Top World News
UN migration agency says gang violence in Haiti leads to tripling of internally displaced people
The U.N. migration agency says internal displacement within Haiti has tripled over the last year and now surpasses 1 million people
Why is Spain considering a 100% tax on homes bought by non-EU residents?
Spain is planning a raft of measures to address its brewing housing crisis, including an up to 100% tax on properties that non-European Union residents buy
Tuesday briefing: What Ukraine might gain from two North Korean captives
In today’s newsletter: Kyiv’s interrogation footage of captured North Korean soldiers leads to questions about what it might do with the soldiers – and what the PoWs might do for themGood morning. In a grinding war where significant changes at the front are hard to discern, a video released by Ukraine on Sunday is a rare point of focus: it featured two North Korean soldiers, answering questions from their Ukrainian captors, and weighing the circumstances of their presence in a conflict thousands of miles from home.The video is, perhaps, not militarily significant. But it is a unique insight into one of the more extraordinary aspects of a conflict that has drawn in actors from all over the world, and is a crucible in which every participant is learning how modern wars are fought.Economy | Rachel Reeves will remain as chancellor until the next general election, Keir Starmer has insisted, as he warned the Treasury would be “ruthless” over public spending cuts to help meet the government’s fiscal rules.Gaza | Joe Biden has said his administration is on the brink of sealing a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas that could pause the war after more than 14 months of fighting. Biden administration officials have said they believe the deal may be concluded before Donald Trump’s inauguration next week.US politics | Donald Trump would have been convicted of crimes over his failed attempt to cling to power in 2020 if he had not won the presidential election in 2024, according to the special counsel who investigated him. Jack Smith’s report detailing his team’s findings about Trump’s efforts to subvert democracy was released early on Tuesday.UK news | A man accused of driving a young mother to suicide through domestic violence has been found guilty of assault and prolonged controlling behaviour but cleared of her manslaughter. Ryan Wellings, 30, was blamed from “beyond the grave” for the death of his partner, Kiena Dawes. Read more about the case.‘Forever chemicals’ | The cost of cleaning up toxic forever chemical pollution could reach more than £1.6tn across the UK and Europe over a 20-year period, an annual bill of £84bn, research has found. PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are used in everything from cosmetics to nonstick pans but are almost indestructible without human intervention.[It is] unclear if North Korea will even claim the two captured soldiers as their own, given Moscow and Pyongyang’s refusal to officially admit that North Korean forces have been deployed to Russia. At the same time, Russia could claim them as their own and hand them over to North Korea after they are traded with Ukrainian PoWs. Continue reading...
Yoon Suk Yeol impeachment: trial of suspended South Korean president begins
First of five hearings into martial law declaration lasts only minutes, while Yoon Suk Yeol remains holed up inside his presidential compoundThe first hearing in the impeachment trial of South Korea’s suspended president, Yoon Suk Yeol, ended after just a few minutes on Tuesday as Yoon failed to appear at the constitutional court.The court’s justices have about five months to decide whether to strip Yoon of his presidential duties over his short-lived declaration of martial law on 3 December or return him to office. Continue reading...
Rescuers bring out survivors, dead from South African mine as hundreds remain trapped
Rescuers have sent a cage-like structure into one of South Africa’s deepest gold mines to bring out survivors among hundreds of illegal miners trapped for months in an abandoned shaft
Ugandan military court rules it can try opposition figure on treachery charge
A prominent opposition figure in Uganda will stand trial on the serious charge of treachery, a military court ruled Tuesday, escalating the legal trouble Kizza Besigye faces ahead of presidential elections scheduled for 2026
German far right emboldened by Austria
by Olivier FENIET with Femke Colborne in BerlinBuoyed by the endorsement of Elon Musk and enjoying new highs in the polls ahead of elections in February, Germany's far-right AfD is hoping for a further boost from the success of the far right in neighboring Austria.Long shunned by the political establishment, Austria's Freedom Party (FPOe) is currently on the brink of power after being invited to try to form a government with the conservative People's Party (OeVP)."We saw what was suddenly possible in Austria and let's see what happens here," AfD deputy parliamentary group leader Beatrix von Storch said on the sidelines of a party conference in the eastern town of Riesa on Sunday.Herbert Kickl's FPOe had emerged as the largest party at elections in September with around 29 percent of the vote, while the AfD is trailing in second place in Germany behind the conservatives.But the AfD, which this weekend officially named 45-year-old Alice Weidel as its candidate to be the German chancellor, is catching up -- with one recent survey showing it on 22 percent, just eight points behind the conservatives.The anti-immigration AfD has little chance of being part of Germany's next government since other parties have committed to maintaining a so-called "firewall" to keep the far right out of government. But the party founded in 2013, which initially sought to attract voters by positioning itself as anti-establishment, has started to turn its eyes towards power and is calling for the firewall to be dismantled.- 'Will of the voters' -The AfD has looked on with interest not only at the FPOe in Austria, but also at the return of Donald Trump -- whose policies are similar to those of the AfD in many areas."You've seen what happened in Austria. We'll have to wait and see how the negotiations turn out... But I do see it as positive that in the long term they can't ignore the will of the voters," said Giesela Elliott, a delegate at the conference in Riesa from the western town of Dueren."If you want to understand the AfD, you have to look to Vienna," the daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung wrote this week."That's just what Alice Weidel is doing. The German far right is watching with interest as Herbert Kickl's FPOe climbs over the firewalls," it said.The similarities between the FPOe and the AfD are many, from their tough stance on migration to sympathy with Russia and hostility towards the European Union.During its congress this weekend, the AfD clearly called for the "withdrawal of Germany from the European Union" as well as a new national currency for Germany as an alternative to the euro -- a sharpening of its previous position on the EU.Weidel also explicitly called for the "remigration" of foreigners.- 'People's chancellor' -In Austria, Kickl may have a mandate from the electorate but large parts of the political establishment remain alarmed by his divisive rhetoric.Kickl frequently employs terms reminiscent of the troubled past of the FPOe -- founded by former Nazis -- even though he denies using Nazi references.This includes calling himself the future "Volkskanzler" -- the people's chancellor -- as Adolf Hitler was called.In Germany, the AfD has a powerful radical wing led by firebrand Bjoern Hoecke, who is regularly accused of historical revisionism and has been convicted of using a Nazi slogan at election rallies."The negotiations between the FPOe and OeVP are being followed closely by German politicians" with Weidel in particular "inspired by the success of her Austrian sister party", wrote the Austrian daily Der Standard on Sunday."The fact that Herbert Kickl is now negotiating with the OeVP and the chancellorship has moved a great deal closer for him gives Weidel hope," Der Standard wrote."In Germany, too, she says, the firewall against the AfD will soon fall."© Agence France-Presse
At least 10 dead in Brazil landslides
Landslides caused by torrential rains in southeast Brazil have left at least 10 people dead, rescue services in Minas Gerais state said Sunday.Nine people died in the city of Ipatinga, where 80 millimeters (3.1 inches) of rain fell in the space of one hour on Saturday night, the mayor's office said.Firefighters pulled the body of an eight-year-old boy from the rubble of a house destroyed by a landslide.Another landslide swept away everything in its path along a street on the side of a hill in the city's Bethania neighborhood.AFP images from the scene showed rubble from the houses poking up from the mud.As of Sunday evening, one person from the area remained missing, though four members of the person's family were rescued.A body was also found in the nearby town of Santana do Paraiso.Minas Gerais state governor Romeu Zema sent a message of "solidarity with the victims" in a statement on social media.Latin America's biggest country has been rocked by several extreme weather events over the past year.Massive floods caused by days of record-breaking rain killed more than 180 people in the south of the country in April and May.Brazil also suffered a historic drought linked to climate change, laying the ground for the worst wildfires in 17 years, which consumed vast chunks of the Amazon rainforest.© Agence France-Presse
Chinese artist cashes in on Buddha-like Trump statues
by Sam DAVIESDonald Trump is not typically known for his calm or reserve, but in a craftsman's workshop in rural China the U.S. president-elect sits in divine contemplation.Cross-legged with his eyes half-closed in a pose evoking the Buddha, this porcelain version of America's divisive leader-in-waiting is the work of designer and sculptor Hong Jinshi.The Zen-like figures -- which Hong sells for between 999 and 20,000 yuan (about $140 to $2,700) depending on their size -- first went viral in 2021 on the e-commerce platform Taobao, attracting national headlines.And ahead of the real estate magnate's inauguration for a second term, they have become hot property again."In the days after he won the election there was a lot of interest," said Hong, who originally designed the statues as a joke."Politicians are normally so boring, while (Trump) is this massive online figure who often says fantastical things," he told AFP.Hong, 47, estimates that he has shifted hundreds of the ceramic creations in the last few years.They raise a smile among customers because Trump's "personality and the shape of the statue are two opposite extremes", he said.Each figure comes in packaging emblazoned with a Chinese phrase that translates to "Make your company great again", a play on Trump's well-worn slogan for restoring American supremacy.Copycat versions have even appeared on shopping platforms in the United States -- including Amazon and Chinese-owned Temu -- for up to $45.- Little rocket man -"It's a good laugh to poke some fun at authority figures and famous people," said Hong, sitting barefoot on the floor of his minimalist studio.Hong's loose white clothing, shaved head, and softly spoken nature bear little resemblance to the eccentric subjects of his sculpting. He recently began designing a similarly tongue-in-cheek effigy of another American luminary: Trump backer Elon Musk, who seems set to play a major role in his administration.The statue casts the controversial billionaire in the style of the Marvel superhero Iron Man, clad in a rippling suit of metal armour.In Hong's version, though, a large rocket protrudes from Musk's groin to symbolise the SpaceX CEO's galactic ambitions.Despite toeing the line between homage and offence, Hong said he has a lot of admiration for Musk, whose electric-vehicle company Tesla operates a massive factory in Shanghai and enjoys robust sales in China."Musk's rockets are awesome -- he's brought the price of rockets down a lot," he told AFP."He has done, as an individual entrepreneur, what an entire country can't even do."- Zen and the art of the deal -Hong declined to comment on Trump's policies towards China, a sensitive topic in the Asian nation.But many expect relations with the United States to deteriorate further after Trump's inauguration on January 20.On the campaign trail, Trump took a tough line on Beijing, vowing even higher tariffs on Chinese imports.He previously imposed onerous levies during a bruising trade war in his first term -- measures largely preserved by his successor Joe Biden.Trump also angered Chinese leaders with his brash rhetoric, notably blaming Beijing for the decline of American manufacturing and calling the pathogen that causes Covid-19 the "Chinese virus".Yet the 78-year-old still appears to have many admirers in China."I still think he's just as funny (as before)", said Hong. "Every day there's interesting news when he's president."Donald Trump is not typically known for his calm or reserve, but in a craftsman's workshop in rural China the US president-elect sits in divine contemplation.Despite the renewed interest, Hong no longer sells his Trump statues on Chinese sites after they removed his listings -- perhaps, he said, because they were deemed insulting to Buddhists.Still, orders keep rolling in from tourists who visit Hong's workshop, as well as from friends and acquaintances."Now he's been elected again, the sculpture has exploded in popularity once more," Hong said.Perhaps, he added, it was because "Trump is someone with a lot of backstory".© Agence France-Presse
Philippine sect gathers to oppose VP Duterte impeachment
More than a million members of an influential religious sect gathered in the Philippine capital on Monday, police said, opposing steps to unseat Vice President Sara Duterte. Crowds wearing white shirts and carrying banners calling for unity flocked to Manila's Quirino Grandstand for the "national rally for peace", organized by the conservative Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ).The powerful sect opposes moves to impeach Duterte, a former ally of President Ferdinand Marcos, in the House of Representatives."There are many more things which our citizens need that must be attended to. These will not be achieved if all we see taking place is conflict," church spokesman Edwil Zabala said ahead of the rally.Schools, government offices and major roads were closed for the event, as police estimated 1.6 million people had gathered at the grandstand.More than 5,000 officers have been deployed, regional police spokeswoman Myrna Diploma told AFP.Duterte is facing three impeachment cases, which accuse her of misusing millions of dollars in public funds and of plotting to have Marcos assassinated. She has denied the allegations.Marcos's executive secretary, Lucas Bersamin, described Monday's rally as "part of the national conversation".Similar events are scheduled at a dozen locations across the country, the church's spokesman said.Iglesia, which is estimated to have more than two million members, carries significant weight in the Philippines because its members tend to vote as a block and it is often courted by politicians.The sect could decide the outcome of closely contested congressional and local government posts in mid-term elections on May 12.© Agence France-Presse
Japan FM in South Korea for talks before Trump takes office
by Hieun SHINJapan's foreign minister held talks in South Korea with top officials Monday as the Asian neighbors seek to strengthen ties before the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump.Takeshi Iwaya met counterpart Cho Tae-yul for discussions in the capital Seoul, the South Korean foreign ministry said, with the two later holding a news conference. It is the first such meeting by Tokyo's top diplomat in Asia's fourth-biggest economy for more than six years.Cho said the ministers had "expressed strong concerns over North Korea's nuclear and missile development", in particular Pyongyang's growing military ties with Moscow, including troop deployments.The talks also focused on trilateral cooperation with mutual ally the United States -- before Trump, who has previously questioned the US's Asian security alliances, takes office on January 20.The three nations have bolstered security cooperation in recent years, including sharing information on North Korean missile launches.The latest such test was last week when Pyongyang said it had fired a new hypersonic missile, the same day US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was visiting Seoul.Cho said he and Iwaya had agreed on "the necessity of continued close coordination among Korea, Japan, and the United States to counter the North Korean nuclear threat". Tokyo and Seoul's bilitaral ties would also continue to be developed "under any circumstances", with diplomacy to "remain consistent and unwavered", he added.Iwaya is scheduled to meet acting president Choi Sang-mok on Tuesday, the Japanese government said.- Political crisis -The Seoul-Tokyo meeting comes as South Korean officials try to reassure allies of the country's stability.A political crisis has roiled the vibrant East Asian democracy for weeks following suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed martial law bid and impeachment.Yoon is currently facing a Constitutional Court case which will determine whether his impeachement is upheld, plus a separate probe on insurrection charges, with investigators seeking to detain him after he refused summons for questioning.Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said last month Tokyo was monitoring the situation in South Korea with "exceptional and serious concerns".If Yoon is removed from office, South Korea has to hold presidential elections within 60 days.Both the US and Tokyo have adopted "a measured approach... regarding what is ultimately the domestic legal process of an important ally," said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul."Nonetheless, both the US secretary of state and Japanese foreign minister have visited Seoul to support South Korean foreign policy in a time of need, promoting continuity of the trilateral cooperation that deters adventurism by North Korea, China, and Russia," he added.US-Japanese relations have also recently been strained by President Joe Biden's decision to block Nippon Steel's takeover of US Steel.Citing national security concerns, Biden blocked the $14.9 billion sale this month and Ishiba reportedly told the US president that "strong" concerns have been raised over the decision.Iwaya will head to the Philippines on Tuesday as Tokyo seeks to strengthen its strategic partnership with the Southeast Asian nation, to counter China's growing military might and influence in the region.Japan has been building the newest and largest ships of the Philippine Coast Guard, a key element of Manila's efforts to assert its sovereignty in the South China Sea which Beijing claims almost in its entirety.© Agence France-Presse
Cyclone Dikeledi kills three in Madagascar, and Mayotte is hit again
Tropical storm batters eastern parts of Africa, including French territory still recovering from Cyclone ChidoOver the weekend, eastern parts of Africa were threatened by Tropical Cyclone Dikeledi. What started as a slight tropical disturbance between Indonesia and Australia on 2 January progressed westwards while developing into a depression over the week that followed.The depression strengthened into a moderate tropical storm with heavy downpours and gusty winds exceeding 39mph (63km/h) across central parts of the Indian Ocean. At this time, the system was named Dikeledi. It continued westwards and deepened into a tropical cyclone on the evening of 10 January as maximum sustained wind speeds hit 74mph – the equivalent of becoming a category 1 hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean. Continue reading...
Jan 15, 2025