More than 40 people were injured when Israeli forces stormed Birzeit University in the occupied West Bank as part of a solidarity event for Palestinian prisoners. Staff and students described the attack as a warning against Palestinian defiance, according to Al Jazeera’s Nida Ibrahim.
Published On 6 Jan 2026
Published On 6 Jan 2026
Algeria defeated the Democratic Republic of Congo 1-0 in their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) last-16 tie thanks to a thunderous strike from substitute Adil Boulbina deep in extra time.
When Boulbina, a forward who plays club football in Qatar, was released on the left in the 119th minute and advanced into the area before unleashing a vicious strike into the net, the game at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat, Morocco, was on the verge of a penalty shootout.
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The stadium’s 18, 837 fans, who overwhelmingly support Algeria, threw wild celebrations after the magic occurred.
The 2019 champions, who won all of their group games, are now in a fascinating quarterfinal showdown with Victor Osimhen’s Nigeria in Marrakech on Saturday, with a serious chance of winning a third continental title.
The Congolese, who had big ambitions going into the AFCON and had already lost to the Super Eagles on penalties in a play-off qualifying match in November, is dealing with the outcome.
The Leopards will now at least be able to accept that they will be able to rest in the middle of their first World Cup since 1974 with a win over either New Caledonia or Jamaica in the intercontinental playoff that will take place in March.
Algeria will continue to concentrate on Morocco for the moment, having already been guaranteed a spot in the North American finals.
The actual match, which pitted two of the continent’s leading nations, had the potential to be the final game, but it never quite lived up to its name.
Despite Vladimir Petkovic’s Algerian team’s impressive attacking talent, neither Riyad Mahrez nor Ibrahim Maza, who had 90 minutes to play, managed to maintain quality in the final third.
Axel Tuanzebe, a defensive partner for Burnley, fired just wide from a corner for DR Congo, and Maza fired a close, narrow-fire shot past the goal at the other end of the box at the other end of the first half.
Both teams came within a few seconds of each other when an Edo Kaymbe shot fizzed in from range and caused Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane to make a good save as extra time dragged on.
Algeria, however, started to turn things around in the extra-hundai when Lionel Mpasi, the country’s goalkeeper, saved well from Fares Chaibi and Baghdad Bounedjah quickly in the 111th minute.
However, a shootout appeared to be inevitable until Ramiz Zerrouki and Boulbina combined for the winning goal in the second half of extra time.
Under the supervision of the United States, Israel and Syria agreed to establish a joint system for sharing intelligence and coordinating military de-escalation.
The “dedicated communication cell,” as the mechanism was called in Tuesday’s joint statement, will also facilitate “diplomatic engagement and commercial opportunities.”
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In an effort to reach a security agreement that would stop Israel’s repeated attacks on its neighbor in the northeast, Israel and Syria have been engaged in intermittent talks for the past year.
The most recent statement comes after meetings between Israeli and Syrian officials, including the foreign minister, in Paris on Monday and Tuesday as the US tries to restart talks.
The statement read, “The mechanism will act as a platform to resolve any disputes as quickly as possible and stop misunderstandings.”
Without a clear and binding deadline for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Syrian territory seized since the former president’s overthrow in December 2024, a Syrian official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, claimed it would be impossible to proceed with “strategic files” with Israel.
The official added that the discussions ended with an Israeli-issued resolution to halt all military action against Syria.
Since 1967, Israel has illegally occupied parts of the Syrian Golan Heights, expanding even further into Syrian territory in recent years, including the secluded Jabal al-Sheikh mountain, which borders Syria and Israel.
Israel has also carried out numerous attacks in Damascus, including one against the Syrian Ministry of Defense.
Despite US President Donald Trump’s overt support for the new Syrian government, the Israelis have attempted to portray the new Syrian government as an “extremist” force.
Israel is under some pressure from the US to reach a deal with Syria, but it doesn’t seem like a comprehensive agreement is in order.
Days after Israel became the only nation to grant the self-declared republic its first formal recognition as a sovereign state, the foreign minister of Israel traveled to Somaliland. The move was viewed as unlawful interference and a violation of Somalia’s territorial integrity.
Published On 6 Jan 2026
In response to France and the United Kingdom promising to send forces to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire, the United States has supported security guarantees for the country, including leading a monitoring mechanism.
At a summit of the “Coalition of the Willing” in Paris on Tuesday, where 27 heads of state or government gathered to ratify post-war commitments for Kyiv, the pledges were made.
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In 2014, Russia annexed Crimea and launched a massive invasion in 2022.
The “robust” guarantees, according to French President Emmanuel Macron, would see the US take the lead in a truce monitoring mechanism with European participation and the deployment of a multinational European force.
Following the discussions, Macron, Volodymyr Zelensky, president of Ukraine, and Keir Starmer, prime minister of the United Kingdom, signed a declaration of intent that provided the framework for a deployment of this nature.
According to Macron, Paris could contribute “several thousand” troops.
US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, as well as Alexus Grynkewich, Washington’s top general in Europe, took part in the summit as a sign of closer transatlantic coordination. The US envoys’ participation in the coalition’s discussions was the first time.
Trump “strongly supports security protocols,” according to Witkoff, who has initiated discussions with Russia, and that the guarantees are “important so that the people of Ukraine know that when this ends, it ends forever.”
According to him, “Those security protocols are intended to a) deter any attacks or any additional attacks in Ukraine.” And b) they are supposed to defend against any attacks and will do both.
Kushner referred to the Parisian meeting as “a very, very, big milestone.”
He claimed that Ukrainians must know that if they were to reach a final agreement, they would be secure, they would have a strong deterrent, and there would be real backstops to prevent this from occurring again.
The allies will take part in a proposed US-led ceasefire monitoring and verification process, which the coalition stated in a statement.
Additionally, the coalition agreed to fund the establishment of a US-Ukraine-Coalition coordination unit in Paris, as well as continuing to provide equipment and training to Kyiv’s front-line forces and provide logistical support for any upcoming Russian attacks.
The statement also mentions strengthening Ukraine’s war-battered army, including by replenishing its weapons stocks, in order to serve as the nation’s first line deterrent in the event of a new round of fighting.
The allies emphasized that “binding commitments” regarding their support for Ukraine must still be finalized.
Details of a US role were limped out of an earlier draft, particularly the language that outlined the use of US capabilities to support a multinational force in Ukraine. The statement was not specifically endorsed by the US.
However, European officials praised the US envoys’ strong words as proof that Washington supported the security framework.
Russia has not commented on the Paris meeting and has not indicated whether it will accept a Ukrainian settlement supported by foreign troops, a requirement it has previously rejected.
Despite growing diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, Moscow has not reaffirmed its willingness to compromise despite occupying roughly a fifth of Ukrainian territory.
Starmer noted that Russian attacks on Ukraine continue, but that “the hardest yards are still ahead” despite claiming that the meeting had made “excellent progress”. He claimed that Russia’s compromises would be the only way to bring about peace.
In order to support Ukraine’s defensive needs, Starmer claimed that the UK and France “will establish military hubs across Ukraine and construct protected facilities for weapons and military equipment.”
Zelenskyy applauded the Ukraine-proposed security guarantees.
The coalition’s existence of today’s substantive documents is important. These are more than just words. He added that there is “a joint declaration from all the coalition countries and a trilateral declaration from France, Britain, and Ukraine.”
He claimed that the discussions had “determined” which nations would take the lead in ensuring security and reconstruction, as well as which forces were required and how they would be managed. According to him, the territorial question, which Russia demands Ukraine give up its eastern Donbass region, is the most important issue that needs to be resolved.
Zelenskyy , a member of the group that met with Zelenskyy , wrote on Telegram that the agreements “show how seriously Europe and the entire coalition of the willing are ready to work for real security.”
He added that how the monitoring would operate and how the funding for the Ukrainian army would be determined.
He continued, saying that the US is “ready to be a backstop in all areas,” citing “security guarantees, monitoring a ceasefire, and rebuilding,” and that the Ukrainian delegation would continue its discussions on important issues on Wednesday.
Germany’s decision to be more cautious was welcomed.
German forces would be stationed in a neighboring nation, according to Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said a ceasefire could be monitored by German forces. He continued, “We will definitely have to make compromises,” adding that “we won’t find textbook diplomatic solutions.”
Croatia and the Czech Republic both declared they would not deploy troops, while Belgium said it would support the effort via its air force and navy.
Macron, Starmer, the Polish prime minister Donald Tusk, and Giorgia Meloni, the prime minister of Italy, all made the remarks at the meeting, citing the renewed stance of Europe and the US toward helping Ukraine.
Despite saying that leading the club was beyond his “wildest dreams,” interim Manchester United boss Darren Fletcher has said he has not thought about replacing Ruben Amorim.
After a turbulent 14 months at Old Trafford, the Portuguese manager was fired on Monday, replacing former United midfielder Fletcher.
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On the day before his team’s game against Burnley, the under-18s coach made his first appearance in front of the crowd.
Fletcher, who has played for the Red Devils in a variety of different capacities since 2020, including as technical director, called it “surreal.”
He declared, “It’s an incredible honor to be able to lead the Manchester United team.” Even considering the possibility of playing for the club and similar things, I don’t even believe it was in my wildest dreams.
However, it’s an incredible honor and one I’m very proud to take the team to the end.
“It [hasn’t] happened in the circumstances that I anticipated, so it’s obviously something that doesn’t sit well with me,” the team’s coach said tomorrow, “and I have to think of the great honour and pride in doing that.”
The former Scotland international is anticipated to remain in until a caretaker manager is chosen, with United planning to name Amorim’s permanent replacement at the end of the season.
The club had preliminary discussions about the position of caretaker with Fletcher, Michael Carrick, and former United players Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, all of whom were former players.
Fletcher, 41, claimed at his pre-game press conference that the hierarchy at United had gotten “focused on” Wednesday’s game and that they would speak again afterward.
Fletcher was questioned about his desire to work for the manager full-time.
He said, “Honestly, I didn’t give it any thought.” “I’m concentrating on Burnley,” I said. Discussion should be had after the game, in my opinion.
“It has happened so quickly and with such great speed that all of my efforts, efforts, and thoughts have been directed to Burnley.”
Fletcher won five Premier League titles under Alex Ferguson’s direction, but the club hasn’t won an English title since 2013.
Everyone is hoping Manchester United will be successful, according to a sarcastic Fletcher, who praised the standard and said, “Everyone wants to be on top and winning.”
He was asked what the future of his United team would look like.
In terms of what I know about Manchester United, he said, “Hopefully, it looks like a Manchester United team that represents a bit of me,” he said.
So I hope it resembles a Manchester United team that fans will proudly support, that I will support, and that they will because I believe in the players.
“I believe that those who play in that team have good players, good players, and players who care, and I believe we have a lot of quality in them, and I hope to give them a platform to express themselves.”
Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount were both injured and away from international competitions, according to Fletcher.
When asked whether Jack and Tyler, his twin sons, would make their full debut against Burnley, he joked that he would not divulgate sensitive information.