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.

Lebanese armed group Hezbollah launched 62 rockets, hitting a crucial Israeli observation post. This move is deemed a "preliminary response" to the recent killing of Hamas' deputy chief, Saleh al-Arouri, in an Israeli drone strike. Analysts suggest the strike may serve as a message to Hezbollah about the vulnerability of its prime stronghold, Dahiyeh, to Israeli attacks. Hezbollah, vowing not to let the killing go unpunished, emphasizes the need to address the strike to prevent Lebanon's broader vulnerability. The Israeli military has not yet issued a response to the reported attack.            

Newly disclosed court documents in the Jeffrey Epstein case briefly mention Hillary Clinton in a 2016 document related to a lawsuit against Ghislaine Maxwell. The documents, released on Friday, include Clinton's name in connection with specific witness communications. The mention doesn't imply wrongdoing. Epstein's list, previously linked to high-profile figures like Donald Trump and Prince Andrew, now includes Clinton. The late financier, Epstein, faced sex trafficking charges and died in 2019. Maxwell, his associate, was convicted in 2021. The documents reveal a mix of celebrities and politicians connected to Epstein's social circles.

Newly unsealed court documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking case claim that Prince Andrew, the younger brother of King Charles III, participated in an orgy involving "numerous underaged girls" on Epstein's private island. The allegations come from a 2015 civil suit filed by Virginia Giuffre, who says she was sexually abused and trafficked by Epstein and his partner Ghislaine Maxwell as a teenager. Prince Andrew has previously denied any wrongdoing or having a relationship with Giuffre. The documents stem from Giuffre's lawsuit against the UK royal. Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex crimes, and Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking.