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Israel on Sunday struck Lebanon’s capital, Beirut, for the first time since June, saying it targeted Hezbollah’s chief of staff and warning the Iran-backed militant group not to rearm and rebuild a year after their latest war. Hezbollah said the strike, launched almost exactly a year after a ceasefire ended that Israel-Hezbollah war, threatened an escalation of attacks — just days before Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to visit Lebanon on his first foreign trip. “We will continue to act forcefully to prevent any threat to the residents of the north and the state of Israel,” Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a statement. Government spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian did not say whether Israel informed the U.S. before the strike, saying only that “Israel makes decisions independently.” The strike in Beirut’s southern suburbs killed at least one person and wounded 21 others, Lebanon’s Health Ministry said. Israel did not issue an evacuation warning before the strike, and did not name the person targeted. Bedrosian said the Hezbollah chief of staff “led the strengthening and arming of the terrorist organization.” Mahmoud Qamati, deputy chair of Hezbollah’s political council, told journalists that a high-ranking militant may have been killed but did not give details. “Hezbollah’s leadership is studying the matter of response and will take the appropriate decision,” Qamati said at the site of the attack. “The strike on the southern suburbs today opens the door to an escalation of assaults all over Lebanon.” Israeli airstrikes over southern Lebanon have intensified in recent weeks while Israel and the United States have pressured Lebanon to disarm the powerful militant group. Israel asserts that Hezbollah is trying to rebuild its military capabilities in southern Lebanon. The Lebanese government, which has approved its military’s plan that would disarm Hezbollah, has denied those claims. Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun in a statement condemned Sunday's strike and accused Israel of refusing to implement its end of the ceasefire agreement. He called on the international community to “intervene with strength and seriousness to stop the attacks on Lebanon and its people.” Smoke could be seen in the busy Haret Hreik neighborhood. A video circulated on social media showed dozens of people crowded around the area of the strike, which appeared to be on the fourth floor of an apartment building. Gunshots could be heard to disperse crowds as emergency workers arrived. “This is definitely a civilian area and void of any military presence, especially the neighborhood where we stand,” Hezbollah parliamentarian Ali Ammar told reporters near the site. An Israeli drone was flying near the building targeted. The Lebanese military cordoned off the area, the state-run National News Agency reported. Lebanon and United Nations peacekeepers have been critical of ongoing Israel attacks in the country and accuse Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement. Aoun last week said the country is ready to enter negotiations with Israel to stop its airstrikes and to withdraw from five hilltop points it occupies on Lebanese territory. It was unclear if Israel would agree. Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam say they are committed to disarming all non-state actors in the country, including Hezbollah. The latest Israel-Hezbollah war began Oct. 8, 2023, a day after Hamas attacked southern Israel, as Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel in solidarity with Hamas. Israel launched a widespread bombardment of Lebanon last year that severely weakened Hezbollah, followed by a ground invasion. That war was the most recent of several conflicts involving Hezbollah over the past four decades. It killed more than 4,000 people in Lebanon, including hundreds of civilians, and caused an estimated $11 billion worth of destruction, according to the World Bank. In Israel, 127 people died, including 80 soldiers. On Tuesday, an Israeli strike killed 13 people in the Palestinian refugee camp of Ein el-Hilweh near the southern city of Sidon in the deadliest attack since the ceasefire went into effect. The military said it targeted a military facility belonging to the Palestinian Hamas militant group. Hamas denied it has any military facilities in the crowded camp.  

Poorer nations attending the Group of 20 summit in South Africa have used the meeting to push leaders on climate action and high levels of debt, issues directly affecting the developing world. They have also sought to position themselves as economic partners with much to offer in sectors including mining, technology and artificial intelligence, among others. Many lauded South Africa, which hands over the rotating G20 presidency to the U.S., for promoting an inclusive agenda prioritizing the needs of poorer nations by focusing on global inequality. The United States boycotted the Johannesburg meeting meant to bring rich and developing nations together over President Donald Trump’s claims that South Africa is violently persecuting its Afrikaner white minority. In addition to the G20 countries, the African Union and the European Union, many developing nations were invited as guests, like Zimbabwe, Namibia, Jamaica and Malaysia. “We are not here to speak of despair, we are here to speak of possibilities and shared responsibilities," Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed told delegates. He said that debt relief must translate into investments that benefit people. "In Ethiopia, we have learnt that inclusivity is not charity, it is efficiency.” Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah called for fair financing terms for developing nations. She said her country had recently paid back its $750 million bond on time. “However, we are considered by decision makers as a risky country. We need fair international financial institutions,” she said. Jamaica's Prime Minister Andrew Michael Holness reflected on climate-fueled natural disasters and their impact on developing nations, like that of Hurricane Melissa that had devastated his country. “One external shock can undo years of progress," he said. World Trade Organization Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on Sunday urged African leaders to think carefully about future trade with other countries when adopting policies. “How we position ourselves depends on us and our policymakers. So if we continue to export, and see that 60% of our exports are commodities and raw materials, then things will not change," she said. "We can go from raw materials all the way to finished product by creating subregional and regional value chains.” Nabil Ahmed, director of economic and racial justice at think tank Oxfam, said it was the first time that a G20 agenda had inequality as one of its central pillars. “The world recognizes that we have a climate emergency. It's now time that we recognize that we have an inequality emergency as well," he said. “One thing that South Africa managed to do as the first host of a G20 meeting on African soil, was to prioritize the interests of African nations and the interests of global south nations,” he said.

At least 90 people have now died in floods and landslides in central Vietnam triggered by heavy rains earlier this week, state media reported Sunday, citing the country's disaster prevention agency. The deluges wreaked widespread destruction across a region already battered weeks ago by floods from record rainfall and the powerful typhoon Kalmaegi. The rains triggered multiple landslides on major routes in Vietnam’s Central Highlands. Railways lines and roads were submerged, leaving thousands stranded. Vietnam is among the world’s most flood-prone countries, with nearly half its population living in high-risk areas. Scientists warn that a warming climate is intensifying storms and rainfall across Southeast Asia, making floods and landslides increasingly destructive and frequent.

A 5.3-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Myanmar on Saturday morning with tremors also felt in neighboring Thailand. The tremor was recorded at 10:39 am, according to The US Geological Survey (USGS). It said the epicenter was located 267 km west-southwest of Dawei, Myanmar, at a depth of 10 km. Authorities have not reported any casualties or damage so far.

A 5.2-magnitude earthquake shook the Halmahera area in North Maluku Province, eastern Indonesia. According to Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency, the tremor struck at a depth of 10 kilometres. Authorities have not reported any casualties or damage so far. Indonesia, located on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” frequently experiences earthquakes and volcanic activity due to the convergence of multiple tectonic plates.

A gold pocket watch recovered from the body of one of the Titanic’s wealthiest passengers has sold for a “record-breaking” £1.78 million at an auction in Wiltshire. The 18-carat Jules Jurgensen watch belonged to Isidor Straus, a prominent American businessman, politician and co-owner of Macy’s. Straus and his wife, Ida, were among more than 1,500 passengers who died when the ship struck an iceberg and sank on 14 April 1912 during its voyage from Southampton to New York. Straus’ body was recovered days later, and the timepiece — engraved with his initials — was found among his possessions. The watch, which had remained with the Straus family for generations, was sold on Saturday by Henry Aldridge & Son Auctioneers in Devizes. It had been repaired and restored by Straus’ great-grandson, Kenneth Hollister Straus. The watch had stopped at 02:20 — the time the Titanic disappeared beneath the Atlantic. It is believed to have been a gift from Ida to her husband on his 43rd birthday in 1888, reports BBC. Ida Straus famously refused a place on a lifeboat, choosing to remain with her husband as the ship went down. Her body was never recovered. Other Titanic memorabilia also drew high bids at the auction, including a letter written by Ida Straus on Titanic stationery, which sold for £100,000; a passenger list purchased for £104,000; and a gold medal awarded to the RMS Carpathia crew, which fetched £86,000. The total sales of Titanic items reached £3 million. Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge said the record price reflects the continued fascination with the Titanic and the enduring legacy of the stories behind its passengers. He described the Strauses as “the ultimate love story,” noting Ida’s refusal to leave her husband of 41 years. Last year, a gold pocket watch given to the captain of the Carpathia — the ship that rescued more than 700 survivors — sold for £1.56 million, setting the previous record.  

President Donald Trump has unveiled a 28-point plan aimed at ending Russia’s war in Ukraine, pressuring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to accept terms heavily favoring Moscow. Trump argues that Zelenskyy “doesn’t have the cards” to continue fighting and must consider a settlement. Trump said Friday that he expects Zelenskyy to respond by next Thursday, emphasizing his desire to achieve peace. However, reports emerged that senators were told by Secretary of State Marco Rubio that the plan largely reflects Russian demands rather than U.S. positions, though the State Department and Rubio later insisted it was U.S.-authored. Proposed Ukraine peace deal leaves Kyiv navigating a fragile balance between the U.S. and Russia Zelenskyy faces multiple pressures, including battlefield setbacks, winter energy attacks from Russia, and a corruption scandal involving Ukraine’s nuclear energy sector, which has led to ministerial resignations. Analysts say these factors put him in a vulnerable position. The Trump plan calls for Ukraine to cede the eastern Donbas region, drastically reduce its military, and for Europe to affirm that Ukraine will never join NATO. The proposal also includes cultural concessions that could bolster Russian claims of historical legitimacy. While U.S. officials describe the plan as a starting point for negotiations, experts warn that many provisions undermine Ukrainian sovereignty and public trust. Zelenskyy has not yet spoken with Trump about the plan but is expected to in the coming days. Source: AP

The publisher of Britain’s Daily Mail has entered exclusive negotiations to acquire Telegraph Media Group in a deal valued at 500 million pounds ($654 million), linking two major right-leaning news organizations. Daily Mail and General Trust plc (DMGT) said Saturday the talks aim to finalize the purchase of the Telegraph and its Sunday edition from Abu Dhabi-backed Redbird IMI. The transaction follows concerns over foreign ownership that had previously blocked Redbird IMI’s takeover attempts two years ago. British Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said any new acquisition would be reviewed to ensure it serves the public interest and complies with rules on foreign state influence in media ownership. DMGT expects to complete the deal swiftly. “Under this ownership, the Daily Telegraph will become a global brand, just as the Daily Mail has,” said Chairman Jonathan Harmsworth, also known as Lord Rothermere. The Telegraph, a staple of British media since 1855, has been embroiled in ownership disputes since 2023, when the Barclay family lost control amid lender conflicts. A Redbird Capital and Abu Dhabi International Media Investments venture had previously agreed to acquire the paper, prompting debates in the House of Commons over foreign influence on British journalism. At the time, then-Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer emphasized the importance of protecting press freedom from foreign state interference.

European leaders are set to meet on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Saturday to discuss alternatives to a U.S. plan aimed at ending Russia’s war in Ukraine, a proposal Kyiv and its European partners say favors Moscow. Meanwhile, a top Ukrainian delegation is preparing for direct talks with Washington. The 28-point U.S. blueprint, which Kyiv has rejected, calls for Ukraine to cede territory to Russia, reduce its military size, and halt its NATO aspirations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that the plan could force Ukraine to choose between defending its sovereignty and maintaining vital American support. Kyiv’s delegation, including Zelenskyy’s chief of staff Andrii Yermak and former defense minister Rustem Umerov, will meet U.S. officials in Switzerland to discuss the proposal. Ukrainian authorities said negotiators are authorized to engage directly with Russia. European leaders, stressing the importance of Kyiv’s consultation, cautioned against a rushed peace deal. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Russia repeatedly feigns peace efforts while continuing attacks, citing a recent strike that killed over two dozen civilians in western Ukraine. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the principle “nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine,” while German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul called for lasting peace that preserves Ukraine’s sovereignty and includes robust security guarantees. On Saturday, Zelenskyy marked Holodomor Memorial Day, recalling the Soviet-era famine that killed millions of Ukrainians in the 1930s. He said Ukraine would continue defending its homeland against Russian aggression. Meanwhile, a Ukrainian drone strike targeted a fuel refinery in Russia’s Samara region overnight, killing two and injuring two others, according to local officials. Russian air defenses reportedly shot down 69 Ukrainian drones over Russia and occupied Crimea, temporarily disrupting operations at several airports and cutting power to thousands of households.  

Gunmen stormed a Catholic boarding school in western Nigeria on Friday, abducting more than 200 students and a dozen teachers in the latest wave of kidnappings that has shaken the nation. The attack took place at St. Mary’s School in Papiri, within the Agwara local government area. According to Daniel Atori, spokesperson for the Niger state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), 215 pupils and 12 teachers were seized. CAN said it is working urgently to secure the safe return of those kidnapped. “The children who managed to escape have scattered,” Atori said, quoting Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa, CAN’s Niger chairman. “Some ran back to their homes, while the rest are reportedly being taken into the bush by the attackers.” Niger State Police confirmed that the abductions occurred in the early hours of Friday. Security forces and the military have since been deployed to the area. St. Mary’s, a secondary school for children aged 12 to 17, sits beside a primary school and comprises over 50 classroom and dormitory buildings, near a major road connecting Yelwa and Mokwa. Some families have been hit particularly hard. Dauda Chekula, 62, said four of his grandchildren, aged 7 to 10, were among those abducted. Meanwhile, the Catholic Diocese of Kontagora reported that a school security staffer was “badly shot” during the assault. The secretary to the Niger state government noted that the abductions occurred despite prior intelligence about potential threats. “St. Mary’s School reopened without notifying the state government, exposing students and staff to avoidable risks,” the statement read. Residents said only local security personnel were on site at the time, with no official police presence. In response to escalating violence, Nigerian authorities ordered the closure of 47 federal unity colleges, mostly in conflict-prone northern states. These elite government schools, which draw students nationwide, were to be shut immediately, according to a circular from the Federal Ministry of Education. A Broader Pattern of Abductions The attack follows a string of similar incidents. On Monday, gunmen abducted 25 schoolgirls from a high school in Kebbi state, around 170 kilometers from Papiri, though one girl later escaped. In Kwara state, attackers killed two worshippers at a church and kidnapped 38 others, demanding 100 million naira ($69,000) per person. President Bola Tinubu canceled plans to attend the G20 summit in South Africa this weekend in light of the kidnappings. Vice President Kashim Shettima will attend in his place, pledging to use “every instrument of the state” to rescue the abducted children and bring the perpetrators to justice. No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks in Niger and Kebbi states. Analysts say most kidnappers are former herders who have taken up arms against farming communities amid resource disputes. Schools, travelers, and remote villagers are frequent targets, often with ransom as the primary motive. Since the infamous Chibok schoolgirl abductions over a decade ago, at least 1,500 students have been kidnapped in northern Nigeria. While Christians have been among the victims, analysts note that most attacks target Muslims in Nigeria’s predominantly Muslim north. Communities Demand Action Residents and analysts attribute the ongoing insecurity to impunity for known criminals and widespread corruption, which limits security forces’ resources while enabling armed gangs. Personal stories underscore the human toll. Lagos-based influencer Eze Gloria Chidinma said her sister escaped by jumping a school fence. She recounted that her mother and older brother were kidnapped last year, forcing the family to pay a large ransom after security forces failed to intervene. “My message to the authorities is to think about people’s lives,” Chidinma said. “Your job is to protect lives and properties. People’s lives should matter to you.” Pastor Yohanna Buru, head of the Peace Revival and Reconciliation Foundation, called for heightened security around schools in vulnerable areas, warning, “If the government were doing enough, rampant kidnappings would not be happening. It’s as if they don’t care about the future of our children.”