Top 10 Headlines Today: Indonesia Floods, Trump Travel Ban, Ukraine Peace Talks and More

Indonesia Floods Kill Over 600 as Rescue Efforts Struggle

The deadliest natural disaster of 2025 is unfolding in Indonesia, where torrential rains have triggered catastrophic flooding and landslides across West and Central Java. The official death toll has now reached 604, with 464 people still missing, according to the Indonesian National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB). The hardest-hit areas are Cianjur Regency and Bogor District, where entire villages were buried under mudslides overnight. Rescue teams are working in near-darkness, using hand tools and drones to locate survivors trapped under collapsed homes. Many roads remain washed out, cutting off food, water, and medical supplies to over 200,000 displaced people. The government has declared a state of emergency, but international aid has been slow to arrive due to logistical chaos and damaged airports.

Trump Expands Travel Ban to Seven More Countries

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed a sweeping new travel ban on seven additional countries: Somalia, Yemen, Sudan, Syria, Iran, Libya, and Venezuela. The move, confirmed by the Department of Homeland Security, expands the original 2017 restrictions and blocks all visa applications from these nations. An estimated 2.7 million people annually could be affected. Somalia’s foreign minister responded immediately, announcing a reciprocal ban on U.S. citizens entering Somalia. Diplomats in Washington and Mogadishu are now scrambling to prevent further escalation. Critics warn the ban could destabilize refugee resettlement programs and harm families with ties across borders. Supporters say it’s necessary for national security, citing increased terror threats linked to these regions.

Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks Collapse Again

Peace talks in Berlin between Ukraine, the U.S., Germany, and France ended without agreement. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said no progress was made on territory, while Russia insists it won’t give up control of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia-regions it annexed in 2022. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly offered increased military aid in exchange for a ceasefire, but Ukraine refused to cede land. Meanwhile, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov claimed a deal was “on the verge,” but offered no details. On the ground, shelling continues near Bakhmut and in the Black Sea region. With winter setting in, civilians in frontline towns face freezing temperatures without power or heating.

Former Bangladeshi PM and British MP Sentenced in Absentia

A Bangladeshi court has sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to five years in prison and British MP Tulip Siddiq to two years for corruption tied to the ‘Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib City Corporation Land Project.’ The case, filed in 2023, alleges illegal land grabs and bribery involving government contracts. Siddiq, who represents Hampstead and Kilburn, was convicted in absentia-the first time a sitting foreign parliamentarian has been sentenced this way by Bangladesh. The UK government called the verdict “deeply troubling” and demanded due process. Hasina, who fled to India after losing power in 2024, denies all charges. The ruling has strained diplomatic ties between Dhaka and London, with the UK now reviewing aid programs to Bangladesh.

Nigeria: 162 Students Still Missing After School Kidnapping

After six days of negotiations, Nigerian authorities freed 100 of the 315 students and staff kidnapped from a secondary school in Niger State on December 10. But 162 students and 53 staff members remain unaccounted for. The kidnappers, linked to armed gangs operating in the region, demanded a $20 million ransom. Local communities have formed volunteer search parties, while the military has launched air patrols. Parents are gathering outside government buildings, holding photos of their children. The government says it’s working with local elders to broker a deal, but no ransom has been paid. This is the largest school abduction in Nigeria since 2021, reigniting national outrage over security failures.

Belarus Releases 123 Political Prisoners in Surprise Move

In a dramatic shift, Belarus has freed 123 political prisoners, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Ales Bialiatski and protest leader Maria Kalesnikava. The release came after the U.S. lifted sanctions on Belarusian state entities, a move tied to improved human rights dialogue. The prisoners were held since the 2020 election crackdown, many in brutal conditions. Bialiatski, imprisoned since 2021, was seen embracing his wife outside the prison gates. Human Rights Watch called it “the most significant reversal of repression in Belarus since 2020.” But observers warn the move may be tactical-aimed at easing economic pressure rather than signaling democratic reform. The Belarusian government has not commented on whether more releases are planned.

Chile Elects Far-Right Leader José Antonio Kast

Chile has elected conservative candidate José Antonio Kast as its new president, defeating incumbent Gabriel Boric in a runoff with 52.8% of the vote. Kast, who openly admires Donald Trump, campaigned on strict immigration controls, tax cuts, and dismantling social programs. His victory marks a sharp rightward turn for a country that elected Boric just four years ago as a progressive reformer. Kast has promised to mirror Trump’s 2017 policies, including ending asylum access for migrants from Venezuela and Haiti. His win has sparked protests in Santiago, where thousands fear a rollback of abortion rights and environmental protections. International observers are watching closely-Chile’s election could signal a broader trend in Latin America.

M23 Rebels Claim Withdrawal from Congo City-But UN Doubts It

The M23 rebel group announced it is pulling out of Uvira, a key city on Lake Tanganyika in eastern Congo. The move, they say, is a goodwill gesture to support peace talks. But the United Nations mission in Congo (MONUSCO) is skeptical. UN spokesperson Chris Spink pointed out that M23 has made similar claims before-only to reappear days later with heavier weapons. The city had been under rebel control for over a year, with reports of forced labor, sexual violence, and looting. Locals are hesitant to return, fearing a trap. The Congolese army is preparing to move in, but lacks the manpower to secure the entire region. Without international monitoring, many fear the withdrawal is just a tactical pause.

Ecuador Prison Riot Leaves 13 Dead in Gang Violence

Thirteen suspected members of the Los Lobos gang were killed in a violent riot at Litoral Penitentiary in Guayaquil. Two explosions rocked the prison before gunfire broke out, according to Interior Minister Juan Zapata. The riot was sparked by a feud over drug trafficking routes inside the facility. Ecuador has been locked in a brutal crackdown on criminal gangs since President Daniel Noboa declared an “internal armed conflict” in January 2024. Over 1,200 gang members have been arrested, but prisons remain overcrowded and underfunded. Families of the dead are demanding answers, and human rights groups warn the government is treating prisons like battlefields rather than correctional facilities.

Philippines Cancels Passport of Ex-Rep Linked to $57 Billion Scam

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has revoked the passport of former congressman Zaldy Co, ordering his immediate return to face charges in the ‘P57.3 billion Flood Control Projects Scam.’ The scandal involved 37 flood control projects across 12 provinces, all built with substandard materials that failed during the 2024 monsoon season, displacing nearly 200,000 people. The Office of the Ombudsman says Co received bribes from contractors who used cheap concrete and recycled steel. Co, who fled to Canada last year, is now wanted on multiple charges including graft and reckless endangerment. The government has asked Interpol for help. Citizens are demanding accountability, with protests growing in Manila. This case is now the largest corruption investigation in Philippine history.