(BBC News) This outline of the six-week ceasefire and hostage release has been widely leaked – and it involves several phases.
Phase one is an initial six-week ceasefire. During that period, Hamas will release 33 of the hostages that it seized in the October 7 attack. It is not clear how many of those 33 are still alive.
In return for each hostage released, Israel will release dozens of Palestinian prisoners.
Israel will pull its soldiers out...
(BBC News) South Korea's Constitutional Court has held its first hearing to decide if suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol should be removed from office after his shock martial law attempt last month.
The hearing ended within four minutes because of Yoon's absence – his lawyers had earlier said he would not attend for his own safety, as there is a warrant out for his arrest on separate charges of insurrection.
In December, Yoon was suspended after...
(Al Jazeera Media Network) Russia has accused the United States of seeking to sabotage TurkStream, the last pipeline carrying Russian gas exports into Europe.
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov alleged at a news conference on Tuesday that Washington is encouraging “terrorist” attacks on his country’s energy infrastructure, and claimed there are plans to target TurkStream.
“The US does not tolerate competition in any sphere, including energy. They are recklessly endorsing terrorist activities aimed at undermining the...
(Al Jazeera Media Network) When the Taliban took over Kabul in August 2021, then-Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan famously said the Afghan group had “broken the shackles of slavery” as they returned to power for the first time since 2001.
Taliban’s ascension was seen as a boost to the regional influence of Pakistan, long regarded as the patron of the Afghan group in pursuit of “strategic depth” for Islamabad.
This doctrine reflected Pakistan’s military interest in...
(Al Jazeera Media Network) Officials are warning that more strong winds in the forecast for southern California could fuel devastating wildfires still burning in and around Los Angeles.
Authorities say progress is being made to contain the major Palisades and Eaton fires, but LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone tells residents to be ready to heed any possible evacuation orders.
The blazes have killed at least 24 people in what California Governor Gavin Newsom says could be the most devastating...
(Al Jazeera Media Network) The Sudanese military and allied armed groups have entered Wad Madani and were pushing out the rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary from the strategic city in Gezira state, according to the army.
In a statement on Saturday, the armed forces “congratulated” the Sudanese people on “our forces entering the city of Wad Madani this morning” after more than a year of RSF control.
“They are now working to clean up the...
(BBC News) Firefighters are making an all-out assault to prevent the largest of the deadly wildfires that is threatening Los Angeles from spreading into one of the city's most exclusive neighbourhoods.
Aerial crews have been bombarding the flaming hills with water and fire retardant to hold back the Palisades fire, which has expanded an additional 1,000 acres and is now menacing Brentwood.
Officials have been on the defensive amid mounting anger at how hydrants ran dry as...
(Al Jazeera Media Network) Donald Trump has become the first former United States president ever sentenced for a crime.
But the US president-elect avoided penalties for his conviction for falsifying business documents in relation to hush-money payments made to an adult film actress.
Judge Juan Merchan sentenced Trump to an “unconditional discharge” on Friday, a day after the US Supreme Court rejected an attempt by Trump’s legal team to delay the sentencing, which took place before the Republican...
(BBC News) The latest developments in the Los Angeles fires:
A night-time curfew has been ordered tonight in the Palisades and Eaton areas of Los Angeles as police warn people are taking advantage of the wildfires to loot. Officers say anyone caught looting will be arrested.
LA Mayor Karen Bass has pledged "aggressively" to rebuild the city, saying red tape and other bureaucracy will have to be swept aside to do this.
Firefighters say that as...
(BBC News) The United Nations has expressed its alarm after it received reports of arbitrary detentions and intimidation in Venezuela ahead of opposition marches on Thursday.
The office of the UN Human Rights Chief, Volker Türk, wrote on X that "now is the time to work to ease tensions and reduce the risk of more violence."
It highlighted the arrest of Carlos Correa, the head of a non-governmental organization (NGO) promoting press freedom, who was seized...
