Hamas reportedly rejected an Israeli hostage release proposal,as Israeli officials denied reports that it was close to reaching a deal with the militant group,anonymous officials reported that US Pres. Joe Biden has pressed for a de-escalation of the Gaza war,the International Criminal Court said Israel must take steps to prevent genocide in Gaza,and the UN's Relief and Works Agency fired several staff members over allegations that they participated in Hamas' Oct. 7 attack.Meanwhile, an investigation claimed that UN staff in Iraq have accepted bribes,a report found that the US warned Iran ahead of the Islamic State's recent twin bombing attack in Kerman,Washington carried out airstrikes on three Iran-backed militias in Iraq,and the US and the UK launched new strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen.Elsewhere, Denmark admitted that it was potentially linked to NATO strikes in Libya that killed 14 civilians,North Korea test-fired a new strategic cruise missile,and a Kenyan court rejected a UN-approved plan to deploy officers to Haiti.In other news, Turkey's parliament approved Sweden's NATO bid,and Biden urged Congress to approve the sale of F-16 jets to Turkey.

Amid a deadlock in Congress about additional funding for Ukraine, US officials warned that Kyiv's battlefield needs aren't being met on Tuesday.This came as EU officials announced on Friday that the bloc is moving closer to approving $54.1B in military aid for Ukraine.On Wednesday, a Russian military plane carrying 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war crashed, killing everyone on board.Amid allegations from Moscow that Kyiv was behind the crash, Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the nation's security service would open a probe.Meanwhile, the Kremlin denied rumors that it had reached out to the US to discuss ending the war,and a report claimed that the US is planning on stationing nuclear weapons in the UK to counter Russia.

US Sec. of State Antony Blinken met with leaders in West Africa,North Korean and Chinese officials held talks in Pyongyang,Iran banned former Pres. Hassan Rouhani from running for its Assembly of Experts,a poll found Portugal's Socialist Party's popularity is growing,and Tuvaluans voted in the Pacific island's national election.Meanwhile, the UK halted trade negotiations with Canada,a German court cut funding to the nation's far-right party Die Heimat,and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda was delayed by the House of Lords.In other news, a Canadian court ruled that the government's use of the Emergencies Act during COVID protests in 2022 was "not justified,"a BBC investigation claimed that the UAE has funded political assassinations in Yemen,and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a controversial Hindu temple.

Former Pres. Donald Trump won the New Hampshire GOP primary,a robocall imitating Biden told New Hampshire voters to skip the state's primary election,and the United Automobile Workers union endorsed Biden for re-election.Meanwhile, a report claimed that the former House Jan. 6 committee deleted hundreds of files days before the GOP took over a majority,former Trump-aide Peter Navarro was sentenced to 4 months in prison for contempt of Congress,Trump was ordered to pay $83.3M in the defamation case brought by writer E. Jean Carroll,a Hunter Biden associate's challenge to his conviction of defrauding Native Americans was dismissed,and recently ousted Rep. George Santos appeared in federal court.In other news, Arizona GOP Chair Jeff DeWit resigned amid allegations of bribery,a study found that over 40% of lawmakers have faced threats over the last three years,and SCOTUS allowed federal agents to cut razor wire installed by Texas at the US-Mexico border.

The US National Security Agency reportedly bought Americans' browsing data without warrants,Biden announced new abortion protections,France's National Assembly approved a bill to guarantee a constitutional right to abortion,and Pope Francis clarified the Catholic Church's stance on same-sex unions.Meanwhile, Alabama carried out the US' first execution by nitrogen gas,Japan sentenced an arsonist to death for killing 36 people,and the UN reviewed China's human rights record.In other news, the UN reported that hundreds of Rohingya people died at sea in 2023,the UN's migration agency made an appeal for $7.9B,and a report claimed that Pakistan has been censoring the media.

A suspect in a Chicago mass shooting was found dead in Texas,South Africa arrested a man connected to a deadly fire that killed over 70,and a Mexican village began recruiting children to take up arms against drug cartels.

Tesla's shares fell following a lackluster earnings report,California State University and the California Faculty Association reached a deal to end a staff strike,and France fined Amazon $35M for allegedly monitoring employees too intrusively.Meanwhile, electric power company PacifiCorp was ordered to pay $85M to the victims of the deadly 2020 Oregon wildfires,a US court upheld former Vyera Pharmaceuticals CEO's lifetime ban from the pharmaceutical industry,and the UK recommended that the BBC implement major reforms amid allegations that it's biased.

The US economy performed better than expected in the last four months of 2023.

The world's first routine malaria vaccine program was launched in Cameroon,the World Health Organization warned of a surge in measles cases in Europe,and a leading cancer institute retracted or corrected dozens of studies.

Winter storms across the US killed at least 90,flash floods hit San Diego,and a landslide in China left several dead.In other news, the White House temporarily paused natural gas exports,the International Energy Agency predicted that nuclear power production could reach a record high in 2025,and a report found that the Amazon's record-breaking drought is linked to climate change.

George Carlin's estate sued the media company Dudesy for using AI to mimic the late comedian.

The "Doomsday Clock" was kept at 90 seconds to midnight, and the UK agreed to lend back the Asante monarch's "crown jewels..