World

Iran's military command has threatened to target US and allied energy, information technology, and desalination infrastructure in response to President Donald Trump's threat to destroy Iranian power plants. The statement from the Khatam Al-Anbiya operational command, carried by the Fars news agency, declared: "Following previous warnings, if Iran's fuel and energy infrastructure is violated by the enemy, all energy, information technology and desalination infrastructure belonging to the US and the regime in the region will be targeted." This escalation highlights the deepening conflict in the Middle East, now entering its third week.

Cuba's national power grid suffered a total collapse on Saturday evening, marking the third major outage this month and the second in less than a week. The state-owned electricity entity, Union Electrica, stated on social media that the disconnection occurred at 18:32 local time, with updates on restoration efforts to follow. This incident plunged millions of Cubans into darkness once more, exacerbating a prolonged energy crisis that has gripped the island for years.

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared Iran's military attaché, assistant military attaché, and three mission staff members as personae non grata on Saturday, ordering them to leave the kingdom within 24 hours. The ministry stated this decision was due to "repeated Iranian attacks" on Saudi territory, marking a significant diplomatic escalation amid ongoing regional tensions.

An Iranian missile attack targeted the southern Israeli city of Dimona, home to the country’s main nuclear facility, as well as the nearby town of Arad. The strike wounded dozens of people, including a 10-year-old boy in critical condition, with several others also reported in serious condition. According to Israel’s emergency services, approximately 100 people were injured in the attacks.

Former FBI Director Robert Mueller has died at the age of 81, his family announced on Saturday. Mueller, who led the FBI for 12 years, later served as special counsel for the Justice Department, investigating potential collusion between Donald Trump's 2016 election campaign and Russia. His death has reignited debates over political polarization in the United States.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has sharply criticized what he termed a return to colonial approaches toward developing nations during a summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) in Colombia. While not explicitly naming United States President Donald Trump, his remarks clearly targeted actions by the Trump administration, including the January 3 abduction of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and the fuel blockade against Cuba. Lula stated, "It's not possible for someone to think that they own other countries," in an apparent reference to US policy, adding pointed questions about US actions in Cuba and Venezuela.

A drone strike on the El-Daein teaching hospital in East Darfur, Sudan, has killed 64 people and wounded 89, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported on Saturday. The incident occurred on Friday and was marked as "confirmed" by WHO's surveillance system for attacks on health care, though the exact location was not specified in the initial report.

American actor Nicholas Brendon, renowned for his role as Xander Harris in the cult TV series 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer', has died at the age of 54. His family confirmed in a statement on social media that "he passed in his sleep of natural causes". Family members highlighted his lifelong dedication to art, stating, "He was passionate, sensitive, and endlessly driven to create. Those who truly knew him understood that his art was one of the purest reflections of who he was".

Three weeks into the joint US-Israeli war against Iran, the conflict has entered a phase of mixed messages and uncertainty, with President Donald Trump's public statements often seemingly at odds with on-the-ground realities. Trump has claimed the war is "very complete, pretty much," yet new American ground forces, including a Marine expeditionary unit, are deploying to the region. He asserts it is "winding down," but US and Israeli bombing and missile strikes on Iranian targets continue unabated, highlighting a disconnect between rhetoric and action.

An attack on Al Deain Teaching Hospital in Sudan’s Darfur region on Friday night has killed at least 64 people, including 13 children, according to the head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. He announced this in a social media post on Saturday, detailing that multiple patients, two female nurses, and one male doctor were among the fatalities.

South Korea's capital Seoul witnessed a massive gathering as global K-pop sensation BTS performed a historic comeback concert at Gwanghwamun Square on Saturday. According to entertainment company HYBE, approximately 104,000 fans attended the event. This marked the first full-group performance by the seven members—RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook—since October 2022.

Hawaii remains under a statewide flood watch after a severe storm struck the state, prompting officials to order evacuations. Governor Josh Green said on Saturday that the potential for flash floods threatens the island of Oahu and parts of Maui County. The storm that hit over the weekend is the second severe weather event to impact the archipelago in the past week. According to Green, some parts of the state have received 40 to 50 inches (127 cm) of rain in the last 10 days.