Author: WTX News Editor

Belarus pardon for German hints at wider prisoner swap Belarus’s authoritarian leader, Alexander Lukashenko, has pardoned German citizen Rico Kroeger, who had been sentenced to death. Kroeger was arrested in October on charges of acting as a mercenary and planting explosives. His death sentence became widely known only last week, but Lukashenko’s intervention has commuted it to life imprisonment, sparing him from execution. The case’s sudden attention and Kroeger’s swift pardon have sparked speculation about…

India landslides kill 120 and trap dozens Heavy rains triggering devastating landslides in Kerala’s Wayanad district have killed at least 123 people, with many still feared trapped. The disaster struck early Tuesday, catching residents off guard while they slept. Rescue efforts are ongoing but hampered by the weather and the collapse of a critical bridge. Officials report that around 100 people remain inaccessible, and the death toll may rise. This catastrophe is Kerala’s worst since…

Far right vigilantes attack Mosque and Police in Southport in what should have been a peaceful vigil for the victims of yesterday’s stabbings. Far right vigilantes attack Mosque Tommy Robinson inspired thugs took to the streets in Southport peppering police and a mosque with glass bottles and bricks during a vigil for the three children killed in fatal stabbing yesterday. The far-right sent an intimidating force to antagonize and attack a local mosque, It was…

Man arrested over suspected French railway vandalism A 28-year-old man was arrested in northwest France on Sunday after being found acting suspiciously near a railway site, French media report. The suspect, described as an “ultra-left militant,” was found with keys to technical premises, pliers, universal keys, and literature linked to the ultra-left. He is currently being questioned by police in Rouen. There is no current evidence linking the man to the recent suspected arson attacks…

Venezuelans clash with police after disputed election result Venezuelan security forces used tear gas and rubber bullets against protesters in Caracas following the controversial election result on Sunday. Thousands of people, including many from surrounding slums, marched towards the presidential palace on Monday evening to protest President Nicolás Maduro’s declared victory. The opposition, led by candidate Edmundo González, claims the election was rigged, saying that González actually won with 73.2% of the vote. Pre-election opinion…

45 dead and dozens trapped in India landslides Heavy rains have triggered massive landslides in Kerala’s Wayanad district, killing around 45 people and trapping dozens more. The disaster struck early Tuesday in the hilly regions of the district, part of the Western Ghats mountain range, which is prone to landslides during the monsoon season. Rescue operations are underway but are being hampered by continued heavy rains and the collapse of a crucial bridge connecting Chooralmala…

Italy PM Giorgia Meloni vows to relaunch ties with China Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has pledged to “relaunch” relations with China during her first visit to Beijing since taking office. Meloni met Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the start of her five-day trip and signed a three-year plan to enhance economic cooperation between the two nations. This visit follows Italy’s exit from President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) last year, with Rome…

Convicted rapist Van de Velde booed on Olympic debut Convicted child rapist Steven van de Velde made his Olympic beach volleyball debut in Paris, greeted by a mix of boos and cheers. Van de Velde was sentenced to four years in prison in 2016 for raping a 12-year-old British girl. Despite their high ranking of 10th in the world, Van de Velde and his partner Matthew Immers lost 2-1 to Italy’s Alex Ranghieri and Adrian…

Venezuela elections 2024: Venezuela’s Maduro declared winner in disputed vote President Nicolás Maduro has been declared the winner of Venezuela’s presidential election, according to partial results from the National Electoral Council (CNE). Elvis Amoroso, the CNE head and a Maduro ally, reported that with 80% of the votes counted, Maduro secured 51.20%, while his main rival, Edmundo González, had 44.02%. The opposition rejected the CNE’s announcement as fraudulent, claiming González actually won with 70% of…

Thousands mourn children killed in Golan Heights strike Thousands gathered on Sunday in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights for the funerals of children and young people killed in a rocket strike. Druze community members in Majdal Shams carried caskets and expressed anger towards government officials. The White House and Israel attributed the attack, which killed 12 people, to the Iran-backed Hezbollah, although Hezbollah denied responsibility. World leaders condemned the attack and sought to reduce tensions to…

The News Bias Exposed Related News Bias distribution How has Netanyahu’s speech to Congress been interpreted by media? Netanyahu’s speech appealed to right-leaning media and lawmakers, with much of the coverage picking up on Netanyahu calling the protesters outside Congress ‘idiots’. Interestingly, Western media, regardless of political leaning has similar coverage with ‘We must stand together” and “Total victory in Gaza” the two most quoted parts of the speech in the headlines. Both sides pick up…

Key points of Netanyahu’s US Congress speech  Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has addressed the US Congress for the fourth time. Here are the key quotes from his historic speech. Netanyahu praises allies in the US “Through thick and thin, in good times and in bad, Israel will always be your loyal friend and your steadfast partner. On behalf of the people of Israel, I came here today to say thank you, America,” Netanyahu said. Netanyahu takes…

Breaking – French train network hit by massive attack ahead of Paris Olympics opening ceremony Source: BBC Eurostar trains cancelled and delayed after ‘co-ordinated’ attack, firm says Eurostar services in France to and from Paris are being diverted and several trains have been delayed, the rail firm says in a statement. The high speed line between Paris and Lille has been affected while journey times have increased by 90 minutes following “co-ordinated acts of malice…

Gang kills women and children in Papua New Guinea massacre – reports Dozens of villagers have been killed in a series of attacks by a gang of young men in a remote region of Papua New Guinea. Local media reported at least 26 deaths, including 16 children, with fears the toll could rise to 50 as searches continue. UN human rights chief Volker Türk called the violence “shocking,” attributing it to a dispute over land…

French high-speed rail vandalised before Olympic ceremony Hours before the Paris Olympics opening ceremony, French rail company SNCF reported “malicious acts” targeting its high-speed network, aiming to paralyse the system. The attacks affected several TGV lines to the west, north, and east of Paris, causing queues at Gare Montparnasse station. Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete condemned the “criminal acts” disrupting holiday plans. Several trains were cancelled, and SNCF warned that repairs could take “at least all…

Wildfires may have destroyed half of historic Canadian town Wildfires have ravaged up to half of the historic Canadian town of Jasper, with the fires still out of control as firefighters work to save the remaining buildings. Entire streets in Jasper National Park have been reduced to smouldering rubble, though no deaths have been reported. Around 20,000 tourists and 5,000 residents have evacuated the area in Alberta province. During a news conference, Alberta Premier Danielle…

Benjamin Netanyahu scolds critics of Israel’s war in Gaza in speech to Congress Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered a defiant address before Congress on Wednesday, castigating critics of Israel’s war in Gaza as either motivated by Iran or antisemitism. The Israeli leader boasted about Israeli efforts to limit civilian casualties and allow humanitarian aid into the Palestinian enclave, a view that contradicts with the United Nations and international aid groups. While dozens of liberal Democrats…

As US Congress cheered for Netanyahu, protesters gathered to denounce him Washington, DC – Hours before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived at the United States Capitol to deliver a speech to Congress, a woman with a blue scarf concealing her face sat alone on a park bench and waved a Palestinian flag near Union Station in Washington, DC. “We will fight for freedom wherever it’s being denied all over the world. We connect with the Palestinians because…

At Netanyahu speech, most hostage relatives didn’t stand because they can’t anymore WASHINGTON — It was a line that brought just about everyone in the US House of Representatives chamber to their feet on Wednesday. “I will not rest until all their loved ones are home,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared in his speech to a joint session of Congress. Referring to the Hamas captives held in Gaza, he made the pledge just after highlighting…

Amid chaos of US politics, Netanyahu finally gets attention he craves in Washington On his third day in Washington, Benjamin Netanyahu finally got the attention he so desperately wanted in the US capital. Republicans and their guests in the House chamber stamped their feet and whistled as a joint session was gaveled into order, while the Democrat lawmakers who chose not to boycott someone whom colleagues had called a “war criminal” looked on in sullen…

Tanker with 1,500 tonnes of oil sinks off Philippines A tanker carrying nearly 1.5 million litres of industrial fuel capsized and sank off the coast of the Philippine capital on Thursday, causing a significant oil spill. Sixteen crew members of the Philippine-flagged MT Terra Nova were rescued, while one remains missing, according to Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista. Bautista said the oil spill was detected, but strong winds and high waves, exacerbated by Typhoon Gaemi, hindered…

Kenya’s Ruto appoints opposition to Cabinet amid unrest Kenya’s President William Ruto has nominated key allies of opposition leader Raila Odinga to his cabinet, in an attempt to calm the rising dissatisfaction with his government.  He gave four posts to the opposition including key positions: in finance and energy ministries. The four members of the main opposition party, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), who have joined the cabinet are: It’s the first time the opposition…

14 dead after Nepal plane crashes during takeoff At least 14 people were killed when a plane crashed during takeoff in Kathmandu, Nepal, on Wednesday, officials reported. The Saurya Airlines flight, carrying 19 people, was headed to Pokhara, a popular tourist destination. Onboard were 17 technical staff and two crew members, all part of a test flight. Rescue operations are ongoing, with concerns that the death toll may rise. Videos posted online show the plane…

150,000 have fled Gaza’s Khan Younis since Monday, UN says Over 150,000 people have fled Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip since Monday, according to two UN agencies. This exodus follows a new Israeli military offensive targeting Hamas forces. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued an evacuation order for parts of Khan Younis and reduced the al-Mawasi humanitarian zone, citing its use by Hamas for terrorist activities and rocket fire. UNRWA, the UN agency for…

Trash balloons land near S Korea president’s office North Korean balloons carrying rubbish have landed in South Korea’s presidential compound in Seoul, marking the first time balloons from Pyongyang have breached the no-fly zone around the South Korean leader’s office. A chemical, biological, and radiological warfare response team collected the balloons, which posed no contamination or safety risk. The South Korean military refrained from shooting down the balloons to prevent spreading their contents. The balloons…