The Senate voted 70-25 to adopt an amendment to the Laken Riley Act, requiring ICE to detain undocumented migrants accused of nonviolent crimes and assault on law enforcement officers. Proposed by Sen. John Cornyn, the amendment saw support from 21 Democrats and all present Republicans. The bill, named after a murdered student, has passed procedural hurdles but faces criticism for potentially bypassing due process. Some Democrats support the bill, while others seek changes. Efforts to amend it, like Sen. Chris Coons’ proposal, have so far failed. Further debate is scheduled. Noah Prescott 16/01/2025 10:00 pm
Ukrainian Special Operations Forces used drones to strike a Rosneft base in Russia’s Voronezh Region, causing a massive fire. The depot supplies fuel to Russian military groups. The Ukrainian General Staff confirmed the attack, with at least three UAVs hitting the target. Russian Telegram channels reported explosions and flashes, with local air defenses possibly active. Separately, a fire at the Volgograd Lukoil refinery led to a shutdown, though no drone attack was reported, and the cause remains unclear. Penelope Kingsley 16/01/2025 10:00 pm
Mr. Ben-Gvir criticized a cease-fire deal, claiming it would undermine war achievements and keep Hamas in power. Despite his threat to destabilize Netanyahu’s coalition, the deal, which includes freeing hostages, is likely to proceed. Netanyahu retains a parliamentary majority, and opposition leader Yair Lapid supports the cease-fire. Secretary of State Blinken expressed confidence in the deal’s implementation, though timing remains uncertain. The Biden administration continues to work on finalizing details after the cease-fire agreement was announced, highlighting the truce’s volatility and potential delays. Penelope Kingsley 16/01/2025 10:00 pm
India’s space agency, ISRO, successfully conducted its first space docking, joining two small spacecraft in orbit. This achievement is crucial for India’s future plans to build a space station and send humans to the Moon. The mission, SpaDeX, launched from Sriharikota on December 30, involved two spacecraft, SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target), which separated and later docked. India becomes the fourth country to achieve this technology, following the US, Russia, and China. Prime Minister Modi and Science Minister Jitendra Singh praised the milestone. Noah Prescott 16/01/2025 6:30 pm
In Stilfontein, South Africa, at least 87 miners have died in a standoff with police after being trapped in an abandoned gold mine. Authorities initially refused to assist, opting to “smoke them out” by cutting off food supplies, sparking outrage and potential investigations. A court-ordered rescue operation retrieved 78 bodies and 246 survivors. Criticism mounts over the handling of the situation, with calls for an independent inquiry into the authorities’ actions and the miners’ deaths, suspected to be from starvation and dehydration. Penelope Kingsley 16/01/2025 6:30 pm
Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was arrested after declaring martial law, which led to his impeachment. Initially resisting arrest, Yoon was detained without significant clashes after 3,000 police officers intervened. He criticized the investigation as illegal but agreed to cooperate to avoid violence. Yoon faces charges of rebellion and abuse of power for deploying the military to the National Assembly. The CIO has 48 hours to seek a formal arrest order, potentially leading to his detention for up to 20 days before indictment. Noah Prescott 16/01/2025 6:30 pm
A new analysis of a late Iron Age cemetery in Dorset, England, reveals that female family ties were central to Celtic social networks before the Roman invasion. Genetic evidence shows women were closely related, while unrelated men joined the community, likely through marriage. Two-thirds of individuals descended from a single maternal lineage, indicating matrilocality, where women stayed in their communities, managing land and property. This pattern contrasts with the more common patrilocality observed in other ancient European societies. The findings highlight the unique role of women in Iron Age Britain. Noah Prescott 16/01/2025 6:30 pm
Pope Francis, 88, fell and injured his right arm without breaking any bones, according to the Vatican. His arm is immobilized as a precaution. Despite the fall, he attended five meetings, including with Alvaro Lario. The pope has faced recent health issues, using a wheelchair since 2022 due to knee pain. In his autobiography, he acknowledges aging but remains committed to his role. He will appear on the Italian talk show “Che Tempo Che Fa” this Sunday. Noah Prescott 16/01/2025 6:30 pm
A British woman, 62, died after a “violent collision” with a stationary British man on a black run at Les Arcs, French Alps. She lost control of her skis, leading to the crash. The man, 35, suffered a broken leg. Both wore helmets. An investigation is ongoing. The Foreign Office is supporting her family. French slopes see about 10 traumatic deaths annually, often from collisions. Noah Prescott 16/01/2025 6:30 pm
The Israel-Hamas war has severely impacted the Gaza Strip, with satellite images revealing extensive destruction. These images show a potential buffer zone desired by Israel, despite international objections, which would reduce Gaza’s area. Gaza City has been heavily damaged, with many buildings destroyed. As the conflict continued, Israel ordered evacuations southward, resulting in thousands of tents in Muwasi. Experts estimate nearly 60% of Gaza’s buildings are damaged. This assessment is slightly lower than a previous UN analysis. Ava Sinclair 16/01/2025 6:30 pm
