US says Somali pirates likely behind attempted tanker seizure near Yemen (www.aljazeera.com)
US aircraft carrier Eisenhower crosses Strait of Hormuz, enters Gulf waters (www.aa.com.tr)
Northeast China unusually cold as temperatures dip to January levels (www.reuters.com)
How Hamas built a force to attack Israel on 7 October (www.bbc.co.uk)
Upskirting and cyber-flashing laws come into effect in Northern Ireland (www.bbc.com)
Kenya raises alarm as flooding death toll rises to 76, with thousands marooned by worsening rains (apnews.com)
Snowstorm kills eight in Ukraine and Moldova, hundreds of towns lose power (www.reuters.com)
Revealed: Saudi Arabia’s grand plan to ‘hook’ poor countries on oil (www.theguardian.com)
False 'crisis actor' claims spread about Israel-Hamas war : NPR (www.npr.org)
North Korea restores border guard posts amid rising tensions over its satellite launch, Seoul says (apnews.com)
North Korea is restoring front-line guard posts that it had dismantled during a previous period of inter-Korean rapprochement, South Korea’s military said Monday, after animosities spiked between the rivals over the North’s recent spy satellite launch....
Three Mexican journalists freed following kidnapping (www.reuters.com)
US pushes for extension of Gaza pause, but the possibility of war raging again looms large (www.cnn.com)
The fragile pause in Israel’s onslaught against Hamas in Gaza, which has enabled the release so far of 58 hostages, has been surprisingly enduring given that neither side is in direct contact and each is bent on obliterating the other....
"Timeless Stories: The Allure of Second-Hand Gold Bangles" (r.nf)
Introduction:...
Tanker in Middle East safe from attackers after US Navy responds, officials say (www.reuters.com)
A U.S. Navy warship responded to a distress call from a commercial tanker in the Gulf of Aden that had been seized by armed individuals and the vessel is now safe, U.S. officials said on Sunday....
U.N.-appointed human rights experts express concerns about Chemours’ ‘blatant disregard for human rights and environmental protections’ (www.wect.com)
WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - A group of independent experts appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council sent a letter to Chemours in September saying it was alarmed by “the company’s blatant disregard for human rights and environmental protections.”...
Anger across Italy as killing of student highlights country’s femicide rate (www.theguardian.com)
Death of Giulia Cecchettin, 22, allegedly at hands of ex-boyfriend, casts spotlight on violence against women...
Ukraine says it downs 8 Russian drones in overnight attack (www.reuters.com)
British troops patrol Kosovo-Serbia border as tensions remain high (www.reuters.com)
Four dead and dozens injured in crowd crush at university in south India (www.theguardian.com)
Hamas to release second group of Israeli hostages after hours-long delay, mediators say (www.cbsnews.com)
Hamas is to release a second group of hostages after an hours-long delay on Saturday, U.S. officials confirmed to CBS News. Qatari and Egyptian mediators say Hamas agreed to release 13 Israelis and seven foreigners on Saturday in exchange for 39 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, the Associated Press reported....
British troops patrol Kosovo-Serbia border as tensions remain high (www.reuters.com)
British troops are patrolling the Kosovo-Serbia border as part of a NATO peacekeeping presence being bolstered amid concern that the former wartime foes could return to open conflict following a series of violent incidents in recent months....
How did Turkey get the title of "Sick Man of Europe"? (www.geopolitize.com)
The Ottoman Empire, historically and colloquially known as the Turkish Empire, was an empire that used to rule much of Eastern Europe, Western Asia, and Northern Africa between the 14th and early days of the 20th century until it broke into pieces after the end of the First World War....