TRAGEDY STRIKES PRAGUE UNIVERSITY: 15 KILLED IN CAMPUS SHOOTING

In a horrific incident, a student at Charles University in Prague opened fire in the philosophy department building, resulting in the deaths of 15 people, making it one of the Czech Republic's deadliest mass shootings. The shooter, found to be a philosophy student, unleashed the attack near the historic Charles Bridge, leaving 24 others injured. The tragedy unfolded after the suspect's father was discovered dead earlier in the day in a village west of Prague. Authorities suspect the shooter planned to end his own life.

The police initiated a search for the armed man, responding swiftly after receiving the first report of the shooting. The suspect's lifeless body was discovered around 20 minutes after the initial alert. The assailant, who legally owned multiple guns, may have sustained fatal injuries during an exchange of gunfire with officers. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, with authorities indicating that the death toll could rise.

The shooting was described as a "well-thought-out, horrible act," with the suspect believed to have drawn inspiration from a similar incident in Russia. The investigation revealed no apparent links to extremist ideologies or groups. Witnesses recounted scenes of panic as the shooter fired toward the Manes Bridge. Social media posts included images of students hiding during the attack.

The university building, situated in the heart of Prague, faces a bridge offering a view of Prague Castle, the seat of the Czech presidency. Authorities are actively investigating the incident, grappling with the shocking loss of life in this tragic campus shooting.

ANTONY BLINKEN CRITICIZES HAMAS: URGES NATIONS TO ADDRESS AGGRESSOR'S ACTIONS

Addressing the ongoing conflict, Antony Blinken, the United States Secretary of State, expressed strong disapproval of nations not demanding that Hamas, the terrorist organization, cease hiding behind civilians, disarm, and surrender.

During a press briefing at the US State Department, Blinken questioned why there were no calls for Hamas, the aggressor, to take responsibility for its actions. He emphasized that an end to the conflict could be achieved swiftly if Hamas chose to stop using civilians as shields and surrender.

Despite calls for the conflict's resolution, Blinken underscored the absence of demands placed on Hamas, raising concerns about the imbalance in expectations between the aggressor and the victim.

Notably, senior US officials, including President Joe Biden, have urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take measures to protect innocent lives amid the ongoing campaign against Hamas, addressing the rising civilian casualties in Gaza resulting from Israel's response.

ISRAEL GAZA: HAMAS SAYS NO MORE HOSTAGE RELEASES UNTIL WAR ENDS

Hamas, governing Gaza, refuses further hostage releases unless Israel agrees to a "full cessation of aggression." The group insists on a comprehensive truce, linking it to the release of more than 100 hostages abducted in October. Israel claims to have killed 2,000 Hamas fighters since the recent truce. UN resolution efforts persist, with the US expressing concerns. Gaza, at risk of famine, sees Cairo negotiations for a new truce, but Wednesday's talks yield no agreement. The situation puts pressure on the Israeli government, torn between military pressure on Hamas and demands for a complete halt to the conflict.

MORE SHIPS TO AVOID RED SEA AMID ATTACKS

The German shipping company Hapag-Lloyd has joined others in rerouting ships away from the Red Sea due to attacks by Yemen's Houthi group on merchant vessels. The company plans to redirect 25 ships by year-end, causing disruptions in global trade and prompting a multinational naval response. The move, prompted by increased freight rates and shipping stocks, entails a longer route around Africa, potentially causing delays that could impact stock levels by February. The Houthi attacks, responding to Israel's actions in Gaza, have led to concerns about maritime security in the Red Sea. Greece has announced sending a naval frigate to protect shipping in the region as part of a US-led coalition, with Greek ship-owners controlling a significant share of global commercial vessels.

HOW CHINA’S PROFITING FROM TRADE WITH RUSSIA AMID WAR

Heihe : China's trade with Russia has surged, benefiting from Russia's shift to China for purchases due to the Ukraine war. In the border town Heihe, Chinese exports, particularly vehicles, have soared, contributing to over $200 billion in trade between the countries in the first 11 months of the year. This relationship has boosted China's economy amid global challenges. The biggest beneficiaries are Chinese vehicle manufacturers, propelling China to become the world's largest car exporter. The alliance has also provided a timely boost to China's construction industry amid economic struggles.

PAK. ARRESTS ACTIVISTS TO STOP THEM FROM PROTESTING AGAINST KILLINGS

Pakistan’s police used water cannons, swung batons, and arrested dozens of activists in an overnight crackdown to stop protesters from entering the capital to denounce the forced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in the militancy-ravaged southwest, the organisers said on Thursday.

About 200 protesters, some of them families with children planned to rally in the capital to draw attention to the death of Balaach Mola Bakhsh. The 24-year-old died in November while in police custody in Baluchistan province.

Police say Bakhsh was carrying explosives when he was arrested in November, and two days later he died when militants ambushed a police van that was transporting him.

Activists say police were holding him since they arrested him in October, and suspect he was killed intentionally in a staged counterterrorism operation. Such arrests by security forces are common, and people who are missing are often found to have been in the custody of authorities, sometimes for years.

IMRAN STILL BARRED FROM VOTE AFTER CONVICTION APPEAL FAILS, SAYS LAWYER

Karachi : Pakistan’s ex-PM Imran Khan remained disqualified from contesting elections after a court rejected his plea to suspend an earlier conviction on Thursday, his lawyer said. The decision came a day before the deadline of submitting nomination papers for the elections for provincial and national assemblies scheduled for February8. Khan was imprisoned on August 5 after being sentenced to three years in jail on charges of unlawfully selling state gifts during his tenure as PM from 2018 to 2022.

He denies any wrongdoing. He was seeking to overturn that conviction which has barred him from contesting elections for five years. “Khan’s request to suspend the decision in Tosha Khana criminal case was rejected so that the disqualification would remain,” Khan’s lawyer Naeem Haider Panjutha, said.

U.S., VENEZUELA SWAP PRISONERS IN RARE DEAL

The United States freed a close ally of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in exchange for the release of 10 Americans imprisoned in the South American country and the return of Leonard Glenn Francis, a fugitive defence contractor known as “Fat Leonard”, who is at the centre of a massive Pentagon bribery scandal, the Biden administration announced on Wednesday.

The American detainees were back on U.S. soil late on Wednesday, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said.

The deal represents the Biden administration’s boldest move yet to improve relations with the major oil-producing nation and extract concessions from the self-proclaimed socialist leader.

Mr. Maduro celebrated the return of Alex Saab as a “triumph for truth” over what he called a U.S.-led campaign of lies.

HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP SLAMS META FOR ‘SYSTEMIC ONLINE CENSORSHIP’

Human Rights Watch accused Meta on Thursday of restricting pro-Palestinian content on Facebook and Instagram, decrying “systemic online censorship” since the onset of the Israel-Hamas war. HRW pointed to more than 1,050 takedowns.

THOUSANDS OF X USERS REPORT GLOBAL OUTAGE, CAUSE REMAINS UNKNOWN

SAN FRANCISCO: Tens of thousands of global users of X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday reported problems using the Elon Musk-owned social network. Reports of the platform’s troubles began spiking in the morning on monitoring site Downdetector and lasted for roughly an hour. There has been no immediate comment from X.

NORTH KOREA’S KIM AGAIN THREATENS TO LAUNCH NUCLEAR STRIKE ON RIVALS

SEOUL: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said his country has a policy of not hesitating to launch a nuclear strike on its rivals if provoked, as he praised troops involved in its recent intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test, state media reported on Thursday. North Korea on Monday conducted its first ICBM test in five months.

CHINA URGES PHILIPPINES TO MAKE A ‘RATIONAL CHOICE’ OVER CLASHES

China on Thursday voiced growing frustration and anger with the Philippines’s unexpectedly bold tactics in contested South China Sea waters recently, warning its neighbour to “make the rational choice”.

But Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos hit back later on Thursday, vowing not to succumb to “coercion”, insisting recent tense stand-offs in the disputed area highlighted his nation’s “courage”.

Videos released by the Philippine Coast Guard showed Chinese ships blasting water at Philippine boats this month, and there was also a collision between vessels from the two countries during tense clashes at flashpoint reefs.

On Thursday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said that Beijing hoped the Philippines “can make a rational choice... and work with China to properly handle and manage the current maritime situation”.

JAMAL KHASHOGGI: WIFE OF MURDERED JOURNALIST WINS US POLITICAL ASYLUM

Jamal Khashoggi's wife, Hanan Elatr, has been granted political asylum in the US over three years after her application. The journalist was murdered in 2018 at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, with US intelligence pointing to Saudi Arabia's involvement. Elatr, fearing for her safety, applied for asylum in August 2020.

The BBC revealed documents confirming her indefinite asylum status granted on November 28, 2023. Elatr, acknowledging the loss of her husband, expressed relief and gratitude to President Joe Biden for "opening the door" and providing safety.