A Chinese court has sentenced 39 members of Myanmar’s notorious Ming family for running scam centres, casinos, and trafficking operations in Laukkaing near the China border. Eleven received death sentences, while others were jailed for life or long terms. The family generated over 10bn yuan ($1.4bn) through fraud, drugs, gambling, and prostitution, and were linked to worker deaths in brutal scam compounds like the “Crouching … Continue reading China sentences 11 members of mafia family to death

Polish police have arrested a Ukrainian national, identified as diver Volodymyr Z, on suspicion of involvement in the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline explosions. German prosecutors allege he was part of a group that planted explosives on the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines, participating directly in the dives. He faces charges of sabotage and causing explosions, but his lawyer says he will challenge extradition to Germany, … Continue reading Ukrainian diver held in Poland over Russian pipeline blasts in Baltic Sea

A Congolese high military court has convicted former President Joseph Kabila of treason, war crimes, and collaborating with Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, sentencing him to death in absentia. Kabila, who has not been seen publicly for months, was also ordered to pay $33 billion in damages to Congo and its eastern provinces. Prosecutors cited testimony from a former rebel insider claiming Kabila coordinated with M23 to … Continue reading Congo military court sentences former President Kabila to death for treason

Hundreds of young protesters returned to Madagascar’s streets despite President Andry Rajoelina dissolving his government, prompting police to fire tear gas in the capital, Antananarivo. The “Gen-Z” protests, sparked by repeated water and power cuts, have spread to eight cities since Thursday, leaving at least 22 people dead and 100 injured, according to the UN, though the government disputes these figures. Protesters demand Rajoelina’s resignation … Continue reading Madagascar police fire tear gas as president fails to placate protesters

The U.N. Security Council approved a resolution to deploy a 5,550-member international “Gang Suppression Force” in Haiti to combat escalating gang violence. The force, an expansion of the current Kenya-led multinational mission, will have powers to arrest gang members and protect critical infrastructure. The resolution, co-sponsored by the U.S. and Panama, passed 12-0, with Russia, China, and Pakistan abstaining. Gangs now control 90% of Port-au-Prince … Continue reading UN authorizes a much larger force to fight gangs in Haiti

Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey are urging Hamas to respond positively to President Trump’s proposal to end the war in Gaza. Acting as mediators with close ties to Hamas, officials from these countries have met the group twice in 24 hours, emphasizing that the plan aims to stop the war and offering assurances of Trump’s commitment. The proposal includes significant concessions for Hamas, such as the … Continue reading Qatar, Egypt and Turkey urge Hamas to accept Trump’s Gaza peace plan

Youth-led protests demanding better education and healthcare in Morocco turned violent on Tuesday, the fourth day of demonstrations across multiple cities. Organised online by the anonymous group “GenZ 212,” protesters clashed with security forces, overturned vehicles, set banks on fire, and attempted to storm supermarkets in cities including Ait Amira, Inzegane, Tiznit, Oujda, and Temara. Police used water cannons and made dozens of arrests, while … Continue reading Morocco’s youth protests turn violent on fourth day

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant faces a “critical” situation after being without external power for seven days, with one emergency diesel generator now failing. Russian shelling cut the plant off from the electricity grid, leaving its cooling and safety systems reliant on backup power. The outage, the longest since Russia’s 2022 invasion, marks the tenth disconnection of Europe’s … Continue reading Ukraine’s Zelenskyy says situation ‘critical’ at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant

South Africa’s ambassador to France, Nkosinathi Emmanuel “Nathi” Mthethwa, was found dead Tuesday outside the Hyatt Regency hotel in Paris. He had been reported missing by his wife the previous evening after sending a worrying text. French authorities found a forced-open window in his 22nd-floor room, and investigators suspect suicide. Mthethwa, a former South African police minister, had recently been linked to a judicial inquiry … Continue reading South Africa’s ambassador to France found dead outside Paris hotel

The Taliban have shut down internet and telecom services across Afghanistan, creating near-total digital blackout that has halted flights, frozen banks, and cut off millions of people and businesses. Connectivity dropped to about 1% of normal after the country’s 9,350-km fiber optic network was disabled. The shutdown, ordered by Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, is being rolled out in phases, affecting mobile data, phone lines, and … Continue reading Taliban kills internet across Afghanistan, citing morality concerns as UN protests

A powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck central Philippines late Tuesday, killing at least 26 people and injuring over 140. The shallow quake hit near Bogo City in Cebu province, causing widespread damage, power outages, and panic. Buildings, including churches and a sports complex, were destroyed, and landslides buried homes in mountain villages. Authorities briefly issued and later lifted a tsunami warning, the DW has reported. The … Continue reading Philippines hit by 6.9 magnitude earthquake, dozens dead