The United Nations Support Mission in Libya expressed concern over what it said were arbitrary arrests, including of lawyers and members of the judiciary, calling for their immediate release. "UNSMIL is alarmed by the wave of arbitrary arrest and detentions across Libya by law enforcement and security actors," it said in a statement late Saturday.
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US President Trump indicated that the high tariffs on Chinese imports, currently at 145%, will be reduced substantially, emphasising that the previous zero-tariff situation was detrimental to the US. Treasury Secretary Bessent acknowledged the unsustainability of the current trade standoff, while the White House claims many countries are interested in new trade arrangements.
Pope Francis, 88, remains hospitalized with a multi-pronged respiratory infection, leading the Vatican to cancel papal audiences and delegate responsibilities to others. The cancellations affect events for the holy year, which attracts millions of pilgrims. Francis, who has a history of bronchitis, was admitted after his condition worsened. The Vatican has not specified how long he will stay in the hospital, citing the complexity of his treatment.
Cyprus will receive portable desalination plants from the UAE to address water shortages exacerbated by a fire at a static plant and low reservoir levels. The UAE's donation will provide 15,000 cubic meters of potable water daily, crucial for the peak tourism season. Cyprus is also planning long-term solutions, including new desalination plants and subsidies for private hotel plants.
The UN warned that escalating violence in eastern DR Congo, fueled by Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, could destabilize the region. Over 500,000 people have been displaced, with reports of mass human rights violations. UN rights chief Volker Turk stressed that global demand for DRC’s minerals contributes to the crisis. An international investigation is being considered, while the EU and UK urge an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian access.
Speculation is rife that Adam Schiff will now be added to the list of Kash Patel's enemies that he appended to his 2023 book, Government Gangsters. Claims that Schiff visited Epstein's island resurfaced after Schiff's strong words against Kash Patel. However, it was earlier debunked that the posts claiming Adam Schiff visited Epstein Island over 70 times were fake, as the court documents released in January 2024 did not have Schiff's name.
The White House announced an extension of the Lebanon-Israel deal until February 18, 2025, owing to Israel missing the previous deadline. Despite ongoing violence, US-mediated negotiations continue, with Israeli forces killing 22 people as tensions rise amidst efforts for a ceasefire and prisoner return.
Chinese President Xi Jinping urged officials to enhance political capabilities and address domestic and international challenges calmly. China's economy is coping with sluggish demand, a prolonged property sector crisis, and potential trade conflicts with the US. Xi's call-to-action came ahead of the "Two Sessions" event, expected to reveal policy measures to boost the economy.
Donald Trump humorously addressed the speculations that Elon Musk was the actual president and said that Musk could not be the president as he was born in South Africa. “No, no. That’s not happening. He’s not gonna be president," Trump joked about Musk’s South African birthplace, adding, “You know why he can’t be [president]? He wasn’t born in this country."
White it's not know what access DOGE has and to what extent, Donald Trump asserted that DOGE will not touch Social Security. "Social Security will not be touched, it will only be strengthened," Trump recently said adding that he would "weed out" undocumented people from the benefits. “We have illegal immigrants on Social Security and we’re going to find out who they are and take them off… we’re not going to stand for that.â€
Despite past disagreements, Zuckerberg and Musk seem to share common ground when it comes to fact-checking. The Meta CEO justified his company’s shift towards a similar crowdsourced model, explaining that X’s approach—where users add context to posts—has proven to be more reliable than traditional fact-checking methods. Zuckerberg openly acknowledged that when a competitor creates a superior system, it is Meta’s responsibility to adopt and improve upon it. He believes that integrating... Expand