A 17-year-old girl died after a shark attack at Woorim Beach, Queensland, on Monday. She was bitten on the arm about 100m from shore while swimming off Bribie Island. Paramedics responded to the incident, but she succumbed to life-threatening injuries shortly after. The area, a popular surfing spot, has shark protection measures, but attacks close to shore remain rare. Authorities have not identified the shark … Continue reading Teenage girl killed in shark attack in Australia

France officially handed over its last military base in Chad to local authorities on Thursday, marking the end of its military presence in the country after Chad broke its defense cooperation agreement with Paris two months ago. This follows similar withdrawals of French forces from Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, where countries have shifted closer to Moscow. Chad’s army confirmed the transfer of the Sergent … Continue reading France hands over last military base in Chad

A 74-year-old truck driver has been trapped in a sinkhole in Japan for three days, with rescue efforts complicated by the expanding hole and leaking water and gas pipes. The sinkhole, which formed on Tuesday near Tokyo, swallowed the driver and his two-ton truck. A 30-meter ramp is being constructed to reach him, but the operation is slow due to dangerous conditions and erosion. The … Continue reading Fears grow in Japan for truck driver trapped in sinkhole for third day

Mount Taranaki, an 8,261-foot stratovolcano in New Zealand, has been recognized as a legal person, granting it the rights, duties, and responsibilities of an individual. Known as Taranaki Maunga in Māori, the mountain is now considered a “living and indivisible whole,” including its physical and spiritual elements. This move, following similar legal recognitions of a sacred forest and a river, transfers ownership from the government … Continue reading New Zealand’s Mount Taranaki is now legally a person

India now has the world’s largest tiger population, with over 3,600 tigers, making up 75% of the global total, despite having the highest human density and only 18% of the world’s tiger habitat. The population has doubled in just over a decade, thanks to conservation efforts that include protecting tigers from poaching, securing prey, and reducing human-wildlife conflict. Tigers now inhabit 138,200 sq km of … Continue reading India’s tiger population doubles in a decade

China is constructing a massive military command center near Beijing, 10 times the size of the Pentagon, according to US intelligence. The 1,500-acre site, known as “Beijing Military City,” is designed to house reinforced bunkers for China’s leadership in case of nuclear war. Satellite images suggest that construction began in mid-2024, coinciding with preparations for the People’s Liberation Army’s centenary in 2027. Experts believe the … Continue reading China building world’s largest military command center

Dutch police arrested three men after a four-day hunt for suspects in the explosive robbery of ancient Romanian artifacts from the Drents Museum. The stolen treasures, including the 2,500-year-old golden Helmet of Cotofenesti and three gold bracelets from 50 BC, were on loan from Romania’s National History Museum. The heist has led to the dismissal of the Romanian museum’s director and angered officials. While the … Continue reading Three arrested after ancient Romanian artifacts stolen from Dutch museum

More than 20 Americans are missing in action in Ukraine, with rising casualties among foreign volunteers filling gaps in Ukraine’s defenses, CNN reports. At least five American fighters have been killed in the past six months, with some bodies still unrecovered. Two were repatriated from Russian-held territory after negotiations. Survivors describe intense battles, poor leadership, and devastating losses. Families of the missing struggle with grief, … Continue reading American fighters are dying in Ukraine in growing numbers

Australian police foiled a planned antisemitic attack after discovering a caravan with explosives in Dural, northwest of Sydney, on Jan. 19. Authorities called it a terrorist plot, with arrests made but details undisclosed. Over 100 officers are investigating under a joint counter-terrorism operation. The incident comes amid a rise in antisemitic attacks in Australia since the Israel-Gaza war began in late 2023, NBC News has … Continue reading Police catch caravan laden with explosives outside synagogue in Australia

Salwan Momika, the Iraqi Christian who sparked outrage in 2023 by burning Qurans in Sweden, was shot dead in Sodertalje. His death comes just before a court ruling on whether he was guilty of inciting ethnic hatred, which has now been postponed to February 3. Police confirmed the shooting occurred indoors, and Momika was taken to the hospital but did not survive, NDTV has reported. … Continue reading Man Who Burnt Quran In 2023 Sparking Huge Protests Shot Dead In Sweden

Ukraine launched a massive drone attack on Russian energy infrastructure, including an attempted strike on the Smolensk nuclear power plant, which was intercepted, according to Russian officials. At least 100 drones targeted power and oil facilities across western Russia, causing a fire at an oil refinery. Russia also launched overnight drone strikes on Ukraine, hitting a port in Odesa and causing debris to fall near … Continue reading Russia claims nuclear plant targeted during massive Ukrainian drone attack

Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi urged young people to enlist in the army as M23 rebels, backed by 4,000 Rwandan troops, advanced deeper into eastern Congo, capturing parts of Goma and South Kivu. A regional summit called for an immediate ceasefire and talks, but Tshisekedi was absent. Meanwhile, South African peacekeepers were killed, prompting President Cyril Ramaphosa to accuse Rwanda, leading Rwandan President Paul Kagame to … Continue reading Congo’s leader calls for massive military mobilization as Rwanda-backed rebels expand their control

Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso have formally withdrawn from ECOWAS, completing a process that began in January 2024 after the bloc demanded Niger restore democratic rule. The military-led governments accuse ECOWAS of serving French interests and have turned to Russia for support. The three nations have formed their own security alliance, the Alliance of Sahel States, amid ongoing conflicts with armed groups linked to al-Qaeda … Continue reading Military governments lead West African trio out of ECOWAS regional bloc

An Air Busan Airbus A321 caught fire on the runway at Gimhae International Airport while preparing for departure to Hong Kong. All 169 passengers and seven crew were evacuated, with three suffering minor injuries. The fire reportedly started in the tail section, causing visible damage to the fuselage. The incident comes a month after South Korea’s deadliest recent air disaster, The Guardian has reported. Airbus … Continue reading Passengers and crew evacuated as plane catches fire on South Korean runway

A crowd crush at India’s Maha Kumbh Mela festival in Prayagraj early Wednesday left multiple people dead and at least 20 injured as a barrier near the river broke amid massive crowds. Reports indicate at least 14 bodies were taken to a hospital, though officials have not confirmed the toll. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences and is in contact with state authorities. The tragedy … Continue reading Multiple people killed in crowd crush at world’s largest religious festival

French President Emmanuel Macron’s plan to replace six stained-glass windows in Notre Dame with contemporary designs has sparked backlash. Critics, including preservationists and far-right politicians, argue that the 19th-century windows are legally protected and integral to the cathedral’s aesthetic harmony. The move is seen as Macron’s attempt to leave a legacy akin to past presidents who reshaped Paris with glass structures. Despite opposition—including a unanimous … Continue reading France Furious Over Stained-Glass Windows in Notre Dame

French President Emmanuel Macron returned to the Louvre to address concerns after a leaked memo revealed the museum’s deteriorating condition. He announced a major renovation, including a separate space for the “Mona Lisa,” a new entrance near the Seine, and underground rooms. The project, potentially costing hundreds of millions of euros, may be funded by increasing non-EU visitor prices and raising annual attendance to 12 … Continue reading Italy calls for return of Mona Lisa after Louvre’s dire conditions raise alarm

The ancient Cotofenesti helmet, a 2,500-year-old Romanian treasure, was stolen from the Drents Museum in the Netherlands during the final weekend of its exhibition. Thieves also took three golden wristbands, leaving authorities devastated. The helmet, a revered symbol of Romania’s Dacia civilization, is unsellable due to its fame, raising fears it could be melted for its gold, worth far less than its cultural value. Security … Continue reading Theft in Netherlands of ancient golden helmet leaves Romania distraught

Storm Éowyn caused “unprecedented” damage in Ireland, leaving over 150,000 without power and 74,000 without water. Record winds of 183 km/h (114 mph) were recorded in County Galway, the hardest-hit area. Repairs to electricity and water services are ongoing, with power restoration expected for most by Friday, the BBC has reported. Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has called for an urgent parliamentary session to … Continue reading More than 150,000 still without power in Ireland after Storm Éowyn

Denmark’s Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen highlighted growing security and defense challenges in the Arctic and North Atlantic, as global warming intensifies competition for Greenland’s vast natural resources. With Russia and China expanding Arctic activities, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen plans visits to Berlin, Paris, and Brussels to strengthen European unity and address geopolitical shifts. Frederiksen emphasized the need for allied cooperation amid war in … Continue reading Denmark launches $2 billion Arctic security plan, seeks EU unity on Greenland

Protesters in Kinshasa attacked foreign embassies, including those of Rwanda, France, and Belgium, demanding action against the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels advancing into Goma, a major city in eastern Congo. Police used teargas as demonstrators looted and set fires. Goma, a city of 2 million and a humanitarian hub, is now a conflict zone with heavy fighting, artillery fire, and mass displacement of civilians. Aid efforts … Continue reading Demonstrators attack foreign embassies in Congo’s capital to protest rebels’ advance in the east

A massive sinkhole, measuring 32 feet wide and 16 feet deep, swallowed a truck at a busy intersection in Yashio, Japan, on Tuesday. Believed to be caused by a sewer pipe crack in the Nakagawa River Basin, the collapse trapped the driver, whose seat filled with sand and mud. Rescue teams worked for hours, pumping air into the hole to sustain the driver, though communication … Continue reading Swimming pool-sized sinkhole swallows truck in Japan, trapping driver inside

Swedish prosecutors have launched an investigation into suspected sabotage after an underwater fiber optic cable connecting Latvia and Sweden was damaged. A Malta-flagged vessel, Vezhen, anchored near Karlskrona, has been detained as part of the inquiry. The cable rupture disrupted data transmission but alternative routes maintained operations. Latvian and Swedish authorities, along with NATO, are collaborating on the investigation amid concerns of potential Russian involvement, the … Continue reading Sweden seizes vessel suspected of ‘sabotage’ after undersea data cable rupture in Baltic Sea

Colombia has announced a $700,000 reward for information on four ELN leaders as violence intensifies in the coca-growing Catatumbo region. Clashes between the ELN and FARC dissidents have left 80 dead and 40,000 displaced. President Gustavo Petro declared emergency measures and suspended peace talks with the ELN, holding them responsible for the violence, which includes attacks on civilians, the Associated Press has reported. The military … Continue reading Colombia offers $700,000 reward for information on ELN rebel leaders

The border between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) near Goma closed after M23 rebels, reportedly backed by Rwanda, entered the city, taking control of the airport and state radio. The conflict has caused widespread fear, displacement, and skyrocketing food prices. Thousands of prisoners escaped, looting ensued, and power outages left Goma in darkness. UN representatives report worsening conditions as 400,000 people have … Continue reading Congo-Rwanda border shut as M23 rebels claim Goma capture