WORLD BRIEFING: January 10, 2024
Far-right Dutch election winner Geert Wilders made a key concession to potential coalition partners on Monday, announcing that he's withdrawing legislation that he proposed in 2018 that calls for a ban on mosques and the Quran. The move came one day before talks to form the next government were set to resume, following November's election. Abandoning the proposal could be critical in gaining the trust and support of three more mainstream parties that Wilders wants to co-opt into a coalition along with his Party for Freedom, known by its Dutch acronym PVV - Euronews
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived in Lithuania's capital, Vilnius, as part of a surprise tour that will also take him to the other two Baltic states, Estonia and Latvia.
More than 14.6 million Ukrainians inside the country -- roughly 40 percent of the total population -- will require humanitarian assistance this year as the war triggered by Russia's unprovoked invasion continues to cause death and destruction, the UN said - RFE/RL
U.S. and U.K. forces shot down 21 drones and missiles fired by Houthis. Meanwhile, the UN Security Council to vote on a resolution demanding Houthi rebels stop attacks on Red Sea shipping - Haaretz
Ecuador's president has ordered that criminal gangs be "neutralised" after days of violence culminated in an attack on a television studio. Masked gunmen broke into public television channel TC's live studio during a broadcast, forcing staff to the floor. Police made 13 arrests following the attack, which injured two employees. At least 10 people have been killed since a 60-day state of emergency began in Ecuador on Monday - AP
