More food aid needed to end starvation in Gaza despite 'modest' raise - WFP
The World Food Programme has called for more food aid to be allowed in to Gaza to quell widespread starvation....
Gulf states hosting major U.S. military bases were placed on high alert Sunday after American airstrikes destroyed Iran’s main nuclear sites, raising fears of regional retaliation and a broader conflict that could engulf key energy exporters and destabilise global security.
President Donald Trump confirmed that U.S. forces had "obliterated" key Iranian nuclear sites with bunker-busting bombs during early morning operations. He warned Tehran of further strikes unless it agrees to peace, escalating fears of a broader confrontation.
Heightened military and civilian alerts
In Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil exporter, high-level security measures were immediately enacted, sources told Reuters. In Bahrain, where the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet is based, residents were urged to avoid main roads. The interior ministry issued a statement on X (formerly Twitter) urging the public to limit travel for safety and to ensure accessibility for emergency services.
Bahrain's Civil Service Bureau also ordered 70% of government employees to work remotely until further notice. At the same time, the kingdom activated its national emergency plan, launched an emergency operations centre, tested sirens, and opened 33 shelters for civilian use.
Kuwait's defence council, meanwhile, declared a state of continuous session and began preparing shelters in major ministry compounds, as reported by the state news agency.
Nuclear safety and U.S. military assets at risk
Authorities in both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates confirmed there were no immediate signs of nuclear contamination as a result of the U.S. strikes. However, the risk of retaliation remains high.
Tehran has previously vowed to target U.S. assets in the region, including major military bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, if attacked.
"The direct involvement of the United States marks a critical threshold," said Hasan Al Hasan, senior fellow for Middle East Policy at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. "This risks drawing the Gulf states, particularly those hosting major U.S. military installations, into a wider and potentially protracted conflict."
Aviation disruptions intensify
The fallout has extended to global air travel. Singapore Airlines cancelled its scheduled flights to Dubai, while British Airways suspended routes to and from Dubai and Doha. The ongoing missile exchanges and instability have led multiple airlines to reroute flights away from Iranian, Iraqi, Syrian, and Israeli airspace.
As Gulf states heighten their emergency responses, the region remains on edge. The escalation following U.S. strikes on Iran is testing the resilience of regional security frameworks and threatening to disrupt both global energy supplies and civilian life in key partner states.
A powerful eruption at Japan’s Shinmoedake volcano sent an ash plume more than 3,000 metres high on Sunday morning, prompting safety warnings from authorities.
According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), a magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck the Oaxaca region of Mexico on Saturday.
The UK is gearing up for Exercise Pegasus 2025, its largest pandemic readiness test since COVID-19. Running from September to November, this full-scale simulation will challenge the country's response to a fast-moving respiratory outbreak.
Kuwait says oil prices will likely stay below $72 per barrel as OPEC monitors global supply trends and U.S. policy signals. The remarks come during market uncertainty fueled by new U.S. tariffs on India and possible sanctions on Russia.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is highlighting Türkiye’s push for homegrown air defence, as the country develops new systems and deepens defence ties internationally.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says Tehran has agreed with the visit by inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) simply to monitor refueling of its Bushehr nuclear power plant warning that return of nuclear sanctions will negatively affect its limited cooperation with the
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev welcomed Magdalena Grono, the European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus in Baku on Thursday.
Azerbaijan’s Qarabağ FK have made history once again, becoming the country’s only club to qualify twice for the UEFA Champions League group stage.
Türkiye's aid groups have continued delivering millions of meals, water, medical supplies, and shelters to Gaza despite access restrictions.
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