Palestinian officials report that over 52,000 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel resumed its offensive in March, ending a ceasefire with Hamas. Israel, which controls about half of Gaza and has encircled Rafah, has blocked food and medical imports for nearly two months, worsening a humanitarian crisis. Aid groups warn of imminent shortages and widespread malnutrition. Israel says its actions aim to pressure … Continue reading Death toll in Gaza rises to 52,000, Israel continues offensive

Global military spending surged by nearly 10% in 2024—the largest annual increase since the Cold War—driven by ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, according to a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Total global spending reached over $2.7 trillion, with the U.S. remaining the top spender at $997 billion. Russia’s spending jumped 38% to $149 billion, while Ukraine’s rose modestly … Continue reading Global powers boost military budgets by record percent

At least 22 people were killed and three others injured after a fire broke out at a restaurant in Liaoning, northern China, on Tuesday afternoon, according to state media. The blaze started around 12:25 p.m. local time in a multi-story building. Images from the scene showed intense flames erupting from windows and doors. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, ABC News has … Continue reading 22 people killed, 3 injured in restaurant fire in China

Four former pro-democracy lawmakers in Hong Kong—Claudia Mo, Kwok Ka-ki, Jeremy Tam, and Gary Fan—were released from prison after serving part of their sentences under the National Security Law. They had been jailed for over three years after pleading guilty to subversion for organizing an unofficial opposition primary. Their release accounts for time served since their 2021 arrests, the BBC has reported. The case was … Continue reading Hong Kong frees four pro-democracy lawmakers who completed jail terms

Three people were killed in a shooting at a hair salon in central Uppsala, Sweden, just before the city’s Walpurgis spring festival. The shooter fled on a scooter and remains at large, prompting a major police search involving helicopters and temporarily halted train services. The motive and identities of the victims are unknown, the BBC has reported. The incident comes amid growing concern over rising … Continue reading Three people killed after shooting in Sweden

Pakistani soldiers fired at Indian positions along the Kashmir border for a second night, the Indian military said Saturday, amid rising tensions after a deadly attack killed 26 people, mostly Indian tourists. India blamed Pakistan for backing the assault, which was claimed by a little-known group, Kashmir Resistance. Pakistan denies involvement. No casualties were reported in the cross-border fire. The attack, one of the worst … Continue reading Indian military says Pakistani troops fired at positions along the border in disputed Kashmir

A US Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet fell overboard from the USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea during towing operations, reportedly after the ship made a hard turn to evade fire from Yemen’s Houthi rebels. All crew are accounted for, with one sailor sustaining a minor injury after jumping from the jet before it went overboard. The $60 million aircraft has sunk, and an investigation is … Continue reading US Navy loses $60 million jet at sea after it fell overboard from aircraft carrier

Power has been mostly restored across Spain and Portugal after a massive blackout Monday disrupted daily life, halted transport, and caused chaos across the Iberian Peninsula and parts of France. While 99% of Spain and most of Portugal have electricity again, transport disruptions are expected to continue. Authorities are still investigating the cause, with Spain reporting a sudden loss of 15 gigawatts—about 60% of national … Continue reading Power mostly restored as Spain and Portugal grapple with fallout of massive outage