West Bank celebrations as freed Palestinian prisoners return
Israel said it freed 200 Palestinian prisoners on Saturday, but 70 of the most serious offenders who were convicted of multiple murders are set to be deported.
Earlier four Israeli hostages returned to Israel after they were handed over to the Red Cross by Hamas in Gaza City.
It is the second part of an Israeli hostage release and Palestinian prisoner swap since a ceasefire was agreed earlier this month.
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🇺🇸US orders immediate pause to foreign aid, leaked memo says
The US State Department has issued a halt to nearly all existing foreign assistance and paused new aid, according to an internal memo sent to officials and US embassies abroad.
The leaked notice follows President Trump's executive order issued on Monday for a 90-day pause in foreign development assistance pending a review of efficiencies and consistency with his foreign policy.
The United States is the world's biggest international aid donor spending $68bn in 2023 according to government figures. The State Department notice appears to affect everything from development assistance to military aid.
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🇺🇸Pete Hegseth confirmed as US defence secretary in tie-breaking vote
Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump's nominee for US defence secretary, was confirmed by the Senate late on Friday night, after facing misconduct allegations that nearly derailed his confirmation.
Vice-President JD Vance cast the tie-breaking vote in Hegseth's favour, after three Republican senators - including former Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell - voted against him.
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🇿🇦South African president signs controversial land seizure law
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed into law a bill allowing land seizures by the state without compensation - a move that has put him at odds with some members of his government.
Black people only own a small fraction of farmland nationwide more than 30 years after the end of the racist system of apartheid - the majority remains with the white minority.
This has led to frustration and anger over the slow pace of reform.
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🇹🇭Watch: 'I do', say Thai couples as country legalises same-sex marriage
More than 100 couples got married at Siam Paragon, a luxury mall in central Bangkok on Thursday as the law came into effect.
LGBTQ couples now have the same rights as other couples to manage assets, inherit, adopt and take decisions about their partner's medical treatment
Districts across Thailand are trying to outdo one another with parties and gifts like cupcakes, bags and free air tickets to celebrate the legal milestone.
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🇸🇰Slovak PM accuses opposition of planning coup to topple him
Slovakia's populist prime minister, Robert Fico, has claimed opposition forces are planning a "Maidan"-style coup in Slovakia, referring to the popular uprising that toppled Ukraine's pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovych in 2014.
Fico, who survived an assassination attempt last May, quoted from what he said was a classified report ahead of an opposition-sponsored motion of no-confidence in his government on Tuesday.
His claim coincided with a visit by Hungary's prime minister, Viktor Orban.
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💶EU 'could consider' UK joining pan-Europe customs scheme
The European Union's new trade chief responsible for post-Brexit negotiations has told the BBC that a "pan-European [customs] area is something we could consider" as part of "reset" discussions between the UK and EU.
Maros Sefcovic referred to the idea of the UK joining the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Convention (PEM).
These are common rules that allow parts, ingredients and materials for manufacturing supply chains to be sourced from across dozens of countries in Europe and North Africa to be used in tariff-free trade.
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🇨🇳🇷🇺Xi and Putin hold video call after Trump's inauguration
Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin had a video call hours after Donald Trump was sworn in on Monday, pledging to bring bilateral ties to "greater heights", according to state media on both sides.
Calling Xi a "dear friend", Putin said Russia and China were building ties "on the basis of friendship, mutual trust and support" despite external pressure.
Xi called on Putin to "continue deepening strategic coordination, firming up mutual support, and safeguarding legitimate interests".
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🇺🇸US exit from WHO could see fifth of budget disappear
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to begin the process of withdrawing the US from the World Health Organization (WHO).
"Oooh, that's a big one," the newly inaugurated US president said as he approved the document after arriving back at the White House. It was one of dozens of executive actions he put his signature to on day one in office.
This marks the second time Trump has ordered the US be pulled out of the WHO.
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🇺🇸What are executive orders? The powerful tool used by US presidents
Executive orders are a key tool for any US president wanting to make their mark on government policy - and it appears that Donald Trump will waste no time on his return to the White House.
He is expected to sign more than 200 executive actions on Monday. This will include executive orders, which are legally-binding, and other presidential directives like proclamations, which are usually not.
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🇮🇪Fianna Fáil ratifies programme for government
Fianna Fáil endorsed a programme for government at a special ard fheis (party conference) in Dublin on Sunday.
Party leader Micheál Martin pledged to defy critics and prove that Ireland's next ruling coalition can fulfil the "ambitious" programme.
Martin is set to become taoiseach (Irish PM) for the second time on Wednesday.
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🇭🇷Croatian deputy PM resigns over video of him firing gun
Croatia's deputy prime minister has resigned after footage surfaced of him shooting at random from a moving car.
In the video, Josip Dabro can be seen in the passenger seat chatting, laughing and singing along to loud music, before picking up a pistol and shooting through an open window into the dark.
It is the latest incident to trouble Croatia's coalition - formed in May 2024 - with the government calling Dabro's behaviour "inappropriate and irresponsible".
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🇺🇸Donald Trump's inauguration moved indoors due to 'dangerous' cold
President-elect Donald Trump's inaugural address on 20 January will take place indoors due to dangerously cold weather being forecast next week in Washington, he has confirmed.
The address, as well as other speeches, will now take place inside the US Capitol's rotunda, rather than outside the building.
The inaugural parade will also be held indoors at Washington's Capital One Arena in downtown Washington about one mile (1.6km) away, along with all three inaugural balls.
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🇷🇺🇮🇷Russia and Iran move to strengthen military ties
Russia and Iran have agreed to closer military co-operation, in a move announced during a visit to Moscow by President Masoud Pezeshkian.
The two countries signed a 20-year "strategic partnership" treaty, covering areas ranging from defence and technology to energy and trade.
Iran already supplies drones to Russia, as well as, according to Western intelligence, ballistic missiles.
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🇬🇧UK first as vertical rocket launch licence granted
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🇧🇾'God forbid we should end up like Ukraine': Belarusians indifferent to election
The outcome of the 2025 presidential election is not in doubt. Alexander Lukashenko, once dubbed "Europe's last dictator," who has ruled Belarus with an iron fist for more than 30 years, will be declared the winner and secure a seventh term in office.
His supporters call it an exercise in "Belarusian democracy". His opponents reject the process as "a farce".
Even Mr Lukashenko himself claims to lack interest in the process.
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⚠️Watch: Moment four Israeli hostages released by Hamas
Video from Gaza City shows four Israeli hostages being handed over by Hamas militants and transferred into waiting Red Cross vehicles.
Soldiers Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy - all three aged 20 - and Liri Albag, 19 were taken by Hamas from a military base at the Israel-Gaza border.
This is the second part of a hostage release and prisoner swap between Israel and Hamas since a ceasefire was agreed earlier this month.
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🇸🇰Tens of thousands protest in Slovakia against PM Fico
Tens of thousands of people throughout Slovakia are demonstrating against the government of Prime Minister Robert Fico, defying his warnings that provocateurs linked to the liberal opposition would use the protests to bring about a coup.
Rallies are being held in some 25 Slovak towns and cities, the latest in a series of protests against his populist-nationalist coalition.
Protesters are angry at what they say is Fico undermining the country's institutions, culture and position in the EU and Nato, especially his increasing attacks on Ukraine and rapprochement with Moscow.
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🇯🇵Bank of Japan raises rates to highest in 17 years
Japan's central bank has increased the cost of borrowing to its highest level in 17 years after consumer price rises accelerated in December.
The move by the Bank of Japan (BOJ) to raise its short-term policy rate to "around 0.5 per cent" comes just hours after the latest economic data showed prices rose last month at the fastest pace in 16 months.
The BOJ's last interest rate hike in July, along with a weak jobs report from the US, caught investors around the world by surprise, which triggered a stock market selloff.
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🇬🇧Sun owner to pay Prince Harry 'substantial' damages
The publisher of the Sun newspaper has agreed to pay "substantial damages" and apologised to the Duke of Sussex to settle a long-running legal battle over claims of unlawful intrusion into his life.
Prince Harry alleged journalists and private investigators working for News Group Newspapers (NGN) used unlawful techniques to pry on his private life - and executives then allegedly covered it up.
NGN apologised for "serious intrusion" by the Sun between 1996 and 2011, and admitted "incidents of unlawful activity" were carried out by private investigators working for the newspaper, in a statement read out in court.
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🇨🇦Canada changes tone in bid to stave off Trump tariffs
Facing a looming tariff war with the US, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has threatened the stick - now, he's hoping a carrot will work.
In a change of tone from his previous warnings about economic hardships, the Canadian leader is promising to help Donald Trump achieve America's "golden age," which was alluded to in the US president's inauguration speech.
"Canada is a safe, secure and reliable partner in an uncertain world," Trudeau said this week. The alternative, he said, "would be more resources from Russia, China or Venezuela".
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🇺🇸Trump considers 10% tariff on China from February
US President Donald Trump has said he is considering imposing a 10% tariff on imports of Chinese-made goods as soon as 1 February.
Trump said discussions with his administration were "based on the fact that they're sending fentanyl to Mexico and Canada".
He called China an "abuser". China responded saying trade wars have "no winners".
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🇰🇪Kenya eases travel requirements for nearly all African visitors
Last year, Kenya introduced a "visa-free" policy that required most visitors to apply online for authorisation before leaving their country.
But the introduction of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), which replaced the visa requirement for all visitors, was criticised as a "visa under another name".
On Tuesday, a cabinet statement said the ETA would be dropped for "all African countries except Somalia and Libya - due to security concerns".
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🇬🇧Failure to prevent Southport 'leaps off the page'- PM
The prime minister has acknowledged the multiple failures which preceded an attack in which three young girls were murdered at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport.
"I will not let any institution of the state deflect from their failure. Failure which, in this case, frankly leaps of the page", said Sir Keir Starmer.
He also said the case is a sign Britain now faces "a new threat" by "young men, loners, misfits".
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🇺🇸Melania Trump launches her own cryptocurrency
Incoming first lady Melania Trump has launched a cryptocurrency on the eve of her husband's inauguration as US president.
The announcement comes after President-elect Donald Trump launched the $Trump cryptocurrency. Both coins have risen but have seen volatile trade.
"The Official Melania Meme is live! You can buy $Melania now," she posted on the social platform X on Sunday.
The website for the "Official Melania Meme" says it is a crypto asset created and tracked on the Solana blockchain.
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🇮🇷Two Iranian supreme court judges shot dead
Two senior Iranian judges have been shot dead in an apparent assassination in the country's supreme court.
Ali Razini and Mohammad Moghiseh were killed after a gunman entered the court, in the capital Tehran, on Saturday morning.
The attacker killed himself while fleeing the scene, according to the judiciary's news website, Mizan. A bodyguard was also injured in the attack.
The motive for the attack is unclear, but both judges are said to have played a role in the crackdown on opponents of the Islamic government since the 1980s.
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🇰🇷South Korean impeached president's detention extended
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🇨🇦Chrystia Freeland to run for leader of Canada's Liberal Party
Former Canadian Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland intends to run to lead the country's governing Liberal Party.
In a statement posted on Friday to X, formerly known as Twitter, Freeland expressed her intention to run and said she would hold a formal campaign launch in the coming days.
"I'm running to fight for Canada," she wrote.
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🇺🇸US Supreme Court upholds TikTok ban law
The US Supreme Court has upheld a law that bans TikTok in the US unless its China-based parent company ByteDance sells the platform by this Sunday.
TikTok had challenged the law, arguing it would violate free speech protections for the more than 170 million users it says it has in the US.
But that argument was rejected unanimously by the nation's highest court, meaning TikTok must now find an approved buyer for the US version of the app or face removal from app stores and web hosting services.
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🇺🇸Biden gives warnings on climate and oligarchy in farewell speech
Outgoing US President Joe Biden addressed the nation from the Oval Office one last time on Wednesday night ahead of Donald Trump's inauguration.
In his farewell, Biden talked up his record of upholding democracy during his tenure and warned against an oligarchy and the threat of climate change, the tech industrial complex and artificial intelligence.
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