South Korean authorities indicted Hak Ja Han, 82, leader of the Unification Church, over allegations she instructed church officials to bribe the wife of jailed former President Yoon Suk Yeol and a conservative lawmaker. Han and her former chief secretary face charges including bribery, embezzlement, violations of political funding laws, and instructing the destruction of evidence. Investigators claim the church offered luxury goods and cash … Continue reading South Korean prosecutor indicts Unification Church leader in probe linked to ex-first lady

Russia’s lower house of parliament approved withdrawing from the Plutonium Management and Disposition Agreement (PMDA) with the United States, which aimed to dispose of at least 34 tonnes of weapons-grade plutonium from Cold War stockpiles. The agreement, signed in 2000 and in force since 2011, sought to convert plutonium into safer forms like MOX fuel or irradiate it in reactors for electricity production. Russia cited … Continue reading Russia moves to withdraw from plutonium agreement with the United States

A 7.4-magnitude offshore earthquake struck Friday morning near Davao Oriental province in the southern Philippines, centered about 62 kilometers southeast of Manay town. The quake occurred at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers due to movement along a fault. Authorities warned of potential damage and aftershocks in the affected area, ABC News has reported. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said hazardous waves could occur within … Continue reading 7.4-magnitude earthquake strikes offshore from southern Philippines

The United States is sending about 200 troops to Israel to help monitor and support the ceasefire deal in Gaza, working alongside partner nations, NGOs, and private-sector teams. The troops, part of U.S. Central Command, will establish a civil-military coordination center to facilitate humanitarian aid, logistics, and security support, though no Americans will enter Gaza. Forces from Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and the UAE will join … Continue reading US sending 200 troops to Israel to support and monitor Gaza ceasefire deal

Dutch authorities discovered two hand grenades hidden in a shipment of French onions destined for a factory in Zeeland, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) reported. Dating from 1925, the grenades were consistent with old French and German chemical weapons, though their exact chemical fill could not be identified. The reason for their presence in the delivery remains unknown. Since the Netherlands … Continue reading Century-old grenades found hidden in French onion delivery in the Netherlands

At least 14 soldiers were killed and several injured in South Sudan after a shootout erupted within the Unified VIP Protection Force over a suspected “love triangle” at a market near the Abyei Box region. The clash involved officers aligned with President Salva Kiir and former Vice President Riek Machar, whose ongoing political rivalry has destabilized the country since their 2018 peace deal. The violence … Continue reading At least 14 soldiers killed in South Sudan, army says

Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of plotting war in alliance with a hardline faction of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), warning in a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that the collusion has intensified in recent months. The Ethiopian government alleges that Eritrea and the TPLF are funding and directing armed groups in the Amhara region, including Fano militias, which are increasingly targeting the federal … Continue reading Ethiopia accuses Eritrea of preparing for war as Red Sea tensions rise

Spanish police have dismantled one of the world’s largest cocaine trafficking networks, seizing 10 tons of the drug and arresting five suspects in a joint operation with Colombian authorities. Three arrests were made in Spain and two in Colombia during seven raids, though officials did not disclose exact locations or where the drugs were found. The network reportedly smuggled around 120 tons of cocaine annually … Continue reading Spain busts major cocaine trafficking ring, seizes 10 tons of drugs

Australian and Indian defense ministers signed a new bilateral security agreement Thursday aimed at strengthening Indo-Pacific stability. Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh became the first from his country to visit Australia since 2013, meeting his counterpart Richard Marles to formalize the deal. The agreement establishes a forum for joint staff talks and submarine rescue cooperation, reflecting growing defense ties, highlighted by India’s first participation in … Continue reading India and Australia sign a security deal that includes military talks

The United Nations will reduce its peacekeeping forces and operations, forcing 13,000 to 14,000 personnel to return home in the coming months due to U.S. funding cuts, a senior U.N. official said. The reductions, representing roughly 25% of the deployed peacekeepers, will affect missions in countries including Congo, South Sudan, Lebanon, Cyprus, and Kosovo, and slash the force’s budget by about 15% this year. U.S. … Continue reading United Nations to cut 25% of its global peacekeeping force

An agitated bear caused chaos in a grocery store in Numata, Gunma, Japan, injuring two men and frightening dozens of shoppers, officials reported Wednesday. The 4.5-foot bear entered the store for about four minutes, damaging glass, knocking over produce, and struggling to find an exit. Separately, a man was found dead in Iwate Prefecture after a suspected bear attack, while other recent incidents included a … Continue reading Bear injures 2 people in Japan grocery store as man killed in separate suspected attack

Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire that includes the release of all hostages in Gaza, an Israeli troop withdrawal to a designated point, and the release of some Palestinian prisoners. President Donald Trump announced the deal, saying hostages could be freed as early as Monday, though key issues like Hamas disarmament and Gaza’s future governance remain unresolved. Israeli … Continue reading Israel and Hamas agree to first phase of Gaza ceasefire plan

Hurricane Priscilla battered western Mexico on Monday with heavy rain, strong winds, and dangerous surf as it moved near the coast and the Baja California peninsula. The storm, with sustained winds of 85 mph, was located about 205 miles west-southwest of Cabo Corrientes, prompting tropical storm watches in parts of Baja California Sur. Authorities canceled classes and opened shelters in Los Cabos and La Paz … Continue reading Hurricane Priscilla lashes western Mexico with heavy rain and strong winds

A lawyer attempted to throw what appeared to be a shoe at India’s Chief Justice B.R. Gavai in the Supreme Court on Monday, reportedly over remarks Gavai made about the Hindu god Vishnu. The judge had recently joked that a petitioner seeking to replace a damaged statue should “ask the deity himself,” a comment some considered disrespectful. Security intervened before the object—believed to be either … Continue reading Lawyer tries to hurl object at India’s chief justice over remark about Hindu god

Indonesian rescuers ended their search Tuesday after recovering 61 bodies from the rubble of the collapsed Al Khoziny Islamic boarding school in East Java’s Sidoarjo town. The collapse, blamed on foundational failures, occurred during afternoon prayers and is considered the country’s deadliest disaster this year. Authorities said all victims have been found, along with several unidentified body parts, marking the official close of recovery operations. … Continue reading Indonesia ends search for victims of boarding school collapse, 61 dead

Australian prosecutors have appealed Erin Patterson’s life sentence, arguing that her 33-year non-parole period for killing three relatives and attempting to kill a fourth with death cap mushrooms is “manifestly inadequate.” Patterson was convicted of serving the poisoned meal during a 2023 lunch at her home, though her motive remains unknown. Prosecutors had sought no possibility of parole, while her defense requested eligibility after 30 … Continue reading Prosecutors in Australia want convicted mushroom murderer Erin Patterson’s prison sentence extended

Venezuela announced Monday that extremist groups are allegedly planning to attack the closed U.S. Embassy in Caracas with explosives amid rising tensions over U.S. military activity in the Caribbean. National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez said the U.S. was warned through multiple channels about a “false-flag operation” by right-wing groups posing as supporters of President Nicolás Maduro. The embassy, closed since 2019, still maintains a small … Continue reading Venezuela denounces alleged ‘extremist’ plan to attack shuttered US Embassy complex

A Canadian CP-140 Aurora patrol aircraft operating over the East China Sea is conducting surveillance under Operation NEON, a multinational mission enforcing U.N. sanctions against North Korea. Flying from Japan’s Kadena Air Base, the crew documents vessels suspected of illicit trade supporting Pyongyang’s weapons programs and shares intelligence with the U.N. During a recent mission observed by CBS News, Chinese fighter jets repeatedly intercepted the Canadian … Continue reading Chinese jets intercept Canadian air force plane

The International Criminal Court (ICC) convicted Ali Muhammad Ali Abd–Al-Rahman, a leader of Sudan’s Janjaweed militia, for atrocities committed during the Darfur genocide over 20 years ago. Abd–Al-Rahman, also known as Ali Kushayb, was found guilty on 27 counts including mass killings, sexual violence, and beatings carried out between 2003 and 2004 as part of a government-backed plan to suppress African ethnic groups. He remains … Continue reading Sudan militia leader convicted of war crimes during Darfur war

Swedish activist Greta Thunberg arrived in Greece Monday with 160 other campaigners from the Global Sumud Flotilla after being deported by Israel. Israel expelled 171 activists whose ships were intercepted while attempting to deliver aid to blockaded Gaza, bringing the total deported to 341. At Athens airport, Thunberg condemned Israeli military actions as genocide and criticized international systems for failing to protect Palestinians. She said … Continue reading Israel deports Greta Thunberg and other Gaza flotilla activists

Israel and Hamas have begun indirect peace talks in Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh to discuss a U.S.-backed plan by President Trump aimed at ending the Gaza war. The discussions, mediated by Arab and Egyptian officials, focus on a proposed hostage-prisoner exchange and the creation of a transitional international authority to govern Gaza. Hamas has agreed to parts of the plan, including releasing hostages, but has not … Continue reading Israel and Hamas begin indirect Gaza ceasefire talks in Egypt

Iran executed six inmates on Saturday accused of carrying out attacks in the southwest of the country on behalf of Israel, amid what activists say is the highest wave of executions in decades. The men were alleged to have killed police and security forces and carried out bombings around Khorramshahr in Khuzestan province. Kurdish human rights group Hengaw identified the men as Arab political prisoners … Continue reading Iran executes 6 death-row inmates it alleges carried out attacks on behalf of Israel

A 60-year-old man was arrested in Sydney, Australia, after allegedly firing 50–100 bullets at random passersby and vehicles on Sunday evening, injuring 20 people. The shooting occurred in Croydon Park, a suburb of Inner West, with one victim in serious condition and others treated for shrapnel or shattered glass injuries. Police arrested the suspect in a unit above a business and seized two rifles; he … Continue reading Gunman fired up to 100 bullets on busy Sydney street at random, injuring 20

Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze accused the opposition of attempting to overthrow his government on Sunday, following his ruling Georgian Dream party’s claimed landslide win in local elections boycotted by major rivals. Tens of thousands had protested in Tbilisi against the government’s policies and what they see as a shift toward Moscow, with rallies ongoing since Georgia halted EU membership talks last November. The protests … Continue reading Georgia’s PM says protesters want to topple his government, vows further crackdown

A mosque in Peacehaven, near Brighton, UK, was set on fire Saturday night in a suspected arson attack while two men in their 60s were inside. The attackers, wearing balaclavas, reportedly tried to force the door open, poured gasoline on the steps, and set it ablaze, though no one was physically harmed. The fire damaged the mosque’s entrance and a vehicle belonging to the mosque … Continue reading UK mosque set ablaze with two people inside