The UK government has raised a security alert for Kuwait, advising against travel amid heightened regional tensions linked to ongoing Iranian attacks on civilian infrastructure. Key targets of these assaults include hotels, energy and oil production sites, bridges, water systems, and airports, escalating safety concerns throughout the Gulf region. This advisory could affect British nationals planning to visit Kuwait by potentially invalidating their travel insurance if ignored. It also signals the broader impact of the Iranian campaign on regional stability and international travel. Visitors and residents are warned to avoid proximity to military and US government sites, which may be... [Continue Reading]
British authorities have issued a travel advisory for Oman due to recent reports of limited missile and drone strikes in the commercial and industrial areas of Duqm, Salalah, and Sohar. The activity appears concentrated on key economic hubs, raising concerns for the safety of foreign nationals and trade operations in the country. British citizens currently in Oman are urged to take extra precautions and adhere closely to local emergency guidance when threats arise. The attacks mark an escalation of regional security tensions affecting the Gulf area’s strategic shipping and industrial infrastructure. While commercial flights operate normally from Muscat to the... [Continue Reading]
The United Kingdom's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has issued a strong travel advisory against visiting Bahrain amid heightened security risks linked to regional tensions. Iran has reportedly carried out multiple strikes targeting civilian infrastructure such as hotels, roads, bridges, energy plants, oil production sites, water systems, and airports. These attacks pose significant safety threats for travelers and residents within Bahrain and neighboring countries. This advisory highlights the potential invalidation of travel insurance for those traveling against official warnings. UK citizens in Bahrain are urged to register their presence with government authorities to receive timely updates. The advisory specifically... [Continue Reading]
Stranded for two weeks at the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas as drones and missiles set ships ablaze nearby, 26-year-old seafarer Ambuj says he has not been home for six months and cannot wait to see his family. Ambuj, who asked Reuters not to use his second name for security reasons, is one of about 23,000 Indians working on merchant, harbour and offshore vessels across the wider Gulf region, which is bearing the brunt of the war between Iran and the United States and Israel. Hundreds of tankers... [Continue Reading]
The UK government has issued a strong travel warning against visiting the United Arab Emirates amid rising security risks linked to regional conflicts. Iran’s ongoing attacks on civilian infrastructure, including energy facilities, airports, and financial institutions, have heightened dangers for residents and visitors. The advisory specifically highlights threats near military and US or Israeli government installations, which remain potential targets. This guidance affects tourists, businesspeople, and expatriates currently in or planning to travel to the UAE, a major international hub. The instability has caused significant travel disruptions, prompting the UK to offer repatriation flights for its citizens. Authorities emphasize staying... [Continue Reading]
The United Kingdom's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has warned its citizens about heightened security risks in Qatar amid regional tensions. The advisory highlights ongoing attacks on civilian infrastructure such as hotels, roads, energy facilities, and airports attributed to Iranian actions. This creates significant dangers for residents and visitors alike. Travelers are urged to avoid all but essential trips to Qatar and to steer clear of sensitive areas around military and US government installations. The UK government also recommends that nationals in the country register their presence for timely updates. This travel warning underscores the potential for further escalation... [Continue Reading]
The US Embassy in Iraq has been struck in a missile attack as US President Trump threatened to strike the oil infrastructure of Iran's Kharg Island hub unless Tehran stopped attacking vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. [Continue Reading]
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has issued a travel advisory warning against all but essential travel to Saudi Arabia's Eastern and Riyadh provinces. This follows multiple reports of missile and drone attacks in these areas, which pose significant risks to residents and visitors. British nationals currently in the region are being urged to remain indoors and exercise heightened caution. The advisory highlights the dangers from intercepted missiles and drones, including the potential for falling debris and shrapnel that could cause injuries or property damage. The ongoing missile and drone activity indicates escalating security concerns that affect both... [Continue Reading]
Introducing The Good List, a new weekly newsletter by Melissa Kirsch designed to bring joy and meaning to your days. [Continue Reading]
An explosion occurred overnight at a Jewish school in the Buitenveldert district of Amsterdam, causing damage to the exterior wall but resulting in no injuries. The incident has been condemned as a deliberate act against the Jewish community in the Netherlands. Amsterdam's mayor, Femke Halsema, characterized the act as a "cowardly act of aggression" and underscored the growing concerns about safety within the Jewish community in the city. The explosion was reported to police and firefighters, who responded promptly to ensure the safety of the area. According to initial reports, the blast caused limited damage and no casualties were recorded.... [Continue Reading]
The humanitarian situation in Lebanon is rapidly deteriorating as the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah escalates, leading to massive displacement of civilians. Recent reports indicate that over 800,000 people have been displaced, marking a critical spike in humanitarian needs. The Norwegian Refugee Council has stated that about one in every seven people in Lebanon has been forced from their homes amid fears of continued violence. Aid workers are struggling to keep pace with the overwhelming demand for assistance. As families flee, many have sought refuge in overcrowded shelters or makeshift accommodations. For instance, Fatima Nazha, who uses a wheelchair, has... [Continue Reading]
Summer holidaymakers opting for ‘more familiar, easy-to-reach locations’ as travel industry counts cost of Middle East conflictHolidaymakers who had planned to visit the eastern Mediterranean this summer are moving their trips to the west and the Caribbean because of the US-Israel war on Iran, travel companies have said.Travellers from the UK and mainland Europe are increasingly swapping their holiday destinations away from Cyprus, Turkey and Greece towards Italy, Spain, Malta and Croatia, as the region around the Middle East grapples with flight cancellations and airspace closures. Continue reading... [Continue Reading]
Defending champions China secure a semifinal against hosts Australia and a place at the 2027 World Cup. [Continue Reading]
In a marked escalation of military confrontations in the Middle East, over 110 individuals have been confirmed dead following recent US-Israel attack operations in Iran's Kurdistan province. Local officials report at least 112 fatalities and approximately 969 injuries, with the regional healthcare system strained as 27 individuals remain hospitalized and five are in intensive care. The head of the Kurdistan Provincial Emergency Department disclosed these statistics on Friday, revealing the significant humanitarian impact of these military actions. The attacks coincide with the United States' ongoing support of Iranian Kurdish forces operating from Iraq, further complicating the already volatile dynamics in... [Continue Reading]
The US is sending an amphibious assault ship, the USS Tripoli, and its Marine expeditionary unit to the Middle East according to a report by Axios quoting a senior US official. This includes personnel, F-35 fighter jets and warships. The decision comes as both President Trump and his defense secretary Pete Hegseth say the war is going very well for the United States. Story by Morgan Ayre. [Continue Reading]
Living in container houses under the constant shadow of terrorism, Chinese diplomats in Somalia represent the extreme front line of a new, assertive era in Beijing’s foreign policy. During a video call to staff at the Chinese embassy in Mogadishu, Foreign Minister Wang Yi laid bare the “complex and severe risks of terrorism”, using the situation in the war-torn nation as a stark reminder of why China was overhauling how it protected its citizens and interests overseas. The call was made in... [Continue Reading]
A boxing coach from Iran who worked in China for two years has quit his job and returned to his homeland to be with his family amid US-Israeli air strikes on the country. The trainer’s touching story was revealed by his boss on social media and attracted about one million likes, the Xiaoxiang Morning Herald reported. The 33-year-old Iranian, identified only as Saeed, has worked at a boxing gym in Xiangxi prefecture in Hunan, central China, since 2024. The gym’s owner Huang Zhaoxin met Saeed in... [Continue Reading]
The French officer killed by an Iranian-made drone on Thursday was part of a Western military contingent working to combat potential jihadists in Iraqi Kurdistan. The killing of Chief Warrant Officer Arnaud Frion marks France's first military death in the Middle East war. [Continue Reading]
President Donald Trump said the US destroyed military sites on an island vital to Iran’s oil network and warned that its oil infrastructure could be next if Iran continues to interfere with the passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's Fars news agency, citing sources on Kharg Island, said there had been no damage to oil facilities and that only military targets had been destroyed by the US strikes. Story by Peter O'Brien and Lou Kisiela. [Continue Reading]
Scientists warn that proposed shark nets for protecting swimmers near a new €100 million Club Med resort in South Africa could threaten a host of endangered species, calling for a full environmental impact assessment to prevent endangered marine life from becoming casualties of the luxury resort project, on track to open in July. [Continue Reading]
Residents in Moscow and other major Russian cities have had an internet blackout for more than a week, sources confirmed. [Continue Reading]
The Palestinian group calls for end to Gulf attacks while supporting Tehran’s right to defend against Israel and US. [Continue Reading]
Fatima Nazha slept on the streets for two days after she and her family fled their home in Beirut’s southern suburbs following an Israeli mass evacuation order. All of the schools the government turned into shelters were full, and the family could not afford a hotel or a flat, so she and her husband eventually moved into a tent in the country’s biggest stadium while their children and grandchildren found shelter near the southern coastal city of Sidon. In just 10 days, more than 800,000 people... [Continue Reading]
Four killed in southern Lebanon apartment after reported Israeli attack [Continue Reading]
Hong Kong’s licensed moneylenders will face strict new regulations starting in August, including debt servicing ratio caps for low-income earners and a full ban on using loan referees – a move lawmakers have said should reduce harassment by debt collectors. Lawmakers also said on Saturday that the measures outlined by the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau would help stop most illicit loans, while one legislator called for further regulations on the moneylending industry. The bureau said... [Continue Reading]
Latin America’s left saw Cuba as its lodestar. Now leaders across the spectrum are hesitant to aid a nation in the Trump administration’s cross hairs. [Continue Reading]
The Matildas will face China PR in the semifinals of the Women's Asian Cup after the Steel Roses required extra time to see off a disciplined and spirited Chinese Taipei at Perth Rectangular Stadium. [Continue Reading]
Manchester United host Aston Villa on Sunday in the EPL as both battle to qualify for next season's Champions League. [Continue Reading]
He has been busy recently! [Continue Reading]
At least 112 killed in US-Israel attacks on Iran’s Kurdistan province, with 969 injured, local officials say. [Continue Reading]
As Israel has ramped up attacks on south Lebanon it has called for residents to evacuate – but some in the Hezbollah stronghold of Tyre are refusing to leave their homes and businesses despite the danger. [Continue Reading]
A year after starring in the Champions League against Real Madrid, Myles Lewis-Skelly is struggling for game time - what has happened? [Continue Reading]
Strikes target multiple countries, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, overnight with interceptions reported. [Continue Reading]
A missile attack struck the United States Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, causing significant damage as smoke was seen emanating from the building. The missile landed on a helipad located within the heavily fortified Green Zone, which houses various government institutions and foreign embassies. This incident highlights ongoing tensions in the region, particularly related to security issues concerning US diplomatic missions. According to sources, the precise timing of the attack occurred early on Saturday. An Iraqi security official informed Al Jazeera that the assault successfully destroyed part of the embassy's air defence system, although further details regarding the extent of the... [Continue Reading]
An investigation of the Federal Reserve was thwarted on Friday, but a department appeal could reimpose an obstacle in Kevin Warsh’s path. [Continue Reading]
Several incidents, including an attack on a synagogue in Michigan, a shooting in Virginia and a thwarted explosives attack in New York, may be linked to the fighting in the Middle East. [Continue Reading]
Using a post office box shouldn’t cost you your health insurance. But in one woman’s case, it sure seemed to. [Continue Reading]
It will be a tight race for best picture and actor, while the In Memoriam segment looks to be supersized this year. [Continue Reading]
Jordan has won our hearts and the box office. But there’s debate about his craft. After watching “Sinners” for the fourth time, I understand his talent. [Continue Reading]
Geography and regional rivalries have prevented Gulf countries from finding a true alternative to the strait, which the war with Iran has effectively shut down. [Continue Reading]
The Cuban immigrants sailed from the Florida Keys and wound up in a gunfight off Cuban shores. They were anti-Communist militants from fringe groups. [Continue Reading]
Unleashing his inner hawk, Secretary of State Marco Rubio plans President Trump’s military interventions. So far, they favor regime compliance, not change. [Continue Reading]
The Cuban government, which has so far outlasted 13 U.S. presidents, faces its gravest challenge yet. Images from The New York Times and others record nearly seven decades of political turmoil, economic crises and small moments of ordinary life. [Continue Reading]
Some Iranians living in Dubai say their families celebrated the death of the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, but the war could leave Iran in a worse situation than before. [Continue Reading]
The billionaire newspaper owner, dissatisfied by years of losses, wants the newsroom to double productivity with half its budget. [Continue Reading]
Few Chinese laborers have spoken out about the abuses they allegedly suffered while toiling abroad. Until now. [Continue Reading]
Since the 2017 embargo, one of Qatar’s greatest nightmares has been that a war or geopolitical crisis would isolate Doha from the rest of the world. In late February, renewed tensions following the Israeli-American offensive against Iran brought these concerns to the fore once again. Over the past nine years, Qatar has built up strategic reserves, but has mostly invested heavily in boosting local food production. This has been a major challenge, given the country’s harsh climate. Yet today, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and even mushrooms are being cultivated in the desert. For some, eating Qatari produce has even become a... [Continue Reading]