Malian authorities have arrested two army generals, dozens of soldiers, civilians, and a suspected French intelligence agent over an alleged plot to destabilize the country. Security Minister Daoud Aly Mohammedine said the coup attempt, which began on August 1, involved foreign support and has been “completely foiled.” The French suspect, identified as Yann Christian Bernard Vezilier, is accused of working on behalf of France’s intelligence … Continue reading Mali’s military arrests generals, suspected French agent in overthrow plot

Wildfires fueled by hot, dry weather continued to burn across Spain, Portugal, and Greece on Friday, coinciding with major religious holidays in the region. Spain battled 14 major fires, including large blazes in Galicia that closed highways and suspended high-speed rail, with temperatures over 40°C expected through Monday. Portugal deployed nearly 4,000 firefighters to seven major fires under an extended state of alert. In Greece, … Continue reading Spain, Portugal, and Greece battle wildfires as heatwave is expected to last for days

Torrential rains have triggered flash floods in India and Pakistan, killing over 280 people and leaving many missing. Rescuers evacuated around 1,600 people from mountainous areas, while in Pakistan, a relief helicopter crashed in bad weather, killing all five aboard. In India, floods halted a major Hindu pilgrimage and forced thousands to evacuate, the Associated Press has reported. Experts link the surge in destructive cloudbursts … Continue reading Death toll from flash floods in northwest Pakistan has jumped to 157

Former U.S. Navy SEAL Erik Prince’s security firm, Vectus Global, plans to send about 200 contractors from multiple countries to Haiti under a one-year deal to combat gang violence and help reclaim territory from heavily armed gangs. The team will support Haiti’s National Police and a struggling U.N.-backed Kenyan-led mission, and later advise on restoring revenue collection. Critics warn the deployment may violate U.S. law … Continue reading Blackwater founder to deploy nearly 200 personnel to Haiti as gang violence soars

Israeli gunfire killed at least 25 people seeking aid in Gaza, according to health officials and witnesses. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his call for what he terms “voluntary migration” of Palestinians from the territory, a plan critics warn could amount to ethnic cleansing. Witnesses said many of the victims were shot while traveling to aid distribution points or waiting for convoys in Gaza City, … Continue reading Israeli gunfire kills at least 25 in Gaza

A homeless man, Ross Judd, 34, has been charged with the murder of a pregnant woman, Athena Georgopoulos, 39, and her partner, Andrew Gunn, 50, in Melbourne, Australia. Police found the couple’s bodies Monday evening, with Gunn decapitated. Authorities say the attack appears targeted, though the relationship between Judd and the victims is unclear. Graffiti reading “betrayal” and “enough is enough” outside the unit is … Continue reading Man charged with murder of Australian couple in graffiti-covered house

Peru’s President Dina Boluarte has signed a contentious law granting amnesty to soldiers, police, and militias accused or convicted of atrocities during the 1980–2000 conflict with Maoist rebels, defying an order from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights to halt it. The measure could free those over 70 and affect over 600 trials and 156 convictions for crimes including massacres, torture, and sexual violence. Human … Continue reading Peru president issues amnesty for hundreds accused of atrocities

Typhoon Podul crossed southern Taiwan, prompting school and office closures as heavy rain threatened crops in the southeast. The storm, 120 km wide, hit Taitung before moving west toward China, where Fujian and Guangdong evacuated 15,000 people. One person is reported missing in Taiwan. While no major damage occurred, several southern counties faced flooding, flight disruptions, and agricultural risks, the Associated Press has reported. Podul … Continue reading Typhoon Podul brings no major damage as it crosses Taiwan and heads for China

The UK, France, and Germany (the E3) have warned they will reimpose UN sanctions on Iran’s nuclear programme if it does not resume negotiations by the end of August 2025. In a letter to UN chief António Guterres, the foreign ministers said they were prepared to trigger the “snapback” mechanism, restoring previous sanctions, after Iran failed to respond to an offer to extend talks. Iran … Continue reading UK, France and Germany ready to reimpose sanctions on Iran over nuclear program

U.S. authorities have indicted Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier, a Haitian gang leader, and Bazile Richardson, a naturalized U.S. citizen, for conspiring to send U.S. funds to finance Chérizier’s gang. Chérizier, currently a fugitive believed to be in Haiti, was sanctioned in 2020 under the Magnitsky Act for human rights abuses, including the 2018 La Saline massacre. Richardson was arrested in Texas for allegedly sending money to … Continue reading Feds unseal charges against ‘Barbecue,’ Haitian gang leader with $5M bounty on his head