BRIEF – ME! – DAILY NEWS BRIEFING
In today’s briefing update, Iran’s Qassem Soleimani killed by US air raids in Baghdad. The attack was a direct order from President Trump and an attempt to deter future attacks allegedly being planned by Iran.
In Germany, three women – a mother and her daughters- are being investigated for a German Zoo fire that killed more than 30 animals.
After flash floods and landslides that killed at least 43 people, Indonesian rescuers are desperately searching for around a dozen missing people. The devastation from the torrential rain has left thousands homeless and entire districts underwater.
In the UK, Lib Dem MP Layla Moran has announced she’s pansexual and in a relationship with ex-Lib Dem press officer.
Space and science, India will attempt another lunar mission – if successful they will be the fourth country to soft-land on the moon’s surface.
Entertainment, the Marvel Universe is set to introduce its first transgender character in the near future.
ALL this and more in today’s news briefing – A daily roundup of all the news headlines that you need to know, summarised as part of WTX News Briefing.
………………………………………………………
Iran’s Qassem Soleimani killed in US air raid at Baghdad airport
Aljazeera says General Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force has been killed by a US air raid at Baghdad’s international airport on Friday.
The White House and the Pentagon confirmed the death of Soleimani in Iraq, saying the attack was a direct order of President Trump and was aimed at deterring future attacks allegedly being planned by Iran.
Iranian Foriegn Minister Javad Zarif called the killing an “act of international terrorism.”
Read the full story on Aljazeera
………………………………………………………
Three women investigated for causing deadly blaze at German Zoo
Arab News reports three women are under investigation in Germany for launching paper sky lanterns for the new year which apparently ignited a devastating fire that killed more than 30 animals at a zoo.
The three women – a mother and her two daughters, ages 30 to 60 went to police in the western city of Krefeld on New Year’s Day after authorities held a news conference about the fire.
The women are being investigated on suspicion of negligent arson and can carry a prison sentence of up to five years.
Read the full story on Arab News
………………………………………………………
Indonesia flood rescuers hunt for missing after 43 killed
France24 says Indonesian rescuers are desperately searching for those missing after flash floods and landslides sparked by torrential rains killed at least 43 people across the Jakarta region, leaving entire districts under-water and thousands homeless.
Around a dozen people were still unaccounted for after the record rains that started on New Year’s Eve pounded the capital and left swathes of the megalopolis, home to around 30 million, a wasteland of overturned cars and damaged buildings.
Some 400,000 residents have been evacuated to temporary shelters with many unable to return to their waterlogged homes.
Read the full story on France24
………………………………………………………
Lib Dem MP announces she’s pansexual
BBC News says Lib Dem MP Layla Moran has announced she is pansexual and in a relationship with a woman.
The MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, who previously only had relationships with men, said she was in a relationship with ex-Lib Dem press officer Rosy Cobb.
Pansexual may describe being attracted to people, regardless of their gender.
Ms Moran said: “It doesn’t matter about the physical attributions of the person you fall in love with.”
Read the full story on BBC News
………………………………………………………
India reveals its third moon mission
CNN says India has announced it will make another attempt to land on the moon, following a mission that ended in failure last year.
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman K. Sivan said that the government has approved a third lunar mission. The mission – Chandrayaan 3 – will include a new propulsion module, moon lander and rover, Sivan said.
The new equipment would cost around $35 million, with its launcher costing a further $51 million. If successful, India will become the fourth country to make a soft landing on the moon.
Read the full story on CNN
………………………………………………………
Marvel to get first transgender superhero ‘very soon’
Sky News reports the Marvel Universe is set to debut its first transgender superhero.
Following the release of the record-breaking box office hit Avengers: Endgame last year, Marvel is getting ready to begin the so-called Phase Four of its epic movie franchise this year.
In the upcoming phase, a transgender character will be introduced.
Read the full story on Sky News
…………………………………………………….
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND SHARE WTX NEWS WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY:
Facebook – Please like our page
Twitter – Twitter updates available in English and Arabic. Please follow us and we would love to hear from you
Instagram – Follow our pages in English and Arabic
