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.

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.

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