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japanese-court-hands-life-sentence-to-man-who-assassinated-former-prime-minister-shinzo-abe
WorldJan 21, 2026

Japanese Court Hands Life Sentence to Man Who Assassinated Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe

A Japanese court has sentenced the man who admitted to assassinating former prime minister Shinzo Abe to life in prison, bringing a formal conclusion to one of the most shocking crimes in the country’s modern political history. Public broadcaster NHK reported that the Nara District Court delivered the verdict on Tuesday. Tetsuya Yamagami, 45, pleaded guilty to fatally shooting Abe in July 2022 while the former leader was delivering a campaign speech in the western city of Nara ahead of a national election. Prosecutors had sought a life sentence, citing the targeted nature of the attack and i
trump-nato-chief-agree-to-davos-talks-amid-renewed-greenland-tensions
WorldJan 20, 2026

Trump, NATO chief agree to Davos talks amid renewed Greenland tensions

The future of Greenland is set to be discussed at a high level meeting in Davos after U.S. President Donald Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte held a phone conversation earlier this week, according to public statements released by both sides. Trump said he raised concerns about Greenland’s strategic importance during the call, telling Rutte that the Arctic territory plays a critical role in both U.S. national security and broader global stability. Greenland’s location has long been viewed as vital for military surveillance and Arctic shipping routes as climate change reshapes the
death-toll-climbs-to-15-after-deadly-shopping-plaza-fire-in-karachi
WorldJan 19, 2026

Death toll climbs to 15 after deadly shopping plaza fire in Karachi

Rescue crews in Pakistan’s largest city recovered additional bodies from the ruins of a multi storey shopping plaza in Karachi, raising the confirmed death toll from a major fire to at least 15 as dozens of people remain unaccounted for. Officials warned the number of fatalities could still increase as search operations continue inside the damaged building. Firefighters brought the blaze at Gul Plaza under control late Sunday, nearly a full day after it first erupted, allowing emergency teams to enter areas that had been inaccessible because of intense heat and smoke. Provincial authorities
south-korean-court-sentences-former-president-yoon-suk-yeol-to-five-years-in-prison
WorldJan 16, 2026

South Korean court sentences former president Yoon Suk Yeol to five years in prison

A South Korean court has sentenced former president Yoon Suk Yeol to five years in prison in connection with criminal charges linked to his controversial declaration of martial law in late 2024. The ruling, delivered Friday by the Seoul Central District Court, marks the first verdict among eight separate criminal trials Yoon is facing related to the decree and other alleged misconduct. The court convicted Yoon on charges including defying authorities during attempts to detain him and fabricating official documents. Prosecutors had argued that Yoon obstructed law enforcement and abused presiden
venezuelan-opposition-leader-says-she-presented-nobel-peace-prize-medal-to-trump-during-washington
WorldJan 16, 2026

Venezuelan opposition leader says she presented Nobel Peace Prize medal to Trump during Washington

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado says she presented the physical medal from her Nobel Peace Prize to former U.S. President Donald Trump during a meeting in Washington, describing it as a symbolic gesture recognizing what she called his commitment to democratic change in Venezuela. Machado told reporters after the closed door meeting that she handed the medal to Trump as a sign of appreciation for his support of Venezuelan freedom. The White House did not immediately confirm whether Trump formally accepted the medal, and no further details were released about the exchange. The
trump-says-iran-pauses-executions-of-detained-protesters-as-military-options-remain-under-review
WorldJan 15, 2026

Trump says Iran pauses executions of detained protesters as military options remain under review

U.S. President Donald Trump says Iran has put a halt to carrying out death sentences against protesters who were detained during recent unrest, while warning that Washington is still weighing possible military action. Speaking to reporters, Trump said his administration is closely monitoring the actions of the Iranian government and assessing its response to international pressure over the treatment of detainees. He described the reported pause in executions as a temporary development and said further steps by Tehran would influence U.S. decision-making. The heightened tensions have prompted p
u-s-pauses-immigrant-visa-processing-from-75-countries-over-public-assistance-rules
WorldJan 14, 2026

U.S. pauses immigrant visa processing from 75 countries over public assistance rules

The United States has suspended the processing of immigrant visa applications for citizens of 75 countries, citing concerns that some applicants could require public assistance after settling in the country. The U.S. State Department confirmed Wednesday that consular officers have been directed to halt immigrant visa processing from the affected countries. The move follows a broader order issued in November that tightened eligibility standards for immigrants deemed likely to become a “public charge” under U.S. immigration law. Officials emphasized that the suspension applies only to immigr
WorldJan 14, 2026

Deadly crane collapse strikes moving train in Thailand, dozens killed

A major rail disaster in Thailand has left at least 32 people dead after a construction crane collapsed onto a moving passenger train near Bangkok, authorities confirmed Wednesday. The crash injured at least 66 others, including seven people who remain in critical condition. The accident occurred around 9 a.m. as the train was travelling from Bangkok toward the northeastern province of Ubon Ratchathani. Officials said about 171 passengers were on board at the time, many of them students and workers commuting between regions. According to Thailand’s State Railway, the crane was part of an ong
former-us-president-donald-trump-claims-role-as-venezuelas-acting-president-in-social-media-post
WorldJan 12, 2026

Former US President Donald Trump Claims Role as Venezuela’s “Acting President” in Social Media Post

In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, former United States president Donald Trump identified himself as the “acting president” of Venezuela, saying he would assume that position in January 2026. He also referred to himself as both the 45th and 47th president of the United States in the same message. There has been no official confirmation or statement from the White House or the current US administration regarding Trump’s claim about Venezuela. The Trump post comes after a major US action on January 3, when Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, we

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surrey-man-charged-after-newton-area-shooting
CanadaJan 30, 2026

Surrey Man Charged After Newton-Area Shooting

Police have laid multiple criminal charges following a shooting at a Surrey home on New Year’s Day. Officers from the Surrey Police Service (SPS) responded around 11:45 p.m. on January 1, 2026, to reports of gunfire in the area of 140B Street and 59 Avenue in Newton. At the scene, they found an injured man who was taken to hospital with a gunshot wound. Officials said his condition was stable. A second man was arrested at the location. The SPS Serious Crime Unit took over the investigation. On January 28, the BC Prosecution Service approved charges against 49-year-old Chanchal Badwal. He fac
b-c-based-jim-pattison-developments-cancels-virginia-warehouse-sale-to-ice
BCJan 30, 2026

B.C.-based Jim Pattison Developments cancels Virginia warehouse sale to ICE

Vancouver-based Jim Pattison Developments has announced it will not proceed with the sale of a Virginia warehouse property to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which had planned to use the site as an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) processing facility. The 43.5-acre property in Hanover County, Virginia, faced public scrutiny after news emerged that it could be converted into a holding and processing centre amid a wider U.S. immigration crackdown. The company, owned by Canadian billionaire Jim Pattison, had previously stated it was unaware of the final purchaser or the intende
israel-to-reopen-gaza-egypt-border-crossing-after-nearly-two-years-of-closure
WorldJan 30, 2026

Israel to reopen Gaza–Egypt border crossing after nearly two years of closure

Israel says it will reopen Gaza’s Rafah border crossing with Egypt on Sunday, allowing limited movement of people in and out of the territory for the first time in nearly two years. The Israeli military agency COGAT, which oversees civilian coordination with Gaza, said the reopening will permit “limited movement of people only,” with both Israel and Egypt screening those seeking to cross. European Union border assistance personnel will supervise operations at the crossing, Gaza’s primary link to the outside world. The Rafah crossing has been largely closed since May 2024, following ren
federal-court-of-appeal-set-to-rule-on-ottawas-single-use-plastics-ban
CanadaJan 30, 2026

Federal Court of Appeal upholds Ottawa’s authority to maintain single-use plastic b

Canada’s Federal Court of Appeal has ruled that the federal government acted within its authority when it classified certain plastic products as toxic, clearing the way for Ottawa to maintain its ban on several single-use plastic items. In a unanimous decision released Friday, a three-judge panel overturned a 2023 lower court ruling that had found the federal government overreached by broadly labeling plastic manufactured items as toxic under environmental legislation. That earlier decision had cast uncertainty over the future of the single-use plastics ban. The appeal court concluded the go
cfia-says-threats-against-staff-escalated-during-b-c-ostrich-cull-forcing-family-relocation
BCJan 30, 2026

CFIA says threats against staff escalated during B.C. ostrich cull, forcing family relocation

A senior Canadian Food Inspection Agency official says agency employees faced escalating threats and harassment during preparations for the culling of hundreds of ostriches at a British Columbia farm, including incidents serious enough to force the relocation of a worker and their family. In an interview with The Canadian Press, the official said opposition to the cull intensified both online and in person, culminating in what they described as extreme cases of direct threats involving physical violence and sexual assault. One CFIA employee and their partner were relocated along with their chi