Gunmen kill at least thirty in attack on travellers in Nigeria
At least 30 people were killed in southeastern Nigeria’s Imo State when gunmen attacked travellers along the Okigwe-Owerri road on Thursday, according to Al Jazeera.
The attackers, suspected to be members of the banned separatist group Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), set fire to more than 20 vehicles, including trucks, in what Amnesty described as a “vicious attack.”
"The gunmen blocked the highway and carried out the assault with complete disregard for human life," the rights group stated, urging a thorough investigation and prosecution of those guilty.
Imo police spokesperson Henry Okoye acknowledged the event but did not disclose any casualty figures. He informed Al Jazeera that one of the attackers had been killed by police.
Zelensky welcomes European leaders in Ukraine in effort to secure ceasefire
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hosted UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and German opposition leader Friedrich Merz at the Mariyinsky Palace in Kyiv for talks aimed at advancing a cease-fire in the Russia-Ukraine war.
The meeting came after the UK imposed additional sanctions on Russia's "shadow fleet," a network of tankers that evaded oil export limits, according to BBC.
In a joint statement, the leaders pledged to increase pressure on Russia and expressed their support for prospective peace talks. Zelensky stressed that Russia must be held accountable for its aggressiveness.Zelensky reiterated that Russia must be held accountable for its aggression.
The talks took place a day after Russia’s annual World War II victory parade in Moscow and as President Putin’s self-declared three-day ceasefire comes to an end, BBC reported.
China, Slovakia pledge stronger partnership and support for China-EU relations
Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico on Friday, emphasizing China's commitment to improving relations with Slovakia and advancing China-EU collaboration. The encounter took place during ceremonies commemorating the Soviet Union's victory in the Great Patriotic War, which occurred 80 years ago, Xinhua reported.
Xi underlined that China-Slovakia relations are fast improving, emphasizing the continuous execution of agreements from Fico's 2023 visit to China. He advocated for further collaboration in trade, investment, and Belt and Road initiatives, and he welcomed Slovakia's selection as the guest country of honor at the 2018 China-CEEC Expo.
Fico described the strategic partnership with China as a key foreign policy priority and reaffirmed Slovakia’s support for the one-China policy. He expressed strong backing for China’s global initiatives and praised its constructive role on international issues. Slovakia, he said, is committed to working with China to support multilateralism, free trade, and global supply chain stability, as reported by Xinhua.
India-Pakistan conflict escalates
Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that Pakistan’s actions over the last few days are being seen as “provocative and escalatory”. Speaking in the press conference, Col Sofiya Qureshi further said during the briefing that Pakistan tried to attack air base in Punjab. Col Qureshi also said that Pakistan military is observed to be moving their troops to border areas. Apart from targeting military bases, Pakistan also targeted medical facilities in Srinagar, Avantipura and Udhampur, Qureshi said on Saturday morning.
The Indian foreign secretary reiterated India’s commitment to non-escalation provided it is reciprocated by the Pakistan military. Misri also refuted Pakistan’s claims of missiles being fired at religious site and termed it “ludicrous”.
Pakistan’s foreign minister said Saturday that if India stops its escalatory actions, so will Islamabad. “If there is an iota of sanity, India will stop and if they stop, so will we,” Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on camera while speaking with a local TV station. Pakistan said Saturday that India launched missiles at key military bases, including a base close to the capital Islamabad. Shortly after, Pakistan’s military said it had launched an operation against India in retaliation to those latest strikes.
Mexico sues Google over Gulf name change
Mexico has sued Google for referring to the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America" in US versions of Google Maps, despite repeated objections. President Claudia Sheinbaum claims that the alteration violates international name standards, Associated Press reported.
The debate stems from a recent vote in the United States House of Representatives, led by Republicans, to officially adopt the name "Gulf of America" for use in federal papers. US President Donald Trump said that the US has main influence over the region.Google stated that it follows official government sources and displays different names based on user location.
Mexico claims the modification misrepresents shared territory. The issue also caused friction between the White House and the Associated Press, who refused to use the new name.
According to the Associated Press, Trump is also planning on renaming the Persian Gulf the "Gulf of Arabia" during his upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia.
US top diplomat Rubio urges for de-escalation
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Pakistan's Army Chief General Asim Munir on Friday and urged both Pakistan and India to find ways to de-escalate.
A US Department Of State spokesperson said Rubio also offered US assistance in starting constructive talks in order to avoid future conflicts.
US launches private aid plan for Gaza amid blockade
The US is preparing a new aid system for Gaza using private firms, as Israel’s blockade continues into a third month.
Mike Huckabee, US Ambassador to Israel, stated that private contractors will oversee secure distribution centers to distribute food and supplies to more than a million people. He emphasized that Israel will not manage the aid, but instead safeguard the centers perimeters, BBC reported.
UN agencies have opposed the initiative, warning that it may "weaponize" aid. They argue existing mechanisms are effective, noting minimal looting and no theft of WHO medical supplies.
The Trump administration is leading the initiative, which includes a new NGO called the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation and is seeking financing from Gulf countries ahead of the president's regional visit, according to BBC.
Ukraine arrests two over alleged Hungarian spy plot
Ukraine's SBU security agency discovered a spying network purportedly operated by Hungarian military intelligence. Two former Ukrainian soldiers were detained for state treason after allegedly leaking military data from the Transcarpathia region, including air defense sites, according to Reuters.
The SBU said the suspects were recruited by a Hungarian intelligence officer, receiving cash and special communication equipment to carry out their activities. It is the first known case of a Hungarian spy network being uncovered in Ukraine, the agency added.
Hungary, a NATO and EU member, denounced the charges as "propaganda" and responded by removing two Ukrainian diplomats from its Budapest mission, Reuters reported.
Ties between Kyiv and Budapest remain strained, with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban retaining close links with Russia and opposing Western military support for Ukraine amid the ongoing war.