The official websites of the Maldivian President's office, Foreign Ministry and Tourism Ministry faced technical disruptions and were unreachable for several hours on Saturday night in a suspected cyberattack. While the President's office website was later restored, the Foreign Ministry and Tourism Ministry sites remained down at the time of reporting. The Maldives President's office acknowledged the disruption in a social media post, stating their National Center for Information Technology and relevant entities were working promptly to resolve the issue. They apologized for the inconvenience caused. Local media described it as a likely cyberattack. The investigation is still ongoing.

Pakistan's caretaker government expresses dissatisfaction with The Economist for publishing an article attributed to Imran Khan, questioning the credibility of upcoming elections. Imran Khan alleges an engineered removal from power and criticizes the election process, stating, "I face almost 200 legal cases and have been denied a normal trial in an open court." The government denies the article's content, emphasizing ethical standards in journalism. Information Minister Murtaza Solangi announces plans to write to The Economist, saying, "We believe it is critically essential to uphold ethical standards and promote responsible journalism." Observers question whether the jailed Khan wrote the article, but his party insists it reflects his views. Khan expresses concerns about the fairness of the election process and accuses Nawaz Sharif of striking a deal with the establishment.

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.