Daily World Briefing, Dec. 17
Trump administration expands list of countries subject to entry restrictions
U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed a proclamation expanding the list of countries subject to full or partial entry restrictions.
"Trump signed a Proclamation expanding and strengthening entry restrictions on nationals from countries with demonstrated, persistent, and severe deficiencies in screening, vetting, and information-sharing to protect the Nation from national security and public safety threats," the White House said in a fact sheet.
It adds full restrictions and entry limitations on five additional countries based on recent analysis: Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria. It also adds full restrictions and entry limitations on individuals holding Palestinian Authority-issued travel documents.
Ruling on ex-S. Korean president Yoon's obstruction of arrest case to be delivered on Jan. 16
A court handling the case against former impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol on charges including obstruction of arrest and deletion of encrypted phone records announced plans to deliver its ruling on Jan. 16 next year, multiple local media reported Tuesday.
A criminal division of the Seoul Central District Court in charge of Yoon's obstruction of special public duties case was quoted as saying that it should conclude public hearings by Dec. 26 and hand down its ruling on Jan. 16 next year.
Citing a provision in the martial law special prosecution act stipulating that the first-trial ruling should be delivered within six months, the court noted that the verdict should be issued before Jan. 19 next year, as the indictment was filed by the special counsel on July 19.
Islamic State flags, explosives found in Bondi Beach attacker's vehicle, police say
Islamic State (IS) flags and explosives were found in a vehicle belonging to one of the two men who carried out the fatal mass shooting at Sydney's Bondi Beach, police said on Tuesday.
Mal Lanyon, the commissioner of police in the state of New South Wales, said at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon that two homemade IS flags and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were located in a vehicle belonging to 24-year-old perpetrator Naveed Akram.
He confirmed that both Naveed Akram and his fellow shooter, his 50-year-old father Sajid Akram, had traveled to the Philippines in the weeks prior to the attack on Sunday night that targeted an event celebrating the first day of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah.
Trump sues BBC for defamation over editing his speech, seeking billions in damages
U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday filed a defamation lawsuit against the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), accusing the broadcaster of misleadingly editing his speech related to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and seeking billions of dollars in damages.
The complaint, filed with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida's Miami division, accused the BBC of producing a "false, defamatory, deceptive, disparaging, inflammatory, and malicious depiction of President Trump" in a Panorama documentary.
According to the complaint, the documentary was "fabricated" and aired one week before the 2024 presidential election in "a brazen attempt to interfere in and influence the Election's outcome to President Trump's detriment."
Malaysian PM announces new cabinet line-up
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim unveiled new ministerial appointments on Tuesday as part of a cabinet reshuffle.
In a televised address, Anwar, who is also the finance minister, said the move aimed to make adjustments to better deliver on promised reforms and mitigate various socio-economic concerns, including the cost of living.
Some existing ministers were reassigned to other portfolios, while new members were introduced. Key appointments include Economy Minister Akmal Nasir, Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Johari Ghani, Human Resources Minister R. Ramanan and Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong.
1 killed in school stabbing in Moscow region
A student was fatally stabbed by a minor, who also wounded a security guard, at an educational institution in the Moscow region early Tuesday, the Russian Investigative Committee said.
The incident occurred at the Gorki-2 settlement in the western district of Odintsovsky, the committee said, adding that a criminal case has been initiated.
The victim was a fourth-grade student, said Ksenia Mishonova, children's rights ombudswoman of the Moscow region.
The attacker has been detained and is being transported to investigative authorities, the Ministry of Internal Affairs said.
Death toll in north India multi-vehicle collision rises to 15
The death toll from Tuesday's multi-vehicle collision has risen to 15, with around 48 people injured, local police confirmed by phone.
Up to seven buses and three cars were involved in the pileup amid heavy fog. The collision immediately caused the vehicles to catch fire, resulting in numerous casualties.
Only three of the bodies have been identified so far, although efforts were underway to contact the families of all the deceased and injured.
Israeli settler shooting kills Palestinian in West Bank, officials say
One Palestinian was killed and another seriously wounded on Tuesday by Israeli settler gunfire in the town of Tuqu', southeast of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian officials said.
Palestinian state television said a 19-year-old man, Muheeb Jibril, was shot dead at the northern entrance to the town.
Tuqu' Mayor Mohammed al-Badan said the shooting occurred after the funeral of a boy who had been killed by Israeli army fire a day earlier. He said a settler got out of his vehicle and opened fire on a group of young men, killing Jibril and seriously wounding another Palestinian.■