On January 7, services will wind down early evening with complete shutdown by 5:30pm. Only the Underground will be impacted. On January 8, there will be little to no Underground service as network control center workers strike. Other TfL services may see closures and disruptions. January 9 will see no Tube service as signaling and control workers walk out. Other TfL services again likely impacted. January 10 will have no Underground service as broad RMT membership strikes. Above ground trains may face disruptions. January 11 sees signaling and control workers striking again, shutting down all Tube operations. January 12 will have a late start to Underground service, expected to resume fully by midday as strikes conclude. Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union are walking out over pay disputes. Transport for London is urging passengers to only make essential journeys on strike days. This will be the first Underground strike of 2024 and will impact millions of commuters.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin hospitalized for medical complications following a recent elective procedure, reveals the Pentagon. Austin, admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on January 1, is recovering well and expected to resume duties. The delayed announcement sparks criticism, with the Pentagon Press Association expressing "significant concerns" about transparency. The hospitalization occurs amidst heightened Middle East tensions from the Israel-Hamas war and regional conflicts. Deputy Secretary Kathleen Hicks is prepared to act in Austin's absence. The incident coincides with the US strike killing an Iran-backed commander, further impacting relations in the region.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh directly addresses US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, urging him to prioritize ending Israel's actions in Gaza during his ongoing Middle East tour. In a video message, Haniyeh stresses the need for Blinken to grasp the lessons from the past three months of Israeli bombardment, attributing it to US support. He hopes for a more focused approach from Blinken to halt aggression and end the occupation of Palestinian lands. Haniyeh calls on regional leaders meeting with Blinken to emphasize that Middle East stability is closely tied to the Palestinian cause. Meanwhile, Turkey discusses the Gaza war and humanitarian crisis in talks with Blinken, addressing key issues affecting the region.

Newly unsealed court documents related to Jeffrey Epstein contain testimony from Epstein's former house manager claiming Donald Trump visited Epstein but never got massages at his home. The staffer, Juan Alessi, said Prince Andrew was a frequent guest at Epstein's Florida estate and received "daily massages" during visits that would last for weeks. In contrast, Alessi said Trump only came for dinner occasionally, never stayed overnight, and didn't get massages since he had his own spa facilities. The claims come from a lawsuit against Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted last year for her role in Epstein's sex trafficking ring.

For the second time since September 2022, a plane carrying Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau broke down during an official trip, forcing the deployment of a backup aircraft. Trudeau was returning home from a family vacation in Jamaica when the original plane developed technical issues. A maintenance team was sent to repair the plane, allowing Trudeau to eventually fly back to Ottawa. In September 2022, Trudeau was stranded in New Delhi for an extra day after his plane broke down following the G20 summit. The aircraft Trudeau uses is 36 years old and has caused issues before, highlighting the need for new planes.