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As Donald Trump took over the administration in the United States, he has made a series of changes. In his new move, the US has ordered an immediate cease or suspension of any work in Bangladesh under contracts, work orders, grants, cooperative agreements, or other assistance or procurement instruments.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) said in a letter that the partners shall not resume work under their awards until they receive a notification in writing from the contracting/agreement officer.&nbsp;
Also read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-secretary-of-state-marco-rubio-donald-trump-freezes-foreign-aid-military-funding-for-israel-egypt-8651682" rel="dofollow"> 'Manufactured chaos': US freezes nearly all foreign aid including for Ukraine; military funding for Israel, Egypt excempted</a>
"Partners shall take all reasonable steps to minimize the incurrence of costs allocable to their awards," the letter read.&nbsp;
The USAID cited Donald Trump in its letter, saying, "This letter is directing all USAID/Bangladesh implementing partners to immediately cease or suspend any work under your USAID/Bangladesh contract, work order, grant, cooperative agreement, or other assistance or acquisition instrument."
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
US halts aid to Yunus Regime-led Bangladesh, notifies Dhaka. <a href="https://t.co/T59KxcXPWP">pic.twitter.com/T59KxcXPWP</a>
&mdash; Kanchan Gupta 🇮🇳 (@KanchanGupta) <a href="https://twitter.com/KanchanGupta/status/1883429723356958967?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2025</a>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</blockquote>
Following this decision, bankrupt Bangladesh, which is already dealing with a huge economic crisis, will now battle with even more challenges.&nbsp;
Notably, just hours after Trump was sworn in as US President on Jan 20, he ordered a 90-day pause on US foreign development assistance pending a review of efficiencies and consistency with his foreign policy. However, how his order will turn out was not immediately known.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bangladeshi-americans-urge-trump-to-intervene-amid-attacks-against-minorities-8577523" rel="dofollow">Bangladeshi Americans urge Trump to intervene amid attacks against minorities</a>
On Saturday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered a pause on nearly all foreign aid programmes, including possibly for Ukraine, but excluding military funding for Israel and Egypt, according to an internal memo circulated to US officials and embassies abroad.&nbsp;
As the world&rsquo;s largest donor of international aid, the US allocated $68 billion to foreign development efforts in 2023, according to official data.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/bangladesh/bangladesh-forcing-importers-to-source-goods-from-pakistan-amidst-tensions-with-india-report-786194" rel="dofollow">Bangladesh 'forcing' importers to source goods from Pakistan amidst tensions with India: Report</a>
Moreover, the US is the leading contributor of humanitarian assistance in response to the Rohingya crisis and has provided nearly USD 2.4 billion since the violence began in August 2017.&nbsp;
America has also assisted Bangladesh by providing USD 490 million as obligations and another USD 550 million as disbursement in 2023 alone via all its agencies.
(With inputs from agencies)

World: Following this decision, bankrupt Bangladesh, which is already dealing with a huge economic crisis, will now battle with even more challenges. 

As Donald Trump took over the administration in the United States, he has made a series of changes. In his new move, the US has ordered an immediate cease or suspension of any work in Bangladesh under contracts, work orders, grants, cooperative agreements, or other assistance or procurement instruments. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) said in a letter that the partners shall not resume work under their awards until they receive a notification in writing from the contracting/agreement officer. Also read: 'Manufactured chaos': US freezes nearly all foreign aid including for Ukraine; military funding for Israel, Egypt excempted "Partners shall take all reasonable steps to minimize the incurrence of costs allocable to their awards," the letter read. The USAID cited Donald Trump in its letter, saying, "This letter is directing all USAID/Bangladesh implementing partners to immediately cease or suspend any work under your USAID/Bangladesh contract, work order, grant, cooperative agreement, or other assistance or acquisition instrument." US halts aid to Yunus Regime-led Bangladesh, notifies Dhaka. pic.twitter.com/T59KxcXPWP — Kanchan Gupta 🇮🇳 (@KanchanGupta) January 26, 2025 Following this decision, bankrupt Bangladesh, which is already dealing with a huge economic crisis, will now battle with even more challenges. Notably, just hours after Trump was sworn in as US President on Jan 20, he ordered a 90-day pause on US foreign development assistance pending a review of efficiencies and consistency with his foreign policy. However, how his order will turn out was not immediately known. Also read: Bangladeshi Americans urge Trump to intervene amid attacks against minorities On Saturday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered a pause on nearly all foreign aid programmes, including possibly for Ukraine, but excluding military funding for Israel and Egypt, according to an internal memo circulated to US officials and embassies abroad. As the world’s largest donor of international aid, the US allocated $68 billion to foreign development efforts in 2023, according to official data. Also read: Bangladesh 'forcing' importers to source goods from Pakistan amidst tensions with India: Report Moreover, the US is the leading contributor of humanitarian assistance in response to the Rohingya crisis and has provided nearly USD 2.4 billion since the violence began in August 2017. America has also assisted Bangladesh by providing USD 490 million as obligations and another USD 550 million as disbursement in 2023 alone via all its agencies. (With inputs from agencies)

US halts funding to Bangladesh under USAID after Trump's 90-day pause on all foreign aid

North Korea has carried out its first weapons test since the inauguration of US President Donald Trump on 20 January. The test involved what Pyongyang described as "strategic" cruise missiles, a term often associated with nuclear-capable weaponry. The move comes as North Korea criticised joint military exercises conducted by the United States and South Korea.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-ukraine-war-when-russians-hide-north-koreans-shoot-how-pyongyangs-troops-are-reshaping-8633581">'When Russians hide, North Koreans&nbsp;shoot': How Pyongyang's troops are reshaping Russia-Ukraine war</a>
According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the test, which took place on Saturday (Jan 25). Kim referred to the underwater-to-surface strategic cruise missile system as part of the country's &ldquo;war deterrence means&rdquo; and added that it is being &ldquo;perfected more thoroughly.&rdquo;
<h2>'No negative impact' on the security of neighbouring countries</h2>
The missiles reportedly flew along elliptical and figure-eight flight paths for over two hours, covering a distance of 1,500 kilometres. KCNA noted that the missiles &ldquo;precisely&rdquo; hit their targets and stressed that the test had &ldquo;no negative impact&rdquo; on the security of neighbouring countries.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-donald-trump-us-will-get-greenland-calls-denmark-pm-mette-frederiksen-8655480">Trump confident US will 'get Greenland,' calls Denmark's refusal 'very unfriendly'</a>
The KCNA said, &ldquo;The test-fire of the weapon system is part of plans for building the national defence capabilities to raise the effectiveness of strategic control against potential enemies in conformity with the changing regional safety circumstances.&rdquo;
<h2>North Korea condemns US for engaging in 'serious military provocations'</h2>
In addition, North Korea&rsquo;s Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Sunday condemning the US for engaging in what it called &ldquo;serious military provocations&rdquo; through its military exercises with South Korea. These joint drills are viewed by Pyongyang as rehearsals for invasion, though both Washington and Seoul maintain that the exercises are defensive in nature.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-donald-trump-says-uk-pm-keir-starmer-elon-musk-criticism-8655008">Trump says UK PM Starmer is doing 'very good job' despite 'first buddy' Elon Musk's criticism</a>
&ldquo;The reality stresses that the DPRK should counter the US with the toughest counteraction from A to Z as long as it refuses the sovereignty and security interests of the DPRK, and this is the best option for dealing with the US,&rdquo; the Foreign Ministry statement read. The DPRK, or Democratic People&rsquo;s Republic of Korea, is North Korea&rsquo;s official name.
<h2>Can Trump and Kim revive US-North Korea diplomacy?</h2>
The timing of the test coincides with the beginning of President Trump&rsquo;s second term. Trump and Kim met three times during his first term, though their talks in 2018-2019 broke down over disagreements regarding US-led sanctions on North Korea.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/cia-covid-19-origin-lab-leak-donald-trumps-cia-pick-john-ratcliffe-takes-charge-8654524">CIA says lab leak 'more likely' origin of COVID-19 as Ratcliffe takes charge</a>
In an interview with Fox News broadcast on Thursday, Trump described Kim as &ldquo;a smart guy&rdquo; and &ldquo;not a religious zealot.&rdquo; When asked if he planned to reach out to Kim again, Trump responded, &ldquo;I will, yeah.&rdquo;
(With inputs from agencies)

World: North Korea’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Sunday condemning the US for engaging in “military provocations” through its military exercises with South Korea.

North Korea has carried out its first weapons test since the inauguration of US President Donald Trump on 20 January. The test involved what Pyongyang described as "strategic" cruise missiles, a term often associated with nuclear-capable weaponry. The move comes as North Korea criticised joint military exercises conducted by the United States and South Korea. Also read: 'When Russians hide, North Koreans shoot': How Pyongyang's troops are reshaping Russia-Ukraine war According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the test, which took place on Saturday (Jan 25). Kim referred to the underwater-to-surface strategic cruise missile system as part of the country's “war deterrence means” and added that it is being “perfected more thoroughly.” 'No negative impact' on the security of neighbouring countries The missiles reportedly flew along elliptical and figure-eight flight paths for over two hours, covering a distance of 1,500 kilometres. KCNA noted that the missiles “precisely” hit their targets and stressed that the test had “no negative impact” on the security of neighbouring countries. Also read: Trump confident US will 'get Greenland,' calls Denmark's refusal 'very unfriendly' The KCNA said, “The test-fire of the weapon system is part of plans for building the national defence capabilities to raise the effectiveness of strategic control against potential enemies in conformity with the changing regional safety circumstances.” North Korea condemns US for engaging in 'serious military provocations' In addition, North Korea’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Sunday condemning the US for engaging in what it called “serious military provocations” through its military exercises with South Korea. These joint drills are viewed by Pyongyang as rehearsals for invasion, though both Washington and Seoul maintain that the exercises are defensive in nature. Also read: Trump says UK PM Starmer is doing 'very good job' despite 'first buddy' Elon Musk's criticism “The reality stresses that the DPRK should counter the US with the toughest counteraction from A to Z as long as it refuses the sovereignty and security interests of the DPRK, and this is the best option for dealing with the US,” the Foreign Ministry statement read. The DPRK, or Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, is North Korea’s official name. Can Trump and Kim revive US-North Korea diplomacy? The timing of the test coincides with the beginning of President Trump’s second term. Trump and Kim met three times during his first term, though their talks in 2018-2019 broke down over disagreements regarding US-led sanctions on North Korea. Also read: CIA says lab leak 'more likely' origin of COVID-19 as Ratcliffe takes charge In an interview with Fox News broadcast on Thursday, Trump described Kim as “a smart guy” and “not a religious zealot.” When asked if he planned to reach out to Kim again, Trump responded, “I will, yeah.” (With inputs from agencies)

North Korea tests 'strategic' cruise missiles, condemns US for engaging in 'serious military provocations'

United States (US) President Donald Trump said on Saturday (January 25) that he was in talks with multiple people over buying TikTok and would likely have a decision over the Chinese short-video platform's future in the next 30 days.
Addressing a press conference during a flight to Florida, President Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that there was great interest in TikTok.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-officials-considering-selling-tiktok-us-to-elon-musk-to-avoid-potential-ban-report-8620575" rel="dofollow">China considers selling TikTok US to Elon Musk amid ban threat, ByteDance denies rumours</a>
Trump had earlier said that he would like the US to have a 50 per cent ownership in TikTok.
<h2>Is Oracle a potential buyer?</h2>
Citing sources, a report by the news agency Reuters on Saturday said that the Trump administration was working on a plan to save TikTok that involved tapping software giant Oracle and a group of outside investors to effectively take control of the platform's operations.
Reuters reported that under the deal being initiated by the White House, TikTok's owner, ByteDance, would retain a stake in the company, but data collection and software updates would be Oracle's job.
Also watch | Gravitas: Families sue TikTok in France
<iframe width="600" height="auto" style="width: 100%; aspect-ratio: 4/3;" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="external-video publive-iframes-block" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/screenshot/2301_tiktok_gv_7_PKWO/00000002.jpg&amp;videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/2301_tiktok_gv_7_PKWO_.mp4/index.m3u8&amp;duration=241&amp;tags=france, tiktok, teen suicides, suicide, tiktok sued, gravitas," title="Families sue TikTok in France over teen suicides " id="PL_iframe_block-m6di892p-9o3oyai8-zvcs29tl"></iframe>
However, in his comments to reporters on the flight, Trump said he had not spoken to Oracle's Larry Ellison about buying TikTok.
Asked if he was putting together a deal with Oracle and other investors to save TikTok, Trump said, "No, not with Oracle. Numerous people are talking to me, very substantial people, about buying it, and I will make that decision probably over the next 30 days."
"Congress has given 90 days. If we can save TikTok, I think it would be a good thing," the president added.&nbsp;
<h2>A meeting with Oracle expected next week</h2>
A report by the NPR said that officials from Oracle and the White House held a meeting on Friday about a potential deal, and another meeting was scheduled next week.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-backs-elon-musk-as-potential-buyer-for-tiktok-amid-ongoing-us-ban-threat-8642536" rel="dofollow">Donald Trump says 'open' to Elon Musk buying TikTok</a>
Oracle was interested in a TikTok stake "in the tens of billions," but the rest of the deal is in flux, the report said.
(With inputs from agencies)
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

World | Science & Tech | Trump's remarks came after it was reported that the US was working on a plan to save TikTok that involved tapping software giant Oracle. 

United States (US) President Donald Trump said on Saturday (January 25) that he was in talks with multiple people over buying TikTok and would likely have a decision over the Chinese short-video platform's future in the next 30 days. Addressing a press conference during a flight to Florida, President Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that there was great interest in TikTok. Also read | China considers selling TikTok US to Elon Musk amid ban threat, ByteDance denies rumours Trump had earlier said that he would like the US to have a 50 per cent ownership in TikTok. Is Oracle a potential buyer? Citing sources, a report by the news agency Reuters on Saturday said that the Trump administration was working on a plan to save TikTok that involved tapping software giant Oracle and a group of outside investors to effectively take control of the platform's operations. Reuters reported that under the deal being initiated by the White House, TikTok's owner, ByteDance, would retain a stake in the company, but data collection and software updates would be Oracle's job. Also watch | Gravitas: Families sue TikTok in France However, in his comments to reporters on the flight, Trump said he had not spoken to Oracle's Larry Ellison about buying TikTok. Asked if he was putting together a deal with Oracle and other investors to save TikTok, Trump said, "No, not with Oracle. Numerous people are talking to me, very substantial people, about buying it, and I will make that decision probably over the next 30 days." "Congress has given 90 days. If we can save TikTok, I think it would be a good thing," the president added. A meeting with Oracle expected next week A report by the NPR said that officials from Oracle and the White House held a meeting on Friday about a potential deal, and another meeting was scheduled next week. Also read | Donald Trump says 'open' to Elon Musk buying TikTok Oracle was interested in a TikTok stake "in the tens of billions," but the rest of the deal is in flux, the report said. (With inputs from agencies)

US President Donald Trump in talks with multiple people over buying TikTok

US President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/donald-trump" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Donald Trump</a> has voiced confidence that the United States will gain control of Greenland, after renewed discussions about acquiring the autonomous Danish territory.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Saturday (Jan 25), Trump said, &ldquo;I think we're going to have it,&rdquo; claiming that the island&rsquo;s 57,000 residents &ldquo;want to be with us.&rdquo; He reiterated, &ldquo;I think the people want to be with us,&rdquo; when asked about Greenland during the press briefing.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/flagrant-disregard-brazil-outrages-over-immigrants-deported-from-us-arrive-in-handcuffs-8655195" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Flagrant disregard: Brazil outrages over immigrants deported from US arrive in handcuffs</a>
Trump questioned Denmark&rsquo;s claim over the island, describing any refusal to transfer control as &ldquo;a very unfriendly act.&rdquo; He added, &ldquo;It has to do with freedom of the world. It has nothing to do with the United States other than that we're the ones that can provide the freedom. They can't.&rdquo;
<h2>Heated phone call between Trump and Danish PM Mette Frederiksen</h2>
His comments follow reports of a heated phone exchange with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-donald-trump-phone-call-danish-pm-mette-frederiksen-greenland-8652658">Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen</a>, during which she reportedly insisted that Greenland is not for sale. While recognising Trump's significant interest in the region, Frederiksen maintained that the territory was not up for negotiation.
Trump&rsquo;s interest in Greenland dates back to 2019, during his first term, when he described the island as crucial for global security. According to reports, he recently revived the idea and allegedly threatened Denmark with tariffs if it refused to relinquish Greenland.
Frederiksen reportedly proposed enhanced military and economic cooperation between the US and Greenland, including access to the island&rsquo;s mineral resources. However, Trump is said to have rejected this, insisting on full US control.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/metas-former-coo-sheryl-sandberg-sanctioned-by-delaware-judge-over-alleged-email-deletions-8655488">Meta&rsquo;s former COO Sheryl Sandberg sanctioned by Delaware Judge over alleged email deletions</a>
Greenland&rsquo;s Prime Minister M&uacute;te Egede responded by emphasising that decisions regarding the island&rsquo;s land use rest solely with Greenland. While open to closer collaboration with the US, particularly in defence and mining, Egede underscored the island&rsquo;s autonomy.
Frederiksen echoed this sentiment earlier this month, stating, &ldquo;Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders,&rdquo; and reaffirmed that only its people can decide the territory&rsquo;s future.
When asked if military or economic measures were off the table in pursuing Greenland, Trump declined to rule them out.
(With inputs from agencies)

World: Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Saturday (Jan 25), Trump said, “I think we're going to have it,” claiming that Greenland's 57,000 residents “want to be with us.” 

US President Donald Trump has voiced confidence that the United States will gain control of Greenland, after renewed discussions about acquiring the autonomous Danish territory. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Saturday (Jan 25), Trump said, “I think we're going to have it,” claiming that the island’s 57,000 residents “want to be with us.” He reiterated, “I think the people want to be with us,” when asked about Greenland during the press briefing. Also read: Flagrant disregard: Brazil outrages over immigrants deported from US arrive in handcuffs Trump questioned Denmark’s claim over the island, describing any refusal to transfer control as “a very unfriendly act.” He added, “It has to do with freedom of the world. It has nothing to do with the United States other than that we're the ones that can provide the freedom. They can't.” Heated phone call between Trump and Danish PM Mette Frederiksen His comments follow reports of a heated phone exchange with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, during which she reportedly insisted that Greenland is not for sale. While recognising Trump's significant interest in the region, Frederiksen maintained that the territory was not up for negotiation. Trump’s interest in Greenland dates back to 2019, during his first term, when he described the island as crucial for global security. According to reports, he recently revived the idea and allegedly threatened Denmark with tariffs if it refused to relinquish Greenland. Frederiksen reportedly proposed enhanced military and economic cooperation between the US and Greenland, including access to the island’s mineral resources. However, Trump is said to have rejected this, insisting on full US control. Also read: Meta’s former COO Sheryl Sandberg sanctioned by Delaware Judge over alleged email deletions Greenland’s Prime Minister Múte Egede responded by emphasising that decisions regarding the island’s land use rest solely with Greenland. While open to closer collaboration with the US, particularly in defence and mining, Egede underscored the island’s autonomy. Frederiksen echoed this sentiment earlier this month, stating, “Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders,” and reaffirmed that only its people can decide the territory’s future. When asked if military or economic measures were off the table in pursuing Greenland, Trump declined to rule them out. (With inputs from agencies)

Trump confident US will 'get Greenland,' calls Denmark's refusal 'very unfriendly'

South Korean prosecutors indicted the impeached president Yoon Suk Yeol on Sunday (Jan 26) on charges of being the "ringleader" of an insurrection after his failed attempt to impose martial law in the country. This led to the leader's suspension, and he remains in detention.
Watch: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/south-korea-court-rejects-plea-to-extend-yoons-detention">South Korea: Court rejects plea to extend Yoon's detention</a>
Democratic Party spokesman Han Min-soo said, "The prosecution has decided to indict Yoon Suk Yeol, who is facing charges of being a ringleader of insurrection," Reuters reported.&nbsp;
"The punishment of the ringleader of insurrection now begins finally," he further added.&nbsp;
Last week, the anti-corruption investigators suggested charging the jailed president, who was impeached and suspended after the massive protest.&nbsp;
Watch: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/south-korea-yoons-team-urges-investigators-to-adhere-to-legal-legitimacy">South Korea: Yoon's team urges investigators to adhere to legal legitimacy</a>
Yoon was arrested and has been in custody since January 15, becoming the first sitting South Korean President to be arrested. However, Yoon's lawyers called his custody "illegal" and demanded an immediate release of the suspended leader.&nbsp;
Insurrection is one of the few charges that a South Korean president is not immune to. The punishment for the crime is either life imprisonment or death. Although, in decades, South Korea has not executed anyone.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-preparing-to-send-more-troops-to-ukraine-war-despite-suffering-high-casualties-8650644">North Korea preparing to send more troops to Ukraine war despite suffering high casualties</a>
In a court hearing last week, Yoon and his lawyers argued that the suspended president never intended to fully impose martial law in the country. Rather, it was a warning to break the political deadlock.
Along with his criminal trial, the court will also decide if Yoon will be removed from the office or not. The decision is expected to come in 180 days.&nbsp;
The South Korean president was impeached on December 14. This was the second time a conservative president was impeached in South Korea.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-investigators-recomment-insurrection-and-abuse-of-power-charges-against-impeached-president-yoon-suk-yeol-8645767">South Korea investigators recommend 'insurrection and abuse of power' charges against Yoon</a>
(With inputs from agencies)

World | South Korean prosecutors indicted the impeached president Yoon Suk Yeol on Sunday (Jan 26) on charges of being the "ringleader" of an insurrection after his failed attempt to impose martial law in the country. 

South Korean prosecutors indicted the impeached president Yoon Suk Yeol on Sunday (Jan 26) on charges of being the "ringleader" of an insurrection after his failed attempt to impose martial law in the country. This led to the leader's suspension, and he remains in detention. Watch: South Korea: Court rejects plea to extend Yoon's detention Democratic Party spokesman Han Min-soo said, "The prosecution has decided to indict Yoon Suk Yeol, who is facing charges of being a ringleader of insurrection," Reuters reported. "The punishment of the ringleader of insurrection now begins finally," he further added. Last week, the anti-corruption investigators suggested charging the jailed president, who was impeached and suspended after the massive protest. Watch: South Korea: Yoon's team urges investigators to adhere to legal legitimacy Yoon was arrested and has been in custody since January 15, becoming the first sitting South Korean President to be arrested. However, Yoon's lawyers called his custody "illegal" and demanded an immediate release of the suspended leader. Insurrection is one of the few charges that a South Korean president is not immune to. The punishment for the crime is either life imprisonment or death. Although, in decades, South Korea has not executed anyone. Also read: North Korea preparing to send more troops to Ukraine war despite suffering high casualties In a court hearing last week, Yoon and his lawyers argued that the suspended president never intended to fully impose martial law in the country. Rather, it was a warning to break the political deadlock. Along with his criminal trial, the court will also decide if Yoon will be removed from the office or not. The decision is expected to come in 180 days. The South Korean president was impeached on December 14. This was the second time a conservative president was impeached in South Korea. Also read: South Korea investigators recommend 'insurrection and abuse of power' charges against Yoon (With inputs from agencies)

South Korean prosecutors indict impeached president on insurrection charges

Just days after being dumped by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, former Meta COO Sheryl Sandberg is now facing sanctions from a Delaware judge for allegedly deleting emails related to the Cambridge Analytica scandal.
The sanctions come as part of a shareholder lawsuit filed late last year against Sandberg and former Meta board member Jeff Zients, accusing them of using personal email accounts to discuss Facebook's privacy practices, in violation of the law and their fiduciary duties.
According to a report by TechCrunch, shareholders accused Sandberg and Zients of using personal email accounts, including Gmail, to discuss Facebook's privacy issues, allegedly violating their legal responsibilities and duties to the company.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-secretly-trying-to-gain-control-in-japan-specifically-in-okinawa-close-to-taiwan-8655020">China secretly trying to gain control in Japan, specifically in Okinawa, close to Taiwan</a>
<h2 dir="ltr">Ruling suggested that Sandberg selectively deleted emails&nbsp;</h2>
The lawsuit further claims that emails were deleted from these personal accounts even after a court order mandated their preservation. The judge found these allegations credible, highlighting that Sandberg used a personal Gmail account under an alias to discuss the case.
A court ruling also cited inconsistencies in Sandberg's responses to questions from the plaintiffs, suggesting that she selectively deleted emails rather than relying on automatic deletion settings.
The judge raised the standard of proof for Sandberg&rsquo;s defence, now requiring &ldquo;clear and convincing&rdquo; evidence instead of the usual &ldquo;preponderance of the evidence.&rdquo;&nbsp;
As a result, the judge raised the standard of proof for Sandberg's defence, now requiring "clear and convincing" evidence instead of the usual "preponderance of the evidence." The court has ordered that certain legal costs be covered for the plaintiffs. In response, a spokesperson for Sheryl Sandberg denied the allegations, stating: "All work emails were preserved on Facebook's servers."
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trumps-anti-dei-order-grounds-documentary-of-tuskegee-airmen-and-female-wwii-pilots-8654667">Trump&rsquo;s anti-DEI order grounds documentary on Tuskegee Airmen and female WWII pilots</a>
At the heart of the lawsuit is Meta's alleged violation of a 2012 FTC order, which prohibited the company from collecting and sharing user data without consent.
The company's actions, including selling data to Cambridge Analytica, have already resulted in a $5 billion fine from the FTC in 2019, as well as penalties from European regulators.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/zuckerberg-blamed-close-friend-sheryl-sandberg-for-cultural-issues-at-meta-in-trump-meeting-8630109">Zuckerberg blamed 'close friend' Sheryl Sandberg for &lsquo;cultural&rsquo; issues at Meta in Trump meeting</a>
<h2 dir="ltr">Sandberg's role at Meta and public perception</h2>
Sheryl Sandberg joined Facebook in 2008 as COO and played a key role in transforming the company into a profitable entity through its advertising business. In 2012, she became the first woman to join Facebook's board of directors. Before her tenure at Meta, Sandberg served as Vice President of global online sales and operations at Google and worked at the U.S. Treasury Department under Lawrence Summers.
(With inputs from agencies)
&nbsp;

World: Sheryl Sandberg, who recently parted from Meta, faces legal challenges as a Delaware court accuses her of email deletion linked to the Cambridge Analytica controversy.

Just days after being dumped by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, former Meta COO Sheryl Sandberg is now facing sanctions from a Delaware judge for allegedly deleting emails related to the Cambridge Analytica scandal. The sanctions come as part of a shareholder lawsuit filed late last year against Sandberg and former Meta board member Jeff Zients, accusing them of using personal email accounts to discuss Facebook's privacy practices, in violation of the law and their fiduciary duties. According to a report by TechCrunch, shareholders accused Sandberg and Zients of using personal email accounts, including Gmail, to discuss Facebook's privacy issues, allegedly violating their legal responsibilities and duties to the company. Also read | China secretly trying to gain control in Japan, specifically in Okinawa, close to Taiwan Ruling suggested that Sandberg selectively deleted emails The lawsuit further claims that emails were deleted from these personal accounts even after a court order mandated their preservation. The judge found these allegations credible, highlighting that Sandberg used a personal Gmail account under an alias to discuss the case. A court ruling also cited inconsistencies in Sandberg's responses to questions from the plaintiffs, suggesting that she selectively deleted emails rather than relying on automatic deletion settings. The judge raised the standard of proof for Sandberg’s defence, now requiring “clear and convincing” evidence instead of the usual “preponderance of the evidence.” As a result, the judge raised the standard of proof for Sandberg's defence, now requiring "clear and convincing" evidence instead of the usual "preponderance of the evidence." The court has ordered that certain legal costs be covered for the plaintiffs. In response, a spokesperson for Sheryl Sandberg denied the allegations, stating: "All work emails were preserved on Facebook's servers." Also read | Trump’s anti-DEI order grounds documentary on Tuskegee Airmen and female WWII pilots At the heart of the lawsuit is Meta's alleged violation of a 2012 FTC order, which prohibited the company from collecting and sharing user data without consent. The company's actions, including selling data to Cambridge Analytica, have already resulted in a $5 billion fine from the FTC in 2019, as well as penalties from European regulators. Also read | Zuckerberg blamed 'close friend' Sheryl Sandberg for ‘cultural’ issues at Meta in Trump meeting Sandberg's role at Meta and public perception Sheryl Sandberg joined Facebook in 2008 as COO and played a key role in transforming the company into a profitable entity through its advertising business. In 2012, she became the first woman to join Facebook's board of directors. Before her tenure at Meta, Sandberg served as Vice President of global online sales and operations at Google and worked at the U.S. Treasury Department under Lawrence Summers. (With inputs from agencies)

Meta’s former COO Sheryl Sandberg sanctioned by Delaware judge over alleged email deletions

Brazil on Saturday (January 25) expressed outrage over dozens of immigrants deported from the United States (US) arriving by plane in handcuffs, calling it a "flagrant disregard" for their rights. A total of 88 Brazilians, including children, were aboard the flight.
The Brazilian foreign ministry said that it would demand an explanation from the Donald Trump administration over the degrading treatment of passengers on that flight.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-deploys-1500-extra-troops-on-border-with-mexico-8646434" rel="dofollow">US </a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-deploys-1500-extra-troops-on-border-with-mexico-8646434" rel="dofollow">President Trump deploys 1,500 extra troops on border with Mexico</a>
In a statement, the justice ministry said that when the plane landed in Brazil's Manaus, authorities ordered US officials to immediately remove the handcuffs.
Justice Minister Ricardo Lewandowski told President Lula da Silva of "the flagrant disregard for the fundamental rights of Brazilian citizens," the statement added.
The flight was originally destined for the southeastern city of Belo Horizonte but encountered a technical issue forcing it to land in Manaus.
<h2>'Not given water, nor allowed to use washroom'</h2>
One of the passengers aboard the flight told the news agency AFP, "On the plane, they didn't give us water, we were tied hands and feet, they wouldn't even let us go to the bathroom."
"It was very hot, some people fainted," the passenger added.
Another passenger said that there was no air conditioning on the flight due to technical issues, which led to many passengers facing respiratory problems.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-trump-cracks-down-on-immigrants-some-families-wonder-whether-to-send-kids-to-school-8646595" rel="dofollow">As Trump cracks down on immigrants, some families wonder whether to send kids to school</a>
A government source told AFP that the deportation flight was not directly linked to any immigration orders issued by Trump upon taking office Monday but&nbsp;rather stemmed from a 2017 bilateral agreement.
Brazil's Minister of Human Rights, Macae Evaristo, said during a press conference that "children with autism ... who went through very serious experiences" were also on the flight.
<h2>Lula orders passengers to be transported to their final destination</h2>
The justice ministry statement also said that upon learning about the situation, President Lula ordered that a Brazilian Air Force (FAB) aircraft be mobilised to transport the passengers to their final destination to ensure that they could complete their journey with dignity and safety.&nbsp;
This incident came as Latin America is grappling with the Trump administration's hard-line anti-immigration agenda.
Also watch | Trump signs tough border executive order
<iframe width="600" height="auto" style="width: 100%; aspect-ratio: 4/3;" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="external-video publive-iframes-block" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/screenshot/2501_trump_1030pm_wion/00000002.jpg&amp;videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/2501_trump_1030pm_wion_.mp4/index.m3u8&amp;duration=126&amp;tags=Donald Trump, US, World News, WION" title="Trump signs tough border executive order; cartel designation sparks sovereignty debate" id="PL_iframe_block-m6deqj13-4di6pnlr-ehexwk97"></iframe>
Trump promised a crackdown on illegal immigration during the election campaign and began his second term with a flurry of executive actions aimed at overhauling entry to the US.&nbsp;
On his first day in office, he signed orders declaring a "national emergency" at the southern US border and announced the deployment of more troops to the area while vowing to deport "criminal aliens."
(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;
&nbsp;

World | This incident from Brazil came as the whole of Latin America is grappling with the Trump administration's hard-line anti-immigration agenda.

Brazil on Saturday (January 25) expressed outrage over dozens of immigrants deported from the United States (US) arriving by plane in handcuffs, calling it a "flagrant disregard" for their rights. A total of 88 Brazilians, including children, were aboard the flight. The Brazilian foreign ministry said that it would demand an explanation from the Donald Trump administration over the degrading treatment of passengers on that flight. Also read | US President Trump deploys 1,500 extra troops on border with Mexico In a statement, the justice ministry said that when the plane landed in Brazil's Manaus, authorities ordered US officials to immediately remove the handcuffs. Justice Minister Ricardo Lewandowski told President Lula da Silva of "the flagrant disregard for the fundamental rights of Brazilian citizens," the statement added. The flight was originally destined for the southeastern city of Belo Horizonte but encountered a technical issue forcing it to land in Manaus. 'Not given water, nor allowed to use washroom' One of the passengers aboard the flight told the news agency AFP, "On the plane, they didn't give us water, we were tied hands and feet, they wouldn't even let us go to the bathroom." "It was very hot, some people fainted," the passenger added. Another passenger said that there was no air conditioning on the flight due to technical issues, which led to many passengers facing respiratory problems. Also read | As Trump cracks down on immigrants, some families wonder whether to send kids to school A government source told AFP that the deportation flight was not directly linked to any immigration orders issued by Trump upon taking office Monday but rather stemmed from a 2017 bilateral agreement. Brazil's Minister of Human Rights, Macae Evaristo, said during a press conference that "children with autism ... who went through very serious experiences" were also on the flight. Lula orders passengers to be transported to their final destination The justice ministry statement also said that upon learning about the situation, President Lula ordered that a Brazilian Air Force (FAB) aircraft be mobilised to transport the passengers to their final destination to ensure that they could complete their journey with dignity and safety. This incident came as Latin America is grappling with the Trump administration's hard-line anti-immigration agenda. Also watch | Trump signs tough border executive order Trump promised a crackdown on illegal immigration during the election campaign and began his second term with a flurry of executive actions aimed at overhauling entry to the US. On his first day in office, he signed orders declaring a "national emergency" at the southern US border and announced the deployment of more troops to the area while vowing to deport "criminal aliens." (With inputs from agencies)

Flagrant disregard: Brazil outraged as immigrants deported from US arrive in handcuffs

Tensions between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas have escalated, challenging the fragile ceasefire agreement between the two sides. Israel has accused Hamas of breaching the truce on two occasions, reigniting concerns about the deal&rsquo;s stability.
The ceasefire, which came into effect a week ago, has already facilitated the release of seven hostages and several Palestinian prisoners. However, Israeli officials have frequently described the arrangement as a &ldquo;framework&rdquo; rather than a formal agreement.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uks-home-secretary-warns-tech-giants-of-a-second-southport-if-extreme-content-isnt-removed-8655016">UK's Home Secretary warns tech giants of a 'second Southport' if extreme content isn't removed</a>
<h2>Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu&nbsp;accuses Hamas of committing violations </h2>
On Sunday, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/benjamin-netanyahu" rel="dofollow">Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's</a> office issued a statement accusing Hamas of failing to fulfil its commitments during the second phase of the prisoner exchange on Saturday. &ldquo;Hamas committed two violations yesterday during the implementation of the swap. Arbel Yehud, a civilian hostage scheduled for release on Saturday, has not been freed, and a detailed list of all hostages&rsquo; statuses has not been provided,&rdquo; the statement read, according to AFP.
As a response to these alleged violations, Israel blocked the movement of Gazan civilians returning north through the Netzarim Corridor, a step that was supposed to occur on Saturday under the terms of the agreement.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-donald-trump-says-uk-pm-keir-starmer-elon-musk-criticism-8655008">Trump says UK PM Starmer is doing 'very good job' despite 'first buddy' Elon Musk's criticism</a>
Further complicating matters, it emerged that Yehud is not in Hamas&rsquo;s custody. A senior member of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), another militant group in Gaza, informed CNN that they were holding Yehud and planned to release her as part of the prisoner exchange.
The ongoing disagreement over the hostage situation has delayed the return of hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza.
Both sides have accused each other of failing to uphold their obligations, casting doubt on the durability of the ceasefire, which took over 15 months to negotiate.
Meanwhile, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-news-today-joins-germany-afd-rally-germans-to-move-beyond-past-guilt-amid-nazi-salute-controversy-8654678">US President Donald Trump</a> announced the release of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel, which had been placed on hold by President Joe Biden. Speaking aboard Air Force One on Saturday, Trump stated, &ldquo;We released them. We released them today. And they&rsquo;ll have them. They paid for them and they&rsquo;ve been waiting for them for a long time.&rdquo;
The hold on the delivery had been imposed over concerns about the bombs&rsquo; potential impact on Gaza&rsquo;s civilian population, particularly in the Rafah region. When asked about the decision to release the weapons, Trump said, &ldquo;Because they bought them.&rdquo;
(With inputs from agencies)

World, Middle East: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hamas of failing to fulfil its commitments during the second phase of the prisoner exchange.

Tensions between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas have escalated, challenging the fragile ceasefire agreement between the two sides. Israel has accused Hamas of breaching the truce on two occasions, reigniting concerns about the deal’s stability. The ceasefire, which came into effect a week ago, has already facilitated the release of seven hostages and several Palestinian prisoners. However, Israeli officials have frequently described the arrangement as a “framework” rather than a formal agreement. Also read: UK's Home Secretary warns tech giants of a 'second Southport' if extreme content isn't removed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accuses Hamas of committing violations On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office issued a statement accusing Hamas of failing to fulfil its commitments during the second phase of the prisoner exchange on Saturday. “Hamas committed two violations yesterday during the implementation of the swap. Arbel Yehud, a civilian hostage scheduled for release on Saturday, has not been freed, and a detailed list of all hostages’ statuses has not been provided,” the statement read, according to AFP. As a response to these alleged violations, Israel blocked the movement of Gazan civilians returning north through the Netzarim Corridor, a step that was supposed to occur on Saturday under the terms of the agreement. Also read: Trump says UK PM Starmer is doing 'very good job' despite 'first buddy' Elon Musk's criticism Further complicating matters, it emerged that Yehud is not in Hamas’s custody. A senior member of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), another militant group in Gaza, informed CNN that they were holding Yehud and planned to release her as part of the prisoner exchange. The ongoing disagreement over the hostage situation has delayed the return of hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza. Both sides have accused each other of failing to uphold their obligations, casting doubt on the durability of the ceasefire, which took over 15 months to negotiate. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump announced the release of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel, which had been placed on hold by President Joe Biden. Speaking aboard Air Force One on Saturday, Trump stated, “We released them. We released them today. And they’ll have them. They paid for them and they’ve been waiting for them for a long time.” The hold on the delivery had been imposed over concerns about the bombs’ potential impact on Gaza’s civilian population, particularly in the Rafah region. When asked about the decision to release the weapons, Trump said, “Because they bought them.” (With inputs from agencies)

Gaza ceasefire on shaky ground as Hamas, Israel trade blame over deal violations

UK&rsquo;s Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has warned social media platforms to remove extreme and illegal content, said a report by Telegraph. She expressed concern that just such content could encourage people to commit acts of violence.&nbsp;
Cooper&rsquo;s statement came after Axel Rudakubana, convicted of murdering three young girls in Southport, had access to violent materials online before the attack. &nbsp;
Rudakubana, sentenced to a minimum of 52 years in prison, viewed content including footage of an Islamist attack on an Australian bishop and downloaded an al-Qaeda manual. Despite the materials being flagged by the Home Office as aiding terrorism trials, they remain accessible on some platforms. &nbsp;
Cooper and Science Secretary Peter Kyle have written to major social media companies, including Google, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and Meta, urging immediate removal of the content. Their letter emphasized the need for platforms to act swiftly to prevent further unlawful access to such materials, particularly those linked to Rudakubana&rsquo;s case. &nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-donald-trump-says-uk-pm-keir-starmer-elon-musk-criticism-8655008">Trump says UK PM Starmer is doing 'very good job' despite 'first buddy' Elon Musk's criticism</a>
While stricter regulations under the Online Safety Act will require tech companies to remove illegal content from March, the ministers urged immediate voluntary action.&nbsp;
They argued that companies have a moral obligation to prioritise public safety and ensure harmful content is not used to inspire further violence.&nbsp;&nbsp;
The investigations revealed that Rudakubana searched for graphic footage of the Australian attack, which remains available in the UK despite being removed in Australia.&nbsp;
Law enforcement agencies have also faced challenges accessing the suspect&rsquo;s full internet history.&nbsp; Rudakubana deleted all the records before carrying out the attack.&nbsp;
The case has prompted renewed scrutiny of the UK&rsquo;s counter-radicalisation program 'Prevent', particularly regarding individuals with a fixation on violent acts, such as school massacres.&nbsp;
Cooper has called for an end-to-end review to address gaps in how neurodiverse individuals are assessed within the program.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Additionally, the government is considering measures to tighten online knife sales. Rudakubana purchased the weapon used in the killings from Amazon at 17, despite prior offences involving knives. Proposed changes may require stricter ID verification for such purchases.

Cooper’s statement came after Axel Rudakubana, convicted of murdering three young girls in Southport, had access to violent materials online before the attack.  

UK’s Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has warned social media platforms to remove extreme and illegal content, said a report by Telegraph. She expressed concern that just such content could encourage people to commit acts of violence. Cooper’s statement came after Axel Rudakubana, convicted of murdering three young girls in Southport, had access to violent materials online before the attack. Rudakubana, sentenced to a minimum of 52 years in prison, viewed content including footage of an Islamist attack on an Australian bishop and downloaded an al-Qaeda manual. Despite the materials being flagged by the Home Office as aiding terrorism trials, they remain accessible on some platforms. Cooper and Science Secretary Peter Kyle have written to major social media companies, including Google, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and Meta, urging immediate removal of the content. Their letter emphasized the need for platforms to act swiftly to prevent further unlawful access to such materials, particularly those linked to Rudakubana’s case. Also read: Trump says UK PM Starmer is doing 'very good job' despite 'first buddy' Elon Musk's criticism While stricter regulations under the Online Safety Act will require tech companies to remove illegal content from March, the ministers urged immediate voluntary action. They argued that companies have a moral obligation to prioritise public safety and ensure harmful content is not used to inspire further violence. The investigations revealed that Rudakubana searched for graphic footage of the Australian attack, which remains available in the UK despite being removed in Australia. Law enforcement agencies have also faced challenges accessing the suspect’s full internet history. Rudakubana deleted all the records before carrying out the attack. The case has prompted renewed scrutiny of the UK’s counter-radicalisation program 'Prevent', particularly regarding individuals with a fixation on violent acts, such as school massacres. Cooper has called for an end-to-end review to address gaps in how neurodiverse individuals are assessed within the program. Additionally, the government is considering measures to tighten online knife sales. Rudakubana purchased the weapon used in the killings from Amazon at 17, despite prior offences involving knives. Proposed changes may require stricter ID verification for such purchases.

UK's Home Secretary warns tech giants of a 'second Southport' if extreme content isn't removed

US President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/donald-trump" rel="dofollow">Donald Trump</a> has praised UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer for his performance, describing it as "very good thus far." He also noted their "very good relationship" during comments given to the BBC on Saturday (Jan 25).
When asked about their interactions, Trump mentioned they were scheduled to hold a phone conversation within 24 hours. The two leaders have previously met several times, including when Sir Keir visited Trump Tower in New York during the US presidential campaign.
"I get along with him well. I like him a lot. He's liberal, which is a bit different from me, but I think he's a very good person and I think he's done a very good job thus far," Trump said of Sir Keir.
"He's represented his country in terms of philosophy. I may not agree with his philosophy, but I have a very good relationship with him," he added.
Aso read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-war-zelensky-says-us-has-not-stopped-military-aid-to-kyiv-8654837" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Ukraine war: Zelensky says US has not stopped military aid to Kyiv</a>
Following Trump&rsquo;s re-election last November, Sir Keir and the US president spoke on the phone. At the time, Downing Street stressed the strength of the UK&mdash;US relationship, saying it remained "incredibly strong" and would "continue to thrive."
<h2>Elon Musk's criticism of Sir Keir Starmer</h2>
Despite Trump's positive comments, billionaire Elon Musk, and self-appointed 'first buddy' of the US president, has been sharply critical of Sir Keir Starmer. Musk has frequently called for the UK leader's removal and has used his social media platform X to voice his opposition.
Earlier this month, Musk publicly criticised Sir Keir in connection with the grooming gangs scandal, accusing the prime minister of being "deeply complicit in the mass rapes in exchange for votes." Sir Keir, who served as Director of Public Prosecutions from 2008 to 2013, rejected the accusations, calling them "lies and misinformation" and adding he had addressed prosecutions "head-on."
Musk&rsquo;s disputes with Sir Keir&rsquo;s government are not new. He has previously referred to Britain as a &ldquo;police state&rdquo; due to its handling of the Southport riots, which led to violent street clashes during the summer. Musk has repeatedly criticised Starmer on X while expressing support for Reform UK, a political party.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-news-today-joins-germany-afd-rally-germans-to-move-beyond-past-guilt-amid-nazi-salute-controversy-8654678">'Make Germany great again': Elon Musk urges Germans to move beyond 'past guilt'</a>
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/republic-day-2025-live-us-extends-greetings-to-india-on-republic-day-8654335"></a>Musk&rsquo;s alignment with far-right movements is part of a larger pattern. He has supported leaders such as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and even appeared as a guest at an AfD rally in Germany on Saturday.
(With inputs from agencies)

World: Despite US President Donald Trump's positive comments, billionaire Elon Musk, a close ally of the US president, has been sharply critical of Sir Keir Starmer.

US President Donald Trump has praised UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer for his performance, describing it as "very good thus far." He also noted their "very good relationship" during comments given to the BBC on Saturday (Jan 25). When asked about their interactions, Trump mentioned they were scheduled to hold a phone conversation within 24 hours. The two leaders have previously met several times, including when Sir Keir visited Trump Tower in New York during the US presidential campaign. "I get along with him well. I like him a lot. He's liberal, which is a bit different from me, but I think he's a very good person and I think he's done a very good job thus far," Trump said of Sir Keir. "He's represented his country in terms of philosophy. I may not agree with his philosophy, but I have a very good relationship with him," he added. Aso read: Ukraine war: Zelensky says US has not stopped military aid to Kyiv Following Trump’s re-election last November, Sir Keir and the US president spoke on the phone. At the time, Downing Street stressed the strength of the UK—US relationship, saying it remained "incredibly strong" and would "continue to thrive." Elon Musk's criticism of Sir Keir Starmer Despite Trump's positive comments, billionaire Elon Musk, and self-appointed 'first buddy' of the US president, has been sharply critical of Sir Keir Starmer. Musk has frequently called for the UK leader's removal and has used his social media platform X to voice his opposition. Earlier this month, Musk publicly criticised Sir Keir in connection with the grooming gangs scandal, accusing the prime minister of being "deeply complicit in the mass rapes in exchange for votes." Sir Keir, who served as Director of Public Prosecutions from 2008 to 2013, rejected the accusations, calling them "lies and misinformation" and adding he had addressed prosecutions "head-on." Musk’s disputes with Sir Keir’s government are not new. He has previously referred to Britain as a “police state” due to its handling of the Southport riots, which led to violent street clashes during the summer. Musk has repeatedly criticised Starmer on X while expressing support for Reform UK, a political party. Also read: 'Make Germany great again': Elon Musk urges Germans to move beyond 'past guilt' Musk’s alignment with far-right movements is part of a larger pattern. He has supported leaders such as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and even appeared as a guest at an AfD rally in Germany on Saturday. (With inputs from agencies)

Trump says UK PM Starmer is doing 'very good job' despite 'first buddy' Elon Musk's criticism

United States (US) President Donald Trump said on Saturday (January 25) that he would like to see Jordan, Egypt and other Arab nations increase the number of Palestinian refugees they were accepting from the war-torn Gaza Strip.
During a presser with reporters aboard Air Force One, President Trump also said that he ended his predecessor Joe Biden's hold on sending 2,000-pound bombs to Israel.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/gaza-ceasefire-israel-releases-70-palestinian-prisoners-into-egypt-more-awaited-to-be-freed-8653174" rel="dofollow">Israel releases 200 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for four female soldiers released by Hamas</a>
This lifted a pressure point that had been meant to reduce civilian casualties during the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza which is currently halted by a ceasefire.
"We released them today," Trump said of the bombs, adding, "They (Israel) have been waiting for them for a long time."
<h2>'Something has to happen'</h2>
Trump said he would like Egypt to take Palestinian refugees. "You&rsquo;re talking about probably a million and a half people, and we just clean out that whole thing and say- You know it's over," he said.
The US president also complimented Jordan for successfully accepting refugees.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;d love for you to take on more, cause I&rsquo;m looking at the whole Gaza Strip right now, and it&rsquo;s a mess. It&rsquo;s a real mess,&rdquo; Trump told Jordan's King Abdullah II.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/gaza-ceasefire-fake-hamas-attack-staged-in-israel-kfar-saba-hamas-8647184" rel="dofollow">'I was so scared&hellip;': Fake Hamas attack staged in Israel to protest Gaza ceasefire stirs panic</a>
Regarding the mass movement of Palestinians, Trump said, &ldquo;It could be temporary or long term,&rdquo; adding that the area of the world that encompasses Gaza, has &ldquo;had many, many conflicts&rdquo; over centuries.
"...it&rsquo;s (Gaza) literally a demolition site right now. Almost everything&rsquo;s demolished, and people are dying there. So, I&rsquo;d rather get involved with some of the Arab nations, and build housing in a different location, where they can maybe live in peace for a change," the US president told reporters.
<h2>Israel lauds Trump's initiative&nbsp;</h2>
Israel welcomed Trump's initiative to transfer Palestinians from Gaza to Egypt and Jordan.
In a post on X, far-right Otzma Yehudit party leader Itamar Ben Gvir said, "Congratulations to US President Trump on the initiative to transfer residents from Gaza to Jordan and Egypt.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
מברך את נשיא ארה״ב טראמפ על היוזמה להעביר תושבים מעזה לירדן ולמצרים. אחת הדרישות שלנו מראש-הממשלה בנימין נתניהו היא לעודד הגירה מרצון וכאשר נשיא המעצמה הכי גדולה בעולם טראמפ מעלה בעצמו את הרעיון כדאי שממשלת ישראל תיישם - עידוד הגירה עכשיו!
&mdash; איתמר בן גביר (@itamarbengvir) <a href="https://twitter.com/itamarbengvir/status/1883390919728328723?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2025</a></blockquote>

<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

"One of our demands from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is to encourage voluntary immigration, and when the president of the world's largest power, Trump, himself raises the idea, it would be wise for the Israeli government to implement it - encourage immigration now!" Gvir added. 
<h2>Second phase of prisoner-hostage exchange deal in Gaza completed</h2>
Trump's remarks came as the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Saturday that the second phase of a prisoner-hostage exchange between Hamas and Israel was completed under the initial terms of a ceasefire agreement.
Also watch | Israel bars Palestinians from returning to North Gaza
<iframe width="600" height="auto" style="width: 100%; aspect-ratio: 4/3;" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="external-video publive-iframes-block" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/screenshot/2501_ISAREL_GEUST_9PM_wion/00000002.jpg&amp;videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/2501_ISAREL_GEUST_9PM_wion_.mp4/index.m3u8&amp;duration=302&amp;tags=Israel, Hamas War, World News, WION" title="Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal: Israel bars Palestinians from returning to North Gaza" id="PL_iframe_block-m6d3vxhj-63928avz-gruapkll"></iframe>
The second phase, including the release of 200 Palestinian prisoners and four female Israeli soldier hostages, was carried out after thorough coordination and review procedures conducted by the ICRC.
The first stage of the six-week ceasefire took effect on January 19.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)
&nbsp;

World | West Asia | Trump's demand came as the second phase of a prisoner-hostage exchange between Hamas and Israel was completed on Saturday. 

United States (US) President Donald Trump said on Saturday (January 25) that he would like to see Jordan, Egypt and other Arab nations increase the number of Palestinian refugees they were accepting from the war-torn Gaza Strip. During a presser with reporters aboard Air Force One, President Trump also said that he ended his predecessor Joe Biden's hold on sending 2,000-pound bombs to Israel. Also read | Israel releases 200 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for four female soldiers released by Hamas This lifted a pressure point that had been meant to reduce civilian casualties during the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza which is currently halted by a ceasefire. "We released them today," Trump said of the bombs, adding, "They (Israel) have been waiting for them for a long time." 'Something has to happen' Trump said he would like Egypt to take Palestinian refugees. "You’re talking about probably a million and a half people, and we just clean out that whole thing and say- You know it's over," he said. The US president also complimented Jordan for successfully accepting refugees. “I’d love for you to take on more, cause I’m looking at the whole Gaza Strip right now, and it’s a mess. It’s a real mess,” Trump told Jordan's King Abdullah II. Also read | 'I was so scared…': Fake Hamas attack staged in Israel to protest Gaza ceasefire stirs panic Regarding the mass movement of Palestinians, Trump said, “It could be temporary or long term,” adding that the area of the world that encompasses Gaza, has “had many, many conflicts” over centuries. "...it’s (Gaza) literally a demolition site right now. Almost everything’s demolished, and people are dying there. So, I’d rather get involved with some of the Arab nations, and build housing in a different location, where they can maybe live in peace for a change," the US president told reporters. Israel lauds Trump's initiative Israel welcomed Trump's initiative to transfer Palestinians from Gaza to Egypt and Jordan. In a post on X, far-right Otzma Yehudit party leader Itamar Ben Gvir said, "Congratulations to US President Trump on the initiative to transfer residents from Gaza to Jordan and Egypt. מברך את נשיא ארה״ב טראמפ על היוזמה להעביר תושבים מעזה לירדן ולמצרים. אחת הדרישות שלנו מראש-הממשלה בנימין נתניהו היא לעודד הגירה מרצון וכאשר נשיא המעצמה הכי גדולה בעולם טראמפ מעלה בעצמו את הרעיון כדאי שממשלת ישראל תיישם - עידוד הגירה עכשיו! — איתמר בן גביר (@itamarbengvir) January 26, 2025 "One of our demands from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is to encourage voluntary immigration, and when the president of the world's largest power, Trump, himself raises the idea, it would be wise for the Israeli government to implement it - encourage immigration now!" Gvir added. Second phase of prisoner-hostage exchange deal in Gaza completed Trump's remarks came as the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Saturday that the second phase of a prisoner-hostage exchange between Hamas and Israel was completed under the initial terms of a ceasefire agreement. Also watch | Israel bars Palestinians from returning to North Gaza The second phase, including the release of 200 Palestinian prisoners and four female Israeli soldier hostages, was carried out after thorough coordination and review procedures conducted by the ICRC. The first stage of the six-week ceasefire took effect on January 19. (With inputs from agencies)

Gaza war: Trump wants Jordan, Egypt, & other Arab nations to accept more refugees; Israel lauds initiative

China is secretly trying to gain control in Japan, specifically in Okinawa, which is just 750 kilometres from Taiwan and hosts a significant US military presence of nearly 30,000 troops.
Now, with propaganda and diplomatic outreach, Beijing is carrying out a &ldquo;silent invasion&rdquo; of the southernmost prefecture in Japan as it shapes the battlefield for a potential incursion.
Analysts believed that China was well aware that a Taiwanese invasion would prompt a swift response from US aircraft and warships, backed by Japanese forces, threatening the invasion fleet's northern flank. To counter this, China is reportedly seeking to neutralise this potential threat.
The Chinese assault, they say, is through the sowing of discord between residents and the national government by playing up economic problems in the nation&rsquo;s poorest prefecture as well as historical grievances over the annexation of what was then the independent kingdom of Ryukyu in 1879.
Also read | Won&rsquo;t allow Awami League to contest Bangladesh polls: Yunus&rsquo; adviser
<h2 dir="ltr">Spreading propaganda against the US military presence in Okinawa</h2>
Chinese state media frequently seized the opportunity to publicise misconduct by US military personnel and emphasise the disproportionate presence of US bases in Okinawa, which occupies only 0.6 per cent of Japan's land but hosts a staggering 70 per cent of US military bases in the country.
It also hosts some of the American military&rsquo;s most sophisticated weapons systems.
Taken together, these are the sort of wedges that serve to alienate native islanders and those they see as outsiders.
<h2 dir="ltr">Recruiting ethnic Chinese living in Okinawa to help them</h2>
According to the reports, mainland Chinese officials have been secretly recruiting ethnic Chinese residents in Okinawa to establish an underground police station, mirroring Beijing's clandestine operations in other countries worldwide.
Also read | Trump&rsquo;s anti-DEI order grounds documentary on Tuskegee Airmen and female WWII pilots
To add to the pressure, propaganda clips can be found across Chinese social media proclaiming that the majority of Okinawans favour independence.
A Japanese news magazine, Weekly Genda, revealed that China plans to establish a "Ryukuku Research Centre" at Dalian Maritime University, aiming to strengthen China's international claims to the Ryukyu Islands, which include Okinawa.
(With inputs from agencies)
&nbsp;

World: China's strategic manoeuvres in Okinawa reveal efforts to assert control near Taiwan, challenging the US military's significant presence of troops in the region.

China is secretly trying to gain control in Japan, specifically in Okinawa, which is just 750 kilometres from Taiwan and hosts a significant US military presence of nearly 30,000 troops. Now, with propaganda and diplomatic outreach, Beijing is carrying out a “silent invasion” of the southernmost prefecture in Japan as it shapes the battlefield for a potential incursion. Analysts believed that China was well aware that a Taiwanese invasion would prompt a swift response from US aircraft and warships, backed by Japanese forces, threatening the invasion fleet's northern flank. To counter this, China is reportedly seeking to neutralise this potential threat. The Chinese assault, they say, is through the sowing of discord between residents and the national government by playing up economic problems in the nation’s poorest prefecture as well as historical grievances over the annexation of what was then the independent kingdom of Ryukyu in 1879. Also read | Won’t allow Awami League to contest Bangladesh polls: Yunus’ adviser Spreading propaganda against the US military presence in Okinawa Chinese state media frequently seized the opportunity to publicise misconduct by US military personnel and emphasise the disproportionate presence of US bases in Okinawa, which occupies only 0.6 per cent of Japan's land but hosts a staggering 70 per cent of US military bases in the country. It also hosts some of the American military’s most sophisticated weapons systems. Taken together, these are the sort of wedges that serve to alienate native islanders and those they see as outsiders. Recruiting ethnic Chinese living in Okinawa to help them According to the reports, mainland Chinese officials have been secretly recruiting ethnic Chinese residents in Okinawa to establish an underground police station, mirroring Beijing's clandestine operations in other countries worldwide. Also read | Trump’s anti-DEI order grounds documentary on Tuskegee Airmen and female WWII pilots To add to the pressure, propaganda clips can be found across Chinese social media proclaiming that the majority of Okinawans favour independence. A Japanese news magazine, Weekly Genda, revealed that China plans to establish a "Ryukuku Research Centre" at Dalian Maritime University, aiming to strengthen China's international claims to the Ryukyu Islands, which include Okinawa. (With inputs from agencies)

China secretly trying to gain control in Japan, specifically in Okinawa, close to Taiwan

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday (January 25) that the Donald Trump administration in the United States (US) had not stopped military aid to Kyiv.
&ldquo;I am focused on military aid; it has not been stopped, thank God,&rdquo; President Zelensky said at a press conference alongside his Moldovan counterpart Maia Sandu.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-secretary-of-state-marco-rubio-donald-trump-freezes-foreign-aid-military-funding-for-israel-egypt-8651682" rel="dofollow">'Manufactured chaos': US freezes nearly all foreign aid including for Ukraine; military funding for Israel, Egypt excempted</a>
Zelensky did not clarify whether humanitarian aid had been paused. Ukraine relies on the US for 40 per cent of its military needs.
<h2>US aid to Ukraine remains uncertain</h2>
Zelensky's remarks came days after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that he would pause foreign aid grants for 90 days.
The future of US aid to Ukraine remained uncertain as President Donald Trump started his second term in office earlier this week.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-vladimir-putin-russia-ukraine-war-west-asia-crisis-reduction-in-oil-prices-8651474" rel="dofollow">If Trump's victory hadn't been stolen in 2020 polls, there wouldn't be crisis in Ukraine, Putin says</a>
Trump repeatedly said he wouldn&rsquo;t have allowed Russia&rsquo;s invasion of Ukraine to start if he had been in office.
But he was American president as fighting grew in the east of Ukraine between Kyiv&rsquo;s forces and separatists aligned with Moscow, ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin sending in tens of thousands of troops in 2022.
<h2>Zelensky should've made deal with Putin to avoid war</h2>
On Thursday, Trump told Fox News that Zelensky should have made a deal with Trump to avoid the war.&nbsp;
Also watch | Ukraine conflict fuels US-Russia divide
<iframe width="600" height="auto" style="width: 100%; aspect-ratio: 4/3;" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="external-video publive-iframes-block" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/screenshot/2501_wion_terump_8am/00000002.jpg&amp;videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/2501_wion_terump_8am.mp4/index.m3u8&amp;duration=230&amp;tags=Russia-Ukraine war" title="Russia-Ukraine war: Ukraine conflict fuels US-Russia divide" id="PL_iframe_block-m6d9oftw-ny50lf8m-7mtzfvtn"></iframe>
With Trump stressing the need to quickly broker a peace deal, both Moscow and Kyiv are seeking battlefield successes to strengthen their negotiating positions ahead of any prospective talks.
(With inputs from agencies)

World | Ukraine relies on the US for 40% of its military needs. The future of US aid to Ukraine remained uncertain as Trump started his second term in office earlier this week.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday (January 25) that the Donald Trump administration in the United States (US) had not stopped military aid to Kyiv. “I am focused on military aid; it has not been stopped, thank God,” President Zelensky said at a press conference alongside his Moldovan counterpart Maia Sandu. Also read | 'Manufactured chaos': US freezes nearly all foreign aid including for Ukraine; military funding for Israel, Egypt excempted Zelensky did not clarify whether humanitarian aid had been paused. Ukraine relies on the US for 40 per cent of its military needs. US aid to Ukraine remains uncertain Zelensky's remarks came days after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that he would pause foreign aid grants for 90 days. The future of US aid to Ukraine remained uncertain as President Donald Trump started his second term in office earlier this week. Also read | If Trump's victory hadn't been stolen in 2020 polls, there wouldn't be crisis in Ukraine, Putin says Trump repeatedly said he wouldn’t have allowed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to start if he had been in office. But he was American president as fighting grew in the east of Ukraine between Kyiv’s forces and separatists aligned with Moscow, ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin sending in tens of thousands of troops in 2022. Zelensky should've made deal with Putin to avoid war On Thursday, Trump told Fox News that Zelensky should have made a deal with Trump to avoid the war. Also watch | Ukraine conflict fuels US-Russia divide With Trump stressing the need to quickly broker a peace deal, both Moscow and Kyiv are seeking battlefield successes to strengthen their negotiating positions ahead of any prospective talks. (With inputs from agencies)

Ukraine war: Zelensky says US has not stopped military aid to Kyiv

Bangladesh's deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina&rsquo;s Awami League would not be allowed to participate in elections, a key adviser of Muhammad Yunus's interim government said on Saturday (Jan 25).
"The elections will be contested among pro-Bangladesh groups only,&rdquo; said Mahfuz Alam, a top leader of the Anti-Discrimination Movement, which spearheaded the mass uprising that toppled Hasina&rsquo;s Awami League regime and forced her to flee the country on August 5 last year.
Addressing a street rally at central Chandpur district, Mr. Alam said only former prime minister Khaleda Zia&rsquo;s Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Jamaat-e-Islam and other &ldquo;pro-Bangladesh&rdquo; groups would carry on their politics in the country. He added that either of these &ldquo;will establish future governance through a fair electoral process&rdquo;.
"But Awami League&rsquo;s rehabilitation will not be allowed in this country,&rdquo; said Alam, a de facto minister without portfolio in Chief Adviser Yunus&rsquo;s administration.
Mr. Alam stated that no election would take place until "minimum reforms" were implemented and institutions, allegedly destroyed by the "fascist Hasina government," were restructured.
Initially appointed by Mr. Yunus as a special assistant in his government, Mr. Alam later served as an adviser in his interim cabinet. At a function on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly last year, Mr. Yunus introduced Mr. Alam as the &ldquo;main brain&rdquo; behind the &ldquo;meticulously&rdquo; designed student-led movement that toppled the past regime.
The Awami League has been virtually out of the open political landscape since August 5, 2024, with most of its leaders and Ms. Hasina&rsquo;s cabinet members either in jail on murder and other criminal charges or on the run at home and abroad.
Earlier, the BNP said it was against banning any political party, visibly weighing its support for archrival Awami League&rsquo;s existence in the political field.
It demanded elections in the quickest possible time after minimal reforms, calling it a continued process.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir recently said the reform agenda undertaken by the interim government could take 10 years and an unelected government must not continue for a longer period.
Amid speculations about the formation of a youth-led new political party by the student leaders, BNP said the interim government would lose its credibility if figures of the government formed a party staying in power.
Meanwhile, Local Government and Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan, another leader of the Anti-Discrimination Movement, in a Facebook post on Saturday, said "There will be efforts or debates about who is more advanced in doing people's welfare&rdquo;.
Information Affairs adviser Nahid Islam, another student leader said if required the advisers of the government would resign from their posts to form the party and contest the future election.
Last month, Mr. Yunus said the next general election in the country could take place by the end of 2025 or the first half of 2026. He had, however, said the timing of the election would largely depend upon the political consensus and the extent of the reforms that must be carried out before it.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

The interim government led by Muhammad Yunus has barred Sheikh Hasina's Awami League from participating in the upcoming elections, signaling a shift in Bangladesh politics.

Bangladesh's deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League would not be allowed to participate in elections, a key adviser of Muhammad Yunus's interim government said on Saturday (Jan 25). "The elections will be contested among pro-Bangladesh groups only,” said Mahfuz Alam, a top leader of the Anti-Discrimination Movement, which spearheaded the mass uprising that toppled Hasina’s Awami League regime and forced her to flee the country on August 5 last year. Addressing a street rally at central Chandpur district, Mr. Alam said only former prime minister Khaleda Zia’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Jamaat-e-Islam and other “pro-Bangladesh” groups would carry on their politics in the country. He added that either of these “will establish future governance through a fair electoral process”. "But Awami League’s rehabilitation will not be allowed in this country,” said Alam, a de facto minister without portfolio in Chief Adviser Yunus’s administration. Mr. Alam stated that no election would take place until "minimum reforms" were implemented and institutions, allegedly destroyed by the "fascist Hasina government," were restructured. Initially appointed by Mr. Yunus as a special assistant in his government, Mr. Alam later served as an adviser in his interim cabinet. At a function on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly last year, Mr. Yunus introduced Mr. Alam as the “main brain” behind the “meticulously” designed student-led movement that toppled the past regime. The Awami League has been virtually out of the open political landscape since August 5, 2024, with most of its leaders and Ms. Hasina’s cabinet members either in jail on murder and other criminal charges or on the run at home and abroad. Earlier, the BNP said it was against banning any political party, visibly weighing its support for archrival Awami League’s existence in the political field. It demanded elections in the quickest possible time after minimal reforms, calling it a continued process. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir recently said the reform agenda undertaken by the interim government could take 10 years and an unelected government must not continue for a longer period. Amid speculations about the formation of a youth-led new political party by the student leaders, BNP said the interim government would lose its credibility if figures of the government formed a party staying in power. Meanwhile, Local Government and Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan, another leader of the Anti-Discrimination Movement, in a Facebook post on Saturday, said "There will be efforts or debates about who is more advanced in doing people's welfare”. Information Affairs adviser Nahid Islam, another student leader said if required the advisers of the government would resign from their posts to form the party and contest the future election. Last month, Mr. Yunus said the next general election in the country could take place by the end of 2025 or the first half of 2026. He had, however, said the timing of the election would largely depend upon the political consensus and the extent of the reforms that must be carried out before it. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Won’t allow Awami League to contest Bangladesh polls: Yunus’ adviser

Thai authorities on Saturday (Jan 25) announced that they have made public transport free for a week. The order was passed to address the growing air pollution problem in Bangkok. Currently, employees are being advised to work from home and schools have been shut down. The free travel offer includes buses and the city&rsquo;s elevated and underground electric trains. Authorities hope the move will encourage more people to use public transport, decreasing the number of private vehicles on the road and thereby cutting one of the major contributors to the pollution.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m6d6mjla-5dqk4uuh-ymhnb7o6">
Bangkok shrouded in pollution 😷 <a href="https://t.co/ghzh0PU2zP">pic.twitter.com/ghzh0PU2zP</a>
&mdash; Walter Punsapy 🇺🇸🇹🇭 (@yahooza) <a href="https://twitter.com/yahooza/status/1882283204826259933?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra in a Facebook post said that he is concerned about the situation and the government is committed to addressing the issue with both short-term and long-term solutions. In Thailand&rsquo;s northern regions, air pollution has been a constant issue due to forest and agricultural waste burning. However, now the capital city of Bangkok is also experiencing deteriorating air quality, particularly in the winter season.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/thailands-same-sex-marriage-law-takes-effect-hundreds-wed">Thailand's same-sex marriage law takes effect, hundreds wed</a>&nbsp; The primary contributors to the pollution are vehicle emissions, industrial activities, and dust from construction sites. The dust particles in the air, invisible to the naked eye, can reach the lungs causing serious health problems, like breathing issues alongside long-term complications.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m6d6nntu-n9oz6tt4-2gxceeqo">
Bangkok chokes under an annual PM 2.5 crisis, with no buildings in sight &mdash; urgent government action is needed to tackle emissions and protect public health before the city becomes unlivable. 🤧😷 <a href="https://t.co/H622Ee0yyP">pic.twitter.com/H622Ee0yyP</a>
&mdash; Cy ✨ | มุมมองของไซ 🇹🇭👑 (@sightsofcy) <a href="https://twitter.com/sightsofcy/status/1882608673450758468?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
Swiss-based air quality monitoring service IQAir on Saturday ranked Bangkok as the 14th most polluted city globally. Earlier this week, the city was among the top 10 most polluted cities. The free public transport initiative is just one of the measures authorities are using to manage the situation, as they continue to seek ways to improve air quality and mitigate its health impacts.

The free travel offer includes buses and the city’s elevated and underground electric trains. Authorities hope the move will encourage more people to use public transport.

Thai authorities on Saturday (Jan 25) announced that they have made public transport free for a week. The order was passed to address the growing air pollution problem in Bangkok. Currently, employees are being advised to work from home and schools have been shut down. The free travel offer includes buses and the city’s elevated and underground electric trains. Authorities hope the move will encourage more people to use public transport, decreasing the number of private vehicles on the road and thereby cutting one of the major contributors to the pollution. Bangkok shrouded in pollution 😷 pic.twitter.com/ghzh0PU2zP — Walter Punsapy 🇺🇸🇹🇭 (@yahooza) January 23, 2025 Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra in a Facebook post said that he is concerned about the situation and the government is committed to addressing the issue with both short-term and long-term solutions. In Thailand’s northern regions, air pollution has been a constant issue due to forest and agricultural waste burning. However, now the capital city of Bangkok is also experiencing deteriorating air quality, particularly in the winter season. Also read: Thailand's same-sex marriage law takes effect, hundreds wed The primary contributors to the pollution are vehicle emissions, industrial activities, and dust from construction sites. The dust particles in the air, invisible to the naked eye, can reach the lungs causing serious health problems, like breathing issues alongside long-term complications. Bangkok chokes under an annual PM 2.5 crisis, with no buildings in sight — urgent government action is needed to tackle emissions and protect public health before the city becomes unlivable. 🤧😷 pic.twitter.com/H622Ee0yyP — Cy ✨ | มุมมองของไซ 🇹🇭👑 (@sightsofcy) January 24, 2025 Swiss-based air quality monitoring service IQAir on Saturday ranked Bangkok as the 14th most polluted city globally. Earlier this week, the city was among the top 10 most polluted cities. The free public transport initiative is just one of the measures authorities are using to manage the situation, as they continue to seek ways to improve air quality and mitigate its health impacts.

Free ride! Bangkok offers complimentary public transport for a week to tackle air pollution

India commemorates its 76th Republic Day on Sunday. The celebrations begin early in the morning, drawing tens of thousands to the national capital for the grand parade.
Meanwhile,&nbsp;the CIA shifted its stance on COVID-19 origin suggesting that a lab-related incident is "more likely" than natural transmission through animals.&nbsp;
In other news,&nbsp;the United States on Sunday extended greetings to India on its 76th Republic Day.
Click on the headlines to read more
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/republic-day-2025-live-us-extends-greetings-to-india-on-republic-day-8654335">Republic Day 2025 LIVE: Iconic parade at New Delhi's Kartavya Path begins</a>
<img src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/1280x720/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/01/26/E8avsTtjgi0ku6xlQQB2.png" alt=" Republic Day 2025: A look at all the updates. Photograph: (Agencies) ">
India is celebrating its 76th Republic Day on Sunday. The celebrations began early in the morning, drawing tens of thousands to the national capital for the grand parade.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/cia-covid-19-origin-lab-leak-donald-trumps-cia-pick-john-ratcliffe-takes-charge-8654524">CIA says lab leak 'more likely' origin of COVID-19, but with 'low confidence' as Ratcliffe takes charge</a>
<img src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/1280x720/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/01/26/EK9J3M8CxbecrxpcO0QO.png" alt=" CIA says lab leak 'more likely' origin of Covid-19, but with 'low confidence' Photograph: (Reuters, Wion Web Team) ">
For years, the CIA maintained that it lacked sufficient evidence to determine whether COVID-19 originated from a wet market in Wuhan, China, or an accidental lab leak. However, the agency has now adjusted its stance, suggesting that a lab-related incident is "more likely" than natural transmission through animals.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/worlds-largest-democracy-us-sends-warm-wishes-to-india-on-its-76th-republic-day-8654355">&lsquo;World's largest democracy': US sends warm wishes to India on 76th Republic Day</a>
<img src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/1280x720/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/01/26/r66mgI3L7vztCapEeFxA.jpg" alt=" US sends warm wishes to India on 76th Republic Day Photograph: (AFP) ">
The United States on Sunday extended greetings to India on its 76th Republic Day, emphasising the shared values of the two democracies. In a statement, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio talked about the importance of India-US ties, calling it a "defining relationship of the 21st century."<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/cia-covid-19-origin-lab-leak-donald-trumps-cia-pick-john-ratcliffe-takes-charge-8654524"></a>
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/gaza-war-trump-wants-jordan-egypt-other-arab-nations-to-accept-more-refugees-8654488">Gaza war: Trump wants Jordan, Egypt, &amp; other Arab nations to accept more refugees</a>
<img src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/1280x0/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/01/26/tIwkN3V23EhehgegUThD.png" alt=" Trump (as seen on left) said that the whole of Gaza Strip is a complete mess. Photograph: (Reuters) " style="width: 1280px;">
United States (US) President Donald Trump said on Saturday (January 25) that he would like to see Jordan, Egypt and other Arab nations increase the number of Palestinian refugees they were accepting from the war-torn Gaza Strip.
Watch : Indian Budget 2025: Focus on taxes
<iframe width="600" height="auto" style="width: 100%; aspect-ratio: 4/3;" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="external-video publive-iframes-block" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/screenshot/2601_wion_budget_930amn/00000002.jpg&amp;videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/2601_wion_budget_930amn.mp4/index.m3u8&amp;duration=844&amp;tags=India Budget 2025: Focus on taxes" title="India Budget 2025: Focus on taxes" id="PL_iframe_block-m6d6ilw0-1fe6or7w-8jde35h5"></iframe>

Kickstart your morning with WION's concise news brief, delivering global headlines and insights to keep you informed and ready for the day ahead.

India commemorates its 76th Republic Day on Sunday. The celebrations begin early in the morning, drawing tens of thousands to the national capital for the grand parade. Meanwhile, the CIA shifted its stance on COVID-19 origin suggesting that a lab-related incident is "more likely" than natural transmission through animals. In other news, the United States on Sunday extended greetings to India on its 76th Republic Day. Click on the headlines to read more Republic Day 2025 LIVE: Iconic parade at New Delhi's Kartavya Path begins India is celebrating its 76th Republic Day on Sunday. The celebrations began early in the morning, drawing tens of thousands to the national capital for the grand parade. CIA says lab leak 'more likely' origin of COVID-19, but with 'low confidence' as Ratcliffe takes charge For years, the CIA maintained that it lacked sufficient evidence to determine whether COVID-19 originated from a wet market in Wuhan, China, or an accidental lab leak. However, the agency has now adjusted its stance, suggesting that a lab-related incident is "more likely" than natural transmission through animals. ‘World's largest democracy': US sends warm wishes to India on 76th Republic Day The United States on Sunday extended greetings to India on its 76th Republic Day, emphasising the shared values of the two democracies. In a statement, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio talked about the importance of India-US ties, calling it a "defining relationship of the 21st century." Gaza war: Trump wants Jordan, Egypt, & other Arab nations to accept more refugees United States (US) President Donald Trump said on Saturday (January 25) that he would like to see Jordan, Egypt and other Arab nations increase the number of Palestinian refugees they were accepting from the war-torn Gaza Strip. Watch : Indian Budget 2025: Focus on taxes

Morning news brief: India celebrates 76th Republic Day; CIA backs COVID-19 lab origin theory, and more

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/elon-musk" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Elon Musk</a> made an unexpected virtual appearance at a rally for Germany&rsquo;s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party on Saturday (Jan 25), reaffirming his support ahead of the country's snap election on February 23.&nbsp;
<h2>'AfD: The best hope for Germany'</h2>
Speaking to a crowd of 4,500 alongside party leader <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/following-scholzs-remarks-about-musk-at-wef-billionaire-calls-german-chancellor-oaf-schitz-8642037">Alice Weidel</a>, Musk called the AfD the &ldquo;best hope for Germany&rdquo; and urged people to move on from &ldquo;past guilt.&rdquo;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/cia-covid-19-origin-lab-leak-donald-trumps-cia-pick-john-ratcliffe-takes-charge-8654524">CIA says lab leak 'more likely' origin of COVID-19, but with 'low confidence' as Ratcliffe takes charge</a>
Joining the event via video link, the Tesla CEO spoke about the importance of &ldquo;preserving German culture&rdquo; and &ldquo;protecting the German people.&rdquo; 
He added that pride in German values should not be diluted by multiculturalism. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s good to be proud of German culture, German values, and not to lose that in some sort of multiculturalism that dilutes everything,&rdquo; Musk said.
Musk also criticised Germany&rsquo;s government, accusing it of suppressing free speech. 
<h2>'Too much focus on past guilt'</h2>
Referencing the country&rsquo;s Nazi history, he said, &ldquo;Children should not be guilty of the sins of their parents, let alone their great-grandparents. There is too much focus on past guilt, and we need to move beyond that.&rdquo;
During his speech, Musk openly encouraged support for the AfD, saying, &ldquo;I&rsquo;m very excited for the AfD. I think you&rsquo;re really the best hope for Germany&rsquo;s fight for a great future for Germany.&rdquo;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trumps-anti-dei-order-grounds-documentary-of-tuskegee-airmen-and-female-wwii-pilots-8654667">Trump&rsquo;s anti-DEI order grounds documentary of Tuskegee Airmen and female WWII pilots</a>
Party co-leader Alice Weidel thanked Musk, adding, &ldquo;Make Germany great again!&rdquo;
The rally appearance follows a recent controversy surrounding Musk. Last week, the billionaire faced backlash after making a gesture that some online compared to a Nazi salute during an event for US President Donald Trump. 
Earlier this month, Musk hosted Weidel for an interview on his platform, X, sparking further concerns about interference in Germany&rsquo;s elections. During the interview, Musk questioned Weidel about allegations linking the AfD to Hitler&rsquo;s Nazi regime. In response, Weidel dismissed the claims, describing Hitler as a &ldquo;communist socialist guy&rdquo; and asserting that the AfD represents &ldquo;exactly the opposite.&rdquo;
Musk&rsquo;s endorsement of the AfD is part of a broader pattern of support for far-right leaders in Europe. He has previously voiced approval for Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, though he later criticised Farage, claiming he &ldquo;doesn&rsquo;t have what it takes.&rdquo;
(With inputs from agencies)

World: Germany AfD: Referencing the country’s Nazi history, Musk said, “Children should not be guilty of the sins of their parents, let alone their great-grandparents.”

Elon Musk made an unexpected virtual appearance at a rally for Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party on Saturday (Jan 25), reaffirming his support ahead of the country's snap election on February 23. 'AfD: The best hope for Germany' Speaking to a crowd of 4,500 alongside party leader Alice Weidel, Musk called the AfD the “best hope for Germany” and urged people to move on from “past guilt.” Also read: CIA says lab leak 'more likely' origin of COVID-19, but with 'low confidence' as Ratcliffe takes charge Joining the event via video link, the Tesla CEO spoke about the importance of “preserving German culture” and “protecting the German people.” He added that pride in German values should not be diluted by multiculturalism. “It’s good to be proud of German culture, German values, and not to lose that in some sort of multiculturalism that dilutes everything,” Musk said. Musk also criticised Germany’s government, accusing it of suppressing free speech. 'Too much focus on past guilt' Referencing the country’s Nazi history, he said, “Children should not be guilty of the sins of their parents, let alone their great-grandparents. There is too much focus on past guilt, and we need to move beyond that.” During his speech, Musk openly encouraged support for the AfD, saying, “I’m very excited for the AfD. I think you’re really the best hope for Germany’s fight for a great future for Germany.” Also read: Trump’s anti-DEI order grounds documentary of Tuskegee Airmen and female WWII pilots Party co-leader Alice Weidel thanked Musk, adding, “Make Germany great again!” The rally appearance follows a recent controversy surrounding Musk. Last week, the billionaire faced backlash after making a gesture that some online compared to a Nazi salute during an event for US President Donald Trump. Earlier this month, Musk hosted Weidel for an interview on his platform, X, sparking further concerns about interference in Germany’s elections. During the interview, Musk questioned Weidel about allegations linking the AfD to Hitler’s Nazi regime. In response, Weidel dismissed the claims, describing Hitler as a “communist socialist guy” and asserting that the AfD represents “exactly the opposite.” Musk’s endorsement of the AfD is part of a broader pattern of support for far-right leaders in Europe. He has previously voiced approval for Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, though he later criticised Farage, claiming he “doesn’t have what it takes.” (With inputs from agencies)

'Make Germany great again': Elon Musk urges Germans to move beyond 'past guilt'

Donald Trump&rsquo;s order halting diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives has led the US Air Force to suspend course instruction on a documentary about the first Black airmen in the US military, known as the Tuskegee Airmen, a US official said on Saturday (Jan 25).
The Tuskegee Airmen, a group of 450 Black pilots, made history by fighting in segregated units overseas during World War II. Their impressive combat record played a significant role in shaping President Harry Truman's decision to desegregate the US armed forces in 1948.
Another video about civilian female pilots trained by the US military during the Second World War, known as Women Airforce Service Pilots, or Wasps, was also pulled, the official added.
The Air Force, however, did not directly comment on the decision, which was confirmed by an official who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity.
Also read | Trump administration directs agencies to start firing DEI staff
<h2 dir="ltr">Trump ordered dismantling of DEI programmes</h2>
US President Donald Trump has issued a series of executive orders, including seeking to dismantle DEI programmes since he took office on Monday.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programmes aim to create opportunities for underrepresented groups, including women and ethnic minorities. Supporters, largely Democrats and civil rights advocates argue these initiatives address historical inequities and systemic racism.&nbsp;
However, conservatives contend that DEI programmes are discriminatory, prioritizing group identity over merit, and have become a focal point of opposition.
Reuters reported on Friday (Jan 24) that Pete Hegseth, the new defence secretary, has told lawmakers he opposes the use of race as a factor when evaluating candidates for elite US military academies.
Also read | &lsquo;Racist, sexist diversity nonsense&rsquo;: Trump fires first female Coast Guard chief, Admiral Linda Lee Fagan
<h2 dir="ltr">Trump&rsquo;s administration pushed for purge of generals who support DEI initiatives in military&nbsp;</h2>
Trump&rsquo;s administration and its backers in Congress argue that the US military also needs to be purged of generals who support DEI initiatives, which they say are a distraction from warfighting.
The US official revealed that a video about the Tuskegee Airmen and other historical materials have been temporarily removed from the curriculum as the Air Force undergoes a review of its training programme at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, a facility that provides basic training to new recruits.
The official stressed that the videos had not been targeted but were part of the curriculum that had been suspended pending review.
<h2 dir="ltr">Air Force &lsquo;committed to carrying out Trump&rsquo;s orders&rsquo;</h2>
Reacting to it, the Air Force in a statement said that it is committed to carrying out Trump&rsquo;s orders.
&ldquo;The Department of the Air Force will fully execute and implement all directives outlined in the Executive Orders issued by the President, ensuring that they are carried out with utmost professionalism, efficiency and in alignment with national security objectives,&rdquo; an Air Force spokesperson said.
(With inputs from agencies)

World: The US Air Force has paused a course on the Tuskegee Airmen following a directive from Donald Trump to halt diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.

Donald Trump’s order halting diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives has led the US Air Force to suspend course instruction on a documentary about the first Black airmen in the US military, known as the Tuskegee Airmen, a US official said on Saturday (Jan 25). The Tuskegee Airmen, a group of 450 Black pilots, made history by fighting in segregated units overseas during World War II. Their impressive combat record played a significant role in shaping President Harry Truman's decision to desegregate the US armed forces in 1948. Another video about civilian female pilots trained by the US military during the Second World War, known as Women Airforce Service Pilots, or Wasps, was also pulled, the official added. The Air Force, however, did not directly comment on the decision, which was confirmed by an official who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity. Also read | Trump administration directs agencies to start firing DEI staff Trump ordered dismantling of DEI programmes US President Donald Trump has issued a series of executive orders, including seeking to dismantle DEI programmes since he took office on Monday. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programmes aim to create opportunities for underrepresented groups, including women and ethnic minorities. Supporters, largely Democrats and civil rights advocates argue these initiatives address historical inequities and systemic racism. However, conservatives contend that DEI programmes are discriminatory, prioritizing group identity over merit, and have become a focal point of opposition. Reuters reported on Friday (Jan 24) that Pete Hegseth, the new defence secretary, has told lawmakers he opposes the use of race as a factor when evaluating candidates for elite US military academies. Also read | ‘Racist, sexist diversity nonsense’: Trump fires first female Coast Guard chief, Admiral Linda Lee Fagan Trump’s administration pushed for purge of generals who support DEI initiatives in military Trump’s administration and its backers in Congress argue that the US military also needs to be purged of generals who support DEI initiatives, which they say are a distraction from warfighting. The US official revealed that a video about the Tuskegee Airmen and other historical materials have been temporarily removed from the curriculum as the Air Force undergoes a review of its training programme at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, a facility that provides basic training to new recruits. The official stressed that the videos had not been targeted but were part of the curriculum that had been suspended pending review. Air Force ‘committed to carrying out Trump’s orders’ Reacting to it, the Air Force in a statement said that it is committed to carrying out Trump’s orders. “The Department of the Air Force will fully execute and implement all directives outlined in the Executive Orders issued by the President, ensuring that they are carried out with utmost professionalism, efficiency and in alignment with national security objectives,” an Air Force spokesperson said. (With inputs from agencies)

Trump’s anti-DEI order grounds documentary on Tuskegee Airmen and female WWII pilots

For years, the CIA maintained that it lacked sufficient evidence to determine whether <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">COVID-19</a> originated from a wet market in Wuhan, China, or was an accidental lab leak. However, the agency has now adjusted its stance, suggesting that a lab-related incident is "more likely" than natural transmission through animals.
The updated assessment follows the confirmation of John Ratcliffe as CIA director during Donald Trump&rsquo;s second White House administration. In a statement released on Saturday, a CIA spokesperson explained, "CIA assesses with low confidence that a research-related origin of the COVID-19 pandemic is more likely than a natural origin based on the available body of reporting."
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/gaza-war-trump-wants-jordan-egypt-other-arab-nations-to-accept-more-refugees-8654488">Gaza war: Trump wants Jordan, Egypt, &amp; other Arab nations to accept more refugees</a>
Despite the shift, it stated that both scenarios remain plausible. Officials said that the revised assessment does not stem from any new intelligence but is instead based on the same evidence previously analysed.
<h2>Lab leak hypothesis gains momentum</h2>
John Ratcliffe, the new CIA chief, has been a long-time supporter of the lab leak theory. Following his appointment, Ratcliffe said that understanding the origins of COVID-19 would be a priority.
Speaking to Breitbart News on Friday, he said, &ldquo;I think our intelligence, our science and our common sense all really dictate that the origins of Covid was a leak at the Wuhan Institute of Virology.&rdquo; He also stated that the CIA could no longer remain &ldquo;on the sidelines&rdquo; of this debate.
The CIA&rsquo;s &ldquo;low confidence&rdquo; assessment means that the intelligence behind it is fragmentary and incomplete. This conclusion aligns with the positions of other agencies. Five organisations, including the National Intelligence Council and the Defence Intelligence Agency, have leaned towards natural exposure as the cause of the outbreak, though they too maintain &ldquo;low confidence&rdquo; in their evaluations.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-may-consider-rejoining-world-health-organization-after-signing-withdrawal-order-8654504">Donald Trump may consider rejoining World Health Organization after signing withdrawal order</a>
Meanwhile, two other agencies &ndash; the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nothing-heroic-about-it-jfks-grandson-slams-trumps-decision-to-declassify-assassination-records-8650450">FBI</a> and the Department of Energy &ndash; have supported the lab leak hypothesis. However, their conclusions differ, with the FBI tracing it back to the Wuhan Institute of Virology and the Energy Department pointing to the Wuhan Center for Disease Control.
<h2>Political implications</h2>
The origins of COVID-19 carry significant geopolitical ramifications. Ratcliffe said in a 2023 essay for Fox News, co-authored with Cliff Sims, that recognising the virus as emerging from a lab under China&rsquo;s Communist Party would present major diplomatic challenges for the Biden administration.
During his first presidency, Donald Trump also took a strong stance on the issue. &ldquo;We must hold accountable the nation which unleashed this plague onto the world, China,&rdquo; he said, criticising both the Chinese government and the World Health Organization (WHO) for their handling of the outbreak. Trump accused the WHO of being under China&rsquo;s influence and spreading misinformation about the virus.
(With inputs from agencies)

World: Donald Trump's pick, John Ratcliffe, the new CIA chief, has been a long-time supporter of the COVID-19 lab leak theory.

For years, the CIA maintained that it lacked sufficient evidence to determine whether COVID-19 originated from a wet market in Wuhan, China, or was an accidental lab leak. However, the agency has now adjusted its stance, suggesting that a lab-related incident is "more likely" than natural transmission through animals. The updated assessment follows the confirmation of John Ratcliffe as CIA director during Donald Trump’s second White House administration. In a statement released on Saturday, a CIA spokesperson explained, "CIA assesses with low confidence that a research-related origin of the COVID-19 pandemic is more likely than a natural origin based on the available body of reporting." Also read: Gaza war: Trump wants Jordan, Egypt, & other Arab nations to accept more refugees Despite the shift, it stated that both scenarios remain plausible. Officials said that the revised assessment does not stem from any new intelligence but is instead based on the same evidence previously analysed. Lab leak hypothesis gains momentum John Ratcliffe, the new CIA chief, has been a long-time supporter of the lab leak theory. Following his appointment, Ratcliffe said that understanding the origins of COVID-19 would be a priority. Speaking to Breitbart News on Friday, he said, “I think our intelligence, our science and our common sense all really dictate that the origins of Covid was a leak at the Wuhan Institute of Virology.” He also stated that the CIA could no longer remain “on the sidelines” of this debate. The CIA’s “low confidence” assessment means that the intelligence behind it is fragmentary and incomplete. This conclusion aligns with the positions of other agencies. Five organisations, including the National Intelligence Council and the Defence Intelligence Agency, have leaned towards natural exposure as the cause of the outbreak, though they too maintain “low confidence” in their evaluations. Also read: Donald Trump may consider rejoining World Health Organization after signing withdrawal order Meanwhile, two other agencies – the FBI and the Department of Energy – have supported the lab leak hypothesis. However, their conclusions differ, with the FBI tracing it back to the Wuhan Institute of Virology and the Energy Department pointing to the Wuhan Center for Disease Control. Political implications The origins of COVID-19 carry significant geopolitical ramifications. Ratcliffe said in a 2023 essay for Fox News, co-authored with Cliff Sims, that recognising the virus as emerging from a lab under China’s Communist Party would present major diplomatic challenges for the Biden administration. During his first presidency, Donald Trump also took a strong stance on the issue. “We must hold accountable the nation which unleashed this plague onto the world, China,” he said, criticising both the Chinese government and the World Health Organization (WHO) for their handling of the outbreak. Trump accused the WHO of being under China’s influence and spreading misinformation about the virus. (With inputs from agencies)

CIA says lab leak 'more likely' origin of COVID-19 as Ratcliffe takes charge

Days after ordering a US exit from the global health agency over what he described as a mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic and other international health crises, President Donald Trump on Saturday (Jan 25) said that he may consider rejoining the World Health Organization (WHO).
"Maybe we would consider doing it again, I don't know. Maybe we would. They would have to clean it up," Trump said at a rally in Las Vegas.
The US is scheduled to leave the WHO on Jan 22, 2026. Trump announced the move on Monday after he was sworn in for a second term in the White House.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/what-is-fema-agency-trump-threatened-to-get-rid-of-during-his-visit-to-north-carolina-8653405">What is FEMA, agency Trump threatened to get rid of during his visit to North Carolina?</a>
<h2 dir="ltr">US pays more to WHO than China</h2>
Trump expressed his concerns about the United States paying more than its fair share to the WHO compared to other countries like China. He has long criticised the organisation for its perceived failures and described the US financial contribution as "onerous."
Trump told the crowd in Las Vegas he was unhappy that the US paid more to the WHO than China, which has a much bigger population.
"China pays $39 million for 1.4 billion people and we're paying $500 million for 325 million- I don't know what the hell is wrong with these people," Trump said.
Additionally, Trump also revealed plans to work with Congress on a bill that would cut taxes and fulfil his campaign promise to prevent any taxes on workers' tips, as well as potentially halting the hiring of over 80,000 new IRS agents. "Your tips will be 100 per cent yours, won't that be nice?" he remarked.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-administration-in-us-fires-12-independent-inspector-generals-in-late-night-purge-report-8653009">Trump administration fires 17 independent inspector generals in late-night purge</a>
<h2 dir="ltr">&lsquo;Hope United States will reconsider&rsquo;, says WHO</h2>
The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed deep disappointment and concern over the United States' intention to withdraw from the organisation.&nbsp;
&ldquo;The World Health Organization regrets the announcement that the United States of America intends to withdraw from the Organization&hellip;We hope the United States will reconsider and we look forward to engaging in constructive dialogue to maintain the partnership between the USA and WHO, for the benefit of the health and well-being of millions of people around the globe," the organisation wrote on X.
(With inputs from agencies)
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
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World: President Trump hints at potential US return to WHO after earlier exit citing concerns over handling COVID-19 and international health issues.

Days after ordering a US exit from the global health agency over what he described as a mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic and other international health crises, President Donald Trump on Saturday (Jan 25) said that he may consider rejoining the World Health Organization (WHO). "Maybe we would consider doing it again, I don't know. Maybe we would. They would have to clean it up," Trump said at a rally in Las Vegas. The US is scheduled to leave the WHO on Jan 22, 2026. Trump announced the move on Monday after he was sworn in for a second term in the White House. Also read | What is FEMA, agency Trump threatened to get rid of during his visit to North Carolina? US pays more to WHO than China Trump expressed his concerns about the United States paying more than its fair share to the WHO compared to other countries like China. He has long criticised the organisation for its perceived failures and described the US financial contribution as "onerous." Trump told the crowd in Las Vegas he was unhappy that the US paid more to the WHO than China, which has a much bigger population. "China pays $39 million for 1.4 billion people and we're paying $500 million for 325 million- I don't know what the hell is wrong with these people," Trump said. Additionally, Trump also revealed plans to work with Congress on a bill that would cut taxes and fulfil his campaign promise to prevent any taxes on workers' tips, as well as potentially halting the hiring of over 80,000 new IRS agents. "Your tips will be 100 per cent yours, won't that be nice?" he remarked. Also read | Trump administration fires 17 independent inspector generals in late-night purge ‘Hope United States will reconsider’, says WHO The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed deep disappointment and concern over the United States' intention to withdraw from the organisation. “The World Health Organization regrets the announcement that the United States of America intends to withdraw from the Organization…We hope the United States will reconsider and we look forward to engaging in constructive dialogue to maintain the partnership between the USA and WHO, for the benefit of the health and well-being of millions of people around the globe," the organisation wrote on X. (With inputs from agencies)

Donald Trump may consider rejoining World Health Organization after signing withdrawal order

Thirty terrorists were killed in three separate counter-terrorism operations in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Saturday (Jan 25), the military said.
The counter-terrorism operations were conducted in Lakki Marwat, Karak, and Khyber districts.
While 18 terrorists were "sent to hell" in Lakki Marwat district, eight were killed in Karak, the army said in a statement. The military said six terrorists were also injured in the Lakki Marwat encounter.
In another encounter in the Bagh area of Khyber district, security forces gunned down four terrorists, including ring leaders Aziz ur Rehman aka Qari Ismail and Mukhlis, while two terrorists sustained injuries, it said.
Weapons and ammunition were also recovered during the counter-terrorism operations, the statement said.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in separate statements praised the security forces for their successful operations in Lakki Marwat, Karak, and Khyber districts.
President Zardari hailed the killing of 30 terrorists as a significant achievement and reaffirmed that the security forces' operations will continue until terrorism is completely eradicated.
Prime Minister Shehbaz reiterated the nation's unwavering support for the security forces, emphasising that Pakistan is fully committed to eliminating all forms of terrorism.
In recent months, Pakistan has stepped up intelligence-based operations against Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has become emboldened since the Afghan Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in 2021. The TTP or Pakistan Taliban is a separate group, but a close ally of the Afghan Taliban.
On January 17, five terrorists were killed in an intelligence-based operation in Khyber district&rsquo;s Tirah area.
The year 2024 was the deadliest for Pakistan's civil and military security forces in a decade with at least 685 fatalities and 444 terror attacks, according to &ldquo;CRSS Annual Security Report 2024&rdquo; issued by the Centre for Security and Strategic Studies.
Equally alarming was the cumulative losses of civilians and security personnel -- 1,612 fatalities, accounting for over 63% of the total recorded in 2024, marking 73% more losses compared to 934 outlaws eliminated, The News reported citing CRSS report.
The overall fatalities recorded in 2024 were a record 9-year high and over 66% more than in 2023.
On average, nearly seven people lost their lives daily in 2024, with November emerging as the deadliest month across all metrics, compared to all other months of the year.
The violence took the heaviest toll on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which topped in human losses with 1,616 fatalities, followed by Balochistan with 782 fatalities.
In 2024, the country suffered 2,546 violence-linked fatalities and 2,267 injuries among civilians, security personnel and outlaws.
This tally of casualties stemmed from 1,166 incidents of terror attacks and counter-terror operations, marking a grim year for the country's security landscape.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Pakistan security forces successfully neutralized terrorists in three separate operations across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, showcasing their commitment to national security.

Thirty terrorists were killed in three separate counter-terrorism operations in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Saturday (Jan 25), the military said. The counter-terrorism operations were conducted in Lakki Marwat, Karak, and Khyber districts. While 18 terrorists were "sent to hell" in Lakki Marwat district, eight were killed in Karak, the army said in a statement. The military said six terrorists were also injured in the Lakki Marwat encounter. In another encounter in the Bagh area of Khyber district, security forces gunned down four terrorists, including ring leaders Aziz ur Rehman aka Qari Ismail and Mukhlis, while two terrorists sustained injuries, it said. Weapons and ammunition were also recovered during the counter-terrorism operations, the statement said. President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in separate statements praised the security forces for their successful operations in Lakki Marwat, Karak, and Khyber districts. President Zardari hailed the killing of 30 terrorists as a significant achievement and reaffirmed that the security forces' operations will continue until terrorism is completely eradicated. Prime Minister Shehbaz reiterated the nation's unwavering support for the security forces, emphasising that Pakistan is fully committed to eliminating all forms of terrorism. In recent months, Pakistan has stepped up intelligence-based operations against Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has become emboldened since the Afghan Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in 2021. The TTP or Pakistan Taliban is a separate group, but a close ally of the Afghan Taliban. On January 17, five terrorists were killed in an intelligence-based operation in Khyber district’s Tirah area. The year 2024 was the deadliest for Pakistan's civil and military security forces in a decade with at least 685 fatalities and 444 terror attacks, according to “CRSS Annual Security Report 2024” issued by the Centre for Security and Strategic Studies. Equally alarming was the cumulative losses of civilians and security personnel -- 1,612 fatalities, accounting for over 63% of the total recorded in 2024, marking 73% more losses compared to 934 outlaws eliminated, The News reported citing CRSS report. The overall fatalities recorded in 2024 were a record 9-year high and over 66% more than in 2023. On average, nearly seven people lost their lives daily in 2024, with November emerging as the deadliest month across all metrics, compared to all other months of the year. The violence took the heaviest toll on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which topped in human losses with 1,616 fatalities, followed by Balochistan with 782 fatalities. In 2024, the country suffered 2,546 violence-linked fatalities and 2,267 injuries among civilians, security personnel and outlaws. This tally of casualties stemmed from 1,166 incidents of terror attacks and counter-terror operations, marking a grim year for the country's security landscape. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Pakistan: Security forces killed 30 terrorists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

The Lebanese army said on Saturday it was ready to deploy its forces in the country's south, accusing Israel of "procrastination" in its withdrawal under a ceasefire, a day before the pullout deadline.
Under the terms of the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire that came into effect on November 27, the Lebanese army is to deploy alongside United Nations peacekeepers in the south as the Israeli army withdraws over a 60-day period that ends Sunday.
Hezbollah is to pull back its forces north of the Litani River -- about 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the Israeli border -- and dismantle any remaining military infrastructure in the south.
"There has been a delay at a number of stages as a result of the procrastination in the withdrawal from the Israeli enemy's side," the army said in a statement.
It said it was "ready to continue its deployment as soon as the Israeli enemy withdraws".
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said on Friday that the military's withdrawal would continue beyond the Sunday deadline.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/gaza-ceasefire-israel-releases-70-palestinian-prisoners-into-egypt-more-awaited-to-be-freed-8653174" rel="dofollow">Israel releases 200 Palestinian prisoners in exchange of four female soldiers released by Hamas</a>
"The withdrawal process is conditional upon the Lebanese army deploying in southern Lebanon and fully and effectively enforcing the agreement, with Hezbollah withdrawing beyond the Litani River," a statement from Netanyahu's office said.
"Since the ceasefire agreement has not yet been fully enforced by the Lebanese state, the gradual withdrawal process will continue in full coordination with the United States."
Ceasefire mediators the United States and France have helped monitor its implementation.
<h2>'Be cautious'</h2>
The accusation from the Lebanese army comes after UN chief Antonio Guterres called on January 17 for Israel to end its "occupation" of the south.
In a telephone call with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, Lebanon's new President Joseph Aoun spoke of the "need to oblige Israel to respect the terms of the deal in order to maintain stability in the south," his office said.
Aoun said last week that Israel must "withdraw from occupied territories in the south within the deadline set by the agreement reached on November 27".
Lebanon's army urged people to "be cautious in heading back to the southern border areas, due to the presence of mines and suspicious objects left behind" by Israeli forces.
Lebanese state news agency NNA reported that some people displaced from border areas had received international calls, purportedly from an Israeli military spokesperson, warning them not to return home.
It said several border villages had been sealed off by the Israeli army while troops carried out demolitions. It reported one resident wounded by Israeli fire.
A Lebanese government source told AFP that "caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati contacted the new US administration, warned of the gravity of Israel's attempt to circumvent the implementation of the ceasefire, and stressed the need to respect deadlines".
A Lebanese military source said Israeli forces had "completed their withdrawal from the western sector" of the south in early January, but "have not completed their withdrawal from the eastern sector as their withdrawal from the middle sector was delayed".
<h2>'Flagrant violation'</h2>
Hezbollah began exchanging low-intensity cross-border fire with the Israeli army the day after the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel by its Palestinian ally Hamas which triggered the war in Gaza.
Israel intensified its campaign against Hezbollah in September, launching a series of devastating blows against the group's leadership that saw its longtime chief Hassan Nasrallah killed in an air strike in Beirut.
Hezbollah warned on Thursday that "any violation of the 60-day deadline will be considered a flagrant violation of (the ceasefire) agreement, an infringement on Lebanese sovereignty and the occupation entering a new chapter".
It said the Lebanese state should use "all means necessary... to restore the land and wrest it from the clutches of the occupation".
A committee composed of Israeli, Lebanese, French and US delegates and a representative of UN peacekeeping force UNIFIL is tasked with ensuring any ceasefire violations are identified and dealt with.
The UN peacekeeping force has reported Israeli violations of the terms of the ceasefire.
Guterres said peacekeepers had also found more than 100 weapons caches belonging "to Hezbollah or other armed groups."
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

World | The accusation from the Lebanese army comes after UN chief Antonio Guterres called on January 17 for Israel to end its "occupation" of the south.

The Lebanese army said on Saturday it was ready to deploy its forces in the country's south, accusing Israel of "procrastination" in its withdrawal under a ceasefire, a day before the pullout deadline. Under the terms of the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire that came into effect on November 27, the Lebanese army is to deploy alongside United Nations peacekeepers in the south as the Israeli army withdraws over a 60-day period that ends Sunday. Hezbollah is to pull back its forces north of the Litani River -- about 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the Israeli border -- and dismantle any remaining military infrastructure in the south. "There has been a delay at a number of stages as a result of the procrastination in the withdrawal from the Israeli enemy's side," the army said in a statement. It said it was "ready to continue its deployment as soon as the Israeli enemy withdraws". Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said on Friday that the military's withdrawal would continue beyond the Sunday deadline. Also read | Israel releases 200 Palestinian prisoners in exchange of four female soldiers released by Hamas "The withdrawal process is conditional upon the Lebanese army deploying in southern Lebanon and fully and effectively enforcing the agreement, with Hezbollah withdrawing beyond the Litani River," a statement from Netanyahu's office said. "Since the ceasefire agreement has not yet been fully enforced by the Lebanese state, the gradual withdrawal process will continue in full coordination with the United States." Ceasefire mediators the United States and France have helped monitor its implementation. 'Be cautious' The accusation from the Lebanese army comes after UN chief Antonio Guterres called on January 17 for Israel to end its "occupation" of the south. In a telephone call with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, Lebanon's new President Joseph Aoun spoke of the "need to oblige Israel to respect the terms of the deal in order to maintain stability in the south," his office said. Aoun said last week that Israel must "withdraw from occupied territories in the south within the deadline set by the agreement reached on November 27". Lebanon's army urged people to "be cautious in heading back to the southern border areas, due to the presence of mines and suspicious objects left behind" by Israeli forces. Lebanese state news agency NNA reported that some people displaced from border areas had received international calls, purportedly from an Israeli military spokesperson, warning them not to return home. It said several border villages had been sealed off by the Israeli army while troops carried out demolitions. It reported one resident wounded by Israeli fire. A Lebanese government source told AFP that "caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati contacted the new US administration, warned of the gravity of Israel's attempt to circumvent the implementation of the ceasefire, and stressed the need to respect deadlines". A Lebanese military source said Israeli forces had "completed their withdrawal from the western sector" of the south in early January, but "have not completed their withdrawal from the eastern sector as their withdrawal from the middle sector was delayed". 'Flagrant violation' Hezbollah began exchanging low-intensity cross-border fire with the Israeli army the day after the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel by its Palestinian ally Hamas which triggered the war in Gaza. Israel intensified its campaign against Hezbollah in September, launching a series of devastating blows against the group's leadership that saw its longtime chief Hassan Nasrallah killed in an air strike in Beirut. Hezbollah warned on Thursday that "any violation of the 60-day deadline will be considered a flagrant violation of (the ceasefire) agreement, an infringement on Lebanese sovereignty and the occupation entering a new chapter". It said the Lebanese state should use "all means necessary... to restore the land and wrest it from the clutches of the occupation". A committee composed of Israeli, Lebanese, French and US delegates and a representative of UN peacekeeping force UNIFIL is tasked with ensuring any ceasefire violations are identified and dealt with. The UN peacekeeping force has reported Israeli violations of the terms of the ceasefire. Guterres said peacekeepers had also found more than 100 weapons caches belonging "to Hezbollah or other armed groups." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

West Asia crisis: Lebanon army accuses Israel of procrastination in its withdrawal under truce

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/pete-hegseth" rel="dofollow">Pete Hegseth</a> was sworn in on Saturday (Jan 25) as United States 29th Secretary of Defence, becoming a part of President Donald Trump's Cabinet after a highly contentious and closely split vote.&nbsp;
Vice President JD Vance administered the oath to Hegseth in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, in the presence of Hegseth's wife Jennifer Rauchet.&nbsp;
The ceremony came less than 12 hours after Vance broke a 50-50 tie in the Senate to narrowly seal Hegseth&rsquo;s confirmation.
<h2>'Don't want to fight wars...'</h2>
Hegseth in his remarks, noted his guiding principles, saying, "Restore the warrior ethos in everything that we do, rebuild our military, and reestablish deterrence.&rdquo;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pete-hegseth-confirmed-as-us-defense-secretary-tie-breaking-vote-from-vice-president-jd-vance-8651726" rel="dofollow">Pete Hegseth confirmed as US defence secretary with tie-breaking vote from Vice President JD Vance</a>
He added that he does not want to fight wars, but wants to deter them.&nbsp;
&ldquo;We don&rsquo;t want to fight wars,&rdquo; he added. &ldquo;We want to deter them &hellip; and we want to end them responsibly. But if we need to fight them, we&rsquo;re going to bring overwhelming and decisive force to close with and destroy the enemy and bring our boys home," he said.&nbsp;
He thanked Vance for his tiebreaking vote and joked that his children were happy their father &ldquo;won in overtime.&rdquo;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-is-pete-hegseth-the-man-chosen-as-new-us-secretary-of-defense-8651814" rel="dofollow">Who is Pete Hegseth? Ex-Fox News anchor, soldier-turned US Secretary of Defence</a>
&ldquo;It is the honor of a lifetime, sir, to serve under you,&rdquo; Hegseth said, thanking Trump.&nbsp;
Trump in the day, celebrated the confirmation on Truth Social, stating, "Congratulations to Pete Hegseth. He will make a great Secretary of Defense!" &nbsp;
The soldier-turned-media personality's nomination faced intense scrutiny due to allegations of sexual assault and workplace misconduct that emerged in recent months. Critics also pointed to his controversial stance against women serving in combat roles and his call to remove military generals. &nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pete-hegseth-trumps-pick-for-def-secy-called-incompetent-during-senate-hearing-8622019" rel="dofollow">Pete Hegseth, Trump&rsquo;s pick for def secy, called &lsquo;incompetent&rsquo; during Senate hearing</a>
When asked by a reporter why women in the military should trust him, Vance stepped in and said, "Let me answer that for the new secretary. All people in armed services should trust him, because he looks out for them, and he&rsquo;s going to fight for them. He&rsquo;s going to make sure that we have the kind of military that we can all be proud in, that we can all be proud of, and then again when we send it to do a job, we do it well, we do it quickly, then we get the hell out."
(With inputs from agencies)

World: Vice President JD Vance administered the oath to Hegseth in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, in the presence of Hegseth's wife Jennifer Rauchet. 

Pete Hegseth was sworn in on Saturday (Jan 25) as United States 29th Secretary of Defence, becoming a part of President Donald Trump's Cabinet after a highly contentious and closely split vote. Vice President JD Vance administered the oath to Hegseth in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, in the presence of Hegseth's wife Jennifer Rauchet. The ceremony came less than 12 hours after Vance broke a 50-50 tie in the Senate to narrowly seal Hegseth’s confirmation. 'Don't want to fight wars...' Hegseth in his remarks, noted his guiding principles, saying, "Restore the warrior ethos in everything that we do, rebuild our military, and reestablish deterrence.” Also read: Pete Hegseth confirmed as US defence secretary with tie-breaking vote from Vice President JD Vance He added that he does not want to fight wars, but wants to deter them. “We don’t want to fight wars,” he added. “We want to deter them … and we want to end them responsibly. But if we need to fight them, we’re going to bring overwhelming and decisive force to close with and destroy the enemy and bring our boys home," he said. He thanked Vance for his tiebreaking vote and joked that his children were happy their father “won in overtime.” Also read: Who is Pete Hegseth? Ex-Fox News anchor, soldier-turned US Secretary of Defence “It is the honor of a lifetime, sir, to serve under you,” Hegseth said, thanking Trump. Trump in the day, celebrated the confirmation on Truth Social, stating, "Congratulations to Pete Hegseth. He will make a great Secretary of Defense!" The soldier-turned-media personality's nomination faced intense scrutiny due to allegations of sexual assault and workplace misconduct that emerged in recent months. Critics also pointed to his controversial stance against women serving in combat roles and his call to remove military generals. Also read: Pete Hegseth, Trump’s pick for def secy, called ‘incompetent’ during Senate hearing When asked by a reporter why women in the military should trust him, Vance stepped in and said, "Let me answer that for the new secretary. All people in armed services should trust him, because he looks out for them, and he’s going to fight for them. He’s going to make sure that we have the kind of military that we can all be proud in, that we can all be proud of, and then again when we send it to do a job, we do it well, we do it quickly, then we get the hell out." (With inputs from agencies)

'Don't want to fight wars, but deter them', says Pete Hegseth after being sworn in as US defence secretary

Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, a mastermind of the Palestinian militant group's October 7, 2023, attack against Israel, died a year later during a firefight with Israeli troops.&nbsp;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/gaza-ceasefire-fake-hamas-attack-staged-in-israel-kfar-saba-hamas-8647184" rel="dofollow">'I was so scared&hellip;': Fake Hamas attack staged in Israel to protest Gaza ceasefire stirs panic</a>
On Friday (January 24), Al Jazeera released unseen footage of Sinwar during several moments of the Israel-Hamas war.
<h2>Walking with a stick, wearing a military vest</h2>
In one clip published by Al Jazeera, Sinwar could be seen walking through a battleground with a walking stick, wearing a military vest, and with a blanket covering his body so he cannot be identified from afar.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/gaza-ceasefire-israel-releases-70-palestinian-prisoners-into-egypt-more-awaited-to-be-freed-8653174" rel="dofollow">Israel releases 200 Palestinian prisoners in exchange of four female soldiers released by Hamas</a>
The footage showed a few images of Sinwar looking at a map and standing inside a damaged building.&nbsp;
The clip also showed the Hebrew word &ldquo;north&rdquo; graffitied on the wall of a building where Sinwar briefly resided, indicating that Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers had operated in that home before.&nbsp;
<h2>Sinwar: The architect of Hamas' 2023 attack</h2>
Sinwar was the architect of Hamas' 2023 attack against Israel which killed 1,200. Israel retaliated by striking the Gaza Strip, killing more than 46,000 people.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
בתכנית באל-ג'זירה משודרות גם תמונות חדשות של יחיא סינוואר במהלך המלחמה <a href="https://t.co/oyEszVC92L">https://t.co/oyEszVC92L</a> <a href="https://t.co/yFTOgXJkxE">pic.twitter.com/yFTOgXJkxE</a>
&mdash; roi kais &bull; روعي كايس &bull; רועי קייס (@kaisos1987) <a href="https://twitter.com/kaisos1987/status/1882876441156800544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2025</a></blockquote>

<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Sinwar, 62, was killed by Israeli forces in an operation in the southern Gaza Strip on October 16 last year.
He was chosen as the leader of Hamas after his predecessor Ismail Haniyeh was killed in July 2024 by a suspected Israeli strike during a visit to Tehran.
(With inputs from agencies)

World | Sinwar was chosen as the leader of Hamas after his predecessor Ismail Haniyeh was killed in July 2024 by a suspected Israeli strike during a visit to Tehran.

Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, a mastermind of the Palestinian militant group's October 7, 2023, attack against Israel, died a year later during a firefight with Israeli troops. Also read | 'I was so scared…': Fake Hamas attack staged in Israel to protest Gaza ceasefire stirs panic On Friday (January 24), Al Jazeera released unseen footage of Sinwar during several moments of the Israel-Hamas war. Walking with a stick, wearing a military vest In one clip published by Al Jazeera, Sinwar could be seen walking through a battleground with a walking stick, wearing a military vest, and with a blanket covering his body so he cannot be identified from afar. Also read | Israel releases 200 Palestinian prisoners in exchange of four female soldiers released by Hamas The footage showed a few images of Sinwar looking at a map and standing inside a damaged building. The clip also showed the Hebrew word “north” graffitied on the wall of a building where Sinwar briefly resided, indicating that Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers had operated in that home before. Sinwar: The architect of Hamas' 2023 attack Sinwar was the architect of Hamas' 2023 attack against Israel which killed 1,200. Israel retaliated by striking the Gaza Strip, killing more than 46,000 people. בתכנית באל-ג'זירה משודרות גם תמונות חדשות של יחיא סינוואר במהלך המלחמה https://t.co/oyEszVC92L pic.twitter.com/yFTOgXJkxE — roi kais • روعي كايس • רועי קייס (@kaisos1987) January 24, 2025 Sinwar, 62, was killed by Israeli forces in an operation in the southern Gaza Strip on October 16 last year. He was chosen as the leader of Hamas after his predecessor Ismail Haniyeh was killed in July 2024 by a suspected Israeli strike during a visit to Tehran. (With inputs from agencies)

Walking with stick, wearing military vest: Video shows unseen visuals of slain Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar

A drone attack on one of the last functioning hospitals in El-Fasher in Sudan's Darfur region killed 30 people and injured dozens, a medical source said Saturday.
The bombing of the Saudi Hospital on Friday evening "led to the destruction" of the hospital's emergency building, the source told AFP, requesting anonymity for fear of retaliation.
It was not immediately clear which of Sudan's warring sides had launched the attack.
Since April 2023, the Sudanese army has been at war with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), who have seized nearly the entire vast western region of Darfur.
Also read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sudan-conflict-20-killed-in-khartoum-air-strike-says-rescuers-769870" rel="dofollow"> Sudan conflict: 20 killed in Khartoum air strike, says rescuers</a>
They have besieged El-Fasher, the state capital of North Darfur, since May, but have not managed to claim the city, where army-aligned militias have repeatedly pushed them back.
Last week, they issued an ultimatum demanding army forces and allies leave the city by Wednesday afternoon in advance of an expected offensive.
Local activists have reported intermittent fighting since, including repeated artillery fire from the RSF on the famine-hit Abu Shouk displacement camp.
On Friday morning alone, heavy shelling killed eight people in the camp, according to civil society group the Darfur General Coordination of Camps for the Displaced and Refugees.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/armed-conflict-most-urgent-threat-for-world-in-2025-wef-8624755">'Armed conflict' most urgent threat for world in 2025: WEF</a>
The United Nations has voiced alarm, calling on both parties to ensure the protection of the city's civilian population -- some two million people.
"The people of El-Fasher have suffered so much already from many months of senseless violence and brutal violations and abuses, particularly in the course of the prolonged siege of their city," United Nations rights office spokesman Seif Magango said Wednesday.
According to the medical source, the Saudi Hospital's emergency building had been hit by an RSF drone "a few weeks ago".
Between December 9 and January 14, Yale University's Humanitarian Research Lab observed three advanced drones at the RSF-controlled Nyala Airport, some 200 kilometres (124 miles) south.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/escalating-sudan-bloodshed-increases-refugee-surge-into-chad-767974" rel="dofollow">Escalating Sudan bloodshed increases refugee surge into Chad</a>
In its report, it said the Chinese-made drones have "significant electronic surveillance and warfare capabilities and can be equipped with air-to-ground munitions", but could not verify which countries had purchased them.
The United Arab Emirates has been repeatedly accused of funnelling weapons, including drones, to the RSF.
United Nations experts determined in December 2023 the allegations were "credible", but Abu Dhabi has issued repeated denials in the face of mounting international criticism.
In December, it assured the outgoing administration of US President Joe Biden that it was "not now transferring any weapons" to the RSF.
The US concluded earlier this month that the paramilitaries were committing "genocide" in Darfur.
The RSF's latest attempt to consolidate its hold on war-ravaged Darfur -- a vast region about the size of France, home to a quarter of Sudan's population -- comes as the army claims significant victories elsewhere.
Some 800 kilometres (500 miles) east, the military on Friday regained control of a major oil refinery and broke a paramilitary siege on its Khartoum headquarters, which the RSF had encircled since the war began in April 2023.
Earlier this month, the army successfully wrested control of the key state capital Wad Madani, just south of Khartoum, from the RSF.
Since the war began, both the army and the RSF have been accused of war crimes, including targeting civilians and indiscriminately shelling residential areas.
Before leaving office on Monday, the Biden administration sanctioned Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, accusing the army of attacking schools, markets and hospitals and using food deprivation as a weapon of war.
Across the country, up to 80 percent of healthcare facilities have been forced out of service, according to official figures.
In El-Fasher, where ambulances and hospital buildings have been routinely targeted, medical charity Doctors Without Borders said this month the Saudi Hospital was "the only public hospital with surgical capacity still standing".
The war has so far killed tens of thousands, uprooted more than 12 million and brought millions to the brink of mass starvation.
In the area around El-Fasher, famine has already taken hold in three displacement camps -- Zamzam, Abu Shouk and Al-Salam -- and is expected to expand to five more areas including the city itself by May, according to a UN-backed assessment.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

World: Bombing of the Saudi Hospital "led to the destruction" of the hospital's emergency building, the source told AFP, requesting anonymity for fear of retaliation.

A drone attack on one of the last functioning hospitals in El-Fasher in Sudan's Darfur region killed 30 people and injured dozens, a medical source said Saturday. The bombing of the Saudi Hospital on Friday evening "led to the destruction" of the hospital's emergency building, the source told AFP, requesting anonymity for fear of retaliation. It was not immediately clear which of Sudan's warring sides had launched the attack. Since April 2023, the Sudanese army has been at war with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), who have seized nearly the entire vast western region of Darfur. Also read: Sudan conflict: 20 killed in Khartoum air strike, says rescuers They have besieged El-Fasher, the state capital of North Darfur, since May, but have not managed to claim the city, where army-aligned militias have repeatedly pushed them back. Last week, they issued an ultimatum demanding army forces and allies leave the city by Wednesday afternoon in advance of an expected offensive. Local activists have reported intermittent fighting since, including repeated artillery fire from the RSF on the famine-hit Abu Shouk displacement camp. On Friday morning alone, heavy shelling killed eight people in the camp, according to civil society group the Darfur General Coordination of Camps for the Displaced and Refugees. Also read: 'Armed conflict' most urgent threat for world in 2025: WEF The United Nations has voiced alarm, calling on both parties to ensure the protection of the city's civilian population -- some two million people. "The people of El-Fasher have suffered so much already from many months of senseless violence and brutal violations and abuses, particularly in the course of the prolonged siege of their city," United Nations rights office spokesman Seif Magango said Wednesday. According to the medical source, the Saudi Hospital's emergency building had been hit by an RSF drone "a few weeks ago". Between December 9 and January 14, Yale University's Humanitarian Research Lab observed three advanced drones at the RSF-controlled Nyala Airport, some 200 kilometres (124 miles) south. Also read: Escalating Sudan bloodshed increases refugee surge into Chad In its report, it said the Chinese-made drones have "significant electronic surveillance and warfare capabilities and can be equipped with air-to-ground munitions", but could not verify which countries had purchased them. The United Arab Emirates has been repeatedly accused of funnelling weapons, including drones, to the RSF. United Nations experts determined in December 2023 the allegations were "credible", but Abu Dhabi has issued repeated denials in the face of mounting international criticism. In December, it assured the outgoing administration of US President Joe Biden that it was "not now transferring any weapons" to the RSF. The US concluded earlier this month that the paramilitaries were committing "genocide" in Darfur. The RSF's latest attempt to consolidate its hold on war-ravaged Darfur -- a vast region about the size of France, home to a quarter of Sudan's population -- comes as the army claims significant victories elsewhere. Some 800 kilometres (500 miles) east, the military on Friday regained control of a major oil refinery and broke a paramilitary siege on its Khartoum headquarters, which the RSF had encircled since the war began in April 2023. Earlier this month, the army successfully wrested control of the key state capital Wad Madani, just south of Khartoum, from the RSF. Since the war began, both the army and the RSF have been accused of war crimes, including targeting civilians and indiscriminately shelling residential areas. Before leaving office on Monday, the Biden administration sanctioned Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, accusing the army of attacking schools, markets and hospitals and using food deprivation as a weapon of war. Across the country, up to 80 percent of healthcare facilities have been forced out of service, according to official figures. In El-Fasher, where ambulances and hospital buildings have been routinely targeted, medical charity Doctors Without Borders said this month the Saudi Hospital was "the only public hospital with surgical capacity still standing". The war has so far killed tens of thousands, uprooted more than 12 million and brought millions to the brink of mass starvation. In the area around El-Fasher, famine has already taken hold in three displacement camps -- Zamzam, Abu Shouk and Al-Salam -- and is expected to expand to five more areas including the city itself by May, according to a UN-backed assessment. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Drone attack targets hospital in Sudan's Darfur, 30 killed : Report

Israel on Saturday (Jan 25) released 200 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for four female soldiers released by Hamas, as part of the ongoing ceasefire deal in the Gaza war.
India will be celebrating its 76th Republic Day on Sunday. On the eve of the Republic Day, the central government released the list of the Padma awardees.&nbsp;
In other news from around the world, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky&nbsp;pointed to the possibility of peace talks with Russia to end the ongoing war.
Click on the headlines to read more:
<h2><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/gaza-ceasefire-israel-releases-70-palestinian-prisoners-into-egypt-more-awaited-to-be-freed-8653174" rel="dofollow">Israel releases 200 Palestinian prisoners in exchange of four female soldiers released by Hamas</a></h2>
<img src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/1280x720/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/01/25/o2vVG79sbPV4dpR87429.png" alt=" Representative Image Photograph: (Reuters) ">
Israel on Saturday (Jan 25) released 200 Palestinian prisoners in exchange of four Israeli hostages by Hamas, as per the Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal, AFP reported citing Israel's prison service. Initially, Israel released 70 Palestinian prisoners into Egypt out of the 200 who were supposed to be released, according to the Egypt&rsquo;s state-run Qahera TV.&nbsp;
<h2><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/republic-day-2025-indian-govt-publishes-list-of-padma-awardees-heres-a-look-8653812" rel="dofollow">Republic Day 2025: Indian govt publishes list of Padma awardees. Here's a look at the recipients</a></h2>
<img src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/1280x720/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/01/25/4DCEGKVUwJCWgPNFjE29.png" alt=" President Droupadi Murmu (seen on left) has given the names of the Padma awardees. PM Modi (seen on bottom right) has congratulated the recipients. Photograph: (Agencies) ">
As India gears up to celebrate its 76th Republic Day on Sunday (January 26), the central government on Saturday (Jan 25) released the list of the distinguished Padma awardees. Padma Awards - one of the highest civilian Awards in the country is conferred in three categories, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri.&nbsp;
<h2><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/zelensky-hints-at-possibility-of-peace-talks-with-russia-says-allies-should-work-on-its-format-8653717" rel="dofollow">Zelensky hints at possibility of peace talks with Russia, says allies should work on its &lsquo;format&rsquo;</a></h2>
<img src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/1280x720/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/01/25/6yeZfaKZcG6kB3maWuC6.png" alt=" Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin Photograph: (Reuters/Wion web team) "> Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday (Jan 25) pointed to the possibility of peace talks with Russia to end the ongoing war, saying that the allies should work towards determining a "format" for any upcoming talks with Russia. Zelensky added that Kyiv must be involved for successful negotiations.&nbsp;
<h2><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/crisis-in-iit-coaching-giant-fiitjee-institute-owner-11-others-booked-over-shut-down-of-centres-8653381" rel="dofollow">Crisis in IIT coaching giant FIITJEE: Institute owner, 11 others booked over shutdown of centres</a></h2>
<img src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/1280x720/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/01/25/ff8JlH8KLHqv1WdaYqoz.png" alt=" Representative image of a person writing. FIITJEE provides coaching for competitive exams to engineering aspirants and has 73 centres across India. Photograph: (Pexels) ">
The owner of FIITJEE and 11 others were on Saturday (Jan 25) booked by the police after several centres of the IIT (Indian Institute of Technology) coaching institute were shut down in India's Delhi-NCR region. The FIR (First Information Report) was lodged on a complaint filed by the parents of the students studying in FIITJEE centres in the Delhi-NCR region.
<h2><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-administration-in-us-fires-12-independent-inspector-generals-in-late-night-purge-report-8653009" rel="dofollow">Trump administration fires 17 independent inspector generals in late-night purge</a></h2>
<img src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/1280x720/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/01/25/gUSswf2L2TdLUXDRtw6d.png" alt=" File photo of US President Donald Trump. Photograph: (Reuters) ">
The Donald Trump administration in the United States (US) on Friday (January 24) fired 17 independent inspector generals of many federal agencies in a late-night purge, American media reported. Some of the agencies involved in this firing were the Department of Defense, Transportation, Veteran Affairs, Housing and Urban Development, Interior and Energy.
<h2><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wont-allow-palestinians-to-return-north-gaza-until-hamas-releases-female-civilian-hostage-warns-netanyahu-8653134" rel="dofollow">'Won't allow Palestinians to return to north Gaza until Hamas releases female civilian hostage,' warns Netanyahu</a></h2>
<img src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/1280x720/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/01/25/mjdtRdjFHE677DkZZVL4.png" alt=" Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Photograph: (Reuters) ">
Israel will not allow Palestinians to return to the northern Gaza Strip until Hamas arranges the release of female civilian hostage, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. The Israeli female hostage Arbel Yehud was scheduled to be released today as per the ceasefire agreement.&nbsp;
<h2><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/republic-day-2025-know-full-schedule-special-guests-performances-and-more-8653471" rel="dofollow">Republic Day 2025: Know full schedule, special guests, performances and more</a></h2>
<img src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/1280x720/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/01/25/pzNgI4XCuN3oFJhUTjS7.jpg" alt=" Republic Day 2025: Full schedule, special guests, performances and more Photograph: (PTI) ">
President Droupadi Murmu will lead India&rsquo;s 76th Republic Day celebrations on January 26, 2025, at Kartavya Path in New Delhi. According to a press release by Government of India, the event will place a special emphasis on the 75th anniversary of the Indian Constitution&rsquo;s enactment, as well as the theme of &ldquo;Jan Bhagidari,&rdquo; or public participation. The celebrations will showcase the country&rsquo;s cultural diversity, unity, equality, development, and military strength.&nbsp;
<h2><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/republic-day-2025-why-republic-day-is-hosted-at-kartavya-path-8653026" rel="dofollow">Republic Day 2025: Why Republic Day is hosted at Kartavya Path?</a></h2>
<img src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/1280x720/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/01/25/zi7DdkEGQCGYNfS4BOs6.png" alt=" An Indian soldier salutes while standing in a vehicle during the Republic Day parade in New Delhi, India, January 26, 2022. Photograph: (Reuters) ">
India is set to mark its 76th Republic Day on 26 January 2025. This day commemorates the adoption of the Indian Constitution, which came into effect in 1950, turning India into a republic. The highlight of Republic Day celebrations is the grand parade held on Kartavya Path in New Delhi, formerly known as Rajpath.&nbsp;
<h2><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/coldplays-chris-martin-goes-on-a-scooter-ride-in-ahmedabad-ahead-of-concert-watch-8653841" rel="dofollow">Coldplay's Chris Martin goes on a scooter ride in Ahmedabad ahead of concert | Watch</a></h2>
<img src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/1280x720/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/01/25/ZtKqSsUzwM8gmUMTpi8V.png" alt=" Chris Martin takes a scooter ride in Ahmedabad Photograph: (X/@Coldplay Indonesia) ">
Chris Martin, Frontman of the British boy band Coldplay, is making every moment memorable in India for himself and his fans. Since his arrival in India for the Indian leg of their Music of the Spheres world tour, Martin had been spotted taking strolls on the Mumbai streets.
<h2><a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/india-pacer-arshdeep-singh-wins-icc-t20i-cricketer-of-the-year-2024-award-8653269" rel="dofollow">India pacer Arshdeep Singh wins ICC T20I Cricketer of the Year 2024 award</a></h2>
<img src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/1280x720/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/01/25/nMeZmqRZGN2J4odl64Ob.jpg" alt=" India pacer Arshdeep Singh wins ICC T20I Cricketer of the Year 2024 award Photograph: (Others) ">
Arshdeep Singh won the ICC T20I Cricketer of the Year 2024 award for his stellar performance last year. Team India&rsquo;s highest wicket-taker in the shortest format, Arshdeep, was crucial in helping the Men in Blue end their ICC trophy drought with their second T20 World Cup title in the Americas in June 2024. Besides, he beat some heavyweights, including Australia&rsquo;s Travis Head, for his maiden ICC award.

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Israel on Saturday (Jan 25) released 200 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for four female soldiers released by Hamas, as part of the ongoing ceasefire deal in the Gaza war. India will be celebrating its 76th Republic Day on Sunday. On the eve of the Republic Day, the central government released the list of the Padma awardees. In other news from around the world, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pointed to the possibility of peace talks with Russia to end the ongoing war. Click on the headlines to read more: Israel releases 200 Palestinian prisoners in exchange of four female soldiers released by Hamas Israel on Saturday (Jan 25) released 200 Palestinian prisoners in exchange of four Israeli hostages by Hamas, as per the Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal, AFP reported citing Israel's prison service. Initially, Israel released 70 Palestinian prisoners into Egypt out of the 200 who were supposed to be released, according to the Egypt’s state-run Qahera TV. Republic Day 2025: Indian govt publishes list of Padma awardees. Here's a look at the recipients As India gears up to celebrate its 76th Republic Day on Sunday (January 26), the central government on Saturday (Jan 25) released the list of the distinguished Padma awardees. Padma Awards - one of the highest civilian Awards in the country is conferred in three categories, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri. Zelensky hints at possibility of peace talks with Russia, says allies should work on its ‘format’ Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday (Jan 25) pointed to the possibility of peace talks with Russia to end the ongoing war, saying that the allies should work towards determining a "format" for any upcoming talks with Russia. Zelensky added that Kyiv must be involved for successful negotiations. Crisis in IIT coaching giant FIITJEE: Institute owner, 11 others booked over shutdown of centres The owner of FIITJEE and 11 others were on Saturday (Jan 25) booked by the police after several centres of the IIT (Indian Institute of Technology) coaching institute were shut down in India's Delhi-NCR region. The FIR (First Information Report) was lodged on a complaint filed by the parents of the students studying in FIITJEE centres in the Delhi-NCR region. Trump administration fires 17 independent inspector generals in late-night purge The Donald Trump administration in the United States (US) on Friday (January 24) fired 17 independent inspector generals of many federal agencies in a late-night purge, American media reported. Some of the agencies involved in this firing were the Department of Defense, Transportation, Veteran Affairs, Housing and Urban Development, Interior and Energy. 'Won't allow Palestinians to return to north Gaza until Hamas releases female civilian hostage,' warns Netanyahu Israel will not allow Palestinians to return to the northern Gaza Strip until Hamas arranges the release of female civilian hostage, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. The Israeli female hostage Arbel Yehud was scheduled to be released today as per the ceasefire agreement. Republic Day 2025: Know full schedule, special guests, performances and more President Droupadi Murmu will lead India’s 76th Republic Day celebrations on January 26, 2025, at Kartavya Path in New Delhi. According to a press release by Government of India, the event will place a special emphasis on the 75th anniversary of the Indian Constitution’s enactment, as well as the theme of “Jan Bhagidari,” or public participation. The celebrations will showcase the country’s cultural diversity, unity, equality, development, and military strength. Republic Day 2025: Why Republic Day is hosted at Kartavya Path? India is set to mark its 76th Republic Day on 26 January 2025. This day commemorates the adoption of the Indian Constitution, which came into effect in 1950, turning India into a republic. The highlight of Republic Day celebrations is the grand parade held on Kartavya Path in New Delhi, formerly known as Rajpath. Coldplay's Chris Martin goes on a scooter ride in Ahmedabad ahead of concert | Watch Chris Martin, Frontman of the British boy band Coldplay, is making every moment memorable in India for himself and his fans. Since his arrival in India for the Indian leg of their Music of the Spheres world tour, Martin had been spotted taking strolls on the Mumbai streets. India pacer Arshdeep Singh wins ICC T20I Cricketer of the Year 2024 award Arshdeep Singh won the ICC T20I Cricketer of the Year 2024 award for his stellar performance last year. Team India’s highest wicket-taker in the shortest format, Arshdeep, was crucial in helping the Men in Blue end their ICC trophy drought with their second T20 World Cup title in the Americas in June 2024. Besides, he beat some heavyweights, including Australia’s Travis Head, for his maiden ICC award.

Top 10 world news: Gaza ceasefire deal updates; India publishes list of Padma awardees, and more

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