Majority of lawmakers in House of Commons backed controversial bill that would allow government to send asylum seekers to East African country

Decision on South Africa’s request for provisional measures ‘could be expected in February, if not before,’ Italian lawyer Tiersisto Mariniello tells Anadolu

Iranian news agency reports several explosions heard around city of Saravan in southeastern Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan province

Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill backed by vote of 320-276

The US military confirmed Wednesday that Yemen’s Houthi group targeted a US-owned carrier ship in the Gulf of Aden with a drone. “At approximately 8:30 pm (Sanaa time) Jan. 17, an assessed one-way attack UAS (unmanned aircraft system) was launched from Houthi controlled areas in Yemen and struck M/V Genco Picardy in the Gulf of Aden,” the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said on X. The Marshall Islands flagged M/V Genco Picardy is a US owned and operated bulk carrier ship. “There were no injuries and some damage reported. M/V Genco Picardy is seaworthy and continuing underway,” said the military. Earlier, the Yemeni group’s armed forces announced that they struck the ship “within Yemen’s right to legitimate defense” and pledged to target “all threat sources” in the Arabian Sea and the Red Sea. The Houthis say their attacks aim to pressure Israel to halt its deadly onslaught on the Gaza Strip, which has killed at least 24,000 people since an Oct. 7 cross-border offensive by the Palestinian group Hamas. The US and UK launched airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen in recent days in retaliation for the attacks, which have created fears of a new bout of inflation and supply chain disruption. The Red Sea is one of the world’s most frequently used sea routes for oil and fuel shipments.

Israel has lost support of international public, says Clare Daly

Russian and North Korean foreign ministers brief president on results of agreements reached at meeting earlier in the day

Qatar brokers a deal to supply medicine and aid to Gaza, securing reciprocal provision for captives in the enclave.

It was a necessary and proportionate response to a direct threat to British vessels and therefore to the UK itself, says Rishi Sunak

Home secretary vows to review, improve processes to accelerate decision making on asylum cases

Last Thursday, US, UK started series of airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen in response to their targeting ships in the Red Sea

West Africa security: Burkina Faso bolsters military with Chinese firepower, including WMA301s and CS/SM1 mortars.

Of those killed in Israeli air, artillery attacks in enclave, 28,951 (92%) were civilians, including 12,345 children, 6,471 women, says human rights monitor

Protesters demand Netanyahu’s resignation, release of hostages, says media reports

Foreign Ministry expresses ‘deep concern,’ warns airstrikes may jeopardize UN efforts to resolve conflict in Yemen

Thursday’s events ‘further demonstrate that region is on dangerous escalatory trajectory which could potentially impact millions in Yemen,’ says official

US-UK respond to Houthi attacks on Red Sea ships with Yemen strikes, Egypt warns of escalation.

Nine people, including women and children, were killed in a minibus bombing in Somalia’s Lower Shabelle region.

Al-Shabaab militants hijack UN chopper in central Somalia, hostages include Ukrainian crew members.

Diplomatic car crash in Istanbul leads to court case for Somali leader’s son, warrant scrapped after his appearance.

Riyadh says it is closely monitoring with ‘great concern’ the military operations taking place in the Red Sea region

WHO says holiday gatherings and the spread of the largest variant globally have led to an increase in Covid-19 transmission on last month.

No injuries, damage reported after group fires anti-ship ballistic missile toward international shipping lanes, says US Central Command

‘I will not hesitate to direct further measures to protect our people and the free flow of international commerce as necessary,’ says US president