MIDDLE EAST, 9 April 2026 (NPA) — The Israeli Defence Force (IDF) has announced the killing of Ali Yosef Harshi, nephew of Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem, in a precise overnight strike on Beirut, Lebanon. According to the IDF, Harshi served as the personal secretary and close adviser to Qassem, playing a central role in managing his office and security.
The IDF further stated that it struck two key crossings used by Hezbollah to move weapons south of the Litani River, along with approximately ten weapons storage sites, rocket launchers, and command centres in southern Lebanon.
In addition, the IDF reported the targeted killing of Muhammad Samir Muhammad Washah, whom it accused of being a Hamas operative working under the guise of an Al Jazeera journalist. Washah was alleged to be a senior figure in Hamas’s rocket and weapons production headquarters, involved in the manufacture and transfer of arms through Gaza.
Yesterday marked one of the most intense Israeli assaults on Hezbollah strongholds in Lebanon, with over 100 sites targeted. The IDF claimed that individuals killed in the strikes were actively involved in planning attacks against Israeli forces and posed a direct threat to troops operating in the area.
INTERNATIONAL, 9 April 2026 (NPA) — The government of the Philippines has accused China of aggression and deliberate bullying after Chinese forces fired flares directly at a Philippine Coast Guard Caravan aircraft conducting routine Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) flights over the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG).
According to Jay Tarriela, the Philippine Coast Guard Spokesperson on West Philippine Sea concerns, the provocative incidents occurred specifically at Panganiban Reef and Zamora Reef, where Coast Guard aircraft were peacefully monitoring maritime activities to ensure the safety of Philippine waters.
Tarriela stated: “This afternoon, in a clear and deliberate act of bullying, Chinese forces fired flares directly at Philippine Coast Guard Caravan aircraft while we were conducting routine Maritime Domain Awareness flights over the Kalayaan Island Group. The provocative incidents occurred specifically at Panganiban Reef and Zamora Reef, where our aircraft were operating peacefully to monitor maritime activities and ensure the safety of our waters.”
These actions, described by the Philippines as reckless and aggressive, were said to represent yet another escalation in China’s campaign of intimidation and harassment. By targeting unarmed Coast Guard aircraft with flares, Manila accused Beijing of violating international aviation safety norms, undermining regional peace, and endangering the lives of personnel on board.
The statement further noted that Chinese forces issued radio transmissions during the incidents, asserting “indisputable sovereignty” over the areas — claims linked to China’s reclaimed and militarised bases in the West Philippine Sea. The Philippines argued that these assertions have no basis in international law, as affirmed by the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal ruling, and characterised them as part of Beijing’s expansionist agenda and repeated violations of international norms.
JERUSALEM, Israel, 8 April 2026 (NPA) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed that Israel will achieve its objectives in the war against the Islamic Republic of Iran. His comments come in the wake of the two-week ceasefire agreement brokered between the United States and Iran.
In an earlier broadcast, Netanyahu emphasised that Israel still has objectives to complete and will achieve them either through agreement or by resuming hostilities. His remarks reflect uncertainty over Israel’s position on the US-Iran ceasefire and its ongoing battle against Hezbollah, Iran’s proxy in Lebanon.
The Prime Minister, while thanking Israelis for their support and cooperation during the war, declared that Iran is weaker than ever, while Israel is stronger than ever. He praised the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) for their fighting spirit and resilience.
Netanyahu also paid tribute to soldiers who lost their lives, urging citizens to embrace bereaved families and praying for the speedy recovery of the wounded.
“The State of Israel has achieved tremendous victories, victories that until recently seemed utterly imaginary,” he said. “We still have objectives to complete – and we will achieve them either by agreement or by resuming the fighting.”
INTERNATIONAL, April 7, 2026 (NPA) — Today, the world observes the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda. This solemn occasion marks 32 years since one of the darkest chapters in human history, when more than one million people — overwhelmingly Tutsi, but also Hutu and others who opposed the killings — were systematically murdered in less than three months.
The United Nations commemorates this day with events at its Headquarters in New York and offices worldwide, honouring the victims and reflecting on the resilience of survivors.
At the 31st anniversary commemoration in 2025, Ms Germaine Tuyisenge Müller shared her harrowing story of survival. At just nine years old, she was left alone for two months after neighbours abandoned her during the genocide. Her testimony underscores the enduring trauma and strength of survivors.
In September 2024, the Republic of Rwanda gifted the UN the Kwibuka Flame of Hope statue, installed in the north garden of UN Headquarters. The flame symbolises resilience and courage in the face of hate speech, misinformation, and ethnic division that fueled the genocide.Since 1994, the UN has played a central role in Rwanda’s reconstruction. Through the One UN framework, 22 agencies coordinate efforts under a single leader, budget, and program to advance the Sustainable Development Goals. Between 2018 and 2023, the UN invested approximately $631 million in Rwanda’s development initiatives.
MIDDLE EAST, April 7, 2026 (NPA) — The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) has issued an urgent warning to people in Iran, advising them to avoid using railway services and to stay away from railway infrastructure across the country for their own safety.
In a statement released Tuesday, the IDF cautioned: “Dear Citizens, for your security, we kindly request that from this moment until 21:00 Iran time, you refrain from using and traveling by train throughout Iran. Your presence on trains and near railway lines endangers your life.”
The advisory comes amid heightened tensions following an ultimatum by U.S. President Donald Trump, who warned that all energy facilities and bridges — including railway lines — in Iran could be destroyed if the country refuses to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to oil tanker traffic.
The ultimatum is set to expire today at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time, raising fears of potential escalation and disruption to critical infrastructure.
INTERNATIONAL, April 6, 2026 (NPA) — The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has detained two relatives of the late Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in the Tujunga neighborhood of Los Angeles, intensifying a broader crackdown on families of senior Iranian officials residing in America.
The individuals were identified as Soleimani’s niece, Hamideh Soleimani Afshar, and her daughter, Sarinasadat Hosseiny. According to officials, both women were taken into custody after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio revoked their Lawful Permanent Resident status. They are currently being held while awaiting deportation proceedings.
Authorities allege that the pair lived a lavish lifestyle in the United States while simultaneously using social media platforms to promote propaganda supportive of Iran’s Islamic regime. Investigators also accuse them of celebrating attacks against American soldiers online, raising concerns about their activities while enjoying residency privileges.
This latest action forms part of a wider U.S. initiative targeting relatives of high-ranking Iranian officials who have settled in the country. The campaign has already led to the termination of legal status for several individuals, including the daughter of former Iranian security chief Ali Larijani.
Officials say the crackdown is intended to send a clear message that the United States will not provide safe haven to family members of foreign leaders or officials who are accused of undermining American interests while benefiting from residency in the country.
ICE emphasized that the arrests reflect a growing determination to confront foreign influence operations and ensure that U.S. immigration laws are applied consistently, particularly in cases involving individuals linked to hostile regimes.
The detention underscores the continuing geopolitical tensions between Washington and Tehran, and immigration enforcement as a tool of foreign policy.
INTERNATIONAL, April 6, 2026 (NPA) — The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged governments, institutions, and individuals worldwide to recommit to science and collaboration as the foundation for stronger health systems, launching its year‑long campaign under the theme: “Together for health. Stand with science.”
The campaign coincides with World Health Day 2026 and the anniversary of WHO’s founding on April 7, 1948. WHO highlighted how scientific progress and international cooperation have transformed human health over the past century, citing a 40 percent reduction in maternal mortality since 2000 and a more than 50 percent drop in deaths among children under five.
“Science is one of humanity’s most powerful tools for protecting and improving health,” said WHO Director‑General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “Vaccines, penicillin, germ theory, MRI machines and the mapping of the human genome are just some of the achievements that science has delivered that have saved lives and transformed health for billions of people.”
WHO emphasized that scientific breakthroughs are most effective when widely adopted. Advances such as modern anesthesia, global immunization campaigns, and early screening technologies have democratized access to lifesaving care, even in resource‑limited settings. For example, immunization efforts over the past 50 years have saved more than 154 million children, with the measles vaccine alone preventing over 90 million deaths.
The organization also pointed to its role in coordinating global responses to health crises, including the rapid identification of the SARS virus in 2003 and the promotion of alcohol‑based hand rubs in 2009, which became critical during the COVID‑19 pandemic. WHO continues to set global standards on air quality and drinking water safety to protect communities from respiratory diseases and cholera.
In line with this year’s theme, WHO and the G7 Presidency of France will convene a One Health Summit in Lyon from April 5–7, bringing together heads of state, scientists, and community leaders. WHO will also host the Global Forum of its Collaborating Centres from April 7–9, with representatives from over 800 institutions in more than 80 countries.
“Science transforms uncertainty into understanding and reveals the pathways to protect and heal our communities,” said WHO Chief Scientist Dr. Sylvie Briand. “Today, we must stand together with science so that our collaboration is sustained, supported and enhanced for the better health of generations to come.”
INTERNATIONAL, April 6, 2026 (NPA) — The State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SES) has reported new Russian drone strikes on Kharkiv, leaving at least five people injured and causing widespread damage to civilian infrastructure.
According to SES, in a statement released on Telegraph today, the Kyivskyi district of the city, the upper floor of a nine-story residential building was destroyed, and several cars parked nearby were damaged. In another incident, a drone exploded in an open area near a public transport stop, damaging a bus.
The attacks also sparked fires. One blaze ignited dry vegetation across 100 square meters, which firefighters quickly extinguished. However, during the response to the first strike, emergency crews themselves came under attack from enemy drones. Fortunately, no personnel were injured.
Further strikes shattered windows at an educational institution and triggered additional fires in Kharkiv and its suburbs, burning dry grass across areas of 800 and 500 square meters respectively.
On March 25, a hospital in Al-Kurmuk, Blue Nile State, was looted, equipment destroyed, and staff and patients forced out. One health worker was critically injured.
Despite the ongoing threat of repeat strikes, SES units, National Police officers, medical teams, and municipal services continue to operate at the sites of impact.
The SES condemned the attacks, stressing that targeting healthcare facilities, residential buildings, and public infrastructure demonstrates a blatant disregard for civilian life.
MIDDLE EAST, April 6, 2026 (NPA) — The conflict in the Middle East has intensified as the Iran-backed Houthis movement launches drones aimed at southern Israel.
According to Israeli military officials, Israel’s air defense systems intercepted and shot down multiple Houthi drones attempting to strike the port city of Eilat.
More updates will follow as the situation develops.
MIDDLE EAST, April 6, 2026 (NPA) — The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has confirmed the recovery of four bodies from the site of yesterday’s Iranian missile attack in the Haifa area.
The strike caused the collapse of a building, trapping residents beneath the debris. Rescue and emergency services worked tirelessly through the night, deploying specialized teams to locate survivors and recover victims.
According to the IDF, after hours of intensive operations, members of the National Rescue Unit, the Home Front Command’s Search and Rescue Brigade, and emergency organizations succeeded in retrieving the remains of four individuals who had been buried under the rubble.
“This tragedy is the direct result of a missile launched by the Iranian regime, which deliberately targets civilians with the intent to kill,” the IDF stated, condemning the attack as another example of Tehran’s reckless aggression against Israel.
