Archived edition · World
Every hourly briefing ever published, opened in a new tab as its own front page.
Latest briefing
23 stories off the wire
Lead story
A Russian woman faced sentencing in a Manhattan federal court. A Russian woman who pleaded guilty to lying about her contacts with Russia’s main intelligence agency -- and was later accused of sending drunken harassing messages to the FBI -- was set to be sentenced in a Manhattan federal court.
Amanda Maria Souza de Oliveira, 38, was arrested in Santa Catarina Amanda Maria Souza de Oliveira faces fraud charges after allegedly persuading family to take her into their homeA 38-year-old woman has been arrested in Brazil accused of pretending to be a 12-year-old girl to deceive a couple who took her into their home for more than a year. Amanda Maria Souza de Oliveira was charged in the southern state of Santa Catarina with fraud and false identity offences.
Iran announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz following United States naval actions. Two vessels attempting passage were reportedly struck. Iran's ambassador to the United Nations stated that threats and force cannot lead to sustainable agreements. Two 'violating ships' attempting passage through Hormuz hit, Iranian media says; Iran's UN ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani rejected Trump's threat, saying "no sustainable deal can be reached through threats, intimidation, or the use of force.".
Extreme rain and landslides in North Sumatra killed 58 of the 800 remaining Tapanuli orangutans. This represents 7% of the critically endangered species. The study links the event to the climate crisis. Critically endangered Tapanuli orangutan population falls after heavy rain and landslides, fuelled by climate crisis, in North SumatraExtreme rainfall and landslides fuelled by the climate crisis killed 7% of the remaining population of the world’s rarest great ape, a study has found, prompting fears for the species’ survival. The research suggests 58 out of the remaining 800 critically endangered.
The UN Security Council convened a high-level debate on political solutions in the Middle East Nearly four months after the latest Middle East crisis erupted and despite a fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran, tensions continue to reverberate across the region and beyond. The UN Security Council is holding a high-level debate on advancing political solutions in the Middle East, amid continuing conflicts, humanitarian emergencies and concerns over regional stability.
The Obama administration focused diplomatic and economic resources on Iran's nuclear program. Back when the Obama administration was negotiating a nuclear agreement with Iran, I asked National Security Council officials, “Why are you expending all of your economic leverage, and political and diplomatic resources on stopping Iran from developing a bomb they don’t have (and even if they did, could never use), while these same resources could be mobilized The post There is no military sol.
Global brands including Amazon, Ericsson, and Sony may have sourced coltan from the Democratic Republic of Congo. This mineral is allegedly controlled by M23 rebels. The rebels are accused of sexual violence, summary executions, and torture. Amazon and Sony among firms that may have sourced coltan, used in phones, from supply chains controlled by the M23 rebels, says Global WitnessLeading global brands including Amazon, Ericsson and Sony are “likely” to have sourced minerals linked to a militia accused of widespread sexual violence, summary executions and torture, a new investigation claims. The companies allegedlybut unknowingly, acqu.
The United States launched self-defense strikes against Iran on June 9. President Donald Trump said the response was necessary after Iranian forces downed a US Army Apache helicopter on June 8. The US strikes were described as very powerful by Trump. Iran was targeted just hours after the helicopter incident. The United States said it launched "self-defense" strikes against Iran on June 9 just hours after President Donald Trump said Washington was compelled to respond to the downing of a US Army Apache helicopter by Iranian forces a day earlier.
The United Nations reported that Lebanon has sustained over $365 million in building damage in Beirut and Mount Lebanon since the recent escalation. Fresh strikes in Tyre killed eight people. This assessment highlights the ongoing destruction despite a ceasefire. The fighting continues to impact civilian areas. Lebanon has suffered more than $365 million in damage to buildings across Beirut and Mount Lebanon since the latest escalation, Tuesday, as fresh strikes in Tyre underscored the fragility of a ceasefire that has failed to stop the fighting.
Palestinian civilians face systematic abuse from both Israeli settlers and Hamas, investigators. The report details escalating settler violence in the occupied West Bank. It also highlights fear-based Hamas rule in the Gaza Strip. These conditions leave Palestinians trapped between two oppressive forces. Palestinian civilians are trapped between escalating settler violence in the occupied West Bank and fear-based Hamas rule in the Gaza Strip, investigators appointed by the UN Human Rights Council said on Tuesday in a new report.
The top United Nations aid official visited Ituri province in the Democratic Republic of The top UN aid official in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is in Ituri province – the epicentre of the country's Ebola outbreak – for a three-day assessment visit, as the confirmed case count reaches 515 across three eastern provinces.
African migrants report increased fear following anti-immigrant rallies. The campaign group March & March is leading protests demanding the removal of undocumented individuals. These actions have reignited xenophobic sentiment across South Africa. Migrants state their legal status offers little protection amidst the growing backlash. African migrants say legal status offers little protection as rallies against illegal immigration gain momentumAfrican migrants in South Africa say they are living in fear after a series of marches calling for illegal immigrants to leave reignited long-held xenophobic sentiment in the country. March & March, a campaign group at the forefront of recent protests, has given people living illegally in.
Russian President Vladimir Putin renewed an offer to India for joint production and technology transfer of the Su As India’s stealth fighter gap widens, Russia is pitching the Su-57 as a solution. but production realities may tell a different story. This month, Defense News reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin renewed his offer of unrestricted joint production and technology transfer for Russia’s Su-57 fifth-generation stealth fighter during the St.
Russia proposed a state-run VPN service. This initiative is part of broader efforts to control internet access. Industry insiders reportedly view the proposal with skepticism. What’s the latest brick in Russia’s effort to build its Great Internet Firewall? A proposal to create a government-run Virtual Private Network, co-opting a tool that has been widely embraced by Russians trying to avoid government censorship.
The European Union is considering financial sanctions against the head of the Russian Orthodox Church. Other targets include the Russian head of the world chess federation and a historian advising President Putin. These measures target top Russian officials. The European Union is calling for financial sanctions on the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, the Russian head of the world chess federation, a historian who is a close adviser to President Vladimir Putin, and other top officials.
UN officials warned the humanitarian toll in Ukraine has reached its deadliest point since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for political affairs, briefed the Security Council. She reported recent months saw some of the conflict's most extensive aerial attacks. The Security Council met on Monday amid a sharp escalation in hostilities across Ukraine, where UN officials warned that the war has reached its deadliest point since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
India placed the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance last year. This decision shifts focus from diplomatic and legal consequences to the potential disappearance of transparency. The concern now centers on data sharing within one of the world’s major transboundary water agreements. When India placed the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance last year, attention naturally focused on the diplomatic and legal consequences of the decision.
South Korean voters expressed dissatisfaction following the June 10 local election results. A public opinion survey showed the People Power Party at 41.6% support, narrowly leading the Democratic Party's 40.4%. This occurred days after the Democratic Party secured victories in many major local races. The outcome has fueled debate among younger voters about political representation and future electoral strategies. A week after South Korea’s local elections, the country’s political conversation is shifting in an unexpected direction.
South Korean President Lee faces scrutiny after a local election ballot shortage. President Lee sold Korean democracy abroad as a system that fixes itself. Now his party and the administration have to prove it by holding the election commission to account without handing the conspiracy theorists a win.
A magnitude-7.8 earthquake struck the southern Philippines early Monday. At least 19 people died. Buildings collapsed. Residents are warned about aftershocks and advised not to enter damaged structures. Residents warned not to enter damaged homes or other buildings owing to threat of aftershocks after magnitude-7.8 quakeA magnitude-7.8 earthquake shook part of the southern Philippines early on Monday, collapsing buildings and killing at least 19 people.“Many buildings were affected, but I cannot enumerate them now because we are busy with ongoing rescues,” Robert Dagon, of the General Santos City.
Afghanistan faces a "lost generation of talent and potential" due to worsening humanitarian conditions and restrictions under the Taliban. Senior officials and civil society representatives told the Security Council that economic pressures are creating a fragile future. Despite relative security, the country's trajectory is uncertain. As the Security Council met on Afghanistan, senior officials and civil society representatives delivered a clear warning Monday: despite relative security under the Taliban, worsening humanitarian conditions, restrictions on women and growing economic pressures are creating a fragile and uncertain future.
Thousands of fans lined up for over seven kilometers in Argentina to mourn Carlos "Indio" Solari. They sang rock songs and carried banners. Vendors sold T-shirts with his image. Solari is considered Argentina's most popular musician. His music inspired cross-generational devotion. Carlos ‘Indio’ Solari, virtually unknown elsewhere but said to be Argentina’s most popular musician, inspired cross-generational devotionThe line stretched for more than 7km (four miles).
The UN chief opened the 19th global meeting on disability rights. He stated that while progress has been made over two decades, more work is needed to fulfill promises. The conference addresses critical issues for persons with disabilities worldwide. Historical gains have been hard-won, but much more needs to be done to advance progress in realising promises made two decades ago, said the UN chief at the opening on Tuesday of the 19th global meeting on the rights of persons with disabilities at UN Headquarters.
No stories match this region right now.
