A 7.4‑magnitude earthquake struck Colombia on Monday, killing at least 265 people and leaving 500 missing, according to the national government. The disaster prompted an emergency response that began within an hour, as newly inaugurated President Abelardo de la Espriella announced a command post to coordinate rescue efforts. In contrast, Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez addressed the nation nearly four hours after the June 24 tremors that killed 32 people and left many unaccounted for. Colombia operates under a democratic system with institutions that have continued to function despite recent political transitions. Venezuela is governed by a ruling party that has faced economic decline and personnel shortages. The two quakes affected densely populated areas, but Colombia’s impact was primarily rural and occurred during daylight, whereas Venezuela’s struck the coastal city of La Guaira at night. Rescue teams in Colombia deployed cranes, excavators and drones to search for survivors. Officials sent personnel to towns such as Quibdo, Cali and Pereira. De la Espriella visited affected zones within 36 hours and appointed ministers to support regional authorities. The United Nations chief in Colombia, María José Torres Macho, said the country’s institutions continued to operate despite the recent change in presidency. In Venezuela, the government relied on domestic volunteers and limited foreign assistance, rejecting most international rescue teams except those from the United States. Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello provided damage reports before the president’s televised address, and the official casualty count of 32 did not include victims in La Guaira. An independent database listed more than 29,000 people as unaccounted for weeks after the events, while the government updated the death toll weekly. The contrasting responses illustrate how political systems and institutional capacity shape disaster outcomes, and the full extent of casualties and missing persons remains uncertain in both nations.
Geopolitics, diplomacy, and the stories shaping nations.
A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Colombia on Monday, killing 265 people and injuring more than 3,500, with nearly 500 still missing. The death toll has risen to 265, and more than 9,550 homes have been destroyed.
Rescue operations, which have been ongoing for over 72 hours, are described by officials as entering the final phase, though survivors may still be found. The hardest‑hit cities were Pereira, in the coffee region, with 83 deaths, and Cali, the third‑largest city, with 74 deaths. Pereira also reported 3,500 wounded.
In Pereira, crews focused on a collapsed bakery where vibration equipment indicated possible signs of life from a street vendor trapped since the quake, identified as Pablo Loaiza. Relatives gathered outside, and some said the man responded to knocks from beneath the rubble. In Cali, emergency teams prepared to work through a third night using cranes, sniffer dogs and bare‑handed efforts, while volunteers formed bucket brigades and soldiers helped move debris. Police restricted the number of volunteers on site to reduce noise and improve sensor readings, a measure fire officials said improved detection of movement under the debris.
President Abelardo de La Espriella, who was inaugurated three days before the quake, pledged to establish an emergency fund to rebuild hospitals, schools, homes and infrastructure and declared an economic emergency, though specific measures were not outlined. He traveled to the affected regions early in the week. Analysts noted that the disaster presents the new president with his first major test, particularly given his campaign platform to cut public spending, including the defunding of the risk management unit that is currently leading the emergency response.
Nationwide, citizens have mobilized to deliver water, food and blood donations, while officials continue to search for the nearly 500 people still missing.
Israeli settlers have surrounded two Palestinian families in their homes in the village of Qusra near Nablus since Sunday, cutting off water, electricity and food supplies, according to the families and rights groups. Israeli security forces withdrew from the outpost on Wednesday after clashes with the settlers, though about a dozen settlers remained, the BBC reported. The Abu Ridi and Hassan families posted appeals on social media, saying they were isolated and unable to leave their homes, with seven people, including two young girls, reported unable to exit the property. Palestinian security camera footage showed settlers tearing down a wall outside the Abu Ridi home on Sunday evening and using the stones to block the road. Israeli journalists from Haaretz were blocked from reaching the sites and told the area was a closed military zone, a restriction that was not enforced on the settlers. On Monday, the human rights group Yesh Din urged the head of the Israeli military's Central Command to protect the besieged residents, evacuate the outpost and hold the settlers accountable. A Palestinian ambulance was finally permitted to reach the families on Tuesday, delivering food and taking one child for medical treatment. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) condemned the establishment of the outpost, calling the seizure of Palestinian homes illegal, reprehensible and unacceptable, and said disciplinary action would be considered against security personnel documented at the site. IDF Central Command chief Maj Gen Avi Bluth met residents on Wednesday and expressed grave concern. Palestinian village mayor Abdel Azim Wadi said residents had observed a clear and sustained pattern of targeting Qusra. The UN's Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Ramiz Alakbarov, told the Security Council that the West Bank was at a breaking point and noted that 76 Palestinians, including 18 children, had been killed in the West Bank this year. He also said 127 Palestinian communities have experienced displacement since January 2023. Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, dismissed the notion that settlements hinder peace, stating that Israel would remain and continue to grow on the land. The situation in Qusra remained unresolved as of the latest reports.
Dmitry Muratov, the co‑founder and former editor of Novaya Gazeta, told the BBC that, five years after Russia’s full‑scale invasion of Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin can no longer claim victory in the conflict. Muratov, who shared the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize for safeguarding freedom of expression, said the newspaper’s printing presses were nationalised and its registration revoked after a presidential decree, leaving only an online presence that is blocked in Russia. He noted that the crackdown on dissent intensified after 2022, with at least 1,500 people estimated to be imprisoned for opposing state policy, compared with the Soviet era. Muratov described the government’s designation of critics as foreign agents, restrictions on their activities, and the continued detention of journalists and activists, including the death of pianist Pavel Kushnir in pre‑trial detention. While acknowledging that public support for independent reporting remains strong, he said that international attention to Russian political prisoners has waned. The Kremlin retains tight control through the Federal Security Service, and Muratov dismissed speculation about elite divisions as unfounded. He concluded that destroying Ukraine without conquering it would not constitute victory, and that any use of nuclear weapons would be unacceptable.
In Naqoura, Lebanon, a convoy of church officials and humanitarian workers seeking to visit towns in Israeli‑occupied southern Lebanon was turned back by an Israeli soldier who said they lacked authorization, highlighting the continued restrictions on movement despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire. The ceasefire announced in June by Secretary of State Marco Rubio envisions Lebanese disarmament of Hezbollah and a gradual Israeli withdrawal from a 75‑mile‑by‑6‑mile buffer zone, but fighting resumed in March and the buffer zone remains under Israeli control. Israeli officials say the zone is needed to dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure and stop cross‑border attacks. President Donald Trump has sought to preserve the truce to advance negotiations with Iran, where Tehran links a Lebanon ceasefire to an Israeli pullout. Israeli strikes on Beirut in June and threats to close the Strait of Hormuz over continued attacks have complicated the arrangement. Trump, hosting Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in the Oval Office, pledged assistance, including eased flight restrictions, and said Israeli troops were “in the process of redeployment.” The IDF has carried out limited withdrawals in pilot zones and maintains a long‑term presence, with Defense Minister Israel Katz pledging to keep the buffer zone. Strikes have increased in southern Lebanon after alleged ceasefire violations by Hezbollah. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested some Christian towns had asked to be annexed for protection, a claim refuted by local residents who said they want to remain Lebanese. A map posted by the Israeli Foreign Ministry that appeared to incorporate southern Lebanon was later removed. The aid convoy was organized by the Paris‑based Catholic group L’Oeuvre d’Orient in coordination with UN peacekeepers; most of its 15 missions since March have reached destinations, though conditions remain fluid. Residents report price increases of about 25 % compared with Beirut, fuel and internet disruptions, and restrictions on farming and beekeeping that have reduced income. The French officer with the UN Interim Force said locals “want to live in peace,” and the group has renovated a sports facility to support youth. The UN peacekeeping mandate expires at year‑end, and the future role of its personnel is uncertain.
Zambia heads to the polls on Thursday in a general election that will determine the nation's presidency and policy direction. President Hakainde Hichilema, in office since 2021, is seeking a second term after overseeing debt restructuring and an economic rebound following the 2020 default. His main opponent is Brian Mundubile, a veteran parliamentarian running for the first time, who leads an opposition alliance backed by supporters of former President Edgar Lungu. The election will be held alongside parliamentary and local government contests. A presidential candidate must receive more than 50 % of the vote to win in the first round; otherwise a run‑off will be held within 37 days between the top two candidates. Analyst Euston Chiputa said he expects the ruling party to retain power despite large rallies for Mundubile, noting that the opposition is fragmented and that its candidates are competing against each other in some constituencies. Investors anticipate Hichilema’s victory, while many citizens say that although inflation has fallen to its lowest level in years, they have yet to feel tangible improvements in daily life. The campaign period has been marked by allegations of political repression, which the government denies. Freedom House classifies Zambia as ‘partly free,’ citing regular elections but noting legal and practical obstacles for opposition parties. University of Zambia lecturer Lee Habasonda said opposition support in Lusaka and the Copperbelt provinces could make the race competitive if the opposition unites behind a single candidate. Polling stations will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., and results are scheduled to be published on Monday; any run‑off must be staged within 37 days of the initial vote. The outcome will affect Zambia’s economic trajectory and its role in the region.
Britain is poised for its fifth heat wave on Thursday, with temperatures expected to reach 38 °C (100 °F) in central and southeast England. The forecast could make this summer the hottest on record, just below the 38.5 °C mark set in August 2003. The Met Office said that average conditions for the remainder of August could surpass last year’s record for the hottest year.
Large parts of England are experiencing drought, putting pressure on water supplies for households, agriculture and the environment. Southern Water has applied for a drought order that would ban nonessential water use for businesses, including car washing and filling swimming pools, in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Environment Secretary Angela Eagle will decide on the application, which would be the first such ban since May 2006.
Hospitals have reported incidents of nursing staff suffering heat exhaustion. The Royal College of Nursing chief executive, Professor Nicola Ranger, said that collapsing and dizziness among staff show that workplaces are not equipped for the heat.
Wildfires have continued this summer, with 1,017 fires recorded in England and Wales this year, matching the previous year’s total. The New Forest in southern England saw multiple blazes this week. Although not as extensive as fires in France, Greece or Spain, the activity underscores the need for the United Kingdom to adapt to increasing fire risk.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he will consider imposing a ban on disposable barbecues to reduce the chance of further wildfires while the heat persists.
Authorities have not yet announced a decision on the water restriction order or the barbecue ban.
Oman's Environment Authority said on Wednesday that crude oil leaking from the grounded tanker Caroline Bezengi has reached beaches on the country's mainland, about 200 kilometres north of Qabiliyah Island. The 247-metre tanker, which was carrying nearly one million barrels of oil, reported an explosion in June and has been identified as part of Russia's shadow fleet, a group sanctioned by the United Kingdom and the European Union for transporting Russian oil. Environmental experts noted that the spill is spreading rapidly in the monsoon season, covering more than 600 square kilometres. The authority said monitoring continues and warned that the southern coasts of Masirah Island, roughly 300 kilometres north of the tanker's position, may be affected. Geospatial data from SynMax Maritime indicated the vessel departed Novorossiysk in May. No party has claimed responsibility for the explosion, and the cause remains undisclosed. Authorities have not indicated a timeline for containment, and the full environmental impact is still being assessed.
Travis Kelce said his wedding to Taylor Swift on July 3 at Madison Square Garden in New York was the best night of his life. He made the remarks at the Kansas City Chiefs training camp in Missouri. The ceremony was held in the stadium and was attended by a number of well-known guests, including actors Hugh Grant and Jason Sudeikis, singer Benson Boone and model Gigi Hadid. The couple kept details private and no official photographs were released. Swift was seen publicly as Kelce's wife for the first time when she sat courtside at Game 4 of the NBA Finals, where the New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 107-106. Kelce thanked the venue owners for allowing a private event and noted the heat inside the arena. He described the evening as memorable and expressed gratitude to the guests who attended. He added that the air-conditioning system was working hard due to the summer heatwave that affected the region over the Independence Day weekend. He said the off-season was fun and that he is eager to return to training with the Chiefs. At 37 years old Kelce has won three Super Bowl titles with Kansas City and the team missed the playoffs last season for the first time in ten years. He indicated that the upcoming season, which begins next month, could be his final year though he has not confirmed retirement. Kelce said he still loves the game and wants to prove he can perform better than in the previous year describing the field as his sanctuary and emphasizing the importance of team chemistry as the team ramps up preparations.
World Health Organization director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters that the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is expected to surpass t...
World Health Organization director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters that the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is expected to surpass the deadliest Ebola epidemic on record, which resulted in more than 11,000 deaths between 2014 and 2016.
The outbreak was declared on 15 May 2024 and has recorded at least 4,300 cases and more than 2,000 deaths, according to WHO statements. Health officials say the outbreak likely began at least three months before the May declaration.
The virus responsible is the Bundibugyo species, which caused only two prior outbreaks in 2007 and 2012. No approved vaccine or therapeutic drug exists for this species. Dr. Mohamed Janabi, WHO Africa director, said at a news conference in Bunia that the virus began spreading in February and was initially misdiagnosed as malaria or typhoid.
Ongoing regional instability in eastern DR Congo has limited health‑worker access, with officials reaching roughly 30 % of cases, Janabi added. Ebola spreads through contact with infected bodily fluids such as blood or vomit, and symptoms typically appear two to 21 days after infection.
Three research groups, including the University of Oxford, are preparing human trials for a Bundibugyo vaccine that uses the same platform as the Oxford‑AstraZeneca Covid vaccine. The UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has approved the first human trial. Separately, the WHO is sponsoring a trial in DR Congo to assess whether two existing antiviral agents can improve survival rates.
The WHO hopes to bring transmission under control within three months, though it notes that ending the outbreak entirely has not yet been achieved.
A Russian strike on Thursday hit the Izmail port in southern Odesa, damaging port infrastructure and sparking a fire, according to the Izmail Regional State Administration. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine needs five percent of the United States’ Patriot interceptor missiles to maintain its winter air defense and ten percent to destroy all Russian ballistic missiles.
The strike occurred at a major Danube port that handles grain and other commodities near the Romanian border. Ukrainian officials reported that Russia has been conducting weekly missile attacks on Kyiv, including a recent barrage of 28 ballistic missiles that Ukraine said it failed to intercept. Zelenskyy said the country’s stock of Patriot interceptors is lower than in 2025, noting that Russia now launches twice as many ballistic missiles per month.
Emergency personnel responded to the fire at Izmail and worked to extinguish it, the administration said. In addition to the port strike, Ukrainian air force communications chief Yurii Ihnat announced that the force would cease publishing detailed statistics on Russian missile launches, citing difficulties in tracking the high volume of attacks, which included more than 450 missiles in the previous month, nearly 200 of which were ballistic.
Zelenskyy reiterated his request for additional Patriot interceptors, stating that securing five percent of U.S. stocks would allow Ukraine to endure the winter, while a ten percent increase would enable it to neutralize Russian ballistic threats; the United States has not yet responded to the request.
Zambia will hold national elections on August 13, 2026, featuring incumbent Hakainde Hichilema and opposition leader Brian Mundubile.
The election follows Hichilema’s 2021 victory over former President Edgar Lungu, whose death in June 2025 led to a legal dispute over his burial. The government sought to prevent his family from burying him without a state funeral, while the Supreme Court of Appeal in South Africa ruled in favor of the family, overturning an earlier high court decision.
Hichilema is running for a second term against the Tonse Alliance, a coalition of opposition parties led by Mundubile, who served as a government chief whip under Lungu. Mundubile’s running mate, Makebi Zulu, acted as the family’s spokesperson during the burial dispute. Both candidates have pledged to facilitate the return of Lungu’s body to Zambia for a dignified burial, a matter that scholars say influences public perception of respect for the deceased.
The Tonse Alliance has accused Hichilema’s government of authoritarian tactics, including raiding opposition offices and detaining 36 members of Mundubile’s team. Hichilema’s party denied the allegations, pointing to previous restrictions on the opposition during Lungu’s administration, such as multiple arrests of Hichilema, closures of private media outlets, and an internet shutdown on election day in 2021.
Transparency International Zambia has recorded police interruptions of opposition rallies, noting that such actions have been more frequent against opposition and independent groups. Activists also reported that peaceful demonstrations were dispersed during Hichilema’s term, including the detention of members of the Fight Inequality Alliance for over 12 hours in July 2024 after a protest against the state power company amid extended blackouts.
Christopher Vandome, a senior research fellow at Chatham House, said Hichilema’s personal experience with Zambia’s complex electoral environment may create voter insecurity that could affect his image.
Economic conditions have improved since the 2020 debt default under Lungu, with inflation falling to 6.5% from 24.6% in July 2021 and primary and secondary education made free in 2022. Average annual incomes rose from $1,127 in 2021 to $1,318 in 2025, according to World Bank data, while living costs roughly doubled over the same period. Some voters have expressed concern that economic gains are not reflected in daily life, as they struggle to afford basic meals.
The election will be contested by nearly 8.8 million registered voters, who will also select members of parliament and local councillors.
The U.S. Justice Department arrested Heidi Beirich, the former intelligence director of the Southern Poverty Law Center, on August 12, 2026, on federal fraud charges.
Beirich, 59, had overseen the SPLC's intelligence operations that tracked far-right hate groups from the organization's headquarters in Montgomery, Alabama.
The department alleges that SPLC directed more than $4 million in donations between 2007 and 2023 to individuals tied to violent extremist groups. Prosecutors say the funds were transferred through fictitious company accounts and used for purposes that misrepresented the intended use of the contributions. Beirich faces wire fraud, conspiracy to submit false statements to a bank, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, according to FBI Director Kash Patel. Patel announced the arrest on the social media platform X, stating that Beirich was central to the investigation into SPLC's alleged criminal activity.
Beirich's attorney, Michael Proctor, said his client is innocent and described the case as politically motivated, arguing that prosecutors sought to punish her for a "decades-long record of success dismantling hate groups." Critics have questioned the administration's motive, noting that the SPLC has historically cooperated with the FBI on hate-group monitoring and has been targeted by conservative critics who allege political bias. The SPLC said it previously used confidential informants to gather intelligence on groups such as the Ku Klux Klan and the National Socialist Party of America, but said it no longer does so and that any information shared with law enforcement was for legitimate investigative purposes.
The indictment remains pending, and the outcome of the case may influence ongoing debates about the role of civil-rights organizations in U.S. counter-extremism efforts.
The United States cut its foreign aid program, ending support for maternal and child health initiatives in Nepal. USAID had funded nutrition and outreach programs that reached 100,000 women and girls. The cuts reduced services for 60 percent of women's organizations, according to the World Health Organization. Health officials say that the loss of nutrition supplements and home‑visiting outreach workers has made it harder for pregnant women to identify complications early, leading to increased maternal deaths. CARE Nepal reported that maternal deaths increased, with its country director noting that the expected annual increase appeared within four to six months. In the village of Prempur Gonahi, infant mortality rose after the program ended, with five newborn deaths recorded between December and March. Kabita Mukhiya, a 20‑year‑old woman, experienced serious pregnancy complications and died after delayed hospital care; health workers said earlier detection could have saved her. The full impact remains unclear because data collection staff were also reduced.
Israeli settlers surrounded three Palestinian families inside their homes in the village of Qusra, south of Nablus, on Sunday, cutting water and electricity and preventing residents from leaving.
Qusra lies in Area B of the occupied West Bank, which is under nominal Palestinian civil administration, and has been the site of several recent attacks, including the burning of a newly built mosque last month.
Security camera footage recorded on Wednesday showed settlers encircling a house, while residents reported that Israeli soldiers had not dispersed the group despite intervening earlier in the day. Aisha Abu Rida, a resident under siege, said the siege began on Sunday and that the families were relying on a temporary solar power system and winter‑collected well water after supply lines were cut.
Loai Ridi, an American‑Palestinian who owns a house in the village, said his brother Qusai Abu Rida and 18‑year‑old nephew Ahmed were trapped and had supplies for only two to three days. He said Israeli forces had done little when his brother called for help and that soldiers were filmed kneeling to pray alongside the settlers.
On Wednesday, additional Israeli forces arrived, dismantled a settlers’ tent and clashed with roughly 50 to 60 settlers before withdrawing. Ridi said the troops were unable to remove the settlers because they were not firm, adding that the soldiers should have escorted the settlers away in vans.
The Israeli military said on Wednesday that it would deploy an additional infantry battalion to the area and that its chief of general staff had ordered continued efforts to strengthen order and operational control to prevent further incidents. The military also said it had received reports of settlers entering and seizing Palestinian homes and land, calling the activity illegal and noting it is contrary to international law, and said disciplinary action would be taken against security personnel filmed at the site.
Residents said they were living in fear and being harassed by settlers. Qusra has experienced a series of recent attacks, including the burning of a mosque last month, and a similar two‑week siege in the neighboring village of Jalud forced two families off their land before settlers took possession of the property.
Violence and land seizures in the West Bank have increased over recent months, with the right‑wing government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu overseeing increased settlement construction. More than 500,000 Israelis live in West Bank settlements that are considered illegal under international law, alongside roughly three million Palestinians. The settlement watchdog Peace Now reports 146 illegal settlements and 390 smaller outposts, while the rights group Breaking the Silence said settlers’ actions amount to daily terror against Palestinian men, women and children.
United Nations officials have warned that the situation in the West Bank has reached a breaking point. UN figures show that Israeli forces and settlers have killed 76 Palestinians, including 18 children, and displaced about 3,800 Palestinians this year. Deputy Special Coordinator Ramiz Alakbarov said the UN has documented more than 1,430 settler attacks causing casualties or property damage in roughly 260 communities in 2026, and that Israeli authorities have approved roughly 12,360 new settlement housing units, including 5,160 in occupied East Jerusalem, steps he said reshape the territory and weaken Palestinian governance.
The situation remains unresolved as the Israeli military pledges additional troops while residents continue to report shortages of water, electricity and food.
WestJet agreed to pay C$4.5 million (£2.4 million) to settle a class‑action lawsuit filed by female flight attendants alleging sexual harassment. The settlement, approved by a British Columbia judge on Monday, will be distributed among 3,452 class members after legal costs are deducted. WestJet will fund a third‑party workplace inquiry to examine the prevalence of harassment, underreporting and the effectiveness of reporting mechanisms. The agreement does not require the airline to implement mandatory anti‑harassment training for pilots or to admit wrongdoing. The lawsuit was initiated in April 2016 by Mandalena Lewis, a former flight attendant, who said a WestJet pilot sexually assaulted her in 2010 and another attendant in 2008; the pilot remained employed and Lewis was dismissed in 2016 for gross insubordination, which she and her legal team said was retaliation. The class action covered all female flight attendants employed by WestJet between 4 April 2014 and 28 February 2021, alleging breach of the company’s policy that guaranteed a harassment‑free workplace. A 2018 survey of more than 3,500 flight attendants found that 68 % reported experiencing sexual harassment during their careers, while only 7 % reported incidents to their employer. WestJet said it was pleased to have reached a mutually agreed settlement and pledged to strengthen operations, training and a culture of empowerment.
LONDON (AP) — Tens of thousands of voters are expected to go to the polls on Thursday in a special election in Clacton, a seaside resort east of London, where Reform UK leader Nigel Farage will appear on the ballot alongside 34 other candidates, including Count Binface, a political satirist who dresses as a space alien. Farage, who stepped down from his parliamentary seat on July 7, said the contest would give voters a chance to judge him in a "people versus the establishment" contest, though his decision to quit his seat was motivated by scrutiny over undisclosed financial donations. Parliament’s standards watchdog is reviewing a 5 million pound donation from a Thailand‑based cryptocurrency entrepreneur that Farage said he did not have to declare. Count Binface, whose real name is Jon Harvey, has previously stood in elections against former prime ministers Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak and says his campaign highlights the accessibility of Britain’s democracy. He must deposit 500 pounds and will only recover it if he receives at least 5% of the vote. Turnout is expected to be low, partly because the election coincides with summer holidays and a heatwave that pushed temperatures above 35°C, and because special elections typically attract fewer voters than general elections. Labour and Conservative parties have declined to nominate candidates, leaving Farage as the primary opposition figure. If he wins, the standards investigation is set to resume, potentially triggering a recall petition and another special election later this year.
An overcrowded ferry overturned on Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe on Tuesday, killing at least 44 people, according to police. The vessel, which has a capacity of 90, was carrying 114 adult passengers, five crew members and an unknown number of children, the civil protection unit said. A crew member told the national broadcaster ZBC that 153 people were on board when the ferry capsized after encountering large waves. A passenger reported that the boat began taking on water about 30 minutes after departing the town of Kariba, heading toward islands and fishing camps. A specialized underwater team was dispatched to the site, and search and rescue operations continued on Wednesday. Initial casualty figures rose from 15 deaths and 27 missing to 38 and then 44 as authorities updated the toll on social media. Video posted by ZBC showed individuals on the overturned hull while speedboats approached and a helicopter circled overhead. Media practitioner Maxwell Kanhema, who shared footage from the shore, described the lake as "angry" and said he received more than 200 calls about the incident. Lake Kariba, the world’s largest human‑made lake by volume, stretches about 150 miles along the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia and supplies at least one‑third of the electricity generated in both countries. Capsizing incidents are not uncommon on the lake; previous accidents have resulted in dozens of fatalities, including a 2014 event in Zambia where 26 people, many of them children, drowned. In Zimbabwe, five people died in a 2021 capsizing and three were feared dead in an October 2023 incident, while a police boat overturned in 2023 with no casualties. The cause of the Tuesday accident remains under investigation.
In Gaur, Nepal, a 20‑year‑old pregnant woman died in December after complications from preeclampsia and severe anemia, highlighting the impact of United States foreign aid cuts on maternal and child health.
The United States Agency for International Development had operated a five‑year, $35 million program that provided nutrition supplements, prenatal visits and trained community health workers in rural areas. The program ended after U.S. funding was reduced, leaving many health facilities without essential supplies or staff.
Kabita Mukhiya did not receive a blood test for hemoglobin, missed prenatal appointments and delivered at home after a seizure caused by high blood pressure. Hospital staff reported critically low hemoglobin levels and said urgent treatment was not available locally. After returning home, she died before being transferred to a higher‑level facility.
Health officials say prenatal visits at local centers have halved since the program’s cancellation and neonatal deaths have risen. In Dewahi Gonahi, authorities recorded two infant deaths while community groups reported at least eight. A study in The Lancet estimates that U.S. aid cuts could cause more than 14 million deaths worldwide, including over 4.5 million children under five, by 2030. The Gates Foundation predicts 2025 may be the first year this century with an increase in global child mortality.
The U.S. State Department said the administration has redirected assistance toward efficiency and partnership and that the United States remains the largest donor of health and humanitarian aid. The Associated Press has documented deaths in several countries linked to aid reductions.
Health workers say trained community health volunteers could have identified warning signs such as swelling, reduced fetal movement and low blood pressure, potentially preventing the fatal outcome.
Harare, Zimbabwe – More than two decades after the seizure of white‑owned commercial farms, the government announced a process to resolve outstanding land claims. President Emmerson Mnangagwa's administration said the measures are not a reversal of the 2000 land redistribution programme. Officials said three categories of claims are being addressed.
Sixty‑seven farms covered by bilateral investment promotion and protection agreements (BIPPAs) will be returned to investors from Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland. Another 840 farms that were included in the acquisition process in error will be restored to their Black Zimbabwean owners. A third group of 409 white farmers who remained on reform‑allocated land will be permitted to purchase the portions they occupy through a compensation set‑off mechanism.
Agriculture Minister Anxious Masuka told Parliament that the BIPPA process addresses legal obligations under existing agreements and should not be confused with a return to pre‑reform conditions. He said the reforms aim to clarify ownership while maintaining the irreversibility of land redistribution.
The land question remains politically sensitive, rooted in colonial land ownership and the 2000 fast‑track programme, which involved occupations by war veterans and the ZANU‑PF party. Human Rights Watch documented violence and disputes during that period, which disrupted agriculture and contributed to the country's economic challenges.
Mnangagwa's government links the land adjustments to efforts to improve relations with Western governments, attract foreign investment and secure debt relief. A separate $3.5 billion compensation framework for former commercial farmers, agreed in 2020, covers improvements made on state‑acquired land but retains state ownership of the land itself.
Officials also said they are issuing title deeds to beneficiaries of the original land reform to provide greater security of tenure. Former farm owners expressed hope that the new steps will allow them to regain access to properties lost during the redistribution, while some veterans voiced uncertainty about the legal implications for settlers.
At least 239 people have died and more than 3,700 have been injured after a 7.4‑magnitude earthquake struck Colombia’s Pacific coast on Monday, authorities said. The death toll is expected to increase as rescue and recovery operations continue. The quake, the strongest to hit Colombia in at least a decade, collapsed 140 buildings and left nearly 50,000 people homeless. Rescue teams continued searching for survivors on Wednesday, and officials warned that the most critical window for finding people trapped in rubble was narrowing. The Colombian government reported that 287 individuals remained missing. The United States and other nations dispatched search‑and‑rescue teams, including units from Los Angeles County and Fairfax County, Virginia, and pledged $15.5 million for emergency shelter, food security and damage assessment. Cali Mayor Alejandro Eder said the rescue effort faced difficulties from aftershocks and rugged terrain. The ongoing operation has not set a timeline for completion.
Former Guerrero governor Ángel Aguirre has been formally charged with forced disappearance and obstruction of justice. The charges stem from his alleged order to destroy surveillance footage that may have clarified the fate of 43 students kidnapped on 26 September 2014. A judge ruled that the attorney general had presented sufficient evidence and ordered Aguirre to remain in a maximum‑security prison while awaiting trial. Aguirre’s lawyer denied the accusations, saying evidence showed a high‑level meeting attended by Aguirre at the time the footage was handed over. The indictment represents the most significant development in the Ayotzinapa case since the 2022 arrest of former attorney general Jesús Murillo Karam. The 2014 abduction involved students from the Raúl Isidros Burgos teacher training college who boarded buses in Iguala before being attacked by a criminal gang linked to municipal police. Investigations have found involvement of federal police and military personnel, either directly or through failure to act. The government at the time pursued a coverup, blaming the gang and local police, and alleged that suspects were tortured into false confessions and that evidence was manipulated. A spokesperson for the families of the 43 students called for transparency and punishment of those responsible, including the masterminds. President Claudia Sheinbaum has pledged to pursue the truth and established an investigative unit a year ago.
Venezuela’s interim government and opposition representatives concluded a first round of talks in Caracas on Wednesday, agreeing to pursue judicial reforms and to seek access to frozen international assets for earthquake recovery.
The discussions, held over six days, were aimed at reconciling the country after the disputed 2024 presidential election and the June 24 earthquakes that killed more than 6,300 people.
The two sides issued a joint statement saying they would reform the Supreme Tribunal of Justice Organic Law and establish mechanisms for transparency, traceability and auditing of funds. They also agreed to work toward releasing Venezuela’s international reserve assets held at the Bank of England to support recovery from the earthquakes. The agreement commits both parties to initiate a process that modifies the justice system, including changes to the organic law of the TSJ, which had validated Maduro’s 2024 re‑election amid allegations of fraud. The document did not reference the National Electoral Council, which the opposition has sought to overhaul. Dinorah Figuera, leader of the 2015 majority bloc in the National Assembly, represented the opposition, while interim president Delcy Rodriguez, her brother Jorge Rodriguez, head of the National Assembly, represented the government. Exiled opposition figure Maria Corina Machado was not present at the talks.
Opposition delegates said the process was serious and that they would seek to ensure that reforms address laws on terrorism and dissent that have been used to prosecute political prisoners. They indicated that elections would be announced after the reforms produce a new electoral council.
The implementation of the reforms and the release of the frozen assets remain to be determined, and it is unclear how the funds will be allocated.
Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Kuril Islands on Thursday, prompting a strong protest from Japan, which asserts that the islands are part of its territory under international law.
The islands, seized by the Soviet Union in 1945 at the end of World War II, have been a point of contention between Russia and Japan and are known in Japan as the Northern Territories. The archipelago comprises four main islands—Kunashir, Habomai, Shikotan and Iturup—with a population of about 20,000 Russian residents and strategic military significance.
Putin’s visit was captured in a video released by the Kremlin, showing him touring a fish‑processing facility where caviar was presented. He traveled to the islands after a stop in Sakhalin, where he held a meeting on the security of Russia’s eastern borders, according to RIA Novosti. Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said the Northern Territories “are an inherent part of Japan’s territory both historically and under international law, and the government of Japan strongly protests this visit.” The dispute dates to the Soviet declaration of war on Japan on August 8 1945, after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. Prior to Putin’s visit, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev had made the first Russian leader visit to the contested islands in 2010, and has visited several times since as prime minister. The islands have provided air and sea bases for Soviet and later Russian forces during the Cold War and continue to host a modest population engaged in fishing and mineral extraction.
Negotiations between Japan and Russia have repeatedly failed to resolve the territorial dispute, and no agreement has been reached since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Republican lawmakers have urged the Pentagon to modify its briefing process to include Democratic input, saying that failure to do so could jeopardize Democratic support for a record defense budget.
The request comes as Congress prepares to approve a defense spending package that may set a spending record, with Democrats holding the decisive votes in the upcoming appropriations debate.
Lawmakers argue that a collaborative approach would improve transparency and reduce partisan friction, while critics warn that excluding Democrats may delay the budget and strain relations between the parties.
The Pentagon has not issued a formal response, and the extent to which the agency will adjust its procedures remains unclear.
Kim Tae-hyung, known as V of BTS, said during a livestream that he has been dealing with hearing loss in his left ear for about two and a half years and is receiving treatment. The comment came during the group's world tour, its first since all members completed mandatory South Korean military service, which began in April in South Korea. V noted that his hearing deteriorated while serving, that he initially downplayed the issue, and that he now takes medication and visits hospitals regularly; his bandmate Jungkook also disclosed a shin injury. The tour is scheduled to visit Los Angeles, Buenos Aires, Bangkok, Sydney and Hong Kong in the coming months.