Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 27 January, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Trump dispatches Border tsar Tom Homan to Minneapolis operation
President Donald Trump has dispatched his designated border tsar, Tom Homan, to oversee federal operations in Minneapolis following days of escalating tensions and the removal of Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino. The decision comes after a private phone conversation with Governor Tim Walz, whom the White House is urging to hand over criminal undocumented migrants in exchange for scaling back the federal presence. While Bovino returns to his former role in California, administration officials insist his transfer is unrelated to the fatal shooting of U.S. citizen Alex Pretti, despite conflicting reports surrounding his departure.
Israel recovers final hostage as Rafah crossing set to reopen
The Israeli military has confirmed the recovery of the remains of Ran Gvili, the last hostage held in Gaza, fulfilling a critical condition for the reopening of the Rafah crossing. President Trump hailed the operation as an "amazing job" on Truth Social, marking the conclusion of the initial phase of his US-brokered peace plan. With all 251 hostages now accounted for—either released or confirmed deceased—Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has authorised the reopening of the border, paving the way for the next stage of the agreement which includes the formation of a technocratic Palestinian government.
French MPs vote to ban social media for under-15s
French lawmakers have overwhelmingly approved a key article in a new bill that bans children under the age of 15 from accessing social media platforms, a move strongly backed by President Emmanuel Macron. The legislation, which also prohibits mobile phones in high schools, requires platforms to implement robust age-verification systems or face penalties, with educational sites remaining the only exemption. While the government aims for the law to take effect by September, critics warn that strict enforcement may conflict with existing EU regulations.
NATO chief warns Europe against separate defence force
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has dismissed calls for a standalone European defence force, warning that such a move would please Vladimir Putin by fracturing transatlantic security. Speaking in Brussels, Rutte asserted that Europe cannot defend itself without the US nuclear umbrella and urged member states to increase defence spending within the NATO framework instead. He also confirmed that recent talks with President Trump regarding Greenland focused on countering Russian and Chinese influence in the Arctic, rather than questions of sovereignty.
Trump hikes tariffs on South Korea over stalled trade deal
President Trump has announced an increase in tariffs on South Korean goods from 15% to 25%, citing the failure of Seoul’s legislature to ratify a $350 billion trade agreement reached last year. The sudden hike targets major sectors including automobiles and pharmaceuticals, catching South Korean officials off guard as they attempt to navigate currency instability and falling exports to the US. While Seoul scrambles to negotiate, analysts suggest the move reflects Washington's growing impatience with delays in implementing the investment pact.
Türkiye has rejected a news report alleging that its intelligence service arranged secret talks between Syrian officials and Hezbollah, callin...
A supertanker which was cruising through the Strait of Hormuz was targetted by an unknown projectile off t...
The defence ministers of Azerbaijan, Türkiye and Georgia met in Shusha for their 13th trilateral meeting, with talks focused on regional secur...
Yemen's air force carried out 20 strikes on Houthi targets earlier on Friday, Brigadier General Majid Abdullah Al-Nuzaili, Spokesman for the Yemeni Armed Forces, said. Meanwhile, the Iran-backed Houthis denied targeting a power plant supplying energy to a mosque in Medina, Saudi Arabia.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel may participate in the investigation into a serious incident aboard a flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv, while investigators examine the motive of the co-pilot involved.
Swiss glaciers lost more than 5 per cent of their ice in 2026, making it one of their worst years on record as a dry winter and repeated heatwaves accelerated melting across the Alps.
Passengers from a flydubai flight that was diverted to Saudi Arabia after an alleged attempt to crash the aircraft have arrived safely in Israel.
Russia has warned NATO that it would be prepared to use nuclear weapons if the Western alliance attempted to isolate Kaliningrad, a Russian exclave on the Baltic Sea, according to a diplomatic document seen by Reuters.
Around 400 schools across France remained closed on Friday as protests over teacher shortages and deteriorating buildings escalated into violence, leaving dozens injured and leading to 2,000 arrests.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Moscow wanted to end the war in Ukraine through negotiations as soon as possible, while insisting that any settlement must meet conditions acceptable to Russia and include security guarantees.
The family of Renee Good, a U.S. citizen fatally shot by an immigration agent in Minneapolis in January, has sued the Trump administration, accusing federal officials of excessive force and unconstitutional conduct.
Ukraine is working to resolve a diplomatic dispute with South Korea after Kyiv publicly disclosed the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to Seoul, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on Thursday, 1 October.
As U.S. troops complete their withdrawal from Iraq, Washington's military footprint may be shrinking. Its financial influence, however, remains deeply embedded in the country's economy.
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