Latest News
- Three-Year-Old Boy Leaves Grandma Exasperated with Playful Prank | News World
- Family of Iranian protester states his execution has been temporarily delayed
- Today’s UK News Updates: One story 4 angles
- New maps unveil the most detailed view of Antarctica’s hidden landscapes
- Desperate mum took her own life after killing her disabled daughter | News UK
- Think London’s rush hour is tough? Tokyo’s may be worse | World News
- Do People Expect Police Response? Is London Truly Unsafe?
- Putin Dismisses Feared Commando, Once Awarded Hero of Russia Last Year
LIVE German 2025 Election Results as they come in and analysi on who will be the next German Chancellor.
Knowledge Hub
Global Reaction to DE Elections
Three-Year-Old Boy Leaves Grandma Exasperated with Playful Prank | News World
6:00 pm
TL:DR – Three-Year-Old Boy Leaves Grandma Exasperated with Playful Prank | News World
- Maria Ivoneti fell asleep while babysitting her grandson, Gabriel, in a hammock.
- Upon waking, her face was covered in blue marker ink after Gabriel coloured on her.
- Concerned, his mother Carol checked on them, initially fearing Maria was unwell.
- Carol filmed the aftermath and shared it online, joking about ‘Avatar’ references.
- Gabriel was affectionately dubbed ‘Picasso’ by his grandmother; the ink was easily removed.
Boy, 3, leaves his grandma blue in the face with silly prank | News World
It’s every babysitter’s worst nightmare, isn’t it?
You’re looking after someone’s bundle of joy – perhaps it’s your own relative – you take a brief moment to rest your eyes during their nap time and well, you’re left blue in the face.
That’s what happened to Maria Ivoneti when she was looking after her grandson, Gabriel.
While at her daughter’s house in Criciuma, a city in the southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina, she briefly climbed into a hammock for a nap, with her grandson joining her.
He first starts colouring in her legs with her apparent permission, but once she drifts off, he begins freely scribbling over her face, moving around on top of her as she remains asleep for almost an hour.
Maria Ivoneti is seen sleeping in the hammock in Criciuma, a city in the southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina (Picture: Newsflash)
Gabriel’s mum, Carol Daros, who works from home, said she became suspicious when the house went unusually quiet and went to check on them, only to get a shock when she saw her mother-in-law’s face completely blue.
She said she briefly feared Maria was unwell and turning purple, before realizing it was marker ink, grabbing her phone to film the result and sending it to her husband – then checking the security footage to see the ‘full artwork’.
Carol later posted the clips online on 10th January, joking: ‘And that’s how AVATAR was born,’ referencing the blue-skinned characters from James Cameron’s Avatar films.
Gabriel, left, was dubbed as ‘Picasso’ by his grandmother after his felt-tip piece.
By the end of the footage, Gabriel also colours himself in blue.
Carol said the ink came off easily with water and detergent, and that Maria took it in good humour, calling her grandson ‘my Picasso’.
Family of Iranian protester states his execution has been temporarily delayed
4:01 pm
TL:DR – Family of Iranian protester states his execution has been temporarily delayed
- Erfan Soltani, a 26-year-old pro-democracy protester, was not executed today after being detained last week.
- Family fears he could still face execution imminently.
- Donald Trump announced the US received reports indicating killings in Iran have ceased and no executions are planned.
- The Iranian regime continues to crack down on protests, resulting in over 2,400 deaths and widespread arrests.
- International condemnation of Iran’s actions has intensified, with calls for human rights to be respected.
Iranian protester’s family say his execution has been postponed for now | News World
Sure! Here’s the revised article with the changes you requested:
—
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
The family of pro-democracy protester, who was believed to be the first person to face execution in the current Iran protests, has said he was not executed today.
Relatives of 26-year-old shopkeeper Erfan Soltani, who was detained last week, have said, despite the postponement, he could still face execution at any time.
Donald Trump has just announced during a signing ceremony at the White House that the US has been told that the killing in Iran was stopping and there were no plans for executions.
He said: ‘We have been notified and pretty strongly – but we’ll find out what that all means – but we’ve been told that the killing in Iran is stopping and it’s stopped, and there’s no plan for executions.
‘I’ve been told that on good authority.
Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)” decoding=”sync”/>
Donald Trump has said that the US has been told there are ‘no plans for executions’ (Picture: AP)
‘A lot of people were talking about, for the last couple of days, today was going to be the day of the execution.
‘[However], if it happens, we’ll all be very upset.’
The US President previously vowed ‘very strong action’ if Iran does execute Erfan.
‘If they hang them, you’re going to see some things,’ the US president told CBS News on Tuesday evening.
He added: ‘If they wanna have protests, that’s one thing. When they start killing thousands of people – now you’re telling me about hanging – we’ll see how that works out for them. It’s not gonna work out well.’
Erfan is feared to have become the first person executed over his participation in the protests, which have rocked Iran and left hundreds of innocent civilians dead.
Iranian officials have signalled that fast trials and executions lie ahead for suspects detained in nationwide protests while the Islamic Republic promised a ‘decisive response’ if the US or Israel intervene in the domestic unrest.
Mohammad Pakpour, commander of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, reiterated Iranian claims, without providing evidence, according to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency.
One doctor gave a harrowing update to RFE, saying that security forces stormed hospitals and began shooting wounded protesters at point-blank range to ‘finish them off’.
‘They killed many [demonstrators], arrested many, and many are on the run,’ the medic said, adding: ‘The situation is very bad.’
Soltani took to the streets with his fellow countrymen (Picture: X)
Executions in Tehran typically happen around the dawn call to prayer, which was scheduled for around 5.45am local time on Wednesday (2.15am in the UK).
His family have been allowed just one ten-minute meeting with Erfan, which authorities made clear was meant to be their ‘final farewell’, according to IranWire.
Relatives said he was issued a death sentence within two days after being arrested on Thursday last week.
Kurdish human rights organisation Hengaw told the BBC this morning that they were afraid ‘there are many more cases like Erfan’.
Lawyer Shekhi said the group does not have information about others sentenced to death due to the internet blackout.
Relatives search for their loved ones in body bags as more than 2,400 people are believed to be dead (Picture: AFP)
They added: ‘The previous protests we saw crackdowns, but not as severe as this time.
‘We have never witnessed this scale of mass killings in the big cities like Tehran.’
More pictures have emerged which appear to show dozens of dead bodies in body bags.
The bodies are shown lying on the ground at the Tehran Province Forensic Diagnostic and Laboratory Centre in Kahrizak, with relatives searching for their loved ones.
‘Remember the names of killers and abusers’
During a speech last night, Trump urged ‘Iranian patriots’ to ‘keep protesting’.
He told them to ‘take over institutions’ and to remember the names of ‘killers and abusers’, saying they’ll ‘pay a very big price’.
The US President, who ordered a raid on Venezuela that captured the country’s leader in January, later told CBS that ‘help [was] on the way’ to Iranian activists.
The Trump Administration has also been handed a ‘hit list’ of high-value military targets inside Iran, the Daily Mail reports.
United Against Nuclear Iran, a Washington-based nonprofit group, delivered a dossier of 50 targets to the White House on Monday, including the exact coordinates of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Tharallah Headquarters.
Security forces are seen during a pro-government rally on January 12, 2026 (Picture: Getty Images Europe)
Images of body bags lining the floor have emerged from Iran (Picture: AFP)
The threatening language comes after the number of people killed in the anti-regime protests rose to more than 2,400.
The American-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) said a total of 2,403 protesters have died.
On top of that number, 147 government-affiliated individuals, twelve people aged under 18, and nine non-protester civilians have also been killed.
More than 10,000 individuals have also been arrested since protests began on December 28, HRANA added.
‘He refused to back down’
Among them is Erfan, who works in the clothing industry and has recently got a new job at a private firm.
Erfan Soltani is scheduled to be executed today (Picture: X)
Protesters have continued to take to the streets despite an intensifying crackdown against them by the regime (Picture: AP)
Soltani was first arrested five days ago while protesting in his town of Fardis, on the outskirts of Tehran.
A family source said: ‘Erfan had received threatening messages from security sources prior to his arrest, but he remained committed to the protests.
‘He told his family he was being watched, but he refused to back down.’
A source added: ‘They told him, “There is no file to review. We announced that anyone arrested in the protests would be executed. Erfan’s sentence is Moharebeh (Enmity against God); it is final and will be carried out.”‘
Arina Moradi, a member of the Hengaw Organisation for Human Rights who has spoken to Soltani’s family, told the Daily Mail they were ‘shocked’ at the decision.
She said: ‘Their son was never a political activist, just part of the younger generation who were protesting the current situation in Iran.’
Iran’s UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani has accused the US President of inciting violence over his comments calling for Iranians to keep protesting.
Donald Trump has told protesters, ‘help is on the way’
‘The United States and the Israeli regime bear direct and undeniable legal responsibility for the resulting loss of innocent civilian lives, particularly among the youth,’ he wrote in a letter to the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday.
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper described the regime’s response to public protests as ‘abhorrent’.
She told MPs: ‘The United Kingdom condemns in the strongest of terms the horrendous and brutal killing of Iranian protesters, and we demand the Iranian authorities respect the fundamental rights and freedoms of its citizens.’
With the internet down in Iran and phone lines cut off, gauging the demonstrations from abroad has grown more difficult.
The Associated Press has been unable to independently assess the toll. Iran’s government has not offered overall casualty figures.
One victim was Rubina Aminian, 23, a fashion student at Shariati College in Tehran, who was killed after leaving the college and joining protest gatherings on January 8.
Rubina Aminian, a 23-year-old student in Tehran shot in the back of the head
(Picture: IRAN HUMAN RIGHTS)
Sources close to her family told Iran Human Rights that the young Kurdish woman was shot from close range from behind in the head.
Rubina’s mother said: ‘It wasn’t just my daughter; I saw hundreds of bodies with my own eyes’.
—
Let me know if you need any more adjustments!
Today’s UK News Updates: One story 4 angles
3:44 pm
- Robert Jenrick has defected to Reform UK, aiming to “unite the right.”
- He criticized current Tory leadership, labeling them ‘arsonists.’
- Kemi Badenoch believes the Tories are improving following Jenrick’s departure.
- The shift could benefit Nigel Farage amid a realignment on the right.
- Jenrick’s move highlights ongoing tensions within the Conservative Party.
Former Minister Robert Jenrick Defects to Reform UK, Sparking Controversy
Robert Jenrick, a former Conservative minister, has announced his defection to the Reform UK party, aiming to consolidate the right-wing vote. This move has raised eyebrows within political circles, particularly as it follows strong criticism from fellow Conservative Kemi Badenoch, who accused him of being deceitful.
Jenrick’s shift to Reform UK appears to be driven by a desire to unify right-leaning constituents disillusioned with the current Conservative leadership. He stated, “I hope my departure will help to bring together all factions of the right”, suggesting that internal divisions within the Conservative Party have prompted his decision.
Tories are planning to take over Reform UK
During a recent media briefing, Jenrick asserted that the “arsonists” currently leading the Conservative Party are out of touch with their base, reflecting his frustrations with party direction. He made this comment while responding to Badenoch’s allegations that he is known for “telling lies”.
His defection is notable in the political landscape, particularly in Westminster, where the Conservative Party has seen declining support and increasing fragmentation since the last general election. Jenrick’s decision underscores growing concerns over party unity as they head into challenging elections.
Tories want to rebrand as Reform UK to bring back hard far-right policies that had been lost under Conservative leadership, cutting welfare, privatising NHS and privatising the army
Badenoch, meanwhile, defended her stance on the party’s leadership, claiming that the Conservatives are “getting their act together”. Her remarks indicate a rift between traditional Conservatives and those like Jenrick who seek alternative platforms.
The impact of Jenrick’s move on the broader landscape remains to be seen. Political analysts note that such defections could reshape voter alignments ahead of the upcoming elections, with implications for all parties involved.
The Guardian
Jenrick says he hopes his defection to Reform UK will ‘unite the right’ after Badenoch says he ‘tells a lot of lies’ – UK politics live
Read more
The Guardian
Tory ‘arsonists’ still in charge of party, says Jenrick after defecting to Reform UK
Read more
Financial Times
Tories are ‘getting act together’ after Robert Jenrick defection, says Kemi Badenoch
Read more
The Times
Advantage Nigel Farage as the right realigns
Read more
WTX News
New maps unveil the most detailed view of Antarctica’s hidden landscapes
2:00 pm
TL:DR – New maps unveil the most detailed view of Antarctica’s hidden landscapes
- Scientists have mapped Antarctica’s ice sheet landscape in unprecedented detail, revealing features like mountains, canyons, and lakes.
- The study, led by the University of Edinburgh, used Ice Flow Perturbation Analysis (IFPA) to uncover previously hidden topography.
- Findings could improve predictions on how the ice sheet will respond to climate change.
- The research provides valuable insights but does not offer a complete picture of the region’s underlying topography.
New maps reveal clearest picture yet of the hidden landscapes beneath Antarctica | News World
The planet’s largest single ice sheet spans more than five million square miles (Picture: NASA/James Yungel)
Mapping Antarctica’s Hidden Landscape
Scientists have mapped out the landscape beneath Antarctica’s ice sheet in unprecedented detail. The planet’s largest single ice sheet spans more than five million square miles. But more is known about the surface of Mars or Venus than about the frozen continent’s vast underbelly.
Researchers using new mapping techniques and satellite data have now discovered evidence of previously undiscovered mountain ranges, deep canyons, and lakes. They said the findings could help experts predict how the ice sheet changes in response to warming.
Professor Robert Bingham, a glaciologist at the University of Edinburgh who co-authored the study, said: ‘I’m just so excited to look at that and just see the whole bed of Antarctica at once. I think that’s amazing.’
The international team, led by researchers from the University of Edinburgh, used a mapping technique called Ice Flow Perturbation Analysis (IFPA) (Picture: Science Journal)
A New Mapping Technique
He said: ‘Over millions of years Antarctica’s ice sheet has sculpted a landscape consisting variously of flat plains, dissected plateaus and sharp mountains, all hidden under the present miles-thick ice cover. With this technique, we are able to observe for the first time the relative distributions of these highly variable landscapes over the whole continent.’
The international team, led by researchers from the University of Edinburgh, used a mapping technique called Ice Flow Perturbation Analysis (IFPA). It uses satellite data of ice surface changes and ice flow physics to infer the hidden bed topography beneath ice sheets, revealing the complex landscapes missed by traditional radar surveys.
Examples of some of the previously undiscovered hills and ridges (Picture: Science Journal)
Discovering New Landscapes
The new method has revealed tens of thousands of previously undiscovered hills and ridges and provided more information about some of those mountains and canyons hidden beneath the ice.
Lead author Dr. Helen Ockenden, a researcher at the University of Grenoble-Alpes, told the BBC: ‘I think it’s just really super interesting to look at all these new landscapes and see what’s there. It’s like when you see a map of topography on Mars for the first time and you’re like, “whoa, this is so interesting, this looks a bit like Scotland”, or “this looks like nothing I’ve ever seen before”.’
The study, published in the academic journal Science, is unlikely to provide the definitive answer as to what lies beneath the ice. But researchers agree the new maps are a valuable step forward in developing a clearer understanding of the landscape.
Desperate mum took her own life after killing her disabled daughter | News UK
1:00 pm
TL:DR – Desperate mum took her own life after killing her disabled daughter | News UK
- Martina Karos, 40, and her daughter Eleni Edwards, 8, were found dead in their home in Salford on 23 September 2024.
- A coroner ruled Eleni was unlawfully killed and Martina died by suicide.
- Eleni had severe disabilities, and Martina faced mental health challenges, including suicidal thoughts.
- The coroner noted no immediate concerns from professionals prior to their deaths.
- Martina’s mother hopes their deaths will change perceptions of disabled children and their caregivers.
‘Extremely lonely and isolated’ mum killed disabled daughter before taking her own life | News UK
Martina Karos, 40, was found dead next to her eight-year-old daughter, Eleni Edwards, in their home (Picture: MEN Media)
A ‘devoted’ single mum who was struggling with her mental health killed her ‘severely disabled’ daughter and then took her own life, a coroner has ruled in an inquest.
The bodies of Martina Karos, 40, and eight-year-old Eleni Edwards were found at their home in Kersal, Salford, Greater Manchester, on Monday, September 23, 2024.
After Eleni failed to go to school, emergency services were called and they found the mum and daughter in the same bedroom of their house on South Radford Street.
Paramedics pronounced them both dead at the scene and pathologists later concluded they died as a result of ‘carbon monoxide toxicity.’
Now, after three days of evidence at inquests at Bolton Coroners’ Court this week, area coroner Peter Sigee has ruled that Ms. Karos died by suicide and Eleni was unlawfully killed.
The Government did not provide the support she needed
When Eleni was just a few months old, she was diagnosed with a number of conditions that left her ‘severely disabled,’ the court heard.
The mum and daughter were found dead in their home in Kersal, Salford, Greater Manchester (Picture: MEN Media)
Eleni was blind, non-verbal, and had severely restricted mobility, meaning her mum was her full-time carer.
Ms. Karos’ loved ones said her mental health underwent a ‘rapid decline’ at the end of 2023 when she began expressing suicidal thoughts.
She was treated for symptoms of anxiety and depression for several years leading up to her death.
Due to a perceived risk of ’emotional harm’ as the ‘unintended impacts’ of her mum’s low mood, Eleni was put under a child protection plan in January 2024.
None of the professionals involved with the pair reported any immediate concerns about them around the time of their deaths.
In his conclusion today the coroner said: ‘Ms. Karos had deliberately placed herself and her daughter in an environment where they were overcome by the toxic effects of carbon monoxide, with the intention and effect of ending both their lives.
‘Ms. Karos was the sole parental carer for her eight-year-old daughter, who had profound physical and mental disabilities, which had become apparent within months of her birth.
‘Her daughter was a happy child who was very much loved and very well cared for by Ms. Karos throughout her life.
‘Despite a high level of good quality, focused support and care from family, her limited group of friends and professionals (including GP, specialist mental health services, social workers, and carers), Ms. Karos experienced feelings of extreme loneliness and isolation that overwhelmed her.
‘Ms. Karos decided to end her life by suicide.
‘She was concerned about the care and support that her daughter would receive after her death and so decided to end her daughter’s life at the same time as her own.
‘Ms. Karos had continuously denied any thoughts of harming herself or her daughter in the period prior to her death; there was no objective basis to suspect that Ms. Karos was contemplating/at increased risk of acting as she did at this time, and this tragic incident could not reasonably have been foreseen.’
The coroner said he could not identify any failure in the care and support provided to Ms. Karos and her daughter, nor any matter in relation to that care that could have contributed to their deaths.
Ms. Karos’ mother hopes their deaths will ‘change the way disabled children and their parents are perceived’ (Picture: MEN Media)
Ms. Karos’ heartbroken mother, Malgorzata Karos, shared a statement that was read out in court on her behalf by a friend.
It read: ‘Martina was always a good child and good person. She was very talented and intelligent.
‘She loved her child more than life itself. Despite the hardships associated with caring for a disabled child, she did everything she could to give Eleni a comfortable life.
‘Eleni was the love of her life. She didn’t want to leave her to anyone, not knowing what her future was.
‘We want their deaths to change the way disabled children, but also their parents, are perceived.
‘A child is better off with happy parents. Time will never heal the wound in the heart of [Martina and Eleni’s] mother and grandmother.
‘May their tragic deaths change some things that will help save others before they make a drastic decision.’
Samaritans are here to listen, day or night, 365 days a year. You can call them for free on 116 123, email [email protected], or visit samaritans.org for more information.
Think London’s rush hour is tough? Tokyo’s may be worse | World News
12:00 pm
TL:DR – Think London‘s rush hour is tough? Tokyo’s may be worse | World News
- Tokyo faced significant commuter disruption due to a power outage on the East Japan Railway’s Yamanote and Keihin-Tohoku lines.
- Thousands were stranded on trains, leading to overcrowded stations and blocked access to platforms.
- Five people fell ill while waiting and were taken to hospital.
- The outage stemmed from two incidents: electrical issues between Shimbashi and Shinagawa stations, and a fire near Tamachi Station.
- Authorities are investigating potential links between the two events.
If you thought London’s rush hour was bad, maybe avoid Tokyo’s | News World
Commuter Chaos in Tokyo After Power Outage
People were trapped in commuter hell on Tokyo’s railway lines, which ferry millions of passengers a day, after a power outage.
If London stations like Euston can feel busy at rush hour, it pales in comparison to the scenes in Tokyo on Friday morning. Thousands of commuters were caught out after a power outage ground trains to a halt on the East Japan Railway’s Yamanote and Keihin-Tohoku lines. Large crowds were squeezed at stations after trains were cancelled for hours while passengers were stranded on trains between stations.
The scenes at Ueno station on Tokyo’s rail network were crowded, although seemingly calm (Picture: @taitanno/X).
One passenger said on social media that both lines are ‘f***ed’ after the power outage, making transferring to the Ueno line also ‘impossible.’ Station staff had to block access to some platforms, leading to huge bottlenecks at some of the city’s busiest stations. Five people felt sick while waiting inside trains and were reportedly taken to hospital.
Taxi ranks were packed with anxious commuters trying to get to work, with some people opting to walk for an hour, Japan Times reports. Footage shows firefighters and rail staff evacuating commuters after they were stranded between stations on the Keihin-Tohoku route.
Tokyo’s Shinhashi Station was affected by overcrowding on Friday morning after the major power outage (Picture: AFP/Getty Images).
The power outages were caused by two mysterious incidents, and authorities are investigating whether they are linked. Railway staff first discovered the outage between Shimbashi and Shinagawa stations shortly before 4am local time, thought to be caused by issues with electrical equipment.
Then a fire was spotted near Tamachi Station at about 8am (11pm GMT on Thursday), with flames coming from a substation, according to the public broadcaster NHK.
Inside the Ueno station this morning, where thousands queued (Picture: @taitanno/X).
Greater Tokyo’s rail network, which carries up to 40 million people a day, is known to be generally reliable. On the UK railways, some of the worst days for disruption were in July last year, when rail infrastructure struggled with the heatwave. On July 12 alone, over 6% of trains were cancelled, the rail watchdog, Office of Rail and Road, said.
Local insights
Related Election News
© 2026 WTX News.