Russian investigators stopped the attempted smuggling of a massive meteorite fragment to the United Kingdom after it was falsely declared as a garden sculpture, customs officials said. The 2.8-ton object is believed to be part of the Aletai meteorite, one of the largest known iron meteorites, and prosecutors have launched a criminal investigation. Authorities discovered the item during an inspection of a sea container at … Continue reading Russia says 2.8-ton chunk of Aletai meteorite disguised as garden ornament found being smuggled to U.K.

German authorities have arrested two men, a 37-year-old Romanian and a 54-year-old Greek, on suspicion of attempting to sabotage Navy ships. The suspects are accused of tampering with corvettes at Hamburg shipyards, including introducing blasting grit into engines, puncturing water lines, and disabling safety systems, which could have caused serious damage or delayed deployments. Homes in Hamburg, Romania, and Greece were searched, and the investigation … Continue reading Two arrested over attempted sabotage of German naval vessels

A bus returning from a religious festival in northeast Brazil overturned on a curve in Alagoas state, killing at least 16 people, including four children. About 60 passengers were on board, with some ejected from the vehicle and others trapped under the wreckage. Seven women and five men were among the fatalities, while survivors, including seriously injured children, were hospitalized. The bus had been returning … Continue reading Bus crashes in Brazil’s Alagoas state, killing at least 16 people

Gunmen have killed at least 162 people in Woro village, Kwara state, western Nigeria, in one of the deadliest recent attacks in the country. The assault occurred Tuesday evening, with attackers setting fire to shops and the king’s palace while many residents fled into the bush. Local authorities and the Red Cross confirmed the death toll, which may rise as more bodies are found. The … Continue reading Gunmen have killed at least 162 people in west Nigeria attack, says Red Cross

Record-breaking snowfall in Japan has caused at least 30 deaths over the past two weeks, including a 91-year-old woman found buried under nearly 3 meters of snow. The northern city of Aomori reported up to 183 cm (72 inches) of snow, breaking a 40-year record, while several other cities recorded over 135 cm (53 inches). Authorities have deployed troops to assist residents, especially the elderly, and warned … Continue reading Record-breaking snow blankets Japan, killing at least 30 people

French prosecutors have summoned Elon Musk and former X CEO Linda Yaccarino for questioning in an investigation into the distribution of sexual deepfakes, Holocaust denial content, and other potential criminal offenses on X. The Paris cybercrime unit, alongside French police and Europol, recently searched X’s offices as part of the probe, which also examines alleged child pornography, violations of personal rights, and fraudulent data extraction. … Continue reading Paris prosecutors summon Elon Musk after raid on X’s French offices

A collision between a speedboat carrying migrants and a Greek coast guard vessel off Chios in the eastern Aegean has killed at least 15 people. Fourteen bodies were recovered at sea, and another migrant later died in hospital, while 25 others—including 11 children—were rescued along with two injured coast guard officers. A search and rescue operation involving patrol boats, a helicopter, and divers continues for … Continue reading Greek coast guard ship and migrant speedboat collide, killing at least 15 people

Israeli air and tank strikes in Gaza on Wednesday morning killed at least 19 Palestinians, most of them women and children, following a militant attack that wounded an Israeli soldier. Among the dead were five children, including a 10-day-old infant and a 5-month-old, seven women, and a paramedic. The strikes came amid ongoing tensions since a U.S.-brokered ceasefire took effect in October 2025, which Palestinians … Continue reading Gaza health officials say Israeli strikes kill almost 20

The U.S. military shot down an Iranian Shahed‑139 drone that approached the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea after attempts to de-escalate failed. An F‑35C fighter jet intercepted the drone, and no U.S. personnel or equipment were harmed. Hours later, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps harassed a U.S.-flagged merchant vessel, M/V Stena Imperative, in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting the guided-missile destroyer … Continue reading US military shoots down Iranian drone approaching USS Abraham Lincoln in Arabian Sea

Morocco deployed army rescue units to evacuate thousands of people after severe flooding hit parts of the country’s northwest. Torrential rains and rising river levels flooded neighborhoods in Ksar Kbir, forcing more than 20,000 people into shelters and camps. Authorities set up sandbags and barriers as waters began to recede, and schools in the area were closed until February 7. Nearby regions also saw evacuations … Continue reading Morocco deploys army to help evacuate thousands after floods

A 13-year-old boy in Western Australia swam about 4km through rough waters to save his mother and two siblings after they were swept out to sea while paddleboarding and kayaking. Strong winds pushed the family offshore at Geographe Bay, and the boy swam back to shore after his kayak took on water to raise the alarm. Rescue services launched a search, and a helicopter later … Continue reading ‘Superhuman’ teen swims hours to save family stranded off Australian coast

Russia said its forces helped Nigerien troops repel an ISIL (ISIS) attack on Niamey’s main airport last week, in which 20 attackers were killed and at least 11 captured. The assault targeted the airbase at Diori Hamani international airport, wounding four Nigerien soldiers, and was claimed by ISIL’s Sahel affiliate. Niger’s military leaders thanked Russia’s African Corps for its role, highlighting Moscow’s growing military presence … Continue reading Moscow confirms Russian forces helped repel ISIL attack on Niger airport

German authorities arrested five men accused of running a network that smuggled at least €30 million worth of goods to around 20 Russian defense companies in violation of EU sanctions. Prosecutors say the group used a Lübeck-based trading company, front firms, and intermediaries inside and outside the EU to hide roughly 16,000 deliveries to Russia. Raids took place across several German cities, while five additional … Continue reading German police arrest five men for smuggling goods worth €30 million to Russia

A wild bull elephant named Oyewan killed a 65-year-old Thai tourist during a morning walk in Khao Yai National Park, marking the third fatality linked to the same animal. The victim’s wife escaped after park rangers intervened. Authorities will meet to decide whether to relocate the elephant or attempt to change its behavior. Thailand has seen a rise in deadly human–elephant encounters, with more than … Continue reading Elephant kills tourist at national park in Thailand

Iran has declared European armies “terrorist groups” in retaliation for the European Union’s designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization over its crackdown on protests. Iran’s parliament speaker accused Europe of acting under U.S. influence and against its own interests. The EU said the move was a response to violent repression during nationwide protests that erupted in late December, with … Continue reading Iran designates EU armies ‘terrorist groups’ in retaliatory move

Pakistani security forces killed over 100 militants in Balochistan during counterterrorism operations over the past 40 hours, following coordinated attacks that killed 33 people, mostly civilians. The raids, which began Saturday, also left 18 civilians—including five women and three children—and 15 security personnel dead. Provincial Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti claimed the militants were part of the “Indian-backed” Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), with some fighters reportedly … Continue reading Pakistan says it has killed 145 ‘Indian-backed terrorists’ after deadly attacks

Tens of thousands of people rallied in the Czech Republic on Sunday to support President Petr Pavel amid his dispute with Foreign Minister Petr Macinka. The conflict escalated after Pavel accused Macinka of attempting to blackmail him over a cabinet appointment. At the center of the row is Pavel’s refusal to approve Filip Turek as a government minister due to past scandals. Organizers estimated 80,000 … Continue reading Tens of thousands back Czech president amid cabinet dispute

An 18-year-old Swiss national has died from injuries suffered in a deadly bar fire in the Swiss Alps, raising the death toll to 41 a month after the incident. The fire broke out shortly after midnight on Jan. 1 at the packed Le Constellation bar in the ski resort of Crans-Montana. Investigators believe sparkling candles placed on Champagne bottles ignited the blaze when they came … Continue reading Swiss Alpine bar fire claims 41st victim, an 18-year-old Swiss national

Gaza’s Rafah border crossing with Egypt reopened Monday for limited operations under the Israeli-Hamas ceasefire, restoring a key gateway that had been largely closed for nearly two years. Movement is tightly restricted, with no commercial goods allowed and only up to 50 Palestinians permitted to cross in each direction on the first day. The narrow reopening comes as tens of thousands of Gazans with urgent … Continue reading Gaza’s Rafah border crossing partially reopens under ceasefire deal

Heavy gunfire and explosions erupted early Thursday near Niamey’s international airport in Niger before subsiding within hours, residents reported. Videos showed bright streaks in the sky, large flames, and burned vehicles near the Diori Hamani International Airport, which also hosts an air force base about 10 km from the presidential palace. The cause of the attack and whether there were any casualties remained unclear. Calm … Continue reading Gunfire and explosions heard near airport in Niger’s capital

The European Union has designated Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization in response to the regime’s deadly crackdown on nationwide protests, a largely symbolic move meant to increase pressure on Tehran. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the move puts the Guard on the same level as al-Qaida, Hamas, and ISIS, condemning its role in killing thousands of protesters. The U.S. and Canada … Continue reading EU lists Iran Revolutionary Guard as terror organization

U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly considering military options against Iran, including targeted strikes on security forces and leaders to encourage protesters, following a nationwide crackdown that killed thousands. Sources say he aims to create conditions for “regime change,” though no final decision has been made, and options also include larger strikes on Iran’s missile and nuclear programs. The deployment of a U.S. aircraft carrier … Continue reading Trump weighs Iran strikes to inspire renewed protests, sources say

A controversial new book claims William Shakespeare was not the true author of his plays, arguing instead that they were written by Emilia Bassano, a Tudor court poet. Feminist historian Irene Coslet contends Bassano, whom she describes as a Jewish woman of Moorish descent, used “Shakespeare” as a pen name because Elizabethan society favored a white male genius. She argues Bassano’s education, cultural background, and … Continue reading Feminist historian claims Shakespeare was actually a black Jewish woman in new book

Spain’s left-wing government has approved a fast-track plan allowing up to 500,000 undocumented migrants to apply for legal residency, marking one of Europe’s largest regularizations in years. The measure applies to people who have lived in Spain for at least five months by December 31, 2025, have no criminal record, and will allow them to work nationwide under renewable permits. Migration Minister Elma Saiz called … Continue reading Spain to grant legal status to 500,000 migrants

Russia’s Maritime Board, led by security official Nikolai Patrushev, has proposed measures to protect Russian shipping and strategic maritime routes, citing alleged violations of international maritime law by “unfriendly” states. The move follows several recent interceptions of Russian oil tankers, including the Fitsburg, Marinera, and Grinch, by Finnish, US, and French authorities. The proposed measures are expected to include naval deployments to safeguard Russian interests, … Continue reading Russia hints it will deploy Navy to protect ‘shadow fleet’