Saturday, 25 Oct, 2025

International

Estonia seeks Nato talks after Russian jets breach airspace

Estonia has called for urgent Nato consultations after three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered its airspace for 12 minutes on Friday over the Gulf of Finland, according to Tallinn. Nato confirmed the incident, calling it “yet another example of reckless Russian behaviour”

Trump slaps $100K annual fee on H-1B visas, offers $1m 'Gold Card'

United States President Donald Trump has signed a sweeping proclamation that imposes a $100,000 annual fee on companies seeking to sponsor H-1B visas for foreign skilled workers. The move, announced Friday, marks a sharp escalation in his administration’s ongoing efforts to reshape

Portugal to recognise Palestinian state ahead of UN summit

Portugal has joined a growing number of Western nations, including Australia, Canada, France, and the United Kingdom, in pledging formal recognition of a Palestinian state.  The announcement was made on Friday by the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, confirming that the

Israel batters Gaza City with ‘unprecedented force’ as exodus grows

Israeli forces are carrying out some of the most intense bombardments Gaza City has seen in two years of conflict, according to eyewitnesses, as the military advances in its campaign to take control of the enclave’s most densely populated urban area. On Friday, Avichay Adraee,

Thousands protest in London against Trump’s second UK state visit

Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of London on Wednesday to protest US President Donald Trump’s second state visit to the UK, gathering in Parliament Square in a show of dissent against his politics and policies. Organised by the Stop Trump Coalition — an

King and Trump celebrate UK-US ties in Windsor state banquet

King Charles praised President Donald Trump’s personal dedication to global peace efforts and urged continued US support for Ukraine during a state banquet at Windsor Castle on Wednesday evening. The monarch, addressing 160 guests at the formal dinner, highlighted the

Australia sets 62% emissions cut by 2035 amid climate warnings

Australia has announced a significant increase in its emissions reduction target, pledging to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 62% below 2005 levels by 2035—a substantial rise from its previous 2030 goal of 43%. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese unveiled the new commitment

Families of Air India crash victims sue Boeing and Honeywell 

The families of four victims killed in the Air India Flight 171 crash have filed a lawsuit in the United States against aerospace giants Boeing and Honeywell, accusing them of negligence and knowingly allowing a fatal design flaw to go unaddressed. The suit, filed on Tuesday and

Trump to meet King Charles at Windsor Castle during 2nd state visit

US President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet King Charles at Windsor Castle on the first full day of his state visit to the United Kingdom. Trump arrived in London on Monday night and described the upcoming engagements as “a big day.” He and First Lady Melania Trump spent

At least 50 Sudanese refugees dead after boat fire off Libyan coast

At least 50 people have died after a vessel carrying 75 Sudanese refugees caught fire near the Libyan coast on Sunday, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) confirmed on Tuesday.  The UN migration agency said it has provided medical assistance to 24 survivors of the

India joins Russia-Belarus drills amid nuclear rehearsals

Indian armed forces participated in the Russian-led Zapad-2025 military exercises, Russian state agency TASS reported Tuesday, underscoring Moscow’s continued military ties with New Delhi even as India’s relationship with the United States remains under strain following

Thousands flee as Israel intensifies bombardment of Gaza City 

Gaza City has been subjected to the most intense Israeli bombardment in two years of war, forcing thousands of Palestinians to flee in desperation under relentless shelling and gunfire.  United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the latest escalation as

Israel intensifies Gaza strikes amid reports of ground offensive

Israel’s Defence Minister has declared “Gaza is burning” as Israeli forces stepped up their bombardment of Gaza City overnight, in what may signal the start of a full-scale ground offensive on the densely populated urban centre. Local journalists on the ground have

Kyrgyzstan opens first Islamic academy to counter ‘extremism’

Kyrgyzstan on Monday opened its first state Islamic academy, the latest measure by the secular majority-Muslim country in its attempts to control the influence of religion and combat extremism. Former Soviet republics across Central Asia are trying to manage a resurgence in Islam that

Israeli strikes kill 49 in Gaza City, displaced Thousands in single day 

Israeli forces have intensified their offensive on Gaza City, launching a wave of air raids that killed at least 49 Palestinians and displaced more than 6,000 in a single day, according to the Palestinian Civil Defence. Saturday's toll brought the total number of Palestinians

Qatar to host Arab‑Islamic summit after Israeli strike in Doha

Qatar has announced it will host an urgent summit of Arab and Islamic countries on Sunday and Monday to coordinate a regional response following an Israeli airstrike targeting Hamas leaders in Doha.  The meeting is referred to in several news reports as an “emergency”

Sanctions on Russia only if NATO stops buying its oil: Trump

US President Donald Trump has declared his readiness to impose sweeping sanctions on Russia—but only if NATO members agree to cease purchasing Russian oil. In a message posted on his Truth Social platform, Trump said he was "ready to do major sanctions on Russia" once

Saudi Arabia arrests 21,339 illegal immigrants in one week

Saudi authorities arrested 21,339 people in one week for breaching residency, work and border security regulations, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday. A total of 12,955 people were arrested for violations of residency laws, while 4,198 were held over illegal border crossing

Myanmar air strike in Rakhine kills 19 students

In the latest escalation of military operations in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, at least 19 high school students were killed and 22 others injured in an air strike, according to the ethnic armed group Arakan Army (AA) on Saturday. Reports indicate that the attack occurred around

Nepal gets first female PM - Sushila Karki

Nepal has appointed former Supreme Court chief justice Sushila Karki as its interim prime minister, marking the first time a woman has assumed the country’s top political role. The appointment follows a week of deadly anti-corruption protests that forced the resignation of the