GLOBAL NEWS & INSIGHTS

A series of earthquakes struck Afghanistan on Thursday, deepening the country’s ongoing humanitarian crisis. The National Centre for Seismology (NCS) reported a magnitude 5.8 quake late at night, with its epicenter at a depth of 160 km, followed by an earlier tremor of magnitude 4.8 in the morning. Both quakes rattled eastern Afghanistan, already devastated by recent floods.

At least two children, aged 8 and 10, were killed and 17 others injured in a mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis on Wednesday. Police said the gunman, armed with a rifle, shotgun, and pistol, fired dozens of rounds through the windows of Annunciation Catholic Church during Mass before taking his own life. Authorities described the attack as a “deliberate act of violence” and are investigating the shooter’s motive.

At least eight people, including four journalists, were killed on Monday in a strike on Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza. Among the victims was Mariam Dagga, 33, a freelancer for the Associated Press and other outlets, who had been reporting on the worsening humanitarian crisis, including children dying of starvation despite no prior health conditions. Al Jazeera confirmed the death of its journalist Mohammed Salam, while Reuters reported that its contractor Hussam al-Masri w

Six months after his humiliating Oval Office visit, Volodymyr Zelenskyy returns to Washington under dramatically different circumstances. Then, Donald Trump dismissed him with a warning to “come back when ready for peace.” Now, flanked by European leaders, the Ukrainian president faces a far more delicate test: making his case without triggering another rupture.

Afghanistan experienced another earthquake today, as a 4.2-magnitude tremor struck at a depth of 47 km, according to the National Center for Seismology (NCS). The quake occurred at 12:19 IST, with coordinates 36.54 N and 71.52 E. This follows a series of recent seismic events in the region: on August 2, a 5.5-magnitude quake hit at 87 km depth, and on July 29, a shallow 4.8-magnitude quake occurred at just 10 km depth, increasing the risk of aftershocks.

One of the ten Americans released from Venezuela in a recent prisoner swap was a convicted killer, Dahud Hanid Ortiz, officials from Spain and Venezuela confirmed. Ortiz, 54, was found guilty of murdering three people in a Madrid law office in 2016. Seeking a specific lawyer who wasn’t present, he fatally stabbed two female staffers and a client. Arrested in Venezuela two years later, Ortiz was never extradited to Spain and was sentenced there on January 9, 2024.

In a rare incident on Sunday morning, 24 people were injured during a bee attack in Aurillac, France, with three initially in critical condition. According to local authorities, the attack lasted around 30 minutes, stinging pedestrians and triggering panic across the town centre. Emergency responders swiftly arrived to treat victims, and police established a safety perimeter until the bees calmed.

Measles is surging across the U.S. in 2025, with nearly 1,200 cases in 34 states—the highest since 2019. Texas leads the outbreak, with 744 cases across 35 counties, particularly in low-vaccinated areas like Gaines County. Two children have died, and nearly 100 have been hospitalized. The virus spread east into New Mexico (81 cases), Kansas (72–76 cases), and North Dakota (34 cases), which now has the highest per-capita rate. Other states like Ohio, Oklahoma, and Montana have

In the wake of the tragic Air India crash on June 12 that claimed nearly 260 lives, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has formed a high-level, multi-disciplinary committee to ensure such disasters do not recur. Chaired by the Union Home Secretary, the panel has a three-month deadline to submit a comprehensive report.

A massive tornado was spotted near Sherman, Texas, on Sunday evening, triggering widespread concern as severe weather warnings swept across the state. Storm chasers and residents shared dramatic videos of the twister and intense thunderstorms on social media. Wind speeds reached up to 90 mph, with forecasters confirming a strong tornado just north of Sherman, near Dallas.

China has publicly revealed details about its powerful DF-5B intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) for the first time, surprising many due to the country’s traditionally secretive nuclear stance.

As climate change intensifies, the risk of fungal infections is quietly rising—led by Aspergillus, a once-contained mold now expanding into new territories.

The FBI has classified a deadly shooting outside a Jewish museum in Washington, D.C. as an act of terrorism and hate crime.

Russian President Vladimir Putin made an unannounced visit to the city of Kurchatov in Kursk on Tuesday, marking his first trip to the region since Moscow claimed full control after repelling a rare Ukrainian incursion.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel will not halt its war in Gaza, despite talks on a potential ceasefire. This comes after airstrikes on two Gaza hospitals, killing at least eight people.

In a surprise move, Donald Trump announced plans to resurrect Alcatraz, the notorious prison island off San Francisco, citing its symbolic power for “law and order.” The directive, posted on Truth Social, orders federal agencies to reopen and expand the facility to house “America’s most ruthless and violent offenders.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin has accepted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s invitation to visit India later this year for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit, the Kremlin confirmed following a phone conversation between the two leaders.

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu set a new world record by holding a marathon press conference for nearly 15 hours, his office confirmed on Sunday. The session, which began at 10:00 am (0500 GMT) on Saturday, lasted 14 hours and 54 minutes with brief pauses for prayers.

China’s Ministry of Commerce announced on Friday that it is assessing the situation after multiple recent U.S. attempts to initiate tariff discussions, Xinhua reported.

Israel launched an airstrike early Friday near Syria’s presidential palace in Damascus, following escalating violence between Syrian government forces and Druze fighters. The strike, the second Israeli attack on Syrian territory this week

U.S. President Donald Trump’s steep tariffs on Chinese imports—reaching up to 145%—are now visibly impacting China’s economy, already weakened by post-pandemic struggles and a lingering property crisis.

In a stunning election comeback, Mark Carney's Liberal Party won Canada’s federal election on Monday, aided by U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats to annex Canada and a trade war that spurred nationalism.

Canadians head to the polls Monday amid high tensions, following a fatal car ramming attack Saturday in Vancouver that briefly suspended election campaigning. Police ruled out terrorism

U.S. President Donald Trump, after meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Rome at Pope Francis' funeral, expressed deep frustration with Russia’s ongoing attacks on Ukraine.

Former President Donald Trump attended the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday, joining over 50 world leaders at the Vatican. Trump, accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump, was seated near French President Emmanuel Macron. Despite past disagreements with the Pope on immigration and climate change

On World Malaria Day, it’s vital to distinguish malaria from other mosquito-borne diseases like dengue, chikungunya, and Zika. While all are transmitted by mosquitoes, malaria is caused by Plasmodium parasites via Anopheles mosquitoes, which bite at night. In contrast, diseases like dengue

A deadly attack by suspected jihadist insurgents claimed the lives of 54 soldiers in northern Benin’s W National Park on April 17, according to a government update. Initially, only eight deaths were reported

Former U.S. President Donald Trump hinted that the 145% tariffs on Chinese imports, which he had previously imposed, are likely to be reduced. Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump acknowledged the unusually high rate, stating

Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires and ordained in 1969, passed away on Monday at the age of 88. Following Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation in 2013, Bergoglio was elected the 266th Pope and chose the name Francis in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi.

Pope Francis, who passed away at 88, led the Catholic Church from 2013 with a reformist zeal that inspired many and challenged traditionalists. Known for his compassion-first approach, he reshaped Church views on abortion,

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed Saturday that the war in Gaza will continue until Hamas is destroyed, hostages are freed, and the territory no longer poses a threat.

Italy and the United States issued a joint statement on Friday calling for a "non-discriminatory" approach to taxing digital services, signaling a possible shift in Italy’s stance on a contentious levy targeting U.S. tech giants like Google

Kevin Patel, 28, was fatally shot Wednesday night in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood, near West Lill Avenue around 9:20 p.m., according to police. Officers found him with a gunshot wound to the chest

Germany is facing a significant drought due to unusually low rainfall, raising concerns over forest fires and poor harvests. Between February 1 and April 13, only 40 litres of rain per square metre fell—Germany’s lowest

New U.S. tariffs proposed under President Donald Trump could cost American semiconductor equipment makers over $1 billion annually, according to industry estimates recently shared with lawmakers and officials in Washington. Major players like Applied Materials

French President Emmanuel Macron told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday that the suffering of Gaza’s civilian population must end and emphasized that only a ceasefire could lead to the release of remaining Israeli hostages.

Davis Darvish, a Santa Monica resident, was arrested on Saturday after allegedly making a threat while speaking to security at the Agua Caliente Casino, located about 17 miles from the Coachella music festival site.

A foot-and-mouth disease outbreak is disrupting Central Europe, prompting mass culling and border closures between Hungary,

Last month, former U.S. President Donald Trump announced the approval of the F-47, a next-generation fighter aircraft he called the world’s “first sixth-generation fighter jet.” Trump assigned Boeing to lead the development and claimed no other country comes close in capability.

Kendall Jenner has once more solidified her position as a fashion powerhouse, captivating audiences with a daring and visually stunning phot

Amid ongoing trade tensions between the UK and US, the British government has announced a major breakthrough: Universal will build Europe’s

Student visas of several international students across major U.S. universities, including Harvard, Tufts, and Stanford, are being quietly re

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te addressed the recent 32% U.S. tariff on Taiwanese imports, outlining a five-pronged strategy to mitigate its i

Pope Francis made a powerful return to the public eye on Sunday, marking his first appearance since being hospitalized for double pneumonia.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to critique U.S. President Donald Trump’s newly announced tariffs while acknowledging why his eco

Iran has ruled out direct talks with the U.S., dismissing them as pointless due to Washington’s threats and mixed messages. Foreign Minister

Magnus Carlsen, the World No. 1 in chess, has once again made history—this time by hosting the largest virtual chess match ever recorded.

One of the most harrowing chapters of the war has emerged: Russia reportedly plans to send 60,000 kidnapped Ukrainian children to remote cam

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been making repeated visits to the White House and Mar-a-Lago, urging President Donald Trump to settle a major

South Korea’s Constitutional Court has officially removed President Yoon Suk Yeol from office, upholding his impeachment in a unanimous deci