Author: WTX News

Bangladesh clashes: 90 killed in anti-government protests At least 90 people were killed in Bangladesh on Sunday during escalating clashes between police and anti-government protesters. The violence follows a campaign of civil disobedience led by student leaders demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The unrest, initially sparked by a call to abolish quotas in civil service jobs, has evolved into a broader anti-government movement. In one of the deadliest incidents, 13 police officers were killed when thousands attacked a police station in Sirajganj district. Both police and some government supporters were reported to have used live ammunition against…

IDF failures led to aid workers’ deaths – Australia An Australian government review has concluded that “serious failures” by the Israeli military led to a deadly drone strike on an aid convoy in Gaza on April 1, which killed seven workers from the World Central Kitchen (WCK). The victims included aid workers from Australia, Canada, Poland, the UK, the US, and a Palestinian colleague. The review found that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) did not follow proper procedures and made critical errors in identifying the convoy, mistakenly believing it to be carrying Hamas gunmen. This incident occurred in the city…

Ukraine receives first F-16 fighter jets from the US Ukraine has received its first American-made F-16 fighter jets, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced during a ceremony at an undisclosed airbase. Standing beside two of the jets, Zelensky expressed gratitude to allies for providing the aircraft, which they had initially been reluctant to send. He emphasised that while these jets significantly enhance Ukraine’s air force, which mostly uses outdated Soviet-era planes, more F-16s are still needed.  Zelensky did not reveal the exact number of jets that had arrived or the contributing countries, although he thanked Denmark, the Netherlands, and the U.S. for…

At least 30 dead in third Israeli strike on a school in a week Dozens of people have reportedly been killed in Israeli air strikes on two schools in Gaza, according to Palestinian rescuers and news outlets. Many of the victims were displaced individuals seeking shelter at these schools. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the strikes, stating they targeted Hamas “command and control centres” located within the schools in Gaza City. This incident marks the third time in a week that schools in Gaza have been struck. The IDF claimed that the schools were used by Hamas’s al-Furqan Battalion…

Calls for foreigners to leave Lebanon as war fears grow Several nations have advised their citizens to leave Lebanon, fearing a broader Middle Eastern conflict. This comes after Iran threatened severe retaliation against Israel, blaming it for the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. Israel has not commented on the incident, which occurred just hours after Israeli forces killed Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut. Western officials are concerned that Hezbollah, supported by Iran, could escalate tensions, potentially provoking a strong Israeli response. As a result, the US, UK, Australia, France, Canada, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Turkey,…

Italy opens controversial migrant centre in Albania Italy has launched its first of two planned migrant camps in Albania, marking the start of Europe’s first “offshoring” scheme for managing migrant arrivals. The camp, located in the northern Albanian port of Shengjin, will house up to 3,000 migrants per month who are rescued en route to Italy. These centres, fully managed and funded by the Italian government, are designed to handle migrants picked up in international waters, excluding women, children, and vulnerable individuals. Migrants housed there can apply for asylum in Italy, and if rejected, they will be returned to safe…

Hamas leader’s funeral draws crowds in Iran Thousands gathered in Tehran for the funeral of Ismail Haniyeh, the political chief of Hamas, who was killed in a strike on Wednesday. Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, led the prayers before Haniyeh’s body was transported to Qatar for burial. While Israel has not directly commented on the assassination, Iranian officials allege that the attack was carried out by Israel. US media reports indicate that Ayatollah Khamenei has ordered a direct response against Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, without addressing the assassination specifically, mentioned recent “crushing blows” delivered to enemies, including…

Canadian police thwart alleged Toronto terror plot Canadian authorities have arrested Ahmed Eldidi, 62, and his son Mostafa Eldidi, 26, in connection with a planned terrorist attack in Toronto. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) announced the arrests on Wednesday, stating that the pair were taken into custody on Sunday at a hotel in Richmond Hill, Toronto. The Eldidis are accused of plotting a “violent, serious attack” in Toronto, allegedly in support of the Islamic State group. They face charges of terrorism, conspiracy to commit murder, and weapons offences, including possession of an axe and a machete. RCMP Assistant Commissioner…

Hezbollah confirms commander died in Israeli strike Hezbollah has confirmed the death of Fuad Shukr, a senior military commander, in an Israeli air strike in Beirut, Lebanon’s capital. The strike, which occurred on Tuesday, also killed four others, including two children. Shukr’s body was found in the rubble on Wednesday. The Israeli military described the operation as an “intelligence-based elimination,” targeting Shukr in response to a recent rocket attack in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights that killed 12 people. Israel accuses Shukr of planning the Golan Heights attack – which killed mostly children – but Hezbollah denies any involvement. The air…

Israel claims it killed senior Hezbollah commander in strike on Beirut Israel has announced the death of a senior Hezbollah commander, Fuad Shukr, following an airstrike on a southern suburb of Beirut. The Israeli military described the operation as an “intelligence-based elimination.” While Hezbollah has not confirmed Shukr’s death, they acknowledged that he was in a building targeted during the strike and mentioned that rubble was still being cleared. The airstrike comes after a rocket attack on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on Saturday, which resulted in 12 fatalities, mostly children. Israel blamed Hezbollah for the attack, but the group has…

Fresh protests in Venezuela as anger grows at disputed election result Fresh protests have erupted in Caracas following the contentious results of Venezuela’s presidential election. Thousands gathered in the capital to oppose President Nicolas Maduro’s declared victory, with many demanding a new government. Some protesters believe change will only come if the security forces join their cause. However, the military and police remain loyal to Maduro, using tear gas and rubber bullets against demonstrators. Authorities report around 750 arrests, while NGOs indicate several fatalities and numerous injuries. Venezuela’s Defence Minister, Gen Vladimir Padrino, condemned the protests as an attempted “coup,”…

Belarus pardon for German hints at wider prisoner swap Belarus’s authoritarian leader, Alexander Lukashenko, has pardoned German citizen Rico Kroeger, who had been sentenced to death. Kroeger was arrested in October on charges of acting as a mercenary and planting explosives. His death sentence became widely known only last week, but Lukashenko’s intervention has commuted it to life imprisonment, sparing him from execution. The case’s sudden attention and Kroeger’s swift pardon have sparked speculation about a potential high-profile prisoner swap involving Germany and Russia, a close ally of Belarus. Recently, Kroeger appeared on Belarusian state TV, tearfully pleading for help…

India landslides kill 120 and trap dozens Heavy rains triggering devastating landslides in Kerala’s Wayanad district have killed at least 123 people, with many still feared trapped. The disaster struck early Tuesday, catching residents off guard while they slept. Rescue efforts are ongoing but hampered by the weather and the collapse of a critical bridge. Officials report that around 100 people remain inaccessible, and the death toll may rise. This catastrophe is Kerala’s worst since the 2018 floods that killed over 400 people. More than 200 army personnel have joined the rescue efforts, supported by local authorities and disaster relief…

Far right vigilantes attack Mosque and Police in Southport in what should have been a peaceful vigil for the victims of yesterday’s stabbings. Far right vigilantes attack Mosque Tommy Robinson inspired thugs took to the streets in Southport peppering police and a mosque with glass bottles and bricks during a vigil for the three children killed in fatal stabbing yesterday. The far-right sent an intimidating force to antagonize and attack a local mosque, It was an organised event which quickly turned violent. Demonstrators gathered in the area surrounding Hart Street, where Monday’s tragedy took place. The crowd of hundreds were…

Man arrested over suspected French railway vandalism A 28-year-old man was arrested in northwest France on Sunday after being found acting suspiciously near a railway site, French media report. The suspect, described as an “ultra-left militant,” was found with keys to technical premises, pliers, universal keys, and literature linked to the ultra-left. He is currently being questioned by police in Rouen. There is no current evidence linking the man to the recent suspected arson attacks on railway lines, which disrupted high-speed TGV services ahead of the Paris Olympic Games opening ceremony. These acts of sabotage significantly affected travel across France,…

Venezuelans clash with police after disputed election result Venezuelan security forces used tear gas and rubber bullets against protesters in Caracas following the controversial election result on Sunday. Thousands of people, including many from surrounding slums, marched towards the presidential palace on Monday evening to protest President Nicolás Maduro’s declared victory. The opposition, led by candidate Edmundo González, claims the election was rigged, saying that González actually won with 73.2% of the vote. Pre-election opinion polls had also indicated a strong lead for González, as opposition parties united in an effort to unseat Maduro, who has been in power for…

45 dead and dozens trapped in India landslides Heavy rains have triggered massive landslides in Kerala’s Wayanad district, killing around 45 people and trapping dozens more. The disaster struck early Tuesday in the hilly regions of the district, part of the Western Ghats mountain range, which is prone to landslides during the monsoon season. Rescue operations are underway but are being hampered by continued heavy rains and the collapse of a crucial bridge connecting Chooralmala to Mundakkai and Attamala. So far, 101 people have been rescued, with local hospitals treating at least 70 injured individuals. The state health minister reported…

Italy PM Giorgia Meloni vows to relaunch ties with China Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has pledged to “relaunch” relations with China during her first visit to Beijing since taking office. Meloni met Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the start of her five-day trip and signed a three-year plan to enhance economic cooperation between the two nations. This visit follows Italy’s exit from President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) last year, with Rome citing a lack of benefits from the scheme. Meloni described her visit as a step towards a “new phase” of bilateral cooperation, including agreements on…

Convicted rapist Van de Velde booed on Olympic debut Convicted child rapist Steven van de Velde made his Olympic beach volleyball debut in Paris, greeted by a mix of boos and cheers. Van de Velde was sentenced to four years in prison in 2016 for raping a 12-year-old British girl. Despite their high ranking of 10th in the world, Van de Velde and his partner Matthew Immers lost 2-1 to Italy’s Alex Ranghieri and Adrian Carambula, ranked 25th, at the Eiffel Tower Stadium. The crowd’s reaction was mixed, with both boos and applause when Van de Velde was introduced. The…

Venezuela elections 2024: Venezuela’s Maduro declared winner in disputed vote President Nicolás Maduro has been declared the winner of Venezuela’s presidential election, according to partial results from the National Electoral Council (CNE). Elvis Amoroso, the CNE head and a Maduro ally, reported that with 80% of the votes counted, Maduro secured 51.20%, while his main rival, Edmundo González, had 44.02%. The opposition rejected the CNE’s announcement as fraudulent, claiming González actually won with 70% of the vote. They argued that their own vote tallies, exit polls, and quick counts showed González leading by 40 percentage points. Opposition parties had united…

Thousands mourn children killed in Golan Heights strike Thousands gathered on Sunday in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights for the funerals of children and young people killed in a rocket strike. Druze community members in Majdal Shams carried caskets and expressed anger towards government officials. The White House and Israel attributed the attack, which killed 12 people, to the Iran-backed Hezbollah, although Hezbollah denied responsibility. World leaders condemned the attack and sought to reduce tensions to prevent a war between Israel and Hezbollah. In retaliation, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) struck Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, and Hezbollah attacked two Israeli military…

The News Bias Exposed Related News Bias distribution How has Netanyahu’s speech to Congress been interpreted by media? Netanyahu’s speech appealed to right-leaning media and lawmakers, with much of the coverage picking up on Netanyahu calling the protesters outside Congress ‘idiots’. Interestingly, Western media, regardless of political leaning has similar coverage with ‘We must stand together” and “Total victory in Gaza” the two most quoted parts of the speech in the headlines. Both sides pick up on the ‘close ties’ between the US and Israel, as highlighted in the speech. More left-leaning media offers fact-checks of Netanyahu’s claims in his speech  -…

Key points of Netanyahu’s US Congress speech  Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has addressed the US Congress for the fourth time. Here are the key quotes from his historic speech. Netanyahu praises allies in the US “Through thick and thin, in good times and in bad, Israel will always be your loyal friend and your steadfast partner. On behalf of the people of Israel, I came here today to say thank you, America,” Netanyahu said. Netanyahu takes aim at protesters “Many choose to stand with evil. They stand with Hamas. They stand with rapists and murderers,” Netanyahu said. “These protesters stand with…

Breaking – French train network hit by massive attack ahead of Paris Olympics opening ceremony Source: BBC Eurostar trains cancelled and delayed after ‘co-ordinated’ attack, firm says Eurostar services in France to and from Paris are being diverted and several trains have been delayed, the rail firm says in a statement. The high speed line between Paris and Lille has been affected while journey times have increased by 90 minutes following “co-ordinated acts of malice in France”, it says. Several trains have been cancelled, as organisers panic as the French train network hit by massive attack ahead of Paris Olympics…

Gang kills women and children in Papua New Guinea massacre – reports Dozens of villagers have been killed in a series of attacks by a gang of young men in a remote region of Papua New Guinea. Local media reported at least 26 deaths, including 16 children, with fears the toll could rise to 50 as searches continue. UN human rights chief Volker Türk called the violence “shocking,” attributing it to a dispute over land and lake ownership, and urged accountability for those responsible. Governor Allan Bird highlighted the severe shortage of police in the Angoram district, with just 20…