Hegseth narrowly wins confirmation to become US defense secretary
Washington DC, US Reuters Pete Hegseth narrowly secured enough votes on Friday to become the next US defense secretary, a major victory for President Donald Trump after fierce opposition from Democrats and even some Republicans to his controversial nominee. Hegseth was confirmed after a 50-50 vote in the Senate, when Vice President JD Vance came […]
Trump administration says ‘Gulf of America’ name change now official
Reuters The Trump administration’s Interior Department said on Friday it had officially changed the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, and the Alaskan peak Denali to Mount McKinley. A statue of Pope John Paul II is seen at a jetty as waves crash on the shore of the Gulf of […]
Sudanese army claims major victory in Khartoum; RSF disputes
Cairo, Egypt Reuters The Sudanese army has broken a siege by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces of its command centre in central Khartoum, the army said on Friday, in what would be a major victory in the capital after nearly two years of war. The RSF in a statement rejected the Sudanese army’s claims it […]
Ireland and Northern Ireland battered by record winds from Storm Eowyn
Dublin, Ireland Reuters Record high winds from Storm Eowyn battered Ireland and Northern Ireland on Friday, leaving one man dead and almost one-third of Irish homes and businesses without power and forcing the cancellation of hundreds of flights. A man was fatally injured when a tree fell on his car in County Donegal, in the […]
Sanctuary churches: Trump won’t ban immigration arrests at churches. Now clergy are weighing how to resist
GIOVANNA DELL’ORTO, LUIS ANDRES HENAO and DEEPA BHARATH, of Associated Press, report on how faith communities are preparing to respond to Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown…
Trump and Vance join March for Life anti-abortion activists in celebrating the movement’s gains
Washington DC, US AP President Donald Trump vowed to support anti-abortion-rights protesters in his second term as tens of thousands of demonstrators rallied in Washington on Friday for the annual March for Life. “We will again stand proudly for families and for life,” Trump declared in a prerecorded video address. People participating in the annual […]
Putin says he and Trump should meet to discuss Ukraine and energy prices
Moscow, Russia Reuters Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that he and Donald Trump should meet to talk about the Ukraine war and energy prices, issues that the US President has highlighted in the first five days of his new administration. Putin said, however, that there could be no serious peace talks with Ukraine […]
Hamas names four Israeli female soldier hostages to be freed in second swap
Jerusalem Reuters The Palestinian militant movement Hamas is expected to release four female Israeli soldiers on Saturday in exchange for a group of Palestinian prisoners under a ceasefire agreement aimed at ending the 15-month-old war in Gaza. The four soldiers – Karina Ariev, Daniela Gilboa, Naama Levy and Liri Albag – were all stationed at […]
Indonesian rescuers halt evacuation due to bad weather after landslide kills 25, official says
Jakarta, Indonesia Reuters Indonesian rescuers on Friday paused search efforts because of bad weather as the death toll from a landslide on Java island three days ago rose to at least 25 people, said a spokesperson for the local rescuers. Torrential rain in the city of Pekalongan in Central Java province triggered the landslide on […]
Israeli forces to stay in south Lebanon beyond withdrawal deadline
Jerusalem Reuters Israeli forces will remain in southern Lebanon beyond a 60-day deadline stipulated in a ceasefire deal with Hezbollah because its terms have not been fully implemented, the Israeli Prime Minister’s office said on Friday. Under the agreement, which took effect on 27th November, Hezbollah weapons and fighters must be removed from areas south […]