U.S. and European allies convene in Paris to discuss Ukraine security guarantees

PARIS — Key Ukrainian allies are meeting in Paris to hammer out security guarantees for Kyiv and advance U.S.-brokered plans aimed at ending the war with Russia, with Washington’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner set to join the talks. The gathering, convened by France and the United Kingdom under the banner of the “Coalition of the Willing,” brings together representatives from 35 countries, including Ireland. The French presidency said the aim is to demonstrate alignment between Washington, Kyiv and European partners…

African Nations Express Discontent Over U.S. Moves in Venezuela

African Union and Member States React to U.S. Intervention in Venezuela The African Union (AU), along with several countries including Ghana, Uganda, and South Africa, has expressed significant concern over the recent U.S. intervention in Venezuela. This situation escalated when U.S. authorities seized President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, as part of an indictment involving drug and weapon charges. In an official statement, the AU stated it would be "following with grave concern the recent developments in…

U.S. scales back universal guidance for four childhood vaccines, including flu

The United States has ended its longstanding guidance that all children receive vaccines against influenza and three other diseases, shifting to “shared clinical decision-making” between families and providers. The sweeping change — approved by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Acting Director Jim O’Neill without the agency’s usual outside expert review — applies to rotavirus, meningococcal disease and hepatitis A, in addition to flu. Public health experts warned the rollback could lead to preventable…

Top 7 Branded Snacks for a Slimmer Waistline This New Year

Based on the content of the source text, the best matching format is Healthy Eating. The article focuses on providing science-informed nutrition advice by sharing a selection of store-bought snacks that support weight loss, along with detailed descriptions from a sports nutritionist. Here's how it fits the criteria: Science-informed nutrition: The text discusses snacks that can aid in dieting and weight loss based on nutritional expert opinions. Practical tips: It lists specific snack products, including their attributes…

Israel’s North Western State of Somalia Recognition: Red Sea Geopolitics, Somali Unity, and the Road Ahead

Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia upends Horn of Africa politics — and tests Somalia’s path forward HARGEISA and MOGADISHU — The split screen was stark. In late December, flags rose over Hargeisa and crowds flooded the streets after Israel announced it would formally recognize North Western State of Somalia as an independent state. In Mogadishu, tens of thousands rallied beneath Somali and Palestinian flags, denouncing the move as a violation of sovereignty and a dangerous precedent for the region.…

Press watchdog condemns Israel for barring journalists’ access to Gaza

Foreign Press Association condemns Israel’s move to keep Gaza media ban in Supreme Court filing An international media association criticized the Israeli government for maintaining its ban on unrestricted media access to Gaza, calling the move “disappointing” after authorities told the Supreme Court in a late Sunday submission that the restriction should remain in place. The government’s filing said continued exclusion of foreign journalists from independently entering the Gaza Strip is necessary. “This is for security…

Swiss mayor says bar fire venue had no safety inspections since 2019

Crans-Montana’s mayor said no official safety inspections were carried out at the Swiss bar where a New Year’s fire killed 40 people and injured 116, acknowledging systemic failures as the Alpine resort town prepares for a national day of mourning. “Periodic inspections were not conducted between 2020 and 2025. We bitterly regret this,” Mayor Nicolas Feraud told reporters five days after the blaze tore through Le Constellation bar in the early hours of Jan. 1. “We are profoundly sorry. We did not have an indication that the…

Thailand says Cambodia breached ceasefire in cross-border ‘accident’

Thailand accused Cambodia of violating a 10-day-old truce with cross-border mortar fire that wounded a Thai soldier, while Phnom Penh said a separate blast from a “pile of garbage” injured two of its own troops along their contested frontier. The Thai army said Cambodian forces fired mortar rounds into Thailand’s Ubon Ratchathani province this morning, breaching the ceasefire agreed on December 27 to halt weeks of border clashes. In a later statement, Thai officials said Cambodian counterparts contacted a Thai unit to insist…

North Western State of Somalia suspends Air Djibouti flights amid diplomatic tensions

MOGADISHU — North Western State of Somalia has instructed Air Djibouti to suspend all flights to its territory starting Jan. 7, deepening a diplomatic rift with neighboring Djibouti amid tensions tied to Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia, according to BBC Somali. Neither North Western State of Somalia officials nor Djibouti’s state-owned carrier immediately commented on the reported directive, and BBC Somali said the airline is expected to issue a statement. Air Djibouti has been operating several…

Video: Skiers carve heart-shaped tribute honoring Swiss fire victims

Skiers in Crans-Montana formed a heart on a snowy slope in a powerful tribute to the victims of the New Year’s Eve blaze at the “Le Constellation” bar, where 40 people were killed and 119 others were injured, many of them severely. The heart-shaped formation, captured on video, became a focal symbol of collective mourning in the ski community after the deadliest nightclub fire in years. Organizers and participants aligned themselves across the piste, their tracks drawing a clear, white outline visible from above — a quiet…