Indonesia and China have pledged to enhance maritime cooperation, focusing on security and safety in the South China Sea, despite Jakarta's concerns over Chinese activities near the Natuna Islands. Both nations agreed to collaborate on infrastructure, minerals, and joint security initiatives. A memorandum of understanding was signed by coast guards to bolster maritime security.
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A Turkish court has ordered the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a prominent opposition figure, on corruption charges. His detention has sparked large-scale protests, raising concerns about democracy in Turkey. The government denies political motives, while Imamoglu's party rallies support for his presidential candidacy.
A petition to revoke Elon Musk's Canadian citizenship has gained significant support, with accusations of Musk influencing Canadian elections and aligning with foreign interests. Amidst growing US-Canada tensions, the petition highlights public outcry and concerns over national identity. Musk's controversial statement and political affiliations have fueled further backlash, though the petition remains largely symbolic with no immediate legal repercussions.
President-elect Donald Trump announced his ambassadorial picks for five nations on Truth Social. Businessman Lou Rinaldi heads to Uruguay, former ambassador George Edward Glass to Japan, Broadway producer Stacey Feinberg to Luxembourg, real estate president Arthur Graham Fisher to Austria, and former CIA officer Leah Francis Campos to the Dominican Republic.
The US government has mandated denying visas to transgender athletes seeking entry for sports events, as part of an executive order under President Trump. The policy enforces strict definitions of sex and may lead to lifelong visa bans for misrepresentation, affecting participation in major US-based women's sports leagues.
An alarming video from Gaza shows young children handling oversized rifles in the absence of Hamas police. Despite Hamas's efforts to maintain order, children handling weapons instead of toys has become a common sight after 15 months of conflict. Recovery is challenging with extensive infrastructure damage, and Israeli authorities allege Hamas is arming and training youth.
China executed two men, Fan Weiqu and Xu Jiajin, for deadly attacks in November. Fan killed 35 people by ramming his car into a crowd, and Xu fatally stabbed eight at his school. These incidents raised concerns about a rise in 'revenge on society crimes.' President Xi Jinping urged local governments to prevent such attacks.
US President-elect Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed key issues like trade, TikTok, and Taiwan in a positive phone call that both leaders hoped would start US-China relations on a constructive note. Trump pledged to address various issues immediately, while Xi emphasized caution on the Taiwan matter.
Donald Trump Jr attended the Superbowl Sunday with his new girlfriend Bettina Anderson. While they were clicked together at the event, Anderson posted a series of Instagram stories from the Superbowl. Don Jr's ex-fiancee Kimberly Guilfoyle too was present at the Superbowl. Guilfoyle posted photos with Vivek Ramaswamy, actor Kevin Costner among many others.
An Ohio teacher, Vivian Geraghty, won a $450,000 settlement after resigning for refusing to use students' preferred pronouns due to her religious beliefs. The U.S. District Court ruled the school district's policy as compelled speech, violating the First Amendment. This case emphasizes the conflict between personal beliefs and gender identity policies.
Israel on Sunday said troops would stay in West Bank refugee camps for the coming year, announcing expanded military operations including tank deployments, after the displacement of tens of thousands of Palestinians. On Sunday, Israel's military said "a tank division will operate in Jenin" as part of "expanding" operations in the area.