Asia
Gaza: Hamas faces growing public dissent
A video of a bloodied academic doctor openly criticising Hamas highlights a shift in Gaza. Filmed after an Israeli operation, and illustrating growing frustration, the video has gone viral. Critics accuse Hamas of…
India: at least 120 killed in stampede
At least 120 people have been killed in a crush at a Hindu religious gathering in Uttar Pradesh. Many victims, including women and children, are still being identified. The disaster occurred when a…
Papua New Guinea: over 300,000 baptised!
CBN News has reported that over 300,000 people have reportedly been baptised in Papua New Guinea, marking a significant spiritual event. The mass baptisms occurred during the PNG for Christ campaign, a collaborative…
Iran: Khamenei warns reformist presidential candidate
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has issued a veiled warning to reformist presidential candidate Masoud Pezeshkian, criticising those who believe progress depends on the USA. Pezeshkian supports restoring the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers,…
India: controversial MP backs Palestine at swearing-in ceremony
A usually staid swearing-in procedure for Indian parliamentarians turned controversial when veteran opposition legislator Asaduddin Owaisi chanted ‘Jai Palestine’ after taking his oath. ‘Jai’, meaning victory in Sanskrit, can be translated as ‘Long…
Papua New Guinea: Bougainville’s desire for independence stalled
Five years after Bougainville’s decisive vote for independence from Papua New Guinea (PNG), frustrations are growing due to the stalled political process. Over 97% of the autonomous region’s approximately 300,000 residents voted for…
Cyprus / Israel / Lebanon: Hezbollah leader threatens wider conflict
Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has warned that no place in Israel would be safe if a full-scale war erupts between the two foes, also threatening Cyprus and other Mediterranean regions. Hezbollah has…
Russia / North Korea: mutual defence agreement against ‘aggression’
Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un have signed a mutual defence agreement pledging support in case of ‘aggression’ against either country. The announcement followed Putin's visit to Pyongyang, his first since 2000, which…
Hezbollah fires hundreds of rockets after a senior commander is killed
Hundreds of rockets were fired from Lebanon towards northern Israel on 12 June, hours after an Israeli airstrike which killed a senior Hezbollah commander. The Israeli military reported detecting about 215 projectiles, with…
Kuwait: at least fifty dead after huge fire
A fire in a residential building in Mangaf has claimed at least fifty lives, mostly foreign workers, including many Indian nationals. The blaze, which broke out early on 12 June, engulfed the building…