Poland considers revoking Zelensky honour after Ukraine names unit after wartime group
Ukraine is facing a fresh diplomatic dispute with Poland after Kyiv named a military unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, a wartime group that remains deeply controversial in Poland. The move has prompted Polish President Karol Nawrocki to consider revoking Volodymyr Zelensky's Order of the White Eagle, Poland's highest state honour. The row has widened into a public argument over history, memory and wartime responsibility, with criticism coming from across the Polish political spectrum.The dispute began when Zelensky issued a decree late last month naming a military unit of the Special Operations Forces after the UPA, which existed in the... [Continue Reading]
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Questions raised over Belfast attack suspect's entry into UK in 2023
Questions are being raised in the UK after it emerged that the suspect in the Belfast attack entered the country in 2023 while Suella Braverman was home secretary and Robert Jenrick was immigration minister. The suspect is identified as Hadi Alodid, a 30-year-old Sudanese national, and the Home Office says he was granted refugee status the same year. Officials also say he has leave to remain in the UK until 2028.According to the reported account, Alodid says he came into the country via the Common Travel Area between Ireland and Northern Ireland. The timing has drawn political attention because Braverman... [Continue Reading]
Ukraine and Latvia sign drone cooperation deal in Tallinn
Ukraine and Latvia have signed a drone cooperation agreement on the sidelines of a summit in Tallinn, in a fresh sign of expanding defence ties between Kyiv and European partners. The deal was announced after talks between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs during a meeting of Ukraine and the Nordic-Baltic states in the Estonian capital. Zelenskyy said the agreement would strengthen joint defence and co-production, while Latvian officials said it would bring Ukrainian expertise into Latvia.The signing took place on Tuesday, shortly after Zelenskyy returned from London, where he held talks with the leaders of... [Continue Reading]
Baltic states on alert after drone incursions and hybrid-warfare fears
Recent drone incidents have heightened anxiety across Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, where officials and residents are increasingly focused on the risk of spillover from the war in Ukraine. The latest reporting describes a region on alert after suspected drones entered Baltic airspace, prompting shelter warnings and renewed discussion of border defences. Along the forests and marshlands that separate the Baltic states from Russia and Belarus, workers are digging anti-tank ditches, pouring concrete bunkers and erecting rows of dragon's teeth to slow any future advance.The incidents have unfolded against a backdrop of repeated concern about hybrid warfare and electronic disruption. The... [Continue Reading]
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South African police hunt more than 10 suspects after 12 killed in Johannesburg settlement shooting
Twelve people have been killed and nine others injured after gunmen opened fire at the Jumpers informal settlement in Cleveland, near Johannesburg, South African police said. The attack took place late at night and involved multiple shooting locations inside the settlement. Police said the suspects fled in a white Toyota minibus after entering from two access points.Authorities said the victims were nine men and three women. Eleven people died at the scene and a 12th died in hospital, according to police. Investigators have launched a manhunt for more than 10 suspects.They are also exploring possible links to illegal mining gangs... [Continue Reading]
Indonesia military court sentences four officers over acid attack on activist
An Indonesian military court has sentenced four officers over an acid attack on rights activist Andrie Yunus in Jakarta. The ruling was delivered on Wednesday and follows a March assault that left Yunus with severe burns and loss of sight in one eye. The case has drawn attention because the men convicted were members of the military's Strategic Intelligence Agency, known as BAIS, and because the victim had been critical of the armed forces' growing role in public life.The court found the four guilty of serious premeditated assault. One officer received a three-year sentence, another 2.5 years, a third two... [Continue Reading]
Inpex seeks urgent orders to halt strike action at Darwin LNG facility
Inpex has gone to the Fair Work Commission seeking urgent orders to stop strike action at its Ichthys LNG facility in Darwin. The company says the industrial action could disrupt production and affect gas supply. A hearing has been scheduled for Friday.The move follows an escalation announced by the Offshore Alliance, which says more than 400 workers will increase protected industrial action. The alliance, made up of the Australian Workers' Union and the Maritime Union of Australia, said members had endorsed longer stoppages at the Darwin onshore and offshore facilities from Thursday. Inpex has argued that the disruption would be... [Continue Reading]
Hundreds of former European officials urge EU to suspend Israel trade access
More than 460 former European political figures have called on the European Union to take tougher action against Israel over its military operations in Gaza and the West Bank. The appeal was set out in an editorial published ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg next week and an EU summit in Brussels. The signatories include former Irish taoiseach Leo Varadkar, former tánaiste Eamon Gilmore and former president of the European Parliament Pat Cox.The group said the EU should suspend Israel's preferential trade access under the EU-Israel Association Agreement. It argued that such a move would affect... [Continue Reading]
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Investigation says coltan from M23-held mines in eastern DRC may have reached global brands
A new investigation has said coltan from mines in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo controlled by the M23 militia may have entered supply chains linked to major international brands. The report focuses on Rubaya in North Kivu province, a major coltan site that it says has been occupied by M23 for two years. It alleges the mineral was smuggled across the border into Rwanda before being moved on through exporters used by large firms.The investigation says Amazon, Ericsson and Sony are among companies that may have sourced the mineral, while Microsoft, Toyota, Nvidia and Vodafone are also named as... [Continue Reading]
Pakistan alleged to have struck civilian homes in three Afghan provinces, killing 13
Taliban officials have alleged that Pakistani military aircraft struck civilian homes overnight in Afghanistan's Khost, Kunar and Paktika provinces, killing at least 13 people. The dead were said to include 11 children, one woman and one elderly man. The allegations point to a fresh cross-border escalation between the two neighbours, with no immediate response or confirmation from Pakistan.Taliban chief spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said the strikes violated Afghan airspace and hit homes in the three eastern and south-eastern provinces. In the account he gave, 14 other women were also affected, although the supporting material does not make clear whether they were... [Continue Reading]
Bondi gunman faces 19 additional charges in Sydney court
Naveed Akram has been charged with 19 additional offences in connection with the Bondi Beach shooting case, adding to the 59 charges he was already facing. The new paperwork was filed in a Sydney court on Wednesday, according to court records cited in the hearing. The case relates to the shooting at a Jewish festival celebrating Hanukkah at Bondi Beach last December, in which 15 people were killed.Akram, 24, had already been charged with 15 counts of murder, 40 counts of attempted murder and one count of committing a terrorist act. His defence lawyer, Leonie Gittani, told the court that... [Continue Reading]
US judge permanently blocks Alabama nitrogen-gas execution
A federal judge has permanently blocked Alabama from carrying out the execution of inmate Jeffery Lee by nitrogen gas. The ruling was issued on Tuesday by US District Judge Emily C. Marks and came just days before Lee had been scheduled to die at an Alabama prison on Thursday.It marks a significant setback for the state's use of nitrogen gas as an execution method. In her 26-page decision, Marks said the method violates the Eighth Amendment, which bars cruel and unusual punishment. The judge had previously allowed the execution to proceed, saying no execution is entirely free of pain, but... [Continue Reading]
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US border wall completion targeted for late 2027, CBP says
The United States expects to complete construction of the southern border wall by the end of 2027, according to Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott. He said the reinforced barrier is intended to run along most of the US-Mexico border, with some exceptions where officials have decided a wall is not needed. Scott made the remarks at an event in Washington, describing the project as a primary border wall with additional technology to follow later.Scott said the wall would stretch from San Diego to the Gulf of Mexico, but that there would be gaps in selected areas. He cited... [Continue Reading]
At least 11 killed in clashes in Pakistan-administered Kashmir amid protests over reserved seats
At least 11 people have been killed in clashes between protesters and police in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, according to the supplied reporting. The unrest is linked to demonstrations by the Joint Awami Action Committee, which has been protesting a rule that reserves legislative seats for refugees from India-administered Kashmir living in Pakistan. The dispute has again brought attention to political tensions in the disputed region, where local grievances have now escalated into deadly violence.The latest toll was reported in the supplied material on 9 June, and the protests were described as having intensified around the committee's campaign. The group says the... [Continue Reading]
Bus set on fire during anti-immigration protest in Belfast
A bus was set on fire on Belfast's Newtownards Road as disorder flared during an anti-immigration demonstration in the east of the city. The incident happened on Tuesday evening, when a large crowd gathered in the area for a scheduled protest. The unrest came amid wider demonstrations and road blockages in Belfast and other parts of Northern Ireland.According to the confirmed account, masked men set commercial bins alight and pushed them into a Glider bus on the Newtownards Road. Northern Ireland's public transport operator said it had suspended all services in and out of Belfast after the attack. It said... [Continue Reading]
Australia urged to audit VIQ Solutions contracts after court file access breach and agency use expands
Thirteen Australian government agencies are now said to be caught up in an expanding scandal involving potential data breaches linked to transcription company VIQ Solutions. The issue centres on an earlier breach of the company's Commonwealth contract with the Federal Court, after highly sensitive court files were reportedly accessed offshore in India. The company is now being wound down, and the widening use of its services across government has raised fresh concern about the handling of sensitive material.According to the supplied material, the breach was identified earlier this year and involved access to Federal Court files outside Australia. The company... [Continue Reading]
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Gaza says Israel is blocking medical evacuations for more than 16,500 patients
Gaza's Health Ministry says more than 16,500 Palestinians in need of treatment abroad are being prevented from leaving the enclave, as restrictions continue on the Rafah and Karem Abu Salem crossings. The ministry said the limits are worsening an already severe health crisis in Gaza, where many hospitals and clinics have been damaged during the war. It said the situation is leaving patients with conditions that cannot be treated locally waiting for permission to travel.The ministry said on Tuesday that Palestinians are currently being allowed to use the Rafah crossing only three days a week. It also said medical evacuations... [Continue Reading]
Iran and Israel exchange fire as strikes hit Tehran and Bandar-e Mahshahr
Iran and Israel have exchanged fire in a fresh escalation that has widened concern across the region. The latest reported strikes hit Tehran and other Iranian cities, while a petrochemical complex in Bandar-e Mahshahr was also struck. The developments came after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched missiles at Israel overnight in retaliation for an attack on the southern suburbs of Beirut.According to the supplied report, people in Tehran heard loud bangs before noon on Monday and again in the early hours of the morning. The report says the Israeli military struck Tehran and other cities, and that the IRGC... [Continue Reading]
6.1 earthquake off Cuba shakes Florida and parts of Mexico
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck off the coast of Cuba on Monday and was felt across parts of Florida and Mexico. The tremor was reported in the afternoon and was centred about 65 miles north-west of Mantua, Cuba, according to the US Geological Survey. It was also described as the strongest tremor in the region in nearly 150 years.The quake had a depth of 16 miles, the US Geological Survey said. No injuries, deaths or major property damage were reported in the immediate aftermath. In Florida, residents in places including Tampa Bay, Ruskin and St Petersburg reported shaking in homes... [Continue Reading]
Taliban disperses rare women's-rights protest in Herat amid disputed reports of deaths
A rare protest in the western Afghan city of Herat has been dispersed by Taliban police after demonstrators gathered over restrictions on women, according to witness accounts and officials. The rally took place on Tuesday and centred on recent detentions of women accused of violating the Taliban's dress code rules. Reports from the scene say security forces moved in to break up the crowd, while police denied using live fire.Witnesses said the crowd formed after a social media call to defend women's rights, and that dozens of people gathered in support of women. One 33-year-old protester said officers used sticks,... [Continue Reading]
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West Bengal CID searches TMC offices in Kolkata during alleged signature forgery probe
The West Bengal CID searched the Trinamool Congress central office in Kolkata and the office of party national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday as part of an investigation into an alleged Assembly signature forgery case. The searches took place in Kolkata's Kalighat area and on Camac Street, according to the supplied report. The party said the timing of the operation was politically motivated.The report says the searches were carried out while party chief Mamata Banerjee was in Delhi meeting Congress Parliamentary chairperson Sonia Gandhi at her residence. The meeting lasted about an hour and, according to TMC sources, was... [Continue Reading]
EU proposes new sanctions package targeting Russian soldiers, banks and oil revenues
The European Commission has proposed a fresh sanctions package against Russia that would, for the first time, bar anyone who has served in the Russian armed forces since the start of the war from entering the European Union. The measures also target banks, crypto firms, shadow-fleet vessels and Kremlin oil revenues. The proposal was announced in Brussels on Tuesday and now needs unanimous approval from the EU's 27 member states.European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said the bloc was seeking to make Europe "off limit" for anyone who had taken part in the invasion of Ukraine. She said the... [Continue Reading]
Modi speaks to Kuwait emir after airport attack and West Asia escalation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken by phone with Kuwait's emir, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al Sabah, as tensions in West Asia continue to rise. The call came after an Iranian attack on Kuwait International Airport that reportedly killed an Indian national and injured more than 60 people. India said the leaders discussed the evolving security situation and the need for de-escalation.According to an official statement, Modi expressed deep concern over the escalation of tensions and reiterated India's condemnation of attacks on Kuwait's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The statement said the two leaders exchanged views on the regional security situation.... [Continue Reading]
Iran signals June funeral procession for Ali Khamenei after repeated delays
Iranian organisers have signalled that the funeral procession for former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei could take place in June, according to state media reports. The ceremony has not yet been held, and the burial is expected to follow in Mashhad, Khamenei's birthplace in northeastern Iran. Previous reporting has said the procession is also planned to pass through Tehran and Qom.The committee overseeing the arrangements said the timing may fall after the 10th day of the first month in the Islamic calendar, which has been reported as likely to be June 25 or 26. The organisers said there had been extensive... [Continue Reading]
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India condemns Pakistan airstrikes in Afghanistan at UN Security Council
India has condemned Pakistani military airstrikes in Afghanistan during a United Nations Security Council meeting on the situation in the country, accusing Islamabad of causing civilian casualties and violating Afghan sovereignty. India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Harish Parvathaneni, said the strikes were not counter-terrorism and described them as a threat to regional peace and stability. The remarks were made with Pakistan present at the meeting, adding to the diplomatic sensitivity of the exchange.Parvathaneni said Pakistan's campaign of military airstrikes against Afghanistan had caused significant civilian suffering. He said the attacks were a violation of international law, the UN Charter... [Continue Reading]
Trump repeats Iran deal prediction as talks continue without agreement
US President Donald Trump has again predicted that a deal with Iran is close, even though no agreement has materialised after repeated similar claims since March. The latest prediction came on Monday local time, according to the supplied report, extending a pattern in which he has said at least 37 times that an accord was imminent. The remarks come against the backdrop of ongoing diplomacy and a war that has already had wide regional and economic consequences.The report says the predictions began on March 23, when Trump told reporters outside Air Force One that the two sides had reached "major... [Continue Reading]
Italy condemns Ben-Gvir remarks amid inquiry into flotilla activists
Italy's foreign minister has publicly condemned comments by Israel's far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, after Rome opened an inquiry into the treatment of Gaza flotilla activists. Antonio Tajani told Italy's Senate that the remarks were "unacceptable" and "unworthy of a minister", escalating a dispute that has already drawn in other European governments. The row centres on the detention of more than 430 activists from dozens of countries after Israeli authorities intercepted their vessels in international waters last month.Ben-Gvir had mocked Italy a day earlier, saying the "land of the boot has become the land of the flip-flop", a reference... [Continue Reading]
Xi Jinping meets Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang after seven years
Chinese President Xi Jinping has met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang, in a visit described in the supplied material as Xi's first to North Korea in seven years. The talks took place on Tuesday and were accompanied by symbolic events including a tree planting, a performance of Chinese and North Korean songs and a banquet hosted by Kim. Both sides said they wanted to deepen cooperation, but the material provided says there was no mention of North Korea's nuclear weapons programme.According to the supplied rows, the two leaders agreed to expand cooperation across politics, economy and culture,... [Continue Reading]
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At least 37 killed as powerful Mindanao earthquake displaces tens of thousands
A powerful magnitude-7.8 earthquake off the coast of southern Mindanao has killed at least 37 people in the Philippines, with rescue teams still searching collapsed buildings for survivors. The quake struck early on Monday and hit coastal communities around General Santos and nearby areas hardest. Authorities say the disaster has also displaced tens of thousands of people and caused widespread damage to homes and public buildings.The Philippines Office of Civil Defence said four people are officially listed as missing, while search teams continue to check damaged structures for anyone trapped inside. The Philippines Coast Guard has deployed 150 responders, including... [Continue Reading]
Philippines earthquake leaves at least 41 dead in Mindanao as aftershocks continue
The Philippines is continuing emergency and recovery operations after a powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck off the coast of Mindanao on 9 June. Officials said at least 41 people were killed, more than 450 were injured and thousands were forced from their homes. The quake hit southern parts of the country and caused damage in General Santos City, Sarangani and other nearby areas.Authorities said the earthquake triggered tsunami warnings across parts of the Pacific before they were later lifted. More than 450 aftershocks had been recorded since the main tremor, including several measuring between magnitude 6.5 and 6.7. Those continuing... [Continue Reading]
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UN probe says Palestinians are trapped between Israeli forces, settlers and Hamas
A United Nations commission has said Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank are being trapped between Israeli forces, settlers and Hamas rule. The report says civilians are facing severe and systematic rights violations across the territory. It also says the situation has worsened since the Gaza war began after Hamas's 7 October 2023 attack on Israel.The findings come from the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which was established by the UN Human Rights Council in May 2021. The commission said Israeli authorities have enabled settler attacks through financial and military support. Its chair,... [Continue Reading]
Iran says United States revoked World Cup ticket allocation for supporters
Iran's football federation says the United States has revoked its ticket allocation for Iranian supporters ahead of the 2026 World Cup group stage matches in the US. The dispute affects Iran's three group games, which are due to be played in the United States. The federation says the move leaves it unable to provide even a single ticket to supporters under the current arrangements.In a statement issued on Tuesday, the federation said the change came with less than three days remaining before the tournament begins. It said it had already started selling tickets for matches against New Zealand, Belgium and... [Continue Reading]
Libya migrant kidnapping network accused of torture and organ-removal threats
An investigation has exposed a kidnapping and extortion network in Libya that allegedly targeted more than 300 Iraqi Kurdish migrants trying to reach the United Kingdom. One captive is reported dead, while dozens more remain missing after being held by a militia and threatened with forced organ removal unless ransom was paid. The case adds to long-running concerns about abuse on migration routes through Libya, where smuggling and trafficking networks have operated amid years of instability.According to the investigation, the migrants were young Iraqi Kurdish men who were intercepted in Libya and then held for ransom. Families were allegedly told... [Continue Reading]
Nithya Raman projected to face Karen Bass in Los Angeles mayor runoff
Nithya Raman is projected to advance to the Los Angeles mayoral runoff, where she will face incumbent Karen Bass in November. The projection follows counting in the city's primary election, with Raman moving ahead of Republican candidate Spencer Pratt. The race is for leadership of the second-largest city in the United States.As of late Monday, Raman had 28.5% of the vote, compared with 25.8% for Pratt, according to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. Multiple US media outlets projected that Raman had secured enough support to move into the runoff even though the primary count was still ongoing. Bass, a... [Continue Reading]
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Offshore earthquake shakes Havana and prompts precautionary evacuations
A magnitude 6.1 offshore earthquake shook Havana on 8 June, prompting precautionary evacuations from office buildings and high-rise properties across the Cuban capital. The tremor was felt in several districts of the city and led many residents to briefly leave homes and workplaces while authorities assessed the situation. Among the buildings evacuated was the historic Lonja del Comercio in central Havana, where workers and visitors gathered outside as safety checks began.Officials reported no immediate injuries or significant damage. Witnesses described desks, computers and other office equipment moving during the shaking, and said occupants quickly used stairwells to leave the building.... [Continue Reading]
Iran warns ceasefire could break as Trump urges Netanyahu to be careful
Iran has warned that fighting could resume if Israeli attacks continue, as the ceasefire between the two countries remains under strain. The warning comes amid continued tension over reported Israeli strikes, including attacks linked to Lebanon, and growing public disagreement between Israel and the United States. The truce has been in place since 8 April, but officials on both sides are still describing it as fragile.According to the supplied reporting, US President Donald Trump urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to be "careful" because further strikes could undermine the ceasefire. The same material says the warning was reported by Axios,... [Continue Reading]
Ukraine says it has recaptured more than 600 sq km as Zelenskyy claims Russia is losing the initiative
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Russia is losing the initiative on the battlefield, as Kyiv reports fresh territorial gains in the war. In remarks given in London, he said the situation was better for Ukraine than it had been for two and a half years, while cautioning that conditions could still change quickly. His comments came alongside a separate claim from Ukraine's armed forces chief that Ukrainian troops have recaptured more than 600 square km of territory so far this year.Zelenskyy said Russia was not winning the war and suggested the Kremlin may struggle to scale up its offensive... [Continue Reading]
Philippine earthquake kills at least 37 and displaces more than 20,000 in Mindanao
Rescuers in the southern Philippines searched damaged buildings on Tuesday after a strong offshore earthquake centred near Mindanao killed at least 37 people and displaced more than 20,000. The quake struck on Monday morning and caused damage across several provinces, with officials warning that some collapsed or heavily damaged structures still needed to be checked for survivors or additional casualties. Many of those forced from their homes moved into emergency shelters after fears of a tsunami spread through coastal communities.The earthquake measured 7.8 magnitude, according to the supplied report, and was one of the strongest to hit the country in... [Continue Reading]
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Global nuclear weapons spending hits record $119bn, report says
Global spending on nuclear weapons rose to a record $119bn in 2025, according to a new report from the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. The report says the nine nuclear-armed states increased their combined spending by $16.8bn compared with the previous year. It also says the United States accounted for the largest share, with an estimated $69.2bn, more than all other nuclear powers combined.The report places China as the second-biggest spender at an estimated $13.5bn, followed by the United Kingdom at $12.6bn, Russia at $9.5bn and France at $7.7bn. India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea were estimated to have... [Continue Reading]
Philippines quake death toll rises to 37 as rescuers search collapsed building
Rescue teams in the southern Philippines are searching for survivors after a powerful offshore earthquake killed at least 37 people and injured about 400. The magnitude 7.8 quake struck off Sarangani province shortly before 7:40am local time on Monday, with the hardest-hit area reported in General Santos on Mindanao. In the city, rescuers were still working through the rubble of a collapsed commercial building that housed a grocery store, where two people were believed to remain trapped.Officials said two survivors had been pulled from the debris, while a third person was found dead at the site. Scanners had not detected... [Continue Reading]
Hundreds of aftershocks hit southern Philippines after magnitude 7.8 quake
Hundreds of aftershocks have shaken southern Philippines after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Mindanao on Monday morning. Officials say the death toll stands at 37, with 487 people injured, and warn that the number could still rise as responders reach more affected areas. The quake has caused widespread damage across parts of the island, with buildings collapsing and roads cracked or blocked by landslides.Emergency teams are still working to reach coastal cities and towns, where the scale of destruction is becoming clearer. Bernardo Alejandro, an assistant secretary with the agency overseeing disaster response, said search and rescue remained the priority... [Continue Reading]
EU set to adopt 21st sanctions package against Russia as alumina row continues
The European Commission is expected to adopt its 21st sanctions package against Russia on Tuesday, in the latest round of measures linked to Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Member states will then have several weeks to review the package before it becomes law. The draft is also expected to leave out Aughinish Alumina, the refinery in County Limerick that has become the focus of controversy over increased exports of alumina to Russia.The package is being prepared more than four years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. According to the information available, the Commission has decided not to include... [Continue Reading]
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Iran and Israel halt strikes after retaliatory exchange
Iran and Israel have said hostilities between them have halted after a brief but significant exchange of strikes that raised fears of a wider regional confrontation. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the "fire on that front is contained" hours after Tehran announced it had stopped its military action. The exchange came after Iran launched missiles at Israel on Sunday and Israel struck back, despite efforts by US President Donald Trump to dissuade Mr Netanyahu.According to the Israeli military, Iran fired nearly 30 missiles at Israel before Israel targeted military sites in the Islamic republic. Tehran then launched another round... [Continue Reading]
India: Preliminary probe says trapped gases caused deadly blast at Visakhapatnam Steel Plant
A preliminary inquiry has said a deadly explosion at the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd plant in Visakhapatnam, in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, was caused by the sudden release of entrapped gases from liquid steel. The blast killed eight workers at the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, also known as RINL, and sent molten metal onto people working below. The incident happened on Monday afternoon during casting operations at the steel complex.According to the investigation report by the chief inspector of factories, the explosion took place at about 4.15 pm while a full steel ladle was being rotated and centred.... [Continue Reading]
US adds Alibaba, BYD and Baidu to Chinese military companies list
The United States has added Alibaba, BYD and Baidu to its list of companies it says have ties to the Chinese military. The Pentagon update was published on Monday and expands a blacklist that is used to flag firms considered to support China's military-civil fusion strategy. The move affects some of China's best-known commercial brands and comes at a sensitive moment in US-China relations.China's embassy in Washington condemned the designation as discriminatory and said the US was overstretching the concept of national security. It said Chinese companies doing business overseas had been strictly observing the laws and regulations of host... [Continue Reading]
India defends Great Nicobar mega-project as strategic maritime asset
India's proposed Great Nicobar Islands project is being defended by defence sources as a strategically important maritime and economic development near key international shipping routes. The Rs 81,000-crore plan includes an International Container Transshipment Port, a greenfield airfield, a Naval Air Station, a township and a power plant. It has drawn criticism from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who described it as a major scam and a grave crime against natural and tribal heritage.According to the defence sources, the project is intended to strengthen India's maritime posture in the Indo-Pacific and improve its ability to monitor sea lanes, support operations and... [Continue Reading]
ICC prosecutor Karim Khan suspended pending member-state vote over misconduct probe
The International Criminal Court has suspended chief prosecutor Karim Khan and referred him to disciplinary proceedings over sexual misconduct allegations. The decision was taken by the Bureau of the Assembly of States Parties, the court's governing body, and means the matter will now go before all 125 member states in a special session. Khan has rejected the move and denied wrongdoing.The bureau said its decision followed a report from a United Nations investigation, advice from an ad hoc panel of judicial experts and written submissions. It said the documentation would remain confidential and added that the suspension was not an... [Continue Reading]
Ukraine strikes deepen fuel crisis in occupied Crimea
Ukraine's sustained drone campaign against Russian-occupied territories is worsening fuel shortages in Crimea and disrupting supply lines used by Russian forces. The peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014, is facing serious logistical difficulties after recent strikes on a motorway and bridge linking Rostov to Crimea via the occupied port city of Mariupol. Videos and local accounts described long queues at petrol stations across the region, while Moscow-installed authorities have acknowledged that demand cannot currently be fully met.The supporting material says Ukraine has carried out 300 drone strikes on trucks, including 30 tankers, since the start of May, with the campaign... [Continue Reading]
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TMC faces internal rebellion after losing power in West Bengal
The Trinamool Congress is facing a serious internal revolt in West Bengal barely a month after losing office, according to the latest confirmed reporting. The party, which governed the state for 15 years, is now dealing with a challenge to its authority from within its own ranks. The dispute centres on the leadership of Mamata Banerjee and has spread from the state legislature to the party's parliamentary wing.The immediate picture is stark. Roughly three-quarters of the party's legislators are said to have revolted against Banerjee and her nephew, Abhishek Banerjee, who is widely seen as her political heir. The rebels... [Continue Reading]
Zelensky meets King Charles after UK, France and Germany back Ukraine peace call
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has met King Charles III at Windsor Castle after talks in London with European allies. The meeting came a day after Ukraine, the UK, France and Germany issued a joint statement calling for a "just and lasting" deal to end the war with Russia. Zelensky later thanked the UK for what he described as its "ironclad" support.The talks in London on Sunday brought together Sir Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz alongside Zelensky. In their statement, the leaders said they would "stand firmly with Ukraine" and urged Russia to agree to an "immediate and complete... [Continue Reading]





