The U.S. State Department warned Americans in Japan to stay alert after at least 13 people have been killed by bear attacks so far in 2025, with Akita and Iwate most affected. Maruyama Park in Sapporo, near the U.S. Consulate, was closed for two weeks after bear sightings, and residential areas in Hokkaido and Akita have also reported bear activity. Japanese troops were deployed to … Continue reading State Department issues warning in Japan after bears kill 13 since April

Israel’s president, Isaac Herzog, and top military officials condemned violent attacks by Jewish settlers on Palestinian villages in the West Bank, calling the actions “shocking” and a violation of Israeli values. Dozens of masked settlers set fire to vehicles and property in Beit Lid and Deir Sharaf and clashed with Israeli soldiers responding to the violence. Authorities arrested four Israelis and reported four Palestinians wounded, … Continue reading Israel’s president says ‘shocking’ settler violence against Palestinians must end

Iran seized the Marshall Islands–flagged oil tanker Talara in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, diverting it into Iranian territorial waters in the first such interdiction in months. The tanker, traveling from the UAE to Singapore, was intercepted by Iranian forces as a U.S. Navy surveillance drone monitored the incident, according to a U.S. official. Maritime security agencies, including the U.K.’s UKMTO, acknowledged the event … Continue reading Iran seizes tanker in Strait of Hormuz, US official says

A major embezzlement and kickbacks scandal involving Ukraine’s state-owned nuclear power company has erupted just as Russian attacks on energy infrastructure create rolling blackouts across the country. Investigators say the scheme involved about $100 million in kickbacks, uncovered through a 15-month probe and extensive wiretaps that led to multiple detentions. Media reports have implicated an associate of President Zelenskyy, prompting him to call for — … Continue reading Ukrainian ministers submit their resignations as the country is rocked by a corruption scandal

Russia launched a massive overnight missile and drone attack on Kyiv, killing six people and injuring at least 35, including a pregnant woman. Ukrainian officials said the barrage involved more than 430 drones and 18 missiles, causing fires and heavy damage to residential buildings. President Zelenskyy called it a deliberate strike on civilians, while Russia claimed it targeted military and energy facilities. Ukraine used U.S.-supplied … Continue reading Russian drone and missile attack on Kyiv kills 6 people and injures at least 35

The U.S. military conducted another strike on an alleged drug-trafficking boat in the Caribbean, killing four people, part of the broader “Operation Southern Spear” anti-drug campaign. Since September, U.S. forces have destroyed at least 21 vessels in international waters, though officials have provided little evidence linking them to drug smuggling. Experts and the U.N. human rights chief have raised concerns about potential violations of international … Continue reading U.S. conducts 20th strike on drug boat, killing 4 people in Caribbean Sea

The Pentagon has resumed sending conventional ground forces to Panama for jungle training for the first time in over two decades, reviving a three-week course once nicknamed the “Green Hell.” The program, run at Base Aeronaval Cristóbal Colón, is small for now but expected to expand over the next year and is presented as a partnership to boost Panama’s regional security capacity rather than to … Continue reading Pentagon sends ground forces to train in Panama’s jungle for first time in decades

Turkish prosecutors have charged Istanbul’s jailed mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu, with 142 offences, including bribery, embezzlement, money laundering, and running a criminal organization, carrying potential sentences totaling up to 2,430 years. The nearly 4,000-page indictment names 402 suspects and alleges İmamoğlu led a crime network “like an octopus.” Opposition leaders, including Özgür Özel, say the charges are politically motivated to prevent İmamoğlu from running in the … Continue reading Istanbul mayor charged with 142 offences that could total 2,000 years in jail

Chaos erupted at the COP30 climate conference on Tuesday as protesters forced their way toward the venue, clashing with U.N. security in one of the most serious disruptions in years. Demonstrators, waving yellow flags against Amazon oil drilling and carrying banners and a Palestinian flag, tried to breach barriers, prompting aggressive response from security, including physical confrontations. At least two security personnel were slightly injured, … Continue reading Protesters and UN security clash at climate summit in Brazil

Taiwan evacuated over 8,300 people ahead of Typhoon Fung-wong, which brought record rainfall and severe flooding to the island’s eastern coast. The storm caused neck-deep floods in Yilan and Hualien counties, injured 51 people, and inundated more than 1,000 homes in the town of Suao, where 648 mm (25 inches) of rain fell in a single day. Businesses and schools were closed in southern areas, … Continue reading Typhoon Fung-wong brings floods to Taiwan, thousands evacuated

Indian authorities are investigating whether Monday’s car blast outside Delhi’s Red Fort, which killed eight and injured at least 20, is linked to the recent arrest of seven men from Kashmir with arms and bomb-making materials. The suspects, including two doctors, were detained in Kashmir and neighboring states during raids uncovering pistols, assault rifles, and 2,900 kg of explosive materials. Police say the arrests revealed … Continue reading India probes link between Delhi car blast and earlier Kashmir arrests, sources say

All 20 personnel aboard a Turkish military C-130 cargo plane were killed when it crashed in Georgia’s Sighnaghi municipality near the Azerbaijani border on Tuesday. The plane, flying from Ganja, Azerbaijan to Turkey, had transported troops who had attended Azerbaijan’s Victory Day celebrations marking the 2020 Karabakh conflict. Turkish and Georgian authorities are investigating the crash, with the flight data recorder recovered and wreckage spread … Continue reading Turkish military plane crash in Georgia kills all 20 on board

Pakistan has launched an investigation into a suicide bombing outside Islamabad district court buildings that killed 12 people and injured 27. The attacker detonated near a police car after failing to enter the buildings, marking the first major blast in years in the capital. The Pakistan Taliban (TTP) initially claimed responsibility but later denied involvement, while Pakistani officials largely attribute the attack to TTP militants. … Continue reading Pakistan opens investigation into Islamabad terror attack

A newly built bridge at a hydropower station in southwest China collapsed Tuesday, sending concrete and steel into a river just months after opening. Officials reported no casualties, though cracks had been spotted the day before, prompting temporary traffic controls. The Hongqi Bridge, part of the G317 national highway in Sichuan Province, stood 625 meters above the gorge and was intended to improve connectivity to … Continue reading Major Chinese bridge collapses into river just months after opening to traffic

Israeli’s set fire to Palestinian farmland and a warehouse in a Bedouin village on Tuesday, injuring several Palestinians. The attack occurred amid a recent surge of violence in the West Bank during the olive harvest season. Security forces detained at least four suspects and used riot control measures to disperse the crowd, arresting several Israeli civilians. Palestinian reports claim masked men, including soldiers, participated in … Continue reading Israelis set fire to Palestinian warehouse and land as West Bank attacks surge

Venezuela has launched a large-scale military mobilization in response to a growing U.S. military presence in the Caribbean. Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López said the exercises, ordered by President Nicolás Maduro, involve land, air, naval, and reserve forces, including the civilian Bolivarian Militia, to strengthen national defense and communications. The move follows the arrival of the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and its … Continue reading Venezuela announces ‘massive mobilization’ of military forces

A new species of bee with devil-like horns, named Megachile (Hackeriapis) lucifer, was discovered in Western Australia by Curtin University researcher Kit Prendergast. The bee was found while surveying a critically endangered wildflower in 2019, and DNA analysis confirmed it did not match any known species. This is the first new member of this bee group described in over 20 years, highlighting how much biodiversity … Continue reading Scientists discover new “lucifer” bee with devil-like horns

Typhoon Fung-wong passed through the northwestern Philippines on Monday, causing floods, landslides, power outages, and at least 18 deaths before weakening into a tropical storm over the South China Sea and moving toward Taiwan. The storm struck northeastern Aurora province with 115 mph winds as a super typhoon, following Typhoon Kalmaegi, which killed at least 232 people. Provinces including Catanduanes, Eastern Samar, Nueva Vizcaya, Mountain … Continue reading Typhoon approaches Taiwan after causing 18 deaths and destruction in the Philippines

Israel’s Knesset passed the first reading of a bill introducing the death penalty for terrorism, with a vote of 39 to 16. Proposed by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, the bill targets individuals who kill Israelis out of racist motives and intend to harm the State of Israel and the Jewish people. Critics argue the law would primarily affect Palestinians, rather than Jewish extremists … Continue reading Israel parliament passes first reading of death penalty for ‘terrorism’ law

Thieves broke into Syria’s National Museum in Damascus, stealing several ancient Roman-era statues, officials confirmed Tuesday. The museum, which houses priceless antiquities and had recently reopened after Syria’s civil war and the fall of the Assad regime, was temporarily closed following the heist. Authorities reported that six marble statues were taken from the classical department, and investigations are underway, with museum guards and other individuals … Continue reading Thieves steal ancient Roman-era statues from Syria’s national museum

Over 50 passengers were rescued after a catamaran sank off the coast of the Dominican Republic while ferrying tourists from the cruise ship Mein Schiff 1. The vessel, named Boca de Yuma I, unexpectedly took on water during a shore excursion and fully submerged, prompting a rapid rescue by the Dominican navy. All passengers were reported safe, with no injuries, and have since returned to … Continue reading Panic at sea as cruise ship catamaran sinks leaving tourists floating for their lives

The Gerald Ford aircraft carrier strike group has entered the Latin America region, escalating U.S. military presence in the Caribbean, according to two U.S. officials. Ordered by President Donald Trump last month, the deployment adds to existing forces in the area, which include eight warships, a nuclear submarine, and F-35 aircraft. Officials did not specify the carrier’s exact location but confirmed it is within the … Continue reading US aircraft carrier moves into Latin America region, officials say

A suicide bomber attacked outside a district court in Islamabad on Tuesday, killing 12 people and injuring 27 when explosives detonated near a police vehicle during a busy court session. Witnesses described chaotic scenes, with the blast heard for miles. The attack was claimed by Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a breakaway faction of the Pakistani Taliban, which has carried out smaller attacks in recent years. Authorities said the … Continue reading A suicide bomber targets an Islamabad court, killing 12 people

At least eight people were killed and 20 injured Monday night after a car explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort, a popular tourist area. Authorities say a slow-moving vehicle exploded at a traffic light, igniting nearby cars and rickshaws and causing a massive fire. Police have opened a case under anti-terrorism laws but have not yet identified the cause or any suspects, saying it is “too … Continue reading India rattled after car explosion in Delhi kills at least 8 people

A court in Magdeburg, Germany, is set to begin the trial of Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, a 51-year-old Saudi psychiatrist accused of killing six people and injuring over 300 by ramming a van into a Christmas market in December 2024. He faces charges including six counts of murder, 338 counts of attempted murder, and committing a “treacherous attack.” Al-Abdulmohsen, who has lived in Germany since 2006, expressed … Continue reading German court opens trial of Saudi doctor for Christmas market attack