Former Canadian Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding is accused of running a multi-national drug cartel and orchestrating the murder of a federal witness by posting the victim’s image on a fake news website. The FBI, calling him a modern-day Pablo Escobar, has raised the reward for his capture to $15 million and says he is hiding in Mexico under the Sinaloa cartel’s protection. Wedding faces charges … Continue reading Olympic snowboarder-turned-drug kingpin charged with murder of witness, say US officials

The United States has proposed a new plan to end Russia’s war in Ukraine that would require Kyiv to cede territory in the Donbas, reduce its military by half, and abandon certain weapons, according to multiple news reports. The framework, reportedly developed in consultation with Russian officials, has been described as heavily tilted toward Moscow and favorable to President Vladimir Putin. Ukrainian officials called the … Continue reading US peace plan for Ukraine involves Kyiv ceding land, weapons

President Trump approved a 28-point peace plan for Russia and Ukraine, developed by his advisers, including Steve Witkoff, JD Vance, Marco Rubio, and Jared Kushner, though Ukraine was not involved in drafting it. The plan reportedly aims to provide security guarantees and durable peace, but Kyiv has only been briefed on its broad contours and sees its timing amid a Ukrainian corruption scandal as potentially … Continue reading President Trump approves plan for peace between Russia and Ukraine

Gunmen attacked a boarding high school in Kebbi state, northwestern Nigeria, before dawn on Monday, abducting 25 schoolgirls and killing at least one staff member. The assailants, armed with “sophisticated weapons” and traveling on motorcycles, exchanged fire with guards before carrying out the raid. No group claimed responsibility, but authorities said the attack aligns with the ongoing threat from armed bandits who kidnap for ransom, … Continue reading Gunmen abduct 25 girls from a high school in northwestern Nigeria

A suspected Russian drone attack hit the Turkish tanker MT Orinda in Ukraine’s Odesa region, setting it on fire and prompting evacuations across the Danube River in Romania. All 16 crew members were safely evacuated, and footage showed thick smoke rising from the vessel near the Izmail port, a key Ukrainian trade hub. The strike came shortly after President Zelenskyy finalized a deal to import … Continue reading Russian drone strikes Turkish oil tanker in Ukraine’s Odesa

Polish authorities say an explosion on a railway line near the Ukraine border was a deliberate act of sabotage, with no casualties reported, and Prime Minister Donald Tusk vowed to find those responsible. The attack occurred on a crucial route for military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, with a second suspicious incident on the same line likely linked to sabotage. Officials suspect foreign involvement, possibly … Continue reading Poland says blast on rail line to Ukraine ‘unprecedented act of sabotage’

Ecuadorians decisively rejected a set of referendum measures, including allowing foreign military bases, reducing Congress size, and cutting public funding for political parties, marking a political setback for President Daniel Noboa. Noboa had promoted the measures as essential to combat violent gangs and cocaine trafficking, with Ecuador serving as a major transit corridor between Peru, Colombia, and international markets. Voters expressed concern that constitutional changes … Continue reading Ecuador rejects U.S. military bases in major defeat for President Noboa

Ukraine and France have signed a long-term strategic agreement under which Ukraine will receive up to 100 Rafale F4 fighter jets, advanced air defense systems, and French radars to bolster its defense against ongoing Russian attacks. Deliveries of the jets are planned through 2035, and joint production of interceptor drones will begin this year, though financial details are still being finalized, potentially involving EU funds … Continue reading Ukraine to get up to 100 French-made Rafale fighter jets

Japan scrambled fighter jets after spotting a suspected Chinese drone near Yonaguni Island, close to Taiwan, amid rising tensions with Beijing. The following day, Chinese coast guard vessels entered Japanese territorial waters around the disputed Senkaku Islands, a frequent flashpoint between the two countries. The incidents coincided with anger from China over remarks by Japan’s new conservative prime minister suggesting Tokyo could intervene militarily if … Continue reading Japan says warplanes scrambled as Chinese drone detected near southern island

Israeli soldiers fired at UNIFIL peacekeepers near a position in Lebanese territory on Sunday, with heavy-machinegun rounds landing just meters from the personnel, who were able to leave safely after the tank withdrew. Israel claimed the attack was accidental, blaming poor weather and mistaking the UN patrol for suspects. UNIFIL condemned the incident as a serious violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended … Continue reading UN peacekeepers say Israeli forces fire on them in southern Lebanon

Iran has conducted cloud-seeding operations over the Urmia lake basin to combat its worst drought in decades, with further efforts planned in East and West Azerbaijan. Urmia, the country’s largest lake, has largely dried up, and rainfall nationwide is at record lows, leaving reservoirs nearly empty. Cloud-seeding involves injecting chemicals like silver or potassium iodide into clouds to encourage condensation and rainfall. Authorities warned of … Continue reading Iran begins cloud seeding to induce rain amid historic drought

At least 32 people were killed when a makeshift bridge collapsed at the Kalando copper and cobalt mine in southeastern DRC, amid overcrowding by wildcat miners. The incident occurred despite a formal ban on access due to heavy rain and landslide risks, and panic was reportedly triggered by soldiers firing at the site. The mine has long been contested between independent miners, a cooperative, and … Continue reading Dozens killed in DR Congo after bridge collapses at copper, cobalt mine

Hundreds of thousands of Filipinos, including about 650,000 members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo, gathered in Manila on Sunday for the largest rally yet demanding accountability for a flood-control corruption scandal. Investigations revealed that thousands of flood defense projects were substandard or nonexistent, with lawmakers and public works officials allegedly taking kickbacks from construction companies. Smaller protests also took place, including one in Quezon City … Continue reading Hundreds of thousands rally in Manila against flood-control corruption scandal

India’s National Investigating Agency arrested Amir Rashid Ali from Indian-controlled Kashmir on suspicion of helping a suicide bomber carry out a deadly car explosion in New Delhi. The blast near the Red Fort on Monday killed 10 people and injured 32, with Umar Un Nabi, a Kashmiri doctor, identified as the suspected driver and suicide bomber. The attack followed the dismantling of a suspected militant … Continue reading India arrests suspect in New Delhi car blast that killed 10

Ecuadorian authorities captured Wilmer Chavarria, aka “Pipo,” one of the country’s most wanted drug traffickers, in Malaga, Spain, years after he faked his death and relocated there. Chavarria is believed to lead Los Lobos, a drug trafficking group of around 8,000 members linked to political assassinations and collaborations with Mexico’s Jalisco New Generation Cartel. He reportedly coordinated drug shipments, ordered killings, and ran extortion schemes … Continue reading Ecuadorian drug gang leader captured in Spain years after faking his death

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced that the country is no longer enriching uranium at any site, following Israeli and U.S. attacks on its facilities in June. He emphasized that all Iranian nuclear sites are under International Atomic Energy Agency monitoring and that Iran maintains its right to peaceful nuclear enrichment. Araghchi also reiterated that Iran’s message on nuclear negotiations with the U.S. and other … Continue reading Iran’s foreign minister says country no longer enriching uranium at any site

The UK Labour government announced plans to drastically cut refugee protections, ending automatic benefits and shortening asylum status from five years to 30 months. Refugees would face regular reviews and be forced to return home once deemed safe, with long-term residency delayed from five to 20 years. The reforms, modeled on Denmark’s strict system, aim to curb irregular migration and counter the rise of the … Continue reading U.K. plans to drastically reduce protections for refugees in overhaul of its asylum policies

The Pentagon conducted its 21st strike on an alleged drug-trafficking vessel in the Eastern Pacific, killing three men, according to U.S. Southern Command. The U.S. military says the strikes target narcotics smuggling along known trafficking routes using fighter jets, drones, and gunships. This brings the total reported deaths from the campaign to 83, with officials claiming congressional approval is not required for the operations. Legal … Continue reading US military carried out 21st strike on alleged drug boat, killing 3

U.S. Marines guarding the American embassy in Port-au-Prince exchanged gunfire with suspected Haitian gang members on the evening of Nov. 13, though no Marines were injured. The Marine Corps said the attackers fired first, prompting Marines supporting embassy security operations to return fire. Officials released no details on what triggered the confrontation, how long it lasted, or whether any attackers were wounded or killed. The … Continue reading Marines got into a shootout with suspected gang members in Haiti

At least 120 people, including 100 police officers, were injured during large anti-government protests in Mexico City. Thousands marched to condemn rising violence and President Claudia Sheinbaum’s security policies, following the recent assassination of Uruapan Mayor Carlos Manzo. Demonstrators clashed with police near the National Palace, leading to tear gas use and 20 arrests. Sheinbaum claimed the protests were funded by right-wing opponents, despite being … Continue reading Thousands protest against government in Mexico as clashes leave 120 injured

Pakistan arrested four members of an Afghan-linked cell in connection with a suicide bombing outside a district court in Islamabad that killed 12 people and injured dozens. The attack was claimed by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and was allegedly directed by Pakistan Taliban commander Saeed-ur-Rehman, operating from Afghanistan. The bomber, identified as Usman alias Qari from Nangarhar province, was guided into Pakistan via orders over … Continue reading Pakistan arrests 4 from an Afghan cell over deadly Islamabad bombing

A car explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort killed at least eight people and injured 20, with the Indian government labeling it a “terror incident.” The blast occurred at a red light around 18:52 local time in a Hyundai i20 carrying three people, damaging nearby vehicles and prompting a high alert in Delhi and neighboring states. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet condemned the attack as a … Continue reading Delhi blast was terror incident, Indian government says

Germany will not return to compulsory military service, with new legislation introducing a voluntary military service set to start in January, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said. The program aims to recruit 20,000 volunteers by 2026, offering €2,600 per month before tax, and will include mandatory physical assessments for all 18-year-old men. The Bundeswehr currently has around 182,000 soldiers but will need at least 260,000 by … Continue reading Germany to introduce voluntary military service

The U.S. State Department warned Americans in Japan to stay alert after at least 13 people have been killed by bear attacks so far in 2025, with Akita and Iwate most affected. Maruyama Park in Sapporo, near the U.S. Consulate, was closed for two weeks after bear sightings, and residential areas in Hokkaido and Akita have also reported bear activity. Japanese troops were deployed to … Continue reading State Department issues warning in Japan after bears kill 13 since April

Israel’s president, Isaac Herzog, and top military officials condemned violent attacks by Jewish settlers on Palestinian villages in the West Bank, calling the actions “shocking” and a violation of Israeli values. Dozens of masked settlers set fire to vehicles and property in Beit Lid and Deir Sharaf and clashed with Israeli soldiers responding to the violence. Authorities arrested four Israelis and reported four Palestinians wounded, … Continue reading Israel’s president says ‘shocking’ settler violence against Palestinians must end