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At least 56 people have lost their lives following two coordinated assaults allegedly carried out by suspected nomadic herders in central Nigeria's Benue State earlier this week. The governor's office issued a sharp update to its initial report of 17 fatalities on Saturday. According to a government spokesperson, the death toll may increase as emergency crews continue their search and recovery operations. Police representative Anene Sewuese Catherine stated on Friday that “a large

Islamabad, Pakistan – Inside the vast expanse of Islamabad’s Jinnah Convention Centre, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised overseas Pakistanis, calling them the “nation’s pride” and applauding their “remarkable contributions” to their homeland despite living abroad. But Sharif didn’t stop at mere praise. Addressing over a thousand expatriates during the Overseas Pakistanis Convention on April 15, he unveiled a series of initiatives aimed at supporting the diaspora in practical ways.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is reportedly open to a “lasting peace” agreement with Ukraine, according to United States special envoy Steve Witkoff. Witkoff, who represents President Donald Trump, shared the remarks during a TV interview on Monday evening, following what he described as “significant” discussions with Putin in Saint Petersburg the previous week. While optimism was expressed, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov cautioned that negotiating the details of any deal remains

Hungary has officially declared its decision to depart from the International Criminal Court (ICC), just ahead of Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s meeting with Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu, who is currently facing an ICC-issued arrest warrant. “Hungary will leave the International Criminal Court. The government will initiate the formal exit process on Thursday, following constitutional and international legal protocols,” wrote Gergely Gulyas, Orban’s chief of staff, in a Facebook post on

Here’s an overview of the major developments from Sunday, March 23. Fighting • A large-scale drone offensive against Kyiv led to the deaths of at least three individuals, one of them a five-year-old child, and injured numerous others. According to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko, the assault caused fires in several high-rise residential buildings. Emergency crews responded across multiple neighborhoods to battle the resulting blazes. At least three individuals, including a young child, were

Over a dozen European leaders will convene in London on Sunday to deliberate on enhancing joint security efforts and reinforcing unified backing for Ukraine. This gathering comes in the wake of a sharp disagreement between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and former U.S. President Donald Trump during a high-profile meeting at the White House on Friday. The main focus for European officials will be on extending military aid and intensifying economic sanctions against Russia, aiming to

Kyiv, Ukraine – In an unexpected shift, some Russian military units on Ukraine’s eastern front have begun using donkeys to transport supplies and ammunition, according to Russian soldiers and pro-war bloggers. Retired Russian Lieutenant General Viktor Sobolev reportedly defended the practice, calling it “standard procedure.” Recommended Stories UN: Russia increasing executions of Ukrainian prisoners Trump: Ukraine might belong to Russia in the future Trump’s proposed peace plan: No NATO seat,

Here’s the latest update for Monday, February 10: Conflict • Russia’s Defence Ministry reported that its forces intercepted and destroyed 35 Ukrainian drones overnight, with the majority being neutralized over the Kursk region, which borders Ukraine. • Ukraine’s armed forces claimed they shot down 70 of the 151 Russian drones launched overnight. Additionally, they reported that 74 failed to reach their intended targets. • Kyiv's Mayor, Vitali Klitschko, confirmed a drone attack on the

Here’s the latest update for Saturday, February 8: Military Developments • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that North Korean troops have returned to the battlefield in Russia’s Kursk region, after earlier reports suggested Moscow had withdrawn them due to severe losses. "New offensives are underway in the Kursk region operational areas... Russian forces and North Korean soldiers have been redeployed," Zelenskyy stated during his Friday evening address. He added that a

A temporary lull in the powerful winds that have been driving deadly wildfires in and around Los Angeles has offered firefighters a crucial window to gain ground against the infernos, which have devastated multiple areas in the United States' second-largest city. Authorities have confirmed that at least 11 lives have been lost, with over 10,000 structures reduced to ruins across the city. According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, commonly referred to as Cal

Economic growth across the UK faces potential hurdles due to a significant “skills gap” between regions, with London and the south-east drawing in a disproportionate share of highly educated workers, according to a new report by the Learning and Work Institute. The study highlights that the divide between regions with high and low levels of skills in the UK is more pronounced than in many comparable nations, and this gap is predicted to increase further. If current patterns persist, the report

The people of Chad are casting their votes in parliamentary, regional, and municipal elections, marking the first such event in over ten years. This development is part of the government’s efforts, transitioning from military rule to civilian leadership, to navigate the country toward democracy. However, opposition parties remain doubtful about the intent and fairness of the process. Officials in the capital, N’Djamena, describe this voting exercise on Sunday as the conclusion of a three-year

Russian authorities have detained a suspect in connection with the bombing that claimed the lives of a prominent general and his aide in Moscow. In a statement issued Wednesday, the Investigative Committee revealed that a man from Uzbekistan had been apprehended as the primary suspect in the fatal attack that occurred on Tuesday morning. Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov and his assistant, Ilya Polikarpov, were both killed in the incident. The suspect, aged 29, reportedly admitted during

Emerging evidence indicates that Russia significantly escalated its attacks on Ukraine ahead of the United States election on November 5. This may have been an attempt to bolster isolationist sentiments aligned with Donald Trump’s policies. As Trump’s January 20 inauguration approaches, Russia seems intent on continuing this strategy. “November marked the fifth consecutive month of increased Russian troop losses,” noted Britain’s Ministry of Defence, with Ukraine estimating 45,680 Russian

Despite financial pressures, travelers are still prioritizing their holidays, choosing cost-effective destinations like Egypt, Bulgaria, and Tunisia over pricier traditional hotspots, according to Europe's leading package holiday operator. Tui has observed that budget-conscious travelers, unable to book vacations in popular locations like Spain, are opting for other destinations. Although inflationary pressures have eased, Tui reported that the average holiday prices have stabilized but

South Western Railway is set to become the first major train operator to be nationalised under the Labour government, ministers have revealed. As one of the country’s largest commuter rail services, operating from London Waterloo, SWR is scheduled to return to public ownership in May. The service is currently managed through a partnership between First Group and Hong Kong-based rail operator MTR. This move signals a more measured approach to renationalisation under the new transport secretary,

Here’s the status as of Monday, November 25: Conflict Updates • Overnight, Russian air defenses intercepted and destroyed seven Ukrainian missiles targeting the Kursk region, according to a statement by Kursk regional governor Alexei Smirnov on Telegram. • Debris from downed Ukrainian drones caused a fire at an industrial site in Kaluga, Russia, as per regional governor Vladislav Shapsha. The fire caused no injuries, and three drones were reportedly intercepted. • Russian forces captured a

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has entered another intense phase, with tensions reaching new heights. This week, Ukraine launched US- and UK-manufactured missiles into Russian territory, while Russia’s Kremlin has taken steps to ease restrictions on the deployment of nuclear weapons. What lies ahead for this ongoing war? In this episode: • Yulia Shapovalova, Correspondent for Al Jazeera Episode Contributors: This episode was crafted by Ashish Malhotra, Sonia Bhagat, and Chloe K. Li,

A recent report has highlighted a significant rise in the number of deaths and injuries caused by landmines and explosive remnants of war in 2023. According to the annual report from the Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor, released on Wednesday, over 5,700 casualties were recorded last year. Myanmar reported the highest casualty count, with substantial numbers also reported in Syria, Afghanistan, and Ukraine. The global figure represents an increase of about 1,000 cases compared to the

New findings from the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) reveal that recent mass coral bleaching events, coupled with two cyclones and significant flooding, have caused “substantial coral mortality” in parts of the Great Barrier Reef. Between August and October, researchers conducted underwater surveys across 19 reefs spanning from Lizard Island to Cardwell. In 12 of these reefs, coral mortality rates reached as high as 72 percent, the data confirmed on Tuesday. One particularly