Russia has launched a regular monthly flight between Moscow and Pyongyang, marking closer ties with North Korea. The first Nordwind Airlines flight carried over 400 passengers. The move follows Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s visit to North Korea’s Wonsan-Kalma resort, which aims to boost tourism and support the country’s struggling economy, the Associated Press has reported. North Korea is gradually reopening its borders post-pandemic, while … Continue reading Russia starts direct commercial flights between Moscow and Pyongyang

A regional passenger train derailed near Riedlingen in southern Germany on Sunday, killing at least three people and seriously injuring others. Around 100 passengers were on board when two carriages left the tracks in a forested area. The cause is still under investigation, CNN has reported. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz offered condolences, while rescue operations continued at the scene. Written by B.C. Begley Continue reading Passenger train derails in Germany killing at least 3 people

Greece continues to battle widespread wildfires for a second day, with major blazes in the Peloponnese, Evia, and the tourist island of Kythera, where half the island is reportedly burned. Dozens of homes and natural areas have been destroyed, prompting evacuations and emergency alerts. Strong winds and extreme heat, with temperatures reaching 45.2°C, have fueled the fires, though conditions are expected to improve from Monday. … Continue reading Greece: Wildfires continue to burn with danger mounting

Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to hold talks in Malaysia on Monday to seek an end to four days of border fighting that has killed at least 33 people and displaced thousands. The move follows pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, who called both leaders and warned there would be no trade talks until the violence stops. Cambodia has agreed to an immediate ceasefire, while … Continue reading Thailand and Cambodia agree to talks in Malaysia after four days of fighting

A Chinese research icebreaker, Xue Long 2, was detected Friday in the U.S. Extended Continental Shelf about 290 nautical miles north of Alaska, prompting surveillance by the U.S. Coast Guard. While not in U.S. territorial waters, the ship was inside a zone where the U.S. holds exclusive rights to manage resources. Canada is also monitoring the vessel’s Arctic movements, CBS News has reported. The sighting follows … Continue reading Chinese research ship detected off Alaskan coast, Coast Guard says

The Israeli military has begun daily 10-hour pauses in fighting across three populated areas of Gaza to allow more humanitarian aid, amid growing concern over hunger and international criticism. The pauses aim to ease the flow of aid, including airdrops, as over 2 million Gazans face severe shortages. UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher welcomed the move but stressed the need for faster, sustained action, the … Continue reading Israel begins daily pause in fighting in 3 Gaza areas to allow ‘minimal’ aid

Nearly 50 people, including children, are feared dead after an Antonov An-24 passenger plane crashed near Tynda in Russia’s Amur region. The Soviet-era aircraft, operated by Angara Airlines, vanished from radar during a regional flight and was later found wrecked and on fire on a remote mountainside. No survivors were seen, and preliminary reports indicate all 49 people on board perished. The plane crashed during … Continue reading Dozens feared killed after plane crashes in Russia’s Far East

French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France will officially recognize the state of Palestine, with a formal declaration planned at the UN General Assembly in September. He called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of hostages, humanitarian aid, Hamas’s demilitarization, and the establishment of a viable Palestinian state that recognizes Israel, ABC News has reported. The move drew strong backlash from the U.S. … Continue reading France to recognize the state of Palestine, Macron says

Thai and Cambodian soldiers clashed along their border in a major escalation that left at least 14 dead, mostly civilians, and displaced over 4,000 people. The fighting involved small arms, artillery, rockets, and Thai airstrikes, following a land mine explosion that injured five Thai soldiers. Clashes resumed Friday near the Ta Muen Thom temple. This marks a rare military conflict between ASEAN members, the Associated … Continue reading Thailand launches airstrikes on Cambodia as border clashes leave at least 14 dead

In parts of Mexico, organized crime groups have taken control of hospitals and forced medical staff to treat wounded cartel members under threat of violence, according to doctors speaking anonymously. In Guanajuato, a doctor described being threatened at gunpoint and coerced into treating injured hitmen from the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. While official data shows a drop in homicides under President Claudia Sheinbaum, experts warn … Continue reading Drug traffickers take control of health centers in some areas of Mexico

A series of drone attacks have targeted oil fields in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region, damaging infrastructure but causing no injuries. Norwegian company DNO ASA and a U.S.-operated field were among those affected, leading to temporary shutdowns. No group has claimed responsibility, but Kurdish officials suspect the attacks aim to disrupt the region’s economy and energy sector. Tensions have risen between Kurdish authorities and Baghdad, with … Continue reading Drone attacks on oil fields in Iraq’s Kurdish region shut down facilities

Fugitive Moldovan oligarch Vladimir Plahotniuc, wanted for his role in a $1 billion bank fraud and other corruption charges, was detained in Greece, Moldovan police announced. Plahotniuc, who fled Moldova in 2019, had been on Interpol’s international wanted list. He is accused of fraud, money laundering, and leading a criminal organization. Moldovan authorities are working to secure his extradition, the Associated Press has reported. Once … Continue reading Fugitive Moldovan oligarch implicated in $1 billion bank fraud detained in Greece

A Syrian government committee has confirmed that over 1,400 people, mostly Alawite civilians, were killed during sectarian violence in the country’s coastal region in March. The investigation identified 298 suspects in serious crimes including murder, torture, and looting, with 37 arrests made so far. While government forces were accused of summary executions, the report found no evidence the military leadership ordered attacks on the Alawite … Continue reading More than 1,400 killed in sectarian violence in coastal Syria, report finds

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed a controversial law that critics say weakens the independence of Ukraine’s key anti-corruption agencies, sparking protests across major cities and drawing sharp criticism from Western allies. The law gives the prosecutor general — a Zelensky ally — control over the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), raising concerns about political interference. Zelensky defended the … Continue reading Protests in Ukraine as Zelensky signs bill targeting anti-corruption bodies

Thirteen people have been arrested in Pakistan’s Balochistan province after a video showed the brutal “honour” killing of a couple, Bano Bibi and Ahsan Ullah, for marrying against their families’ wishes. The footage, showing the woman being shot after asking to be killed respectfully, sparked national outrage. Authorities identified the perpetrators, including a tribal elder who ordered the killings, and are searching for nine more … Continue reading Pakistan authorities arrest 13 suspects over ‘honour’ killing video

A former Ukrainian anti-organized crime official, Ihor Hrushevskyi, was found dead in a swimming pool in Villajoyosa, Spain, on June 29. Authorities have not ruled out foul play, though no signs of violence were found. His death occurred at the same apartment complex where Russian defector pilot Maksim Kuzminov was assassinated in February 2024. Hrushevskyi, who had lived there for 16 months, had a background … Continue reading Ex-Ukrainian official reportedly found dead in pool at Spain resort

Vietnam is bracing for Typhoon Wipha, set to make landfall early Tuesday with strong winds and heavy rain, threatening floods and landslides in northern regions and urban areas like Hanoi. Authorities have issued emergency alerts, canceled flights, and suspended boat services, with evacuations underway in high-risk zones. The storm has already killed at least three people in the Philippines and affected over 800,000, the Associated … Continue reading Vietnam races to prepare for Typhoon Wipha as Philippines suffers storm deaths

Russia launched one of its largest aerial assaults on Ukraine in months, killing two and injuring 15, just hours before a NATO-led meeting on military aid for Ukraine. The overnight attack on Kyiv involved hundreds of drones and missiles, highlighting Ukraine’s urgent need for air defense systems like the U.S.-made Patriot. The virtual meeting, chaired by U.K. and German defense ministers, comes amid U.S. President … Continue reading Russia launches a major aerial attack on Kyiv hours before high-level talks on support for Ukraine

A Bangladesh Air Force training jet crashed into Milestone School and College in Dhaka on Monday afternoon, killing the pilot and at least 19 others, mostly students. The Chinese-made F-7 BGI aircraft experienced a technical malfunction shortly after takeoff and crashed into the school, sparking a fire. Over 170 students were injured, many with burns. Desperate rescue efforts followed, with emotional scenes at hospitals and … Continue reading Bangladesh Air Force training jet crashes into a school, kills at least 20

Torrential rains in South Korea have killed at least 18 people and left nine missing, with over 14,000 residents forced to evacuate due to floods, landslides, and collapsed homes. The downpours, which began on July 16, brought record rainfall to central and southern regions. The military has deployed 2,500 troops to assist with recovery. Experts say the unusually late monsoon caught many areas unprepared, highlighting … Continue reading At least 18 dead in South Korea floods and landslides

More than 560 people were rescued and three confirmed dead after the KM Barcelona 5 passenger ferry caught fire off Indonesia’s Sulawesi coast on Sunday. The ferry was en route from the Talaud Islands to Manado when flames broke out in the stern. Rescuers, coast guard ships, and local fishermen helped evacuate passengers, many of whom jumped into the sea. Initial reports of five deaths were revised … Continue reading 568 people survived after an Indonesian passenger ferry caught fire at sea

At least 35 people died and several remain missing after a tourist boat capsized in Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay during a sudden storm. The vessel, Wonder Seas, was carrying 53 people—mostly Vietnamese families from Hanoi—when it overturned amid hail, heavy rain, and lightning. Ten survivors have been rescued, including a 10-year-old boy found trapped in an air pocket. At least eight of the victims were children. … Continue reading Dozens dead after Ha Long Bay tourist boat capsizes in Vietnam

Typhoon Wipha caused widespread disruption across southern China and parts of Asia on Sunday, grounding over 400 flights in Hong Kong and affecting around 80,000 passengers. The storm made landfall in Guangdong province after brushing past Hong Kong with winds up to 140 kph, toppling trees and prompting high-level storm warnings. At least 26 people in Hong Kong sought medical care, and over 250 took … Continue reading Typhoon Wipha topples trees and causes major flight disruptions in Hong Kong

Armed Bedouin clans withdrew from the Druze-majority city of Sweida on Sunday after a week of deadly clashes with Druze militias and a U.S.-brokered ceasefire. The fighting, sparked by kidnappings and escalating sectarian violence, killed hundreds and displaced over 128,000 people. Israel launched airstrikes in the region, and Syrian government forces intervened intermittently. Humanitarian aid convoys began entering the battered city amid cautious calm. Tensions … Continue reading Syria’s armed Bedouins withdraw from Druze-majority city after weeklong fighting

At least 85 Palestinians were killed in Gaza on Sunday, marking the deadliest day for aid-seekers since the war began over 21 months ago, according to the territory’s Health Ministry. Most deaths occurred in northern Gaza as crowds tried to reach food aid entering through the Zikim crossing. Witnesses and a U.N. official said Israeli forces opened fire on civilians; Israel acknowledged firing but claimed … Continue reading Officials say 85 Palestinians seeking aid are killed in Gaza