Israel has entered a heightened state of national alert following overnight U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, with the government rolling out emergency measures and sealing its airspace in anticipation of possible retaliation. In a formal statement, Israel’s Ministry of Defence announced that civil defence policies had been immediately updated after a high-level security assessment. “Effective today, the country is operating under essential-activity-only protocols,” the statement read. The new measures…

The United States has launched targeted airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure in what President Donald Trump hailed as a “very successful attack,” marking a dramatic escalation in a conflict that has already claimed hundreds of lives across the region. The strikes, carried out late Saturday, targeted three of Iran’s key nuclear sites — Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan — with Trump confirming that Fordow was hit with a “full payload of…

In Brazil, at least eight people have died and several others have been injured after a hot-air balloon carrying over 20 passengers caught fire mid-air and crashed in the southern state of Santa Catarina on Saturday morning.

Pakistan has announced plans to recommend U.S. President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, citing his role in de-escalating a recent armed conflict between nuclear rivals India and Pakistan. The announcement, made Saturday, praised the U.S president for his “strategic foresight and stellar statesmanship,” with Pakistani officials crediting his diplomatic intervention for halting a four-day exchange of hostilities earlier this year. A government statement called the ceasefire a “testament…

Two Nigerian communities, Bille and Ogale, are set to take oil giant Shell and its Nigerian-based subsidiary, now known as Renaissance Africa Energy Company, to trial in the UK High Court in 2027 over long-standing oil pollution claims.

A record number of children were subjected to violence in armed conflict zones in 2024, according to a harrowing new report by the United Nations. The annual Children and Armed Conflict report, presented to the UN Security Council, revealed a 25% rise in grave violations against children, with 22,495 affected by killings, injuries, recruitment, or the denial of humanitarian aid. The total number of verified violations, including some committed in…

Teachers across Hong Kong have reportedly been warned to avoid participating in U.S. Independence Day celebrations, amid growing concerns about breaching China’s sweeping national security laws. Educators say the warning stems from fears that attending such events could be interpreted as unpatriotic or even unlawful. A text message allegedly sent by the principal of a local school and shared on Edu Lancet, a Facebook page run by former Hong Kong…

U.S. President Donald Trump says he will decide within two weeks whether Washington will be involved in the Israel-Iran conflict, backing Israel’s military campaign against Iran, citing a “substantial” possibility that diplomatic talks could still take place. Amid mounting pressure over his administration’s response to the escalating conflict, Trump’s decision to delay any immediate action opens a potential window for negotiations with Tehran. “Based on the fact that there’s a…

As the Iran-Israel air war intensifies, global tensions are reaching a boiling point—and the world may be inching toward a broader confrontation. Now, with U.S. pressure mounting and China deploying mysterious cargo flights to Iran, concerns are growing that Beijing may be edging closer to direct conflict with Washington. Amid the escalating crisis,  U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a hardlines demand for Iran’s “unconditional surrender,” amplifying fears that American…

U.S. President Donald Trump is set to issue a fresh 90-day extension for TikTok to secure a non-Chinese buyer, the White House announced Tuesday, marking the third delay in enforcing a looming ban on the popular social media platform. The original deadline, set under a federal law mandating the sale or restriction of TikTok over national security concerns, was due to take effect just a day before Trump’s January inauguration.…

The administration revoked Harvard’s authorisation to enrol new international students.

A powerful volcanic eruption from Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki in eastern Indonesia has forced dozens of flight cancellations to and from Bali, as the country raises its disaster alert to the highest level. The 1,584-metre twin-peaked volcano, located on the island of Flores east of Bali, erupted dramatically at 5:35 p.m. local time on Tuesday. According to Indonesia’s volcanology agency, the eruption sent a thick grey ash column soaring approximately 10,000…