Thursday 16 January 2025

Islamic State insurgency in Puntland

Thousands of families are displaced as the military campaign intensifies, forcing locals to flee their homes in Bari region of Puntland, Somalia.

Islamic State insurgency in Puntland

The Puntland Security Force claims to have captured a training facility used by ISIL militants, with over forty ISIL fighters killed following heavy fighting.

Sudanese civil war

The U.S. Treasury Department sanctions the head of the Sudanese Armed Forces Abdel Fattah al-Burhan for "destabilizing Sudan and undermining the goal of a democratic transition" to a civilian-led government.

Disasters

A boat carrying migrants capsizes near Dakhla, Western Sahara on its way to Spain's Canary Islands, killing at least 50 people including 44 Pakistanis.

Stilfontein mine deaths

The bodies of nine illegal miners trapped inside a gold mine in Stilfontein, South Africa, are recovered by police.

January 2025 Southern California wildfires

It is reported that the Eaton Fire, which has burned over 14,000 acres and has killed 17 people, is 65% contained.

2025 in spaceflight

Blue Origin launches its New Glenn rocket for the first time from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, United States. The rocket's second stage, carrying a prototype Blue Ring spacecraft, successfully reaches a geocentric orbit, but its reusable first stage is lost during landing.

2025 in spaceflight

SpaceX launches its seventh test flight of the Starship launch vehicle, with an improved second stage, at Starbase in Texas, United States. The first stage is successfully caught by the launch tower but the second stage breaks up shortly before engine shutdown.

Crime & Justice

Two homeless people are killed and two others are injured in a mass stabbing attack in Miami, Florida, United States. A 30-year-old suspect is arrested.

Crime & Justice

The Government of Cuba releases dissident and human rights activist José Daniel Ferrer from jail.

2025 in sumo

Shortly after withdrawing from the January 2025 Grand Sumo Tournament due to injuries, the 73rd yokozuna Terunofuji Haruo announces his retirement. If no other wrestler is promoted this tournament, his retirement leaves sumo without a yokozuna for the first time since 1993. Terunofuji also announced his intention to remain in the Japan Sumo Association as an oyakata.

Disasters

Two deminers are killed in an explosion while attempting to remove a Cambodian Civil War-era anti-tank mine from a rice field in Oddar Meanchey province, Cambodia.

2025 Vanuatuan general election

Citizens of Vanuatu vote for the 52 members of Parliament.

2025 in spaceflight

The twin satellites SDX01 and SDX02 of the SpaDeX mission, launched in December by the Indian Space Research Organisation, successfully conduct India's first spacecraft docking, with India becoming the fourth country to successfully dock a spacecraft after the United States, Russia, and China.

Capital punishment in Taiwan

Taiwan carries out its first execution in five years on a man who was convicted of the 2013 murder of his former girlfriend and her mother.

Ukraine–United Kingdom relations

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer visits Kyiv, Ukraine, to sign a 100-year agreement with Ukraine that will formalize British economic and military support for Ukraine.

Spišská Stará Ves school stabbing

Two women are killed and a third is injured in a mass stabbing at a school in Spišská Stará Ves, Slovakia. The perpetrator is arrested.

2021–present Bulgarian political crisis

The Parliament of Bulgaria approves a coalition government consisting of the GERB-SDS, BSP – United Left, and There is Such a People parties, with GERB's Rosen Zhelyazkov becoming Prime Minister.

2024 French political crisis

The government of French Prime Minister François Bayrou survives a no-confidence motion by the opposition New Popular Front electoral alliance.

Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip

Israeli airstrikes kill at least 82 people across the Gaza Strip, including 30 in Gaza City, hours after the announcement of a ceasefire agreement.

Red Sea crisis

The leader of the Houthis Abdul-Malik al-Houthi announces that the group will monitor the implementation of the Israel–Hamas ceasefire agreement and continue its attacks on vessels and on Israel if the ceasefire is breached.

2025 Gaza war ceasefire

The Israeli and Hamas negotiating teams sign the hostage release and ceasefire deal in Doha, Qatar.

Science & Tech

Nintendo officially reveals the Nintendo Switch 2 video game console, the successor to the Nintendo Switch.