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Smoke from wildfires in Indonesia, fuelled by a strong El Niño and land-clearing practices, is drifting across Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines, degrading air quality across the region. The tinderbox conditions are raising fresh concerns about health impacts and the annual transboundary haze problem that recurs during dry seasons.

US gasoline prices have risen above $4 a gallon as the conflict involving Iran escalates, driving up crude oil costs at the pump. The price milestone is drawing attention as drivers brace for further increases if the war disrupts oil supplies and keeps energy markets volatile.

Thousands of people are fleeing Yemen as fighting intensifies between Houthi forces and Saudi-backed troops, according to BBC News reporting. The renewed escalation is driving fresh displacement in a country already devastated by years of civil war, with civilians escaping front-line areas as both sides step up military activity.

Iran has issued a fresh warning to the United States that American military positions and interests across the Middle East could come under attack if Washington carries out further actions against it. The statement comes amid rising tensions between the two countries, with observers watching closely for any US response that could trigger a wider regional confrontation.

Russian strikes killed eight people in Ukraine, while one person died in a strike inside Russia, according to wire reports. The escalation followed Moscow's rejection of German calls to de-escalate the war. The exchange of fire underlines how diplomatic efforts by Berlin have so far failed to slow attacks on civilian areas, and the casualty tolls are drawing fresh attention to the human cost of the conflict.

Russian strikes killed four people in Ukraine after Moscow rejected German calls to de-escalate the conflict. The deadly attacks came despite fresh diplomatic pressure from Berlin for Moscow to scale back operations. The rejection and continued strikes underscore how far apart the two sides remain, with civilian casualties continuing even as European leaders push for a path toward ending the war.

Russian strikes killed six people in Ukraine after Moscow rejected German calls to de-escalate the conflict. The attacks underscore the continued violence despite diplomatic efforts by Berlin to push for a reduction in hostilities. Coverage across international outlets highlights the gap between Western appeals for restraint and Russia's refusal to step back from its campaign.

Ethiopia has publicly accused Sudan and Eritrea of supporting Tigrayan forces as fighting escalates in the country's north. The allegations sharpen tensions in the Tigray conflict and strain relations with two key neighbours, raising concerns about the war drawing in regional powers and further destabilising the Horn of Africa.

Russian strikes killed two people in Ukraine, shortly after Moscow rejected German calls to de-escalate the conflict. The refusal of German diplomatic overtures, followed by renewed attacks causing civilian deaths, has drawn wide international attention. The sequence underscores stalled peace efforts and the continued toll on Ukrainian civilians as Western capitals press for a reduction in hostilities.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly ordered security forces to 'minimize escalation' in Gaza just days before Hamas launched the October 7 attacks. The report has reignited debate over whether political considerations shaped Israel's security posture ahead of the assault, fueling ongoing controversy over failures leading up to the deadliest day in the country's history.

Three Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip, according to reports citing an Israeli strike in Gaza City and gunfire in Deir al-Balah in the central territory. The deaths add to the ongoing toll of the war, which has drawn continued international concern. Details on the identities of the victims and the exact circumstances of the incidents remain limited.

Barbara Slavin of the Stimson Center describes current US-Iran relations as 'kabuki diplomacy,' pointing to fragile indirect contacts mediated by Qatar. She warns that a combination of military escalation and stalled diplomacy could push the two countries toward a dangerous confrontation, with talks producing little real progress while tensions on the ground continue to rise.

Russia's top diplomat has rejected calls from Germany to ease off what Berlin describes as a dangerous escalation toward the country. The exchange highlights growing friction between Moscow and Berlin amid heightened tensions, with Russian officials dismissing German warnings and signaling no change in Russia's confrontational course toward Europe's largest economy.

Russian strikes killed six people in Ukraine, while one person died in a strike inside Russia, according to wire reports. The escalation came after Moscow rejected German calls to de-escalate the conflict. The tit-for-tat attacks underscore the failure of recent diplomatic efforts and the continued heavy civilian toll as the war grinds on with no ceasefire in sight.

Israel has issued a fresh warning to Iran over its nuclear programme, signalling it may carry out new strikes as negotiations between Washington and Tehran stall. The development points to escalating tensions across West Asia, with renewed military action looming as diplomatic efforts appear to be losing momentum.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards are reported to have seized an American submarine drone in the Strait of Hormuz, further raising tensions with the United States amid the ongoing Middle East conflict. The development comes as a ceasefire proposal was rejected and Iranian forces reportedly prepare for what officials describe as a potential wider confrontation.

Residents in eastern Poland, near the border with Ukraine, are preparing for the possibility that Russia's war could spill across the frontier. Communities there have lived with the war next door since 2022, and fears of drones, missiles or other incidents crossing into Polish territory are shaping daily life and local preparedness.

Internet access in Ethiopia's Tigray region has gone down amid escalating fighting. Communications blackouts typically accompany major offensives in the country's conflicts and leave residents unable to contact the outside world or share information about conditions on the ground. Observers are watching for reports on the intensity of the clashes and the humanitarian situation as connectivity remains severed.

Overnight strikes have killed eight people in Ukraine and one person in Russia, following Moscow's rejection of German calls to de-escalate the war. The attacks underline the continuing exchange of fire between the two countries despite diplomatic efforts by Berlin to push for a slowdown in hostilities. Attention is focused on whether Western mediation can gain any traction.

Tensions between the United States and Iran have intensified after Washington rejected Tehran's proposal for a seven-day ceasefire. Reports say Iran is preparing for what has been described as a 'doomsday war' scenario, raising fears of a wider military confrontation. Observers are watching closely for further escalation between the two governments.

At least four people have died and others remain missing after an avalanche struck Nepal as severe weather batters the country. Rescue efforts are underway to locate the missing, with heavy snow and harsh conditions hampering search operations in the affected area. Authorities have not yet confirmed the full scale of casualties or damage.

Rescue teams in Nepal are searching a mountain for 12 people swept away by an avalanche. Details on the victims' identities, the exact location and their condition have not been confirmed, but the search operation is underway and the incident is drawing international attention as news of the missing group spreads.

Rescue teams are searching a mountain in Nepal for 12 people swept away by an avalanche. The missing were caught when the avalanche struck, and teams are combing the area in difficult conditions. The fate of those swept away has not been confirmed as the search continues.

Ukraine has raised the alarm over conditions in Oleshky, a town in Kherson region occupied by Russian forces, saying trapped civilians are being deliberately starved and forced to eat grass to survive. Kyiv describes the situation as a war crime and is drawing international attention to the plight of residents unable to leave the occupied left bank of the Dnipro.