German Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemns Elon Musk's 'erratic' comments and support for the extreme-right AfD party. Scholz, in an interview, emphasizes that Germany's actions align with citizens' wishes, not those of an American billionaire, stressing the importance of staying calm ahead of the snap elections on Feb 23.
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Bird flu's H5N1 strain is causing growing concern among health experts due to its expanding host range, now including US dairy cows. The virus has spread globally, impacting millions of birds and even some mammals. Worryingly, human cases are emerging, including some without direct animal contact, and antibody tests suggest underreporting.
Melania Trump accuses the Obamas of withholding information during her first term transition, while Jill Biden sent her a supportive note this time. Melania declined the Bidens' invitation for tea and did not attend Jill Biden's event. But later as they met at Jimmy Carter's funeral, Jill Biden said Melania thanked her for her note.
A South Korean court has overturned the impeachment of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and reinstated him as acting president. Han assumed the role after President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached for imposing martial law, leading to a major political crisis. The constitutional court has yet to decide on Yoon's impeachment.
Elon Musk will step down as head of the department of government efficiency due to regulations limiting special government employees to 130 days. His tenure saw significant budget cuts and a new reporting system before tensions rose. President Trump and Musk confirmed his departure as planned, dismissing speculations of a rift between them.
Peterson also voiced deep concerns about Canada’s political direction under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. He pointed to proposed legislation like Bill C-63, the so-called "Online Harms" bill, which aims to regulate online speech. Peterson argued that such laws would create a “totalitarian hell hole,†where anonymous complaints about “offensive†content could lead to severe consequences.
Oracle is in advanced talks with investors, including Microsoft, to acquire TikTok’s global operations, addressing U.S. national security concerns. ByteDance would retain a minority stake with Oracle overseeing key operations. Walmart is not involved in the current talks, focusing on other areas. The deal could redefine tech security and influence Chinese tech firms' role in the U.S.
Israel has allowed Palestinians to return to the northern Gaza Strip, which has been heavily damaged during the 15-month war with Hamas, under a fragile ceasefire. Thousands of Palestinians, who had been sheltering in camps, returned to find their homes, despite extensive destruction. Meanwhile, Israel arrested two citizens for allegedly conducting missions for Iran, and violence in southern Lebanon has escalated, resulting in 24 deaths from clashes with Israeli troops.
David Hogg, a 24-year-old gun control activist and survivor of the 2018 Parkland school shooting, has been elected the vice chair of the Democratic National Committee. Republicans and other conservative commentators laughed at the election and called David Hogg a crisis actor, a drifter who went on to become famous after a 2018 school shooting which he survived, though many claimed he was not at the school during the shooting.
Panama released dozens of migrants deported from the US who were held in a remote jungle camp, amid human rights concerns. ​The illegal migrants have been told by the Panama authorities that they have 30 days to leave Panama but if they need to extend that they can do it for 60 days.
US President Donald Trump has issued an ultimatum to Hamas, demanding the release of all remaining hostages by noon on Saturday. Trump warned of severe consequences if Hamas fails to comply, while Israel awaits the release of three hostages under the ongoing ceasefire agreement.