देश-विदेश

A drone attack launched by the Sudanese armed forces killed at least 35 people and left dozens of others injured after striking a traditional court session in the village of Ghara al-Zawiya, located in North Darfur. The civil monitoring group Emergency Lawyers reported that multiple missiles hit a customary gathering held under a tree where local elders, community leaders, and residents had assembled to resolve regional disputes. Eyewitness accounts confirmed that the victims included four tribal leaders alongside two commanders from the Rapid Support Forces, which currently holds administrative control over much of the Darfur region. Human rights observers and legal advocacy groups strongly condemned the attack, characterising the targeting of civilian infrastructure and traditional judicial venues as a violation of international humanitarian law. The incident underscores the growing deployment of uncrewed aerial systems across Sudan’s ongoing civil conflict, which has displaced millions and caused severe humanitarian degradation nationwide.

A 14-year-old boy has gone on trial in Malaysia for the alleged murder of his 16-year-old schoolmate, Yap Shing Xuen, whose body was discovered with multiple knife wounds in a secondary school toilet near Kuala Lumpur. The accused, who pleaded not guilty, faces up to 40 years in prison and potential caning if convicted, though capital punishment is barred due to his status as a minor under Malaysian law. Police confirmed the recovery of a written note at the scene and cited potential online influence, sparking nationwide debate concerning the impact of social media algorithms, incel subcultures, and youth exposure to radicalising content. In response to growing public concern surrounding youth safety, Malaysian authorities have instituted a policy prohibiting children under 16 from maintaining accounts on major social media platforms.

Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche has issued an official order rescinding the controversial $1.8 billion “Anti-Weaponisation Fund”, resolving a key point of friction ahead of his confirmation vote before the Senate Judiciary Committee. The action follows extended negotiations with Republican Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, who had withheld support for the nomination pending written assurances that the initiative would be permanently discarded. Although Blanche previously indicated in Congressional testimony that the department would not move forward with the program, lawmakers sought a formal rescission to prevent its potential revival. The directive also clarifies terms surrounding a related legal settlement, stipulating that provisions concerning tax audit protections apply exclusively on a retroactive basis to open claims active at the time of the agreement and do not extend to future tax filings.

Reform UK has proposed an extensive military-led framework aimed at completely stopping small boat migration across the English Channel. The policy proposal outlines leveraging combined military and intelligence tracking technology to create a heavily monitored sea border, alongside granting emergency powers to armed forces to intercept vessels and push them back toward French territory. The plan includes expanding detention facilities to enable immediate offshore or domestic processing and deportation without eligibility for standard asylum routes. To facilitate these changes, the party stated it would pursue major legal shifts, including withdrawing the United Kingdom from the European Convention on Human Rights and replacing current national human rights legislation with a new domestic framework. Critics and legal scholars have questioned the feasibility of the measures, pointing out potential conflicts with international maritime agreements and international law. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated his administration would maintain a relentless focus on tackling immigration networks through increased enforcement and cross-border security cooperation.

The industrial action carried out by WestJet flight attendants concluded following overnight negotiations that yielded a provisional contract between the Canadian airline and the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 8125. The resolution arrived early Monday morning after a brief strike that disrupted travel plans nationwide over the weekend. Union leadership confirmed that the consensus marks progress regarding operational credit structures, ensuring better recognition and wage distribution for duties performed on the ground prior to takeoff, including passenger boarding and delay management. Management at the carrier expressed satisfaction with the outcome, highlighting the dedication of the workforce. Unofficial terms indicate the proposal includes an immediate pay raise retroactive to the start of the year, alongside adjusted duty allocations. While flight operations are slated to rebuild gradually pending safety verifications and roster adjustments, the negotiated terms remain subject to formal ratification by the union membership.

US President Donald Trump has issued a final ultimatum to Iran, stating that Tehran has one last opportunity to negotiate a diplomatic resolution with Washington before facing severe military force, which he referred to as decapitation. Speaking from the Oval Office, the American leader confirmed he had paused planned air strikes following direct requests from Persian Gulf nations, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, who urged Washington to allow diplomacy one final window. The framework for the proposed negotiations relies on a two-stage approach, with the initial phase requiring the immediate and unconditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping. The subsequent phase will address the complete denuclearisation of Iran, referencing commitments previously outlined in a joint memorandum signed in June. Trump further dismissed any personal domestic political considerations regarding the timeline, emphasising that his decision to delay military action was driven by a desire to prevent widespread loss of life while pursuing a durable diplomatic outcome.

US President Donald Trump is contemplating the dismissal of Jeanine Pirro from her position as US Attorney for the District of Columbia following her department’s move to abandon the criminal prosecution related to damage at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The decision by federal prosecutors to drop charges against former Olympian David Hearn came after evidence revealed the peeling liner stemmed from a rushed, substandard renovation rather than criminal intent. Trump reportedly felt caught unawares by the court submission, publicly rebuking Pirro for backing down under judicial pressure and claiming she buckled during proceedings. In defence of her office’s actions, Pirro explained that crucial documentation regarding the botched installation was withheld by the Department of the Interior until after the original indictment had been filed. Conversely, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum disputed this account, continuing to insist that intentional destruction caused the damage. Formal dismissal of the charges against Hearn remains pending before the court.

Romanian naval forces detonated 180 kilogrammes of explosives to clear a massive rock obstruction in the drought-stricken Danube River, attempting to channel essential cooling water towards the country’s sole remaining functional nuclear reactor at Cernavoda. The blast was designed to clear the riverbed and facilitate the construction of a temporary dam to boost water volume heading to the facility. The intervention follows Romania’s declaration of a nationwide state of emergency for August after record-low water levels forced one reactor to shut down entirely. Romanian Defence Minister Radu Miruta defended the costs of the operation, emphasising that maintaining operational capacity at the facility even for a few additional days far outweighs the financial expenditure. Regional energy strains are mounting simultaneously in neighbouring Hungary, where severe water depletion at the Paks nuclear power station has drastically cut output. Prime Minister Peter Magyar warned that a complete plant shutdown could occur next week without weather relief, urging regional coordination and energy restraint to avoid a wider crisis as low rainfall continues across Eastern Europe.