World

Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting has secured a bronze medal at the Asian Boxing Elite Championships, marking her first competition since a gender-eligibility dispute overshadowed her Olympic gold medal-winning performance at the 2024 Paris Games. The 30-year-old, who moved up to the 60kg division after winning Olympic gold in the 57kg category, lost to North Korea's Won Un Gyong in the semifinals on Monday, finishing with bronze.

Unite Here Local 11, a union representing approximately 2,000 food service workers at the Los Angeles Stadium (formerly SoFi Stadium, rebranded for the World Cup), has issued a demand to FIFA to keep U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) away from tournament operations. The union warned that workers could strike if their concerns are not addressed, highlighting three main demands: a public commitment excluding ICE and Border Patrol, protections for union jobs and working conditions, and support for affordable housing for hospitality workers in the Los Angeles area.

US and Israeli strikes on Iran overnight have resulted in the complete destruction of the Rafi-Nia Synagogue in central Tehran, according to Iranian media reports. The Shargh newspaper reported on Tuesday that the synagogue was destroyed when an adjacent residential building was targeted, with preliminary information indicating the total collapse of the religious site.

According to Ivo Daalder, former U.S. ambassador to NATO, tensions between Donald Trump and European allies over the war with Iran have plunged the 77-year-old alliance into its "worst crisis" in history. Daalder states that NATO is "not dead" but "deeply damaged," as Europe no longer trusts the United States and views it as an unreliable ally, leading to a fundamental breakdown in transatlantic cooperation.

A union representing approximately 2,000 food service workers at the Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium) has called on FIFA to keep United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) away from World Cup operations in the city and warned that workers could strike if their concerns are not addressed. Unite Here Local 11, which represents cooks, servers, and bartenders at the Inglewood venue, stated on Monday that the workers remain without a labor contract as the World Cup approaches, highlighting ongoing tensions in the lead-up to the major sporting event.

A high-speed TGV train collided with a truck transporting military equipment early Tuesday morning around 7:00 a.m. in the northern French city of Bully-les-Mines. A large contingent of emergency services and technical crews were quickly dispatched to the scene.

The European Union (EU) is considering a renewed focus on nuclear energy, particularly the deployment of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), to address energy security concerns. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen allegedly stated last month that Europe's turn away from nuclear power was a "strategic mistake." Brussels is now reportedly examining additional funding for nuclear, prioritizing SMR deployment in the bloc by the early 2030s. This move comes as energy supply shocks, including the Iran war and Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, have exposed the vulnerability of many member states to external oil and gas dependencies, despite previous lessons.

The Israeli military has warned people in Iran not to use trains or approach railway lines, indicating an intent to strike civilian infrastructure before United States President Donald Trump's deadline to open the Strait of Hormuz expires. The Israeli military posted on X in Persian: "For the sake of your security, we kindly request that from this moment until 21:00 Iran time [17:30 GMT], you refrain from using and travelling by train throughout Iran. Your presence on trains and near railway lines endangers your life."

The village of 'Ghana Town' on Gambia's Atlantic coast stands out for its illegal status. Of the 900 residents in the village, 850 lack citizenship, passports, and even national identification cards. These individuals are descendants of fishermen who arrived from Ghana in the 1950s, and although they were born and raised in Gambia, the law does not recognize them as citizens.

A recent study in Germany reveals that 21% of young people aged 14 to 29 are actively planning to leave their homeland, with 41% considering emigration in the long term. The findings are based on a nationally representative survey of 2,012 individuals conducted by Datajockey Verlag between January 9 and February 9, 2026.

Joint US-Israeli strikes across Iran have reportedly resulted in the complete destruction of the historic Rafi-Nia Synagogue in central Tehran, with Iranian media stating at least 15 people were killed in the overnight attacks. The strikes allegedly targeted multiple locations, raising tensions in the region.

The war launched by the US and Israeli regimes against Iran has resulted in extensive damage to the country's cultural heritage sites, educational institutions, and scientific research centers. According to Iranian government data, at least 56 heritage sites, 30 universities, and 55 libraries have been damaged so far. Minister of Culture and Tourism Reza Salehi Amiri described the destruction as a "deliberate and conscious attack" on Iranian identity.