UN human rights experts say there are reasonable grounds to believe the US carried out strikes in Iran that killed at least 177 civilians, including 120 children, in attacks on a school in Minab and a sports complex in Lamerd on 28 February. The strikes occurred during what the experts describe as the US and Israel’s war against Iran. Local authorities reported 156 deaths at the Minab school, which the experts say was clearly identifiable and not used for military purposes. Survivors stated the school was hit twice, and the experts cite evidence that the US is the only party to the conflict possessing Tomahawk missiles, the weapons used in the attack. The US has denied targeting civilians and has not released its investigation findings. In Lamerd, a separate strike killed at least 21 civilians, including seven children, when precision-guided missiles dispersed tungsten pellets over a residential area. The US military has disputed reports that it used precision strike missiles in that attack. The experts concluded there are reasonable grounds to believe the US committed war crimes by launching indiscriminate attacks that caused civilian casualties. The report also documents Iranian authorities’ violent suppression of protests in late 2025 and early 2026, including the use of lethal force, mass arrests, torture, and executions following expedited trials. The experts describe the crackdown as occurring on an unprecedented scale across all 31 provinces, with security forces firing into crowds from elevated positions and using metal pellets that caused severe injuries, including permanent blindness. Healthcare facilities were attacked, and medical personnel were arrested, deterring victims from seeking care. While Iran has not commented on the findings, it has previously rejected allegations of systematic human rights violations. The experts could not independently verify the death toll from the protests but noted strong grounds to believe it far exceeds the government’s figure of 3,000, with external monitors citing over 7,000 deaths, mostly protesters. The report warns that civilians in Iran face dual threats: widespread human rights abuses by their own government and military actions attributed to foreign powers.
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Joanna Wietrzyk, an Australian competitor in the Hyrox indoor fitness competition held in Beijing, issued a public apology after video of her continuing to race while soiling herself circulated online. In a statement released on Thursday, she said she was "genuinely sorry to everyone who was affected" and acknowledged that she should have withdrawn from the event immediately. Wietrzyk, who had won the race on Saturday, announced that she would forfeit her victory and relinquish the prize. She wrote on social media that she was "completely fit and healthy" at the start of the competition and had not anticipated any illness, but that "looking back, I regret the decision to not have stepped off the track." Hyrox, the organisers of the event, confirmed that clear biocontaminant and medical protocols were in place, but said an "unforeseen situation" had created ambiguity in their application. The organisation added that it would work to improve its processes to prevent similar incidents. Following the backlash, Hyrox announced that anyone sending threats or abusive messages to Wietrzyk would be barred from future events, stating that "there is no place in our community for threats of violence or encouragement to harm an athlete." The competition, founded in Germany in 2017, involves alternating runs of one kilometre with a series of fitness exercises such as sled pushes, burpee jumps, indoor rowing and sandbag lunges. It has expanded globally since its inception and made its debut in mainland China in late 2024. Some observers have questioned why officials did not intervene during the incident, given that Hyrox penalises behaviours including spitting, littering and water abuse.
The Codex Azcatitlán, a 16th-century manuscript documenting the Aztec civilization and its encounter with Spanish conquistadors, opened to the public in Mexico City on Thursday ...
The Codex Azcatitlán, a 16th-century manuscript documenting the Aztec civilization and its encounter with Spanish conquistadors, opened to the public in Mexico City on Thursday after more than a century and a half abroad. Held since 1898 in France's Bibliothèque Nationale, the document was loaned to Mexico to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Franco-Mexican diplomatic relations. President Claudia Sheinbaum and French President Emmanuel Macron finalized the temporary exchange during Macron's visit to Mexico last year, under an agreement to swap the codex with the Codex Boturini, another pictographic record of Aztec migration. Mexico has recently repatriated over 2,000 cultural objects, reflecting a broader effort to recover artifacts acquired during colonial periods. The manuscript, created shortly after Hernán Cortés's arrival in the region, depicts scenes including the Spanish conquest of Tenochtitlán through illustrated narratives. It will remain on display at the National Museum of Anthropology until further notice.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney welcomed a European Union proposal to grant Canada associate membership, describing the move as a step toward deeper cooperation on defence, critical minerals and energy security.
Carney addressed the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Thursday, stating that Canada and Europe were "stronger together" amid what he called "geopolitical rupture." His remarks followed European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's suggestion on Wednesday to open the door to Canada's associate membership, a status that currently does not exist within the EU.
The proposal has drawn criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump, who described it as "laughable" and warned of "very serious tariffs" on Europe if the arrangement were perceived as a hostile act. In response, Carney emphasized that the alliance would be a "positive process" and reiterated Canada's stance that external powers should not dictate its cultural or linguistic policies.
Carney clarified that Canada was not seeking full EU membership but rather a "different framework" focused on sovereignty and mutual benefit. He outlined potential areas of collaboration, including joint development of critical minerals, supply chain resilience, and expanded research partnerships. Canada could supply liquefied natural gas and hydrogen to support European energy security, while gaining access to European clean-energy technology expertise.
The two sides also proposed enhancing people-to-people ties through participation in the EU's Erasmus+ programme, allowing young Canadians and Europeans to work, study and live across the Atlantic. A formal debate and vote in the Canadian Parliament will precede any final agreement, though officials stress the process remains in early stages.
A Canada-EU summit scheduled for late October in Montreal will address the details of the proposal. Full implementation would require approval from all 27 EU member states, some of which have previously voiced reservations about creating a new membership category.
The EU and Canada already maintain a free-trade agreement and cooperate on trade, defence and research initiatives. The associate membership concept represents a novel approach to strengthening strategic autonomy without forming a new geopolitical bloc.
At least 48 people have died and roughly 100 others are receiving medical care in southern Nigeria after consuming a locally produced alcoholic beverage suspected of containing methanol, officials reported on Thursday. Banji Ajaka, Ondo state’s commissioner for health, confirmed that the cases were identified in the Odigbo and Irele local government areas. A total of 182 individuals are believed to have been affected, with some currently hospitalized, he said.
Sola Adebayo, a 32-year-old patient, described to local TVC News how he drank two shots on Friday and lost vision by Saturday. "I could not see," he said from his hospital bed.
Consumption of homemade alcohol is widespread in Nigeria, particularly in rural communities where commercial options are less accessible and affordability matters. Authorities noted that the recent incident unfolded quickly, with symptoms emerging shortly after ingestion. Ajaka explained that methanol poisoning can cause kidney failure, blindness and neurological damage depending on the quantity consumed.
Ondo state police spokesperson Abayomi Jimoh stated that 15 individuals had been detained in connection with the incident, including a person allegedly linked to the production of a substance suspected of containing methanol and cooperating with investigators.
Local residents indicated that the suspected beverage, locally known as "Monkey Tail," may have been adulterated with methanol. A trader operating in Odigbo, who requested anonymity due to safety concerns, described two variants of the drink: one traditionally prepared and considered safe, and another version that has recently caused illness.
Media outlets reported that the first fatality occurred nearly two weeks prior to the official acknowledgment of the outbreak. Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has responded by enforcing a nationwide prohibition on alcohol sold in sachets and small plastic containers, citing their ease of access to minors and young adults.
The agency’s directive aims to curb the circulation of unregulated products while investigations continue into the source and distribution of the contaminated batches.
Police confirmed the discovery of a ninth woman's body on a roadside in Dawn Park, near Johannesburg, on Thursday morning. The victim, believed to be in her 30s, was found half-naked and wrapped in a sheet, with bruises and stab wounds reported by local media. Her identity has not yet been released.
The find follows eight other deaths of women in the Ekurhuleni metropolitan area since July. Several of those earlier victims were also found partially clothed with injuries, though authorities have not determined whether the cases are linked or if a serial killer is involved. The first body was discovered in Kempton Park on 15 July; a suspect was arrested two days later but has not been connected to the other deaths.
Subsequent bodies were found in August and September across locations including Olifantsfontein, Clayville and KwaThema. Police have formed a multidisciplinary team of detectives, forensic experts and intelligence officers to examine possible connections and are pursuing a person of interest without specifying which case may be involved.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi stated that authorities are treating the killings with urgency, saying "the gloves are off" in the response. South African police issued a public advisory urging women to avoid walking alone, stay alert to suspicious vehicles, refrain from using earphones in isolated areas and share travel plans with trusted contacts. They emphasized that personal safety measures can be life-saving.
A reward of 400,000 rand (approximately $24,000) has been offered for information leading to arrests. Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia cautioned against speculation, describing the incidents as "quite distinct, separate events" at this stage. South Africa records some of the world's highest rates of gender-based violence, with women killed at a rate five times the global average according to UN Women.
Local resident Bongeka Sebela expressed fear that the killings have eroded a sense of safety for women in the region, stating that many no longer feel free to move about publicly.
Researchers have formally described a previously unknown feline species inhabiting Bolivia's cloud forests, marking the first new living cat species identified and named in over a century. The animal, known locally as tilcayo, belongs to the tiger cat group (Leopardus spp.) distributed across South America. Genetic analysis confirmed its distinct species status, leading to the scientific designation Leopardus tilcayo while retaining the indigenous name.
The species was documented in Bolivia's Yungas forest, a humid, mountainous ecosystem characterized by persistent cloud cover. Adult individuals measure approximately 18 inches (46 cm) in length and weigh around 3 pounds (1.4 kg), placing them below the size of typical domestic cats. Physical description notes light brown fur patterned with irregular rosettes, as reported by National Geographic explorer Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz, a co-author of the study published in Current Biology.
Ecological observations remain preliminary. Dietary analysis of scat samples revealed remains of small rodents, suggesting insectivorous or carnivorous feeding habits. Camera-trap footage indicates potential nocturnal activity patterns. Evolutionary biologist Jonas Lescroart of the University of Antwerp noted the species' cryptic nature, explaining that tiger cats historically appeared morphologically similar despite genetic divergence.
Previous genetic work had hinted at multiple tiger cat species, though taxonomic recognition lagged. The research team analyzed DNA from 38 individuals across South America, including museum specimens, revealing five genetically distinct lineages within the formerly unified species. Genetic separation estimates place the tilcayo lineage's divergence from other tiger cats at approximately 1.4 million years ago, aligning with standard species-level differentiation thresholds in felines.
In related findings, the team described a new subspecies in Peru's Yungas region, named Leopardus tigrinus antisuyo, referencing the historical Antisuyu region of the Inca Empire. Conservation status assessments currently classify tiger cats as vulnerable, though the researchers have submitted their findings to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) for individual lineage evaluation. This could reclassify certain populations, such as the tilcayo, as endangered when assessed independently.
The Yungas ecosystem faces significant threats from deforestation, agricultural expansion, anthropogenic fires, and mining activities. Conservationists emphasize the importance of habitat restoration, native forest protection, and corridor maintenance to preserve biodiversity. Eduardo Eizirik, an evolutionary biologist at Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, highlighted the broader significance: "Showing the public that new species continue to be discovered even in well-studied groups like cats underscores both scientific uncertainty and urgent conservation needs."
Only two specimens of Leopardus tilcayo have been examined directly, alongside limited camera-trap records. One individual, a 10-year-old male, now resides in captivity at Senda Verde wildlife sanctuary after being rescued from private ownership. Researchers stress that further study is required to fully understand the species' biology, range, and conservation requirements.