Hamas announced a delay in the next hostage release in Gaza, accusing Israel of ceasefire violations, including obstructing humanitarian aid. This comes during a sensitive ceasefire period with ongoing prisoner exchanges. Palestinian President Abbas ended stipends to prisoners' families, aiming to improve relations with the US under President Trump’s administration.
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Southern California expects hazardous winds on Wednesday, with potential weekend rainfall that could bring toxic ash runoff. Firefighters control minor outbreaks and some residents return. LA County supervisors approve emergency measures to prevent further damage. Power shutoffs by Southern California Edison aim to prevent new fires.
South Sudan’s deputy president Riek Machar has threatened to withdraw from the 2018 peace agreement after President Salva Kiir dismissed multiple officials, including two vice presidents, the health minister, and the spy chief. Machar claims the move violates the power-sharing deal that ended years of civil war. With elections scheduled for 2026, ongoing political tensions and stalled reforms continue to threaten the country’s fragile stability.
Pete Hegseth was confirmed as defense secretary following a dramatic late-night Senate vote highlighted by behavioural accusations and a 50-50 split. Vice President JD Vance cast the tiebreaking vote. Concerns over Hegseth's past conduct and statements were evident in the dissenting votes from three Republican senators.
Senior Taliban representatives visited Tokyo for talks aimed at helping Afghanistan build a more inclusive political system and protect human rights. This marks their first diplomatic trip outside Central Asia and the Middle East since taking control of Afghanistan in 2021. The talks, organized by Nippon Zaidan, align with Japan's efforts to encourage the Taliban to adopt policies that protect human rights, despite not officially recognizing them as Afghanistan's government.
American Travis Timmerman, 29, was freed from a Syrian prison after seven months of captivity following the collapse of the Assad regime. He was handed over to US troops at the Tanf garrison and flown to Jordan. Timmerman, who entered Syria from Lebanon on a religious pilgrimage, was reportedly treated fairly during his detention.
Elon Musk has gained access to the federal payment system to help the Department of Government Efficiency monitor and limit government spending. This move faced resistance from Treasury officials, resulting in the retirement of senior official David Lebryk. DOGE officials have been asking for this access since then and then stepped up the pressure after Donald Trump's inauguration. Musk suggested the access intends to uncover fraudulent or illicit payments.
Mitch McConnell, Kentucky's long-serving Republican senator, declared he will not seek re-election in 2026, marking his retirement at the end of his current term. At the age of 83, McConnell announced his decision amidst health-related incidents, underscoring a significant shift in Senate leadership.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt criticises senator Chuck Schumer for attributing the Delta Air Lines crash in Toronto to President Trump's FAA workforce cuts. Leavitt clarifies that Canadian air-traffic controllers managed the flight and defends Trump's efforts to hire skilled air-traffic controllers.
Congress races against a Friday deadline to pass a short-term spending bill, averting a government shutdown. The bill includes disaster relief for hurricane-stricken states and infrastructure repairs. Disagreements persist over the amount of aid, with Republicans opposing some of President Biden's proposed spending. The bill is expected to pass with bipartisan support.
Elon Musk and his four-year-old son X were the main attraction of the Oval Office press conference as President Donald Trump asked Elon Musk to brief the media about the findings of his department. Elon Musk spoke for 20 minutes of the 32-minute long press conference sidelining Donald Trump. Social media users observed how Donald Trump was annoyed and even looked away when little X was approaching him.