US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will not attend the upcoming G20 summit in South Africa due to concerns about the country's policies, including land reforms. This decision follows similar criticism from President Trump, who called South Africa's land policies a human rights violation.
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A violent storm in the Kerch Strait severely damaged two Russian oil tankers, causing an oil spill and a rescue operation. One tanker split in half, resulting in one fatality and injuries. The other tanker ran aground. Authorities are investigating potential safety breaches and working to contain the environmental impact.
​The US-Canada border runs across the floor of the library but its entrance is on the American side. The back door is on the Canadian side and those who do not have a library card will have to use the back door now. ​​US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said the divide is about to become more pronounced in the coming days as only library card holders and employees will be allowed to cross over from Canada to enter through the main gate on the US side.
The Balochistan government, led by CM Mir Sarfraz Bugti, plans stringent action against government employees involved in anti-state activities. This includes surveillance and dismissal if they fail to promote national symbols in educational institutions. The move seeks to suppress activism and dissent in the region, drawing criticism from international human rights groups.
As wildfires tore through Los Angeles, firefighters battled relentlessly to stop the flames from reaching iconic landmarks like the J Paul Getty Museum and UCLA. Fires have already destroyed over 12,000 structures across 56 square miles, and thousands of residents faced evacuation orders. Grim recovery efforts continue amid allegations of inadequate firefighting resources.
Tufts University is calling for the release of Rumeysa Ozturk, a graduate student detained by DHS over alleged links to Hamas. Her visa was revoked despite being in good standing. The university disputes the allegations and is concerned about the impact on campus safety. Ozturk is currently in a Louisiana detention center.
Si Woo Kim leads the RBC Heritage after a 5-under 66, despite a late bogey on the 18th. Justin Thomas, one shot behind, endured a day of penalties and hazards but finished strong with a birdie. Andrew Novak also sits one shot back after a bogey-free 66, while defending champion Scottie Scheffler remains in contention, four shots off the lead.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed Vladimir Putin is soon to die, as speculation about the Russian leader's health intensifies. Zelenskyy and French President Emmanuel Macron presented a unified stance, urging EU solidarity and increased military aid amidst ongoing conflicts and unreliable ceasefire agreements.
A Russian court has set a February 24 appeal hearing for French researcher Laurent Vinatier, jailed for three years for failing to register as a "foreign agent." Vinatier, working for a Swiss mediation NGO, admitted guilt, claiming ignorance of the law. France has condemned the case, which comes amid strained Russia-France relations over Ukraine. His lawyers argue the sentence is excessively harsh and sought a fine instead.
Myanmar's ruling junta said Tuesday it had deported to China more than 50,000 people suspected of involvement in online scam operations since October 2023, as it made a rare call to neighbouring countries to intervene. It said the junta had caught and deported over 55,000 foreigners involved in border scams to their home countries since October 2023, over 53,000 of them to China.
The US Senate confirmed Pete Hegseth as defense secretary with a narrow 51-50 vote, following a contentious debate. Vice President JD Vance cast the deciding vote after three Republicans joined all Democrats in opposition. Hegseth, a military veteran and former Fox News host, faced accusations of misconduct during the confirmation process.