Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed the reopening of a mosque in Istanbul, formerly an ancient Byzantine Orthodox church, despite objections from Greece. Erdogan made the announcement during a meeting with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis aimed at improving bilateral relations. The converted church, known as the Kariye mosque, underwent extensive restoration and will be open to all visitors. Mitsotakis expressed dissatisfaction with the conversion, … Continue reading Erdogan confirms ancient Istanbul church converted to mosque

Amid escalating tensions globally, particularly in the Middle East, Indo-Pacific, and East-West relations, the UK and European countries are facing the prospect of major military threats. Consequently, nations are reversing peacetime policies to bolster their military capabilities. This includes ramping up defence spending and investing in new technologies and equipment. The conflict in Ukraine serves as a stark example, where Western-supplied weaponry has been crucial … Continue reading Europe is getting ready for ‘WWIII’

Recent damage to undersea internet cables serving African countries has sparked concerns over the continent’s network vulnerabilities, marking the third widespread disruption this year. Cuts to the EASSy and Seacom cables caused varying levels of internet disruption in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Mozambique, Malawi, and Madagascar. Efforts to restore connectivity are underway, with operators seeking alternative capacity from other undersea cable partners. The outage in … Continue reading Africa’s undersea internet cables CUT for third this time this year

Devastating floods in southern Brazil are worsening due to ongoing heavy rains, prompting authorities to issue warnings. The situation underscores the impact of climate change and extreme weather in Latin America, which has seen record temperatures, droughts, and heatwaves. The warming climate has contributed to a surge in diseases like dengue, with heat-related deaths rising by 140% in the last decade. In Brazil’s Rio Grande … Continue reading Brazil floods kill 143, government announces emergency spending

This summer, Paris will implement a zone-based system requiring individuals to show a pass on their phone to enter certain areas, as part of heightened security measures for the upcoming Olympic Games in July. The Pass Jeux (games pass) must be obtained through a police-run platform and will be required for access to designated zones, including the ‘grey zone’ around the River Seine where the … Continue reading Parts of Paris will be off-limits without QR code this summer

Amidst the devastation of flooding in northern Afghanistan, a video captures the rescue of three young children sitting on the roof of a mosque, covered in mud. Their baby brother, Arian, is lowered to safety by a rescuer, his tiny body wrapped in a sheet. Tragically, at least 300 people have lost their lives in the floods across multiple provinces, with hundreds more injured. The … Continue reading Children pulled from mud as hundreds die in severe flooding in Afghanistan

A large billboard collapsed during a sudden storm in Mumbai, India, killing at least eight people and injuring around 60 others. The billboard, measuring 70m by 50m, fell onto houses and a petrol station in the city’s financial district. Emergency services are conducting rescue operations, with 20 to 30 people still feared trapped. The storm caused travel disruptions, power outages, and uprooted trees. Videos and … Continue reading Eight killed and dozens injured after Mumbai billboard collapse

A curator from the American Museum of Natural History was detained in Istanbul on suspicion of attempting to smuggle spider and scorpion samples out of Turkey. Lorenzo Prendini, an arachnid expert, was held at Istanbul Airport with around 1,500 samples. He claims to have permits from the Turkish government for his research but was detained nonetheless. Turkish media reported that the police disregarded his permits … Continue reading U.S. museum curator allegedly tried to smuggle 1,500 dead spiders and scorpions out of Turkey

In Georgia’s capital, thousands protested against a controversial law on foreign influence, fearing it mirrors Kremlin tactics. Clashes erupted between masked police and demonstrators outside Parliament. Among the 20 detained were two Americans and a Russian. The bill requires entities receiving over 20% of funding from abroad to register as pursuing foreign interests, CNBC has reported. Critics fear it mirrors Russian laws stifling dissent. Despite … Continue reading U.S. sounds alarm as thousands in Georgia’s capital protest ‘Kremlin-style’ foreign influence bill

Fire experts and officials in western Canada issued warnings on Monday as an intense wildfire approached a town, driven by strong winds. The out-of-control blaze, situated 2 kilometers northwest of Fort Nelson, has prompted the evacuation of over 3,000 people since Friday. With concerns that the fire could advance into the town, emergency crews are preparing for a potential last stand. Less than 100 people … Continue reading Town prepares for possible ‘last stand’ as wildfires rage in Western Canada

In a surprise ground offensive last week, Russia launched an attack on northeastern Ukraine’s Kharkiv region, leading to intense fighting and significant damage to over 30 towns and villages, according to the local governor. The Ukrainian army acknowledged Russia’s tactical success, resulting in the evacuation of nearly 6,000 people. Russian forces claimed to have improved their position and inflicted casualties on Ukrainian troops, the AFP … Continue reading Russia rains attacks on Ukraine’s Kharkiv region after launching offensive

Four flight attendants have been arrested and charged for their involvement in a long-term scheme to smuggle millions of dollars of drug money from New York City to the Caribbean. Charlie Hernandez, Sarah Valerio Pujols, Emmanuel Torres, and Jarol Fabio were apprehended and charged with operating an unlicensed money transmission business and violating airport security regulations. Prosecutors allege that they exploited their positions as trusted … Continue reading Flight attendants arrested for smuggling drug money to Caribbean