A Russian court sentenced Ksenia Karelina, a 33-year-old Russian-American woman, to 12 years in prison for treason after she donated just over $50 to a US-based charity supporting Ukraine. Karelina, who pleaded guilty, was arrested in Yekaterinburg while visiting her grandparents. The trial was held behind closed doors, and investigators claimed her donation was intended to purchase equipment and ammunition for the Ukrainian army. Her … Continue reading Russian court gives 12-year treason sentence to Russian-American over $50 charity donation

The Wall Street Journal reported that a small Ukrainian sabotage team blew up the Nord Stream gas pipeline in an operation initially approved by President Zelenskiy but later called off. Despite the cancellation, the mission proceeded, allegedly led by a Ukrainian general. Ukrainian officials have denied involvement, and the incident remains under investigation by German authorities. The explosion, which damaged the pipeline in September 2022, … Continue reading Ukrainian team blew up Nord Stream pipeline, claims report

North Korea is finally reopening to foreign tourists in December, allowing visitors to the northern city of Samjiyon after nearly five years of pandemic-induced isolation. Tour operators in China are buzzing with excitement, though some remain skeptical—”I’ll believe it when I see it,” says one expert, echoing what we’re all thinking. While the rest of the country might still be off-limits, Samjiyon, at the base … Continue reading North Korea to reopen for tourism after five years

Kim Dotcom, founder of the defunct filesharing site Megaupload, is set to be extradited to the US after New Zealand’s justice minister, Paul Goldsmith, signed the order. Dotcom, who has been fighting extradition since 2012, faces charges including copyright infringement, money laundering, and racketeering. The New Zealand courts have upheld his extradition multiple times, with the most recent decision allowing Dotcom time to consider his … Continue reading Kim Dotcom to be extradited from New Zealand to US

A New Zealand charity in Auckland accidentally distributed methamphetamine-laced candies in food parcels after receiving them as a donation. The candies, which contained potentially lethal doses of the drug, were unknowingly given to up to 400 people. Three individuals were hospitalized but later discharged. The meth, disguised as pineapple candies from the Malaysian brand Rinda, had a street value of NZ$1,000 per candy, ABC News … Continue reading New Zealand Food bank distributes candy made from potentially lethal amount of meth

Germany has issued a European arrest warrant for a Ukrainian diving instructor, identified as Volodymyr Z, over his alleged role in sabotaging the Nord Stream pipelines in September 2022. The explosions damaged pipelines carrying Russian gas to Germany, significantly impacting Moscow’s energy revenues. Although Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has denied Ukraine’s involvement, German investigators believe Volodymyr Z was part of a team that planted explosives. … Continue reading Germany seeks arrest of Ukrainian diver for Nord Stream sabotage

New peace talks aimed at ending Sudan’s 16-month war began without the participation of either warring side. Despite the absence of both the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the US, leading the talks, pressed forward, emphasizing the urgent need to address the crisis. The conflict between the army and the RSF has resulted in thousands of deaths, displaced around 10 million people, … Continue reading Sudan peace talks start, but neither side shows up

Germany’s Cologne-Wahn military base was sealed off for several hours on Wednesday due to a suspected sabotage of its water supply. A guard discovered a hole in the fence near the base’s water processing plant, prompting an investigation and a ban on drinking tap water until safety could be confirmed. Military and police authorities are investigating the incident, which has raised security concerns. In response, … Continue reading German military base reopened after suspected sabotage

Taliban members marked the third anniversary of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan by parading through Bagram Airfield, a former U.S. base, with American weapons and vehicles left behind. The parade, which featured uniformed soldiers, Taliban flags, and speeches from leaders, was seen as a demonstration of the Taliban’s strength and a reminder of the U.S. failure in Afghanistan. Critics, like U.S. Army Veteran Bill Roggio, … Continue reading Taliban parades American weapons 3 years after chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan

Police are investigating a fatal helicopter crash in Cairns, Australia, where a pilot was killed after the aircraft struck a luxury hotel and burst into flames during an “unauthorized flight.” The crash occurred early Monday at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, prompting the evacuation of hundreds of guests and staff. Two holidaymakers on the top floor suffered minor injuries. Authorities are still trying to identify … Continue reading Helicopter on ‘unauthorized flight’ crashes onto roof of Australian hotel, killing pilot

A security guard named Abdullah attempted to save an 11-year-old girl and a 34-year-old woman from a knife attack in London’s Leicester Square, one of the city’s busiest tourist areas. Abdullah, who was working nearby, intervened after hearing screams, managing to disarm and restrain the attacker with the help of two others until police arrived. The victims were taken to a trauma center; the girl’s … Continue reading Security guard disarms attacker after girl and woman stabbed in central London

A massive 30-kilometer-long line of fires is threatening Athens, with Mount Pentelikon, known for its marble used in ancient buildings, already engulfed. The historic town of Marathon has been evacuated as flames have severely damaged homes. Residents fear a repeat of past disasters, recalling the trauma from a deadly fire six years ago. Volunteers are rescuing animals, while many elderly villagers refuse to leave, France … Continue reading Greece’s marble mountain burns in wildfires

Israel is preparing for a large-scale military attack from Iran, according to Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who informed U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. In response, the U.S. is bolstering its military presence in the Middle East, including sending a nuclear-powered guided-missile submarine and expediting the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier’s arrival in the region. This comes amid ongoing efforts by the U.S. and its … Continue reading US orders warships to accelerate deployment

Authorities in Russia’s Kursk and Belgorod regions have ordered the evacuation of border areas as Ukrainian forces make advances into Russian territory. Over 76,000 people have been temporarily relocated in the Kursk region since Ukrainian forces crossed the border. Nikolai Volobuyev, head of Kursk’s Belovsky district, urged residents to flee after Ukrainian advances, despite Russia’s Defense Ministry claiming to have repelled the incursion. In the … Continue reading Russia Evacuates More Border Areas Amid Ukrainian Advances

A man was arrested on Sunday for climbing the Eiffel Tower just hours before the Olympics closing ceremony, according to Paris police. The man was spotted around 14:45 local time and quickly apprehended by officers. His motivation and nationality remain unclear. Social media videos show the shirtless man scaling the tower above the Olympic rings, which have adorned it during the summer games. The area … Continue reading Man held for climbing Eiffel Tower on final Olympics day

Zlatko Kokanović, a 48-year-old Serbian farmer, is fiercely opposed to a proposed lithium mine in his farming valley, vowing to resist its opening at any cost. The Jadar valley in western Serbia, rich in lithium, has become a battleground, with the government seeing the mine as an economic boon, while critics fear it will cause irreversible environmental damage. The project, led by Rio Tinto, has … Continue reading Residents of Serbia’s lithium-rich region vow to block EU-backed mining

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russian forces of starting a fire at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in southern Ukraine, sharing a video of smoke rising from the plant. While radiation levels remained normal, Zelensky condemned Russia for using the plant to “blackmail Ukraine and the world.” Ukrainian and Russian officials exchanged blame for the incident, with Russia accusing Ukraine of a drone strike … Continue reading Zelensky says Russian forces started fire at Russian-controlled nuclear plant

Authorities in Japan urged residents not to hoard supplies as anxiety over a potential megaquake led to a surge in demand for disaster kits and essentials on Saturday. Following a magnitude 7.1 earthquake in the south that injured 14 people, the weather agency issued its first advisory warning of an increased likelihood of a major quake. In Tokyo, supermarkets began rationing items like bottled water, … Continue reading Japanese urged to avoid panic-buying as megaquake fears spread

A fast-moving wildfire near Athens forced residents to flee their homes on Sunday as hot, windy weather fueled the blaze, which burned trees, houses, and cars, sending smoke over the Greek capital. Over 400 firefighters, supported by aircraft, battled the fire that rapidly reached the village of Varnavas, 35 km north of Athens. Gale-force winds caused the flames to spread quickly, engulfing the area. As … Continue reading People flee wildfire near Athens as it spreads ‘like lightning’

A hazardous goods container exploded on Friday aboard the YM Mobility cargo ship at China’s Ningbo port, according to the vessel’s owner, Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp. The explosion led to a fire, which was quickly brought under control, and all crew members were safely evacuated with no reported casualties or injuries. The Liberia-flagged ship had arrived in Ningbo from Shanghai and was docked at … Continue reading Container explodes on cargo ship at China’s key Ningbo port

Austrian authorities arrested an 18-year-old Iraqi national in connection with a suspected ISIS-inspired plot to attack a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna. The arrest follows the cancellation of three of Swift’s concerts in Austria after authorities foiled the planned attack. The Iraqi teenager is the third person detained, believed to be linked to the main suspect, a 19-year-old Austrian of North Macedonian descent, both of … Continue reading Iraqi teen arrested in Vienna after Taylor Swift terror attack plot thwarted

An Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon on Friday killed Samer al-Hajj, a senior Hamas security official, near the city of Sidon. The strike also critically injured his bodyguard. This is part of a series of Israeli operations targeting members of Hamas, Hezbollah, and other factions in Lebanon over the past 10 months, coinciding with the Gaza conflict. These strikes have extended beyond the Israel-Lebanon border, … Continue reading Israeli strike kills senior Hamas figure in south Lebanon

A major Ukrainian offensive has targeted Russia, with a fireball seen as Ukrainian drones struck a Russian bomb store and military airfield in Lipetsk, causing massive explosions and forcing hundreds of locals to flee. The attack, part of a joint operation by Ukrainian forces, destroyed over 700 Russian bombs and left nine people dead. Ukraine also launched a HIMARS missile strike that reportedly killed up … Continue reading Ukraine blitzes another Russian region sparking evacuations & state of emergency

A passenger plane crashed into a gated residential community in Vinhedo, Brazil, on Friday, killing all 61 people on board, according to officials and the airline Voepass. The ATR 72 twin-engine turboprop was en route to São Paulo’s international airport when it went down. Although the crash caused a smoldering wreck, witnesses reported no casualties among local residents, the Associated Press reported. Voepass confirmed the … Continue reading Plane crashes in Brazil’s Sao Paulo state, killing all 61 aboard

Turkey has formally submitted a bid to join South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), increasing international pressure on Israel regarding its actions in Gaza. The Turkish delegation, led by Ambassador Selcuk Unal, filed the request, emphasizing the importance of addressing the Palestinian issue through law and justice. Turkey is now the seventh country to join the case, following … Continue reading Turkey submits ICJ bid to join South Africa’s genocide case against Israel