Macron’s remark that African countries “forgot to say thank you” for France’s military deployment in the Sahel region has led to strong criticism and diplomatic fallout from African leaders and domestic political figures.

Indonesia’s entry is seen as a boost to the group’s collective efforts to reform global governance institutions and enhance South-South cooperation.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Monday that he will step down as leader of the Liberal Party and prime minister after the party selects his successor through a “robust, nationwide, competitive process.” Speaking at a news conference at Rideau Cottage in Ottawa, Trudeau emphasized his commitment to Canada and its citizens. “I will always be motivated by what is in the best interest of Canadians,” he said, noting that his decision stems from the prolonged gridlock in Parliament. “The fact is, despite best efforts to work through it, Parliament has been paralyzed for months after what has been the longest session of a minority Parliament in Canadian history,” he explained. Before his announcement, Trudeau met with Governor General Mary Simon and requested that Parliament be prorogued until March 24. The move will pause all legislative proceedings, giving the Liberal Party time to choose a new leader. Trudeau’s resignation comes amid mounting dissatisfaction within his party and declining public approval ratings, raising questions about the Liberals’ chances against a resurgent Conservative Party in the next election. The leadership race to replace Trudeau is already heating up, with potential candidates including Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly, Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne, and former central banker Mark Carney. Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc is also reportedly being considered as a possible interim leader. Trudeau has led the Liberal Party since April 2013 and became prime minister in October 2015 following a landslide victory. Under his leadership, the party secured reelection in 2019 and 2021, though with reduced majorities. As Canada’s 23rd prime minister, Trudeau is also the son of Pierre Trudeau, the country’s 15th prime minister. Canada’s next federal election is scheduled for October 2025, leaving the Liberal Party with a critical opportunity to redefine its leadership and direction in the months ahead.

In response, far-right Israeli ministers made calls to escalate measures

Amid rising demand, girls allowed to get surgery at 14, boys at 16, says official

French authorities charge Algerian influencer Zazou Youssef with terror incitement after a TikTok video called for attacks in France and Algeria, with trial set for February 24 in Brest.

With reinforcements from Central America, Haiti’s international mission aims to root out gang control and bring safety back to millions affected by escalating violence.

A Russian Airbus A-321 carrying 236 passengers safely landed in Egypt after an engine malfunction shortly after takeoff.

Deal comes as Biden approaches end of tenure, with Israel having killed more than 45,650 Palestinians since Oct. 7, 2023

US President-elect slams incumbent government’s border, economy plans, vows to fix them

Cairo hosted critical talks between Egypt and the UK addressing aid for Gaza Syria’s political transition and Sudan’s humanitarian needs.

Qatar-based broadcaster says Palestinian Authority’s decision is ‘in line with (Israeli) occupation’s action against its staff’

Authorities have identified that the blast was not caused by the vehicle itself but by large fireworks or a bomb placed in the truck’s bed

The death toll in a pickup truck attack in New Orleans, Louisiana has risen to 15, New Orleans Coroner Dr. Dwight McKenna said Wednesday. “It will take several days to perform all autopsies. Once we complete the autopsies and talk with the next of kin, we will release the identifications of the victims,” McKenna said in a statement. Earlier, 35 other people were also reported injured when the truck plowed through the heart of the French Quarter around 3.15 a.m. (0915GMT) Wednesday. The area is popular with tourists and is a hotspot for celebrations around major holidays, especially New Year’s Eve. Police said the attacker drove the truck onto a sidewalk and around a police car that was parked to block traffic from entering the area to carry out the attack. About 400 officers were deployed to protect the area. The FBI has said it does not believe the man who rammed the pickup truck into the New Year’s partygoers, who has been identified as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old US citizen and Army veteran, acted alone. “We do not believe that Jabbar was solely responsible. We are aggressively running down every lead, including those of his known associates,” Alethea Duncan, the FBI assistant special agent in charge of the New Orleans field office, told reporters at a press briefing. “We cannot go into details about the subject’s history. What I can tell you is the person was an Army veteran. We believe he was honorably discharged, but we’re working through this process, figuring out all this information,” Duncan added. Jabbar, from Texas, was previously identified by the bureau as a suspect in the terror attack. Asked how many accomplices authorities believe Jabbar had, Duncan said “it’s a range of suspects.” According to sources cited by ABC News, New Orleans police have reviewed surveillance footage that appears to show several individuals planting potential explosive devices prior to the vehicle attack. Authorities are working to identify the individuals seen on camera and bring them into custody. Meanwhile, steel barricades were not up on Bourbon Street at the time of the incident. – State of emergency Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry declared a state of emergency to facilitate cooperation between federal, state and local agencies “to bring all of the resources necessary to get this city safe.” He further mobilized a military police company to assist law enforcement. “It is important for our citizens and guests of the state to know that we’re doing everything we can to secure their safety in this city. We want to make it clear: the Superdome and the surrounding area are safe,” he said. The Sugar Bowl, an American college football championship game that was to be played at the Superdome on New Year’s Day, has been delayed until Thursday. Multiple weapons, a Daesh/ISIS terror group flag and a potential improvised explosive device were found inside the truck, according to the FBI. Two other potential improvised explosive devices were found in the French Quarter and were “rendered safe,” according to Duncan. – FBI launches investigation in Houston after New Orleans truck attack The FBI and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office are carrying out a court-approved search at a property in north Houston, Texas connected to the fatal truck attack in New Orleans, FBI Houston said on X. The agencies have been stationed near the intersection of Hugh Road and Crescent Peak Drive for several hours and expect to remain there for several more hours, the statement noted. It said the FBI has established a perimeter and is urging the public to steer clear of the area, adding that no arrests have been made at this time.

In 2024, the number of migrants crossing the Channel to the UK increased by 25 percent compared to the previous year, raising challenges for Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government.

The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the strikes but had warned residents of al-Bureij to evacuate ahead of an operation targeting militants firing rockets from the area

 The Russian energy giant Gazprom announced on Wednesday that it halted gas supply through Ukraine. “Due to the repeated and explicit refusal of the Ukrainian side to extend these agreements, Gazprom was deprived of the technical and legal possibility to supply gas for transit through the territory of Ukraine starting from January 1, 2025,” it noted. The agreements, signed on Dec. 30, 2019 between Gazprom and the Ukrainian energy company Naftogaz for the organization of Russian gas transportation through Ukraine, came to an end, Gazprom said on Telegram.

New Zealand has kicked off New Year’s celebrations with an elaborate firework display that lit up the skies over Auckland. Auckland is among the cities across the world holding new year’s celebrations, following a year racked by conflict and political turbulence. New Zealand is one of the first nations ringing in the new year, along with Australia. According to estimates, more than 1 million people have descended on Sydney Harbour for the annual fireworks. Indigenous ceremonies are also being held, acknowledging the land’s first communities. Meanwhile, American Samoa is among the last nations to celebrate the start of 2025 – a whole 24 hours after New Zealand.

According to Iran’s Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, Sala arrived in Iran on December 13 with a journalist visa

Russia and Ukraine swapped over 300 prisoners of war in a deal mediated by the UAE, with Zelenskyy announcing 189 Ukrainians returning home.

The latest decree, which has left many scratching their heads in disbelief, was communicated through a letter published on X (formerly Twitter) late Sunday night

‘Jimmy Carter was outspoken critic of apartheid state (in South Africa) at a time when regime was trying to ingratiate itself with influential economies around world,’ says Ramaphosa

UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese strongly criticized an Israeli draft bill aimed at recruiting volunteers as prison guards, warning that it could lead to increased abuses against Palestinian detainees. In a post Sunday on X, Albanese called the proposal “so sickening,” saying “Israel MUST BE STOPPED: starting with its politicians, its soldiers, its settlers, and its ideological fanatics.” “We must save the Palestinians from the depravity of the century,” she emphasized. The draft bill, introduced by Zvika Fogel, a member of parliament with the far-right Jewish Power party, was outlined in a tweet thread by Itay Epshtain, an expert on international humanitarian law. The bill aims to expand Israel’s prison guard force with volunteers holding full authority over detainees, citing a rise in incarcerations due to ongoing conflicts. Epshtain said the political motivation behind the bill is “to bring violent extremists into the Israeli Prison Service, where they can torment Palestinian detainees and prisoners.” He added that an explanatory note accompanying the legislation highlights the need for increased staffing to manage the growing number of incarcerated Palestinians. Albanese’s remarks reflect broader international concerns over the treatment of Palestinian prisoners under Israeli custody. Human rights groups have warned that the inclusion of volunteers in prison services could exacerbate existing abuses and lack of accountability. The bill is expected to be reviewed by Israel’s Ministerial Committee for Legislation. Albanese and other advocates have urged the global community to intervene and address what they view as a dangerous and unjust policy. Israel has killed more than 45,500 people in Gaza since a cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023 and reduced the enclave to rubble. In November, 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.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated that Russia accidentally shot down an Azerbaijan Airlines plane, accusing some Russian circles of attempting to cover up the incident.