Sudan's military reported that it ended a long siege by the Rapid Support Forces on a town in the Kordofan region. Videos showed local people celebrating with soldiers after the siege was broken.
Key Facts
Sudan's military said it broke a two-year siege by paramilitary forces.
The siege was in a town located in the Kordofan region.
The paramilitary group involved is called the Rapid Support Forces.
After the siege ended, people in the town celebrated with soldiers.
Videos of the celebrations were shared by the military.
Russia has targeted Ukraine's energy systems during a harsh winter, causing repeated blackouts in many cities. This has left millions of Ukrainians without power or heat as temperatures stay as low as -15C (5F). In Kyiv, even when power returns, it only lasts briefly, offering little relief.
Key Facts
Russia is attacking Ukraine's energy infrastructure during winter.
Temperatures in Ukraine are around -15C (5F).
Many Ukrainian cities experience regular power outages.
Millions of people are affected, losing heat and electricity.
Repair crews work constantly, but Russian attacks damage systems again.
In Kyiv, limited power returns allow brief charging of devices.
Homes in Kyiv remain cold and difficult to live in.
Prize-winning composer Philip Glass has canceled the premiere of his new symphony at the Kennedy Center due to differences with its leadership. This move is part of a series of artist withdrawals from the center, following changes in its board connected to President Donald Trump. These artists object to the venue's political direction and leadership changes.
Key Facts
Philip Glass canceled the premiere of his Symphony No. 15, citing conflicts with the Kennedy Center's current values.
The symphony was set to be conducted by Grammy-winning conductor Karen Kamensek on June 12 and June 13.
President Donald Trump's removal of the center's previous leadership led to backlash from artists.
Trump's appointees on the board aim to rebrand the venue as the Trump Kennedy Center.
Renowned artists like Renée Fleming, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and others have also canceled engagements at the venue.
Some artists were concerned over perceived political influence at the Kennedy Center.
The center has traditionally been seen as a nonpartisan cultural institution.
Sweden plans to change its law to make children as young as 13 responsible for serious crimes. The government is doing this because more young people are joining gangs and committing violent acts. There is opposition to the plan from various authorities who worry it might cause more harm.
Key Facts
Sweden wants to lower the age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 13 for serious crimes.
Crimes included are murder, attempted murder, bombings, weapons offenses, and rape.
The proposal was made due to an increase in gang recruitment of young children.
Some authorities, like police and prison officials, are against the change.
Critics worry the change could lead to younger children getting involved in crime.
The government seeks to stop children from being used by gangs for serious crimes.
Sweden's Council on Legislation will review the proposed law.
Iranian activists report that security forces have killed over 6,000 people during recent protests. In response, a U.S. aircraft carrier has arrived in the Middle East, increasing military tensions. The Iranian economy is struggling, with its currency dropping to a record low.
Key Facts
Activists say more than 6,159 people have died in Iran due to government action against protests.
The protests started on December 28, triggered by the collapse of Iran's currency, the rial.
The U.S. has sent the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln to the Middle East as tensions rise.
U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened military action in response to the crackdown.
Iran's rial has fallen to a record low of 1.5 million to $1.
Iran said its death toll is 3,117, a lower figure than reported by activists.
Iranian-backed militias have threatened new attacks, supporting Iran amid tensions.
Internet access in Iran has been heavily restricted to control information flow.
The 2026 Bafta Film Awards nominations have been announced. Films like "One Battle After Another," "Sinners," "Hamnet," and "Marty Supreme" are leading the nominations. The awards ceremony will take place at London's Royal Festival Hall on February 22nd.
Key Facts
"One Battle After Another" received the most nominations with 14.
"Sinners" followed closely with 13 nominations.
"Hamnet" and "Marty Supreme" each received 11 nominations.
The Bafta Film Awards honor films from the past year.
The ceremony will be at Royal Festival Hall in London on February 22.
Nominated directors include Paul Thomas Anderson for "One Battle After Another" and Chloé Zhao for "Hamnet."
Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal were both nominated for their roles in "Hamnet."
The EE Bafta Rising Star Award, voted by the public, is among the categories.
The movie "One Battle After Another," starring Leonardo DiCaprio, leads this year's Bafta Film Awards with 14 nominations. Other films like "Sinners," "Hamnet," and "Marty Supreme" also received multiple nominations. The Baftas recognize more UK talent and have additional categories compared to the Oscars.
Key Facts
"One Battle After Another" received 14 Bafta nominations.
"Sinners" has 13 nominations, while "Hamnet" and "Marty Supreme" have 11.
Timothée Chalamet and Jessie Buckley are nominated in the lead acting categories.
Baftas include categories for outstanding British film and outstanding debut by a UK writer, director, or producer.
Some actors, like Chase Infiniti and Paul Mescal, are recognized at Baftas but not at the Oscars.
The Baftas have more nomination slots per category compared to the Oscars, which usually have five.
Alan Cumming will host the Bafta Film Awards on February 22 at the Royal Festival Hall in London.
"Wicked: For Good" received two Bafta nominations for costume design and make-up and hair.
The Rafah border crossing, a key route linking Gaza to Egypt, is expected to reopen soon. This comes after Israel recovered the remains of a hostage in Gaza and announced plans to open the crossing under certain conditions.
Key Facts
The Rafah border crossing connects Gaza to Egypt.
It is the only crossing not controlled by Israel before the recent conflict.
Israel plans to open the crossing after recovering a hostage's remains, Ran Gvili.
The opening is a part of the second phase of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire.
Initially, opening the crossing was part of the ceasefire's first phase.
The crossing's reopening is important for Gaza’s connection to the outside world.
Umer Khalid, a 22-year-old activist in the UK, ended a 16-day hunger and thirst strike while in prison due to severe health risks, including potential organ failure. Khalid and other activists were protesting through a hunger strike linked to Palestine Action, a protest group recently classified as a terrorist organization by the UK government. Khalid faces charges related to a break-in at a UK airbase.
Key Facts
Umer Khalid, a British activist, ended a 16-day hunger and thirst strike in a UK prison.
Khalid's health deteriorated to the point of needing intensive care.
Khalid is one of eight prisoners involved in a large hunger strike protest linked to Palestine Action.
The protest is reported as one of the largest of its kind in the UK since 1981.
Khalid and others are accused of breaking into RAF Brize Norton and damaging planes.
The UK government classifies Palestine Action as a terrorist group.
Khalid called for bail and raised issues about prison conditions and UK-Israel relations.
Medical concerns remain about Khalid's health following the end of his strike.
The Gaza ceasefire is entering its second phase after the Israeli military found the body of the last captive in Gaza. This development marks a shift in the current ceasefire situation.
Key Facts
The ceasefire in Gaza is progressing to phase two.
The Israeli military recovered the body of the last captive in Gaza.
This announcement signals a change in the ceasefire arrangement.
The information was reported by Al Jazeera’s Soraya Lennie.
The recovery of the captive’s body is significant for the ceasefire discussions.
The Milan Mayor, Giuseppe Sala, expressed opposition to the involvement of the U.S. agency ICE in providing security for the upcoming Winter Olympics in Italy. He criticized ICE as being unwelcome due to its reputation in the U.S. for immigration crackdowns. ICE stated its role at the Olympics is only to support U.S. and Italian authorities without conducting any immigration enforcement.
Key Facts
Milan's mayor does not want ICE involved in the Winter Olympics security.
ICE is a U.S. agency known for enforcing immigration laws within the United States.
The agency will support Italian authorities and U.S. Diplomatic Security at the Games.
ICE clarified it will not conduct immigration enforcement in Italy.
Italian officials initially denied then downplayed ICE's involvement.
ICE's role in the Olympics is described as limited to security, focusing on risks from criminal groups.
U.S. officials like Vice President JD Vance will attend the opening ceremony in Milan.
Scientists have updated the Doomsday Clock to show that Earth is now 85 seconds away from a hypothetical global catastrophe. This symbolic clock represents how close humanity is to potential disaster due to political tensions and lack of cooperation on major issues.
Key Facts
The Doomsday Clock is a symbolic clock that shows how close the world is to catastrophe.
In 2026, scientists set the clock at 85 seconds before midnight.
Midnight on the clock represents a global disaster or self-destruction.
The change reflects increasing tensions among major world powers.
Cooperative efforts to reduce global risks have weakened according to scientists.
The Doomsday Clock is updated by a group of scientists to express global dangers.
Sudan's military has ended a siege by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on the town of Dilling in the Kordofan region. The military has reopened a road to South Kordofan, enabling supplies to reach the town. This development is part of a broader conflict between Sudan's military and the RSF, ongoing for nearly three years.
Key Facts
The Sudanese military announced it broke a nearly two-year RSF siege on Dilling.
The conflict in Sudan involves the military and RSF fighting for control, ongoing for about three years.
Dilling is located between Kadugli and el-Obeid in the Kordofan region.
The RSF aimed to encircle el-Obeid and Kadugli.
The siege breaking allows for medical supplies, food, and goods to reach Dilling.
Humanitarian issues like hunger are severe, but formal famine has not been declared in Dilling.
Tens of thousands have died in the conflict, with millions displaced.
More than 65,000 people have fled the region since October, as per the UN.
Ukraine is dealing with a major corruption scandal involving its energy sector, which has led to an investigation called Operation Midas. The probe focuses on accusations that people connected to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy were involved in a scheme to misuse tens of millions of dollars. This situation has created both domestic challenges and concerns among Ukraine's Western supporters.
Key Facts
Operation Midas is an anti-corruption investigation in Ukraine led by NABU and SAPO.
The investigation targets high-level figures and associates linked to President Zelenskyy.
Accusations involve misuse of funds through contracts related to Energoatom, Ukraine's state nuclear company.
Andriy Yermak, Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, resigned amid the scandal.
The case impacts Ukraine’s Western ties, as many allies see anti-corruption progress as crucial for continued support.
Investigations are ongoing, and no major legal developments have been reported yet.
Timur Mindich, a key suspect, has been charged in absentia.
German Galushchenko, former justice minister, could face charges soon.
A large billboard in Tehran, Iran shows a U.S. aircraft carrier with destroyed jets on top and blood markings. This imagery appears to send a strong message regarding Iran's view of U.S. military presence.
Key Facts
A new billboard was unveiled in Tehran, the capital of Iran.
The billboard shows a U.S. aircraft carrier with damaged fighter jets.
The image on the billboard includes streams of blood.
The visual seems to represent Iran's stance on U.S. military forces.
The placement of the billboard in a public area suggests a message directed at both Iranians and the international community.
A dog owner was worried about their 10-week-old puppy's first flight from Illinois to California but found that the puppy behaved well and slept peacefully. The owner prepared for possible bathroom issues and shared their travel experience on a viral Reddit post, offering tips for flying with pets.
Key Facts
The 10-week-old Swedish Vallhund puppy took its first flight from Illinois to California.
The owner was worried about the puppy's behavior on the flight but found it uneventful as the puppy slept peacefully.
To prepare, the owner wrapped potty pads around the puppy's crate mattress and carried extra pads, plastic bags, and wet wipes.
They scheduled the flight on an empty stomach for the puppy and provided treats during the trip.
The owner advised other pet owners to notify airlines when flying with pets and use a soft-sided carrier.
The Reddit post sharing this experience went viral, receiving over 20,000 upvotes and 133 comments.
It is recommended not to book aisle seats when flying with pets to reduce stress.
The American Veterinary Medical Association advises against sedating pets for flights due to health risks.
President Donald Trump's tariffs have encouraged India and the European Union (EU) to form a new trade alliance. This partnership aims to strengthen economic ties and reduce reliance on the United States.
Key Facts
President Donald Trump has imposed tariffs that affect international trade.
India and the EU are forming a trade alliance due to these tariffs.
The goal of the alliance is to boost economic cooperation between India and the EU.
This partnership intends to lower dependency on U.S. trade.
The alliance aims to counterbalance the effects of U.S. tariffs on their economies.
A woman in Australia named Adriana Turk believed her father's family had died in the Holocaust until a DNA test revealed she had living relatives. Her father fled Nazi Germany in 1937, and she discovered descendants of Holocaust survivors from her grandmother's family living across multiple countries.
Key Facts
Adriana Turk, from Australia, thought her father's family died in the Holocaust.
Her father escaped Nazi Germany in 1937 and emigrated to Australia after learning English in 10 days.
Adriana's grandmother died in the Warsaw Ghetto during World War II.
Her father’s sister, brother-in-law, and their two children were murdered at Auschwitz.
Adriana took a DNA test and found living relatives who are descendants of Holocaust survivors.
One relative, Renate Püttmann, survived by being hidden by a German soldier.
Adriana discovered she has at least 50 living relatives in places like Brazil and Israel.
The article discusses the close relationship among four sisters who all had daughters around the same time. Tragically, the youngest sister, Tawnee, died by suicide after battling depression. The family continues to support each other and Tawnee's children while honoring her memory.
Key Facts
Four sisters, Kelly, Brittany, Sara, and Tawnee, were very close and grew up together.
All four sisters had daughters at around the same time, despite some facing challenges like fertility issues and living far apart.
The sisters' daughters—Holland, London, Sawyer, and Braydee—became best friends, reflecting their mothers' childhood bond.
Tawnee, the youngest sister, died by suicide after dealing with depression.
Tawnee was a personal trainer and a creative, magnetic presence loved by her family and clients.
The sisters now focus on supporting Tawnee's children and maintaining their family unity.
Kelly continues the family's tradition by having three more daughters.
Kelly shared their story on Instagram to honor her sister and maintain connection.
