The IDF has completed the encirclement of Gaza City, securing key areas including Sheikh Radwan, the coastline, Sabra, and Tel al-Hawa, according to military sources. Over 600,000 residents are estimated to have fled the city, while Hamas reportedly remains confused about IDF positions and the scale of the assault. Clashes have been limited so far, with Hamas avoiding major confrontations, though one Israeli commander, Maj. … Continue reading IDF encircles Gaza City as part of Operation Gideon’s Chariots II

Typhoon Ragasa has forced the evacuation of nearly 2 million people in southern China as it approaches densely populated coastal areas, following deadly flooding in Taiwan. The storm, packing hurricane-force winds, has disrupted Hong Kong and southern China, triggering landslides, flooding, and massive waves. In Taiwan, at least 17 people died and 17 remain missing after a natural dam in Hualien County collapsed, releasing 68 … Continue reading Nearly 2 million evacuated as deadly Typhoon Ragasa slams into southern China

Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski warned Russia on Monday at an emergency U.N. Security Council session that Moscow should not complain if its aircraft or missiles are shot down over NATO territory. The alert follows recent Russian incursions into Estonian and Polish airspace, including drones downed by NATO planes. Sikorski emphasized that any unauthorized entry into NATO airspace, deliberate or accidental, would be met with … Continue reading Poland warns Russia not to ‘whine’ if its jets are shot down in NATO airspace

Super Typhoon Ragasa battered Hong Kong on Wednesday with fierce winds, flooding, and storm surges before moving toward southern China, where it is expected to make landfall along Guangdong’s coast. The storm smashed glass doors at hotels, flooded residential areas, and forced the suspension of flights, trains, and ferry services, with more than 760 people sheltering in temporary facilities. In Taiwan, at least 17 people … Continue reading Super Typhoon Ragasa: 17 killed in Taiwan and Hong Kong battered as storm moves towards China

Norwegian police said Tuesday they were investigating an explosion near the Israeli embassy in central Oslo, warning the public to stay clear after finding additional undetonated explosives. No injuries were reported, but officials said the blast was likely caused by a planted hand grenade left on a tramline. Police arrested a 13-year-old suspect and are probing whether others were involved, though they suggested the attack … Continue reading Norway police investigate explosion near Israeli embassy in central Oslo

A prison riot in Machala, Ecuador, between rival gangs Los Choneros and Los Lobos left 13 inmates and a guard dead, with 14 others injured and some inmates escaping. The 40-minute clash involved guns, bombs, and grenades, highlighting the country’s overcrowded, gang-controlled prisons. Ecuador has seen a surge in violence, with prisons under military control since January 2024 and homicides rising sharply, CBS News has … Continue reading 14 killed, including a guard, in prison clashes in Ecuador as some inmates escape

Russia and Ukraine accused each other of deadly drone strikes on civilian areas as Ukrainian President Zelenskyy prepared for a “very intense week” at the U.N. General Assembly, seeking support for a U.S.-led peace effort and a potential summit with Putin. International concern has grown over the conflict spreading, following Russian drones reaching Poland and fighter jets entering Estonian airspace, prompting an emergency U.N. Security … Continue reading Russia and Ukraine trade deadly drone strikes

At least 74 people were arrested in Moldova over an alleged plot to incite mass riots ahead of next weekend’s parliamentary elections, which President Maia Sandu blamed on Russian interference. Police carried out over 250 raids, saying the suspects were trained abroad and coordinated by criminal elements from Russia. Sandu accused the Kremlin of funding efforts to destabilize the country and warned voters not to let Moldova fall under … Continue reading Moldova detains 74 people over alleged Russia-backed plot before elections

A New Zealand mother, Hakyung Lee, 44, has been convicted of murdering her two children and hiding their bodies in suitcases, a case that shocked the country. The remains were discovered in 2022 in an abandoned storage unit in Auckland, years after the killings. Lee, arrested in South Korea and extradited, claimed she was mentally unwell following her husband’s death and believed it was best for … Continue reading NZ woman found guilty of killing her two children in ‘suitcase murders’

Thousands of Italians staged nationwide strikes and protests on Monday in solidarity with Palestinians, causing major disruption in cities including Milan, Rome, Turin and Bologna. Clashes erupted outside Milan’s central station, where police were injured as a fringe group hurled stones and smoke bombs. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the violence as “shameful,” while critics accused her of failing to clarify Italy’s stance on Israel. … Continue reading Clashes break out as Italians strike demanding action over Gaza

British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah has been released from prison in Egypt after serving six years for sharing a Facebook post, following a pardon by President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi. His release came after sustained lobbying by the UK government and pressure from Egypt’s human rights council. Abd el-Fattah, a prominent figure of the Arab Spring, was convicted of spreading false news but widely seen as … Continue reading British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah freed from prison

Hak Ja Han, the 82-year-old leader of the Unification Church and widow of founder Sun Myung Moon, was arrested in South Korea on Tuesday amid a bribery investigation. Prosecutors allege church officials bribed former First Lady Kim Keon Hee and conservative lawmaker Kweon Seong-dong, both of whom are facing criminal charges. Han denies directing the payments, insisting a church official acted alone. A Seoul court … Continue reading Unification Church leader arrested in bribery case involving former South Korean president’s wife

Former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte has been charged at the International Criminal Court (ICC) with three counts of crimes against humanity over his deadly “war on drugs.” Prosecutors allege his involvement in at least 76 murders: 19 in Davao City between 2013–2016, 14 “high value target” killings during his presidency in 2016–2017, and 43 during nationwide “clearance” operations from 2016–2018. While prosecutors say thousands were … Continue reading Rodrigo Duterte, former Philippines president, charged with crimes against humanity at ICC

Hong Kong shut down on Tuesday as Super Typhoon Ragasa, the world’s strongest storm this year with winds up to 220 km/h, approached the coast of Guangdong. Authorities issued Typhoon Signal 8, suspending most transport and flights, while residents rushed to stock up on supplies and taped windows against potential damage. Over 370,000 people were evacuated in Guangdong, with officials warning of storm surges up … Continue reading Hong Kong shuts down ahead of world’s biggest typhoon this year

Hurricane Gabrielle has rapidly strengthened into a Category 4 storm east of Bermuda, packing 140 mph winds but expected to remain mostly offshore. Bermuda could still see rain, gusty winds, and large swells, while dangerous rip currents will affect much of the U.S. East Coast through midweek. Two additional disturbances in the Atlantic are being monitored, with one east of the Lesser Antilles showing medium … Continue reading Hurricane Gabrielle isn’t alone. Two more Atlantic systems could develop this week

Two major European airports, Copenhagen and Oslo, were forced to close due to drones spotted nearby, causing flight disruptions. Copenhagen Airport shut down Monday evening after two to three UAVs were detected, halting takeoffs and landings. Police were deployed to investigate, and Danish fighter aircraft and helicopters responded to the situation. Over 35 flights bound for Copenhagen were diverted to nearby airports, including Malmö, Billund, … Continue reading Copenhagen airport shut after ‘large’ drone incident

Germany has warned that up to 1,000 of its soldiers could be wounded daily if Russia launches a war on NATO. The Kremlin denies planning any conflict, but recent Russian incursions into Poland, Romania, and Estonia have heightened fears. Germany’s surgeon general, Ralf Hoffmann, emphasized that casualty numbers would depend on battle intensity and military units involved. Drawing lessons from Ukraine, European nations are enhancing … Continue reading Germany prepares to treat ‘1,000 injured soldiers a day’ in war with Russia

Russia and Iran are set to sign agreements this week to build new nuclear power units in Iran, according to Iran’s nuclear chief, Mohammad Eslami. Eslami, also Iran’s vice president, made the announcement during a visit to Moscow. Western governments accuse Iran of violating the 2015 nuclear deal aimed at preventing a weapons program, while Iran denies any such intention. Russia supports Iran’s right to … Continue reading Tehran, Moscow to sign docs on building new nuke reactors in Iran

European NATO allies have vowed to shoot down any Russian aircraft violating their airspace after recent incursions. Poland’s leaders, including Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski and Prime Minister Donald Tusk, warned that any unauthorized aircraft would be destroyed without debate. Estonia reported a brief incursion by three Russian MiG-31 jets, following earlier drone breaches in Poland and Romania. NATO countries fear these violations signal Moscow testing … Continue reading UK, Poland vow to ‘confront’ Russian fighter jets

Chinese journalist Zhang Zhan, who documented the early Covid-19 outbreak in Wuhan, was sentenced to an additional four years in prison on charges of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble,” following her initial 2020 imprisonment. Zhang, known for posting firsthand accounts from hospitals and streets, went on hunger strike during her detention and was forcibly fed. Rights groups condemned the sentence as persecution for her journalism … Continue reading Chinese Covid whistleblower is sentenced to 4 more years in jail, group says

Qatar is seeking an apology from Israel for a recent airstrike in Doha before resuming its mediation on a Gaza peace deal. The strike, which killed five Hamas members and a Qatari security officer, marked Israel’s first attack in a Gulf state and worsened its regional isolation. Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani has raised the request with U.S. officials, who are pressing Israel to … Continue reading Qatar requests Israeli apology to resume Gaza mediation efforts

Russia launched over 600 drones and missiles at nine regions across Ukraine, killing at least three people and wounding dozens more. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy said the attacks targeted infrastructure, residential areas, and civilian sites, including a cluster-munition strike on a building in Dnipro. In Chernihiv, one person was killed and eight injured, including medics hit by a follow-up strike, while Dnipropetrovsk saw at least 30 … Continue reading Russia launches large-scale missile and drone attack on Ukraine, killing three

Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City and the Bureij refugee camp killed more than 40 people, including 19 women and children, according to health officials. In Gaza City, 14 people died when a strike hit a residential block, including a hospital nurse and his wife and three children. Another strike at Bureij refugee camp killed at least eight Palestinians, including four children and two women, and … Continue reading Israeli strikes kill more than 40 people in Gaza

Tens of thousands protested in Manila over a corruption scandal involving costly “ghost” flood-control projects, leading to scattered clashes with police and the arrest of at least 17 people. Demonstrators demanded prosecution of officials and contractors accused of siphoning billions of pesos, while some police were injured. The protest coincided with the anniversary of martial law under Ferdinand Marcos Sr., with organizers calling for lasting … Continue reading Clashes, arrests as tens of thousands protest corruption in Philippines

Five people, including three children, were killed in southern Lebanon on Sunday in an Israeli airstrike targeting a Hezbollah operative, though claims that US citizens were among the dead are disputed. Israel expressed regret over civilian casualties, while Lebanese officials condemned the strike as a “massacre” and a violation of international law. UNICEF called the deaths of children “unconscionable,” and Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun urged … Continue reading Five killed in Israeli strike on Lebanon