Israel set to hold funeral for final hostage retrieved from Gaza

MEITAR, Israel — Israel on Wednesday prepared to bury Ran Gvili, the last Israeli hostage recovered from Gaza, in a funeral that officials and mourners cast as both an intimate farewell and a national moment of closure. Gvili, 24, an off-duty police officer from the elite Yassam unit, was killed while fighting militants during the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led assault on southern Israel. His body was taken back into Gaza by the Islamic Jihad militant group, Israeli officials say. He was among about 250 people abducted during the…

U.S. launches 23 Somalia airstrikes this month, targeting Al-Shabaab and ISIS

MOGADISHU, Somalia — U.S. Africa Command says it has carried out 23 airstrikes in Somalia so far this year targeting Al-Shabaab and ISIS, underscoring a stepped-up counterterrorism tempo that U.S. officials say is coordinated with partners across the continent. AFRICOM spokesperson Maj. Mahalia Frost said Wednesday the increase is part of a broader U.S. effort against ISIS in Africa, noting recent American strikes in Nigeria. She said instability in Somalia and Nigeria is intertwined, arguing that regional cooperation and…

Man arrested for spraying unknown substance on Rep. Ilhan Omar during Minneapolis town hall

Man sprays unknown substance on Rep. Ilhan Omar at Minneapolis town hall; suspect arrested, Omar says she’s OK Rep. Ilhan Omar was sprayed with an unknown liquid by a man wielding a syringe during a Minneapolis town hall Tuesday night, a jolting incident that unfolded as the Minnesota Democrat called for abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and urged Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to resign or face impeachment. Police say the suspect, identified as 55-year-old Anthony Kazmierczak, used a syringe to…

EU Court Chastises Hungary for Defying Bloc in UN Cannabis Vote

Europe’s top court has ruled that Hungary violated European Union law by voting against the bloc’s agreed position on cannabis classification during a United Nations meeting, finding Budapest breached the principle of sincere cooperation and the EU’s exclusive external competence. The Court of Justice of the European Union said Hungary “failed to fulfil its obligations under EU law” when, at a 2020 session of the U.N. Commission on Narcotic Drugs, it voted against removing cannabis from a list of substances that also…

Australia faces extreme bushfire danger as temperatures near 50C

Hundreds told to evacuate as out-of-control bushfire threatens Victoria’s Otways amid record heat MELBOURNE, Australia — Authorities ordered hundreds of people to evacuate rural communities in southeast Australia as an out-of-control bushfire threatened towns in Victoria’s Otways region during a punishing heatwave that pushed temperatures toward state records. Emergency warnings expanded to additional rural districts as fire conditions deteriorated. “Due to extreme weather today, the fire is predicted to rapidly expand and…

5 Evening Snacks to Boost Metabolism and Aid Fat Loss After 55

Based on the content of the source text, the best matching format is: Healthy Eating → science-informed nutrition, habits, wellness trends. The text discusses bedtime snacks that support metabolism, muscle maintenance, and weight management, backed by input from a registered dietitian. It emphasizes the nutritional benefits of specific snacks and provides practical eating tips for individuals over the age of fifty-five, aligning well with the theme of healthy eating. By Ali Musa Axadle Wellness Desk – Health &…

Ilhan Omar Survives Attack During Minneapolis Speech, Says Assailants Tried to Silence Her

“They Tried to Silence Me”: Ilhan Omar Survives Attack During Minneapolis Speech MINNEAPOLIS — U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar escaped unharmed after a man attempted to attack her during a public speech in Minneapolis, authorities and witnesses said. The confrontation unfolded as the Minnesota Democrat addressed a community gathering focused on recent developments in the state. Witnesses said a white male suspect rushed toward the stage holding a syringe-like device that appeared to contain an unidentified liquid and tried to spray it…

Former Nigerian Oil Minister Faces Bribery Trial in the UK

Former Nigerian Minister Accused of High-Stakes Bribery Former Nigerian Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke is currently on trial in London, facing serious allegations of accepting bribes in the form of luxury goods, high-end properties, and the use of a private jet from individuals vying for lucrative oil and gas contracts. Alison-Madueke is confronting five bribery charges alongside one count of conspiracy to commit bribery, all of which she vehemently denies. During the proceedings at Southwark Crown Court,…

Tehran denies requesting negotiations with the United States

Iran signals no talks with U.S. under threat as Trump touts new ‘armada’ toward Gulf Iran’s foreign minister said Tehran has not sought or held contact with Washington’s special envoy in recent days, rejecting fresh talk of backchannel diplomacy as the United States moves additional forces toward the region and President Donald Trump presses for a deal. Abbas Araqchi, speaking to state media on Wednesday, said there had been “no contact” with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and “no request for negotiations” from Tehran. He…

Budapest mayor charged, risks fine for staging banned Pride parade

Prosecutors in Hungary have filed charges against Budapest’s opposition mayor, Gergely Karacsony, seeking to fine him for organizing the city’s Pride parade last June despite an official ban, according to the district prosecutor’s office. The office said it has asked the court to issue a summary judgment imposing a fine without a trial, but did not disclose the amount sought. The case stems from a Pride parade that organizers said drew more than 200,000 people, a record turnout and a pointed rebuke of Prime Minister Viktor…