A new investigation alleges that Russia has recruited more than 27,000 foreign nationals—many from poor and vulnerable communities—to fight in Ukraine through promises of jobs, deception, and, in some cases, coercion. Human rights groups warn the recruitment practices may violate international law, while Russia maintains that all foreign recruits serve voluntarily.
The European Union has condemned the Iran-backed Houthi rebels' attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea as "unacceptable" and "illegal," warning that they are escalating regional tensions. The statement followed a Houthi attack on a Saudi oil tanker, which has heightened fears of a broader regional conflict and contributed to rising global oil prices.
U.S. President Donald Trump has warned Iran that Washington will strike Iranian infrastructure if Tehran attacks any vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. The warning comes as U.S. and Iranian forces continue exchanging attacks, with both sides claiming strikes on military targets across the region. The escalating confrontation has raised concerns of a wider conflict in the Middle East.
Pakistan has warned Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels against any hostile action targeting Saudi Arabia or Pakistani maritime interests, after the group threatened a naval blockade of the kingdom amid rising regional tensions.
sIranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni met with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir in Islamabad, where both sides discussed bilateral ties, regional security, and diplomatic efforts to ease tensions between Iran and the United States. The visit also focused on expanding trade and strengthening border cooperation.
HamasHamas has appointed Khalil al-Hayya as its new leader, succeeding Yahya Sinwar, who was killed in Gaza in October 2024. Analysts say the appointment signals Hamas's continued commitment to armed resistance and closer ties with Iran, while ceasefire and disarmament negotiations remain deadlocked.
The United States launched fresh airstrikes on multiple Iranian ports and cities on Tuesday, prompting Iran to retaliate by targeting U.S. military and economic interests in Jordan, Bahrain, and Kuwait. The renewed exchanges have raised fears of a broader regional conflict as tensions continue to escalate across the Middle East.
Ukraine launched more than 400 attack drones in a major strike on Moscow, Russian officials said, just hours after Russia carried out large-scale missile and drone attacks on Kyiv. The escalation comes as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy seeks to contain a domestic political crisis following controversial cabinet changes.
A Russian cruise missile strike on a Guinea-Bissau-flagged cargo ship in the Black Sea has killed 10 people, including nine crew members and a ship management official, according to Ukrainian authorities. The vessel was carrying agricultural goods and had a crew of Indian and Syrian nationals.
