World

An 80-year-old Roman Catholic bishop and three other Catholic leaders were detained in Nicaragua last week amid an intensifying government crackdown on Christians, a religious-freedom watchdog reported. The arrests add to a growing wave of persecution against clergy under President Daniel Ortega's regime, which has expelled priests, closed churches, and stripped opponents of citizenship.

Explosions rocked Damascus on Tuesday, wounding at least 18 people, as French President Emmanuel Macron met his Syrian counterpart in a landmark visit, Syria's Interior Ministry said. The blasts underscored the fragility of Syria's postwar transition even as Western leaders move to re-engage with the government in Damascus.

A tanker was struck by an unidentified projectile Tuesday while transiting the Strait of Hormuz near Omani waters, catching fire, according to maritime authorities. The strike came as Iran mourned slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and hardliners called for revenge, raising fears of renewed conflict along one of the world's most critical oil chokepoints.

A man is suing the Department of Homeland Security after ICE officers showed up at his home to warn him over an email criticizing the agency. The suit raises free-speech concerns as ICE's internal watchdog reportedly begins investigating online critics.

An international law-enforcement operation has led to more than 1,000 arrests as part of a coordinated global crackdown on human trafficking networks. Authorities said the sweep rescued numerous victims across multiple countries.

An Austrian court has found a former Syrian intelligence chief guilty of torture and sexual abuse, a landmark verdict in the pursuit of accountability for atrocities committed under the Assad regime. The ruling adds to a growing body of European prosecutions of Syrian officials.

Cuba has suffered its third nationwide blackout of the year as the island's crumbling power grid buckles under a worsening energy crisis. Millions were left without electricity amid ongoing fuel shortages and economic strain.

A young girl named Fabiana survived 32 hours trapped in the rubble of a collapsed 10-story building after two earthquakes struck Venezuela, telling rescuers she stayed alive by eating ketchup and cheese. Her rescue offered a rare moment of hope amid the disaster's devastation.

Two days of violence at Negombo Prison have left at least 26 people dead and more than 100 injured, marking Sri Lanka's worst prison riots in years. Authorities are working to restore order as questions mount over conditions inside the facility.

A fast-moving wildfire in the Pyrénées-Orientales region of southern France has forced the evacuation of 10,000 people, with Tour de France organizers banning spectators from stage three as the blaze spreads. Emergency crews are battling the flames amid hot, dry summer conditions.

As NATO leaders gather in Ankara, Turkey, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to press the alliance for additional interceptor missiles and air-defense systems following a fresh wave of intense Russian strikes. The summit unfolds amid reports that U.S. influence will sideline the Ukraine issue and keep Zelensky from addressing the gathering.

Marriage to a U.S. citizen once offered a relatively smooth route to citizenship, but new scrutiny under the Trump administration has added significant hurdles. Couples now face longer waits and more intensive vetting of their relationships.

Foreign-born physicians working in the United States say tightening immigration rules have left them anxious about their visa status and future. Faith communities and rural hospitals that rely on these doctors are watching the changes closely.

A Venezuelan girl was rescued after surviving 32 hours trapped under rubble following an earthquake, telling reporters she stayed alive by eating ketchup and cheese. Her rescue offered a rare hopeful moment amid the disaster's mounting toll.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement's internal oversight office has begun investigating people who publicly criticize the agency online, according to a new report. Civil-liberties advocates warn the practice could chill protected speech.

Bangladesh is deepening economic and diplomatic ties with China even as it works to improve its relationship with neighboring India. The balancing act underscores how smaller South Asian states are navigating the rivalry between two regional powers.

A detailed account traces how the transatlantic relationship between Europe and the United States has fractured over trade, defense and diplomacy. European officials describe a widening rupture that many now consider difficult, if not impossible, to reverse.

China test-launched a ballistic missile into the South Pacific, a rare long-range demonstration that drew concern from regional governments. Analysts view the launch as a signal of Beijing's expanding strategic reach amid tensions with the United States and its allies.

Artisanal African fishermen say Chinese industrial trawlers are depleting coastal waters and destroying their livelihoods. The dispute underscores tensions over foreign fishing fleets off West Africa.

Long a global hub for fake luxury goods, Vietnam is cracking down on its sprawling counterfeit black market. The effort targets a trade that has drawn international pressure.

Marine Le Pen awaits an appeal verdict in her embezzlement case that could determine whether she can run for the French presidency. The ruling carries major stakes for France's political future.

A lawyer for detained Palestinian doctor Hussam Abu Safiya warned that his client is in critical condition. Abu Safiya, formerly a hospital director in Gaza, has been held in Israeli detention.

Nigeria said two of its nationals were killed in South Africa amid a rise in anti-migrant attacks. The deaths heightened diplomatic tensions and concerns over xenophobic violence in the region.

A 99-year-old World War II Army veteran finally received his Purple Heart 81 years after being wounded near the Rhine River fighting Nazi Germany. The long-delayed honor capped decades of waiting for recognition of his sacrifice.

Guam and surrounding Pacific islands ordered evacuations as Super Typhoon Bavi bore down on the region. Forecasters warned of destructive winds and flooding as the storm intensified on its approach to the U.S. territory.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government declared it would defy a ruling from Israel's Supreme Court, sharply escalating the country's constitutional crisis. Netanyahu also pushed back on the 'woke Right' and rebuffed Vice President Vance's characterization of the U.S. as Israel's 'only powerful ally,' while denying any rift with President Trump over Iran.

Millions of Iranians poured into Tehran for the state funeral of assassinated Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, with three of his sons appearing at the ceremony rather than a named successor. Mourners chanted for revenge against President Trump, whom Iran blames for the killing, while the whereabouts of a successor remained unclear.

A masked gunman opened fire on a family barbecue near Coney Island beach in Brooklyn on the Fourth of July, wounding at least eight people, including four children. Police were searching for the shooter as officials, including New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, condemned the violence.

The World Cup Round of 16 delivered dramatic results, with Kylian Mbappé scoring his seventh goal of the tournament to lift France past Paraguay in a physical match. Morocco's Atlas Lions dispatched Canada 3-0, while Cape Verde's Cinderella run ended after pushing Argentina to the brink. Political undercurrents surfaced as Egypt's manager waved a Palestinian flag following a win over Australia.

China's military promoted two new generals after an anti-corruption purge thinned the ranks of its senior leadership. The moves reflect ongoing turbulence within the People's Liberation Army command.

Once a source of national pride, Cuba's healthcare system is declining as deepening energy shortages worsen the country's broader crisis. Hospitals and clinics face equipment failures and shortages amid rolling blackouts.

Three children died after a boat capsized on a Wisconsin lake during a severe storm. Authorities responded as families and the community grieved the sudden tragedy.

Archaeologists in Egypt uncovered the remains of a lost Byzantine-era city in the country's western desert. The find sheds new light on settlement and religious life in the region during late antiquity.

Ukraine struck a major oil terminal in Russia's St Petersburg, marking one of its deepest strikes on Russian energy infrastructure. The attack comes amid intensifying long-range exchanges as the war grinds on.

Germany's Alternative for Germany (AfD) party reelected its leadership at a party congress, as tens of thousands of protesters clashed with police outside the venue. The party's continued rise has intensified tensions in German politics and drawn large demonstrations.

President Trump pardoned nine people convicted of tampering with emission controls on diesel engines, calling them 'grease monkeys' punished under Biden-era environmental rules. Supporters framed the move as relief for mechanics and small operators, while critics warned it undermines clean-air enforcement.

Pope Leo XIV marked July 4 by traveling to the Italian gateway island of Lampedusa, where he prayed for migrants who died seeking freedom and prosperity. In his remarks he urged Europe to do more to welcome and protect those crossing the Mediterranean. The visit echoed a long-standing papal focus on the plight of migrants.

Speaking at Mount Rushmore ahead of America's 250th birthday, President Trump warned that a 'menace of communism' inside the country is the greatest threat the nation has faced and touted American strength. New York mayoral figure Zohran Mamdani offered a competing vision of America in his own 250th-anniversary address. The dueling speeches underscored a sharply divided national mood on the holiday.

President Trump appeared on Usha Vance's 'Storytime' podcast to read a children's book, then digressed into musings on past presidents and sports. The lighthearted segment offered an unusual glimpse of the president in a family-friendly setting. It quickly circulated across outlets.

A Texas nurse was fired after posting a TikTok video suggesting she would not treat patients who watch Fox News. The clip drew swift backlash and prompted the hospital's action. The episode reignited debate over professional conduct and speech online.

The U.S. Coast Guard rescued eight people, including an infant and a child, after their vessel capsized off Fort Myers Beach, Florida. Crews reached the group and brought them to safety. The rescue capped a hazardous stretch of holiday-weekend boating.

A Louisiana court has halted a criminal indictment against state Attorney General Liz Murrill over alleged threats. The ruling pauses proceedings in a politically charged case. The dispute continues to unfold in the courts.

President Vladimir Putin dismissed domestic fuel shortages in Russia even as Moscow intensified strikes on Ukraine. The comments come amid mounting economic strain from the prolonged war. Kyiv continues to absorb heavy overnight assaults.

A federal court ruled the U.S. government may install new historical panels and replace an existing slavery-focused exhibit at the site of George Washington's Philadelphia residence. The decision resolves a dispute over how the founding-era site presents its history. Critics and supporters differ over the interpretive changes.

A stand-up comedian has been detained in Turkey amid a widening crackdown after telling jokes about President Erdogan and Islam. The arrest is part of a broader pattern of prosecutions targeting speech deemed insulting to religion or the state. Rights advocates warn of shrinking space for satire and dissent.

A couple was publicly caned in Indonesia's Aceh province after being convicted of violating Sharia law by kissing in a video posted to TikTok. The punishment underscores the strict religious code enforced in the region. The case has drawn international attention to the intersection of social media and Islamic law.

Across Africa, users are increasingly adopting SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet to bypass unreliable and expensive terrestrial networks. The shift is reshaping connectivity on the continent, offering access in remote regions while unsettling incumbent telecom providers and regulators. The trend highlights both the promise and the disruption of low-earth-orbit internet.

Pope Leo XIV accepted the Liberty Medal in honor of America's 250th anniversary, calling on the nation to recommit to unity. In remarks widely read as an implicit rebuke of Trump administration immigration policy, the pope praised the United States' long history of welcoming immigrants. Coverage split sharply over whether the address emphasized unity or dissent.

Conservative candidate Keiko Fujimori has been officially declared the winner of Peru's presidential runoff election. Her victory marks a decisive shift for the country after a turbulent political period. She is the daughter of former president Alberto Fujimori.

Australia's famed Gloucester Tree, a towering climbable landmark, has reopened to visitors after three years of repairs. The restoration preserves a beloved adventure attraction. Climbers can once again scale the historic fire-lookout tree.