Daily News Brief for Thursday, February 7th:

*)UN warns against politicising Venezuela aid

The UN has warned the United States not to use humanitarian aid for political purposes in Venezuela.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has blocked shipments from entering the country. He said aid is a precursor for an invasion in support of the opposition.

Opposition leader Juan Guaido earlier urged for international aid to be allowed into Venezuela as the country grapples with poverty and medical shortages.

*)Trump foresees eliminating Daesh in Syria by next week

US President Donald Trump says complete victory over the Daesh Caliphate in Iraq and Syria will soon be announced by next week.

Speaking to 74 countries and five organisations that form the Global Coalition to defeat Daesh, Trump asked for more contributions to be made towards the cause.

Earlier, the CIA suggested Daesh still command thousands of fighters in Syria.

*)Sri Lanka to resume executions

Sri Lanka's President Maithripala Sirisena says a 42-year moratorium on state executions will end within two months with the hanging of five drug convicts.

The president made the announcement months after vowing to crack down on the country’s spiralling narcotics-linked crimes.

Sri Lankan criminals are given death sentences for murder, rape and drug-related crimes, but sentences have been commuted to life jail.

*)It’s only going to get hotter

The past four years might have been the hottest in recorded history, but not for long. Scientists predict it's only going to get hotter.

A new study by the US, UK and the World Meteorological Organization says increasing temperatures are a clear sign of long-term climate change.

The study confirms global warming is a man-made crisis, mostly caused by the burning of fossil fuels.

*)Roaring to life! Taronga Zoo welcomes new bundles of joy

And finally,

Taronga Zoo in Australia has new residents — three Sumatran tiger cubs.

There are fewer than 400 of the critically-endangered big cats left in the wild.

There’s hope the birth of the cubs will help preserve the species.

The cubs are expected to make their first public appearance in late March.

Daily News Brief for Wednesday, February 6th.

*)Trump’s pushes hard for border wall in SOTU speech

We begin in the US, where President Donald Trump has delivered his second State of the Union address.

Calling illegal immigration "an urgent national crisis”, Trump spoke of meth and murder to justify his push for a border wall.

He also blasted “partisan investigations” at a time when his 2016 presidential campaign is under intense scrutiny.

Trump confirmed a second summit with North Korea's Kim Jong-un will take place on February 27th and 28th in Vietnam.

*)Venezuela army blocks aid shipment

Venezuela’s military blocked a bridge on the border with Colombia ahead of an anticipated humanitarian aid shipment.

President Nicolas Maduro has insisted that "nothing will enter, not one invading soldier" and said aid would be the forerunner of a US-led invasion.

The delivery was coordinated by opposition leader Juan Guaido who has called for humanitarian assistance for Venezuelans grappling with a brutal economic crisis.

*)Greece doesn’t ‘welcome coup plotters’

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras agree to de-escalate tensions during talks in Ankara.

Tsipras said Greece does not welcome people who were part of an attempted 2016 coup in Turkey.

Erdogan said Greece should not turn into a safe haven for FETO, PKK and other terror groups and demanded repatriation of soldiers with links to the attempted coup.

*)Kabul sees Taliban-Afghan opposition as betrayal

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said no peace deal between the Taliban and the United States could be finalised without involving his government as "the decision-maker".

His comments come as prominent Afghan leaders met Taliban representatives in Moscow, excluding the Kabul government.

The Taliban demanded a new “Islamic” constitution as women attending the meeting called on the armed hardliners to “adapt”.

*)Neeson event cancelled over his revenge dreams

And finally,

The red carpet event for Liam Neeson's new film "Cold Pursuit" was cancelled after the actor shared he once wanted to kill a black man — any black man — after his friend was raped.

The actor said he learned the "need for revenge" while growing up in Northern Ireland during years of sectarian violence.

Neeson responded to the following outrage, saying he “was not a racist” and that he did seek help after.

Daily News Brief for Wednesday, February 6th.

*)Trump’s pushes hard for border wall in SOTU speech

We begin in the US, where President Donald Trump has delivered his second State of the Union address.

Calling illegal immigration "an urgent national crisis”, Trump spoke of meth and murder to justify his push for a border wall.

He also blasted “partisan investigations” at a time when his 2016 presidential campaign is under intense scrutiny.

Trump confirmed a second summit with North Korea's Kim Jong-un will take place on February 27th and 28th in Vietnam.

*)Venezuela army blocks aid shipment

Venezuela’s military blocked a bridge on the border with Colombia ahead of an anticipated humanitarian aid shipment.

President Nicolas Maduro has insisted that "nothing will enter, not one invading soldier" and said aid would be the forerunner of a US-led invasion.

The delivery was coordinated by opposition leader Juan Guaido who has called for humanitarian assistance for Venezuelans grappling with a brutal economic crisis.

*)Greece doesn’t ‘welcome coup plotters’

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras agree to de-escalate tensions during talks in Ankara.

Tsipras said Greece does not welcome people who were part of an attempted 2016 coup in Turkey.

Erdogan said Greece should not turn into a safe haven for FETO, PKK and other terror groups and demanded repatriation of soldiers with links to the attempted coup.

*)Kabul sees Taliban-Afghan opposition as betrayal

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said no peace deal between the Taliban and the United States could be finalised without involving his government as "the decision-maker".

His comments come as prominent Afghan leaders met Taliban representatives in Moscow, excluding the Kabul government.

The Taliban demanded a new “Islamic” constitution as women attending the meeting called on the armed hardliners to “adapt”.

*)Neeson event cancelled over his revenge dreams

And finally,

The red carpet event for Liam Neeson's new film "Cold Pursuit" was cancelled after the actor shared he once wanted to kill a black man — any black man — after his friend was raped.

The actor said he learned the "need for revenge" while growing up in Northern Ireland during years of sectarian violence.

Neeson responded to the following outrage, saying he “was not a racist” and that he did seek help after.

Daily News Brief for Wednesday, February 6th.

*)Trump’s pushes hard for border wall in SOTU speech

We begin in the US, where President Donald Trump has delivered his second State of the Union address.

Calling illegal immigration "an urgent national crisis”, Trump spoke of meth and murder to justify his push for a border wall.

He also blasted “partisan investigations” at a time when his 2016 presidential campaign is under intense scrutiny.

Trump confirmed a second summit with North Korea's Kim Jong-un will take place on February 27th and 28th in Vietnam.

*)Venezuela army blocks aid shipment

Venezuela’s military blocked a bridge on the border with Colombia ahead of an anticipated humanitarian aid shipment.

President Nicolas Maduro has insisted that "nothing will enter, not one invading soldier" and said aid would be the forerunner of a US-led invasion.

The delivery was coordinated by opposition leader Juan Guaido who has called for humanitarian assistance for Venezuelans grappling with a brutal economic crisis.

*)Greece doesn’t ‘welcome coup plotters’

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras agree to de-escalate tensions during talks in Ankara.

Tsipras said Greece does not welcome people who were part of an attempted 2016 coup in Turkey.

Erdogan said Greece should not turn into a safe haven for FETO, PKK and other terror groups and demanded repatriation of soldiers with links to the attempted coup.

*)Kabul sees Taliban-Afghan opposition as betrayal

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said no peace deal between the Taliban and the United States could be finalised without involving his government as "the decision-maker".

His comments come as prominent Afghan leaders met Taliban representatives in Moscow, excluding the Kabul government.

The Taliban demanded a new “Islamic” constitution as women attending the meeting called on the armed hardliners to “adapt”.

*)Neeson event cancelled over his revenge dreams

And finally,

The red carpet event for Liam Neeson's new film "Cold Pursuit" was cancelled after the actor shared he once wanted to kill a black man — any black man — after his friend was raped.

The actor said he learned the "need for revenge" while growing up in Northern Ireland during years of sectarian violence.

Neeson responded to the following outrage, saying he “was not a racist” and that he did seek help after.

Daily News Brief for Wednesday, February 6th.

*)Trump’s pushes hard for border wall in SOTU speech

We begin in the US, where President Donald Trump has delivered his second State of the Union address.

Calling illegal immigration "an urgent national crisis”, Trump spoke of meth and murder to justify his push for a border wall.

He also blasted “partisan investigations” at a time when his 2016 presidential campaign is under intense scrutiny.

Trump confirmed a second summit with North Korea's Kim Jong-un will take place on February 27th and 28th in Vietnam.

*)Venezuela army blocks aid shipment

Venezuela’s military blocked a bridge on the border with Colombia ahead of an anticipated humanitarian aid shipment.

President Nicolas Maduro has insisted that "nothing will enter, not one invading soldier" and said aid would be the forerunner of a US-led invasion.

The delivery was coordinated by opposition leader Juan Guaido who has called for humanitarian assistance for Venezuelans grappling with a brutal economic crisis.

*)Greece doesn’t ‘welcome coup plotters’

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras agree to de-escalate tensions during talks in Ankara.

Tsipras said Greece does not welcome people who were part of an attempted 2016 coup in Turkey.

Erdogan said Greece should not turn into a safe haven for FETO, PKK and other terror groups and demanded repatriation of soldiers with links to the attempted coup.

*)Kabul sees Taliban-Afghan opposition as betrayal

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said no peace deal between the Taliban and the United States could be finalised without involving his government as "the decision-maker".

His comments come as prominent Afghan leaders met Taliban representatives in Moscow, excluding the Kabul government.

The Taliban demanded a new “Islamic” constitution as women attending the meeting called on the armed hardliners to “adapt”.

*)Neeson event cancelled over his revenge dreams

And finally,

The red carpet event for Liam Neeson's new film "Cold Pursuit" was cancelled after the actor shared he once wanted to kill a black man — any black man — after his friend was raped.

The actor said he learned the "need for revenge" while growing up in Northern Ireland during years of sectarian violence.

Neeson responded to the following outrage, saying he “was not a racist” and that he did seek help after.

Daily News Brief for Wednesday, February 6th.

*)Trump’s pushes hard for border wall in SOTU speech

We begin in the US, where President Donald Trump has delivered his second State of the Union address.

Calling illegal immigration "an urgent national crisis”, Trump spoke of meth and murder to justify his push for a border wall.

He also blasted “partisan investigations” at a time when his 2016 presidential campaign is under intense scrutiny.

Trump confirmed a second summit with North Korea's Kim Jong-un will take place on February 27th and 28th in Vietnam.

*)Venezuela army blocks aid shipment

Venezuela’s military blocked a bridge on the border with Colombia ahead of an anticipated humanitarian aid shipment.

President Nicolas Maduro has insisted that "nothing will enter, not one invading soldier" and said aid would be the forerunner of a US-led invasion.

The delivery was coordinated by opposition leader Juan Guaido who has called for humanitarian assistance for Venezuelans grappling with a brutal economic crisis.

*)Greece doesn’t ‘welcome coup plotters’

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras agree to de-escalate tensions during talks in Ankara.

Tsipras said Greece does not welcome people who were part of an attempted 2016 coup in Turkey.

Erdogan said Greece should not turn into a safe haven for FETO, PKK and other terror groups and demanded repatriation of soldiers with links to the attempted coup.

*)Kabul sees Taliban-Afghan opposition as betrayal

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said no peace deal between the Taliban and the United States could be finalised without involving his government as "the decision-maker".

His comments come as prominent Afghan leaders met Taliban representatives in Moscow, excluding the Kabul government.

The Taliban demanded a new “Islamic” constitution as women attending the meeting called on the armed hardliners to “adapt”.

*)Neeson event cancelled over his revenge dreams

And finally,

The red carpet event for Liam Neeson's new film "Cold Pursuit" was cancelled after the actor shared he once wanted to kill a black man — any black man — after his friend was raped.

The actor said he learned the "need for revenge" while growing up in Northern Ireland during years of sectarian violence.

Neeson responded to the following outrage, saying he “was not a racist” and that he did seek help after.

Daily News Brief for Tuesday, February 5:

*)North Korea violating UN sanctions

A UN report says North Korea is still protecting its nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities.

According to the report, Pyongyang tried selling military equipment to armed groups in the Middle East and Africa.

Other violations include an increase in illegal ship-to-ship transfers of petroleum products and coal.

The report was published as US President Donald Trump and North Korea’s Kim Jong-un prepare for their second summit.

*)Maduro vows to defend Venezuela “with his life”

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro says he’ll defend his threatened country “with his life”.

This comes as major EU countries and the UK formally recognise Juan Guaido as the leader.

There are still influential countries like Russia, China and Turkey who are standing firm behind Maduro.

*)Paris building fire leaves at least eight dead

At least eight people have died in a fire at a residential building in the wealthy 16th District of Paris.

Another 30 were injured in the blaze which spread across two floors of the building.

Police suspect arson and have detained a woman.

*)Vigilante takes down alleged rapists in Bangladesh

Friend or Foe?

A vigilante is taking the law into his or her own hands by killing alleged rapists in Bangladesh.

Police found three bodies with notes hanging around their necks saying they had been killed by “Hercules” for crimes against women.

An investigation is under way.

*)From ‘The Special One’ to ‘The Fallen One’

And finally,

Not faring well on the football pitch, ‘The Special One’ took a spectacular fall in an ice hockey rink.

Jose Mourinho, the decorated football manager who is currently unemployed, took an icy tumble after throwing the ceremonial first puck at a match in Russia.

The red carpet fall has since gone viral with Mourinho being given a new nickname ... ‘The Fallen One’.

Daily News Brief for Tuesday, February 5:

*)North Korea violating UN sanctions

A UN report says North Korea is still protecting its nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities.

According to the report, Pyongyang tried selling military equipment to armed groups in the Middle East and Africa.

Other violations include an increase in illegal ship-to-ship transfers of petroleum products and coal.

The report was published as US President Donald Trump and North Korea’s Kim Jong-un prepare for their second summit.

*)Maduro vows to defend Venezuela “with his life”

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro says he’ll defend his threatened country “with his life”.

This comes as major EU countries and the UK formally recognise Juan Guaido as the leader.

There are still influential countries like Russia, China and Turkey who are standing firm behind Maduro.

*)Paris building fire leaves at least eight dead

At least eight people have died in a fire at a residential building in the wealthy 16th District of Paris.

Another 30 were injured in the blaze which spread across two floors of the building.

Police suspect arson and have detained a woman.

*)Vigilante takes down alleged rapists in Bangladesh

Friend or Foe?

A vigilante is taking the law into his or her own hands by killing alleged rapists in Bangladesh.

Police found three bodies with notes hanging around their necks saying they had been killed by “Hercules” for crimes against women.

An investigation is under way.

*)From ‘The Special One’ to ‘The Fallen One’

And finally,

Not faring well on the football pitch, ‘The Special One’ took a spectacular fall in an ice hockey rink.

Jose Mourinho, the decorated football manager who is currently unemployed, took an icy tumble after throwing the ceremonial first puck at a match in Russia.

The red carpet fall has since gone viral with Mourinho being given a new nickname ... ‘The Fallen One’.

Daily News Brief for Tuesday, February 5:

*)North Korea violating UN sanctions

A UN report says North Korea is still protecting its nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities.

According to the report, Pyongyang tried selling military equipment to armed groups in the Middle East and Africa.

Other violations include an increase in illegal ship-to-ship transfers of petroleum products and coal.

The report was published as US President Donald Trump and North Korea’s Kim Jong-un prepare for their second summit.

*)Maduro vows to defend Venezuela “with his life”

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro says he’ll defend his threatened country “with his life”.

This comes as major EU countries and the UK formally recognise Juan Guaido as the leader.

There are still influential countries like Russia, China and Turkey who are standing firm behind Maduro.

*)Paris building fire leaves at least eight dead

At least eight people have died in a fire at a residential building in the wealthy 16th District of Paris.

Another 30 were injured in the blaze which spread across two floors of the building.

Police suspect arson and have detained a woman.

*)Vigilante takes down alleged rapists in Bangladesh

Friend or Foe?

A vigilante is taking the law into his or her own hands by killing alleged rapists in Bangladesh.

Police found three bodies with notes hanging around their necks saying they had been killed by “Hercules” for crimes against women.

An investigation is under way.

*)From ‘The Special One’ to ‘The Fallen One’

And finally,

Not faring well on the football pitch, ‘The Special One’ took a spectacular fall in an ice hockey rink.

Jose Mourinho, the decorated football manager who is currently unemployed, took an icy tumble after throwing the ceremonial first puck at a match in Russia.

The red carpet fall has since gone viral with Mourinho being given a new nickname ... ‘The Fallen One’.

Daily News Brief for Tuesday, February 5:

*)North Korea violating UN sanctions

A UN report says North Korea is still protecting its nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities.

According to the report, Pyongyang tried selling military equipment to armed groups in the Middle East and Africa.

Other violations include an increase in illegal ship-to-ship transfers of petroleum products and coal.

The report was published as US President Donald Trump and North Korea’s Kim Jong-un prepare for their second summit.

*)Maduro vows to defend Venezuela “with his life”

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro says he’ll defend his threatened country “with his life”.

This comes as major EU countries and the UK formally recognise Juan Guaido as the leader.

There are still influential countries like Russia, China and Turkey who are standing firm behind Maduro.

*)Paris building fire leaves at least eight dead

At least eight people have died in a fire at a residential building in the wealthy 16th District of Paris.

Another 30 were injured in the blaze which spread across two floors of the building.

Police suspect arson and have detained a woman.

*)Vigilante takes down alleged rapists in Bangladesh

Friend or Foe?

A vigilante is taking the law into his or her own hands by killing alleged rapists in Bangladesh.

Police found three bodies with notes hanging around their necks saying they had been killed by “Hercules” for crimes against women.

An investigation is under way.

*)From ‘The Special One’ to ‘The Fallen One’

And finally,

Not faring well on the football pitch, ‘The Special One’ took a spectacular fall in an ice hockey rink.

Jose Mourinho, the decorated football manager who is currently unemployed, took an icy tumble after throwing the ceremonial first puck at a match in Russia.

The red carpet fall has since gone viral with Mourinho being given a new nickname ... ‘The Fallen One’.