Reuters World News Summary

Following is a summary of current world news briefs.

Iran to consider lifting internet ban; state TV hacked

Iran may lift its internet blackout in a few days, a senior parliament member said on Monday, after authorities shut communications while they used massive force to crush protests in the worst domestic unrest since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

In the latest sign of weakness in the authorities' control, state television appeared to be hacked late on Sunday, briefly showing speeches by U.S. President Donald Trump and the exiled son of Iran's last shah calling on the public to revolt.

Valentino, Italian haute couture 'emperor' who ‌painted fashion red, dies at 93

ROME, Jan 19 (Reuters) - A mix of carmine and scarlet, with a hint of orange - a new hue, inspired by an elderly woman at Barcelona's opera house, whose elegance struck a young Valentino Garavani. The colour, introduced to the fashion world several years later, in 1959, with a strapless cocktail dress of draped tulle, has carried his name - "Valentino red" - ever since, doubling as the eponymous Italian fashion group's signature.

Exclusive-Investigators find broken joint on track at Spanish rail crash site, source says

Experts probing the cause of Sunday's derailment of a high-speed train in Spain, which killed at least 39 people, found a broken joint ⁠on the rails, according to a source briefed on initial investigations into the disaster. The derailed carriages smashed into an oncoming train, pushing it off the tracks and down an embankment in one of the worst train disasters in Europe in modern times.

Analysis-A year into his return, Trump wields executive power with few restraints

President Donald Trump on Tuesday will mark his first year back in the White House after a shock-and-awe policy blitz that has expanded presidential power and reshaped America's relations with the world. As he enters his second year, he appears increasingly unconstrained, pursuing policies that have deepened divisions in the country. In recent weeks, Trump ordered a more aggressive federal crackdown on illegal immigration in Minnesota that led to the shooting death of an unarmed woman motorist by a federal agent, oversaw an audacious military raid on Venezuela to capture President Nicolas Maduro, revived his controversial plan ​to take over Greenland, threatened to bomb Iran, and shrugged off concerns over a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell.

Syria tightens grip after Kurdish pullback, says IS prisoners escape

Syrian government troops tightened their grip across a swathe of northern and eastern territory on Monday after it was abruptly abandoned by Kurdish forces in a dramatic shift that has consolidated President Ahmed al-Sharaa's rule. A day after the ‍Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, once the main U.S. ally in Syria, agreed to quit large areas under a ceasefire, the sides reported new clashes. The Syrian army said "a number of" Islamic State militants had escaped a prison that had been under SDF control in the eastern city of Shaddadi, accusing the SDF of releasing them.

At least 40 dead in Spain after two high-speed trains collide

At least 40 people have died in southern Spain after a high-speed train derailed and collided with an oncoming one on Sunday night in one of the worst railway accidents in Europe in 80 years. Twelve were in intensive care after the accident near Adamuz in the province of Cordoba, about 360 km (223 miles) south of Madrid, according to emergency services. Experts say a faulty rail joint might be key to determining the cause of the crash.

Sydney beaches stay closed after three shark attacks in two days

Beaches in the north of Sydney remained closed on Tuesday after a man in his 20s was bitten by a shark - the city's third shark ⁠attack in two days - as ‌heavy rains left the waters murky and more likely to attract the animals. Emergency services were called to a ⁠beach in Manly on Monday evening following reports a surfer had been bitten by a shark, New South Wales police said in a statement.

Gunman kills one, wounds six others in Czech town hall before killing self

A shooting at a Czech town hall left one person dead and at least six others, including three police officers, wounded on Monday, authorities said, adding that the gunman had also killed himself. Police said they had secured the building in Chribska, 110 km (70 miles) north of Prague.

Valentino, leading Italian ‍fashion designer, dies at 93

A mix of carmine and scarlet, with a hint of orange - a new hue, inspired by an elderly woman at Barcelona's opera house, whose elegance struck a young Valentino Garavani. The colour, introduced to the fashion world several years later, in 1959, with a strapless cocktail dress of draped tulle, has carried his name - "Valentino red" - ever since, doubling as the eponymous Italian fashion group's signature.

Top US Catholic cardinals question morality of American foreign policy

Three U.S. Catholic ​archbishops on Monday decried the direction of American foreign policy, saying the country's "moral role in confronting evil around the world" was in question and that military action must only be used as an extreme last resort. "In 2026, the United States has entered into the most profound and searing debate about the moral foundation for America's actions in the world since the end ⁠of the Cold War," the three highest-ranking U.S. Catholic archbishops said in a rare joint statement.

Canada could send small contingent of troops to Greenland, says source

Canada is considering whether to send a small contingent of troops to Greenland to take part in NATO military exercises, a source directly familiar with the matter said on Monday. The news was first reported by the CBC News and the Globe and Mail newspaper.

Young workers most worried about AI affecting jobs, Randstad survey shows

Four in five workers believe artificial intelligence is going to impact their daily ⁠tasks at the workplace, with Gen Z among those most concerned as companies increasingly rely on AI chatbots and automation, a survey conducted by Randstad showed on Tuesday. Job vacancies requiring "AI agent" skills have surged by 1,587%, Randstad said in its yearly "Workmonitor" report, with survey data suggesting that AI and automation are increasingly replacing low-complexity, transactional roles.

Bulgaria's President Radev resigns amid speculation he will form his own party

Bulgaria's President Rumen Radev will resign, he said in a speech on Monday, stoking widespread speculation that he will form his own political party to run in upcoming parliamentary elections after the previous government resigned last month. Radev, who was supposed to hold the largely ceremonial post until January 2027, said that he will submit his resignation to the Constitutional Court on Tuesday. If approved, he will be replaced by Vice-President Iliana Iotova until presidential elections in ⁠November.

Japan PM Takaichi to call Feb 8 snap election on spending, tax cuts and defence

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will call a national election on February 8 to seek voter backing for increased spending, tax cuts and a new security strategy that is expected to accelerate a defence build-up. Takaichi plans to dissolve parliament on Friday ahead of the snap vote for all 465 seats in the ⁠lower house of parliament, in her first electoral test since becoming Japan's first female premier in October.

Turkey's Kurdish party ‌says Syria deal leaves Ankara 'no excuses' on peace process

Turkey's pro-Kurdish DEM Party said on Monday that the Turkish government had no more "excuses" to delay a peace process with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) now that a landmark integration deal was achieved in neighbouring Syria. On Sunday in Syria, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) agreed to come under the control of authorities in Damascus - a move that Ankara had long sought as integral to its own peace effort with the PKK.

Trump links Greenland threat to Nobel Peace Prize snub, EU prepares to retaliate

U.S. President Donald Trump has linked his drive to take control of Greenland ⁠to his failure to win the Nobel Peace Prize, saying he no longer thought "purely of Peace" as the row over the island threatened to reignite a trade war with Europe.

Trump declined to tell NBC News in an interview whether he would use force to seize Greenland. He ‍did reiterate his threat to hit European nations with tariffs if a deal is not reached.

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