Author: Amanda Martinez

Hamas releases Israeli hostage bodies on Thursday, marking the first release of deceased captives since October 7, 2023. The handover included Shiri Bibas, 32, and her two sons Ariel, 4, and Kfir, 9 months, who were kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz. The fourth body belonged to Oded Lifshitz 83, who was abducted with his wife Yocheved Lifshitz, later freed in October 2023. Before the transfer Hamas displayed four black caskets on stage in Khan Younis, setting them against a propaganda backdrop. The Red Cross first received the remains before handing them to the Israeli military, which transported them into Israel.…

US President Donald Trump expressed frustration with Boeing’s delay in delivering two new Air Force One planes. He criticized the manufacturer for running behind schedule. The contract signed during his first term was initially planned for delivery in 2024, but Boeing has pushed it to 2027 or 2028. Trump stated that Boeing took too long to complete the planes and suggested looking for alternatives. While rejecting the idea of switching to Airbus, he mentioned the possibility of purchasing a used aircraft and converting it for residential use.  His remarks come after he recently toured a 13-year-old Boeing 747-800 once owned…

Australian police have charged a 31-year-old woman with assault after she allegedly attacked two Muslim women at a Melbourne shopping center. Authorities say the suspect targeted them for wearing head coverings, sparking outrage and calls for more decisive action against islamophobia. The Melbourne Islamophobic attack occurred on February 13 at Epping Shopping Center, where the suspect reportedly grabbed and choked a 30-year-old pregnant woman using her hijab. Ten minutes later, she allegedly pushed and slapped another 26-year-old woman in a separate assault.  Police arrested the suspect and confirmed she will face court on Wednesday. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese strongly…

After rescue attempts failed, 90 fake killer whales who were left stranded on a secluded beach in Tasmania are being put down by Australian authorities. The majority of the 157 whales in the pod died shortly after they beached close to Arthur River. Experts concluded that the remaining whales could not survive due to severe stress and unfavorable circumstances. Wildlife veterinarians announced the decision on Wednesday, calling it brutal and confronting. They explained that stranded whales suffer significantly over time, and euthanasia was the only humane option. The process, which involves shooting the animals, will continue into Thursday. Experts struggled…

South Korea has banned DeepSeek from app stores after discovering possible data transfers between the Chinese AI startup and ByteDance. The country’s Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) confirmed DeepSeek but has not determined what data was shared or to what extent. DeepSeek ban over privacy concerns adds to growing global worries about privacy risks associated with Chinese AI applications. On Saturday, authorities removed DeepSeek from Apple and Google’s app stores due to insufficient transparency in its privacy policies.  Before the ban, South Koreans had downloaded the app over a million times, making it one of the country’s most popular AI…

A Taliban delegation in Japan arrived on Sunday for a rare diplomatic visit, marking its first official trip to the country. The group that governs Afghanistan comprises officials from foreign affairs, education, economy, and health ministries. They plan to stay for a week and meet with Japanese government representatives. Officials in Tokyo confirmed that the delegation aims to secure humanitarian aid and explore potential diplomatic relations with Japan. Latif Nazari, a deputy minister in Afghanistan’s economy ministry, described the visit as part of the Taliban’s international engagement efforts. He stated that the group seeks to establish dignified interactions with the…

Deadly storms pounded the southeastern United States over the weekend, causing Kentucky flash flood that killed at least nine people. Heavy rains submerged roads, destroyed homes and left hundreds stranded in vehicles. Governor Andy Beshear confirmed eight deaths in Kentucky and warned that the number could rise.  In Georgia, a 9th fatality occurred when a tree crashed into a man’s home while he slept. Emergency crews rushed to rescue trapped residents as floodwaters surged. Authorities advised people to stay indoors and avoid travel as conditions remain hazardous. The National Weather Service reported that some Kentucky areas received up to six…

South Korea has blocked new downloads of China´s DeepSeek AI Chatbot due to violations of personal data protection laws. The Personal Information Protection Commission announced the DeepSeek ban in South Korea on Saturday evening, forcing Apple and Google to remove the app from their stores.  Officials stated that DeepSeek could return once the company fixes its compliance issues. After making global headlines, DeepSeek quickly gained popularity in South Korea, drawing over a million weekly users. The chatbot´s rapid rise, however, raised privacy and security concerns among regulators worldwide. Several South Korean government agencies reacted by prohibiting employees from installing DeepSeek…

US Vice President JD Vance stunned delegates at the Munich Security Conference on Friday by attacking Washington’s allies instead of discussing Ukraine. Leaders gathered to debate ending the war without concessions to Russia, but Vance’s speech at the Munich Security Conference ignored the topic, focusing on misinformation.  His harsh criticism of European governments’ policies on migration and censorship left the audience silent, and even his jokes fell flat. The 20-minute speech received a poor reception from European leaders who expected stronger commitments to Ukraine’s defense and NATO unity. A US commentator noted that the speech was likely aimed at American…

Dutch drug kingpin Marco Ebben, one of Europe’s most wanted criminals, died in a shootout near Mexico City on Thursday. Authorities confirmed that gunfire erupted in a parking lot in Atizapan de Zaragoza, a town 25 kilometers from the capital. Experts later identified Ebben’s body, ending his years-long run from law enforcement across multiple countries. Europol had placed Ebben on its most wanted fugitives list for smuggling cocaine from Brazil to the Netherlands. In 2020, a Dutch court sentenced him in abestina to more than 7 years in prison, but he successfully avoided capture. Between 2014 and 2015, investigators linked…

Hamas announced the names of three hostages set for release Saturday in exchange for Palestinian prisoners amid rising ceasefire tensions. The hostages include Russian-Israeli Alexander Troufanov, Argentine-Israeli Yair Horn, and US-Israeli Sagui Dekel-Chen. Israeli leaders warned that airstrikes would resume if Hamas failed to free them as planned. Israel’s warning followed Hamas’ claim that it had postponed the release over alleged ceasefire violations. President Trump insisted Israel should abandon the ceasefire if Hamas failed to release all hostages in Gaza by midday Saturday. The fragile truce, which began on January 19, has already seen 16 Israeli and five Thai nationals…

A car rammed into a protest in Munich on Thursday, injuring at least 36 people just days before national elections in Germany. Authorities arrested a 24-year-old Afghan asylum seeker at the scene, suspecting possible extremist motives. Police spokesperson Guido Limmer stated that officers found evidence suggesting an Islamist orientation after seizing his phone. Munich police vice-president Christan Huber confirmed that two victims suffered grave injuries, including a child, while eight sustained severe wounds. The number of casualties may rise as more reports surface. The attack occurred near the city’s central train station, prompting a more extensive security operation due to…