In parts of Mexico, organized crime groups have taken control of hospitals and forced medical staff to treat wounded cartel members under threat of violence, according to doctors speaking anonymously. In Guanajuato, a doctor described being threatened at gunpoint and coerced into treating injured hitmen from the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. While official data shows a drop in homicides under President Claudia Sheinbaum, experts warn … Continue reading Drug traffickers take control of health centers in some areas of Mexico

A series of drone attacks have targeted oil fields in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region, damaging infrastructure but causing no injuries. Norwegian company DNO ASA and a U.S.-operated field were among those affected, leading to temporary shutdowns. No group has claimed responsibility, but Kurdish officials suspect the attacks aim to disrupt the region’s economy and energy sector. Tensions have risen between Kurdish authorities and Baghdad, with … Continue reading Drone attacks on oil fields in Iraq’s Kurdish region shut down facilities

Fugitive Moldovan oligarch Vladimir Plahotniuc, wanted for his role in a $1 billion bank fraud and other corruption charges, was detained in Greece, Moldovan police announced. Plahotniuc, who fled Moldova in 2019, had been on Interpol’s international wanted list. He is accused of fraud, money laundering, and leading a criminal organization. Moldovan authorities are working to secure his extradition, the Associated Press has reported. Once … Continue reading Fugitive Moldovan oligarch implicated in $1 billion bank fraud detained in Greece

A Syrian government committee has confirmed that over 1,400 people, mostly Alawite civilians, were killed during sectarian violence in the country’s coastal region in March. The investigation identified 298 suspects in serious crimes including murder, torture, and looting, with 37 arrests made so far. While government forces were accused of summary executions, the report found no evidence the military leadership ordered attacks on the Alawite … Continue reading More than 1,400 killed in sectarian violence in coastal Syria, report finds

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed a controversial law that critics say weakens the independence of Ukraine’s key anti-corruption agencies, sparking protests across major cities and drawing sharp criticism from Western allies. The law gives the prosecutor general — a Zelensky ally — control over the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), raising concerns about political interference. Zelensky defended the … Continue reading Protests in Ukraine as Zelensky signs bill targeting anti-corruption bodies

Thirteen people have been arrested in Pakistan’s Balochistan province after a video showed the brutal “honour” killing of a couple, Bano Bibi and Ahsan Ullah, for marrying against their families’ wishes. The footage, showing the woman being shot after asking to be killed respectfully, sparked national outrage. Authorities identified the perpetrators, including a tribal elder who ordered the killings, and are searching for nine more … Continue reading Pakistan authorities arrest 13 suspects over ‘honour’ killing video

A former Ukrainian anti-organized crime official, Ihor Hrushevskyi, was found dead in a swimming pool in Villajoyosa, Spain, on June 29. Authorities have not ruled out foul play, though no signs of violence were found. His death occurred at the same apartment complex where Russian defector pilot Maksim Kuzminov was assassinated in February 2024. Hrushevskyi, who had lived there for 16 months, had a background … Continue reading Ex-Ukrainian official reportedly found dead in pool at Spain resort

Vietnam is bracing for Typhoon Wipha, set to make landfall early Tuesday with strong winds and heavy rain, threatening floods and landslides in northern regions and urban areas like Hanoi. Authorities have issued emergency alerts, canceled flights, and suspended boat services, with evacuations underway in high-risk zones. The storm has already killed at least three people in the Philippines and affected over 800,000, the Associated … Continue reading Vietnam races to prepare for Typhoon Wipha as Philippines suffers storm deaths