Browsing: Main Headlines

US President Donald Trump suggested a controversial plan on Saturday to “clean out” Gaza and resettle Palestinians in Egypt and Jordan as part of a broader Middle East peace effort. Describing Gaza as a “demolition site” following the Israel-Hamas war, Trump said he had discussed the idea with Jordan’s King Abdullah II and planned to speak with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.  

Thousands of people across Germany took to the streets on Saturday to protest the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, just weeks before the general election on February 23. Demonstrators in Berlin gathered at the Brandenburg Gate, lighting up their phones, blowing whistles, and singing anti-fascist songs, while in Cologne, protesters carried banners condemning the AfD.  

The M23 rebel group says it has seized control of Goma, a major city in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The announcement follows a rapid advance against Congolese forces on Sunday, which forced tens of thousands of people to flee nearby towns.  

South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol has been charged with insurrection following his failed attempt to declare martial law in December. This move triggered a major political crisis, making Yoon the first sitting president in the country’s history to face criminal charges.  

Palestinians have started returning to northern Gaza after Israel announced a deal with Hamas to release six hostages this week. Among those to be freed is Arbel Yehud, a civilian at the centre of recent tensions.  

The US has cancelled planned tariffs on Colombian goods after Colombia agreed to accept deported migrants without restrictions, the White House announced.

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.  

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.

A rapidly growing wildfire, named the Hughes Fire, has erupted in Los Angeles County, forcing the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents. The fire ignited Wednesday morning near Castaic Lake, about 45 miles northwest of Los Angeles, in a mountainous area close to homes and schools.

President Donald Trump has directed US agencies to ramp up efforts to “repel, repatriate, and remove” undocumented immigrants, framing it as part of a broader effort to combat what he calls an “invasion” at the southern border.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin, who was set to be nominated, accused Sinn Féin and other opposition TDs (MPs) of orchestrating the disruption. He called the delay ‘premeditated, coordinated, and choreographed.’

Fico’s claims, based on what he described as a classified intelligence report, came ahead of a no-confidence motion against his government. The motion was abandoned after the parliamentary session was held in secret at Fico’s request, prompting the opposition to walk out in protest.  

A two-year-old boy and a 41-year-old man were killed in a stabbing at Schöntal Park in Aschaffenburg, Germany. Two others, including a child, were seriously injured.  

On his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump claimed his efforts to resolve the conflict would be a “very big favor” to Russia and its president. He previously vowed to negotiate a settlement to the war, which began in 2014 and escalated with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, within a single day.

Suspended South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol denied allegations of ordering the arrest of lawmakers during his attempt to impose martial law. Yoon made the denial during his first appearance at his impeachment trial on Tuesday.

Australia’s federal police are investigating whether international actors are funding local criminals to commit antisemitic crimes. Recent incidents include the arson of a childcare centre in Sydney, which was also vandalised with anti-Jewish graffiti.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin is set to be reinstalled as taoiseach (prime minister) when the Irish parliament reconvenes on Wednesday. He will succeed Fine Gael’s Simon Harris, who will take on the role of tánaiste (deputy prime minister).

Instagram users have reported seeing “results hidden” messages when searching for terms like “Democrat” or “Democrats.” Meta, Instagram’s parent company, acknowledged the issue, attributing it to a technical error affecting other hashtags, including a Republican-related one.

A rare snowstorm has swept through the southern U.S., bringing snow and freezing rain to areas unaccustomed to winter weather. Four deaths have been linked to the cold so far: two in Austin, Texas, and two from hypothermia in Georgia and Milwaukee.  

Four people were injured in a stabbing attack on Tuesday in Tel Aviv, with one victim in serious condition from a neck wound. The attack occurred on Nahalat Binyamin Street and nearby Gruzenberg Street, both busy areas. The assailant, a 28-year-old Moroccan citizen with U.S. residency, was shot dead at the scene.

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, is under fire after making a gesture at a rally celebrating President Donald Trump’s return to office. Critics have likened the movement to a “Nazi salute.”