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At least 22 civilians, including three children, were killed in an air strike on a monastery sheltering displaced people in Lin Ta Lu village, central Myanmar. The attack happened early Friday, leaving the monastery hall completely destroyed, according to Hindustan Times.

Locals say the victims believed the monastery was a safe haven. Two others remain in critical condition. A resident who saw the aftermath described bodies torn apart and said the scene was heartbreaking.

Sagaing region, heavily targeted since the 2021 coup, continues to face deadly strikes despite a supposed post-quake truce, Hindustan Times reported.

Israeli raids on Gaza since dawn have killed at least 60 Palestinians, including 27 seeking aid, according to hospital sources.

The UN reports nearly 800 aid-seekers killed in recent weeks, with 10 more shot while waiting for food on Friday. Israel’s military says it has updated troop protocols following repeated incidents, Al Jazeera reported.

The US is investigating the reported killing of a Palestinian-American by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.

Gaza’s Health Ministry reports 57,762 killed and over 137,600 wounded since the war began. The conflict was triggered by the October 7 attack that killed 1,139 in Israel, according to Al Jazeera.

Taiwan has started using US-supplied HIMARS rocket systems in its annual Han Kuang drills, aimed at strengthening defense against possible Chinese attacks, Al Jazeera reported.

On Saturday, HIMARS units were seen near Taichung during the fourth day of the 10-day exercise. Military officials said the systems must remain hidden from enemy surveillance until ready to fire.

China, which claims Taiwan as its own, dismissed the drills as a “bluff” and repeated its strong opposition to US-Taiwan military ties. Taiwanese President William Lai defended the drills as realistic and essential for defense, according to Al Jazeera.

Four people have died and around twenty are missing after a migrant boat capsized off the coast of the Dominican Republic, authorities said. The vessel, carrying about 40 people — mostly Haitians and Dominicans — was bound for Puerto Rico, a US territory, according to Al Jazeera.

Seventeen survivors, including a child, were rescued. The boat, a fragile “yola” made of wood or fibreglass, did not meet safety standards.

Many from the Dominican Republic and neighbouring Haiti continue risking their lives on such journeys, paying up to $7,000 in hopes of reaching a better life. The dangerous route to Puerto Rico has become increasingly common in recent years, Al Jazeera reported.

Russia launched a major aerial assault on Ukraine on Saturday, firing 597 drones and 26 missiles in its fourth large-scale attack this month. Strikes hit cities nationwide, killing two and injuring 20 in Chernivtsi, a western city near the Romanian border, Reuters reported.

Ukraine’s air force downed 25 missiles and 319 drones, jamming 258 others. Ukrainian President Zelensky urged stronger sanctions and more air defence, saying the war can only be stopped by force.

Western cities—Lviv, Lutsk, and Chernivtsi—suffered the most damage. Lviv, near Poland, and Lutsk, in northwestern Ukraine, saw homes, businesses, and public buildings hit. The UN said June saw the highest civilian toll in three years, according to Reuters.

The Trump administration has laid off 1,107 civil service and 246 foreign Service employees from the State Department as part of its federal workforce reduction plan. Over 1,500 others had already left voluntarily earlier this year, according to BBC.

The cuts hit key areas like the refugee admissions office and the Afghan Relocation Efforts (CARE) team. The move comes after the Supreme Court cleared the administration’s plan to reduce the workforce by 18 percent.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the layoffs followed bureau closures, not targeted firings. But Senate Democrats criticized the move, warning it weakens national security and government effectiveness.

The layoffs follow the shutdown of USAID, with most of its programs cancelled and the rest absorbed by the State Department, BBC reported.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is visiting China for six days, covering Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu, to strengthen ties with Australia’s largest trading partner. He will meet President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, and top legislator Zhao Leji, with trade and regional security high on the agenda, according to BBC.

Albanese said his government will “cooperate where we can, disagree where we must,” and act in Australia’s national interest. The trip follows his re-election and aims to reinforce economic ties—China accounts for nearly a third of Australia’s trade.

The visit includes top Australian business leaders and signals a stabilisation in relations after years of tensions and trade sanctions. Cooperation on green energy, while maintaining Australia’s commitment to Aukus despite Chinese criticism, will also be discussed.

Analysts say both countries are targeting stable connections rather than geopolitical alignment, with mature diplomacy permitting involvement in commerce, education, and culture—despite continued disagreements over China's military growth and the arrest of Australian writer Yang Hengjun, BBC reported.

A preliminary investigation into last month’s Air India crash in Ahmedabad has revealed that both of the aircraft’s fuel control switches were in the cut-off position just moments before the fatal impact, effectively shutting down the engines.

The report, which contains cockpit voice recordings, describes misunderstanding between the two pilots in the closing seconds. One pilot is heard questioning another why the fuel switches were turned off. The second pilot denies doing so. According to aviation experts, it is highly unlikely that both switches were accidentally activated at the same time, creating more doubts about the sequence of events, BBC reported.

The crash resulted in the deaths of at least 260 passengers and crew. The only survivor, British national Vishwashkumar Ramesh, reportedly escaped the wreckage through a breach in the fuselage.

Air India has stated that it is fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation, while aircraft manufacturer Boeing expressed condolences to the families of the victims. The incident remains under active inquiry, according to BBC.