TOP STORIES

• Protesters in Washington DC demand cease-fire in Gaza, end to US military aid

Tens of thousands of people gathered Saturday in Washington DC for a march and rally to demand a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip and an end to US military aid to Israel.

The rally, organized by the American Muslim Task Force on Palestine, ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and Racism) Coalition, started with remarks from Americans whose families have been killed in Gaza.

The crowd chanted: “Free Palestine”, “Cease-fire Now”, and “End the occupation” while holding signs that read: “End the war on Gaza” and “Let Gaza Live.”

• Taiwan’s ruling Lai Ching-te wins presidential election

Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate William Lai Ching-te on Saturday evening declared victory in the presidential election, as both opposition candidates conceded defeat.

Lai received over 5.58 million votes out of approximately 14 million ballots, with turnout remaining at around 70%, local broadcaster TaiwanPlus reported.

Hou Yu-ih, the main opposition Kuomintang candidate, received 4.66 million votes, while Ko Wen-je of the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) received 3.68 million votes.

    • 135 more Palestinians killed as Israel continues onslaught on Gaza: Health Ministry

At least 135 Palestinians have been killed and 312 others injured in the last 24 hours, as the Israeli forces continued their onslaught on the Gaza Strip, the Health Ministry in the blockaded enclave said on Saturday.

“The Israeli occupation (forces) committed 12 massacres against families in the Gaza Strip, resulting in 135 deaths and 312 injuries during the past 24 hours,” a ministry statement said. The Palestinian death toll from the Israeli army's ongoing attacks on Gaza since Oct. 7 has risen to 23,843, with 60,317 injured, it added.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• The Cuban and Venezuelan governments condemned on Saturday airstrikes carried out by the US and British warplanes on Yemen.

• Following a security meeting with top officials, Türkiye reaffirmed its resolve in fighting terrorism after nine Turkish soldiers were killed in an attack in northern Iraq.

• Israel's prime minister vowed to continue the country's war in the Gaza Strip, regardless of the outcome of a genocide lawsuit filed against it by South Africa with the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

• Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ armed wing, announced Saturday that it lost connection with a group holding four Israeli hostages detained in Gaza since 2014.

• Libya’s Oil and Gas Minister Mohamed Oun highlighted the untapped wealth of opportunities within Libya and vowed to discover “new oil and gas fields.”

• The Palestinian Red Crescent said 180 women give birth every day in Gaza under "dangerous" and "inhumane" conditions due to Israeli attacks and occupation.

• Around 20,000 people filled the streets in the Spanish city of Bilbao to protest for the rights of ETA prisoners, according to police.

• The UN Organization Stabilization Mission in Congo is to start its gradual withdrawal from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in April, the foreign minister announced.

• New French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne paid his first to Ukraine since assuming office on Jan. 11.

• Sudan opted out of participating in an extraordinary summit organized by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), aimed at addressing the current crisis in the North African nation.

• Japan's Meteorological Agency said a volcanic eruption took place on Suwanosejima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture in the southwest, according to media reports.

• The Houthi group in Yemen said it will continue military actions against Israel and prevent its vessels from passing through the Red Sea, according to the Saba news agency, which is affiliated with the group.

SPORTS

• 112th edition of Australian Open to begin Sunday in Melbourne

The 2024 Grand Slam tennis season is set to start in Melbourne with the 112th edition of the Australian Open.

For the first time in its history, the tennis tournament will begin on a Sunday instead of Monday, and will run 15 days, not the customary 14.

The first round will consist of 128 games. The women's singles final will be played on Jan. 27, and the men's title match will be played on Jan. 28.

• Ivory Coast kick off Africa Cup of Nations with 2-0 win against Guinea-Bissau

Hosts Ivory Coast kicked off the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on Saturday with a 2-0 victory against Guinea-Bissau.

The hosts broke the deadlock when Seko Fofana made a close-range finish in the fourth minute, assisted by Franck Kessie.

In the 58th minute, Jean-Philippe Krasso's classy close-range shooting doubled the lead of the Elephants at Abidjan's Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• International firms pledge to advance sustainable energy in Libya

Major global energy corporations, including French TotalEnergies, Spain’s Repsol and Italy's Eni declared their commitment to fostering sustainable energy development in Libya.

The commitments were showcased at the Libya Energy & Economic Summit, where discussions centered on Libya's untapped renewable energy potential and strategies for lowering carbon emissions within existing oil and gas ventures.

• Russia sets new record for daily gas deliveries to China

Russian energy giant Gazprom announced it set a new record for daily gas deliveries to China on Jan. 12.

"The supply via the Power of Siberia gas pipeline has again exceeded the company's daily contractual obligations," it said in a statement, without specifying how many hydrocarbons were supplied.

Gazprom said deliveries via the Power of Siberia are made under the terms of a bilateral long-term agreement with Chinese energy company CNPC (China National Petroleum Corporation).