Japan shut down the No. 6 reactor at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant just a day after restarting it, after a control-rod-related malfunction triggered an alarm. Operator TEPCO said there was no safety or radiation risk, but inspections are ongoing, dealing a setback to Japan’s nuclear restart plans.
U.S. Border Patrol agents say they were conducting targeted enforcement when a confrontation with a suspect turned violent. Authorities report that a man identified as Pretti allegedly approached agents while armed with a 9 mm handgun and resisted attempts to disarm him.
According to the Border Patrol, an agent fired in self-defense during the encounter. No further details about Pretti’s condition or the exact location of the incident have been released.
According to the Border Patrol, an agent fired in self-defense during the encounter. No further details about Pretti’s condition or the exact location of the incident have been released.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that a large U.S. naval force (described as an “armada”) is heading toward Iran amid rising tensions. He warned Tehran against killing protesters and restarting its nuclear program but added he hoped the military buildup would not need to be used.
Iran’s Warning:
A senior Iranian official responded that any U.S. attack (even a limited one) would be treated as “all‑out war,” and Tehran would respond strongly, though specific actions were not detailed.
Iran’s Warning:
A senior Iranian official responded that any U.S. attack (even a limited one) would be treated as “all‑out war,” and Tehran would respond strongly, though specific actions were not detailed.
Thousands gathered at Tokyo’s Ueno Zoo to say goodbye to Japan’s last two giant pandas, who are returning to China. Their departure coincides with rising tensions between Tokyo and Beijing, following Japan’s warning of possible military action if China attacks Taiwan. Giant pandas, symbols of diplomacy, have been on loan from China since 1972, and their return leaves Japan without any pandas for the first time in over 50 years.
In a unanimous move hailed by conservationists worldwide, Belgium’s Parliament has passed a landmark law prohibiting the import of hunting trophies from endangered animals. The legislation targets the importation of prized trophies such as elephant tusks, lion skins, and other species listed as threatened or endangered, effectively cutting off a significant market for hunters abroad.
A stash of ballot papers and boxes from the ANC’s Greater Johannesburg Regional Conference was discovered at a private house in Pretoria. The materials are linked to the December 2025 regional elective conference, which saw leadership changes already contested amid allegations of irregularities.
Police and ANC officials are investigating, while President Cyril Ramaphosa said he is awaiting a full report before commenting. The discovery has intensified scrutiny over the party’s internal election processes.
Police and ANC officials are investigating, while President Cyril Ramaphosa said he is awaiting a full report before commenting. The discovery has intensified scrutiny over the party’s internal election processes.
After six decades of production at its Rosslyn plant near Pretoria, Nissan is halting its vehicle manufacturing in South Africa, marking the end of an era for the company in the region. The iconic plant, which produced models like the Nissan Navara and NP300, will now be under the control of Chinese automaker Chery.
As the war in Ukraine persists, Russia has adopted several strategies to reinforce its military forces. These include offering cash bonuses to attract recruits, as well as releasing prisoners with military experience in exchange for their service. Russia is also recruiting individuals from countries like Syria and Belarus to bolster its ranks. Additionally, private military companies, such as Wagner, have been playing a significant role in supporting these efforts.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg recently warned, “Good luck” to those who think Europe can defend itself without U.S. support, emphasizing the crucial role the U.S. plays in NATO’s defense structure.
While European nations have increased defense spending and modernized their forces, Stoltenberg's remark underscores the ongoing reliance on American military strength. The U.S. provides key resources, from nuclear deterrence to advanced technologies, that Europe struggles to match on its own.
While European nations have increased defense spending and modernized their forces, Stoltenberg's remark underscores the ongoing reliance on American military strength. The U.S. provides key resources, from nuclear deterrence to advanced technologies, that Europe struggles to match on its own.
A drone strike struck a passenger train in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region, killing five people and injuring several others. The train was traveling through an area close to the front lines when it was hit. Authorities reported damage to multiple rail cars and emergency services were dispatched to evacuate passengers and provide medical assistance.
The U.S. announced on Tuesday that a second naval strike group is being deployed toward Iran, following the recent arrival of the first carrier strike group, led by the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. The initial deployment was intended to signal U.S. readiness to respond if needed, amid ongoing unrest in Iran.
Senator Ted Cruz called for the U.S. to supply weapons to Iranians protesting the regime, framing it as a move to protect American security. His remarks come amid a deadly crackdown in Iran and threats from Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Yemen, who warned Washington of “total war” if the U.S. intervenes.
The USS Abraham Lincoln strike group has been deployed to the region, with a second carrier group reportedly on the way.
The USS Abraham Lincoln strike group has been deployed to the region, with a second carrier group reportedly on the way.
Severe flooding across Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and South Africa has not only killed over 100 people but also forced crocodiles into towns and villages, creating a deadly new hazard.
In Mozambique’s Gaza Province, floodwaters have swept crocodiles into populated areas, killing several residents. Authorities warn people to stay away from floodwaters, as the displaced reptiles are unpredictable and aggressive.
In Mozambique’s Gaza Province, floodwaters have swept crocodiles into populated areas, killing several residents. Authorities warn people to stay away from floodwaters, as the displaced reptiles are unpredictable and aggressive.
Russia has returned the bodies of fallen soldiers to Ukraine, marking one of the recent exchanges in the ongoing conflict. Around 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers’ remains were handed over to Kyiv, while Ukraine returned the bodies of 38 Russian servicemen.
These transfers are typically coordinated through military channels and humanitarian intermediaries like the International Committee of the Red Cross. Though limited in scope, such exchanges aim to honor the dead and provide closure for families.
These transfers are typically coordinated through military channels and humanitarian intermediaries like the International Committee of the Red Cross. Though limited in scope, such exchanges aim to honor the dead and provide closure for families.
An explosion at the Zuikerbosch Water Treatment Plant south of Johannesburg temporarily disrupted water supply to south and central Gauteng. The blast, caused by a motor failure, forced part of the plant offline, leading to low water pressure and outages in many areas.
Emergency repairs have restored most of the plant’s capacity, but it will take time for water pressure and reservoir levels to normalize. The facility supplies water to over 11 million people in the region.
Emergency repairs have restored most of the plant’s capacity, but it will take time for water pressure and reservoir levels to normalize. The facility supplies water to over 11 million people in the region.
The green ID book is still a valid legal document in South Africa, but it is being gradually phased out. New green ID books will no longer be issued after late 2025, as the country transitions to the more secure smart ID card system. Existing green ID books will remain valid for several years, with a full phase-out expected by 2029.
A Smart ID card is a modern replacement for the green ID book. It is a plastic card with a chip that securely stores your personal information, including your name, date of birth, ID number, and fingerprints.
A Smart ID card is a modern replacement for the green ID book. It is a plastic card with a chip that securely stores your personal information, including your name, date of birth, ID number, and fingerprints.
Who Pulls the Strings of Revolt?
Revolutions are often imagined as uprisings of the poor against the rich, but history tells a different story: they’re usually driven by elites. When elite overproduction creates more ambitious, educated individuals than there are positions of power, these frustrated actors have the knowledge, networks, and organization to instigate change.
The poor rarely spark revolutions. Daily survival leaves little time or resources for planning, and access to education, communication, and institutional influence is limited. They may join movements, but revolutions almost never start from their ranks.
Take the French Revolution: it was led by the bourgeoisie and financially strained nobility, while the masses provided essential manpower. Or the Russian Revolution of 1917, orchestrated by intellectuals and socialist organizers even as peasants and workers supplied the boots on the ground.
Revolutions are often imagined as uprisings of the poor against the rich, but history tells a different story: they’re usually driven by elites. When elite overproduction creates more ambitious, educated individuals than there are positions of power, these frustrated actors have the knowledge, networks, and organization to instigate change.
The poor rarely spark revolutions. Daily survival leaves little time or resources for planning, and access to education, communication, and institutional influence is limited. They may join movements, but revolutions almost never start from their ranks.
Take the French Revolution: it was led by the bourgeoisie and financially strained nobility, while the masses provided essential manpower. Or the Russian Revolution of 1917, orchestrated by intellectuals and socialist organizers even as peasants and workers supplied the boots on the ground.