President Aleksandr Lukashenko of Belarus secured his seventh consecutive election victory, a result dismissed by exiled opponents as a sham to maintain his autocratic rule. Opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who fled Belarus after the 2020 election crackdown, criticized the election as a staged performance. State-controlled exit polls showed Lukashenko with 87.6% of the vote. Unlike the 2020 election, this contest featured only loyal candidates, with no real opposition. Tikhanovskaya, now in Warsaw, led protests against Lukashenko’s regime. Ava Sinclair 27/01/2025 5:30 pm
After 15 months of war, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are returning to northern Gaza due to a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Displaced Palestinians began moving north through the Netzarim Corridor, with Israel allowing crossings via al-Rashid Street and Salah al-Din Street. Many expressed joy and determination to rebuild their homes, describing the moment as historic and victorious. A young man emphasized Palestinian ownership of the land, highlighting the emotional significance of the return. Ava Sinclair 27/01/2025 5:30 pm
Swedish authorities boarded the Maltese-flagged ship Vezhen, suspected in damaging a Baltic Sea undersea cable between Latvia and Sweden. The incident, likely due to external influence, prompted NATO patrols and a Swedish sabotage investigation. The Vezhen, owned by Bulgarian company Navigation Maritime Bulgare, reportedly dropped an anchor in high winds, possibly striking the cable. The crew was initially held at gunpoint but is cooperating with authorities. Weather conditions were not severe, with winds below gale warning levels. Penelope Kingsley 27/01/2025 2:00 pm
Exit polls in Belarus indicated Alexander Lukashenko won 87.6% of the vote in a presidential election criticized as a “sham” by the EU and opposition. Lukashenko, ruling for over 30 years, faced minimal opposition, with some candidates supporting him. He dismissed the need for campaign rallies, referencing past protests. Lukashenko did not confirm if this would be his last term, emphasizing the seriousness of elections. The Belarusian constitution mandates periodic elections, reminiscent of Soviet-era voting practices. Penelope Kingsley 27/01/2025 2:00 pm
President Trump’s proposal for Egypt and Jordan to accept large numbers of Palestinian refugees from Gaza was rejected by both countries. The suggestion followed a fragile ceasefire after Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023, leaving many Gazans homeless. Trump discussed the idea with Jordan’s King Abdullah and Egypt’s President el-Sissi, but both nations, already facing economic struggles and security concerns, opposed the plan. Jordan’s foreign minister reaffirmed their firm opposition, citing fears of regional destabilization and permanent displacement of Palestinians. Penelope Kingsley 27/01/2025 2:00 pm
Tens of thousands of Palestinians moved north in Gaza after Hamas agreed to release Israeli hostages and Israeli forces began withdrawing. Many carried belongings and expressed relief at returning home. Crossings opened early, allowing people to enter Gaza City. Despite past displacements, residents vowed to stay. Celebrations erupted as families prepared to return, rejecting suggestions of relocation to Jordan or Egypt. Noah Prescott 27/01/2025 2:00 pm
Investigators found evidence of a bird strike involving Baikal teal ducks on a Jeju Air plane that crashed in South Korea, killing 179 people. The crash inquiry will focus on the bird strike’s role and a concrete structure at the runway’s end. The Boeing 737-800’s engines will be examined, and the concrete structure, which houses a navigation system, will be reviewed. The plane struck a bird shortly after being warned of bird activity, declared a mayday, and crashed into the structure. Authorities plan to change similar structures at seven airports. Ava Sinclair 27/01/2025 10:30 am
World leaders, including King Charles, Chancellor Scholz, and President Macron, will gather in Poland to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day and the 80th anniversary of Auschwitz’s liberation. Auschwitz survivors are invited, acknowledging the emotional challenge of attending. A freight train car will symbolize the memory of 420,000 Hungarian Jews deported there. The event highlights rising antisemitism in Europe, exacerbated by Middle East conflicts, with reports of increased antisemitic incidents and many Jews feeling unsafe. The UN established January 27 as International Holocaust Memorial Day in 2005. Noah Prescott 27/01/2025 10:30 am
Swedish authorities have seized the Maltese-flagged ship Vezhen, suspected of damaging a data cable under the Baltic Sea to Latvia. An investigation suggests sabotage, involving Sweden’s police, military, and coast guard. The ship’s anchor reportedly dropped in high winds, according to its Bulgarian owner. Latvia’s military noted three ships in the area during the incident. This follows Nato’s Baltic Sentry mission launch, aimed at protecting underwater cables amid concerns over Russia’s “shadow fleet.” Latvia and Sweden are collaborating with Nato on the issue. Penelope Kingsley 27/01/2025 10:30 am
The report on the Jeju Air crash at Muan Airport provides no initial conclusions on why the landing gear wasn’t deployed or why flight recorders stopped. The plane overshot the runway, crashed into an embankment, and caught fire, killing all but two of the 181 onboard. The embankment’s structure likely contributed to the high death toll. Investigators will examine engines, flight data, and potential bird strikes. The pilots reported a bird strike and declared an emergency, but the exact timing remains unclear. The investigation aims to determine the accident’s cause. Noah Prescott 27/01/2025 7:00 am
