World

Activists report that the death toll from Iran’s nationwide protests has surpassed 2,000, marking one of the deadliest episodes of unrest since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The Human Rights Activists News Agency said most victims were protesters, with children among the dead.

Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 reforms have opened new avenues for women in diplomacy, and India has responded by appointing women diplomats to key roles in the Gulf. Sadaf Chaudhary, a 2021 batch IFS officer, now heads the Haj section in Jeddah, managing arrangements for 1.75 lakh Indian pilgrims annually.

Nationwide protests over Iran’s collapsing economy have triggered a deadly state response, internet blackouts and fresh tensions with the United States

Pope Leo XIV met Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel laureate Maria Corina Machado at the Vatican, where she sought his intervention for the release of political prisoners. The meeting comes amid heightened international concern over Venezuela’s political crisis

A US federal court ordered immigration authorities to facilitate the return of an Indian national deported in violation of a court stay, ruling the removal unlawful and a breach of due process and judicial authority.

A rare Himalayan vulture was rescued in a dehydrated and exhausted state from a Singapore highway and is undergoing rehabilitation. Wildlife experts hope to release the near-threatened migratory bird once it fully recovers.

The Trump administration has revoked over 100,000 visas in under a year, a record increase driven by enhanced screening and security measures. The move targets foreign nationals linked to crimes amid broader debates on immigration and border control.

Venezuela’s turmoil is a reminder that foreign policy is about steering one’s own ship while navigating global storms

About 15,000 nurses struck at three New York City hospitals over staffing, safety, and contract issues. Hospitals hired temporary staff to cover patients, while city officials urged both sides to negotiate amid a severe flu season.

At least four people, including a 13-year-old, were killed and six others injured when a jeep fell off a hilly road in Nepal’s Sudurpashchim province. The injured were hospitalised, and police have begun an investigation.

US President Donald Trump said he may keep ExxonMobil out of Venezuela after the company’s CEO termed conditions there uninvestable. Trump made the remarks after a White House meeting with oil executives to discuss plans for Venezuelan oil reserves

US-based astronomer Shrinivas Kulkarni has received the Royal Astronomical Society’s Gold Medal for his groundbreaking work in time-domain astronomy. The Caltech professor is known for discovering cosmic events and building powerful instruments to study the changing night sky.

President Donald Trump said Iran has reached out to negotiate after he threatened military action, as a violent crackdown on protests continues. A rights group says hundreds have been killed, while Iran claims the situation is under control.

Malaysia and Indonesia have blocked Elon Musk’s Grok chatbot after authorities said it was used to create non-consensual sexual images. Regulators said existing safeguards failed to prevent AI-generated fake pornography, especially involving women and children.

Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to discuss recovery efforts after Cyclone Ditwah, which killed over 600 people. China is among several countries assisting Sri Lanka’s reconstruction and rehabilitation process.

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will host South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in Nara for a key summit aimed at improving ties, managing China’s growing influence and addressing regional security challenges.

US President Donald Trump shared a digitally altered image showing him as “Acting President of Venezuela” amid comments on improving ties with Venezuelan leadership, oil shipments and regional diplomacy. The image is not based on any official appointment.

At least 544 people have been killed in Iran’s crackdown on nationwide protests, activists said, as Tehran warned the US and Israel of military retaliation if Washington intervenes, amid growing international concern over the escalating unrest

President Donald Trump said the US will acquire Greenland to prevent Russia or China from gaining control of the strategic Arctic territory, insisting ownership is essential for long-term security and downplaying concerns over NATO or Denmark’s response.

Senior BJP leader Ram Madhav said Bangladesh’s political instability is a concern for India but likely temporary, expressing hope that elections will restore accountability, curb minority attacks and help normalise bilateral ties through engagement with an elected government

According to one estimate, Grok generated one non-consensual sexual image every minute. Alarmingly, Grok makes such content easier to produce and customise

World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka defended her Brisbane International crown by beating Marta Kostyuk 6-4, 6-3. The Belarusian claimed her 22nd career WTA title and fifth in Australia, becoming one of only three women to defend the season-opening WTA 500 event

Virat Kohli scored 93 and Shubman Gill hit 56 as India defeated New Zealand by four wickets in the opening ODI at Vadodara. Kohli became the quickest to 28,000 international runs, while Kyle Jamieson’s four wickets kept the visitors in the contest

Afghan journalist Ubaidullah Ahmadi has been detained in Islamabad as Pakistan intensifies checks on undocumented migrants. Rights groups warn that detained Afghan journalists face arrest and deportation, which could endanger their lives if forced to return home.