Japan warned of more strong earthquakes near its southwestern islands after over 1,000 tremors in two weeks, including a 5.5-magnitude quake that forced some evacuations. Officials urged the public to ignore rumors of an imminent disaster fueled by a manga that some interpret as predicting a major quake this month. The Japan Meteorological Agency stressed that earthquakes cannot be precisely predicted, CNN has reported. The … Continue reading Japan braces for more quakes, authorities dismiss doomsday hype

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned Russia’s largest drone and missile attack of the war on Ukraine this week, which disrupted power to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and raised nuclear safety concerns. Ukraine said over 500 drones and missiles targeted Kyiv, killing one and injuring at least 23. Fighting has also intensified elsewhere, with Russia advancing in northeastern regions. Both sides reported heavy drone attacks, … Continue reading UN chief ‘strongly condemns’ Russian drone assault on Ukraine

Two American veterans working with the U.S.- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) were injured in a grenade attack while delivering aid to Palestinians. They are in stable condition. GHF blamed Hamas for the assault, citing prior threats and claims that Hamas had offered bounties on its workers. The organization shared evidence of Iranian-made grenades used in the attack and criticized the international community for … Continue reading American veterans attacked, injured while distributing aid in Gaza with US-backed group

An arsonist set fire to the front doors of the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation on Friday night, forcing about 20 worshippers to flee safely through a rear exit. Police say the fire was quickly contained, with damage limited to the entrance. The suspect fled on foot and has not been identified. The attack comes seven months after another Melbourne synagogue was destroyed by arson. Victoria’s … Continue reading Arsonist sets fire to door at Australian synagogue with worshippers inside

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made his first public appearance since Iran’s recent 12-day war with Israel, attending a ceremony at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Mosque ahead of the Shia festival of Ashura. The conflict began on 13 June with an Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear and military sites, leading to Iranian retaliatory strikes. The US also joined, hitting Iran’s nuclear facilities on 22 June. … Continue reading Iran supreme leader in first public appearance since Israel war

Dutch and German intelligence agencies say Russia has stepped up its use of banned chemical weapons in Ukraine, including the choking agent chloropicrin, in violation of international law. Evidence suggests thousands of instances of use, with chemicals dropped by drones to flush soldiers from trenches. Russia denies the allegations. Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans called the practice “horrible and unacceptable” and urged tougher sanctions. Germany’s … Continue reading Russia expanding Ukraine chemical weapons use, allege European spy agencies

A powerful gas station explosion in southeastern Rome injured at least 25 people, including 10 first responders. The blast, heard across the city early Friday morning, followed a reported gas leak and caused extensive damage, prompting evacuations of nearby buildings and a sports center. While some victims were seriously hurt, no life-threatening conditions were reported. Authorities are investigating the cause, possibly linked to a previous … Continue reading Gas station explosion in Rome injures dozens of people

A North Korean man crossed the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone into South Korea on Thursday and was detained by Seoul’s military after a 20-hour operation. He was found near the Military Demarcation Line and safely guided out of the DMZ. Such land-border defections are rare due to heavy fortifications and landmines. South Korean authorities will investigate the incident. No unusual North Korean military activity was … Continue reading North Korean man avoids military and landmines to cross border into South Korea