US officials reject reports of dangerously low munitions stockpiles after Iran war
The White House and Pentagon have rejected reports that US munitions stocks have fallen to dangerously low levels after five months of war on Iran. The dispute centres on air-defence interceptors used in Patriot and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, systems, which experts say are especially important for protecting US forces and allies. The issue has drawn attention because it touches both battlefield readiness and the ability of Washington to sustain support for partners abroad.In a statement provided on Tuesday, President Donald Trump said the United States has "far more munitions than anyone in the world" and more... [Continue Reading]
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Europe heatwave drives record temperatures, wildfire response and conservation measures
Europe's latest heatwave has brought record temperatures to Austria, red heat alerts to major cities in Italy and fresh wildfire response efforts in southern Albania. The hot spell is also prompting conservation measures in Hungary and Moldova as the centre of the heatwave shifts east across the continent. Officials and emergency services are dealing with a mix of fire risk, power strain and water stress as temperatures remain unusually high.Austria recorded a new national temperature high on Wednesday, with 41.2C measured in Bad Deutsch-Altenburg near the border with Slovakia, according to the national weather service. That surpassed the previous record... [Continue Reading]
Nigeria rescues 308 kidnapping victims in major security operation
Nigeria says security forces have rescued 308 people abducted in separate attacks in Niger and Kwara states, in what officials described as the country's largest rescue operation in a single day. The announcement was made on Wednesday and included 163 people taken from Woro village in Kwara state and 145 others abducted in Niger State. Authorities said the victims were recovered from the Kainji Lake National Park Forest, an area that has become associated with criminal hideouts.Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu welcomed the operation and praised the agencies involved. He said the rescue brought together the... [Continue Reading]
Iran president says contact with supreme leader is very difficult after strike
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said communication with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is "very difficult at the moment" following the reported wounding of the leader in a US-Israeli strike. The comments come amid continuing speculation over Khamenei's absence from public view. Pezeshkian defended the supreme leader's role, saying his presence remains a source of strength for the country.Pezeshkian made the remarks on Wednesday, according to the supplied report, and said it was difficult to reach Khamenei after the attack that killed his father. The younger Khamenei has not appeared in public since succeeding his father. He has instead communicated through... [Continue Reading]
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Israel strikes south Lebanon after first evacuation warning in weeks amid Rome talks
One person was killed and 12 others injured in an Israeli strike in southern Lebanon, according to the Lebanese health ministry and local reporting. The strike hit the roof of a prayer hall at the cemetery in Tibnin, while separate strikes were reported in the town of Mansouri. The Israeli military said it was carrying out "precise strikes" after what it described as a ceasefire violation by Hezbollah.The evacuation warning for Mansouri was the first issued in more than a month, and came about 30 minutes before the military said it had begun the strikes on Wednesday afternoon. Lebanese media... [Continue Reading]
Wall Street closes sharply higher as tech, chips and gold lead a broad risk rally
Executive summary: U.S. equities finished sharply higher, led by megacap tech, semiconductors and broad market benchmarks, while crude oil and natural gas fell. The Nasdaq Composite rose +7.9%, the S&P 500 gained +5.6% and the Dow advanced +5.3%. Microsoft, Amazon and Nvidia were among the biggest large-cap gainers, while Apple and WTI crude were notable laggards. The move points to a powerful rotation into growth, AI and precious metals, with banks also firmer and energy stocks weaker. [Continue Reading]
IDF says it will keep operating proactively in Gaza as Netanyahu rejects US-backed plan
Israel's military chief has said the Israel Defense Forces will continue to "operate proactively" in Gaza, signalling that operations will go on even as debate intensifies over a US-backed post-war plan. Eyal Zamir made the remarks after an operational tour on Wednesday, according to a military statement, following briefings from senior commanders on the situation on the ground. He said the army had "significantly weakened" Hamas and altered the security situation in the territory.Zamir said the IDF would continue to act "in accordance with the principle we have established" to eliminate threats and defend communities and their residents. His comments... [Continue Reading]
Malaysia pauses Rohingya repatriation plan amid safety concerns
Malaysia has said it will not return 5,000 Rohingya refugees to Myanmar if their lives would be at risk, as the government continues to review a repatriation plan announced last week. Government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil said on Wednesday that the foreign and home ministries were still assessing the proposal before any decision is made. The announcement comes amid renewed scrutiny of the safety of Rohingya refugees and the conditions they could face if sent back.Fadzil said Malaysia would only proceed after determining whether the refugees would face persecution or threats to their lives on return. He said the government was... [Continue Reading]
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Deadly Russian strike on Kyiv as death toll rises to 21
At least 21 people were killed and dozens more injured after a large overnight Russian missile and drone attack on Kyiv and surrounding areas, according to Ukrainian authorities. The strike began just after midnight and hit the capital region with little warning, leaving damaged warehouses, a postal sorting centre and infrastructure near a railway station. Emergency crews were still working through the aftermath hours later, with repairs under way to restore power lines and train services.Ukrainian officials said Russia fired 115 drones and 24 ballistic missiles overnight. Most of the drones were shot down, but Kyiv's depleted air defences did... [Continue Reading]
Israeli forces raid Qalandiya refugee camp near Ramallah, injuring eight and arresting at least 20
Israeli forces entered homes and shops in the Qalandiya refugee camp in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday, injuring eight Palestinians and arresting at least 20 people, according to local and medical sources. The camp is near Ramallah, in an area that has seen repeated tension linked to the wider conflict in the occupied West Bank. During the operation, forces also issued demolition threats against businesses.The Palestine Red Crescent Society said eight Palestinians were taken to hospital after suffering injuries. Mohammad Aslan, spokesman for the committee that runs the camp, said the Israeli army took up positions on residents' roofs... [Continue Reading]
Puntland forces seize government-held camp near Galkayo airport after clashes
Puntland forces have taken control of a military camp near the airport in northern Galkayo after intense clashes with federal-aligned troops, according to Puntland officials and residents in the area. The fighting marked a fresh escalation in tensions between Somalia's semi-autonomous Puntland administration and forces aligned with the federal government. By the end of the confrontation, local accounts said the opposing troops had withdrawn from the site.Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni said the assault was a planned security operation and described it as a warning to those he said were working against his administration. He said the camp had recently... [Continue Reading]
Germany investigates armed drone found near cargo planes at Leipzig airport
German authorities are investigating after police in Saxony said an employee found a drone carrying an unknown explosive device in the secure cargo flight operations area at Leipzig airport. The drone was discovered near the airport's southern runway and close to Ukrainian cargo planes, according to the supporting material. Officials said the device did not detonate because the detonator was faulty.The incident has been described as a serious aviation security breach because the drone reached a restricted area at one of Germany's key cargo hubs. The airport is used for freight operations linked to Ukrainian Antonov aircraft, as well as... [Continue Reading]
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Day News Recap: Kyiv hit again as Gaza, Hormuz and West Bank tensions deepen across several fronts
At least 17 people were killed and more than 40 injured in another overnight Russian attack on Kyiv, with rescue work still under way as officials warned the toll could rise. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the strikes on the capital and surrounding region showed Ukraine urgently needed more air defences. 🔗 🔗Ukraine also said a Russian drone chased a fruit and vegetable seller around his stall in Kherson before exploding beside his van, and Zelenskyy shared footage of the attack. Kyiv further said North Korea is deploying a missile unit with six launchers and 120 ballistic missiles to western Russia,... [Continue Reading]
Republican confidence in Pete Hegseth wanes amid Iran war frustrations and Army nomination dispute
Republican confidence in US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth appears to be weakening, according to a report published on Wednesday, as frustration grows over the war with Iran and a separate fight over military leadership appointments. The dispute has emerged inside the Pentagon and on Capitol Hill, where several Republicans are said to be questioning Hegseth's judgment and management style. The concerns come as the conflict with Iran continues with no clear end in sight.Senator Thom Tillis said he no longer has confidence in Hegseth, describing him as inconsistent and overly controlling. He also said he had heard of a loss... [Continue Reading]
Russian strikes on Kyiv kill at least 17 as Zelenskyy calls for more air defences
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian missile and drone strikes on Kyiv and the surrounding region killed at least 17 people and injured 44 others, as emergency crews continued work at damaged sites. The attack hit business premises and a train station, adding to the toll from the overnight assault reported earlier in the day. Zelenskyy said the strikes also damaged civilian facilities including a brewing company, a warehouse for construction material and a mail sorting office.He said the attack lasted about two hours and involved ballistic missiles and drones, describing it as part of a series of large-scale Russian... [Continue Reading]
Miliband urges US to reopen Strait of Hormuz ahead of first one-to-one talks with Rubio
UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has called on the United States to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz as he travels to Washington for his first official one-to-one meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He said free passage through the Gulf waterway was essential to ease cost-of-living pressures on British families. The talks are also expected to cover the war in Ukraine and what Miliband described as the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.Miliband said he was looking forward to his second meeting with Rubio, after the pair first met on the sidelines of a foreign ministers' summit in... [Continue Reading]
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Iraq faces mounting crisis as Shia armed groups resist disarmament deadline
Iraq's government is facing a growing political and security crisis as a September 30 deadline approaches for restricting weapons to state control. The dispute centres on powerful Shia armed factions that have rejected or questioned the plan, even as some other groups have said they will integrate into the state's armed forces. The issue has become one of the clearest tests yet of Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi's authority over armed actors outside formal state structures.Kataib Hezbollah, described as one of Iraq's most heavily armed Iran-aligned paramilitary groups, has explicitly رفض the government's mandate and said it will keep what it... [Continue Reading]
Wall Street Opens Higher as Tech, Chips and Precious Metals Lead a Broad Risk Rally
Executive summary: U.S. markets opened with a powerful risk-on tone, led by a surge in AI and chip stocks, a sharp jump in the Nasdaq, and broad gains across the S&P 500, Dow and Russell 2000. Tech, defense, banks and metals were all firmer, while crude oil and the dollar-yen pair moved lower, reinforcing the view that easing energy prices and a softer dollar are supporting equities and precious metals. [Continue Reading]
Nigeria orders 80% pay rise for junior soldiers amid worsening insecurity
Nigeria has ordered a pay increase of up to 80% for junior soldiers as President Bola Tinubu seeks to bolster the armed forces against worsening insecurity across the country. The move affects the lowest-ranking personnel and comes as the government faces pressure over violence linked to banditry, kidnapping, terrorism and separatist unrest. It is the second salary increase in a month for privates, who will now receive $132 a month from September.The latest rise follows a July decision by the defence minister to lift monthly wages for privates from $36 to $73. Tinubu said the increase reflected the government's "deep... [Continue Reading]
UN says Iran has executed at least 56 people since March amid crackdown on dissent
The United Nations human rights chief has said Iran has executed at least 56 people since 19 March on national security-related charges. Volker Turk said 27 of those cases were linked to nationwide protests that began earlier this year. He warned that capital punishment was being used to instil fear and suppress dissent.In a statement released on Wednesday, Turk said he was alarmed by the rise in executions and death sentences issued in Iran since March. The UN Human Rights Office said more than 100 other people remain at risk of execution on similar security charges. It also said executions... [Continue Reading]
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Russian drone manufacturer founder critically injured in car bomb near Ekaterinburg
The founder of a Russian drone manufacturer has been critically injured after a car bomb exploded near Ekaterinburg, in what appears to be a targeted attack. Vladimir Tkachuk was rushed to intensive care after a bomb planted beneath his Mercedes detonated on Wednesday, according to Russian state media citing emergency services. His bodyguard was killed in the blast.Russian media reported that Tkachuk was in a critical condition and that doctors were fighting to save his life. Images circulating on social media showed the charred remains of the vehicle and blood stains on the pavement nearby. The attack took place near... [Continue Reading]
Iran, Oman and US near interim Strait of Hormuz deal amid ceasefire push
The United States, Iran and Oman are reported to be close to an interim agreement aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz and easing tensions over shipping through one of the world's most sensitive maritime chokepoints. The proposed arrangement is also intended to restore the June 17 ceasefire between Washington and Tehran, while leaving room for broader talks on Iran's nuclear programme and other issues. The development comes as commercial traffic through the waterway remains heavily disrupted.US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday evening that negotiations with Iran were "moving along very nicely" and suggested a decision could come within... [Continue Reading]
Pakistan imposes new restrictions on foreign media reporting outside major cities
Pakistan has introduced new rules requiring foreign media workers, including Pakistani nationals working for them, to seek permission before reporting from most of the country. The guidelines apply to anyone covering stories outside Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore, and have drawn criticism from journalist groups and media figures. The move comes amid tensions in Kashmir and renewed scrutiny of how unrest is reported.The rules are called the Foreign Media Facilitation Guidelines, 2026. According to the government, they are intended to provide an administrative mechanism to verify media, facilitate access and coordinate reporting requirements. Officials have not said how long permission may... [Continue Reading]
South Korea records 42.5C as heatwave deaths rise
South Korea is facing an intense heatwave that has pushed temperatures to record levels and placed pressure on public health systems across the country. A high of 42.5C was recorded on Sunday in the southern city of Yangsan, the highest temperature since modern record keeping began. Authorities say at least 19 people have died during the heatwave, while Seoul is under a severe heat warning.The temperature reading in Yangsan marks a new national extreme and comes as the country experiences prolonged hot weather. Officials said the warning in Seoul is the first issued under a system established this year to... [Continue Reading]
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Ukrainian vendor survives drone pursuit and blast in Kherson, officials say
A Ukrainian fruit and vegetable seller survived after a drone reportedly chased him around his market stall and then exploded beside his van in the southern city of Kherson, according to regional officials and police. The man, identified only as Yurii and said to be 52, was injured by shrapnel in the attack on Tuesday, 4 August. Ukrainian authorities released video of the incident and said it showed a drone pursuing him in the open area around the stall.Officials said the drone appeared to be an FPV, or first-person-view, device, a type often used in the war because it can... [Continue Reading]
Noontime News Recap: Kyiv hit again as Gaza plan row deepens and AI cyber test raises alarm
At least 17 people were killed and more than 40 injured after another overnight Russian attack on Kyiv, with rescue workers still searching through damaged buildings and officials warning the toll could rise. The strike hit the capital as Ukraine said the assault was part of a wider missile and drone barrage on the Kyiv region. 🔗 🔗Ukraine also said North Korea is deploying a missile unit with six launchers and 120 ballistic missiles to western Russia, a move Kyiv says is meant to support Moscow's war effort. The claim adds to concerns about the growing military cooperation between Russia... [Continue Reading]
India's monsoon floods and landslides kill more than 100 since July
Floods and landslides triggered by monsoon rains have killed more than 100 people across India since July, according to official data. The deaths have been reported across several states, with Assam, Kerala, Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, and Jharkhand among the worst affected areas. Thousands of people have also been forced from their homes as heavy rain continues to disrupt daily life in parts of the country.Assam has recorded at least 87 deaths, making it the hardest-hit state in the current monsoon season. In Sivasagar district alone, 47 people have died, according to the figures cited in the supplied material. Kerala... [Continue Reading]
France disputes Reform UK navy plan to return Channel asylum seekers
France has rejected a Reform UK proposal to use the Royal Navy to intercept and return asylum seekers crossing the English Channel, as the party set out a plan it calls "Operation Fortress". The proposal was presented by Nigel Farage as a future policy if Reform UK wins power, and he described it as a "rescue and return" mission rather than pushbacks. The row has quickly become a dispute between the party and French officials over sovereignty, maritime law and the practicality of carrying out returns at sea.Reform UK said the plan would involve deploying naval assets to stop small... [Continue Reading]
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North Korea warns of military options over Japan's defence buildup, citing Tomahawk test
Kim Yo Jong has issued a fresh warning that North Korea will consider additional military options in response to Japan's expanding defence posture. In a statement carried by state media, she accused Tokyo of moving toward a "war state" and said Pyongyang would not remain a passive observer. The comments were made on Wednesday and were tied directly to Japan's recent military steps in the Pacific.Kim cited Japan's first test-firing of a Tomahawk long-range cruise missile and its participation in US-led drills in the Philippines in May. Japan's defence ministry confirmed that the Tomahawk experiment last week was its first,... [Continue Reading]
Ukraine says North Korean missile unit is being deployed to western Russia
Ukraine says North Korea is deploying a missile unit with six launchers and 120 ballistic missiles to western Russia, in a move it says is intended to support strikes on Ukraine. Andrii Cherniak, head of Ukraine's intelligence agency, said the unit would be based in Voronezh and would include about 90 North Korean soldiers. The claim points to a further deepening of military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow during the war in Ukraine.Cherniak said the information came from intelligence that could not be disclosed in full because of sensitivity, and the report could not be independently verified. The alleged deployment... [Continue Reading]
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Guatemala keeps red alert in place as Fuego volcano eruption forces more evacuations
Guatemalan authorities have kept the red alert in place around Fuego volcano as the eruption continues to send ash, mud, lava and pyroclastic flows down its slopes. Officials said about 1,700 people are now in shelters after evacuations from villages near the volcano, which erupted earlier in the week and remained active on Wednesday. The latest measures also include road closures and school suspensions in nearby areas.The country's disaster agency said the danger warning level has been raised to red in three municipalities: Sacatepequez, Escuintla and Chimaltenango. Officials warned that the next 72 hours are critical because forecast rain could... [Continue Reading]
Breakfast News Recap: Kyiv hit hard as Gaza dispute deepens and markets rally on softer oil
Russian missile and drone strikes on Kyiv and the surrounding region killed at least 15 people overnight and wounded dozens more, as authorities said the toll was still rising. The attack added to pressure on Ukraine after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shared footage of a drone strike on a civilian vegetable seller in Kherson. 🔗 🔗In Gaza, Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would not withdraw from its current lines until Hamas had completely disarmed, hardening the dispute over any ceasefire deal. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said Gaza remains unsafe for civilians as Israeli attacks continue, with strikes hitting... [Continue Reading]
Eight South Korean students detained after Osan Air Base break-in attempt
Eight South Korean student protesters have been detained and are under investigation after allegedly trying to enter Osan Air Base, a US military installation about 50 kilometres south of Seoul. Police and US military authorities said the group was stopped on Tuesday at the base's main gate. The incident has drawn attention because it took place at one of the main hubs of the US Air Force in South Korea.According to the US military, eight people were detained after they attempted to unlawfully enter the base through the installation's main gate. The military said it transferred them to the Korean... [Continue Reading]
Taiwan begins annual Han Kuang war games amid rising China pressure
Taiwan has begun its annual Han Kuang military exercise, the island's largest war game, with drills starting on 5 August and scheduled to run until 14 August. The exercise is designed to prepare troops, reservists and civilians for a possible attack on the island. It comes as Taiwan continues to face sustained military pressure from China.The drills include combat scenarios for troops and reservists, with defence officials saying the aim is to make the exercise closer to real battlefield conditions. On Wednesday, dozens of reservists were seen on a beach facing the Taiwan Strait firing Taiwanese-made assault rifles at targets... [Continue Reading]
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UK counter-terror police warned over alleged IRGC breach by London-based LuaLua TV
Counter-terror police in the United Kingdom have been warned that London-based LuaLua TV may be breaching the country's new ban on support for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC. The allegation centres on the station's links to the Islamic Radios and Television Union, known as IRTVU, and on its online output, which has been described as pro-Iran and sympathetic to Hamas and Hezbollah. LuaLua TV is based in London and holds an Ofcom licence, but it is said to operate only online and on social media.The warning comes after the National Security Act introduced restrictions on support for the... [Continue Reading]
Netanyahu rejects Gaza withdrawal before Hamas disarmament
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the Israeli military will not withdraw from its current lines in Gaza until Hamas has completely disarmed. His comments push back against a draft agreement proposed by the White House and linked to Donald Trump's Board of Peace. The remarks cast fresh doubt on a plan that had been presented as a possible breakthrough in efforts to end the war.According to the supplied material, the draft would have seen Hamas begin disarming while Israel halted strikes and started withdrawing from roughly 60% of Gaza that it currently controls. Netanyahu said Israel had not... [Continue Reading]
Israel approves funding to take control of more than 70 West Bank heritage sites
Israel has approved 113 million shekels, or about $37m, to take control of more than 70 historical sites across the occupied West Bank. The allocation was announced by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and approved by a government steering committee on Tuesday. It comes alongside separate funding approved the same day for the Settlements Ministry.The committee said the ministry will receive 157 million shekels in direct funding and a further 142 million shekels in commitment authorisations. On the same day, the Knesset Finance Committee separately approved close to 300 million shekels in direct funding and commitments for the Settlements Ministry. Smotrich... [Continue Reading]
Trump signals broad rollback of Endangered Species Act limits to speed energy, timber, and infrastructure
President Donald Trump made multiple posts on Truth Social in the last hour: - "For far too long, Radical Climate Activists attempted to hold our Great Country hostage by drastically and unreasonably expanding the intended scope of the Endangered Species Act. This was complete and total regulatory overreach by unelected bureaucrats! They treated Americans very unfairly by stifling the production of important resources like Oil, Natural Gas, and Timber, and blocking the construction of family homes and critical Infrastructure. Even our Military couldn't train on land that was deemed "off limits" to protect a little rodent! Now my Administration has... [Continue Reading]
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United States revokes Brazil ambassador visa amid escalating diplomatic dispute
The United States has revoked the visa of Brazil's ambassador in Washington, deepening a diplomatic dispute that now links ambassadorial approval, reciprocal visa measures and the political climate ahead of Brazil's October election. The move was confirmed by a senior State Department official and described by Brazilian officials as part of a deliberate escalation. Washington said the decision could be reversed if Brazil approves President Donald Trump's nominee for ambassador to Brazil, Daniel Perez.The dispute centres on a familiar but usually routine diplomatic process: host-country approval for an incoming ambassador. Brazil has delayed formal approval for Perez, who was nominated... [Continue Reading]
Zelenskyy shares video of drone attack on vegetable seller in Kherson
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has shared video footage of a drone attack on a civilian vegetable seller in the southern city of Kherson. The footage shows a drone pursuing a man around a van used as a street stand before diving towards him and exploding as he ducks for cover. Ukrainian officials said the man survived, but was wounded in the attack.The victim was identified by Ukrainian officials only as Yurii, a 52-year-old vegetable seller. According to the supplied material, he suffered shrapnel injuries to both legs and his back. Zelenskyy said the world must see what he described as... [Continue Reading]
OCHA warns Gaza remains unsafe for civilians amid continued Israeli attacks
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said Gaza remains unsafe for civilians as Israeli attacks continue. The warning said strikes have hit homes, schools and canvas classrooms. OCHA issued the warning on Tuesday, saying the attacks are continuing despite the October Israel-Hamas ceasefire. The source says that ceasefire ended two years of war. The statement does not provide casualty figures, locations or further damage assessments. It nevertheless describes an ongoing civilian protection problem in Gaza, with education sites and temporary shelter structures among the targets cited. #OCHA #Gaza #Hamas #ceasefire United Nations News Source: United Nations News [Continue Reading]
US appeals court blocks Trump bid to cancel $20bn climate grant programme
A federal appeals court in Washington has ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency likely acted unlawfully when it tried to cancel a multibillion-dollar clean energy grant programme created under former President Joe Biden. The decision temporarily blocks the Trump administration's effort to dismantle the fund, although the money will remain frozen for now. The case centres on roughly $20bn in grants tied to the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, a programme designed to support clean energy projects through nonprofit intermediaries.The full US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia said on Tuesday that the EPA cannot freeze the grants while... [Continue Reading]
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Sudan crisis deepens as Red Cross warns aid funding falls short
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has urged greater international support for Sudan, saying humanitarian needs are escalating while funding remains far below requirements. The appeal comes as the country enters its 1,200th day of conflict, with war continuing to drive displacement, disease and damage to basic services. The federation said Sudan is now one of the world's largest humanitarian crises and also one of the least visible.Derk Segaar, the federation's special envoy for Sudan, said 35 million people need humanitarian assistance, more than 9 million are internally displaced and 4.5 million have fled the country.... [Continue Reading]
Iran boosts military strength during ceasefire with US as talks continue
Iranian military officials say they are using the ceasefire period to accelerate missile and drone production, repair damaged systems and bring new equipment into service. The comments come as Tehran says it is preparing for the possibility that war could resume if negotiations fail. The developments are taking place in Tehran, where officials are also describing the ceasefire as a window to recover and adapt.Army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia said this week that Iran had made "maximum use" of the ceasefire and of a now-suspended memorandum of understanding signed with the United States in June. He said efforts included inducting existing... [Continue Reading]
Israel election pressure fuels settlement push as West Bank violence surges
Settlement activity in the occupied West Bank has intensified as Israel moves toward elections expected in October, according to the supplied report. The article says the surge has raised concern that the settler movement is trying to deepen its hold on the territory. It also says the increase comes alongside a rise in settler attacks and new outposts.The report cites a warning from the United Nations last week that attacks by Israeli settlers, often carried out alongside Israeli forces, and the creation of illegal settlements and outposts had reached an all-time high. It says the trend has accelerated during the... [Continue Reading]
Jordan, United States sign $354.6 million strategic cooperation agreement
Jordan and the United States signed a four-year strategic objectives agreement on bilateral cooperation at the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation in Amman, according to Jordan News Agency (Petra). The agreement is valued at $354.6 million and is described as the first of its kind with the current US administration. The deal aligns with the administration's new foreign assistance priorities. It is framed as support for Jordanian government efforts to implement national priorities under the Economic Modernization Vision (EMV). The agreement's scope focuses on long-term water security, economic resilience, and self-reliance. It covers programs and projects in water and... [Continue Reading]
Trump endorses Harriet Hageman for Wyoming Senate, signaling continued GOP alignment around energy and border policy
President Donald Trump made multiple posts on Truth Social in the last hour: - "Highly Respected Congresswoman, Harriet Hageman, is running for the United States Senate in the Great State of Wyoming, a place I love and WON BIG in 2016, 2020, and 2024! I know Harriet well, and she is a TOTAL WINNER! Harriet has ALWAYS delivered for Wyoming, and will continue to do so in the United States Senate. She will fight tirelessly to Grow our Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Promote MADE IN THE U. A., Advance American Energy DOMINANCE, Champion our Amazing Farmers and Ranchers, Keep... [Continue Reading]
Day News Recap: Oil swings on Iran talks as Gaza, wildfires and health crises add to global strain
Oil markets were the biggest story of the day, with prices first jumping on the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz and then falling sharply after US officials said talks with Iran and Oman could produce a deal this week to reopen the route. The disruption has already lifted profits at major energy companies, including BP, which reported quarterly earnings of $5.73bn, its highest in four years. 🔗 🔗 🔗In the Middle East, the diplomatic and military picture remained tense. Iran said it did not want to widen the conflict, even as President Donald Trump said talks had resumed... [Continue Reading]
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US military asks staff for ideas to pressure Iran as strike threats ease
A senior US military command has emailed staff asking for suggestions on how to apply new, creative and unconventional pressure on Iran, according to the supporting material. The request was sent to high-ranking military analysts last week and was seen by a television network, the row says. It comes amid an ongoing war between the United States and Iran that began in late February.The email asked for ideas to "punish" Iran, and the command's spokesperson said the force has a long history of thinking and working in innovative ways. The spokesperson also said Admiral Brad Cooper, the senior commander overseeing... [Continue Reading]
Gaza funeral held for 112 bodies recovered from Sabra rubble after 2023 strike
Palestinians in Gaza held a collective funeral on Tuesday for more than 100 bodies recovered from the rubble of a residential block in Sabra, in Gaza City. The remains were linked to an Israeli air strike on 22 November 2023, one of the deadliest attacks in the early weeks of the war. Rescue teams recovered 112 bodies this weekend, including 40 children, after digging through destroyed buildings in the area.According to the Hamas-run Civil Defense, the strike killed more than 300 people when warplanes destroyed the neighbourhood during the conflict's opening phase. About 40 bodies were recovered soon after the... [Continue Reading]
Qatar says regional mediation with US and Iran is in advanced stage amid escalation fears
Qatar says efforts to reach a short-term resolution between the United States and Iran are now at an advanced stage, with draft language circulating through regional mediators. Foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari said in Doha that Qatar is working with Oman and Pakistan to exchange ideas and proposals between Washington and Tehran. He said the aim is to avoid further escalation, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and reopen the door to diplomacy.Al Ansari said there are no direct US-Iran talks scheduled, but that mediation is continuing and that the parties remain in contact through intermediaries. He said the whole... [Continue Reading]
Wall Street Opens Higher as Tech and Chips Surge, Oil Slides Sharply, and Risk Appetite Broadens
Executive summary: U.S. markets opened with a powerful risk-on tone, led by a sharp rally in technology and semiconductor shares. The Nasdaq Composite jumped +5.4%, the S&P 500 rose +2.9%, and the Dow added +1.9% in early trade. The biggest move came from SOXX, which surged +8.7%, while WTI crude tumbled -8.5%. The combination points to a market that is rewarding growth, easing some inflation pressure from energy, and rotating toward cyclical and risk assets, though the size of the moves suggests sentiment may still be highly headline-sensitive. [Continue Reading]
Cameroon's Biya reshuffles army amid prolonged absence abroad
Cameroon's President Paul Biya has reshuffled key military posts while remaining out of public view for nearly two months. The 93-year-old leader appointed new officials to senior army positions and promoted five colonels to brigadier general. The changes were announced as concern grows over his prolonged stay abroad.One of those promoted, Raymond Jean Charles Beko'o Abondo, was immediately reappointed as commander of the elite presidential guard. That unit is responsible for protecting Biya, and he has held the post since 2013. The decrees were issued on Monday from Geneva, where Biya has been staying since leaving Cameroon on 7 June... [Continue Reading]
Major wildfire west of Athens forces evacuations as winds drive flames toward mountain communities
Hundreds of firefighters are battling a major wildfire west of Athens, with helicopters and water-dropping aircraft supporting the operation. Strong winds are pushing the blaze towards mountain communities, while crews work to slow its spread with firebreaks in forested areas. The fire has already destroyed homes and farmland, according to the supplied report.More than 1,000 people have been evacuated from the region, including more than 250 rescued by boat from beaches nearby. Evacuation orders were issued in the early hours of Monday for three more areas as the fire continued to advance. The response remains focused on protecting settlements and... [Continue Reading]
US Army has used nearly all long-range precision missile stocks in Iran war, report says
The US Army has used "practically all" of its long-range precision missile stockpile during the war against Iran, according to a report published on Tuesday. The shortage is said to involve Army surface-to-surface systems, including Army Tactical Missile Systems and Precision Strike Missiles. The report says this is the first confirmed sign of low stocks in these offensive weapons since the conflict began.Three people familiar with US military data were cited as saying the depletion is linked to the sustained pace of operations in the war, which entered its sixth month in August. The report also said the conflict began... [Continue Reading]
Apple launches new legal challenge to UK order for access to encrypted user data
Apple has confirmed that it has launched a new legal complaint against the UK government at a court that hears objections to the use of covert surveillance powers. The company has not said publicly what the complaint covers, but the dispute is understood to concern a Home Office demand for access to highly encrypted user data. The row centres on material protected by Apple's Advanced Data Protection system, which the company says it cannot itself access.The latest filing comes after a dispute that has been running since early 2025. Apple withdrew Advanced Data Protection for new UK users in February... [Continue Reading]
Palantir raises annual forecast after second-quarter revenue jumps 93%
Palantir Technologies has reported a sharp rise in second-quarter revenue and lifted its full-year outlook, sending its shares more than 14% higher in after-hours trading. The company said revenue reached $1.94bn in the quarter, up 93% from a year earlier. It said the growth was driven by strong demand from both commercial customers and government agencies.Chief executive Alex Karp said the quarter was "otherworldly" and said US commercial revenue grew 149% year on year. In a letter to shareholders, he said the business was compounding at a pace and scale the company had not seen before. Palantir also raised its... [Continue Reading]
Tehran synagogue reduced to rubble in Israeli air strike, witnesses say
A historic synagogue in Tehran was destroyed in an Israeli air strike on 7 April, according to a worshipper and an expert familiar with the site. The Rafi-Nia synagogue, in Malek Lane near the Iranian capital's historic centre, was hit in the early hours of the morning, with witnesses saying three strikes landed around 3:30am. The building and a neighbouring property were left in ruins, and residents later returned to find their homes and belongings damaged or destroyed.One worshipper, Marjan, said she was alerted by a neighbour shortly before dawn and rushed to the scene. She said emergency services were... [Continue Reading]
Four killed in Crimea shooting as investigation continues
Russian-installed officials in Crimea said four people were killed when a soldier opened fire in the village of Khmelnytske, in an incident that also left three others injured. The attacker was detained, and the motive was still being investigated, according to the regional governor, Mikhail Razvozhayev. Officials said the gunman first shot at fellow soldiers, killing one and wounding another, before turning the weapon on civilians.Razvozhayev said the civilian dead were two men aged 71 and 59, and a 64-year-old woman. He said doctors were "doing everything possible to save" those injured, while urging people to rely only on official... [Continue Reading]
Greek wildfires burn homes in Porto Germeno as fires spread across the country
Porto Germeno west of Athens has woken to burned homes and blackened cars after another fast-moving wildfire swept through the area. Residents are beginning to assess the damage while firefighters continue to tackle flames across Greece. The latest destruction comes as the country endures a second straight week of major wildfires.The supplied report says hundreds of firefighters remain deployed as strong winds and dry conditions make containment difficult. Former Villia mayor Konstantinos Makrynoris described the past few days as "absolutely unacceptable", reflecting growing frustration over the scale of the damage. The report also says at least five people have died... [Continue Reading]
US probes possible Iranian-linked cyberattacks on water systems in seven states
US authorities are investigating reported cyberattacks on water systems in Minnesota and six other states, after officials said some of the activity disrupted water operations. Minnesota first reported that more than 30 of its state water systems had faced what it described as a coordinated cyberattack. Days later, the FBI said cyberattacks had been reported in seven states, widening the scope of the inquiry.The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency is reportedly examining whether there is a possible Iranian connection to the Minnesota attacks, according to US media reports. The agency has not commented publicly on the reported probe. US... [Continue Reading]
US stocks near record high as oil falls after Trump claims Iran talks are under way
US equities moved close to record highs on Monday after President Donald Trump said talks with Iran were under way, while Brent crude fell sharply on the same day. The market reaction came amid conflicting accounts from Washington and Tehran about the status of the communications. The moves added a fresh financial-market dimension to the wider dispute over the war on Iran.The S&P 500 rose 1.5% and finished just below its closing record of 7,620.90 set on 2 June. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.3% to a record high of 53,178.41, while the Nasdaq Composite climbed 2.1% and remained... [Continue Reading]
Trump says Iran talks are underway, warns of total surrender over nuclear issue
President Donald Trump made multiple posts on Truth Social in the last hour: - "These are the missing children, and we're not being helped at all by Sanctuary Cities. They're going out of their way to make sure the children remain missing!" - "Congresswoman Carol Miller is an incredible Representative for the Great People of West Virginia's 1st Congressional District! Carol is a Fierce Advocate for our America First Agenda. In Congress, she is fighting tirelessly to Secure our Border, Grow the Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Promote MADE IN THE U. A., Support our Incredible Military/Vets, Champion American Energy,... [Continue Reading]
Kremlin critic Boris Nadezhdin says he has fled Russia for Paris amid election crackdown
Russian anti-war politician Boris Nadezhdin has said he has left Russia and is now in Paris after a series of moves by the authorities that blocked his political activity. In a video filmed with the Eiffel Tower in the background, the 63-year-old said he was "alive and free" but "not in Russia at the moment". He added that he needed "to get my bearings and figure out what to do next".Nadezhdin said he had recently been detained and then faced further pressure after announcing plans to run in September's parliamentary elections. According to the reports, the justice ministry designated him... [Continue Reading]
Kurdish regional leader meets Syrian president in Damascus over SDF integration and rights
Iraqi Kurdish regional leader Nechirvan Barzani has met Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus for talks focused on the future of the Syrian Democratic Forces and Kurdish rights in post-Assad Syria. The meeting, held at the People's Palace, was described as the first visit by a Kurdish leader to Syria since the fall of Bashar al-Assad. It comes after months of engagement between the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq and Syria's new administration.According to Syria's state news agency, the two sides discussed bilateral relations between Erbil and Damascus, along with regional issues they said required greater cooperation and coordination. The... [Continue Reading]
Deadly Ethiopia-Tigray border clashes send refugees into Sudan as fighting eases
Hundreds of Tigrayans, including wounded fighters, have fled into Sudan after weekend clashes between Ethiopia's federal army and Tigray People's Liberation Front rebels in Shererina. The fighting, which began early on Saturday, involved heavy artillery and drones and was reported to have subsided by Sunday afternoon. The latest violence has deepened fears that a three-year-old peace deal could unravel and trigger another round of conflict.A TPLF member said on Sunday that there was "de-escalation" by 5pm local time, while the rebels accused the Ethiopian army of launching the attack and intensifying what they called destructive actions. They described the assault... [Continue Reading]
Threat to oil tankers in the Middle East at worst level since Iran war began, analysts say
Analysts say the threat to crude shipping in the Middle East is now at its worst level since the Iran war began, after a series of attacks on vessels in the Red Sea and a sharp fall in traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. The warning comes as tanker operators and ship-tracking firms report that some vessels are avoiding detection by switching off transponders, a practice known as going dark. The disruption is affecting one of the world's most sensitive energy corridors at a time when shipping routes across the region are under pressure.According to ship-tracking data cited by analysts,... [Continue Reading]
Europe closes higher as oil slumps, DAX leads broad risk rally, euro and sterling firm
Executive summary: European equities finished higher, led by Germany’s DAX, as a sharp drop in Brent crude eased pressure on risk assets and helped support autos, metals and broader cyclicals. The move came alongside a weaker dollar, firmer euro and sterling, and gains across the Euro Stoxx 50, CAC 40 and FTSE 100. Gold also advanced, while silver slipped and USD/JPY fell sharply, underscoring a session dominated by commodity, FX and rate-sensitive moves. [Continue Reading]
Pentagon accelerates Patriot and THAAD interceptor production amid stockpile strain
The United States Department of Defense has announced new agreements with Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman to expand production of missile defence interceptors used in the Patriot PAC-3 and THAAD systems. The move is aimed at increasing output as the Pentagon seeks to rebuild stockpiles under pressure from ongoing military commitments. The announcement was made on Monday and was followed by a separate Army contract for Patriot interceptors later in the week.The U.S. Army awarded Lockheed Martin a contract worth more than $58bn to produce Patriot interceptor missiles, converting a previous one-year agreement worth $4.7bn into a seven-year deal. Northrop... [Continue Reading]
Wildfire in southwest France uncovers unexploded World War II shells
A wildfire in southwest France has uncovered unexploded World War II shells, forcing bomb disposal teams to secure the area before residents can return home. The fire left scorched ground littered with wartime ammunition near residential properties, according to the supplied report. Specialists were seen searching for and collecting shells as part of the emergency response.Officials said some of the munitions exploded in extreme heat, sending shrapnel into nearby buildings. That prompted the creation of a safety zone around the affected area. Crews have been removing visible explosives first, with a more thorough clearance operation to follow once conditions are... [Continue Reading]
Myanmar's Suu Kyi meets Red Cross representative for first time in years
The meeting between detained former Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi and a representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross has added a rare humanitarian development to a case that has drawn sustained international concern. A government spokesperson said Suu Kyi met Arnaud de Baecque in the capital, Naypyitaw, on Monday. It was the first publicised visit by a foreign official since she was removed from power in the 2021 military coup.The ICRC said the visit followed its standards and procedures for people deprived of liberty, and that it included the opportunity to speak with Suu Kyi in... [Continue Reading]
Who will shape post-war Iran as rival power centres prepare for recovery?
As the war involving Iran enters its sixth month, debate is intensifying over who will define the country's post-war direction. The immediate question is not only how the fighting ends, but which institutions will shape the recovery that follows. According to the supplied material, external pressure has not produced a clear split in Tehran, but it has compressed existing disagreements into a more constrained political space.The row material says Washington has been betting that sustained military pressure will fracture decision-making in Tehran. It also notes that Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently said members of the Iranian government had contacted... [Continue Reading]
Pakistan-administered Kashmir election unrest deepens as second voting phase begins under heavy security
The second phase of regional voting in Pakistan-administered Kashmir began in Muzaffarabad on Sunday under heavy security, as protests, boycott calls and shutdowns continued to overshadow the election. Polling stations opened in the capital after two days of closures and empty streets, with paramilitary personnel and police deployed across the city. The vote is being held in three stages after weeks of unrest forced the Election Commission to split the process.The latest round follows a prolonged dispute over electoral reforms and representation, led by the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee, a local pressure group that authorities banned on 5... [Continue Reading]
Noontime News Recap: Iran denies US talks as yen intervention, Gaza tensions and Europe fires dominate
Iran has denied it is negotiating directly with the United States, saying current discussions are only with Oman and focus on a joint management arrangement for the Strait of Hormuz shipping route, even as the wider regional backdrop remains tense. 🔗In the Middle East, Israel has raised concerns with Washington over a Gaza framework promoted by President Donald Trump, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office saying talks are continuing. 🔗In Europe, the United States has ordered its European Command to oversee a reorganisation of Security Assistance Group Ukraine, with roles and responsibilities being realigned across SAG U and NATO structures.... [Continue Reading]
Sudan army drone strike on Darfur court session kills 35, rights group says
A drone strike in North Darfur has killed 35 people and injured dozens more during a traditional court session in a village controlled by the Rapid Support Forces, according to a local rights group. The attack took place on Sunday afternoon in Ghara al-Zawiya, in the west of Sudan, as the country's civil war between the Sudanese army and the RSF continues. The Emergency Lawyers Group said the gathering was held under a tree with local community leaders present.The rights organisation said the strike was carried out by the Sudanese army. The army has not commented on the allegation. A... [Continue Reading]
Moscow restaurant bombing death toll rises to five as Russia blames Ukraine
Russia has blamed Ukraine for a bombing at an upmarket restaurant in central Moscow that killed five people and injured 19 others. The blast happened on Saturday evening near the entrance to Balzi Rossi, an Italian restaurant on Kudrinskaya Square, in one of the capital's Stalin-era skyscrapers. Authorities said an unidentified woman carrying an improvised explosive device was stopped by a security guard before the device detonated moments later.Russia's foreign ministry accused Kyiv of carrying out the attack, while investigators continued to examine who planned it and who may have been the intended target. Reports cited by Russian and independent... [Continue Reading]
Naples-area earthquake injures 26 as aftershocks continue in Campi Flegrei
A shallow magnitude 4.7 earthquake struck the Campi Flegrei volcanic area near Naples late on Friday, injuring 26 people and causing fresh damage in Pozzuoli. The quake was recorded at a depth of three kilometres and was followed by a series of smaller aftershocks. Around 300 residents were evacuated, with most of the damage concentrated in the town closest to the epicentre.Italy's civil protection service said five of the injured were taken to hospital. Several unoccupied buildings collapsed, and landslides were reported in the affected area. Officials have continued to urge caution as seismic and volcanic activity in Campi Flegrei... [Continue Reading]
Cuba reports another nationwide blackout as grid recovery efforts continue
State electricity operator UNE has reported another nationwide blackout in Cuba, describing the latest outage as a total disconnection of the national power system. The disruption affected Havana and the wider island, leaving large parts of the country without electricity. It is the latest in a series of grid collapses to hit the Caribbean nation.UNE said protocols to restore the grid were under way after the system went down. The supporting report said the west of the country had already lost power 24 hours earlier, before the outage spread more widely. Residents in Havana were also left without electricity as... [Continue Reading]
Two workers killed after returning to quake-hit Kumamoto mall before blast
Two store employees were killed in an explosion at the earthquake-hit Aeon Mall in Kumamoto after they were told to go back inside to secure cash, according to details reported by local media. The blast came after a magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Kumamoto prefecture on 28 July, leaving 38 people dead in total. Seven of those fatalities were linked to the mall, underscoring the scale of the damage at the site.The employer of the workers, the general goods store Habita, apologised for what it called the loss of two precious lives. Its sales director, Goji Yuse, said the instructions given... [Continue Reading]
Japan and US confirm rare joint intervention to support yen as officials signal more action
Japan and the United States have confirmed that they carried out a coordinated intervention in foreign exchange markets last week to support the yen. The move was aimed at stopping the currency from sliding to a fresh 40-year low, according to the supplied material. It is the first joint intervention by the two countries since 2011, making it a rare step in currency management.Japan's Ministry of Finance said the action took place on Friday and was intended to counter excessive volatility and disorderly movements in the yen. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also said the coordinated foreign exchange actions were... [Continue Reading]
Ukrainian drone attack sets Wildberries warehouse on fire in Russia's Vladimir region
A Ukrainian drone attack has caused a fire at a warehouse belonging to Wildberries in Russia's Vladimir region, according to the company. The incident took place on Monday and prompted the evacuation of staff from the site. Firefighters were still working at the scene as the company said it had rerouted logistics operations to other facilities.Regional governor Alexander Avdeyev said a young man suffered a non-life-threatening head wound and was being taken to hospital. He also said a woman living nearby had minor injuries to one leg. The company said deliveries and shipments were continuing through other warehouses, indicating an... [Continue Reading]
Australia raises proposed levy on big tech over news content deals
Australia is moving to raise the proposed levy on major digital platforms that do not strike content deals with news organisations, in a fresh step in its media bargaining policy. Under the plan, companies would face a 2.5% charge on digital advertising revenue if they fail to reach agreements with local news services. The government is expected to introduce the legislation to parliament in the coming weeks.The revised proposal increases the levy from 2.25% and narrows the base on which it would be calculated. Instead of applying to total revenue, the charge would now be limited to digital advertising revenue... [Continue Reading]
Suicide bombing outside police station in Pakistan's Swat kills at least 14 as TTP claims responsibility
A suspected suicide bombing outside a police station in Kabal, in Pakistan's Swat district, killed at least 14 people and wounded at least 18, according to officials. The blast took place in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, in northwestern Pakistan, where authorities have been warning of a renewed rise in militancy. A pro-police rally of local residents was taking place in the same area, although it was not immediately clear whether that gathering was the intended target.Regional police official Fida Hussain said the dead included five police officers and eight civilians, while the 14th person was believed to be the bomber. A... [Continue Reading]
Greece wildfire response hit by helicopter collision west of Athens as one crew survives
Two firefighting helicopters collided in mid-air on Sunday while responding to a wildfire in Greece, leaving two crew members dead and two others alive after an emergency landing and a crash in a ravine. The incident happened about 65 km west of Athens, near the Attica-Boeotia border, as crews were working on a large blaze in the area. Video from the scene showed one Bell helicopter striking the propellers of the other before one aircraft caught fire and went down.The Greek Fire Service said the helicopters were leased and were taking part in efforts to tackle the wildfire. The dead... [Continue Reading]
Ukraine and Russia exchange deadly strikes as death toll rises to at least 14
Officials in Ukraine and Russia said a fresh exchange of strikes has killed at least 14 people in total, with deaths reported in several regions on both sides of the border. Ukrainian attacks on Russia killed at least nine people, while Russian attacks on Ukraine killed at least five, according to the supplied reports. The incidents were reported on 2 August and affected areas including Belgorod, Saratov and Udmurtia in Russia, and Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv in Ukraine.Russian regional officials said four people were killed in Belgorod region, including a 13-year-old girl near a playground, while two more died in... [Continue Reading]
Harare quiet after shutdown call over constitutional changes
Harare was unusually quiet on Friday after opposition groups and civil society activists called for a nationwide shutdown over constitutional changes in Zimbabwe. Police were deployed across the capital, and the heavy security presence was visible in streets leading into the central business district. The morning rush hour was lighter than normal, with fewer cars on the roads and some businesses opening while others stayed closed.By about 8:30am local time, parts of the city centre were beginning to stir, but the atmosphere remained cautious. Police blocked access to a popular park where people often gather and parked water cannon trucks... [Continue Reading]
Overnight Israeli strikes kill civilians in Gaza as ceasefire talks continue
Overnight Israeli strikes hit multiple residential buildings across Gaza and killed at least eight people, according to civil defence officials. The attacks were reported around midnight and affected sites in the central Gaza Strip, Gaza City and the area northwest of Khan Younis in the south. The strikes came as diplomatic efforts over the wider conflict continued, with no immediate sign that the violence on the ground had eased.Civil defence officials said a man and his wife were killed when an Israeli military helicopter struck an apartment near the central Gaza Strip. They said an elderly man and a child... [Continue Reading]
Ukraine's drone strike force launches long-range attacks toward occupied Crimea
Ukrainian drone crews have launched long-range drones from a countryside site toward occupied Crimea, according to a report describing a night-time operation by the elite 414th aviation brigade. The account says the drones were sent from a field in Ukraine and headed across the front line toward the peninsula, which Russia seized in 2014 and has since heavily militarised. The operation was carried out by members of the unit known as Magyar's Birds, which the report presents as part of Ukraine's expanding drone strike capability.The report identifies Lt Col Ray as a Ukrainian commander with the 414th aviation brigade and... [Continue Reading]
Trump administration subpoena over North Korea reporting draws press freedom criticism
The Trump administration has issued a subpoena to freelance reporter Matthew Cole over his reporting on a secret 2019 US military mission in North Korea, according to the New York Times. The newspaper said the subpoena was delivered by Federal Bureau of Investigation agents in February, but the matter has only now become public. The case adds a new legal dispute between the administration and journalists over source protection and national security reporting.Cole was identified by the newspaper as the target of the subpoena on Saturday. He had worked with the paper's national correspondent, Dave Philipps, on an investigation published... [Continue Reading]
Gaza authorities recover 112 bodies from rubble in Sabra
Gaza civil defence teams say they have recovered the remains of 112 people from rubble in Sabra, a neighbourhood in the south of Gaza City. The operation followed 136 hours of digging, much of it carried out by hand, after prolonged Israeli strikes in the area. The remains included children, women and people with physical disabilities, according to the agency.The civil defence agency said the search was supported by the International Committee of the Red Cross. It said the work took place over nearly two weeks and involved teams sifting through destroyed concrete and twisted metal. A spokesperson for the... [Continue Reading]
DR Congo Ebola outbreak passes 1,500 deaths as transmission accelerates
The Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo has passed 1,500 official deaths, according to figures cited by authorities on Thursday. Officials also said the virus is spreading faster than in previous outbreaks, adding to concern over the scale of the epidemic. The outbreak was declared in May and has now become the second-worst on record in the country.Experts believe the true number of fatalities is higher than the official toll, reflecting the difficulty of tracking cases in an active outbreak. The latest update comes as health authorities in neighbouring Uganda said their last Ebola patient was released... [Continue Reading]
Michigan joins Minnesota in reporting cyberattacks on water systems as FBI investigates
Michigan has reported cyberattacks on nine of its water systems, widening a developing investigation that first emerged in Minnesota earlier in the week. The FBI said it is investigating both incidents, while federal agencies have warned that water and wastewater infrastructure may be being targeted. Officials said no culprit has been identified so far.Michigan's Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy said the state received a federal cyber alert on Tuesday about attempts to tamper with operational technology in water systems. Soon after, it received a small number of reports from communities indicating activity consistent with what federal agencies had... [Continue Reading]
Spain installs floating barrier in Ceuta as migration surge eases
Spanish authorities said they began installing a 500-metre floating barrier off the Tarajal breakwater in Ceuta on Saturday morning after a sudden surge of crossings from Morocco. The measure came after Spain said crossings into the enclave had stopped overnight, following an unprecedented influx that drew alarm across the European Union. Officials said the barrier is intended to reinforce one of the main entry points into the territory and allow patrol vessels to move through a controlled channel.According to the government statement, Civil Guard police started laying the pneumatic barrier at 7:50 am local time, alongside a line of anchored... [Continue Reading]
Ukrainian drone strikes disrupt Moscow and St Petersburg areas
Ukrainian drones have struck areas around Moscow and St Petersburg, adding to growing disruption in Russia's two largest cities. The reported attacks included explosions near the Russian capital and smoke rising from a warehouse fire on the outskirts of St Petersburg. The incident is the latest sign that the war is increasingly affecting urban areas far from the front line.A witness identified as Svetlana said she heard six explosions in one night while staying at a holiday house on the outskirts of Moscow. She said the property was near one of the city's airports, where drone activity has become a... [Continue Reading]
Israeli West Bank raids detain seven Palestinians, including two children, as settler attacks injure couple near Ramallah
Israeli forces detained seven Palestinians, including two children, in overnight and predawn raids across the occupied West Bank, according to Palestinian local sources. In a separate incident, settlers attacked a Palestinian man and his wife on farmland near Ramallah, leaving both injured and needing hospital treatment. The incidents were reported on Saturday and involved several governorates at once, underscoring the breadth of the latest unrest.The detentions were spread across Tubas, Nablus and Bethlehem. In Tubas, forces searched a family home in Tammun and detained a 16-year-old. In Nablus, four Palestinians were detained in predawn raids on Urif, Einabus and Burqa,... [Continue Reading]
At least three killed in explosion near cafe in Moscow
An explosion near a cafe in central Moscow has killed at least three people and injured 15 others, according to authorities. The blast happened on Saturday evening in Kudrinskaya Square, near Building 1, and prompted a large emergency response. Police, firefighters and other emergency services were sent to the scene as investigators began examining what caused the explosion.The Russian Interior Ministry said the blast occurred at about 8.10pm local time, or 17:10 GMT. Moscow police said the explosion caused three deaths and 15 injuries of varying seriousness. The injured were receiving medical care, while officials did not immediately say what... [Continue Reading]
Italy puts nearly all major cities on highest heat alert as temperatures rise
Italy has placed 19 major cities on its highest heat alert as a new heatwave grips the country. The warning covers cities from north to south, including Rome, Milan, Venice and Naples. Health officials say the situation is expected to worsen by Monday, when almost all of the country's major cities are forecast to be under the red alert.The Italian health ministry said temperatures reached the mid-30s Celsius in many places on Saturday. It warned that the heat could pose risks not only to older people, young children and those with chronic illnesses, but also to healthy and active people.... [Continue Reading]
Sri Lanka court sentences former officials to death over Easter Sunday bombings as appeal looms
A Sri Lankan court has sentenced former police chief Pujith Jayasundara and former Defence Ministry secretary Hemasiri Fernando to death over the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. The ruling was delivered by a three-member High Court bench in a 2-1 decision on Friday, after the state appealed a 2022 acquittal. It concerns the failure of senior officials to act on intelligence warnings before the attacks that killed hundreds and wounded more than 500.The court found the two men guilty of criminal negligence in connection with the coordinated bombings at three churches and three tourist hotels. According to the case record, an... [Continue Reading]
Russian strikes hit fuel storage in Odesa and tugboat in Mykolaiv amid Black Sea shipping tensions
Russia said on Saturday that its forces struck fuel storage facilities in the Ukrainian port of Odesa and hit a tugboat used by the Ukrainian military in Mykolaiv. The reported attacks took place in two key southern ports that are central to Ukraine's maritime logistics and wartime supply chains. The battlefield claims could not be independently verified.According to the reported account, the strike in Odesa targeted fuel storage tanks, while the vessel hit in Mykolaiv was described as a marine tugboat repurposed for use by the Ukrainian army. The Russian Defence Ministry was cited as the source of the claim... [Continue Reading]
Iranian Kurdish parties in Iraq say bases have been hit amid war with Israel
Iranian Kurdish opposition parties based in Iraq say their military and political assets have come under heavy attack since the war between Iran and Israel began on 28 February. The groups say bases in the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region of Iraq, as well as positions inside Iran, have been pushed onto the front lines of the conflict. The development has placed the parties in a delicate position as they face pressure from Tehran while discussion continues over whether outside powers could arm them.The groups say Iranian drones and missiles have repeatedly struck their facilities, although the row does not provide an... [Continue Reading]
Kuwait says hostile drones hit government facility and property on Bubiyan Island
Kuwait's army said on Saturday that it had destroyed hostile drones in the country's airspace after what it described as an attack targeting several vital facilities. The military said a government facility in northern Kuwait was hit, along with civilian property on Bubiyan Island. It said falling shrapnel caused material damage, but no casualties were reported.According to the army, the drones were detected and intercepted since dawn. The statement attributed the attack to Iran, describing the aircraft as hostile Iranian drones. The military did not give further details on the number of drones involved or the extent of the damage.The... [Continue Reading]
Two tanker attack reports near the Strait of Hormuz as UKMTO urges caution
A British maritime security agency has reported two separate incidents involving tankers near the Strait of Hormuz, with both taking place off the coast of Oman. In the first case, a vessel said it had been struck by an unknown projectile northeast of Lima, causing damage to the engine room. Around three hours later, a second tanker reported seeing a large splash and explosion close to the ship northeast of Khasab.No injuries have been reported in either incident, and the second vessel had not reported damage at the time of the warning. The agency advised vessels in the area to... [Continue Reading]
Trump threatens to bomb Iran's Pickaxe Mountain site amid fresh satellite images
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to bomb a suspected underground nuclear site in Iran known as Pickaxe Mountain. Recent satellite images appear to show construction work at the location, which sits immediately south of the Natanz nuclear complex. The site has become the focus of renewed attention because it is one of the few Iranian nuclear-linked locations that has not already been struck by the United States or Israel.Trump told reporters on 21 July that the US would be hitting the area "pretty soon" and "very heavily". He returned to the subject on 28 July, saying: "I know... [Continue Reading]
Houthis deny plan to charge ships transiting the Red Sea
Yemen's Houthi movement has denied reports that it plans to charge ships for passing through the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. In a statement issued by the Houthi-run Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center, the group said transit through the waterway remains free. It said its so-called safe transit service is voluntary and does not require payment.The center said any person demanding money for passage does not represent Yemen or the coordination body. It also warned shipping companies not to pay or share information with unauthorised parties. The denial came after a report that the Iran-aligned group was considering fees... [Continue Reading]
US F-35B crashes near Miramar air base in California, pilot safe
A US Marine Corps F-35B stealth fighter has crashed near Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, California. The pilot ejected safely and was taken to a local medical facility for evaluation and treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Firefighters also responded after a vegetation fire broke out near the crash site.The Marine Corps said the aircraft went down on Friday near the Miramar air base. Aerial video showed a plume of black smoke rising from a dirt field where the wreckage landed, with military and firefighting vehicles nearby. White fire retardant was visible on the ground, and at least one... [Continue Reading]
Labour retains Greater Manchester mayoralty as Bev Craig wins low-turnout vote
Labour has retained the Greater Manchester mayoralty after Bev Craig won the contest following a two-round count. Craig, who leads Manchester City Council, secured 47.15% of first-round votes before second preferences were added. The result keeps the post in Labour hands after a vote triggered by Andy Burnham's return to parliament.According to the published results, Craig finished ahead of Reform UK candidate Sian Astley, who took 21% in the first round. Because no candidate reached the 50% threshold needed for an outright win, the count moved to a second round. Labour then gained more than 58,000 additional votes from second... [Continue Reading]
Venezuela government and opposition prepare US-backed talks on elections
The Venezuelan government and a segment of the opposition are due to begin United States-backed talks on Saturday aimed at creating a path toward eventual elections. The negotiations come as the country's political divide remains deep, with one of the opposition's best-known figures, Maria Corina Machado, left out of the process. The talks are expected to bring together representatives from the government and selected opposition figures in Caracas.The opposition delegation will be led by former lawmaker Dinorah Figuera, who previously oversaw an opposition bloc in the National Assembly elected in 2015. Machado, who won the Nobel Peace Prize, has not... [Continue Reading]
Israel says Gaza troop pullback depends on genuine Hamas disarmament
A senior Israeli official has said troops will not withdraw from their current positions in Gaza without what was described as the "genuine disarmament" of Hamas. The statement came as Hamas said it would hand over heavy weapons only if Israel ends "all forms of aggression" and pulls its forces out of the territory. The latest exchange deepens a dispute over the sequencing of a US-brokered ceasefire plan that is meant to move into its second phase.Donald Trump said the Board of Peace had reached an agreement for the "complete disarmament" of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza. He... [Continue Reading]
India youth protests end after education minister resigns over leaked exam paper
Nationwide protests in India have been called off after the resignation of education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, ending a two-month campaign led by the Cockroach Janta Party. The movement had spread across the country through protests, sit-ins and hunger strikes, and organisers said they were claiming victory after the minister stepped down. The development marks a rare concession by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government after sustained public pressure.The protests were triggered by anger over a leaked exam paper linked to the national medical entrance test, which forced about 2 million students to sit the exam again. Local media reported that 20... [Continue Reading]
Partial evacuation ordered in Haidari as wildfire burns west of Athens
Greek authorities ordered the partial evacuation of part of Haidari on Friday after a forest fire broke out on a nearby mountain west of Athens. The suburb lies about 11 kilometres west of central Athens, placing the blaze close to a densely populated part of the capital's wider area. Emergency mobile phone alerts were sent as firefighters worked to contain the fire.The fire started on Friday morning in the Agios Vasilios area of Boeotia, according to the fire department. More than 105 firefighters and 29 vehicles were deployed to the scene. Officials said gale-force winds were fanning the flames and... [Continue Reading]
US commander warns troops over phone use amid Iran war
A senior US commander has warned deployed American troops that videos filmed on their phones could help Iran assess attacks in near real time. Admiral Bradford Cooper, who oversees the US military response in the conflict, said footage posted online could reveal whether missiles or drones had hit their intended targets. The warning comes as commanders consider tighter restrictions on device use at some bases across the Middle East.Cooper said the consequences of apparently routine phone use could be serious, arguing that open-source material could be measured in the lives of US service members and civilians in targeted Gulf countries.... [Continue Reading]
Assam invokes National Security Act against activist Pranab Doley after Kaziranga protest bail
Assam authorities have invoked the National Security Act against land rights activist Pranab Doley, a day after a local court granted him bail in a case linked to protests over a proposed luxury hotel project near Kaziranga National Park. The move marks a sharp escalation in a dispute that has combined environmental concerns, indigenous land rights and public-order allegations. Doley was arrested on 12 July in connection with a protest in Inglay Pathar, adjoining the park in Golaghat district.Police said the protest on 28 June involved about 50 people who went to the site in a pre-planned manner and were... [Continue Reading]
UK court clears Chinese embassy project in London to proceed as appeal is prepared
A British High Court has ruled that approval for China's planned new embassy in central London was lawful, allowing the project to move forward after a residents' legal challenge was dismissed. The decision concerns the Royal Mint Court site near the Tower of London, where China plans a 20,000-square-metre complex that would become the largest embassy building in the United Kingdom by area. The ruling removes a major legal obstacle to one of the most contentious diplomatic property projects in London.The challenge was brought by the Royal Mint Court Residents' Association, which represents families and businesses in about 100 nearby... [Continue Reading]
India says missions helped 140,000 citizens return during US-Iran war
India's government says its diplomatic missions helped about 140,000 Indian nationals return home during the US-Iran war. The statement was given in parliament on Friday by Union Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh. It said embassies and consulates coordinated transit visas, accommodation, transport and cross-border travel to move stranded citizens out of affected areas in West Asia.According to the written reply, the largest share of returns was routed through Qatar, where 100,000 Indian nationals were assisted after the partial reopening of airspace. The government said 30,000 people were helped through Kuwait, with Indian missions arranging Saudi transit... [Continue Reading]
Israeli detonations near Beaufort Castle damage homes in southern Lebanon
Israeli forces carried out powerful explosions near Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon, according to Lebanese reports and statements from Israeli leaders. The blasts were reported around midnight in an area close to the Crusader-era fortress, which sits in the south of the country near territory occupied by Israel. Residents in nearby towns said the shockwaves were felt widely across the area.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said in a statement that the army had blown up a tunnel system in the Beaufort area. They said the tunnel network was linked to Hezbollah and was intended to... [Continue Reading]
UK announces £8.4 billion investment in Dreadnought nuclear submarines
The United Kingdom has announced an £8.4 billion investment in the next phase of its Dreadnought-class nuclear submarine programme. The funding is intended to support the build-out of the country's nuclear deterrent and the work needed to bring the first boat, HMS Dreadnought, through sea trials. Officials said the submarine is expected to be ready to enter service with the Royal Navy in the early 2030s.According to the supplied material, BAE Systems is set to receive £5.9 billion of the package, with the rest going to the wider supply chain. The government said the investment would deliver jobs and opportunities... [Continue Reading]
British man accused of spying on RAF Akrotiri for Iran
A British man has been arrested in Cyprus on suspicion of spying on RAF Akrotiri on behalf of the Iranian military. Rashad Sultanov, 44, who also holds Azerbaijani citizenship, is accused of carrying out hostile surveillance of the UK military base and sharing information with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps. He was detained by Cypriot police on 17 July and remains in custody while extradition proceedings continue.The case is being pursued under the UK National Security Act, with prosecutors saying it will be charged under the 2023 law. According to the investigation, the alleged spying took place between 11 May... [Continue Reading]
Hamas accepts framework to disarm in Gaza under Palestinian supervision
Hamas has accepted a framework that would see its remaining heavy weapons in Gaza inventoried and stored under Palestinian supervision, according to people involved in the talks. The move is being described as a potential breakthrough in the Trump-backed peace initiative for Gaza. It follows months of difficult negotiations and comes after Hamas completed leadership elections that elevated Gaza-based leader Khalil al-Hayya.A senior Hamas official on the movement's negotiating team said the talks were long and extremely difficult. He said Hamas had insisted on the wording of "inventorying and storing weapons" under Palestinian oversight rather than handing them over to... [Continue Reading]
US sanctions six entities and individuals over support for Iran's Mahan Air network
The United States has imposed sanctions on six entities and individuals, including India-based Skiez Travels and Logistics Private Limited, over allegations that they supported Iranian airline Mahan Air and helped sustain what Washington described as a terrorist enterprise. The Treasury Department announced the measures on Thursday, saying the network acted as a set of general sales agents and logistics firms linked to the airline. The action adds to a wider campaign by Washington to restrict financial and commercial channels it says are used to support Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said anyone providing financial services, logistics or... [Continue Reading]
Pakistan coal mine blast in Balochistan kills at least 34 as rescue operation continues
A coal mine blast in Pakistan's Balochistan province has killed at least 34 workers, according to the provincial disaster management authority. The explosion, caused by methane gas, tore through the mine near the provincial capital, Quetta, and triggered an overnight rescue operation. Teams were still searching for miners who remained trapped underground after the blast.The authority said in the early hours of Friday that 34 bodies had been recovered. It added that the joint rescue operation was still under way to locate and recover the remaining trapped miners. Officials did not say how many people were inside the mine when... [Continue Reading]
Trump says Morocco named Tiznit-Dakhla highway after him, raising questions over timing and Western Sahara
United States President Donald Trump has said Morocco named part of the Tiznit-Dakhla highway after him, a claim that has drawn attention because Rabat has not publicly confirmed it. In a post on his Truth Social platform on Monday, Trump thanked Morocco's King Mohammed VI and said he looked forward to travelling on the "Great Highway one day". The reported tribute concerns a major road project in southern Morocco that is linked to the disputed Western Sahara.The highway, which became fully operational in January after about a decade of construction, stretches 1,055km and connects southern Morocco with Mauritania. According to... [Continue Reading]
Clashes spread in Nepal's eastern Tarai as death toll rises to three
Communal clashes in eastern Nepal have spread from Sunsari district to Siraha district, with the death toll now reported at three. The unrest has prompted the deployment of army units under curfew in both districts as authorities try to restore order. The violence is linked to retaliatory protests after an attack on pilgrims in Sunsari earlier in the week.In a televised address to the nation, Prime Minister Balendra Shah promised stringent and effective action against those responsible for rioting and clashes. He said an investigation had already begun and that anyone found guilty would not be spared. Shah also said... [Continue Reading]
UN launches search for next secretary-general as first straw poll puts Grynspan ahead
The United Nations has begun the process of choosing its next secretary-general, opening a succession race that will determine who follows Antonio Guterres after a decade in office. The first informal Security Council straw poll has placed former Costa Rican Vice President Rebeca Grynspan in the lead, while several other candidates remain in contention. The vote marks the first clear procedural step in a contest that is expected to continue for weeks or longer.In the non-binding poll held by the 15-member Security Council, Grynspan received 10 votes to encourage her candidacy. Former Guyanese Foreign Minister Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett received nine... [Continue Reading]
US Iran war costs rise as missile interceptor spending mounts
The United States is spending heavily on missile interceptors and other munitions as its conflict with Iran continues, with analysts saying the cost is rising quickly. A report published on Thursday said the Pentagon has been drawing down stockpiles of high-end weapons to defend against Iranian attacks in the Middle East. The war has now been described as costing the United States tens of billions of dollars, with no clear end in sight.The report said a single SM-3 interceptor can cost up to $28 million, or about $40 million, and analysts estimate the US may have used more than 100... [Continue Reading]
Australian police uniforms and badges sold on Chinese e-commerce sites raise impersonation concerns
Australian police uniforms, caps, badges and insignias have been found for sale on Chinese online retail sites, with some listings appearing close to the real items worn by officers in several states. The products identified include gear linked to Western Australia, Victoria, South Australia and Queensland police, as well as Australian Border Force clothing. The findings have raised concerns about the potential for impersonation and misuse.The items were identified on three retailers on a major Chinese e-commerce platform and on one independent Chinese website. According to the material reviewed, the sellers described the goods as real police items rather than... [Continue Reading]
Thousands of migrants cross into Ceuta from Morocco as authorities seek emergency response
Thousands of people crossed into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from Morocco on Thursday, in one of the largest recent surges at the border. Large crowds were seen running through border gates, climbing barriers and entering the territory. Videos from Tarajal beach also showed people moving around breakwaters before heading towards the crossing.Ceuta's authorities asked Spain's central government to declare a national emergency and requested army intervention in response to the influx. The crossing took place on 30 July 2026, according to the supplied report, and came after a recent increase in attempts to reach the enclave. Those attempts have... [Continue Reading]
Cuba's healthcare system deteriorates amid US sanctions and fuel shortages
Cuba's healthcare providers are warning of worsening medical shortages, rising death rates and prolonged blackouts as pressure from the United States deepens the island's crisis. The situation is being felt most sharply in Havana, where doctors say conditions at the William Soler Pediatric Hospital have deteriorated in recent months. The account points to a broader collapse in the country's health system, which remains formally free and universal but is under severe strain.At the hospital's surgical unit and anaesthesiology department, head Alioth Fernandez said the survival rate for newborns needing neonatal surgery has fallen sharply. He said that in the first... [Continue Reading]
US second-quarter GDP growth slows to 1.5% as trade deficit and fuel costs weigh on economy
The US economy grew at an annualised rate of 1.5% in the second quarter, according to a Commerce Department report released on Thursday. That was down from 2.1% in the first quarter, marking a clear slowdown in growth between April and June. The report points to a wider trade deficit and higher fuel costs as key pressures on activity.The Bureau of Economic Analysis said consumer spending rose 3.2% over the quarter, helped by tax refunds linked to President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act. At the same time, the average price of petrol climbed to $4.09 a gallon, up... [Continue Reading]
Netanyahu says Israeli special forces would respond to any ICC arrest attempt as New York trip stands
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israeli special forces would be ready if anyone tried to arrest him under an International Criminal Court warrant, sharpening his response to renewed calls for his detention. He also confirmed that he still plans to travel to New York in September for the United Nations General Assembly. The remarks came in an interview after his meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House.Netanyahu said he had considered the possibility of an emergency landing in a country that recognises the ICC and could try to enforce the warrant. Asked about the risk,... [Continue Reading]
Airbus fined £6.4m in UK over export-control breaches involving sensitive technology
Airbus has been fined £6.4m in the UK after admitting multiple breaches of rules governing the export and transfer of controlled technology. The settlement was reached with HM Revenue and Customs after the company self-reported offences that took place before November 2022. HMRC said the case involved failures to keep records of controlled technology exports over a sustained period.The tax authority described the payment as its largest out-of-court settlement for strategic export offences. It said the breaches related to record-keeping failures under three Open General Export Licences and one Standard Individual Export Licence. Airbus said it had paid the settlement... [Continue Reading]
Russia adds Telegram founder Pavel Durov to terrorist and extremist list amid wider crackdown
Russia has added Telegram founder Pavel Durov to its list of terrorists and extremists, according to the state financial monitoring agency. The designation was announced on Thursday and marks a further escalation in Moscow's pressure on the messaging platform and its founder. It follows a formal accusation a day earlier that Durov had facilitated terrorist activity.The latest move means people and organisations on the list face restrictions on interacting with Russian media, publishing online, organising public events, taking part in elections and using financial services in the country. Russian authorities said Durov had failed to remove content that was allegedly... [Continue Reading]
Gironde wildfires intensify as record EU fire weather drives blazes across the Mediterranean
Firefighters in France's Gironde region are continuing to work around the edge of a major wildfire near Bordeaux after a quieter night, as record-severe fire weather fuels blazes across the Mediterranean. Regional authorities said the fire remained under control, but active hotspots were still being tackled and temperatures were expected to be more favourable on Thursday than during Wednesday's 38C heat and strong winds. The blaze has already burned 91,000 hectares in France, according to European Forest Fire Information Service figures, making it the country's worst fire year on record with one month of summer still to go.The same data... [Continue Reading]
Parents of Australian facing possible death penalty in Syria question confession
The family of an Australian man detained in Syria has publicly questioned the case against him, saying they have seen no documents explaining the charges and have had no direct access to him. Patrick Stevenson, 20, from the Gold Coast, has been held for nearly seven months in north-western Syria after being accused of the shooting murder of another Australian, Abdullah Glen Charles Burgess. Syrian authorities say the case could carry the death penalty, while his parents say they are frustrated by the lack of progress from Australian officials.Angela Bell, Mr Stevenson's mother, said she was disappointed with her dealings... [Continue Reading]
Israeli strikes kill at least four, including children, across Gaza as ceasefire talks continue
Israeli strikes have killed at least four people, including children, across the Gaza Strip, according to the latest report from Gaza health officials. The attacks hit Khan Younis in the south, Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza and Gaza City, even as Hamas officials met mediators in Cairo to discuss the truce. The strikes were reported despite an ongoing ceasefire that has remained formally in place.Gaza's Ministry of Health said hospitals across the territory received six bodies and 34 injured people in the previous 24 hours. That total included four new deaths, one person who died from earlier injuries and... [Continue Reading]
Attack on northwest Pakistan police post kills 11 officers
An hours-long attack on a police checkpoint in Pakistan's northwestern Hangu district has killed at least 11 police officers and wounded dozens more, local authorities said. The assault took place late on Wednesday near the Afghan border in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Security forces later killed 15 attackers during the gun battle, according to local police.Police said the attackers first used explosive-laden quadcopters to strike the post before launching an ambush. Among those killed was Deputy Superintendent Diyar Khan, who had led reinforcements to the scene, local police said. District police officer Mujahid Hussain said the attackers also set three police... [Continue Reading]
Australia records first helium capture since 2023 as shortage persists
Australia has recorded its first helium capture since 2023 after Gold Hydrogen extracted the gas at its Ramsay 1 site on South Australia's Yorke Peninsula. The company said the testing took place just outside Port Vincent over the weekend. The development comes as the global helium market remains under pressure from a shortage that has affected supply in Australia and elsewhere.The extraction is being described as the first helium capture in Australia since the closure of the Darwin production plant in 2023, which had been the only helium producer in the Southern Hemisphere. Gold Hydrogen said the gas was recovered... [Continue Reading]
Amnesty says India's arms exports to Israel risk complicity in Gaza genocide
Amnesty International has accused India of continuing to supply weapons, ammunition and components to Israeli military suppliers despite the war in Gaza. In a report shared on Thursday, the rights group said the shipments create a substantial risk that the goods could be used in what it described as the ongoing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. The allegation centres on trade flows that Amnesty says have continued since the start of the Israeli offensive on 7 October 2023.The report says Amnesty investigators analysed 2,596 shipments of weapons, ammunition, parts and components sent from India to Israel since that date. It... [Continue Reading]
Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye collapses in court and is taken to intensive care
Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye has been admitted to intensive care in Kampala after collapsing unconscious during his treason trial, according to his wife. The 70-year-old was in court on Wednesday when he fell ill while objecting to state lawyers being appointed to represent him. Prison guards rushed him to hospital after the incident, which took place during a hearing at the High Court in the capital.Winnie Byanyima said on social media that her husband was unconscious, unable to speak and unresponsive even to a pain stimulus. She said he had been taken to Mulago National Referral Hospital, Uganda's largest... [Continue Reading]
Sanctioned Iranian oil transfer activity continues off Malaysia's Eastern Outer Port Limits
Satellite tracking has shown the Iranian crude tanker Humanity moving into waters off Malaysia's Eastern Outer Port Limits and then switching off its automatic identification system, or AIS. The vessel had travelled through the Strait of Malacca and Singapore before veering northeast toward the Malaysian coast, according to the supplied material. Maritime security analysts say the pattern is consistent with preparations for a ship-to-ship transfer of Iranian oil.The tanker is described as a 330-metre crude carrier that reached the Eastern Outer Port Limits, a 1,200-square-kilometre anchorage area in the South China Sea about 70km off the coast. The supplied material... [Continue Reading]
Salman Rushdie attacker convicted of terror offences in New York as federal case adds Hezbollah charge
A New York federal court has convicted Hadi Matar of transnational terrorism and providing support to Hezbollah over the 2022 stabbing of author Salman Rushdie. The verdict adds a terrorism finding to a case that had already resulted in a 25-year prison sentence in a separate state proceeding for attempted murder. The federal trial was heard in Buffalo, in western New York, where the attack took place at the Chautauqua Institution.According to the court record described in the supplied material, prosecutors argued that Matar was motivated by a 1989 fatwa issued by Iran's religious leader calling for Rushdie's death. They... [Continue Reading]
Japan turns to Canadian crude as Hormuz supply fears hit Asia
Japan is importing Canadian crude as Asian buyers respond to supply fears linked to the Strait of Hormuz. The latest shipment of Trans Mountain pipeline crude is headed to Japan, according to the supplied material, marking the first such cargo since 2025. The move comes as uncertainty over oil flows through the Gulf continues to reshape buying patterns across the region.The cargo was loaded in Vancouver on Wednesday on the Marshall Islands-flagged vessel Freedom Glory, which can carry up to 750,000 barrels of crude. The ship was chartered by Exxon Mobil, and the cargo was bought by Japan's largest refiner,... [Continue Reading]
Iran expected to receive Chinese air-defence missiles in coming weeks
Iran is expected to receive up to 400 portable anti-air missiles from China in the coming weeks, according to people familiar with the deal. The reported shipment is intended to strengthen Tehran's short-range air defences after months of conflict with the United States and Israel. The agreement is said to involve an intermediary company based in Hong Kong, with the equipment expected to move via Pakistan.The contract is reported to be worth between $60 million and $70 million, making it one of the largest known purchases aimed at rebuilding Iran's short-range air-defence capability since the conflict began. The systems mentioned... [Continue Reading]
Deadly militant attack on Pakistan checkpoint in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa leaves 15 dead
At least 15 people were killed in an attack on a checkpoint in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to local media reports cited by officials. The assault took place late Wednesday in Hangu district, a border area that has seen repeated militant violence in recent days. Police said the attack also injured 22 personnel and prompted a clearance operation in the area.Local District Police Officer Tariq Habib said at least seven police officers and eight alleged militants were among the dead. The checkpoint was hit in the evening, and no group immediately claimed responsibility. According to the reports, the... [Continue Reading]
Dubai Property Market Faces Litmus Test as Nakheel Waterfront Investors Await Final Judicial Verdict
Hundreds of international and local investors who purchased land plots in Nakheel’s massive "Waterfront" project nearly two decades ago are holding their breath. Following the official cancellation of the project by the Dubai Land Department and its integration under Dubai Holding, a special judicial committee appointed by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has been tasked with resolving the liquidation and settling investor claims. Because the decisions of this specialized committee are legally binding and final, with no avenue for appeal, the upcoming rulings are being viewed as a critical turning point for the regulatory reputation of Dubai's... [Continue Reading]
The Ghosn Paradox The Imperial Savior, His Cinematic Escape, and the Desperate Call to Salvage a Crumbling Nissan
The Man Who Defied Corporate Gravity Few corporate sagas in modern history possess the cinematic drama, geopolitical friction, and sheer psychological tension as the rise and fall of Carlos Ghosn. Once lauded as the ultimate transnational executive, a multi-lingual titan capable of bridging disparate business cultures, Ghosn became the absolute center of a global firestorm. His story cuts through the pristine facade of global corporate governance to reveal a messy underbelly of nationalism, legal vulnerability, and strategic failure. Rebuilding an Empire from the Ashes of Bankruptcy The mythos of Carlos Ghosn began in 1999. Nissan, one of Japan's proudest manufacturing... [Continue Reading]
Is the Italian Prime Minister the Visionary Leader Europe Needs? An Analysis of Executive Decisiveness, National Security, and the Contrast in European Integration Policies
A Continent in Institutional Deadlock While the rest of Europe remains entangled in a web of bureaucratic deadlock and human rights litigation, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has quietly established herself as a leader operating far ahead of her continental peers. For years, European leaders have debated how to handle radicalism and unchecked migration, often waiting for institutional consensus that arrives too late. Meloni, conversely, has demonstrated a willingness to prioritize state security over political correctness, offering a blueprint for a continent facing asymmetric threats. The Contrast in European Legislative Approvals The contrast between Italy’s swift, executive decisiveness and the... [Continue Reading]
THE BATTLE FOR ALI AL-TAHER: HOW A SOUTHERN LEBANON AMBUSH SHATTERED TRUMP’S WASHINGTON AGREEMENT
A catastrophic military escalation in Southern Lebanon has successfully disrupted the highest levels of global diplomacy. Just days after the signing of the United States and Iran Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), an armoured battlefield clash on the strategic heights of Ali al-Taher has effectively frozen implementation talks scheduled to begin today in Switzerland. The crisis provides an alarming look at how kinetic actions on the ground can instantly sabotage geopolitical blueprints designed in Washington. The Official Statement from Hezbollah Following the midnight clashes, the media wing of Hezbollah issued a formal, comprehensive statement outlining their strategic justification and rejecting accusations... [Continue Reading]
The Unspoken Stats: Who is Raping Europe?
Answering this question requires a direct look at the empirical data so, below is the comprehensive, data-verified draft for my article, formatted to analyse the relationship between immigration demographics and police-recorded sexual offense figures across Europe. Data vs. Perception: An Asymmetric Analysis of Migration and Sexual Offence Statistics in Europe While my primary field of research is rooted in macro-geopolitics, the responsibilities of independent journalism often demand transitioning from international balance-of-power metrics to domestic social realities. A recent high-profile criminal incident in England involving the gang rape of a 17-year-old girl by four Afghani nationals where one of them is... [Continue Reading]
Fear the Shia, Arm the Sunnis: The Uncomfortable Numbers Behind America’s War Narrative
“When fear is managed carefully enough, a nation can be taught to look away from the blood on the floor and stare instead at the shadow on the wall.” A friend of mine, whose name I will not reveal because he asked me not to, sat across from me over dinner and placed a question on the table that would not leave me alone. He was born into a Muslim Shia background, and for the angle of this article, that detail matters, not because I wish to reduce a man to a sect, but because sect has become one of... [Continue Reading]
GAS, GOD, AND GUNS: The Secret Agenda Behind the Washington Talks and the Death of the Maritime Border
The mahogany tables of the U.S. State Department are hosting a ghost today. As official delegations from Israel and Lebanon convene for a third round of high-stakes negotiations this Friday, May 8, 2026, the air in Washington is thick with the scent of a "peace" that looks increasingly like a strategic ambush. While the world watches the diplomatic theatre, the reality on the ground in Southern Lebanon tells a story of a predatory recalibration. Prime Minister Netanyahu isn’t just looking for a ceasefire; he is aiming to hit three birds with one single, devastating stone: the annexation of land, the... [Continue Reading]
The Mirage of the Umbrella: The Shifting Sands of the U.S.-Israel-GCC Alliance
As I sat in a recent debate at the historic Carlton Club in London, listening to Faisal Abbas, the Editor-in-Chief of Arab News, I felt a tangible shift in the room, not because a new fact had been revealed, but because an old illusion had finally lost its last breath. The old-world order has not merely changed, it has evaporated, leaving the Gulf to realize it is no longer watching a distant fire from the safety of marble towers and air-conditioned ministries, but is instead standing directly inside the smoke. The GCC today is caught in a lethal crossfire between... [Continue Reading]
The Glass Elevator to Nowhere: A World Trapped in a Chocolate Factory
As a journalist in my mid-fifties, I thought my skin had thickened to the point of being impenetrable. I have covered the rise and fall of regimes, the grinding gears of the Cold War's leftovers, and the digital revolutions that promised to unite us. I thought I had seen every trick in the political playbook. Then came Donald Trump’s 2026 foreign policy, and I realized I was not watching a statesman; I was watching a child play with a chemistry set he does not understand. The Willy Wonka of the West: Rule by Whim Walking into a press briefing lately... [Continue Reading]
When Deterrence Becomes Reality
Yesterday the war crossed a line! For years the Sejjil ballistic missile existed mostly as a symbol. A weapon paraded in military videos, discussed in defense briefings, whispered about in strategic circles as one of Iran’s most serious capabilities. A weapon that analysts described as deterrence, not something meant to be used. But on March 15, 2026, that line disappeared. Iran reportedly launched the Sejjil (also known as Ashoura) as part of what Tehran called the 54th wave of Operation True Promise 4, a massive strike package that also included the Fattah hypersonic missile and the Qadr ballistic missile system.... [Continue Reading]
The Madness of Power, From Balfour to the Edge of World War Three
A Voice in the Wilderness of War: Who Still Dares to Speak Truth While Empires March There are moments in history when the world suddenly accelerates toward disaster, moments when anyone who has studied history can feel the temperature rising even before the explosions reach their peak. The current escalation in the Middle East is one of those moments. According to the facts we now see unfolding, the United States and Israel made the unilateral decision to attack Iran without the approval of the United Nations, without a global coalition mandate, and without the support of most of the international... [Continue Reading]
The Proving Ground, When “Decent” Reporting Meets High-Tech Warfare
For two decades I have watched wars unfold not only on battlefields, but on screens. Today’s incident over Kuwait, involving the downing of a U.S. F-15 Strike Eagle, is not just another headline in the Iran conflict. It may be a signal that something larger is unfolding behind the noise. Iranian state outlets rapidly circulated imagery of an ejected pilot. Washington responded cautiously. But beneath the spectacle lies a deeper question, whose technology was truly being tested? The Gulf as a live-fire laboratory For years, China has refined export-ready variants of its air defense systems, particularly the HQ-9 family and... [Continue Reading]
WAR CRIMES OR HUMANITY ON LIFE SUPPORT?
The Thin, Bloody Line Between Justice and Jungle Rule IS KILLING WITHOUT MERCY NOW LEGAL? By Anthony Sterling In September 2025, the United States military launched what became known as Operation Southern Spear, a lethal campaign targeting suspected drug smuggling vessels in international waters. The stated objective was to combat narco trafficking networks operating beyond territorial jurisdiction. The ethical shock came on 2 September 2025, when a double strike in the Caribbean left survivors clinging to wreckage for nearly an hour. Drone footage reportedly showed two individuals waving from debris after the first impact. Instead of rescue, three additional munitions... [Continue Reading]
Shadows of Fire: The Long Arc of Iran–United States Tensions
A Region on Edge: The Latest Escalation In recent months, tensions between Iran and the United States have intensified once again, fueled by disputes over regional security, nuclear development, maritime incidents in the Persian Gulf, and the broader strategic balance in the Middle East. Officials in Washington have expressed renewed concern over Iran’s uranium enrichment levels, while leaders in Tehran have accused the United States of economic warfare through sanctions and diplomatic isolation. The fragile equilibrium that followed earlier rounds of indirect negotiations appears increasingly strained, with both sides engaging in sharp rhetoric at the United Nations, reinforcing military postures... [Continue Reading]
There Is Good in Every Bad
Power, Greed, Oil, and the Theater of Modern Geopolitics The Business Model of Power Donald Trump does not govern like a traditional politician. He governs like a negotiator who believes every geopolitical crisis is leverage, every war threat is a bargaining chip, and every market panic is an opportunity. When markets tremble, someone profits. The question is, who? Global markets react instantly to political tension. Gold rises when conflict looms. Oil spikes when instability threatens production. Stock markets collapse on fear, then rebound on reassurance. Volatility is not chaos, it is opportunity. Historically, gold has surged during major geopolitical crises,... [Continue Reading]
Navigating the Perils of Information in a Global Age
Navigating the Perils of Information in a Global Age In today’s world, where information flows ceaselessly and unchecked, the stakes for migrants have never been higher. Critical thinking is not just a skill, it’s a lifeline. The ability to sift fact from fiction, especially in matters as consequential as migration, is essential for individuals, communities, and the institutions that serve them. The migration landscape is uniquely vulnerable to the hazards of mis-, dis-, and mal-information, collectively known as MDM. The consequences of inaccurate or misleading information can ripple far beyond the individual, affecting entire communities and the systems that govern... [Continue Reading]





