Israeli air strikes hit southern Lebanon on Tuesday, killing at least 8 people in the city of Tyre, according to Lebanese health officials. The attacks came despite Iran warning Israel not to continue military operations in Lebanon.   The Israeli military issued evacuation orders for parts of Tyre, including its Christian quarter for the first time. Thousands of residents fled the area.   Israel said it would continue targeting Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon. Meanwhile, Hezbollah claimed it launched rockets and drones at Israeli forces.   The latest violence has increased tensions in the region and raised concerns over the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Iran. (PC: AFP)

US President Donald Trump claimed that Iranian forces shot down a US Apache helicopter during a patrol over the Strait of Hormuz. He said both pilots were rescued by a US naval drone vessel and were safe and uninjured.   Trump called the incident an attack that required a response from the United States. The US military said the cause of the crash is still under investigation.   The incident comes amid ongoing tensions between the US and Iran despite recent efforts to maintain a fragile truce. Iranian officials have also warned Washington against violating agreements and said they are prepared to respond if needed.  

US President Donald Trump said Iran shot down an American AH-64 Apache helicopter during a patrol over the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he had been informed by the US military that the helicopter was brought down by Iranian forces. He added that the two crew members aboard were safe and uninjured after being rescued. Earlier, US Central Command confirmed that two soldiers were recovered after their helicopter went down while patrolling regional waters near Oman, noting that the cause remained under investigation. Trump subsequently stated that the United States “must respond” to the alleged attack.

Violence erupted in Pakistan-administered Kashmir after authorities banned the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a movement protesting inflation, electricity tariffs, taxation policies and alleged political marginalisation. According to local reports and activist groups, at least 30 people were killed and more than 200 injured after security forces opened fire on protesters. Authorities defended the crackdown, saying around 90 people were arrested in Mirpur Division and weapons were recovered during operations aimed at maintaining law and order. Protesters and civil society groups rejected those claims, alleging excessive force against largely unarmed demonstrators. Rights activists have called for an independent investigation as tensions continue to rise across the region.

More than 30 people were killed and around 200 injured after violent clashes erupted between security forces and protesters in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The unrest followed the banning of the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a civil society group protesting political and economic issues in the region.   Authorities said the violence began after JAAC supporters gathered following the death of a trader allegedly shot during a confrontation with police. Officials claimed protesters used weapons and petrol bombs, while local residents disputed the official version and alleged higher civilian casualties. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan condemned the violence and urged authorities to protect the right to peaceful protest and begin inclusive dialogue.  

Israel launched air strikes on the southern Lebanese city of Tyre on Tuesday, hours after ordering residents to evacuate parts of the area. Lebanese media reported that at least three people were killed in attacks across southern Lebanon, although the Israeli military had not officially confirmed the strikes.   The escalation comes a day after Iran said it would halt further attacks on Israel if Israeli operations against Lebanon stopped. Israel has accused the Iran-backed Hezbollah group of violating the ceasefire and says its military actions are aimed at preventing attacks on northern Israeli communities. The latest developments have heightened fears of a wider regional conflict. (PC: BBC)

Pakistan-occupied Kashmir remained tense on Tuesday after deadly clashes in Rawalakot left at least 11 people dead and more than 70 injured, according to official reports. Authorities have tightened security and suspended mobile internet services ahead of a planned protest march by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC).   The unrest follows a crackdown on the banned group, with officials alleging that some protesters used firearms and petrol bombs during the violence. JAAC supporters, however, have accused security forces of using excessive force. The region has witnessed repeated protests over rising prices, governance issues and political representation, with fresh unrest adding to instability in the area. (PC: India Today)

US President Donald Trump warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against escalating military action against Iran, cautioning that Israel could become increasingly isolated if it resumed large-scale strikes. The warning followed Israeli attacks on Hezbollah-linked targets in Beirut and subsequent Iranian missile launches against Israel, raising fears of a broader regional conflict. Trump reportedly pressed Netanyahu to avoid further retaliation, arguing that negotiations with Iran were close to a breakthrough. While Israel conducted limited strikes and Iran responded with additional missile fire, both sides later appeared to step back. The episode highlighted growing differences between Washington’s diplomatic approach and Israel’s security strategy. (PC: X)

A U.S. federal judge has struck down President Donald Trump's $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas, ruling that the measure amounted to an unlawful tax not authorised by Congress. Leo Sorokin of the U.S. District Court in Boston issued the decision in a lawsuit brought by 20 Democratic state attorneys general. The fee, announced in September, had dramatically increased the cost of obtaining H-1B visas for highly skilled foreign workers. The ruling represents a significant setback for the administration’s immigration policy and could provide relief to employers, technology firms and international professionals who rely on the H-1B visa programme. (PC: Reuters)

Two significant earthquakes struck within hours of each other, rattling parts of the Caribbean and the Middle East. A magnitude 6.1 earthquake hit waters off Cuba’s northwestern coast on Monday at a depth of 10 kilometres, shaking buildings in Havana and sending tremors across Florida, Mexico and parts of the Caribbean. Residents reported moving furniture and swaying buildings, though no immediate casualties or major damage were reported. Hours later, a magnitude 5.0 earthquake struck Iran’s southern Hormozgan province. Authorities also reported no significant damage or injuries. The back-to-back seismic events came shortly after a deadly 7.8-magnitude earthquake in the Philippines that killed at least 35 people.