News Briefing

What’s going on?
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that the pilot of a FlyDubai flight prevented an attack that could have led to a significant catastrophe. He stated that the pilot’s actions stopped a potential repeat of 9/11 during an attempted hijacking. The incident involved a suspect of Omani origin attempting to seize control of the plane.

Fox News emphasised Netanyahu’s assertion by headlining, “Pilot on Tel Aviv-bound FlyDubai ‘prevented another 9/11,’ Netanyahu says.” In contrast, Reuters focused on the background of the hijacker, stating, “Israel’s Netanyahu: Co-pilot of flydubai plane underwent radical Islamist indoctrination.” This highlights different angles of the narrative, with one focusing on the foiled attack while the other explores the hijacker’s motivations.

Coverage analysed: Fox News | Reuters

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U.S. forces have completed their long-awaited withdrawal from Iraq, ending two decades of military presence that left hundreds of thousands dead and divided Iraqi opinion. Iraqis marked the departure with celebration but also deep anxiety about future security, as experts warn the exit could create a power vacuum. Iran-backed militias and ISIS remain active in the region, with recent incidents highlighting ongoing instability. Meanwhile, the U.S. military has announced internal shake-ups, cutting senior leadership posts by 20%. Across the world, Spain’s government moves to freeze evictions after an elderly woman’s case sparks mass protests, and Myanmar reels from a deadly airstrike. See today’s full World Briefing for the developments shaping global headlines.

A Chinese court has sentenced Zhou Jiasheng, 52, to death for a knife attack that injured a Japanese mother and her child and claimed the life of a Chinese woman who intervened to protect them. The attack occurred on June 24 outside a Japanese school in Suzhou and was one of three attacks targeting foreigners in China last year.

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.  

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