"world-news"

Russia launched a massive missile and drone attack on Ukraine, targeting power stations and energy infrastructure while Ukraine shot down most drones. The attacks coincided with US-mediated talks aimed at ending nearly four years of war, with 8 civilians wounded.

A drone attack by Sudan’s RSF on a kindergarten in Kalogi, South Kordofan, killed 50 people, including 33 children. The attack comes amid intensified fighting with the Sudanese military, displacing thousands and raising global humanitarian concerns.

Security forces in Pakistan killed nine TTP terrorists in separate intelligence-based operations in Tank and Lakki Marwat, with weapons recovered at the sites. ISPR said the militants were involved in major attacks, amid rising terror activity since the TTP ended its ceasefire in 2022.

The death toll from a mass shooting at an illegal shebeen in Pretoria has risen to 11, including three minors. SAPS has launched a manhunt for three gunmen, while 14 survivors remain hospitalised. The incident adds to South Africa’s growing gun-violence crisis.

The European Union fined Elon Musk’s X 120 million euros (USD 140 million) for breaching the Digital Services Act. Violations included misleading blue checkmarks, incomplete ad databases, and limited access for researchers. Regulators aim to enforce stricter transparency and user protection rules.

Foxconn’s Henyang plant closure exposed the fragility of China’s industrial economy, leaving 30,000 workers displaced and commercial districts deserted. Rising costs, erratic regulations, and the US-China trade war accelerated Apple and multinational firms’ relocation to India, Vietnam, Japan, and Australia.

Oxford University Press has named “rage bait” as its Word of the Year 2025. The term describes online content deliberately designed to provoke anger and engagement, reflecting the growing awareness of digital manipulation and polarisation in modern internet culture

As Princess Aiko turns 24, her rising popularity intensifies calls to end Japan’s male-only imperial succession. Supporters fear the monarchy’s extinction as only one young male heir remains, while conservatives resist reforms despite public admiration for Aiko’s growing role and service

A long-hidden Rubens Crucifixion painting, mis-attributed for centuries and valued at only US$10,000, was authenticated by experts and sold in Versailles for US$2.3 million after scientific analysis confirmed pigments and provenance tracing back to William Bouguereau’s collection

A huge fire swept through Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court, killing 55 people and injuring many others. Over 200 remain missing. The blaze spread quickly due to renovation materials, and rescue teams are still working to control the fire and find survivors

A Dhaka court sentenced former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to 21 years in jail and her two children to five years each for alleged corruption in a government housing project. The ruling follows political upheaval and earlier serious charges against her

A Pakistani woman lost at age 10 was reunited with her family after 17 years, thanks to AI facial recognition used by the Safe City Project. Kiran, raised at the Edhi shelter in Karachi, was finally traced to her father through an old police report

A major fire broke out in a high-rise housing complex in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district, killing four people and injuring three. The blaze spread quickly through bamboo scaffolding, trapping residents as firefighters worked to control the intense flames

The IMF says Pakistan’s economic problems come mainly from corruption, weak institutions and powerful groups controlling the system. Everyday people suffer while elites benefit. The report warns that without honest accountability and major reforms, the country will stay in crisis

Brazil’s federal police arrested former President Jair Bolsonaro ahead of his 27-year prison sentence for leading a coup attempt. Bolsonaro was moved from house arrest, sparking weekend protests, while remaining a key political figure and Trump ally despite ineligibility to run

European leaders are meeting in South Africa to discuss alternatives to a US plan that Ukraine and Europe fear favours Russia. As Kyiv rejects territorial concessions, EU leaders reaffirm support, while Ukraine continues drone strikes and Russia reports widespread air-defence activity

Prime Minister Modi briefly met Italian PM Giorgia Meloni at the G20 Summit in South Africa. Their warm exchange reflected the growing friendship between India and Italy, strengthened through recent meetings, personal messages, and mutual admiration shown in public statements.

A 5.7-magnitude earthquake in Bangladesh killed 10 people and injured over 200. Sheikh Hasina expressed deep sorrow and blamed the interim government for poor response. Buildings cracked, people panicked, and several students were hurt while trying to escape

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar inaugurated Indian consulates in Yekaterinburg and Kazan, Russia, enhancing diplomatic presence, supporting trade, technology, education, and cultural ties. The consulates will benefit the Indian diaspora, students, and aim to strengthen India-Russia cooperation toward $100 billion trade by 2030

Pakistan’s judicial crisis escalates as Lahore High Court Justice Shams Mehmood Mirza resigns after the 27th Amendment establishes a Federal Constitutional Court and reduces Supreme Court powers. Resignations highlight fears of executive control, with ICJ condemning the amendment as a judicial attack