President starts signing executive orders to reverse Biden-administration policies hours after being sworn in as 47th president of US

Severe landslides and flash floods on Indonesia’s Java island have killed 17 people and left 8 missing, with rescuers facing harsh conditions.

The prisoner swap, brokered by Qatar, comes amidst efforts to improve relations between the US and the Taliban.  

Donald Trump begins his second term as the 47th US president with inaugural ceremonies, including a military review, leadership appointments, and bipartisan attendance.

Qatar and Egypt, which brokered the ceasefire alongside the U.S., have set up a communications hub to address any arising issues

Egyptian truck drivers, who had been waiting for months at the border, finally began delivering much-needed aid to Gaza after a truce was reached in the conflict.

Kenya has deployed an additional 217 police officers to Haiti to support the UN-backed multinational force tasked with restoring order in the violence-ridden Caribbean nation.

Nigeria has been admitted as a “partner country” of the BRICS bloc, joining a growing group of nations seeking closer ties with the emerging economic power.

Cairo hosted talks with negotiators from Egypt, Qatar, the US, and Israel to finalize mechanisms for Gaza’s ceasefire, including aid delivery and hostage release.

French President Emmanuel Macron will meet with key government officials to decide on a response to what France deems as growing hostility from Algeria.

The breakthrough follows months of intermittent talks mediated by Egypt and Qatar, with strong backing from the United States

Central African Republic President Touadera is in Moscow for talks with Putin to enhance bilateral cooperation and discuss ongoing security support.

Cuba announced the release of 553 prisoners following the Biden administration’s decision to remove the country from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism.

Al-Mansour, who posted a video this week threatening that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi would suffer the same fate as Assad, was taken into custody for this and other online posts

Qatari mediators have proposed a Gaza ceasefire plan involving hostages-for-prisoners exchanges, phased troop withdrawal, increased humanitarian aid, and discussions on Gaza’s governance.

The UK and Mauritius have reported progress in their ongoing negotiations regarding the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands.

More than one in six children globally were impacted by conflicts in 2023, with UNICEF highlighting urgent measures needed to protect their futures.

The death toll rose to 24 on Sunday in the wake of the devastating wildfires ravaging the US state of California. The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office said they are investigating at least two dozen deaths related to two massive wildfires that have been raging in Southern California since last Tuesday. Officials said 16 deaths were attributed to the Eaton fire and eight were linked to the Palisades fire. Those numbers are expected to rise, as the medical examiner said they cannot confirm human remains until they are processed at their facility. More than 150,000 residents have been evacuated, with another 87,000 in evacuation warning zones. More than 12,000 homes and businesses have been burned to the ground, with the wildfires so far scorching over 60 square miles (155 square kilometers). “Initial aerial assessments estimate 5,316 structures for the Palisades Fire and over 7,000 structures destroyed from the Eaton Fire,” the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) said in a statement.  “These initial numbers make the Eaton and Palisades fires likely the second and fourth most destructive fires in California’s history respectively,” it added. Firefighters continue to battle the destructive blazes, which have been fueled by continued heavy winds in the region with wind gusts between 30 to 70 miles (48 to 112 kilometers) per hour. Because of those dangerous conditions, a fire warning remains in effect until Wednesday and evacuation orders have been extended until at least Thursday. Dusk to dawn curfews also remain in effect as police crack down on looting in the area. “We’re not out of the woods yet. We have some very significant fire weather ahead of us,” said Nancy Ward, director of the California Office of Emergency Services, at a news conference. “We need to provide the people and the first responders in Southern California the support that they need,” Ward continued.  “We’ve prepositioned additional engines, fire crews, helicopters, bulldozers, water tenders (tankers) across all of southern California, in Los Angeles, Orange County, Ventura County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County and San Diego County, all poised to assist and support the additional fire threat.” The manpower being used to fight the fires is staggering: 14,000 emergency personnel, 1,300 fire engines and 84 aircraft have been deployed from nine states, including California, as well as crews from Canada and Mexico. California Gov. Gavin Newsom said he is deploying another 1,000 members of the California National Guard to help fight the wildfires. President Joe Biden has already approved a major disaster declaration for the state to provide financial assistance for cleanup and rebuilding, with early estimates putting the cost of damage from the wildfires to reach at least $10 billion. Humanitarian groups and nonprofit organizations such as the American Red Cross and the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank have already begun assistance efforts for displaced residents, providing food, water, shelter and living supplies for those who have been affected by the deadly blazes.

 At least 17 people were killed and 74 others injured on Sunday in a series of explosions that struck four gas stations in Yemen’s southern Al-Bayda province, according to the Health Ministry under the internationally unrecognized Houthi-led government. As many as 50 others are in critical condition, the ministry said in a statement. Late Saturday, the Interior Ministry’s media platform said the explosions occurred in the Nassefa area of Al-Zahir district. Houthi government spokesperson Hashem Sharafuddin said security forces are actively investigating the incident, though no further details were provided. The group extended “deepest condolences and sympathy to the families and loved ones of the victims of the tragic incident that occurred due to the explosion at gas stations.” The presence of numerous gas stations in residential areas across Yemen has led to repeated accidents. Yemen remains deeply affected by a prolonged civil war that has devastated its infrastructure and left millions suffering from a humanitarian crisis.

A civilian helicopter chartered by US Africa Command crashed in Benin on January 10, 2025, due to mechanical failure but caused no injuries.

The filing, made on Thursday in Manhattan federal court, came just days after Menendez’s defense team requested leniency, citing his age, long career in public service, and personal hardships

 A senior member of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) warned Thursday of severe consequences from two Israeli laws targeting the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) that are set to take effect soon. The first law, passed in October by Israel’s Knesset, or parliament, bans the UN agency’s operations within Israel. The second revokes a 1967 agreement between Israel and UNRWA. Ahmed Abu Holi, a member of the PLO Executive Committee, said that “implementing these laws could undermine UNRWA’s mandate in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank while eliminating its presence in East Jerusalem.” “This will deprive millions of refugees of vital services, including education, health care and life-saving emergency aid, leading to a humanitarian collapse in Gaza,” he said in a statement on his Facebook page. Abu Holi urged UN General Assembly member states and the UN Security Council to take decisive action to pressure Israel to halt enforcement of the laws and counter efforts to dismantle or undermine UNRWA’s mandate. The refugee agency itself issued a warning last Saturday saying that time was running out before the Israeli ban takes effect at the end of January. This would block the organization from providing services to Palestinian refugees in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, according to comments by UNRWA’s Director of Communications, Juliette Touma, in an interview with Ireland’s RTE. The laws, finalized by the Knesset on Oct. 28, will force UNRWA to cease operations in areas under Israeli jurisdiction, shut down its offices, and close any associated bank accounts.  Israeli authorities have alleged that some UNRWA staff were involved in the cross-border attacks on Israel by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023. UNRWA, established in the aftermath of the 1948 Nakba to assist displaced Palestinian refugees, operates in five regions: Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. The agency currently supports approximately 5.9 million Palestinians, according to its data. The Israeli army has continued a genocidal war on Gaza that has killed over 46,000 people, mostly women and children, since Oct. 7, 2023, despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire. In November last year, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has pledged China’s support to help Africa build a rapid response force to address the continent’s growing security challenges, including providing military assistance and training.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry, through its Western Europe Director General Majid Nili, condemned the display as an “insult” to the values and figures of Iran