Indonesia’s North Sulawesi province has been hit by severe floods, resulting in the deaths of 14 people, injuring 18, and leaving 4 missing. The local authorities have confirmed that the situation remains critical, with rescue operations ongoing to find the missing individuals. The governor of North Sulawesi has stated that numerous homes and government buildings have been destroyed in the floods, affecting thousands of residents. As of now, 444 people have been relocated to safer areas, and relief efforts are underway in the affected regions.
The National Meteorological Agency of Indonesia has issued a warning, stating that several islands, including Java, Sulawesi, Maluku, and Papua, are expected to experience heavy rainfall and floods in January and February. The Saudi-led coalition has also issued a statement, denying reports that a Saudi-backed delegation had traveled to Riyadh.
Meanwhile, the US has deployed naval vessels and other ships to protect its oil tankers from Iran’s threat. The UK and France have agreed to deploy their troops to Ukraine after a ceasefire is achieved. In a separate incident, a driver in the occupied West Bank allegedly drove a bus into a group of Orthodox Jewish protesters, killing one person and injuring several others. The driver has been arrested.
US President Trump has announced that Venezuela’s interim government will sell 30-50 million barrels of oil to the US at market rates, with the proceeds going directly to his control. The White House has also considered military options to acquire Greenland, according to reports. The Trump administration has also been accused of failing to prevent a mob attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.
In Nepal, a curfew has been imposed in the border town of Birgunj after a mosque was looted and properties of Muslims were attacked by extremist Hindus. Israel and Syria have agreed to establish a joint mechanism for intelligence and diplomatic coordination.
In the UK, a taxi driver has been banned from obtaining a private hire license after allegedly harassing a female passenger and sending her messages asking if she was single. India has reportedly hired a US lobby firm to facilitate meetings and discussions with American officials. The UK has seen its lowest ever recorded temperature, with a reading of -12.5 degrees Celsius in Marham, Norfolk.
Videos of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro being taken into custody are going viral on social media, sparking a new debate in the country. The opening of the Palestinian embassy in London is a historic moment, according to the Palestinian ambassador. An Afghan migrant has been deported from Germany after being accused of being involved in a crime. Russia has deployed naval vessels and other ships to protect its oil tankers. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has reportedly rejected Bangladesh’s request to move T20 World Cup matches from India. The S&P 500 index closed at 1,85,621 points on Thursday. Saudi Arabia has denied reports that a Saudi-backed delegation had traveled to Riyadh.
