In today's top world headlines:

Ukrainian drone attacks kill several people in western Russia as the war intensifies.
Kuwait accuses Iran of targeting civilian infrastructure after attacks on power, water, and oil facilities.
Uganda's school bus tragedy claims the lives of 23 children and one adult.
Flash floods in northern Vietnam leave several dead and missing.
Indian truck driver found dead in Canada; police launch homicide investigation.
Massive fire at a firecracker factory in Ahmedabad kills at least eight people.
Thousands of Tibetans in exile protest against China's ethnic unity law.
Kartik Aaryan and Mammootty jointly win Best Actor at the 72nd National Film Awards.

Stay tuned for the latest international news and breaking global developments.

Russia-Ukraine war | Iran strikes | Canada news | Ahmedabad factory fire | Vietnam floods | WION

A massive landslide tore through Pengshui County on the edge of Chongqing on Friday morning, sending rocks and soil crashing down and burying more than 10 residential buildings. At least 8 people are confirmed dead, with 34 still missing, though 10 were pulled from the debris alive. Over 800 rescuers are on site, but officials warn the risk of another collapse remains high. President Xi Jinping has ordered a full investigation into what caused the disaster and demanded swift identification of other hazard zones.


China landslide: Chinese president Xi orders rescue, probe into Chongqing landslide 

In a major policy shift, the U.S. has allowed the 2020 national emergency declaration regarding Hong Kong to lapse. While this move removes specific sanctions associated with the original executive order, the U.S. maintains other restrictive measures under separate legal frameworks.

US ends its state of emergency over Hong Kong security threat

U.S. President Donald Trump renewed his attacks on the American electoral system during a primetime national address, reviving claims about the 2020 presidential election while calling for stricter voting laws ahead of the midterm elections. The speech has reignited debate over election integrity, voting rights, and the lasting political impact of the January 6 Capitol riot, even as the U.S. faces mounting domestic and international challenges.

Trump doubles down on US election attacks

Amid the unrest in Balochistan, China has raised security concerns pertaining to Saindak mine, which is Pakistan's largest copper and gold mine. Last week itself, Pakistan's military announced that at least 42 persons were killed in three attacks by Baloch insurgents.


Balochistan unrest affects Pakistan's biggest copper mine as China flags security concerns

Democrats and voting rights groups say Donald Trump’s primetime speech making unverified claims of Chinese interference in the 2020 election is the clearest sign yet that the president is laying the groundwork to tamper with the results of November’s midterms.


Did Trump lay groundwork to challenge November results?

China's influence over global supply chains extends far beyond rare earths. It has quietly become the world's largest supplier of pharmaceutical ingredients that form the backbone of modern medicines.

U.S. think tanks warn of China's pharma leverage

Pakistan has stepped up security around the China-run Saindak copper and gold mine in Balochistan after insurgent violence disrupted supply routes. The move follows security warnings, although the mine's operator has denied reports that the project could be forced to shut down.

Pak to tighten security around Saindak mine

US President Donald Trump has claimed that newly declassified intelligence reveals major vulnerabilities in America's election system and alleged that China obtained 220 million US voter files beginning during the 2020 election cycle. Speaking from the White House, Trump said the data included sensitive voter information and argued that it exposed the country to foreign interference. He also announced that the declassified documents would be released publicly and renewed his call for Congress to pass the SAVE America Act, which would require voter identification, proof of citizenship and tighter rules on mail-in voting. While US media noted that the documents are newly declassified, they also reported that many of the security concerns referenced have been publicly discussed for years. Trump's broader allegations about the 2020 election remain disputed, and the proposed legislation continues to face significant political hurdles in Congress.

Trump unveils declassified election documents, alleges China accessed US voter data since 2020

Donald Trump claimed that newly declassified intelligence reveals China compromised millions of U.S. voter records and exposed vulnerabilities in America's election infrastructure. The announcement comes as the U.S. launches a sixth consecutive night of strikes on Iranian military targets, while tensions continue to rise across West Asia. CENTCOM also intensified maritime operations near Iran as Ukraine reported deadly Russian missile strikes on Odesa. Meanwhile, North Korea pledged stronger ties with China, SpaceX aborted its latest Starship launch seconds before liftoff, and Japan's stock market plunged amid growing concerns over the AI sector.

Stay tuned for the latest international developments, geopolitical updates, defence news, breaking headlines, and global affairs.

Trump claims China hacked U.S. election data | U.S. strikes Iran again | Starship launch aborted 

- Indonesia: One Killed, 23 Missing After Boat Sinks
- Puri: One Dead, Many Ill In Crowd Surge During Rath Yatra
- Xi Meets Kazakh President In Shanghai
- Wildfire: Macron Announces Fundraising Campaign

Around the world in 120 seconds

Ukraine has reportedly received EU approval to use part of a defence loan to purchase Chinese drone components, highlighting Europe's dependence on China's supply chain.

Ukraine gets EU approval to purchase Chinese drone parts under €6 billion defence fund

The makers of Ramayana Part 1 are exploring global opportunities as Namit Malhotra holds advanced discussions with Chinese exhibitors for the film’s international release and distribution.


Ramayana: Part 1 eyes China release; makers plan promotional tour

China's fiscal engine is sputtering and Beijing's own numbers show why.


China's Growth Model Meeting Its Limits? 

China is positioning itself at the forefront of the next wave of global drug innovation, and artificial intelligence is emerging as the key lever that could tilt dominance in its favour.


China turns to AI for next drug breakthroughs

China has intensified its land reclamation efforts at Antelope Reef in the Paracel Islands, transforming the previously submerged feature into what is projected to be its largest artificial island in the South China Sea. While Beijing maintains that the development is for civilian purposes, satellite imagery reveals extensive infrastructure—including a potential 9,000-foot runway, deep-water harbors, and facilities capable of supporting diesel power plants, coastal defense emplacements, and missile systems.


China denies military use, claims civilian development; antelope reef build-up gathers pace

As the Shenzhou-23 mission marks its 50-day milestone aboard the Tiangong space station, China’s latest crew—commander Zhu Yangzhu, pilot Zhang Zhiyuan, and Hong Kong’s first astronaut Lai Ka-ying—is deep into an ambitious year-long scientific campaign. Launched on May 24, 2026, the crew is currently conducting over 100 specialized experiments focused on the long-term effects of spaceflight on human physiology and material science.  


Shenzhou-23 crew marks 50 days in space; Tiangong astronauts study microgravity

China’s sudden, temporary export ban on helium is a crisis-management measure driven by severe global supply shocks. With Middle East conflicts shuttering major Qatari processing plants and Russian supply constrained, China—which imports up to 90% of its helium—halted all overseas shipments to protect its domestic chipmakers.


Helium Crisis Explained: Why China's Helium Export Ban Matters?

China has temporarily banned helium exports with immediate effect, citing its foreign trade law. While the chemical is often associated with party balloons, it is an essential industrial input for semiconductor manufacturing.

From balloons to chips: The Helium crisis explained 

Typhoon Bavi has officially made landfall in Zhejiang province, triggering a massive emergency response across China’s eastern coast. With wind speeds reaching 144 kph, authorities have evacuated over 1.7 million people as the storm brings life-threatening flash floods and torrential rain.


Typhoon Bavi: Eastern China braces for flash floods after Bavi landfall 

#Gravitas The world's brightest minds are becoming the newest battleground in the U.S.-China rivalry.  The latest name to make that shift is Nobel prize-winning chemist Omar Yaghi.  He has left the University of California, Berkeley, to join a public research university in Beijing, where he will lead a new institute that uses artificial intelligence to accelerate the discovery of advanced materials. 


Why best American scientists are heading to China 

China just hit a major space milestone. The Long March 10B booster successfully landed on a floating platform at sea, marking China’s first major reusable rocket test. In the same mission, the rocket also deployed a satellite successfully. The achievement puts China in the same league as SpaceX and Blue Origin on reusable tech, cutting launch costs and boosting China’s moon and space station plans.


China achieves reusable rocket milestone with long March 10b

The battle over the next Dalai Lama has already begun. As the 14th Dalai Lama grows older, Beijing insists it has the authority to approve his successor, while the Tibetan exile community says only the Dalai Lama and his trust can decide the reincarnation. This isn't just a religious dispute, it's a geopolitical contest over Tibet's identity, culture, and future.


China vs Tibet: The battle for Tibet's future begins with the next Dalai Lama

A devastating fire at a major shoe manufacturing facility in southern China has claimed the lives of at least 28 workers, with many others injured. The blaze, which spread rapidly through the industrial complex, has prompted an immediate investigation into safety violations and fire code enforcement. 

President Xi Jinping has expressed his deep condolences, acknowledging the "heavy losses" and demanding an urgent, nationwide safety inspection of all manufacturing hubs to prevent further industrial tragedies.

China shoe factory fire: 28 killed, Xi Jinping mourns 'heavy losses' 

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