More than a dozen international humanitarian organisations have petitioned Israel's Supreme Court to block an imminent order that would force 37 NGOs to cease operations in Gaza, the West Bank and east Jerusalem, warning of catastrophic consequences for Palestinians.

Organisations including Doctors Without Borders (MSF), Oxfam, the Norwegian Refugee Council and CARE were notified on December 30, 2025 that their Israeli registrations had expired and that they had 60 days to renew them by providing lists of their Palestinian staff.

NICOSIA, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Cyprus imposed strict livestock controls on Tuesday after authorities confirmed multiple cases of foot and mouth disease, triggering nationwide restrictions on the movement of animals and heightened biosecurity measures across farming areas.

Veterinary officials said an outbreak had been detected at 11 farms in the southern district of Larnaca after an initial diagnosis at one on February 20. The region borders a dividing line splitting the island, and cases of foot and mouth had also been reported in the Turkish Cypriot-controlled north in December.

Paris Saint-Germain footballer Achraf Hakimi, a key player in their Champions League-winning side last season, is to stand trial charged with raping a young woman, his lawyer and a French prosecutor told AFP Tuesday.

In February 2023, a woman then aged 24 told police in the Val-De-Marne region southeast of Paris that Hakimi had raped her.

The 27-year-old Moroccan international, who played a pivotal role in Morocco becoming the first African and Arab side to reach the World Cup semi-finals when they made the last four in 2022, denies any wrongdoing.

ISLAMABAD, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Tensions have heated up again between Islamabad and Kabul this week after Pakistan launched airstrikes on militant targets in Afghanistan.

Pakistani security sources said the strike killed at least 70 terrorists, while the United Nations said at least 13 civilians were killed.

The attack threatens a fragile ceasefire following border clashes in October that killed dozens of soldiers, the worst fighting between the two countries since the Taliban took over Kabul in 2021.

WHY ARE THE NEIGHBOURS AT ODDS?

Europe has wide "shortfalls" in its military capabilities which leave it "ill-prepared" as the war in Ukraine grinds on, a new report said Tuesday.

With the new security strategy of US President Donald Trump's administration forcing European countries to rethink defence policies, four years of war in Ukraine has spurred efforts to boost military capabilities, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) said in its annual report.

GENEVA/BEIRUT, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Israel has sent an indirect message to Lebanon that it would strike Lebanon hard, targeting civilian infrastructure including the airport, in the event that Hezbollah gets involved in any U.S.-Iran war, two senior Lebanese officials said on Tuesday.

The office of the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Lebanese presidency did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

NEW DELHI, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Israel from February 25 to 26, India's foreign ministry said on Tuesday.

The visit will be Modi's second to Israel.

Modi's first visit took place in 2017, which was also the first ever by an Indian prime minister to Israel.

(Reporting by Hritam Mukherjee; Editing by YP Rajesh)

By Patricia Zengerle

WASHINGTON, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Tuesday's State of the Union address provides President Donald Trump with a nationally televised opportunity to persuade skeptical American voters to rally behind his threatened strikes against Iran over its nuclear program.

Advisers have urged Trump to focus on the economy, immigration and other domestic policy issues when he takes the U.S. House of Representatives podium for the speech at 9 p.m. ET (0200 GMT on Wednesday).

That has not been his focus to date.

DUBAI, Feb 24 (Reuters) - An Iranian Army helicopter crashed into a fruit market in the central province of Isfahan on Tuesday, killing the pilot, co-pilot and two merchants, state media reported.

The helicopter came down in the city of Dorcheh, causing a fire that was put out by emergency services, the reports added.

Experts say Iran has a poor air safety record, with repeated crashes, many involving aircraft bought before the 1979 Islamic Revolution and lacking original spare parts for maintenance.

GENEVA, Feb 24 (Reuters) - The head of the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday urged top contributor the United States to pay its fees in full after Washington made only a partial payment to the global body, amounting to less than 5% of the total amount owed.

The United States has paid about $160 million of the more than $4 billion it owes to the U.N., a United Nations spokesperson said last week, after Reuters reported that an initial payment was pending.

United Nations Secretary-General has warned the body faces "imminent financial collapse" due to unpaid fees.