Parisians and tourists swam in the Seine River this weekend for the first time in over a century after the city officially opened three free bathing sites following a major €1.4 billion cleanup. The project, accelerated for last year’s Olympics, improved sewage connections, water treatment, and stormwater storage. About 1,000 swimmers daily can access sites near the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, and the National Library until … Continue reading Paris reopens Seine River to public swimming after century-long ban

Indonesia’s Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki erupted on Monday, sending ash 18 km (11 miles) into the sky, blanketing villages and forcing at least 24 international and several domestic flight cancellations. No casualties were reported. The eruption, the volcano’s biggest since November 2024, triggered gas and lava flows up to 5 km down its slopes. Authorities maintained the highest alert level and expanded exclusion zones as volcanic activity increased, … Continue reading Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki volcano erupts, sending ash cloud 11 miles in the air

At least 11 civilians were killed and over 80 injured, including children, in Russian attacks across Ukraine, as Moscow intensified drone and missile strikes on civilian areas. Meanwhile, Russia’s transport minister, Roman Starovoit, was found dead in an apparent suicide hours after President Putin dismissed him amid alleged corruption related to military fortifications. Ukraine, facing troop shortages and delays in Western aid, is ramping up … Continue reading Ukraine reports at least 11 dead and over 80 injured in Russian attacks

The Israeli military launched airstrikes on Houthi-controlled ports and infrastructure in Yemen, including Hudaydah and the hijacked ship Galaxy Leader, in response to repeated Houthi missile and drone attacks on Israel. The Houthis claimed to have repelled the strikes and retaliated by firing missiles and drones at Israeli targets, including Ben Gurion Airport. Meanwhile, Houthi forces attacked the bulk carrier Magic Seas in the Red … Continue reading Israel says it struck Houthi-held ports and cargo ship in Yemen

An Australian court found Erin Patterson, 50, guilty of three counts of murder and one of attempted murder for serving a 2023 lunch of beef Wellington laced with deadly mushrooms that killed her former in-laws Don and Gail Patterson and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson. Heather’s husband, Ian Wilkinson, survived after weeks in hospital. Patterson, who claimed it was an accident, faces life in prison after … Continue reading Australian woman guilty of murdering relatives with poisonous mushrooms

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

Russian oil tycoon Andrey Badalov, 62, has died after falling 180ft from a Moscow tower block in what police call an apparent suicide, though investigations continue. He was vice-president of Transneft, Russia’s state oil pipeline giant. His death is the latest in a string of at least a dozen mysterious fatalities among Russian oil and gas executives since 2022, often recorded as suicides but widely … Continue reading Oil tycoon linked to ex-KGB spy dies after plunging from luxury apartment in Russia

Russia launched its heaviest airstrikes of the war on Kyiv overnight, hitting nearly every district with 550 drones and 11 missiles, injuring dozens. Ukraine, short on air defences, managed to shoot down only two missiles. The attack came hours after Donald Trump’s unproductive phone call with Vladimir Putin, in which Putin refused to back down. Meanwhile, the US has paused critical weapons shipments to Ukraine, … Continue reading Putin pounds Ukraine with record war blitz moments after Trump call

French nationals Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, detained in Iran since May 2022, have been charged with spying for Israel, conspiracy to overthrow the regime, and “corruption on earth”—all carrying the death penalty. France rejects the charges as baseless. Their families only recently received proof they were alive after Israeli strikes on Tehran’s Evin prison, France 24 has reported. Iran is accused of using detained … Continue reading Iran charges French detainees Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris with spying for Israel

The UN warns that gangs now control about 90% of Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, and are expanding into previously safe regions, pushing the country toward total state collapse. Criminal groups have set up parallel governance, crippling trade and driving up food prices. A Kenyan-led UN-backed mission meant to help is understaffed and underfunded. Meanwhile, violence—including sexual assaults and extrajudicial killings by both gangs and security forces—continues … Continue reading Haiti’s gangs have ‘near-total control’ of the capital as violence escalates, UN says

Russian Maj Gen Mikhail Gudkov, deputy navy commander and former head of the 155th marine brigade, was killed in a Ukrainian missile strike on a field headquarters in Russia’s Kursk region. Reports suggest the base’s location may have been exposed by poor security or a mole. The attack also killed other senior officers. Gudkov’s brigade has faced heavy losses and war crimes accusations, The Guardian … Continue reading Deputy commander of Russian navy killed in strike near Ukraine frontline

At least six people have died and dozens are missing after a ferry with 65 listed passengers and crew sank late Wednesday en route to Bali from Java, Indonesia. Thirty-one survivors have been rescued so far as searches continue. Authorities suspect there were unlisted passengers on board, complicating rescue efforts. Survivors described the ferry capsizing quickly after taking on water. President Prabowo Subianto has ordered … Continue reading Six dead, dozens missing after ferry sinks off Bali

A large wildfire on the Greek island of Crete forced the evacuation of about 5,000 people, mostly tourists, from the Lasithi region. The fire, which started Wednesday near Achlia, spread rapidly on three fronts due to strong winds. Five coastal towns were evacuated as flames damaged homes, forests, and olive groves. Four people were hospitalized for breathing problems, and some required rescue from trapped locations, … Continue reading Over 5,000 evacuated as wildfire rages on Greek island of Crete

At least 36 people were killed and around three dozen injured after a massive explosion and fire at a Sigachi Industries pharmaceutical factory in Telangana, India. The blast destroyed the plant’s structure, with many victims’ bodies badly burned. Authorities are clearing debris to check for more casualties and have launched an investigation. The factory, which makes microcrystalline cellulose for drug production, will halt operations for … Continue reading Death toll rises to 36 after explosion at a pharmaceutical factory in India

Four staff members of Turkey’s satirical magazine LeMan have been arrested over a cartoon accused of depicting the Prophet Muhammad, a highly sensitive issue in Islam. Turkey’s interior minister condemned the drawing as offensive, sparking protests in Istanbul where police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse crowds.  LeMan denied the cartoon was of Muhammad, saying it was misinterpreted and meant to highlight Muslim suffering, not insult … Continue reading Turkey arrests journalists over alleged cartoon of Prophet Muhammad

An Iran-linked hacker group calling itself “Robert” claims to have stolen over 100 gigabytes of emails from Donald Trump’s inner circle and is threatening to release them in what U.S. officials call a politically motivated smear campaign. Targets reportedly include Trump allies like Susie Wiles, Roger Stone, and attorney Lindsey Halligan. U.S. authorities have tied the group to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The hackers … Continue reading Iranian Hackers Threaten to Leak 100GB of Stolen Trump Team Emails

Sergei Torop, 64, a Russian cult leader who claimed to be the reincarnation of Jesus, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for mentally and physically abusing followers of his Church of the Last Testament. Known as “Vissarion,” he founded the sect in 1991 after claiming a divine revelation, attracting thousands to remote Siberian settlements. He and two associates, also jailed, were convicted of … Continue reading ‘Jesus of Siberia’ jailed for abusing followers at isolated mountain-top cult

The Pentagon has halted shipments of some air defense missiles and precision munitions to Ukraine over concerns that U.S. stockpiles are too low. The pause, driven by a Pentagon review led by policy chief Elbridge Colby, affects Patriot air defense missiles, precision artillery rounds, and Hellfire missiles. The decision, initiated in June, takes effect as Ukraine faces intense Russian attacks. While the White House says … Continue reading Pentagon halting some promised munitions for Ukraine