North Korea missile test
North Korea ramps up its missile tests, reportedly firing several short and long-range projectiles in a single day, amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula. South Korea and Japan say three missiles, including one that appeared to be an ICBM, were fired in the early hours of Wednesday. Seoul and Tokyo have called the launches provocative. South Korea's military says it has, in response, held a joint drill with American forces, without giving any details. North Korea has conducted a flurry of missile tests, including its largest ICBM this year. The launches happened just a day after US President Joe Biden wrapped up his Asia trip, during which he agreed to new measures to deter the nuclear-armed North. A White House official says Biden has been briefed on the latest launches. Meanwhile, the South Korean defense chief has in a phone call with his US counterpart, called for an early deployment of American strategic assets in his country.
Afghanistan health crisis
Afghan health experts are sounding alarm over the deteriorating healthcare system in their country. They say Afghanistan will soon run out of medicines if urgent actions are not taken.
US school tragic shooting
The United States has just seen one of its deadliest school shootings in years. A gunman has killed 19 children and two adults at an elementary school in the state of Texas. The suspect has been identified as an 18-year-old man. Texas Governor Greg Abbott says the suspect is also dead, apparently killed by police officers in the town of Uvalde. Reports say the gunman drove up to the school and entered with a rifle and a handgun. The carnage follows a series of mass shootings in the United States this month. Despite recurring mass-casualty shootings, multiple initiatives to reform gun regulations have failed in Congress, leaving states and local councils to enact their own restrictions. A new report by the FBI revealed that the US experienced 61 "active shooter" incidents in 2021, showing a sharp rise over 2020 and the highest tally in more than 20 years.