After a summer already marked by devastating blazes, hundreds of firefighters in Portugal and Spain are battling new wildfires, according to civil protection authorities. Strong winds have fanned the flames in several areas, forcing road closures, village evacuations, and urgent efforts to protect homes. Situation in Portugal The largest fire is raging in Seia, central Portugal, where 600 firefighters have been deployed to contain the flames, the civil protection agency said. A spokesperson told the Lusa news agency that the priority is “to protect homes.” Police have arrested a person suspected of starting the fire. Situation in…
Author: Raja Zahid Khanzada
President Donald Trump has threatened to unleash his newly rebranded “Department of War” on Chicago, escalating tensions over his push to deploy troops into Democratic-led US cities. The move appears to be a replication of an operation in Washington, D.C., where Trump deployed National Guard troops and increased the number of federal agents. This led to a public backlash and a protest on Saturday that drew thousands of people. Trump’s Remarks and Government Reactions On his Truth Social account, Trump posted, “Chicago is about to find out why it’s called the Department of WAR.” Illinois’s Democratic Governor, J.B.…
Tens of thousands of people gathered at the Vatican on Sunday for the canonization of Carlo Acutis, an Italian teenager dubbed “God’s Influencer” for his use of technology to spread the Catholic faith online. Pope Leo XIV officially proclaimed Acutis, who died of leukemia in 2006 at the age of 15, as the Church’s first millennial saint. Pilgrims from around the world filled St. Peter’s Square, many of them young people holding flags and images of the “cyber-apostle.” Filippo Bellaviti, 17, told AFP, “Carlo Acutis is an example for me because he was able to combine his everyday life—school, football…
Retired US Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt has stated that Washington’s growing closeness with Pakistan is largely due to India’s “arrogance.” In an appearance on Piers Morgan Uncensored, the former general said that President Donald Trump has established a “bromance” with Field Marshal Asim Munir, a development that should be a cause for concern for New Delhi. “India’s arrogance that’s been displayed to President Trump manifests itself in the fact that we are now becoming much closer to Pakistan,” Kimmitt said. “Field Marshal Munir has now a bromance with President Trump that should actually give India some pause.” Strained Relations…
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced on Sunday that he has decided to resign, a move that could lead to a period of political uncertainty for the world’s fourth-largest economy. Ishiba, 68, instructed his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)—which has governed Japan for most of the post-war era—to hold an emergency leadership race. He will continue his duties until a successor is elected. Reasons for Resignation Since taking office less than a year ago, Ishiba’s ruling coalition has lost its majorities in both houses of parliament, largely due to voter anger over rising living costs. He had previously resisted…
Thai tycoon Anutin Charnvirakul, a conservative and cannabis-championing politician, officially took office as prime minister on Sunday. His appointment marks the end of the dominant political dynasty of the Shinawatras and sets the stage for new elections early next year. Since the 2023 elections, Thailand’s top office has been held by the Pheu Thai party, a populist force that has frequently clashed with the pro-monarchy, pro-military establishment. The dynasty’s heiress, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, was ousted by a court order last month. Anutin quickly formed his own coalition government, winning a parliamentary vote on Friday to shut Pheu Thai out of power.…
In a historic first, Brigadier General Shariful M Khan, a Bangladeshi-born Muslim officer, has been appointed Director of Staff for the Golden Dome initiative at the Pentagon. This is a top-secret, high-tech missile defense program, often referred to as America’s version of the Iron Dome. In this critical role, Brigadier General Khan will oversee strategy, policies, and partnerships with industry, universities, national labs, and government agencies to develop and deploy next-generation missile defense systems. Brigadier General Khan’s appointment is a landmark for diversity in US defense, demonstrating that a Bangladeshi-born Muslim officer is now leading one of America’s most crucial…
For the first time in the UK’s history, a person of Pakistani and Muslim heritage has been appointed to the powerful position of Home Secretary. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has named Kashmiri and Pakistani-origin Shabana Mahmood to the role, which oversees immigration, policing, and national security. The announcement followed the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner. “It is the honour of my life to serve as Home Secretary. The first responsibility of the government is the safety of its citizens. Every day in this job, I will be devoted to that purpose,” Mahmood said. Born in Birmingham in…
Ukrainian officials reported on Sunday that three people, including an infant, were killed in Russia’s overnight attacks on Kyiv. The strikes, which also injured 18 people, set fire to numerous buildings in the capital, including a government building. According to Kyiv’s Mayor Vitali Klitschko, the attack began with a barrage of drones, followed by missile strikes, which caused a fire to break out in the city center government building. Reuters witnesses observed thick smoke rising from the building in the Pecherskyi district. Klitschko stated on the Telegram messaging app that the drone attacks killed an infant and a young woman,…
US President Donald Trump has escalated tensions by threatening to wage “war” on Chicago, sparking mass protests in the city and in Washington, DC. His remarks, coupled with an unprecedented federal crackdown, drew sharp condemnation from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, who branded Trump a “wannabe dictator.” On his social media platform, Trump wrote: “I love the smell of deportations in the morning. Chicago about to find out why it’s called the Department of WAR.” He labeled the coming operation “Chipocalypse Now,” a play on the Vietnam War film Apocalypse Now. The president has repeatedly threatened to expand immigration enforcement in Democratic-led cities. His…
