Author: News Desk

The Bank of Japan (BOJ) has raised its short-term policy rate to “around 0.5%,” marking its highest level in 17 years. This decision follows December’s inflation surge, with core consumer prices rising 3% year-on-year, the fastest pace in 16 months.

A statue of Captain James Cook in Sydney has been defaced with red paint and damaged, just days before the Australia Day weekend. Police have launched an investigation into the incident, marking the second time the monument has been targeted in the past year.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has been elected taoiseach (prime minister) of Ireland for the second time, following intense debates in the Dáil (Ireland’s lower house of Parliament). The Dáil faced multiple suspensions on Wednesday due to heated exchanges between the government and opposition parties.  

President Donald Trump has called on Saudi Arabia and other OPEC nations to reduce oil prices, warning that high costs are prolonging the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump expressed surprise that OPEC hadn’t acted to lower prices before the elections, emphasising the impact on global stability.  

A rapidly growing wildfire, known as the Hughes Fire, is threatening communities about 45 miles north of Los Angeles. The blaze has already consumed over 10,000 acres (4,000 hectares), forcing the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents in an area still recovering from previous devastating fires.

Almost every front page of the Friday national newspapers led with pictures of the three young girls who were murdered in Southport last summer as they attended a dance class. The papers’ lead articles react to the 52-year sentencing of the killer Axel Rudakubana, the opportunities missed to stop him from carrying out his horrific crime and the statements from the parents of the victims.

Elsewhere, the UK is bracing for 100mph winds as Storm Eowyn barrels down on the country.

The back pages lead on English football teams, with Manchester United’s 2-1 win in the Europa League the most prominent.

Residents in Jenin are being forced to leave their homes due to fears concerning their safety [Getty/file photo]A Palestinian official said hundreds of people began leaving their homes in the flashpoint area of Jenin the occupied West Bank on Thursday as Israeli forces pressed a deadly operation there. The Israeli military this week launched a raid in the Jenin area days into a ceasefire was approved in the Gaza Strip. “Hundreds of camp residents have begun leaving after the Israeli army, using loudspeakers on drones and military vehicles, ordered them to evacuate the camp,” Jenin governor Kamal Abu al-Rub told…

Police were repeatedly called and teachers raised fears over teen researching terror attack on school computer in a string of missed opportunities to halt killer Warning signs missed: Southport killer Axel Rudakubana’s parents asked police four times for help with teen Axel Rudakubana’s parents asked police for help to cope with their violence-obsessed son in one of a string of callouts over his worrying behaviour before the Southport attack, it can be revealed. Officers from Lancashire Constabulary attended the family’s three-bedroom home four times between 2021 and 2022, but each time failed to identify the threat he posed. The revelations…

Teenager told police he ‘wanted to stab someone’ in 2022 Axel Rudakubana latest: Southport killer ‘s52-year jail term to be reviewed as families share pain and anger Southport killer Axel Rudakubana’s 52-year jail term is set to be reviewed after concerns were raised it was unduly lenient. The 18-year-old was jailed for life after murdering three young girls and stabbing several others in an act of “extreme violence” at a Taylor Swift themed dance class. He was sentenced in his absence after failing to return to the dock, and will now spend decades behind bars for what the judge termed…

Announcement comes hours after Sainsbury’s says it will cut 3,000 jobs and close cafes following warning of Budget blow New £9bn deal nuclear submarines deal will create 1,000 jobs, ministers say as Reeves scrambles for growth Ministers have announced a new multi-billion pound deal for nuclear submarines they say will create 1,000 jobs and support 4,000 more, as Rachel Reeves scrambles to boost economic growth. The agreement with Rolls-Royce to support the Royal Navy fleet, dubbed “Unity”, will also aid national security, the government said, days after the UK warned Russia ‘we see you’ as the Royal Navy tracked a…