Global intergovernmental body founded in 1945 to maintain international peace and security.
Venezuela has been struck by back-to-back magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes that have flattened buildings in La Guaira and Caracas. Authorities have declared a state of emergency, foreign rescue teams have begun arriving and civilians have been digging through rubble as official search capacity lags. Official death counts have climbed into the hundreds and tens of thousands are reported missing.
An intense early‑season heatwave has shattered temperature records across western Europe since June 20, with parts of France, Germany, Spain and the UK reaching 39–44°C. French authorities have reported dozens of heat‑linked deaths and a spike in drownings; hospitals, transport and power systems have been strained while scientists say human‑caused climate change has made the event far more likely.
The ICC's executive bureau has found that Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan engaged in a serious misconduct and a serious breach of duty and should be removed. A vote by the Assembly of States Parties on his fate is scheduled for July 24 in New York. Khan denies the allegations.
President Donald Trump has criticised Israel’s campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon and suggested Syria could take over the fight, remarks that have widened a rift with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and complicated a U.S.-Iran peace process scheduled for signing. Clashes in southern Lebanon are continuing and threaten to derail the tentative deal between Washington and Tehran.
Britain has introduced a new immigration and asylum bill to widen safe, legal routes for refugees, tighten Human Rights and modern slavery rules, and curb small-boat crossings. The plan includes community sponsorships, a university route, and employer sponsorship, with application openings later this year and arrivals next year.
The Guardian and BBC report a record-breaking heatwave across western Europe, with red alerts in place as temperatures soar and humidity reaches levels that elevate heat stress. UK temperatures break June records; schools close, transport disrupts, and health concerns rise amid a climate crisis driving the event.
The Israeli government has announced that planning and construction powers in the H2 zone of Hebron will be transferred to Israeli authorities, while Palestinian and international actors condemn the move as unilateral and damaging to potential peace. The Hebron Protocol's status is invoked as a reference point in escalating tensions across the West Bank and Jerusalem.
DOZENS OF NGOs have called on the UN Human Rights Council to act urgently to prevent atrocities around El-Obeid, Sudan, where RSF encirclement and siege-like conditions threaten civilians amid rising violence. The letter urges a debate, a UN fact-finding mission, and accountability for all violations, warning of a potential ground offensive and a repeat of El-Fasher’s atrocities.
Pew Research Center finds that in 36 countries, a median of 76% do not trust Donald Trump to act in world affairs, while 57% view the US unfavorably. Israelis remain relatively more supportive of Trump’s role, but confidence in the US as a reliable partner has waned in many regions since 2022.
The National Science Foundation has halted plans to remove or descale the Ocean Observatories Initiative, after lawmakers and scientists warned of risks to climate data, weather forecasts and coastal safety. An expert panel will assess future needs while equipment already removed will be redeployed. The move follows bipartisan pressure and a Senate bill to block decommissioning.
El Niño has formed in the Pacific and is expected to strengthen through late 2026, with a 63% chance of reaching a very strong level. Forecasts warn of hotter global temperatures and extreme weather, while impacts will vary by region. Scientists urge preparation and climate action as nations monitor evolving conditions.
Eight Muslim-majority states have condemned arson attacks on two West Bank mosques, attributing responsibility to Israel as settlers have ignited a wave of violence in the occupied territory. Reports describe scorched walls, graffiti including calls for vengeance, and damage to religious sites. The incidents follow a period of rising settler violence since the Gaza war began in 2023.
Video evidence from B’Tselem contradicts Israeli claims that a car carrying a Palestinian family slowed before soldiers opened fire near Hebron. Seven-month-old Sam Abu Haikal was killed; his parents were injured. The incident adds to ongoing West Bank violence amid a fragile ceasefire.
EU member states have approved a migration pact that empowers deportation hubs in third countries and tighter border controls; critics warn this could undermine asylum rights while proponents say it will speed removals and deter irregular migration.
The United States and Iran have signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at ending hostilities and launching talks, while Israel maintains a security zone in southern Lebanon, complicating the broader ceasefire process. Washington seeks de-confliction mechanisms and a path toward peace, but Israel continues military actions in Lebanon as regional powers recalibrate their positions.
G7 leaders have pledged tougher sanctions and stepped-up industrial support for Ukraine after meetings in Evian, but U.S.-led mediation has stalled while President Trump has shifted focus to the Middle East. Russia has accused the U.S. of abandoning neutral mediation, and Russian strikes and Ukrainian long-range drone attacks have recently hit Russian infrastructure and Kyiv's historic Lavra monastery.
Norway plans a legislative package to ban trade in goods produced in Israeli settlements across the occupied Palestinian territories, including the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The bill also targets real estate and commercial activity linked to settlements, with consultations running for three months.
Anti-immigrant groups have set a June 30 deadline for undocumented foreigners to leave, prompting security mobilisations and calls for calm as authorities warn violence will not be tolerated. Repatriation efforts are accelerating for migrants seeking safety, while political tensions rise ahead of local elections.
FAO and WFP warn conditions in the world’s hunger hotspots are deteriorating between June and November 2026, with 266 million people in acute hunger. Conflict and funding cuts drive the crisis, while El Niño threatens worse outcomes. Nigeria and Somalia are newly added to the list of high-concern countries; Gaza’s situation remains fragile but has improved since 2025.
New York mayor Zohran Mamdani has seen three candidates he backed win Democratic congressional primaries on June 23, toppling incumbents and capturing an open seat. The results have elevated Mamdani as a national progressive power broker and made criticism of Israel a deciding issue in several contests. Winners are now heavily favored to win in November.
The United States has begun a phased drawdown of PEPFAR in South Africa, citing policy disagreements and a belief that South Africa can sustain its HIV programs. Pretoria says it will continue treatment with domestic funding, while UN meetings seek clarity on future donor support.
The United States and Iran have signed a framework to end the broader conflict, prompting direct Israel-Lebanon talks. Israel maintains a security zone in southern Lebanon and will keep forces in place to counter Hezbollah, while Lebanon seeks de-escalation and a path to sovereignty. Ongoing clashes persist along the border as negotiations continue.
The Prosperity Party has secured a decisive majority in the House of Peoples' Representatives, with 438 of 501 seats reported by the electoral board. Voting did not occur in Tigray, Amhara, and Oromia due to security concerns, while turnout was high in areas where voting occurred. The government frames the result as a mandate for stability and continued reforms, but opposition voices warn of fear and intimidation amid ongoing tensions and regional disputes.
Leaders and mediators are pressing to sustain a fragile ceasefire as new U.S.-brokered talks in Washington and Switzerland seek to curb fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. Reports indicate ongoing military activity around Nabatieh and border towns, with Hezbollah warning of retaliation and Israel maintaining a security zone in the south.
Oil shipments through the Hormuz Strait have increased since the US and Iran reached a deal, with several tankers moving through and sanctions being waived for a 60-day period. Analysts say traffic is climbing toward prewar patterns, though total exports remain below historic peaks.
Leaders from Africa, the Caribbean and beyond have aligned on a 19-point framework, endorsed at a Ghana summit, to turn UN recognition of transatlantic slavery into concrete reparatory measures. The plan calls for debt relief, cultural restitution and new global panels to guide implementation, with growing cross‑regional support and ongoing debates over the specifics of compensation.
Libya’s government has banned entry through all ports for citizens of Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia, with exemptions for diplomats and health/education workers. The move follows ongoing tensions over refugee resettlement and a history of migrants crossing Libyan routes to Europe. Reports detail detentions, abuses in detention centers, and deaths among migrants and refugees.
As Guadalajara hosts World Cup matches, families of missing people install posters and a FIFA-inspired campaign to raise visibility of Mexico’s 135,000 disappearances. Local collectives say governments’ priorities overlook the crisis while searches continue across the country.
The first round of Swiss-brokered talks over the US–Iran war has yielded statements from Iran that it has made no new commitments on IAEA inspections, while US claims of progress are echoed by other participants. Officials are pursuing mechanisms to keep Hormuz open and to deconflict Lebanon’s conflict, with formal negotiations continuing in the 60-day window.
Sudanese authorities say Egyptian forces have detained hundreds of miners near the Sudan-Egypt border, with reports of casualties and seizures of mining equipment. Sudan’s leadership calls for investigation while experts highlight regional instability and the role of unregulated gold mining in fueling conflict.
Several attacks in Zamfara, Plateau and Sokoto States have left civilians and officials dead or injured. Authorities report gunfire exchanges, abductions, and mass casualties linked to long-running insurgencies and banditry. Responses include emergency relief, police action, and calls for heightened security.
North Korea has pledged to expand its nuclear and conventional capabilities, with Kim Jong Un stating a stronger offensive posture and ongoing tests of new weapons. Seoul signals a major drone buildup and allied drills amid regional security concerns.
The RSF is expanding its presence around El-Obeid, raising alarm of potential offensives. The UN and other bodies warn of atrocity risks while drone strikes disrupt civilian life and humanitarian access.
A UN Commission has found evidence that Palestinian children have been deliberately targeted by Israeli security forces in Gaza, with around 20,179 children killed by October 2025 and 44,143 injured. The report cites genocidal intent and calls for accountability, while Israel rejects the findings as defamatory and asserts it minimizes harm to children.
UN Secretary-General has launched the AI Environmental Transparency Initiative amid London Climate Action Week, urging AI firms to disclose water, carbon and land use and to power centres with renewables by 2030. The move follows mounting scrutiny over data-center energy use as AI deployment grows. Governments and industry face renewed pressure to accelerate transparency and climate commitments.
A 54-year-old French woman, Sylvie Yasmina, and her five children have been rescued from a mud-brick home in Bara, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Police say her husband Ahmad Khan has been arrested and investigations are underway. Yasmina has expressed a wish to return to France, and authorities are coordinating with the French embassy for repatriation. Rights groups describe ongoing domestic abuse in Pakistan.
Lebanese and Israeli talks resume with a US-led framework. A deconfliction cell is under discussion to curb cross-border hostilities as Iran-U.S. talks shape the broader ceasefire and potential withdrawal timelines.
Niger has initiated the withdrawal from the Rome Statute, becoming the third country to leave the ICC after Burundi and the Philippines. The move follows a 2023 military coup and signals growing regional tensions over international justice mechanisms amid shifting alliances with Russia and mounting security challenges in the Sahel.
Amnesty International has accused the EU of cooperating with a xenophobic, racist regime as Europe tightens borders under the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum. The Libyan coast guard faces ongoing scrutiny after Amnesty links to mass arrests, evictions and deportations. EU leaders defend engagement as a lifesaving, border-management effort.
The United States and Iran have signed a preliminary 60-day deal to halt hostilities and open negotiations on sanctions, Iran's nuclear programme and the future of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has suspended planned transit charges for 60 days but says it will retain control; Iran and Oman have formed a working group to study administration and service fees.
The UN's International Maritime Organization has paused its evacuation of around 600 stranded ships and 11,000 seafarers after a vessel was struck off Oman's coast on Thursday. The attack, which multiple maritime sources say likely involved a drone or unknown projectile, has prompted fresh warnings from Iran and halted the IMO operation while safety guarantees are rechecked.
Sixteen pupils aged 15–18 have died in a dormitory fire at Utumishi Girls School. Eight suspects face 16 counts of murder; mental assessments are being considered as the case proceeds. The incident has rekindled debate over boarding-school safety, fire exits and discipline in Kenyan schools.
China's LineShine has been named the world's fastest supercomputer on the TOP500 list, marking its debut at the top. The system runs entirely on CPUs and achieves 2.198 exaflops, surpassing El Capitan in the US. Analysts say the result signals recognition of China’s chip-design efforts, though AI workloads and list methodology cloud the claim.
The IAEA has urged a robust verification system as Iran and the United States negotiate a permanent settlement to end the war in the Middle East. Tehran says it will dilute its stockpile under IAEA supervision, while inspectors push for access to enrichment sites. Talks follow a preliminary deal signed last week, with daily developments shaping the path to a broader agreement.
The president has instructed the DOJ to investigate whether customers are being gouged as crude prices fall from wartime highs; gas at the pump remains higher than pre-war levels, with ongoing debates over how quickly prices will drop.
De la Espriella has won the runoff by under a point and pledges to restore Colombia's ties with the United States and Israel, reversing Petro-era policies amid rising violence.
Anthropic says operators linked to Alibaba’s Qwen AI lab carried out the largest known distillation attack to extract Claude’s capabilities, using about 25,000 fraudulent accounts to run nearly 29 million exchanges. The claim is echoed by multiple outlets, with the White House and Congress urged to act.
The United States has reiterated that international waterways must remain free of charges as Gulf partners push back against any tolling plan. Rubio has toured the Gulf amid a flurry of developments including a new shipping corridor near Oman, a temporary halt to evacuation efforts, and ongoing negotiations with Iran over a preliminary peace framework. The UN has paused evacuation plans for mariners in the Strait of Hormuz, while Oman coordinates a temporary route with the IMO.
The United States and Iran have signed a memorandum of understanding that opens 60 days of talks focused on Iran’s nuclear program and related issues. The IAEA has signaled that inspections will be necessary to verify the stockpile and material status, while Iran says it will not grant access to attacked facilities without a final agreement and after sanctions are lifted. Officials say the process could include downblending uranium as an alternative.
CENTCOM says US aircraft have struck Iranian missile and drone storage facilities and coastal radar sites after Tehran’s drone attack on a commercial ship in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran responds with attacks on US positions. The ceasefire framework and interim deal are under renewed strain as global oil flows through Hormuz face new uncertainties.