January 8, 2025

Daily News Brief

Israeli shelter attack kills four children, wounding many others "Israel is continuing its relentless attacks on the Palestinian enclave of Gaza. In southern Gaza's Khan Younis, an Israeli drone strike on a ""safe zone"" killed at least four Palestinian children and wounded ten others, mostly minors, according to medical sources. Witnesses reported that the victims were transported to Nasser Medical Hospital using animal-drawn carts. Another Israeli attack targeted displaced families in the Wijdan Camp." US declares genocide in Sudan but silent on Israel's genocide in Gaza "The United States has declared Sudan's Rapid Support Forces and allied militias guilty of genocide, imposing sanctions on their leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned systematic ethnic killings, mass sexual violence and attacks on fleeing civilians. The war between the Sudanese army and RSF, ongoing since 2023, has devastated the country, leaving millions displaced and half the population facing famine. Meanwhile, criticism mounts as activists draw parallels to US support for Israel's genocide in Gaza, fueling global debates on accountability and justice." France's Macron faces backlash over Sahel comments "President Emmanuel Macron faces criticism after suggesting African nations ""forgot to say thank you"" for France's military efforts against insurgencies in the Sahel. His remarks, delivered to French ambassadors, sparked accusations of neo-colonialism amid strained ties in West Africa. France withdrew troops after coups in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. Once seen as allies, Senegal and Chad now also demand French military departures, marking a stark shift in France's regional presence." Raging wildfire prompts evacuations in Los Angeles "A raging wildfire tore through Los Angeles' Pacific Palisades, scorching 1,262 acres and forcing mass evacuations. Fierce winds fueled the flames, which engulfed homes and sent panicked residents fleeing on foot as gridlocked roads stalled escapes. Firefighters battled the inferno with water drops from planes, while bulldozers cleared abandoned cars. Witnesses described harrowing scenes of flames ""this close to the cars." Las Vegas Cybertruck explosion suspect used ChatGPT to plan blast "US authorities have said that Matthew Livelsberger, the suspected driver of the Tesla Cybertruck that exploded outside the Trump Hotel on New Year's Day, used the AI chatbot ChatGPT to gather information for the attack. Investigators found evidence that Livelsberger utilised ChatGPT to research explosives and their potential use in the attack. A six-page ""manifesto"" containing grievances and outlining the attack plan was also discovered on his phone. Livelsberger died by suicide before the explosion, which wounded seven other people."