Lebanon’s parliament has abolished the death penalty, making it the first Arab country to replace executions with life imprisonment and aggravated hard labor. The country had maintained an unofficial moratorium on executions since 2004, although courts continued issuing death sentences that were later suspended or reduced. The measure was approved by a majority of lawmakers, with Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc voting against it. Justice Minister Adel … Continue reading Lebanon abolishes death penalty in landmark parliament vote

Thailand’s government will immediately stop issuing new gun permits following a school shooting in which a 14-year-old killed eight people before taking his own life. The shooting involved a handgun owned by the boy’s grandfather, and authorities believe social media exposure to violent content and other personal pressures may have influenced his actions. Thailand has one of the highest rates of civilian gun ownership in … Continue reading Thailand suspends new gun permits after mass shooting

A massive fire broke out at Libya’s Zawiya oil refinery after a drone attack targeted a gasoline storage tank, sending thick smoke and flames over the facility. Officials said there were no serious injuries, though several people were treated for smoke inhalation. The National Oil Corporation said the refinery has faced multiple drone attacks in recent days and warned that continued strikes could force it … Continue reading Huge fire breaks out at Libya’s Zawiya refinery after drone attack

Six people were killed Tuesday when Iran-backed Houthi rebels fired missiles at a vessel in Yemen’s Bab el-Mandeb strait, including four crew members and two allied fighters. The attack marks the first known deaths from Houthi attacks on shipping off Yemen during the latest escalation of fighting. The violence comes as the Houthis have increased attacks on Yemeni government forces, Saudi Arabia and shipping in … Continue reading Iranian-backed Houthis kill 6 in attack on vessel

A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia, killing at least 254 people and leaving thousands homeless. Rescue crews searched through collapsed buildings in cities including Pereira and Cali, using heavy equipment and their bare hands to find survivors. The disaster caused widespread damage to homes, schools, health centers, farms and rural infrastructure, while some Indigenous communities remained without power or basic services. President Abelardo De … Continue reading Colombia quake death toll tops 250 as rescuers race to find survivors

British Columbia declared a state of emergency after a fast-moving wildfire destroyed homes and forced more than 20,000 people to evacuate communities near Okanagan Lake. More than 100 wildfires were burning across the province, with nearly half considered out of control amid hot, windy weather and prolonged drought. The Bald Range wildfire rapidly expanded to more than 52 square miles, reaching residential areas and forcing … Continue reading Wildfires burning in British Columbia force 20,000 to evacuate

China evacuated more than 1 million people from eastern regions, including Shanghai, as Typhoon Dolphin made landfall. The storm, the strongest to hit China this year, brought torrential rain, flooding and winds reaching 94 mph. Shanghai faces increased vulnerability to coastal storms because of rising sea levels linked to climate change, despite its extensive flood defenses. Extreme weather events are causing greater economic losses worldwide … Continue reading Typhoon Dolphin forces 1M to evacuate in China

A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, shaking parts of Colombia and neighboring Ecuador. The earthquake was centered near San Jose Del Palmar in the Choco region, about 250 miles west of Bogota, at a depth of roughly 66 miles. Officials reported injuries and serious damage to buildings in the regional capital, though the full extent of the damage was not immediately known. … Continue reading Powerful 7.4 earthquake shakes Colombia and Ecuador prompting people to evacuate

A Ukrainian drone attack on Nizhnekamsk, Russia, killed 13 people, including a child, and wounded 75 others, according to regional authorities. Ukraine’s military said it targeted the Taneco oil refinery, one of several major oil facilities in the city, though the claims could not be independently verified. Ukraine has increasingly used long-range drones to strike Russian oil facilities, disrupting fuel supplies and reducing refining capacity. … Continue reading Ukrainian drone attack on a Russian city kills 13

Typhoon Dolphin has struck Japan’s Okinawa region, injuring five people, knocking out power to about 14,000 buildings and disrupting flights. The powerful storm is now moving toward eastern China, where authorities have closed ports, schools, tourist sites and other facilities as a precaution. China has issued a level-three emergency response, with the typhoon expected to make landfall between Zhejiang and Fujian provinces late Sunday or … Continue reading Typhoon Dolphin hits Japan, heads towards China

Colombia’s newly inaugurated right-wing president, Abelardo De La Espriella, has received a planned $1 billion U.S. security assistance package from the Trump administration. De La Espriella has pledged to aggressively combat drug trafficking and armed groups while reducing government spending and expanding the oil and gas sector. He warned criminal and narco-terrorist groups that they must surrender or face a forceful response, saying peace talks … Continue reading US promises $1bn in security aid to Colombia

Two drones were spotted flying over a German military base in Mechernich, just days after an explosive-carrying drone was discovered at Leipzig/Halle Airport. Military police were deployed, and local authorities have opened an investigation into the latest drone sightings. The incidents come amid growing concerns across Europe about unidentified drones flying over military and civilian facilities. German officials have warned that the discovery of the … Continue reading 2 drones spotted flying over German military base after drone with explosives found at cargo airport

Houthi missiles and drones struck government military positions in Yemen, killing at least 30 soldiers and injuring 15 others in a major escalation. The attacks targeted military camps and gatherings in Hadramout and Marib, with the Houthis claiming far higher casualties and widespread destruction. The Houthis said the strikes were launched in response to an alleged Saudi military buildup aimed at escalating the conflict. Yemen’s … Continue reading Houthi attacks on gov’t forces hint that a major battle in Yemen is brewing

Families in Thailand are mourning nine victims, including a 12-year-old girl and five school staff members, after a 14-year-old boy opened fire at a school and allegedly killed his grandparents before taking his own life. Fourteen people remain hospitalized, including seven in critical condition, with most of the wounded between 12 and 14 years old. Officials said the gun used in the attack was legally … Continue reading Thailand school shooting death toll rises to nine after girl dies

An explosive-equipped drone was discovered near a runway at Germany’s Leipzig/Halle Airport, prompting authorities to temporarily close both runways. Police deployed an explosives-disposal robot and successfully removed the device’s detonator. Several flights were diverted, while a second unidentified flying object apparently collided with a cargo plane, causing minor damage. Authorities said there was no danger to passengers or airport employees, and normal flight operations resumed … Continue reading Drone with an explosive device found at a German airport and detonator removed

A Mexican social media influencer was shot and killed while livestreaming outside a restaurant in Culiacán, Sinaloa, in an attack captured on video. The victim, 25-year-old Cesar Gastelum, had more than 600,000 TikTok followers and was filming with friends when two people on a motorcycle approached and opened fire. Police confirmed his death and launched an investigation as soldiers and forensic teams responded to the … Continue reading Popular social media influencer shot dead during livestream outside restaurant in Mexico

Taiwan has launched its annual 10-day Han Kuang military exercises to prepare for a potential invasion by China. The drills include live-fire training, urban resilience exercises, and the largest-ever mobilization of reservists to strengthen the island’s defense capabilities. Military officials are also testing new U.S.-inspired communication methods and recently acquired American-made Abrams tanks. The exercises come as China continues to increase military pressure around Taiwan … Continue reading Taiwan kicks off annual military drills to counter a potential Chinese attack

A large-scale Russian missile attack on Kyiv and the surrounding region killed at least 17 people and injured more than 40 others, according to Ukrainian officials. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine’s limited air defenses were unable to intercept the incoming ballistic missiles due to a shortage of Patriot interceptors. He urged allies, particularly the United States, to provide more air defense ammunition or help Ukraine … Continue reading Russian barrage in Ukraine’s capital region kills 17 as air defenses fall short

The Pentagon is reportedly developing a new nuclear strategy focused on preparing for potential conflict with Russia or China, emphasizing shorter-range tactical nuclear weapons. The plan, overseen by Defense Department policy chief Elbridge Colby, would update the nuclear response options available to the U.S. president during a crisis. Officials say the strategy is intended to prevent conventional wars from escalating into nuclear conflict while deterring … Continue reading America ‘preparing for nuclear war with Russia and China’ as bombshell plans leaked

At least 16 people were killed in Russia and 11 in Ukraine as both countries continued exchanging drone and missile attacks, according to local officials. Russian authorities reported fatalities in the Moscow region, Krasnodar, Belgorod, and Russian-occupied Crimea, while Ukraine said attacks in the Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions killed civilians, including children. Russia also claimed its forces captured two settlements in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region. Ukraine … Continue reading 27 killed as Russia and Ukraine trade heavy attacks

A serviceman in Russian-held Crimea allegedly opened fire on fellow soldiers and civilians, killing four people and injuring four others in the village of Khmelnytske. According to local authorities, the gunman first shot fellow soldiers before attacking nearby civilians. The suspect was detained, and officials have launched an investigation into the motive. The incident occurred as Crimea remains a key strategic region in the ongoing … Continue reading Serviceman kills 3 civilians and 1 soldier in Russian-held Crimea, governor says

Guatemalan authorities evacuated about 250 residents from two villages after the Fuego volcano erupted, sending ash, gas, lava, and pyroclastic flows down its slopes. Officials also warned that volcanic ash could spread to nearby communities. National Route 14 was closed, and classes were suspended in surrounding towns as a precaution. Fuego is one of Guatemala’s most active volcanoes and has erupted several times in recent … Continue reading Guatemala evacuates villages after Fuego volcano erupts

Nauru has officially changed its name to the Republic of Naoero, restoring the traditional name used in its national language. The country’s international code will change from NRU to NRO, and its citizens will now be known as dei-Naoero. President David Adeang said the change honors the nation’s heritage, language, and identity after lawmakers approved the constitutional amendment. The government decided a public referendum was … Continue reading Nauru, the world’s 3rd-smallest country, changes its name to Naoero

The US-led Board of Peace said Israeli forces will only withdraw from Gaza after Hamas completes the disarmament of its weapons and tunnel network. The announcement followed a meeting between Board director Nickolay Mladenov and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as Israeli officials voiced concerns about the agreement. Hamas said the deal will only move forward if Israel also fulfills its commitments, while mediators urged … Continue reading Board of Peace says no Israeli withdrawal from Gaza before Hamas disarms

A homemade bomb exploded outside an upscale restaurant in central Moscow on Saturday, killing at least three people and injuring 21 others. Russian authorities said a woman carrying the explosive device was stopped by security before the bomb detonated, killing her, a security guard, and a customer. Some media reports later claimed the death toll had risen to five, though officials had not confirmed those … Continue reading Female Bomber Kills at Least 3, Injures 21 Near Moscow Restaurant