American journalist Shelly Kittleson has been kidnapped in Baghdad by a suspected Iranian-backed militia linked to Kataib Hezbollah. The incident comes amid rising regional tensions following conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States. US officials are working with Iraqi authorities to secure her release, and at least one suspect has been arrested. Kittleson, known [...]
A series of attacks has damaged multiple universities across Iran, raising fears that academic institutions are becoming part of the expanding conflict involving Israel and the United States. At least 21 universities have reportedly been affected, including the Iran University of Science and Technology, where research facilities were heavily damaged. Iranian authorities condemn the strikes [...]
Although Bhutan is officially a secular state, it is deeply associated with Buddhism, and citizens are often expected to follow this faith. Converts to Christianity face significant discrimination and social pressure to renounce their beliefs, particularly in close-knit rural communities where suspicion can be reported to authorities. Religious gatherings and baptisms are often conducted in [...]
Urban growth in Bangladesh has surged over the past decades, largely due to climate-related displacement from floods, cyclones, and river erosion. Cities—especially areas around University of Dhaka—are experiencing overcrowding and expanding informal settlements with limited infrastructure and services. Within these communities, informal mediation systems led by local elders help resolve daily conflicts and maintain relative [...]
Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has encouraged private companies to adopt flexible work arrangements, including working from home (WFH), to cope with the global energy crisis. This follows the government’s phased implementation of WFH for civil servants. The move comes amid rising global oil prices after tensions involving Iran, the United States, and Israel, and [...]
Child, early, and forced marriage (CEFM) remains a serious issue in rural and Indigenous communities of Ratanakiri and Mondulkiri. Research involving adolescents, families, community leaders, and officials highlights key causes such as poverty, deeply rooted gender norms, limited access to education, lack of awareness about sexual and reproductive health rights, and weak enforcement of marriage [...]
Minister Walid Al-Masri has instructed local authorities in Karak Governorate and the Southern Ghor to stay on high alert for the next few hours due to forecasts of heavy rainfall. Special caution is advised in areas like Fifa, Al-Haditha, Al-Mazra’a, and Al-Safi, which may experience dangerous runoff water from surrounding regions. Authorities are urged to [...]
At least 24 people lost their lives after a passenger bus plunged into the Padma River in Bangladesh’s Rajbari district while attempting to board a ferry at the Dauladia terminal on March 25, 2026. The Dhaka-bound bus, carrying around 40 passengers—many returning after Eid holidays—fell into the river after the driver lost control when a [...]
Iraqi Christians are scaling back Palm Sunday, Holy Week, and Easter celebrations due to security concerns linked to ongoing regional conflict. Church leaders, including the Syriac Catholic Archdiocese of Mosul and the Chaldean Archdiocese of Erbil, have urged the faithful to focus on prayer, reflection, and solidarity with those affected by war. Public processions and [...]
The Human Rights Activists News Agency reported that at least 1,407 civilians, including 214 children, have been killed in Iran since the war began on February 28, based on verified incidents gathered through its network of sources and public evidence. However, Iran International has not independently confirmed these figures. U.S. officials, including Brad Cooper of [...]