USA - Donald Trump sent a terrifying message to Iran as the US Air Force launched more than 50 fighter planes in a show of strength. Dozens of F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter jets took to the runway on Monday in Utah for a Combat Power Exercise. The 52 aircraft were used in the drill conducted by the active duty 388th and Reserve 419th Fighter Wings at Hill Air Force Base. Together, the aircraft cost a staggering $4.2 billion (£3.5 billion). The event showed the Air Forces’ ability to deploy a large force of F-35As. Fighter Wings revealed the F-35s have finally reached the capability of full warfighting. Last year, the Air Force deployed its F-35A stealth fighter jets to the Middle East for the first time. The model is branded as the most advanced military aircraft ever sent into the skies.

USA - Donald Trump is preparing to launch airstrikes on Iran from the military base on Diego Garcia, after deploying six long-range B-52 bombers to the military base. The US Defense Department is sending the military aircraft to the British overseas territory as part of preparations for a possible conflict with Iran in the aftermath of the killing of Qassem Soleimani.

GERMANY - Germany has been reluctant to embrace the United States' "maximum pressure" campaign against Iran. Analysts say the current juncture requires more diplomatic resolve than ever. "Choosing sides will only harden the stances of the US and/or Iran and weaken the EU's mediation position in the long-term," Gert Hilgers, a doctoral researcher in international politics at the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom, told DW.

LIBYA - Eastern forces, led by Khalifa Haftar, have announced the capture of the coastal city of Sirte, previously controlled by the Tripoli government. The news comes a day after Turkey deployed troops in support of Tripoli. The strategic site fell to the self-styled Libyan National Army within a matter of hours on Monday.

Haftar moves toward Tripoli: The fall of Sirte to LNA forces is a major win for Haftar, as the city is located some 230 miles (370 kilometers) east of Tripoli. Haftar's east-based government is supported by the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, as well as France and Russia. The Tripoli-based government is backed by Turkey, Qatar and Italy.

PUERTO RICO - A powerful earthquake has unleashed havoc in Puerto Rico, leaving many in the US territory without power. The quake is reportedly one of the largest to date to hit the island. Videos show collapsed homes in the aftermath of the 5.8-magnitude tremor, as well as roads covered in rocks and debris – apparently the result of a mudslide. In one clip, a crushed car can be seen underneath a raised home whose foundation gave out. “This is one of the strongest quakes to date since it started shaking on December 28,” he said. “It lasted a long time.”

AUSTRALIA - Australia is in the midst of its most intense bushfire season, but experts believe the blazes will continue for quite some time. Here’s why the Australia bushfires are about to get worse. Bushfires in Australia are very common, but the current fires are burning across the country on an unprecedented scale. At least 25 people have died since bushfires began in September, with others missing. But how much longer can the Australian bushfires really continue for? According to weather forecasters, the current scorching temperatures look likely to continue for a number of weeks, and could potentially worsen. In Australia, fire season normally peaks in January and February. But more so than January, February is known to be the nation’s hottest and driest month. February was also the month of the Black Saturday bushfire disaster.

AUSTRALIA - A row has broken out over the cause of Australia's deadly bushfire crisis, with Liberal MP Craig Kelly claiming that 'arson is not caused by climate change'. The MP, who is known for his climate change skepticism, put forward his opinion on why the country is gripped in a fire emergency during an appearance on ABC's RN Breakfast show. 'Unprecedented' numbers of people had been arrested and charged with arson offences, he claimed. 'The arson is not caused by climate change.' The claims of arson have already become a political battleground, with some politicians and commentators seizing on them to argue that the impact of climate change has been overstated. 24 people have been charged with bushfire-related offences this fire season. A further 53 people were arrested for failing to comply with state-imposed fire bans.

IRAN - For the first time ever, a blood red flag is being flown over the famous Jamkaran Mosque in the Iranian “holy city” of Qom. The fact that this mosque is directly associated with the Mahdi makes this symbolic gesture doubly significant. The hoisting of this flag was broadcast on Iranian state television, and it was obviously intended to send a message to Shiites all over the globe. So precisely what was that message? Well, we are being told that according to Shiite tradition a red flag represents both “blood spilled unjustly” and a call for revenge…

NATO - NATO'S Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has issued his concern over Iran's activities in the Middle East and backed Donald Trump that Tehran "should never have a nuclear weapon". Following the US strike on Friday, the NATO Secretary-General held a press conference in Brussels today to establish the organisation's stance on the matter. Mr Stoltenberg declared allies had been unified on pushing for a de-escalation of tensions in the region. He also added, however: "Allies today expressed concern over Iran's destabilising activity in the region and for terrorist organisations. We also agreed that Iran should never have a nuclear weapon."

EUROPE - Brussels is preparing to roll out the red carpet for Iranian foreign affairs chief Mohammad Javad Zarif despite influential member states refusing to shed a tear for the country’s murdered Major-General Qasem Soleimani. The European Union’s foreign affairs chief, Josep Borrell, issued a personal invitation to his counterpart in Tehran in a desperate bid to de-escalate the tensions in the Middle East. But key member states – Germany, France and the departing United Kingdom – refused to shed a tear for the death of General Soleimani, the second most influential man in Iran. He was assassinated in a drone strike ordered by US President Donald Trump, who has claimed the military leader posed a threat to his country’s interests in the Middle East.

TURKEY - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wasted little time sending troops to Libya after his parliament approved military intervention on January 2. Although there were vague assurances and speculations last week that the vote was largely symbolic and Turkish involvement would be limited to some military advisers, Erdogan said on Sunday that troops are already on the way. “The goal is to support a legitimate government. This will not hurt our agreement. The task of the Turkish military there is to ensure a ceasefire, not to fight. On the other hand, by supporting a legitimate government, [they will] prevent a humanitarian catastrophe,” Erdogan said. Erdogan’s ostensible goal is to shore up the internationally-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) headquartered in Tripoli, which is under siege by General Khalifa Haftar and his Libyan National Army (LNA).

UK - In an interview that breaks every rule of the Hollywood PR handbook, iconoclastic filmmaker Terry Gilliam said that white men are unfairly blamed for everything that is wrong in the world and that the #MeToo movement has become a witch hunt as well as an excuse for some women to avoid taking responsibility for poor decisions.

USA - Golden Globes host Ricky Gervais delivered his opening monologue on Sunday at the awards event, and called the room full of A-list stars, directors, and producers “perverts.” “In this room are some of the most important TV and film executives in the world, people from every background,” said Gervais. “But they all have one thing in common: they’re all terrified of Ronan Farrow. He’s coming for you. He’s coming for you.”

USA - Californians who like to be clean and wear clean clothes can now face a daily $1,000 fine, thanks to a new state law. Residents are restricted to only using 55 gallons of water per day, attorney Richard Lee told KTLA when reviewing laws taking effect January 1. “Doing a load of laundry takes about 40 to 50 gallons of water,” Lee said. “Taking a shower for about 8 minutes takes about 17 gallons of water,” he said, adding the combination of the two would put a single resident in violation. Lee said the fine will be $1,000 for each day a resident is in violation.

UNITED NATIONS - Pope Francis’ war on traditional Catholicism has been ramping up recently, and he castigated Catholics who believe in tradition and refuse to warp Biblical scripture to appease a godless world for creating a “minefield of misunderstanding and hatred.” “Rigidity and imbalance fuel one another in a vicious circle,” he said. “And these days, the temptation to rigidity has become so apparent.” “Tradition is not static, it’s dynamic,” Francis added. Francis revealed the dogma that he intends to replace belief in Christ as savior with last week. He is advocating for Catholics to unite behind a one world government, and surrender their freedom and sovereignty to international interests.