**Summary:** A fire broke out at a budget hotel in central Kolkata early Wednesday morning, resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries while dozens of guests were successfully evacuated.

**Key points:**
- The blaze started at around 2:50 a.m. local time on an upper floor of the building located in a congested area.
- Initial reports and local media suggested that several or all of the deceased were Bangladeshi citizens visiting for medical treatment, though police stated nationalities were still being verified.
- Local media reported at least six wounded individuals receiving hospital treatment following the incident.
- Authorities suspect an electrical short circuit or air conditioner explosion may have triggered the fire, while investigations into the exact cause and hotel safety measures continue.

**Why it matters:** This tragic incident highlights ongoing concerns regarding fire safety regulations and compliance within budget accommodations situated in densely populated urban areas.

jagonews24.com - কলকাতায় হোটেলে আগুন: নিহত বাংলাদেশিদের সংখ্যা নিয়ে ধোঁয়াশা

cyprus-mail.com - At least nine killed in Kolkata hotel fire

Fire at Kolkata Budget Hotel Leaves Several Dead and Injured

**Summary:** US President Donald Trump paused scheduled 50% tariffs on Canadian goods for three days after announcing that the US and Canada have reached a trade deal.

**Key points:**
- The 50% tariffs were set to apply to nearly $20bn of Canadian imports including wine, dairy, cement, clothing, and hockey equipment.
- Negotiations involved discussions over reducing US tariffs on Canadian autos and removing provincial bans on American liquor sales.
- US President Donald Trump stated that the final agreement could potentially allow for the revival of the Keystone XL pipeline.

**Why it matters:** A successful trade agreement averts steep tariffs that businesses warned would damage both economies and disrupt supply chains between the two major trading partners.

bbc.co.uk - Trump pauses new tariffs on Canada and says countries close to a deal

aljazeera.com - US, Canada reach trade deal to avert steep tariffs, Trump says

US and Canada Reach Trade Deal, Averting 50% Tariffs

**Summary:** The UAE Ministry of Defense reported that air defense systems detected two ballistic missiles launched from Iran, which landed outside and within territorial waters. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghai denied the accusations.

**Key points:**
- The UAE's National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority advised residents to stay in safe areas and avoid falling debris.
- The first missile landed outside the UAE's territorial waters while the second fell within them.
- Esmail Baghai characterized the accusations as contrary to the principle of good neighborliness.
- Iran blamed the regional situation on ongoing actions by the United States and Israel.

**Why it matters:** This incident highlights a sharp escalation in regional tensions between the UAE and Iran, raising concerns over security and stability in the Gulf.

interfax.ru - Иран отрицает причастность к запуску ракет в сторону ОАЭ

jordanzad.com - الإمارات: الدفاعات الجوية ترصد تهديدًا صاروخيًا

jordanzad.com - «الدفاع الإماراتية» ترصد صاروخين باليستيين أطلقا من إيران

UAE Air Defenses Track Missiles from Iran as Tehran Denies Launch

**Summary:** A bipartisan coalition of 29 U.S. states has initiated a landmark federal trial in California, accusing Meta of intentionally designing its apps to addict children and mishandle their data.

**Key points:**
- Plaintiffs include four lead states: California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey.
- The lawsuit alleges that features like infinite scrolling and data collection have fueled mental health crises among minors.
- Meta faces potential penalties that could range up to hundreds of billions or trillions of dollars, alongside demands for age restrictions and platform changes.
- Top executives including Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram chief Adam Mosseri are expected to testify during the six-week trial.

**Why it matters:** This case represents one of the largest legal tests regarding social media companies' accountability for youth mental health and online safety, potentially reshaping popular digital platforms.

globalnews.ca - Meta faces landmark California trial: ‘Kids are the product’

timeslive.co.za - Meta trial that could reshape Facebook, Instagram gets underway

cyprus-mail.com - Meta targeted children to boost Facebook and Instagram use, lawyer says as landmark trial begins

Landmark Meta trial begins over child social media addiction and data privacy claims

**Summary:** US President Donald Trump stated that no peace negotiations are currently underway or planned with Iran, while US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned of unprecedented new measures against Tehran.

**Key points:**
- Trump asserted that the Strait of Hormuz remains open, mines have been cleared, and the US naval blockade is fully operational.
- Iranian chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf reiterated that the strait will remain closed until Washington fulfills commitments under a June agreement.
- US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that Washington will impose measures on Tehran that have never been seen before.
- Economic analysis indicates that Iran's economy has avoided total collapse despite sustained pressure due to targeted monetary transfer policies.

**Why it matters:** The breakdown in diplomatic talks and threats of severe economic escalation heighten tensions in the Middle East, directly impacting regional security and global energy transit through the Strait of Hormuz.

almomento.net - EU amenaza Irán con medidas que «nunca antes se han visto»

elcomercio.pe - Trump dice que no hay conversaciones en curso con Irán ni tampoco están previstas

jornaldenegocios.pt - Trump diz que no h conversaes em curso com o Iro e publica imagem de Ormuz como territrio dos EUA

Trump Denies Ongoing Iran Talks as US Treasury Warns of New Sanctions

**Summary:** Moscow's regional capital faced a massive overnight drone offensive involving over 620 launched devices, resulting in minor injuries and infrastructure damage, while Russia issued diplomatic warnings to the UK over alleged military support.

**Key points:**
- Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanine reported that 180 drones were destroyed in the regional airspace between Monday evening and Tuesday morning.
- Regional Governor Andrei Vorobiov stated that three people were injured, including a 10-year-old child, and an e-commerce warehouse belonging to Wildberries sustained minor damage.
- The Russian embassy in London warned the United Kingdom of consequences regarding the alleged supply and use of British drones in deep strikes inside Russian territory.

**Why it matters:** This massive aerial assault on the Russian capital reflects the severe ongoing escalation of the conflict's drone warfare and highlights widening geopolitical friction between Moscow and Western nations supporting Ukraine.

rtbf.be - Guerre en Ukraine : la Russie annonce avoir abattu 180 drones ukrainiens qui ciblaient Moscou

sudouest.fr - Guerre en Ukraine : une attaque massive de 620 drones signalée à Moscou dans la nuit

lalibre.be - Le maire de Moscou affirme que 620 drones ont été lancés vers la capitale russe dans la nuit, trois blessés

Moscow Targeted by Massive Drone Attack as Russia Warns UK Over Escalation

**Summary:** Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva celebrated an oil discovery in the Morpho well off Amapá's coast, calling it a 'passport for the future' that can fund social investments while assuring safety measures prevent environmental disasters.

**Key points:**
- President of Congress Davi Alcolumbre thanked Lula for backing the offshore exploration and urged sovereignty over natural resources.
- Lula highlighted the use of a Blowout Preventer (BOP), a massive valve system designed to immediately seal the well in case of an emergency.
- Petrobras CEO Magda Chambriard confirmed the discovery during a press conference in Oiapoque.
- The exploration area in the Equatorial Margin is located approximately 175 kilometers from the Amapá coastline and over 500 kilometers from the mouth of the Amazon River.

**Why it matters:** The oil discovery in Amapá's Equatorial Margin introduces a significant new frontier for Brazil's energy sector, balancing economic development goals with ongoing debates over environmental protection and the energy transition.

oglobo.globo.com - Margem Equatorial : Em qualquer incidente , máquina usada na perfurao irá fechar o poço de petróleo , diz Lula

brasil247.com - Lula diz que máquina fechará poço de petróleo em caso de incidente

brasil247.com - Lula celebra descoberta de petróleo no Amapá : passaporte para o futuro

jc.uol.com.br - Lula : Eu ainda sonho em comprar de volta a refinaria que eles privatizaram

brasil247.com - Alcolumbre agradece apoio de Lula e defende soberania sobre petróleo do Amapá : deixem que nós decidimo

Lula Celebrates Oil Discovery in Amapá's Equatorial Margin

**Summary:** Evacuated residents of Sourbrodt are set to return home as heavy rainfall and containment efforts help curb a massive wildfire that has scorched over 3,000 hectares of vegetation.

**Key points:**
- Belgium's King Philippe visited the command post in Sourbrodt to thank firefighters and emergency personnel.
- International aerial support, including helicopters and planes from neighboring nations, has been deployed to assist ground crews.
- Health authorities and experts warned about potential health risks from fine particles (PM2.5 and PM10) generated by the combustion.
- The Liège prosecutor's office has opened an investigation to determine whether the fire's origin was accidental or intentional.

**Why it matters:** This historic wildfire highlights environmental vulnerabilities and transboundary pollution risks in peatland ecosystems, requiring extensive international emergency cooperation.

rtbf.be - Direct – Incendie dans les Hautes Fagnes : les habitants de Sourbrodt vont pouvoir regagner leur domicile, les opérations se poursuivent sur le terrain

Quarte Bot