Afghanistan's Taliban-led government says it has carried out airstrikes on alleged ISIS hideouts inside Pakistan, marking a major escalation in cross-border tensions. According to the Afghan Ministry of Defence, the strikes targeted suspected ISIS positions in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa that were allegedly being used to plan attacks in Afghanistan. The Taliban claimed the operation caused heavy losses to ISIS and said no civilians were harmed. It also warned that it would continue targeting any location posing a threat to Afghanistan's security. The strikes come days after Pakistan launched air operations inside Afghanistan, further straining relations between the two neighbours.  

A puppy has been rescued alive from beneath the rubble days after devastating twin earthquakes struck Venezuela, offering a rare moment of hope amid the disaster. Rescuers heard barking while searching a collapsed building in Caracas and carefully dug through the debris before pulling the frightened animal to safety. Video of the rescue shows emergency workers comforting the puppy after it was freed. The rescue comes as teams continue searching for survivors following the powerful earthquakes, which have killed more than 1,700 people and caused widespread destruction across affected areas. Rescue efforts remain underway despite fading hopes of finding more survivors.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that Israel could launch a third military operation against Iran if required, insisting Tehran would not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons while he remains in office. Speaking to Channel 14, Netanyahu said Israel had entered Iran twice to eliminate what he described as an “existential threat” and would act again if necessary. He also stressed that Israel’s campaign against Iran and its regional allies is not over. “We entered Iran twice to save ourselves from destruction. There will be a third time if necessary,” Netanyahu said, reaffirming his government's determination to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons under any circumstances during his tenure.

A 25-year-old Hindu priest and law student, Subhash Deuri, was allegedly kidnapped, held captive overnight, tortured and forced to extort money from his own family before being abandoned on a roadside in Dhaka, Bangladesh, according to bdnews24.com. Friends found him with serious injuries in the Narinda area early Tuesday and rushed him to Dhaka Medical College Hospital's emergency department. Deuri is a student at Dhaka Central Law College and has been serving as an assistant priest at the central temple of Jagannath University, where he performed daily religious rituals. His family detailed the alleged ordeal after his rescue, raising concerns over the brutal kidnapping and extortion case in the capital. (PC: India Today)

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday urged Congress to pass legislation ending birthright citizenship after the Supreme Court rejected his administration's effort to restrict automatic citizenship for children born on American soil. The 6-3 ruling reaffirmed the long-standing interpretation of the 14th Amendment's Citizenship Clause, preserving birthright citizenship and dealing a setback to Trump's immigration agenda. Responding on Truth Social, Trump argued that Congress could change the policy through legislation without requiring a constitutional amendment, calling birthright citizenship "expensive and unfair." He pledged his full support for lawmakers willing to pursue the proposal, signalling that the issue will remain a key focus of his administration

Iran on Tuesday dismissed reports of fresh talks with the United States, saying it has no plans to meet American officials in Doha despite the presence of US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the Iranian delegation would instead meet Qatari officials to discuss implementing the recently signed memorandum of understanding, including the release of billions of dollars in Iranian funds frozen in Qatar. Baghaei rejected speculation about renewed diplomacy with Washington and warned Iran would respond immediately to any US violation of the agreement that ended recent regional hostilities. Qatar confirmed the frozen assets have not yet been transferred to Tehran.

Tsunami, an eight-year-old Border Collie rescued from abuse and abandonment as a puppy, has emerged as one of Venezuela's earthquake heroes after helping locate survivors beneath collapsed buildings. Working with handler Jorge Beans and the K-SAR ECID rescue unit, Tsunami reportedly helped emergency teams find at least 13 people alive, including a 60-year-old man trapped for six hours beneath an eight-storey building. Before the June 2026 disaster, the rescue dog had participated in humanitarian missions following the Türkiye-Syria earthquakes and floods across Venezuela. After days of continuous work, Tsunami was treated for exhaustion before authorities confirmed the earthquake response would be his final official rescue mission before retirement.

Ukraine said its military struck a Russian satellite communications centre near Moscow using drones. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the site was used to support Russia's military operations. "Step by step, we are implementing our plan," he said. Meanwhile, Russian officials said a six-month-old baby was killed after drone debris hit a building in the Moscow region. Another person died in Belgorod. Russian attacks on Ukraine also killed at least 10 people in Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, and Kharkiv. The latest strikes came as fighting continued on both sides of the border. (PC: Reuters)

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said she is "not anti-American" and is also "not kneeling" amid a dispute with US President Donald Trump. Speaking in an interview, she said Italy believes in a united West and that strong ties should be based on honesty. The comments came after Trump claimed Meloni had wanted a photo with him during an international summit. His remarks drew criticism in Italy. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani later cancelled a planned visit to the United States, calling Trump's comments offensive to Italy. The row has strained relations between the two allies.

People in Venezuela are still searching for survivors after last week's powerful earthquakes. Many residents are using simple tools and their hands to clear the rubble because help has been slow to arrive. More than 1,700 people have died, and thousands are still missing. A 21-year-old man was rescued after being trapped for over 100 hours. "Every life saved is a victory for hope," Interim President Delcy Rodríguez said. Rescue teams from several countries are helping in the search. More international aid has also arrived as officials continue relief work in the worst-hit areas. (PC: EPA)