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.
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.
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.
The contentious North Carolina Supreme Court race between incumbent Democrat Allison Riggs and Republican challenger Jefferson Griffin remains unresolved, with litigation now spanning both state and federal courts. The outcome of Seat 6 on the state’s highest court has been in limbo for three months since Election Day.
Montenegro's National Security Council convened on Friday to consider stricter gun controls, including the possibility of a total ban on gun ownership, following a tragic New Year’s Day mass shooting that claimed 12 lives.
