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Biden Voices Hope Iran Will Stand Down But is Uncertain

File Photo: President Joe Biden speaks during a meeting on reducing gun violence, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Monday, July 12, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo)
File Photo: President Joe Biden speaks during a meeting on reducing gun violence, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Monday, July 12, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo)
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Biden Voices Hope Iran Will Stand Down But is Uncertain

File Photo: President Joe Biden speaks during a meeting on reducing gun violence, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Monday, July 12, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo)
File Photo: President Joe Biden speaks during a meeting on reducing gun violence, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Monday, July 12, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo)

US President Joe Biden expressed hope Iran would stand down despite its threat to avenge the assassination of Hamas’ leader in Tehran, as fears mounted that Israel’s war against Palestinian militants in Gaza could escalate into a wider Middle East conflict.

Regional tensions have soared following the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas' top leader, on Wednesday, a day after an Israeli strike in Beirut killed Fuad Shukr, a senior military commander from the Lebanese group Hezbollah, which like Hamas is backed by Iran.

Iran and Hamas have blamed Israel for Haniyeh’s killing, and they, together with Hezbollah, have vowed revenge. Israel has not claimed or denied responsibility, Reuters reported.

Asked by reporters whether Iran would stand down, Biden said on Saturday in response to a shouted question, "I hope so. I don't know."

Seeking to bolster defenses in the Middle East in response to threats from Israel’s foes, the Pentagon said on Friday it would deploy additional fighter jets and Navy warships to the region.

Haniyeh's death was one in a series of killings of senior Hamas figures as the Gaza war nears its 11th month, and it fuelled concern that the conflict in Gaza was turning into a wider Middle East war.

Hamas said it had begun a "broad consultation process" to choose a new leader three days after the assassination of Haniyeh, who was the face of the group's international diplomacy.

The US and international partners including France, Britain, Italy and Egypt continued diplomatic contacts on Saturday seeking to prevent further regional escalation.

The US urged its citizens who wish to leave Lebanon to start making plans immediately, and the British government advised its nationals to “leave now.” Canada warned citizens to avoid all travel to Israel, saying the regional armed conflict endangered security.

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World

Clintons Call for Their Epstein Testimony to Be Public

Images of former US President Bill Clinton are on display as Chairman of the House Oversight Committee James Comer (R-KY) speaks during a meeting to vote on whether to hold Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in contempt of Congress for defying subpoenas to testify in the panel's investigation of the late convicted offender Jeffrey Epstein, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., US, January 21, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
Images of former US President Bill Clinton are on display as Chairman of the House Oversight Committee James Comer (R-KY) speaks during a meeting to vote on whether to hold Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in contempt of Congress for defying subpoenas to testify in the panel's investigation of the late convicted offender Jeffrey Epstein, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., US, January 21, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
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Clintons Call for Their Epstein Testimony to Be Public

Images of former US President Bill Clinton are on display as Chairman of the House Oversight Committee James Comer (R-KY) speaks during a meeting to vote on whether to hold Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in contempt of Congress for defying subpoenas to testify in the panel's investigation of the late convicted offender Jeffrey Epstein, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., US, January 21, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
Images of former US President Bill Clinton are on display as Chairman of the House Oversight Committee James Comer (R-KY) speaks during a meeting to vote on whether to hold Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in contempt of Congress for defying subpoenas to testify in the panel's investigation of the late convicted offender Jeffrey Epstein, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., US, January 21, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

Former US president Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary are calling for their congressional testimony on ties to convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein to be held publicly, to prevent Republicans from politicizing the issue.

Both Clintons had been ordered to give closed-door depositions before the House Oversight Committee, which is probing the deceased financier's connections to powerful figures and how information about his crimes was handled, said AFP.

Democrats say the probe is being weaponized to attack political opponents of President Donald Trump -- himself a longtime Epstein associate who has not been called to testify -- rather than to conduct legitimate oversight.

House Republicans had previously threatened a contempt vote if the Democratic power couple did not show up to testify, which they have since agreed to do.

But holding the deposition behind closed doors, Bill Clinton said Friday, would be akin to being tried at a "kangaroo court."

"Let's stop the games & do this the right way: in a public hearing," the former Democratic president said on X.

Hillary Clinton, former secretary of state, said the couple had already told the Republican-led Oversight Committee "what we know."

"If you want this fight...let's have it in public," she said Thursday.

The Justice Department last week released the latest cache of so-called Epstein files -- more than three million documents, photos and videos related to its investigation into Epstein, who died from what was determined to be suicide while in custody in 2019.

Bill Clinton features regularly in the files, but no evidence has come to light implicating either Clinton in criminal activity.

The former president has acknowledged flying on Epstein's plane in the early 2000s for Clinton Foundation-related humanitarian work, but said he never visited Epstein's private island.

Hillary Clinton, who ran against Trump for president in 2016, said she had no meaningful interactions with Epstein, never flew on his plane and never visited his island.

World

Two Airports in Poland Closed Due to Russian Strikes on Ukraine

Lublin Airport is unavailable due to military activity involving NATO aircraft (Reuters)
Lublin Airport is unavailable due to military activity involving NATO aircraft (Reuters)
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Two Airports in Poland Closed Due to Russian Strikes on Ukraine

Lublin Airport is unavailable due to military activity involving NATO aircraft (Reuters)
Lublin Airport is unavailable due to military activity involving NATO aircraft (Reuters)

Two airports in southeastern Poland were suspended from operations as a precaution due to Russian strikes on nearby Ukraine territory, Polish authorities said on Saturday.

"In connection with the need to ensure the possibility of the free operation of military aviation, the airports in Rzeszow and Lublin ‌have temporarily ‌suspended flight operations," ‌Polish Air ⁠Navigation Services Agency ‌posted on X.

Both cities are close to the country's border with Ukraine, with Rzeszow being NATO's main hub for arms supplies to Ukraine, Reuters said.

Military aviation had begun operating in Polish airspace due to Russian ⁠strikes on Ukraine, the Operational Command of ‌the Polish Armed Forces said on ‍X.

"These actions are ‍of a preventive nature and ‍are aimed at securing and protecting the airspace, particularly in areas adjacent to the threatened regions," the army said.

Flight tracking service FlightRadar24 posted on X that the closure involved NATO aircraft operating in the area.

The ⁠US Federal Aviation Administration said in a notice to airmen that both airports were inaccessible due to the military activity related to ensuring state security.

Last month, Rzeszow and Lublin suspended operations for a time, but the authorities said then that the military aviation operations were routine and there had been no threat to ‌Polish airspace.

World

Police Warn Sydney Protesters ahead of Israeli President’s Visit

01 February 2026, Australia, Sydney: A protester holds a poster during a Free Palestine rally protesting the invitation of Isaac Herzog to Australia at the State Library of Victoria in Melbourne. (Jay Kogler/AAP/dpa)
01 February 2026, Australia, Sydney: A protester holds a poster during a Free Palestine rally protesting the invitation of Isaac Herzog to Australia at the State Library of Victoria in Melbourne. (Jay Kogler/AAP/dpa)
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Police Warn Sydney Protesters ahead of Israeli President’s Visit

01 February 2026, Australia, Sydney: A protester holds a poster during a Free Palestine rally protesting the invitation of Isaac Herzog to Australia at the State Library of Victoria in Melbourne. (Jay Kogler/AAP/dpa)
01 February 2026, Australia, Sydney: A protester holds a poster during a Free Palestine rally protesting the invitation of Isaac Herzog to Australia at the State Library of Victoria in Melbourne. (Jay Kogler/AAP/dpa)

Australian authorities warned protesters to avoid violence in Sydney's streets when Israeli President Isaac Herzog visits on Monday to honor victims of the Bondi Beach mass shooting.

Police say they will deploy in large numbers for the Israeli head of state's visit following the December 14 attack on a Jewish Hanukkah celebration that killed 15 people.

"It's really important that there's no clashes or violence on the streets in Sydney," New South Wales Premier Chris Minns told reporters on Saturday.

"Our clear message is in an unambiguous way that we're hoping that people can remain calm and respectful during that presidential visit."

The state premier promised a "massive policing presence" in Sydney on Monday afternoon.

State police declared the Sydney visit to be a "major event", a designation that allows them to separate different groups to reduce the risk of confrontation.

Herzog has said he will "express solidarity and offer strength" to the Jewish community in Australia during his four-day visit, which starts Monday.

The trip has been welcomed by many Jewish Australians.

"His visit will lift the spirits of a pained community," said Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, the community's peak body.

Pro-Palestinian activists have called for protests nationwide, however, including in parts of central Sydney where police have refused to authorize demonstrations under new powers granted after the Bondi Beach attack.

- 'Full immunity' -

Amnesty International Australia has also urged supporters to rally for an end to "genocide" against Palestinians, and urged Herzog be investigated for alleged war crimes.

High-profile Australian human rights lawyer Chris Sidoti -- a member of a UN-established inquiry into rights abuses in Israel and the Palestinian territories -- called this week for Herzog's invitation to be withdrawn, or for his arrest on arrival.

The UN's Independent International Commission of Inquiry found in 2025 that Herzog "incited the commission of genocide" by saying all Palestinians -- "an entire nation" -- were responsible for the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.

Australia's federal police have ruled out an arrest, with senior officials telling lawmakers this week that they received legal advice Herzog had "full immunity" covering civil and criminal matters, including genocide.

Critics have accused Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's center-left government of moving too slowly to protect Jewish Australians ahead of the Bondi Beach shooting despite a rise in antisemitic attacks since 2023.

Alleged Bondi Beach gunman Sajid Akram, 50, was shot and killed by police during the attack.

An Indian national, he entered Australia on a visa in 1998.

His 24-year-old son Naveed, an Australian-born citizen who remains in prison, has been charged with terrorism and 15 murders.