Queen Mother Sirikit of Thailand, revered for her dedication to rural development, traditional craft preservation, and environmental protection, passed away on Friday at the age of 93. The mother of King Vajiralongkorn and wife of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, she had been hospitalised since 2019 and succumbed to a blood infection at Chulalongkorn Hospital in Bangkok.

The United States intensified its pressure on Venezuela by flying two B-1 Lancer bombers near the country’s airspace. According to The Wall Street Journal, the long-range bombers departed from Dyess Air Force Base in Texas and remained in international airspace throughout the mission. While President Donald Trump dismissed the report as “inaccurate,” he acknowledged Washington’s dissatisfaction with Venezuela.

The US military carried out its eighth strike against an alleged drug vessel on Tuesday night in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing two people, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Wednesday. The previous seven strikes targeted vessels in the Caribbean, bringing the total death toll from all operations to at least 34. Hegseth shared a brief video showing a small boat loaded with brown packages before it exploded into flames.

North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles early Wednesday, South Korea’s military reported, marking Pyongyang’s first missile launch since May. The missiles, detected from near Pyongyang and traveling about 350 km, appeared to have fallen inland.

Intense fighting broke out late Tuesday between Pakistani security forces and the Afghan Taliban along the Kurram border, according to state broadcaster PTV News. The report said Afghan Taliban and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) fighters, referred to as “Fitna al-Khawarij,” opened unprovoked fire, prompting a strong retaliation from the Pakistani Army. Several Taliban positions reportedly sustained heavy damage, with multiple tanks destroyed and fighters fleeing their posts

U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday signed a landmark document on the Gaza ceasefire, marking what the White House hailed as a “truly historic” breakthrough for Middle East peace. The signing took place during an international summit hosted by Egypt in the Red Sea resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh, with mediators Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey joining the accord.

US President Donald Trump announced sweeping new trade penalties against China, declaring a 100% tariff on all Chinese goods—on top of existing duties—effective November 1, 2025, or sooner if Beijing takes further “aggressive” actions. He also revealed plans to impose export controls on all critical software beginning the same day. Posting on Truth Social, Trump accused China of taking an “extraordinarily aggressive” stance by allegedly sending a hostile letter to nations wor

A powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck Mindanao, Philippines, on Friday, prompting initial tsunami warnings and mass evacuations. The quake, originally recorded at 7.6, hit off the coast of Manay town in Davao Oriental at a depth of 20 km, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

A deadly paramotor attack struck a Thadingyut festival celebration and protest in Chaung U township, central Myanmar, on Monday evening, killing at least 24 people and injuring 47, according to the exiled National Unity Government. Around 100 people had gathered for a candlelight vigil opposing the military junta when a motorised paraglider dropped two bombs on the crowd. Witnesses described horrific scenes, with victims—including children—torn apart.

US President Donald Trump has announced a 25% tariff on medium- and heavy-duty trucks imported into the United States, effective November 1, 2025. Shared on his platform Truth Social, Trump said the move aims to protect American truck manufacturers from “unfair outside competition,” benefiting companies like Peterbilt, Kenworth, Freightliner, and Mack Trucks.

The 2025 Nobel Prize announcements will take place from October 6 to October 13, recognizing achievements in Physiology or Medicine, Physics, Chemistry, Literature, Peace, and Economic Sciences. The ceremonies will be live-streamed on official Nobel channels.

At least three people were injured in Gorlovka, a frontline city in Ukraine’s Donbas region, after Ukrainian drone strikes on Friday night, local officials reported. Mayor Ivan Prikhodko said UAVs first struck in the afternoon, damaging vehicles and energy infrastructure, before hitting a school and apartment block later in the evening. Separately, Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) head Denis Pushilin confirmed that two teenagers were injured by an explosive device.

The UK is preparing for severe weather this weekend as a powerful storm system threatens destructive winds and heavy rainfall. Forecasts from WXCharts suggest gusts could reach up to 88mph, particularly across western parts of England and Wales late Friday night into early Saturday.

US President Donald Trump announced a 100% tariff on imported branded or patented pharmaceuticals effective October 1, 2025, unless the exporting company is actively building manufacturing facilities in the US. He clarified that “IS BUILDING” refers to projects that have broken ground or are under construction, exempting such companies from the tariff. Trump also imposed new tariffs: 50% on kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities, 30% on upholstered furniture, and 25% on heavy

Fierce winds, torrential rain, and rough seas lashed southern China on Wednesday as Typhoon Ragasa slammed into Guangdong province with gusts reaching 145 km/h (90 mph). The storm, deemed the strongest in the northwestern Pacific this year, hit the coastal city of Yangjiang, where debris and ripped billboards littered streets. Earlier, Ragasa devastated Taiwan, killing at least 14 people and injuring 46 after a decades-old barrier lake burst in Hualien County.

The Trump administration unveiled a proposal to reshape the H-1B visa process, prioritizing higher-skilled and better-paid foreign workers. According to a Federal Register notice, the plan would alter the existing lottery system if applications exceed the 85,000-visa cap, giving preference to employers offering higher wages through a tiered selection system. This initiative follows a White House proclamation requiring companies to pay a $100,000 annual fee for new H-1B visas,

Lionel Messi once again proved decisive as Inter Miami defeated D.C. United 3-1 at Chase Stadium, keeping their Supporters’ Shield hopes alive. The Argentine maestro set up Tadeo Allende with a sublime pass in the 35th minute to give Miami the lead. D.C. equalized through Christian Benteke early in the second half, but Messi quickly turned the tide.

A strong 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the east coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula early Friday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The quake was recorded at 6:58 a.m. local time, with its epicenter located 127 kilometers (79 miles) east of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky at a shallow depth of 19.5 kilometers.

France is heading into deeper political turbulence as Prime Minister François Bayrou faces a crucial confidence vote in parliament on Monday—one he is almost certain to lose. The veteran centre-right politician is the country’s fourth prime minister in just three years, underscoring the fragility of French politics since President Emmanuel Macron’s snap election in 2024 produced a hung parliament.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s proposal for peace talks in Moscow, calling it unrealistic and proof that Russia lacks genuine interest in negotiations. Speaking to US media, Zelenskyy said, “I can’t go to the capital of this terrorist,” stressing that Ukraine remains under constant missile and drone attacks. Instead, he invited Putin to Kyiv.