Intelligence sources from the U.S. and Israel estimate that only about 20 of the 251 hostages taken by Hamas on October 7, 2023, remain alive. This figure, shared during ongoing negotiations in Qatar, includes civilians and female Israeli soldiers but excludes male soldiers, whose inclusion might slightly increase the count.
In a historic move, Pope Francis appointed Sister Simona Brambilla as the first woman to head a major Vatican office. Brambilla, an Italian nun, will serve as prefect of the Dicastery for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, responsible for overseeing the Catholic Church’s religious orders worldwide.
Haiti continues to spiral into chaos, with more than 5,600 people killed in 2024 as gangs tighten their grip on the nation. A U.N. report released Tuesday highlights a 20% rise in killings compared to 2023, alongside over 2,200 injuries and nearly 1,500 kidnappings. Gang violence has displaced more than 700,000 people, leaving many in overcrowded, unsanitary shelters.
The Biden administration is reallocating over $100 million in military aid originally earmarked for Israel and Egypt to Lebanon. The funding aims to support the implementation of a ceasefire agreement brokered between Israel and Hezbollah. The State Department outlined the plan in notices sent to Congress on January 3.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed any notion of forgiving Russian President Vladimir Putin during a podcast interview with Lex Fridman, citing atrocities committed during Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Zelenskyy labeled Putin a child murderer and rejected the possibility of a peace deal involving forgiveness.
Donald Trump Jr. revealed in an interview with Newsmax that many Greenlanders support a stronger alliance with the United States, citing dissatisfaction with Denmark's governance. Trump Jr. recently visited the Arctic territory with conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, describing a warm reception from locals who expressed frustration with their treatment by Denmark.
Elon Musk’s recent comments targeting U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and other British officials have raised concerns about potential strains in U.S.-U.K. relations. Musk, a billionaire tech mogul and close adviser to President-elect Donald Trump, accused Starmer of complicity in mishandling decades-old child grooming gang scandals during his tenure as the U.K.’s director of public prosecutions.
In a controversial move during its final weeks, the Biden administration’s Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) finalized a rule Tuesday that will prevent medical debt from appearing on credit reports. The regulation, estimated to impact 15 million Americans and $49 billion in medical debt, also bars creditors from using medical information in lending decisions.
World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) announced Monday that its iconic "Royal Rumble" event will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in January 2026. This decision marks the first time the marquee premium live event will take place outside of North America, sparking disappointment among fans who view the Royal Rumble as a distinctly American tradition.
Tensions between China and Taiwan escalated Friday as a Hong Kong-owned freighter allegedly severed a vital undersea communications cable near Taiwan. The incident, echoing earlier sabotage in the Baltic Sea, has heightened fears of a potential Chinese "quarantine" of Taiwan, aimed at isolating the island from the global community.
