North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered his military to “thoroughly annihilate” the United States and South Korea if provoked, prompting a joint statement from the two countries condemning his “provocative and destabilizing actions” and calling for the “complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.” The United Nations Security Council has also expressed “grave concern” over North Korea’s recent actions and has urged the country to “refrain from further provocations.” Kim has vowed to increase his leverage in future diplomacy by launching three military spy satellites, producing more nuclear materials and developing attack drones this year.
News Mash
On New Year's Day, a series of powerful earthquakes struck the Sea of Japan, prompting a tsunami warning from the Japan Meterological Agency (JMA). The quakes caused minor damage in the region, but no injuries or deaths have been reported. The JMA warned that the tsunami waves could reach as high as 5 meters (16.5 feet) and urged people on the entire West Coast to escape to the highest place as soon as possible. They have also urged people to follow the instructions of local authorities and to stay away from the coast until the tsunami warning is lifted.
The NYPD and FBI are taking extra precautions to ensure the safety of New York City's New Year's Eve celebration in Times Square. The NYE Wishing Wall has been set up, giving visitors the chance to write down their hopes and dreams for the new year, which will be released as confetti when the ball drops at midnight. Fireworks will light up the sky in London, Sydney, and Auckland as the world looks ahead to 2024 with optimism and purpose.
Colorado Springs Police Department announced Sunday that Kimberlee Singler, a 35-year-old woman wanted in connection with the deaths of her two children and the attempted murder of her 11-year-old daughter, was arrested in the United Kingdom without incident. The arrest warrant issued for Singler alleged she had committed murder, attempted murder, child abuse and assault. No further information has been released about the arrest or the investigation, and the Colorado Springs Police Department has not released any information about a possible motive for the killings.
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark has announced her intention to abdicate the throne after 52 years of service, paving the way for her son, Crown Prince Frederik, to take the reins of the country's monarchy. The Queen made the announcement during her annual New Year's Eve address, citing the 52nd anniversary of her own accession to the throne as the date of her abdication. Queen Margrethe will step down on January 14, 2024, marking the end of an era and the beginning of a new one with Crown Prince Frederik as the new monarch.
Three people were killed and three others were injured in a massive house explosion in Northfield Township, Michigan on Saturday afternoon. The single-family home was destroyed and the cause of the explosion is still under investigation. Authorities are asking anyone with information to contact the Northfield Township Police Department. Neighbor Steve Smith described the incident as a "tragedy for the families, for the people who were involved."
Israel and Hamas have been engaged in conflict since May 10, resulting in the death of more than 230 people in Gaza and 12 in Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the war will continue for "many more months" despite international calls for a cease-fire, and the Biden administration has supported this stance, approving a new emergency weapons sale and preventing a U.N. Security Council resolution.
At least 21 people, including three children, were killed in a shelling attack in the Russian border city of Belgorod on Saturday, with an additional 110 people wounded. Regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported the casualties and said the attack was one of the deadliest since the start of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine in 2014. The attack occurred the day after an 18-hour aerial bombardment across Ukraine killed at least 41 civilians, with Russian authorities accusing Kyiv of carrying out the attack in Belgorod.