War breaking news. Houthi missile hits US ship off Yemen. Hamas releases video with bodies of two hostages

Lawyer Joseph Tacopina is leaving Donald Trump's defence team. The lawyer represented him in two trials: one for falsifying company accounts to buy the electoral silence of a porn star with whom he had had an affair; and the appeal of the conviction in the civil case won by the writer Jean Carroll, who had accused him of sexually abusing her in the 1990s.

Estonia is considering the possibility of undermining the land border with Russia. This was stated by the Deputy Chairman of the Defence Committee of the Estonian Parliament (Riigikogu), Leo Kunnas. Speaking on Estonian television, Kunnas pointed out that the operation cannot, however, be executed immediately. According to the Estonian politician, it requires, in fact, the prior fulfilment of certain conditions, such as the restoration of the stockpiles of mines ceded to Ukraine, the denunciation of the Ottawa Convention on the Prohibition of Anti-Personnel Mines by all Baltic States, and the commencement of a significant autonomous production of explosives for military purposes to be used for the development of anti-tank and anti-personnel mines. 'As soon as we have fulfilled these conditions,' Kunnas said, 'it will be possible to discuss the construction of an effective defence system of this type.

One of the two men shot dead this evening in Largo Odoardo Tabacchi, in the Corviale area on the outskirts of Rome. According to information, he is a 33-year-old Roman. The other, wounded in the leg, was taken to hospital. The matter is being investigated by the Carabinieri.

A 9-year-old boy died when he was run over by a train in Borgo Revel, a hamlet of Verolengo, in the province of Turin. His body was seen in the evening on the tracks by the driver of a regional train on the Chivasso-Alessandria line. The little boy may therefore have been run over and killed by a convoy that had previously passed over the line. The dead child is believed to be a Moldavian who escaped from a community that had raised the alarm in the afternoon for the search.

The child's corpse was found near the small railway station in Borgo Revel. Investigations by the railway police are underway to clarify what happened. Circulation on the line has been suspended and trains have been replaced with buses between Chivasso and Alessandria. This is the second fatality on the railway lines today in the Turin area, in the same area. At the station of Chivasso, about fifteen kilometres from Borgo Revel, this morning a sixty-year-old woman was run over and killed by a passing train on the conventional Turin-Milan line. It was almost certainly suicide, as investigators have reconstructed.

"We formally deny Hamas' lies that the hostages were killed as a result of our attacks", but "we know that we targeted and destroyed the terrorists' infrastructure located near where they were being held". This was stated by Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari, commenting on the video released by the al-Qassam Brigades announcing the death of two hostages as a result of Israeli raids on Gaza. "We informed the families of our deep concern about the fate of Itay Sabirsky and another hostage. They may be dead," the spokesman added.

"The EU continues to actively engage and coordinate with partners in all instances to address the Houthi threat against commercial vessels and ships. The EU welcomes the UN resolution recognising that states have the right to defend themselves against attacks against their vessels. Operation Atlanta (led by the EU) shares its knowledge with Operation Prosperity Guardian' led by the US and the UK. 'Further options will be discussed at the European Council regarding the EU maritime response'. This was said by EU Commissioner Nicolas Schmit representing the European executive, speaking during the debate on the Red Sea crisis in the Eurochamber. "However," the EU commissioner pointed out, "it is unlikely that there will be an immediate deterrent effect for the Houthis given the visibility they have enjoyed from their actions.

"Only two countries have sent two ships" to assist the wounded in the Gaza Strip: "us and France. We are now thinking of a field hospital, we are negotiating with Egypt". Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni 'is taking care of 120 children with families who will be hosted in Italian hospitals for more serious complications, we are doing our part, other countries are not'. This was said by Defence Minister Guido Crosetto on the 'Cinque minuti' programme, broadcast on Rai 1.

"Giorgetti provided a very factual overview of recent developments within the Italian Parliament. We are committed to continue to cooperate with him." This was said by Eurogroup President Paschal Donohoe at a press conference. After the exchange with Giorgetti, 'at the moment the only commitment there is is to reflect on the consequences of the decision' of Italy 'and come back to this issue in the future', Donohoe stressed, pointing out that 'there is a desire on everyone's part to listen carefully to Giorgetti and engage with him to see if we can find a way to strengthen our banking union'.

Only military pressure on Hamas will lead to a new hostage agreement. This was stated by Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant at a press conference, according to 'The Times of Israel'. "If the firing ceases, the fate of the hostages will be sealed for many years in Hamas captivity. Without military pressure, no one will talk to us. Only from a position of strength can the hostages be freed," Gallant explained. 'We will reach all the hostages and defeat Hamas. Both our enemies and our friends look at the results and test us,' he adds. These statements by Gallant come at a time of growing frustration with the government from the families of the hostages, who claim that this policy has proven ineffective, as no hostages have been released in over a month, since Israel resumed its ground offensive after a seven-day truce that saw over 100 hostages released.

"Hamas exercises psychological torture on the families of the hostages". Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said this after the latest video released by Hamas showing the bodies of two abductees. "The army," he added, "is in constant contact with the families and forwards them verified information. The army - he explained - "will provide further details later". "Should the military pressure on the ground cease," he concluded, "the fate of the hostages would remain uncertain for years.

Yossi Sharabi and Itay Svirsky, two of the three hostages in the video released by Hamas last night, are dead. This is what Noa Argamani, the kidnapped girl who appeared in the same video put on Telegram by the terrorist group, implies in a new clip published in the evening. In today's footage - which has not been published in Israel - images of the two lifeless male hostages can be seen. According to Argamani's account, which could not be verified, the two 'were killed in two separate Israeli bombings'.

Turkey has denied having arrested Israeli footballer Sagiv Jehezkel, saying that the sportsman was summoned by the authorities simply to give testimony as part of an investigation opened against him after he displayed a message with the words '100 days. 07/10' on a bandage on his left wrist, next to the Star of David, after scoring a goal with his team, Turkey's Antalyaspor, during a match against Trabzonspor on Sunday. "The claim that 'Israeli footballer Sagiv Jehezkel was arrested in Turkey', reported by several media outlets and reiterated by Michael Roth, chairman of the Bundestag's (the German parliament's) foreign affairs committee, is not true," reads a message circulated on X by the 'Sure to Combat Disinformation', an institution linked to the presidency of the Republic of Ankara. "During the Antalyaspor-Trabzonspor match there had been a protest in the audience against Sagiv Jehezkel, the Israeli footballer who applauded Israeli hostilities in Gaza, and an investigation was launched against him on the basis of public incitement to hatred and hostility. Today, 15 January 2024, Jehezkel, who provided testimony as part of the investigation, has left the country and is not in custody," the message concluded.

I would like to thank "Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Patriarch of Jerusalem of the Latins, for having accepted to honour us with his presence, and even more so for the work that he carries out every day with wisdom and sacrifice in a Holy Land that all Christians think of with feelings of nostalgia and care. I recall on this occasion the projects that our Centro di Ateneo per la Solidarietà Internazionale CESI has implemented, with the support of Gemelli Medical Center, in collaboration with the Patriarchate and with the Christian realities operating in those territories. Our momentum does not stop and we promise ourselves as soon as conditions allow, to plan and submit new initiatives'. Thus the Magnificent Rector of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Franco Anelli, in his speech at the opening ceremony of the new academic year.

The Gibraltar Eagle ship was hit by an 'unidentified projectile' off the Yemeni coast. This was reported by the US-based operator Eagle Bulk Shipping, as reported by the BBC. The ship, carrying steel products, 'sustained limited damage to one hold, but is stable and is leaving the area'. There are reportedly no injuries among the crew. According to Centcom, around 4pm Sana'a time, Yemen's Houthis - whom Iran is accused of supporting - fired an anti-ship ballistic missile at the ship from areas of the Arab country under their control.

According to testimonies collected by Al Jazeera, the two Palestinians arrested for the Ra'anana bombing had cousins who died in Israeli prisons in the early 2000s. The two bombers, who killed one person and injured 17 others, worked at a car wash in the city on Harushot Street without a regular work permit. Their employer was arrested.

A coordination meeting between the Prime Minister's Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defence was held this afternoon at Palazzo Chigi to examine the main elements of the crisis in the enlarged Mediterranean area, and in particular the security situation for shipping in the Red Sea. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Antonio Tajani, Defence Minister Guido Crosetto, and Undersecretary to the Presidency Alfredo Mantovano compared the analyses of their respective administrations and agreed on the guidelines to be proposed at the forthcoming international meetings, in particular at the European Affairs Council on 22 January, when the formation of a European naval force dedicated to protecting merchant ships in the Red Sea area will be discussed.

The Israeli army has withdrawn its 36th division from Gaza, leaving three others in the Strip. The Times of Israel reports this, explaining that this is being done as part of military plans for a long war against Hamas. The 36th, which has been operating in the north of the Strip for two months, will now be given a rest period. Then there will be new training at the end of which a decision will be made whether to redeploy the division in Gaza. Of the three remaining divisions, the 162nd is engaged in the north of the Strip against the last remaining Hamas fighters, the 99th operates in the centre of the Strip and the 99th fights Hamas in the southern area of Khan Yunis.

Two Palestinians, a boy and a girl in their twenties, were reportedly killed by bullets fired by Israeli forces during a raid in Dura, south of Hebron, in the West Bank. This was reported by the Palestinian news agency Wafa. The Ministry of Health in Ramallah confirmed the death of 22-year-old Mohammed Hasan Abu Sabaa, and the medical director of the Dura Governmental Hospital announced the death of a 23-year-old woman, Ahed Mahmoud Mohammed, who was injured in clashes that broke out during the blitz. Ten other people were injured in the operation reported by Palestinians shortly after the news came from Ra'anana, in the central district of Israel, where at least one person died and 17 others were injured in 'incidents' in which two Palestinians from the Hebron area are suspected of being involved.

Mohammed Abdel Salam, the official spokesman for the Houthi rebels in Yemen, said that 'attacks on ships en route to Israel will continue' after a US-owned ship was hit by a missile in the Gulf of Aden. According to a Yemeni military source, interviewed by Al Jazeera, the Houthis 'attacked a ship in the Red Sea that was bound for Israel. The attack was carried out after the ship failed to respond to warnings addressed to it'.

In a post on its facebook profiles, the Russian embassy in Italy emphasises that 'the official Italian authorities have in no way condemned the inhuman actions of the Ukrainian military'. The reference is to the events that took place on 30 December 2023 in Belgorod where, according to the Russian embassy, 'the Ukrainian Armed Forces knowingly struck crowded places (a Christmas market and an ice rink) and residential neighbourhoods, on the day when people were making their final preparations for New Year's Eve'. The embassy explains that the 'despicable terrorist act cost the lives of 20 citizens and five children in Belgorod; 108 people were injured'. According to Moscow, the lack of condemnation 'would seem to mean that, according to them, it is permissible to make distinctions between civilian victims based on the principle of nationality'. "Do victims really 'carry a different weight' if they are Russian?" the post concludes.

The two Palestinians arrested for today's terrorist attack in Ra'anana were identified by the Shin Bet as Ahmed Zidat, 25, and Mahmoud Zidad, 44. The two are relatives and are residents of the southern West Bank town of Bani Naim, near Hebron. According to the Shin Bet, both were in Israel illegally and had been blacklisted in the past for entering the country illegally many times. The Times of Israel reported this.

Almost two years into the invasion, Russia said it had sentenced more than 200 Ukrainian prisoners of war to long prison terms, some of them to life imprisonment. "More than 200 Ukrainian military personnel have been sentenced to long prison terms for committing murder of civilians and mistreatment of (war) prisoners," Alexander Bastrykin, head of the Russian Investigative Committee, said in an interview with the state-run Ria Novosti news agency. The official promised that Moscow would 'continue' its efforts to prosecute Ukrainian military personnel, including 'high-ranking officials'. Many of the Ukrainian prisoners of war were imprisoned in occupied eastern Ukraine, while others were taken to Russia. Bastrykin did not specify whether the soldiers were sentenced in Russia or Ukraine, but the state-run Rt newspaper quoted a source from the Investigative Committee as saying that 242 soldiers were sentenced in the territories under Russian occupation. Moscow holds an unknown number - believed to be thousands - of Ukrainian soldiers captive, many of whom were captured during the siege of the port city of Mariupol in 2022. Kiev and international rights groups have denounced Russian trials of prisoners of war as illegal. On 3 January, Moscow and Kiev claimed to have exchanged hundreds of prisoner soldiers in their first publicly announced exchange in months.

"The commando operation in Raanana is a natural response to the massacres of the occupation and its continued aggression against our Palestinian people." Hamas said this on Telegram about the terrorist attack in the small town in central Israel, adding that "the people's heroes from Rafah to Jenin will continue the defence of the people, the land and the holy places in the face of the criminal Nazi enemy" and "the Zionist war machine in the West Bank and Gaza Strip".

See also: Israel Police, in Ra'anana "a terrorist attack"

A US-owned, Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier is the ship hit by a missile off the coast of Yemen. This was indicated by the British maritime security company Ambrey, stating that the missile caused a fire in the hold, but the ship can continue sailing. According to Ambrey, there are no casualties and the vessel has no links to Israel.

A ship was hit by a missile off the coast of Yemen. This was announced by the British Maritime Safety Agency.

At least one person is dead and many others injured is the new toll coming from Ra'anana, in central Israel, where a car rammed into a number of people and at least one other was reportedly stabbed. According to the Times of Israel, at least one of the 18 people injured died, while the Israeli news site Ynet reports 19 wounded, four of them in serious condition.

It was the Meir Hospital that confirmed the death of a patient, aged about 70, who had been seriously injured. According to the initial reconstruction of what happened reported by Ynet, it all started when a car rammed into passers-by along Haharoshet Street and then headed towards Ahuza Street and ran over civilians waiting at a bus stop. The Jerusalem Post quotes the Police and writes of a "terrorist" who stabbed a woman, while another stole a car and then launched "attacks" in different areas. The arrest of two residents of Hebron, West Bank, has been confirmed, and the Police believe the suspects managed to switch cars three times during the 'incident', which has not yet been confirmed as a terrorist attack. The town of Ra'anana is located in the central district of Israel, north of Tel Aviv.

The United Kingdom's maritime trade operations agency (Ukmto) has reported 'an incident' off the southern Yemeni port city of Aden. No further details are added in the social X post, but the report follows the Houthi threat that Yemen will turn into a ''graveyard'' for the Americans.

"We cannot underestimate the possibility that the tension in the Red Sea has consequences" on the European economy, "which for the moment do not seem to be there but which could" be there "in the coming weeks on energy prices and consequently on inflation". This was said by the European Commissioner for the Economy, Paolo Gentiloni, arriving at the Eurogroup. "Faced with a very low growth environment, some risks are occurring from a geopolitical point of view," Gentiloni pointed out.

The Israeli police confirmed that the attacks in Ra'anana in central Israel 'were a terrorist attack'. This was stated by a police officer on TV. So far, the toll of the attacks - with cars ramming into passers-by and knife attacks - is at least 17. Police have arrested as one of the possible perpetrators of the attacks a Palestinian from Hebron in the West Bank.

The idea of a second ratification vote on Italy's MEP? "This is up to the Italian government and parliament. We very much respect the decision they made. We have 19 countries that have ratified it. We look forward to hearing from Minister Giorgetti an update on the status of the treaty." This was said by Eurogroup President Paschal Donohoe, responding to a question on the possibility of a second ratification vote in Italy, upon his arrival at the Eurogroup meeting.

Hamas has posted on Telegram a new video of the 3 hostages already shown a first time yesterday. In this recent one, the faces of Noa Argamani, Yossi Sharabi and Itay Svirsky, move like in slot machine games. And they are accompanied by the words 'What do you think? Still alive? All dead? or Some alive, Some dead?". And immediately afterwards Hamas claims: 'Tonight we will inform you of their fate'.

The army has begun operations on the ground in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central part of the Strip. This was said by the military spokesman who said that in the camp "a mortar and rocket construction facility and also weapons concealed in a building belonging to a humanitarian organisation" were found. It was not specified which organisation this was. Soldiers," he continued, "also raided a school where eight Hamas operatives were 'captured and taken to Israel'; a weapons cache was also 'found in the area of the school.

The situation of instability in the Red Sea and the consequent impact on many maritime trade routes in that area is also starting to have consequences in countries such as Spain, including price problems: this is highlighted by Aecoc, an organisation representing Iberian companies in various sectors. According to a note taken up by some media, several traders are noticing prices even tripling for containers with the required products. In addition, they are beginning to experience difficulties in finding 'certain raw materials'. Due to this situation, many companies are applying preventive measures, such as anticipating planned orders, to avoid an impact on final product prices, according to Aecoc.

The Israeli army's elite special forces unit Duvdevan has moved from Gaza to the West Bank. As Haaretz reports, security officials said that the situation in the West Bank is 'on the verge of exploding'. They also warned that if the Israeli political leadership does not make decisions on the economic future of Palestinians living in the West Bank, the risk of conflict will increase. From the Israeli army's point of view, the transfer of the special forces unit from Gaza represents the loss of a significant force in the war effort in the Strip.

At least 14 people were injured in a series of suspected attacks, in different ways, in Raanana in central Israel. This was reported by the media, which spoke of both a knife attack and of passers-by being run over in different streets.

- Israeli footballer Sagiv Jehezkel, who was arrested in Turkey after celebrating a goal in a Turkish league match, has been released by the Turkish authorities, according to the state-run Anadolu news agency. According to local media, he is expected to return home in the coming hours on a private flight provided by the Israeli government itself. Jehezkel had shown his arm with a bandage, in front of the cameras, after scoring a goal in the 68th minute. On his arm, handwritten in English, were the words '100 days', the date 7 October and a Star of David. Turkish prosecutors opened an investigation against the Israeli footballer on charges of "inciting hatred and hostility", Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said. "A judicial investigation has been launched by the Antalya chief prosecutor's office against Jehezkel for 'inciting hatred and hostility' due to his ugly gesture in support of the Israeli massacre in Gaza after scoring a goal in the Antalyaspor-Trabzonspor Super Lig match," Tunc wrote on social media platform X. Jehezkel, 28, celebrated the equalising goal in Sunday's 1-1 draw against Trabzonspor in the Turkish top league by making a heart sign with his hands in front of the camera and displaying his message '100 days, 7 October'. One hundred is the number of days the hostages have been held by the Palestinian terrorist group. Jehezkel was suspended by Antalyaspor 'until further notice' following his appearance, amid fierce criticism from local fans and the Turkish media. The club president also promised to terminate his contract. Jehezkel is an Israeli national who only moved from Hapoel Beer Sheva to Antalyaspor in September. Sunday's equaliser was his sixth goal of the season in the Turkish Süper Lig. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Foreign Ministry want to bring the player back to Israel, Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 reported. 'Anyone who arrests a footballer' for an act of solidarity 'with the 136 hostages held for over 100 days in the hands of a murderous terrorist organisation represents a culture of murder and hatred,' Israeli Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz said.

''The Houthis have suffered a severe blow'' from the raids launched by Britain and the United States. This was stated by the British Defence Minister Grant Shapps in a speech at Lancaster House, explaining that the Yemeni militiamen ''had been warned, through various channels and with direct and indirect messages, but decided not to desist''. Calling the attacks against the ships in the Red Sea ''unacceptable'' and ''which cannot continue'', the British minister argued that they ''have nothing to do with the war between Israel and Gaza'' even if the Houthis call them actions in support of the Palestinian people. Shapps also stated that ''Britain is the guardian of free international trade'' and the government will ''monitor the situation very carefully''.

The Houthis had received "every possible warning" to "desist from their criminal attacks" on shipping in the Red Sea: they did not listen and in the end "enough was enough". This is how Grant Shapps, Defence Minister in Rishi Sunak's Tory government, justified today the American-British raids conducted in recent days against targets of the Shia militia that controls a large part of Yemen. Shapps focused on current events during part of the speech he gave at Lancaster House in London to illustrate new lines of the United Kingdom's military strategy 'in a changing world', which in his words is becoming 'more and more dangerous'; a speech in which he did not fail to point to Russia and China, more or less directly, as the West's major geopolitical rivals. Speaking about Yemen, he said that the aim was to weaken the Houthis' military and missile capability and that they were ordered to take 'cautious and proportionate action'. However, he did not elaborate on the prospect of further bombing or not. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak intends to keep his hands free on this prospect, according to Downing Street's leaks of a statement on the Yemeni crisis due to be made in the House of Commons later today: the first communication to Parliament, which has not been asked in advance about last week's raids.

According to the Israeli security agency Shin Bet, Israeli intelligence services are using fake social pages to spy on defence officials in Tel Aviv and gather information on civilians. This was reported by The Times of Israel. Iranian intelligence, in particular, is allegedly using pages that deal with the ongoing war in the Middle East or that talk about the hostages still in the hands of Hamas. Using fake online profiles, Iranian agents allegedly instructed Israelis to photograph the residences of defence officials and other Jewish state leaders who were particularly active on social media or who spoke out publicly against Tehran. Iranian agents also allegedly used social media and fake websites to organise rallies near the homes of family members of hostages or to send them flowers and messages.

Boycott Turkey, Erdogan is 'a real Nazi'. Israeli far-right minister Itamar Gen Gvir reacts thus to the news of Israeli footballer Sagiv Jehezkel of the Turkish club Antalyaspor, who was arrested in Turkey for a gesture of solidarity with the hostages in Gaza. "Turkey acts with Nazism against Israeli players, and against everything that smells of Israel," Ben Gvir wrote on social X. Turkish President Recep Tayyp "Erdogan is a true Nazi," he continued, "I urge Israelis not to travel to Turkey, not to buy Turkish products and not to support them financially. The State of Israel and Israeli citizens must not forgive Turkey. We will not be trampled on'.

Hundreds of Gazans were filmed storming humanitarian aid trucks in Gaza. This was reported by Haaretz quoting al Jazeera attaching its own footage. The area filmed is supposed to be Moassi on the Rafah coast in the south of the Strip where displaced people from the north are massed.

Dozens of people, including women and children, were killed last night in intense Israeli shelling in Gaza City, Khan Yunis (in the southern sector of the Strip) and the nearby el-Bureij refugee camp. This was updated by the official Palestinian news agency Wafa. A Red Crescent spokesman, Wafa adds, described the situation as 'catastrophic'. What the agency describes as "massacres" are taking place while telephone communications in the Strip remain blocked even today, for the fourth consecutive day, further complicating rescue operations.

The Iranian judiciary opened a new case against the two journalists released yesterday on bail after 17 months in prison for reporting on the death of Mahsa Amini. Niloofar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi were charged for appearing without a hijab after their temporary release from Evin prison. Photos and videos were circulated on social media showing the two journalists, head uncovered and a sign of victory, when they were greeted by friends and family in front of the Evin prison.

Russia has allegedly 'substantially inflated' the numbers of new recruits in the country's armed forces, some of whom were disproportionately recruited from some of the country's poorest rural communities. This was reported by the Ministry of Defence in London, in the intelligence report published in X. "Russian Security Council Vice-President Dmitri Medvedev," it reads, "stated that 500,000 people have joined the Russian armed forces in 2023. It is very likely that this figure has been greatly inflated. In an attempt to meet recruitment targets, since April 2023 the Russian army has allowed school graduates to sign contracts with the Russian army. Recent figures published by Mediazona and the BBC Russian service suggest that at least five Russians born in 2005 died in the conflict'.

One of the Houthi leaders Ali al-Qahoum says in an interview with the Iranian news agency Irna, picked up by the Times of Israel, that Yemen will turn into a 'graveyard' for US forces. "We tell the Americans that your actions against Yemen will be defeated and that we will confront you with all our strength. After this aggression, Yemen will turn into the graveyard of the Americans and they will leave the region humiliated,' says al-Qahoum.

The Ukrainian Air Force announced that it had shot down two Russian military aircraft. Initially, local media had reported last night that one plane had been shot down and another had been hit. The Air Force announced on Telegram that the downed Russian aircraft were an A-50 long-range radar detection aircraft and an Il-22. "The special operation in Priazov was successful," the Air Force stated in the message referring to a geographical area of the northern coast of the Azov Sea.

Russia would prefer to achieve its goals in Ukraine by "diplomatic means", but continues its military operation due to the "unwillingness of the West and Ukraine" to take its security concerns into account. This was said by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, responding to those asked whether Moscow was prepared to attend an international meeting such as Davos if invited. "First of all," Peskov said, quoted by the Tass news agency, "we should not forget that Kiev itself has formalised a ban on any negotiations with Moscow. The absurdity of the situation is probably best understood by remembering this ban. Therefore, our position has been repeatedly confirmed by President Putin: for us, of course, it is preferable to achieve our goals and solve our security problems by peaceful means, diplomatic means. But under the conditions of absolute impossibility of this, due to the reluctance of the countries of the collective West and Ukraine to take into account our security considerations, we are conducting a special military operation, as a result of which we will achieve our goals."

The President of Argentina, Javier Milei, will leave Buenos Aires today to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he will seek support for the USD 4.7 billion announced by the IMF for Argentina. During his three-day stay in Switzerland, the ultraliberal leader will have a confidential meeting with IMF director Kristalina Georgieva. In his first international trip as head of state, Milei will speak on Wednesday at a panel discussion on 'Achieving Security and Cooperation in a Fractured World'. Also on Wednesday, Argentina's Foreign Minister, Diana Mondino, will speak at the panel discussion 'Creating Growth and Employment for a New Era', specifically addressing the topic 'Latin America's Economic Realism'. Milei's participation will be the first presential by an Argentine president in six years, following that of former president Mauricio Macri in 2018, before the coronavirus pandemic. Also part of Milei's delegation will be the head of the presidency's General Secretariat, Karina Milei (the president's sister), the head of the Cabinet, Nicolas Posse, and the economy minister, Luis Caputo.

The Hamas Health Ministry announces a new death toll of 24,100.

New showers could hit Rio de Janeiro today, which was hit over the weekend by a violent storm that has so far killed eleven people and left two missing in the metropolitan region. The North Zone of the Brazilian city and the municipalities of the Baixada Fluminense are among the hardest hit areas. In addition to the victims, the rain caused extensive material damage to residents, led to the closure of major highways (such as Avenida Brasil and BR-040, which gives access to the mountainous region), as well as the closure of metro stations and trains.

Qatar has suspended sending oil tankers carrying liquefied natural gas through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait after US-led air strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen raised risks in the vital waterway. This was claimed by Bloomberg. At least five Qatari-operated LNG ships have been stopped since Friday, according to ship tracking data compiled by Bloomberg. A prolonged pause in supplies from Europe's second-largest LNG supplier raises supply risks for many countries, including Italy, just as winter weather grips the continent.

Nearly two years after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, some 14.6 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in Ukraine, or 'a staggering 40 per cent of the population', and some 6.3 million people have fled the country, the United Nations said today as it launched a funding appeal to donors to raise a total of $4.2 billion to fund aid to Ukraine's war-affected communities, Ukrainian refugees and host communities in the region by 2024.

"The US government's support for the Zionist regime was a big mistake". This was stated by Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, adding that "the Israeli regime and its supporters were wrong to think that they could destroy Hamas in a short period of time". The head of Tehran's diplomacy challenged the US, Israel and some Western countries for describing the 7 October attack by Hamas as a terrorist act. According to Mehr reports, Amirabdollahian also referred to the attacks by the Yemeni Houthis, backed by Tehran, against commercial ships in the Red Sea, stressing that "Iran does not give orders to resistance forces in the region, including Yemen, and they act independently according to their own interests".

The China expresses "total opposition against any interaction between the United States and Taiwan". This was the comment by Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning on the ongoing visit to Taipei by the unofficial American delegation of former senior officials, two days after the island's presidential election that saw William Lai, the candidate of the Democratic Progressive Party, win.

The Chinese Central Bank unexpectedly kept benchmark rates unchanged. Major commercial banks lowered deposit rates, a move seen as a way to leave room for further rate cuts. The People's Bank of China injected 995 billion yuan ($138.93 billion) of liquidity into the banking system through the one-year medium-term loan facility at an interest rate of 2.5%, the same rate as the previous operation; it also injected 89 billion yuan through seven-day reverse repurchase agreements at a rate of 1.8%. The move to maintain benchmark rates may disappoint the market, which has been expecting a rate cut this month, after commercial banks cut deposit rates last month to give the central bank more leeway.

With deep regret 'we announce the termination of diplomatic relations with Nauru . This timing is not only a retaliation by China against our democratic elections, but also a direct challenge to the international order'. This is what Taiwan's foreign ministry wrote in a note, confirming the severing of relations with the Pacific island. Taipei, however, 'remains undaunted and will continue to be a positive force'.

China, on its side, lets it be known that it 'welcomes and welcomes' Nauru's decision to end its relations with Taiwan in favour of Beijing, assuring that it is ready 'to open a new chapter in relations' with the Pacific island-state. A Foreign Ministry spokesman commented that 'as a sovereign and independent nation, Nauru has announced that it is ready to restore diplomatic relations with China', a development that 'China appreciates and welcomes'.

The US Central Command (Centcom) states that an anti-ship cruise missile was fired yesterday afternoon from Houthi militant areas of Yemen towards the destroyer USS Laboon in the southern Red Sea. In a post on its X account, Centcom specifies that the projectile was shot down near the coast of al-Hudayda by US fighter planes and no injuries or damage were reported.

US air strikes on Yemen have revealed its true nature, which is aggressive and contrary to human rights, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said last night during a telephone conversation with the head of the Yemeni Houthi Supreme Political Council, Mahdi al-Mashat.

"Undoubtedly, such actions against people who have been resisting foreign aggression for years and are now playing an effective role in the defence of the Palestinian people are rejected and condemned by the freedom-seeking nations of the world," the president added, quoted by the Irna news agency. Raisi also stressed the importance of protecting the security of international shipments for different countries. Al-Mashat, for his part, affirmed that Yemen stands firm in confronting Israel's cruel regime and supporting the people of Gaza, calling on the Islamic world "to use its capacity to clarify the ongoing developments and the inhuman crimes committed by Israel and its allies."

The Israeli army is continuing to press into the area of Khan Yunis in the south of the Strip. This was said by the military spokesman, according to whom soldiers prevented an attempt by Hamas to transport weapons in a truck to its militiamen still present in the area. The truck was later destroyed. Also in Khan Yunis, troops raided the Islamic faction's Central Command where various weapons were discovered. In the north of the Strip, five militiamen were killed - according to the same source.

An Israeli footballer was arrested for displaying a message referring to the war between Israel and Gaza during a match in Turkey: Turkish media quoted by the Guardian reported. After scoring a goal for his team against Trabsonspor, Sagiv Jehezkel revealed a message with the words '100 days. 07/10' on a bandage on his left wrist. The Turkish Justice Minister announced an investigation into Jehezkel over the incident on suspicion of 'inciting hatred', after his club - Antalyaspor - had sacked him over the issue.

"The Antalya prosecutor's office has opened a judicial investigation against Israeli footballer Sagiv Jehezkel for public incitement to hatred because of his hateful celebration in favour of the massacre committed by Israel in Gaza," Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said in an online post.

Bernardo Arevalo was sworn in as the new president of Guatemala after a long and troubled parliamentary session. The 65-year-old leader of the progressive Semilla movement, winner of the June presidential elections with 61% of the vote, is the 52nd head of state of the Central American country.

Nauru ends diplomatic relations with Taiwan , leaving Taipei with just 12 official allies in the world. This was reported in a statement by the government of the small Pacific island-state announcing the official recognition of the People's Republic of China. According to Taiwanese media, Vice Minister Tien Chung-kwang will also hold a press conference on the subject shortly. Currently, Foreign Minister Joseph Wu is on a visit to Guatemala.

Nauru's decision was announced by President David Ranibok Adeang in a message to the nation posted on social media, just two days after Taiwan's presidential election that saw Democratic Progressive Party candidate William Lai win. Announcing the change with immediate effect, Nauru made it clear that it regarded Taiwan as an 'inalienable part of Chinese territory'.

The Taiwanese Defence Ministry reported detecting six aircraft and four Chinese military vessels around the island in the 24 hours up to 6am local time (11pm Sunday in Italy), as well as another balloon. While, of the aircraft detected, only one crossed the midline of the Strait of Taiwan . Taipei's armed forces, reads a ministry note, 'monitored the situation and instructed appropriate responses'. On Saturday, the island elected Willian Lai, the candidate of the Democratic Progressive Party and current vice-president, to the presidency: the former doctor considers the island to be de facto independent and has promised to protect it from 'threats and intimidation' from Beijing.

The former chairman of China's state-owned banking giant Everbright Group , Tang Shuangning, was arrested on charges of bribery and corruption, according to a statement by the Beijing Supreme People's Procuratorate. The restraining order, which was executed 'in recent days', came at the conclusion of the first investigation into Tang, who was expelled from the Chinese Communist Party last week. The announcement of the former banker's arrest also follows the new large-scale anti-corruption campaign launched a few days ago by President Xi Jinping, with a special focus on sectors such as finance.

"The Ukraine has sufficient potential to overcome this difficult war path. We have the potential to win". So said President Volodymyr Zelensky, explaining that Kiev is accelerating artillery production. In his daily video address to The Nation last night, Zelensky announced 'good news' in particular about new air defence systems. "There are new support packages for our warriors and agreements on joint production of weapons and ammunition; there will be more drones."

The Israeli army bombarded the roads leading to the crossing on the Palestinian side at least four times, thus preventing any passage to the Gaza Strip , and Egypt immediately repaired them. The biggest obstacle to the entry of aid and its rapid arrival in sufficient quantities to the Palestinians in these 100 days has been the obstinacy and intentionality of the occupying Israeli authorities to delay the inspection of aid'. This was said by the head of the Egyptian state press office Diaa Rashwan, responding once again to the accusations made in Cairo by Israel to the Hague Court.

Rashwan added that the entry of aid through the Rafah crossing from the Egyptian side "faced an initial obstacle from the beginning, namely that the crossing was not structurally prepared for the entry of goods, but only people, which Egypt overcame with urgent technical interventions to allow the passage of trucks". Finally, Rashwan reiterated Egypt's "determination to continue its utmost efforts to accelerate the transfer of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and to strive to increase it, so as to help limit the worsening of the unprecedented humanitarian crisis suffered by the Palestinians".

Artificial intelligence (Ai) will impact 60 per cent of jobs in advanced economies. Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of the FMI, told Afp shortly before leaving for the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. "Advanced economies and some emerging markets will see ;;60 per cent of their jobs hit," she said in an interview in Washington, citing a new IMF report on the subject. "Emerging markets at 40 per cent, low-income countries at 26 per cent," he stressed.

"I will never forget the pain and suffering I felt in my meetings with the families of the American hostages". US President Joe Biden said this in a statement 100 days after 7 October, quoted by the Times of Israel. America is still working to bring home "more than 100 innocent people, including at least six Americans, who are still being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza," the US president continued. "I once again reaffirm my promise to all the hostages and their families: we are with you. We will never stop working to bring Americans home," Biden pointed out.

Hamas published a video last night of 3 Israeli hostages, including 26-year-old Noa taken away from the party in Re'im on a motorbike. Meanwhile, pressure from the families of the abductees on Netanyahu mounts.

Hamas ha pubblicato in serata un video di tre ostaggi. Lo riporta Haaretz precisando che i tre sono "Noa Argamani, Yossi Sharabi e Itay Svirsky. Noa 26 anni, è stata rapita da una festa a Re'im ed è stata ripresa nei video mentre veniva trasportata su una moto verso la Striscia di Gaza. Itay Svirski, 38 anni, di Tel Aviv, è stato sequestrato mentre era in visita alla sua famiglia nel Kibbutz Be'eri. I suoi genitori, Orit e Rafi Svirski, sono stati assassinati. Yossi Sharabi, 53 anni, di Be'eri, è stato invece rapito da casa sua". Il video arriva esattamente 100 giorni dopo il 7 ottobre.

What happened on 14 January 2024