Pete Hegseth sworn in as US defence secretary after tie-breaking vote
The one-time Fox News television host and combat veteran was narrowly confirmed in the Senate late on Friday.
Pete Hegseth confirmed as US defence secretary in tie-breaking vote
The one-time Fox News television host and combat veteran was narrowly confirmed in the Senate late on Friday.
Pete Hegseth: five things to know about the new US secretary of defense
Hegseth has been accused of sexual assault and excessive drinking, and has endorsed extremist Christian doctrine
The Senate has confirmed Fox News host and army veteran Pete Hegseth to be the US secretary of defense, placing him in charge of the federal government’s largest agency after a tie-breaking vote had to be cast by JD Vance.
Three Republican senators – Mitch McConnell, Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins – and every Democratic senator voted against his confirmation, leaving him with 51 votes, enough to become Donald Trump’s third cabinet member to secure Senate confirmation.
Continue reading...UN says seven staff detained in Houthi-controlled Yemen
UN secretary general Antonio Guterres demands ‘unconditional’ release of all staff held by Iran-backed rebels
The UN has suspended all staff movement in Houthi-held areas of Yemen after the Iran-backed rebels detained another seven UN employees.
The UN secretary general, António Guterres, called for the “immediate and unconditional” release of all aid staff held in Yemen, which is suffering one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
Continue reading...The French winemaker whose wines are illegal in his home country
Maxime Chapoutier makes wines that combine French and Australian grapes, a strict no-no in the EU.
Gaza rescuers face toll of their work: ‘I have become afraid of my own memories’
Throughout the Israeli bombardment, the Civil Defence was responsible for pulling the living and the dead from the rubble.
Trump signs order to reinstate ‘global gag rule’ on abortion aid
Federal rule also known as ‘Mexico City policy’ halts US funds to overseas groups that provide abortion services
Donald Trump on Friday signed an executive order reinstating a federal rule known as the “Mexico City policy” which halts US aid from flowing to groups that provide abortion services, counsel people about the procedure or advocate for abortion rights overseas.
The policy, which was first instituted by Ronald Reagan in 1984, is typically implemented whenever a Republican president wins the White House and rescinded whenever a Democrat wins. But this whiplash has major implications for abortion and reproductive healthcare around the world.
Continue reading...‘God forbid we should end up like Ukraine’: Belarusians indifferent to election
Even "rival" candidates support the current leader staying in power, Steve Rosenberg finds in Belarus.
Belarus election: ‘There is no alternative to Lukashenko’ – BBC.com
- Belarus election: 'There is no alternative to Lukashenko' BBC.com
- 'The reappointment of a dictator by a dictator': Lukashenko set for 7th term as Belarusian president Sky News
- ‘A ritual for a dictator’: Lukashenko critics decry Belarus election The Guardian
- What another Lukashenko ‘victory’ will mean for Europe’s security – and that of Belarus’ citizenry The Conversation
- Putin ally Alexander Lukashenko to cement grip on Belarus in ‘sham’ elections Financial Times
‘My family was murdered at Auschwitz. Her grandfather drove trains to the camp’
Amie, a descendant of a Holocaust survivor, meets Cornelia, who is untangling her family's Nazi past.
Musk, MrBeast, Larry Ellison – Who might buy TikTok?
Several potential US buyers have expressed interest in purchasing the social media platform.
Israel affirms Jan. 30 deadline for UNRWA to end operations, leave Jerusalem – The Times of Israel
- Israel affirms Jan. 30 deadline for UNRWA to end operations, leave Jerusalem The Times of Israel
- Israel Says UNRWA Has 6 Days to Halt Operations in East Jerusalem The New York Times
- Israel to UN: Palestinian relief agency UNRWA must leave Jerusalem by Jan. 30 The Jerusalem Post
- Gaza Faces Fresh Hunger Crisis as Israel Readies Ban on U.N. Agency for Palestinian Refugees Democracy Now!
- Israeli ban on UNRWA could ‘sabotage’ Gaza ceasefire, says agency chief Financial Times
Israel Says UNRWA Has 6 Days to Halt Operations in East Jerusalem – The New York Times
- Israel Says UNRWA Has 6 Days to Halt Operations in East Jerusalem The New York Times
- Israel tells UN it's shutting down all UNRWA operations in Jerusalem: 'acute security risks' Fox News
- As Israel’s UNRWA Ban Kicks In, the UN Boss Must Be Ready for Day After PassBlue
- Israel's UN Envoy Demands UNRWA Vacate Jerusalem Compound by End of January Haaretz
- UNRWA debate to resurface as Israel, UN gridlocked over replacement organization The Jerusalem Post
Rig disaster families welcome critical study
The families of those killed are reacting to a new report which found they were failed.
Israel says it won’t withdraw from Lebanon by Sunday deadline – CNN
- Israel says it won’t withdraw from Lebanon by Sunday deadline CNN
- ‘We don’t know what will happen’: northern Israeli town holds breath as Lebanon ceasefire to end The Guardian
- Netanyahu suggests Israel might not complete its withdrawal from Lebanon by a ceasefire deadline The Associated Press
- Lebanese long to return to war-damaged homes, but Israeli troops remain — for now NPR
- Israel Appears Poised to Keep Its Troops in Lebanon Beyond Deadline The New York Times
Slovak protests grow in rebuke of PM Fico’s Russian tilt – Reuters
- Slovak protests grow in rebuke of PM Fico's Russian tilt Reuters
- Tens of thousands in Slovakia protest against PM’s shift towards Russia The Guardian
- Slovaks Take to Streets to Protest Premier’s Shift Toward Russia Bloomberg
- Tens of thousands protest in Slovakia against PM Fico Euronews
- Anti-Fico protests build as Slovak PM mutters about foreign ‘coup’ POLITICO Europe
US suspends new funds for aid programmes, excepting Israel and Egypt
Trump administration freezes new funding for anti-HIV programme and other health services, excepts key food programmes.
US orders immediate pause to foreign aid, leaked memo says
The State Department notice appears to affect everything from development assistance to military aid.
Middle East latest: 4 Israeli women soldiers will be next hostages freed from Gaza – The Associated Press
- Middle East latest: 4 Israeli women soldiers will be next hostages freed from Gaza The Associated Press
- Live updates: More hostages and prisoners set to be released during Israel-Hamas ceasefire CNN
- Friends and family of released hostages express joy at return of 'heroic' female soldiers freed by Hamas The Times of Israel
- Hamas releases four Israeli soldiers held in Gaza as part of ceasefire deal Al Jazeera English
- Hamas hands four Israeli hostages over to ICRC in Gaza Reuters