54 migrants dead after boat capsizes off Yemen

At least 54 migrants have died and many remain missing after a boat carrying about 150 people sank off Yemen’s coast on Sunday due to rough seas.

Most of the victims were Ethiopian, mainly from the Oromo community, trying to reach Yemen’s Abyan province. Local authorities have launched a recovery operation, with bodies found along several beaches, Firstpost reported.

Despite years of conflict, Yemen remains a key transit route for migrants from the Horn of Africa heading to Gulf countries. Many face abuse and exploitation along the way, according to the UN.

UK to evacuate injured Gazan children for treatment

The UK government is preparing to evacuate seriously injured children from Gaza for urgent medical care, with plans expected to begin within weeks. Up to 300 children may be brought to the UK, each accompanied by a parent or guardian, following security checks, according to BBC.

The move follows criticism over delays and growing calls for action amid Gaza’s deepening humanitarian crisis.

Some children have already arrived in the UK through the efforts of Project Pure Hope, a British medical charity, which welcomed the government’s plan and offered support based on its experience.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said efforts are being accelerated to provide lifesaving care as Gaza’s health system collapses under ongoing conflict, BBC reported.

Pakistan, Iran aim to boost trade and tackle regional threats

Pakistan and Iran have signed agreements to raise bilateral trade to $10bn and strengthen cooperation on regional security and counterterrorism, according to Firstpost.

The deals were signed during Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s two-day visit to Pakistan. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed support for Iran’s peaceful nuclear rights and condemned recent Israeli aggression backed by the US.

Pezeshkian voiced confidence in quickly reaching the trade goal, while both leaders stressed the need for peace and prosperity in the region.

Analysts say formalising existing informal trade could open a potential route linking Pakistan to Europe, Firstpost reported.

Tensions high as new violence spirals in Syria’s Suwayda despite ceasefire

Armed Druze groups have attacked Syrian security forces in Suwayda, killing at least one soldier and wounding others, Al Jazeera reported. Several villages were also shelled, violating a recently agreed ceasefire.

The Syrian government accused local rebel groups of inciting violence and targeting its forces. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said four people were killed, including three soldiers.

Fighting between Druze factions and Bedouin tribes erupted last month, displacing hundreds. A US-brokered truce had briefly calmed the unrest, but tensions have resurfaced. An investigation has been launched, according to Al Jazeera.