Category: World

Captain Phillips Pirate Attack: The True Story Behind the Film, and Why Somali Piracy Is Back

Kainat R
Cargo ship Captain Phillips during the 2009 Somali pirate attack that inspired the Hollywood film.

The 2013 film “Captain Phillips” turned a real 2009 hijacking off the coast of Somalia into one of the most talked-about maritime dramas of the decade. More than a decade later, the same waters are making headlines again, as a fresh wave of Somali piracy has left Pakistani sailors held hostage and reignited global concern about the war on piracy. Background The original Captain Phillips pirate attack took place on April 8, 2009, when four Somali pirates boarded the American-flagged container ship MV Maersk Alabama in the Indian Ocean. It…

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Houthi Red Sea Attacks Escalate as Oil Prices Surge Past $100 a Barrel

Kainat R
Cargo ships sail through the Red Sea as Houthi attacks disrupt maritime traffic and push global oil prices above $100 a barrel.

Yemen’s Houthi rebels have struck two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea this week, pushing Brent crude above $100 a barrel for the first time since May. The Houthi Red Sea crisis has entered a new phase, with the group declaring a formal naval blockade on Saudi shipments in direct response to the ongoing US-Israel war with Iran. Background Are the Houthis still attacking ships in the Red Sea? Yes, and the latest escalation marks one of the most serious phases of the conflict since it began. The group…

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US House Passes Measure Seeking to Limit Trump’s Military Powers on Iran, Senate Rejects Companion Bill

Nadeem Ali

House lawmakers vote to require congressional approval for continued US military action against Iran, but the Senate blocks a similar proposal. WASHINGTON: The US House of Representatives has approved a resolution urging President Donald Trump to end American military operations against Iran unless Congress formally authorises further use of force, highlighting growing divisions in Washington over the administration’s war policy. The Republican-controlled House passed the measure by a 214-208 vote, with four Republican members breaking ranks to support Democrats in backing the proposal. However, the effort failed to gain momentum…

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UN Secretary-General Candidates 2026: Full Race Guide Who Will Lead the World Body in 2027?

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Six candidates for the 2026 UN Secretary-General race standing at the United Nations General Assembly Hall in New York

The current Secretary-General is António Guterres of Portugal, whose second term ends on December 31, 2026. That means the United Nations needs a new chief  and fast. On November 25, 2025, the Presidents of the General Assembly and the Security Council formally opened the 2026 Secretary-General race with a joint letter inviting nominations from member states. Since then, the process has moved quickly, drawing in candidates from across the globe. Latin America is widely regarded as the region next in line for the top UN job, which explains why three…

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US House Passes $1.15 Trillion Defense Bill With US Israeli Military Integration Embedded Inside

Kainat R
US Capitol building with American and Israeli flags representing the US Israeli military integration debate in the 2027 NDAA defense bill

The United States House of Representatives narrowly passed a massive $1.15 trillion defense spending bill on Wednesday, July 23, 2026, advancing the fiscal year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act, widely known as the 2027 NDAA. The vote ended at 216 to 212, splitting almost entirely along party lines in one of the most contentious defense votes in recent congressional history. Buried inside the bill is a provision that has triggered unusually fierce opposition from both sides of the aisle: Section 219, which would formally establish the United States-Israel Defense Technology…

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Latest News on Iran Israel War: US Strikes Iran for 12th Night as Houthis Hit Saudi Tankers

Kainat R
Smoke rises after US strikes on Iran as the Iran-Israel war intensifies and Houthi attacks target Saudi oil tankers.

The latest news on the Iran Israel war shows no sign of the fighting slowing down, with US forces striking Iran for a 12th consecutive night while Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed fresh attacks on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea. The escalation has opened a second front in a conflict already threatening global oil supplies through the Strait of Hormuz. Background The current Iran-Israel war traces back to earlier this year, when hostilities between Israel and Iran reignited following the collapse of nuclear negotiations and mounting instability inside…

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Houthi Attacks Today: Red Sea Blockade, Saudi Oil Tankers Hit, and the Growing Global Crisis

Kainat R
Houthi Attacks Hit Saudi Tankers in Red Sea

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi group launched a major missile and drone strike on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea on July 22, 2026, marking one of the most serious escalations in the region this year. The tankers, named Encelia and Layla, were struck after the Houthis declared a full maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia just two days earlier. The attacks have sent shockwaves through global energy markets and raised serious fears about the safety of one of the world’s most critical shipping routes. Background: Who Are the Houthis and…

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Pakistan-Led Diplomacy Raises Prospects of De-Escalation in Iran-US Standoff

Kainat R
Pakistan-led diplomatic efforts aim to ease tensions between Iran and the United States amid the ongoing regional standoff.

Pakistan has intensified its diplomatic push at the United Nations Security Council, arguing that sustained dialogue remains the only viable path to ending the standoff between Iran and the United States. The renewed effort comes as instability around the Strait of Hormuz continues to threaten global energy markets and regional stability. Background Pakistan’s role as a mediator between Washington and Tehran traces back to earlier this year, when hostilities between the two countries escalated sharply following the breakdown of nuclear negotiations. Islamabad, drawing on its long border with Iran and…

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Greece Russian Oil Fight Threatens New EU Sanctions Package Against Russia

Kainat R
EU and Greece flags displayed alongside an oil refinery, symbolizing the dispute over Russian oil and new EU sanctions against Russia.

Greece is pushing back against a proposed EU sanctions package that would restrict its shipping industry from transporting Russian liquefied natural gas, even as new data shows Greek-owned tankers have carried a substantial share of the world’s Russian oil exports. The standoff highlights the tension between EU sanctions news and the commercial interests of member states most exposed to Russian energy trade. Background The question of whether Greece buys Russian oil has become more complicated since the war in Ukraine began, since Greece’s role in the Russian energy trade extends…

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Hitler’s Birthplace Begins New Life as a Police Station

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Exterior view of Hitler's birthplace in Braunau am Inn, Austria, now reopened as a police station.

Austria has officially opened a police station inside the house where Adolf Hitler was born in 1889, ending decades of debate over what to do with a building that has long drawn far-right pilgrims. The Hitler’s house police station in Braunau am Inn began operating this week after a renovation lasting several years and costing around 20 million euros. Background The yellow, three-story building sits on a narrow, shop-lined street in the center of Braunau am Inn, a small Austrian town on the border with Germany. Hitler was born there…

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