A 30-year-old Sudanese man has appeared before a Belfast court charged with attempted murder following a serious knife attack that left a man with life-changing injuries.

Hadi Alodid, of Duncairn Avenue in north Belfast, appeared via video link from Musgrave Serious Crime Suite. He faces charges of attempted murder, possession of a knife in a public place, and making threats to kill an NHS worker.

The charges stem from an incident that occurred on Kinnaird Avenue in north Belfast on Monday night. The victim, a man in his 40s, remains in hospital receiving treatment for severe injuries to his eyes, neck and back.

During court proceedings, it was revealed that the victim lost his left eye as a result of the attack. Alodid was remanded in custody pending further legal proceedings.

The incident was followed by significant disorder in parts of north Belfast on Tuesday night. Emergency services responded to multiple fires, including two vehicles set ablaze, while several properties and rubbish bins were also set on fire.

An African family became trapped inside a house after its windows were smashed during the unrest. Members of the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, assisted by a local pastor, helped bring the family to safety.

Witnesses reported that one occupant collapsed into the arms of firefighters while being evacuated. Four fire officers carried the individual to a vehicle, while the remaining family members were able to leave the property on foot, though visibly distressed by the ordeal.

Reacting to the violence, Keir Starmer described the scenes in Belfast as “shocking and completely unacceptable.”

In a statement, the Prime Minister said there could be no justification for the violence and disorder that threatened local communities, nor for those who encouraged it either online or elsewhere. He added that it was clear some individuals had been targeted because of their background and stressed that such actions would not be tolerated.

Starmer said those responsible would face the full force of the law and confirmed he had spoken with police, emergency services and political leaders in Northern Ireland. He urged calm and called on the public to allow law enforcement authorities to continue their investigations and restore order.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has secured a significant political victory after his centrist Civil Contract Party won a crucial general election, reinforcing his government’s efforts to strengthen ties with Western partners while maintaining relations with Russia.

According to preliminary results, Civil Contract received 49.8% of the vote, comfortably ahead of the pro-Russian Strong Armenia Alliance, which secured 23.2%. The Armenia Alliance, another opposition bloc with close ties to Moscow, finished third with 9.9%.

The election was widely viewed as a referendum on Armenia’s foreign policy direction as the South Caucasus nation seeks to deepen engagement with Europe while navigating economic and political pressure from Russia, its traditional ally and largest trading partner.

Declaring victory after the results emerged, Pashinyan said voters had endorsed a vision focused on stability and cooperation.

“The Armenian people voted for peace, regional prosperity and cooperation,” he said.

The vote was the first parliamentary election since Armenia’s defeat in the 2023 conflict with neighboring Azerbaijan over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, a development that reshaped the country’s political landscape and remains a major issue in domestic politics.

International reaction was swift, with European leaders welcoming the result. The European Union and France congratulated Pashinyan and praised Armenia’s growing cooperation with Western institutions.

Civil Contract’s victory came despite a decline in the prime minister’s popularity since his landslide win in 2021. Opinion polls before the election suggested support for Pashinyan had fallen to around 30%, largely due to public dissatisfaction over the handling of the Nagorno-Karabakh crisis.

Nineteen parties and alliances competed in the election, though only a handful gained enough support to enter parliament. Voter turnout reached 59%, according to electoral authorities.

Among the opposition groups, the Strong Armenia Alliance was led by Russian-Armenian businessman Samvel Karapetyan, while the Armenia Alliance was headed by former Armenian president Robert Kocharyan. Both have advocated closer ties with Moscow.

Despite pursuing stronger links with Europe, Pashinyan emphasized that Armenia would continue participating in the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

“We will continue the course of rapprochement with the West, but we will also continue our participation and membership in the Eurasian Economic Union,” he said.

The election took place against a backdrop of increasing pressure from Russia. In recent months, Russian President Vladimir Putin urged Armenia to clarify its long-term strategic direction and highlighted the economic advantages the country receives through its membership in the EAEU.

Moscow has also underscored Armenia’s dependence on discounted Russian energy supplies and recently imposed restrictions on imports of several Armenian products, including flowers, mineral water, cognac, fruits and vegetables.

Since coming to power in 2018, Pashinyan has sought to reduce Armenia’s reliance on Russia by advancing legislation aimed at beginning the process of closer integration with the European Union and by pursuing a US-backed peace process with Azerbaijan.

His government also hosted a major gathering of European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Yerevan earlier this year, further signaling Armenia’s growing engagement with Western partners.

However, Armenia remains far from EU membership, and the country has not yet obtained official candidate status.

At home, Pashinyan continues to face criticism from opponents who blame him for concessions made during efforts to normalize relations with Azerbaijan following the loss of Nagorno-Karabakh. Many critics remain angered by his approach to negotiations and his handling of issues involving former leaders of the region who remain imprisoned in Azerbaijan.

Nevertheless, the election result provides Pashinyan with a renewed mandate to continue balancing Armenia’s complex relationships with both the West and Russia while pursuing regional stability and economic development.

At least 19 people have died and more than 130 others have been injured after a powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Mindanao in the southern Philippines, authorities said.

The earthquake occurred at 7:37 a.m. local time on Monday, triggering tsunami alerts across several countries, including the Philippines, Indonesia, Japan and Australia. Some of the warnings were later lifted after assessments showed a reduced threat.

Images and videos circulating on social media showed extensive damage in affected areas, including footage of a branch of Jollibee collapsing into rubble following the quake.

Local officials reported at least 134 injuries across the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani, as well as in the city of General Santos. The figures are expected to be reviewed and verified by the country’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

The national disaster agency typically releases its official casualty and damage assessment after gathering reports from local governments, police units and emergency response agencies.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said government agencies were working together to respond to the disaster and assist affected communities.

“The national government is moving and we will not leave Mindanao behind,” the president said in a statement.

Marcos also ordered the suspension of classes in affected areas. The earthquake struck on the first day of the new school year, disrupting activities across parts of southern Philippines.

A video shared by a primary school in Davao Occidental showed frightened students crouching on shaking ground as the tremor struck. The footage also captured a nearby corrugated-roof structure collapsing. School officials later reported that no injuries occurred at the site.

Seismologists recorded more than 130 aftershocks following the main earthquake, with magnitudes ranging from 1.3 to 6.7, raising concerns about additional structural damage and risks to residents.

In the coastal province of Sarangani, power and communication services were temporarily disrupted before being restored.

General Santos, located near the quake’s epicentre, is widely known as the Philippines’ tuna industry hub and as the hometown of boxing legend and politician Manny Pacquiao.

The Philippines experiences frequent seismic activity because it lies along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a region characterized by intense tectonic movement and volcanic activity. While many earthquakes in the country cause limited damage, stronger events have proven devastating. In September last year, a 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck the Visayas region, resulting in more than 70 deaths.

Authorities continue to assess the full extent of the damage from Monday’s quake as rescue and relief operations remain underway across affected communities.