देश-विदेश

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    Moroccan footballer dies while trying to reach Ceuta

    Moroccan footballer Faten Ben Omar Al-Azizi has reportedly died after drowning while attempting to reach Ceuta, the Spanish-administered territory on the North African coast. According to local media reports, Al-Azizi had previously represented Moghrib Atletico Tetouan, and news of her sudden death has left Morocco’s football community in shock, particularly football circles in Tangier and northern Morocco. Reports suggest that the footballer attempted to make the dangerous journey to Ceuta by sea, but the trip ended in tragedy. She lost her life after encountering difficulties during the crossing, highlighting the severe risks faced by people who attempt to reach the Spanish territory through irregular migration routes. The incident comes amid growing attempts by migrants in northern Morocco to reach Ceuta by sea. Rough waters, strong currents and other dangers along the route have led to several deaths in recent weeks, with many people risking their lives in the hope of reaching European territory. Following Al-Azizi’s death, her former teammates, friends and members of the Moroccan football community expressed deep sorrow and paid tribute to her. Those who knew her described her as a hardworking, talented and kind-hearted person who made a positive impression on those around her. Her death has also drawn attention to the dangers associated with irregular migration routes in the region, where difficult sea conditions can quickly turn attempts to cross into deadly tragedies.

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    Greek police arrest boxer over death of Scottish c…

    Greek authorities have arrested a 26 year old former boxer in connection with the death of a Scottish aid worker whose body was discovered in a suitcase in Athens, according to a British broadcaster. The suspect, identified as Sharif Ahmadzai, was taken into custody after officers found the remains of 38 year old Elisabeth Jane Ross in an abandoned building in the Kypseli district of the Greek capital on July 18, several days after she had been reported missing. Ahmadzai is scheduled to appear in court in Athens on Wednesday. Ahmadzai was born in Afghanistan and later became a champion boxer before settling permanently in Greece, where he currently lives with his American wife and their child. He left Afghanistan as a teenager after losing both parents to the conflict there. His father, who served as a commander in the Afghan army, was shot dead, while his mother and siblings died in a suicide bombing in Kabul when he was 15 years old. According to a video account published by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Ahmadzai made his way to Greece by traveling through Iran and Turkey before eventually reaching a refugee camp on the island of Lesbos. It was there that he is understood to have met his future wife and converted to Christianity. The couple went on to found a charity called Love Every Nation Athens, which works to support other refugees arriving in the country. Police say Ross, who was from Edinburgh and known to friends and family as Lisa, entered Greece on June 26 and initially stayed in the Kertasini area of Piraeus until July 10. She had traveled to volunteer with an Athens based refugee support organization. She later told friends in Greece that she planned to travel to Kypseli on July 15 to meet up with American acquaintances. A police union in Greece said investigators confirmed that Ahmadzai held a key to the apartment where Ross had been staying. The union also said officers verified surveillance footage that appears to show him carrying a suitcase believed to have contained her body. Data from a location sharing application used by Ahmadzai’s wife reportedly placed the suspect at an address on Rethymnou Street, the location where Ross is believed to have died, in the days leading up to her death. Authorities said the suspect also used the victim’s bank cards to withdraw cash after her death. The building where her body was ultimately found sits roughly twenty minutes away from the area where Ross had originally been staying during her time in the city. Mourners have since left flowers at the site where her remains were discovered. One handwritten note left among the tributes expressed hope that her memory would live on and that she would not be forgotten. In Edinburgh, Pastor Peter Anderson said Ross had belonged to the congregation at City on a Hill church for two decades. He described her as someone with a strong commitment to missionary work who had traveled widely to help others. Speaking in a video shared on the church’s social media page, Anderson called her a deeply valued member of the community and said her loss had been felt profoundly by those who knew her. During a search of Ahmadzai’s residence, police said officers seized a replica pistol along with a knife. Authorities have also fast tracked a toxicology examination in an effort to determine the exact cause of Ross’s death. Investigators say they are additionally trying to locate the American friends Ross had mentioned to acquaintances shortly before her disappearance. The case has drawn significant attention both in Greece and in the United Kingdom, where Ross’s church community and friends have publicly mourned her loss while the investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death continues.

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    Fuego volcano forces evacuations in Guatemala as l…

    Guatemalan authorities have ordered residents in at least two villages to evacuate after the Fuego volcano erupted, sending lava and ash shooting into the air. Fuego, regarded as one of the most active volcanoes in the Western Hemisphere, began erupting on Monday. The country’s volcanic monitoring agency reported that pyroclastic flows, fast moving currents made up of hot gas, volcanic ash and rock fragments, continued rushing down the volcano’s south eastern slope into early Tuesday. Guatemala’s disaster management agency, known as Conred, raised a nationwide orange alert, the second highest level on its warning scale, and cautioned residents to remain prepared as further eruptions could generate additional pyroclastic flows and large ash clouds. The agency advised people living nearby to keep their doors and windows shut, and officials canceled classes at schools located close to the volcano. Fuego sits roughly 16 kilometers, or about 10 miles, west of Antigua, a city that draws large numbers of tourists each year for its well preserved colonial era architecture and status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The volcano itself has also become a popular destination for hikers in recent years, drawing visitors who trek its slopes for views of the surrounding region. Conred urged both tourists and local residents to avoid approaching the volcano or lingering in areas considered at risk, particularly along its slopes, as the situation continues to develop. The eruption has revived memories of a far deadlier event in 2018, when a sudden eruption of Fuego killed more than 200 people. Many of the victims were overtaken by fast moving pyroclastic flows that swept down the Las Lajas ravine with little warning, a disaster that remains one of the deadliest volcanic events in the country’s recent history. Fuego’s frequent activity has long made it one of Central America’s most closely monitored volcanoes, with authorities maintaining routine surveillance given its proximity to populated areas and popular tourist destinations.

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    New anti-Taliban group emerges in Afghanistan

      Armed resistance against the Taliban appears to be expanding in Afghanistan, with a new anti-Taliban group reportedly emerging in the northern province of Faryab. Sources say growing opposition to the Taliban’s style of governance, alleged ethnic discrimination and corruption has fueled resistance among sections of the Afghan population. Opposition has also increased over restrictions on education, employment and basic human rights, while the ongoing situation has contributed to a rise in Afghan migration toward Europe. According to sources, fighters affiliated with the newly formed Liberation Front carried out an attack against Taliban forces in Faryab province on Monday. The group is expected to formally announce its organisational structure, leadership and future activities within the next few days. The emergence of the new group comes as other anti-Taliban factions also signal plans to intensify their activities. General Sami Sadat, head of the Afghanistan United Front, and General Yasin Zia of the Afghanistan Freedom Front have both announced their intention to step up resistance against the Taliban. The developments indicate growing challenges for the Taliban as it continues to face opposition from armed groups as well as criticism over its policies on governance, human rights, education and employment.

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    Experts reveal how ancient Egyptians built pyramids?

    The centuries-old Egyptian pyramids have long remained a major focus of interest for people and scientists. For years, scientists have been trying to solve the mystery of how such massive pyramids were constructed in ancient Egypt thousands of years ago. Now, a possible answer has emerged. Earlier, it was believed that ropes and sledging systems were used to transport stones to the upper sections of the pyramids. However, evidence discovered near the Nile River suggests that experts of that era had already mastered advanced construction techniques centuries before the construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza in the desert. Archaeologists have excavated a 5,000-year-old cemetery-like site near the eastern bank of the Nile River. Two tombs discovered there have construction styles remarkably similar to those of the Egyptian pyramids built centuries later. The walls of these tombs were thicker at the bottom and gradually became narrower toward the top. This design provided greater stability to the structures. Similar techniques were later used in the construction of step pyramids and other large pyramids. Researchers also discovered evidence of ancient methods used to cut stones and wood which were employed in the construction of the tombs. The tombs were discovered in Egypt’s Jabal al-Tayr region where people have been buried for thousands of years. The style of these tombs resembles the tombs of kings in Abydos, one of Egypt’s oldest cities. This suggests that advanced construction techniques may have been widely known across Egypt even before the construction of the pyramids. Researchers said the tombs provide a glimpse into experimental construction methods that may have eventually led to the construction of the Egyptian pyramids. Experts said preliminary analysis indicates that the construction style of these tombs was quite similar to that of the pyramids associated with Egypt’s First Dynasty. Egypt’s First Dynasty ruled the country around 3100 BC. According to Egypt’s Tourism Minister, Sherif Fathy, the new discovery will help researchers understand how these construction techniques evolved throughout ancient Egyptian history. Earlier, in May 2024, researchers discovered a buried branch of the Nile River beneath the desert that once flowed around more than 30 pyramids thousands of years ago. This discovery helped solve the mystery of how ancient Egyptians transported extremely heavy stones to the pyramid construction sites. The 40-mile-long branch of the river once flowed around the Great Pyramid of Giza and other pyramids. Thousands of years ago, it gradually became buried beneath desert sand and agricultural land. According to the research, the presence of this ancient river explains how 31 pyramids were constructed between approximately 4,700 and 3,700 years ago in a valley that has now become a deserted strip of desert. The valley is located near Memphis, the ancient capital of Egypt and is home to the Great Pyramid of Giza, the only surviving wonder of the ancient Seven Wonders of the World. A study published in the journal Nature Communications reported the discovery of this ancient branch of the river. The research team used radar satellite technology to identify the hidden river channel. Surveys of the area and analysis of samples confirmed the presence of the ancient river. According to researchers, the river was once very powerful but may have gradually become buried under sand because of drought around 4,200 years ago. The Great Pyramid of Giza is located just one kilometer from the bank of this buried river. Around 2.3 million stone blocks were used to build the pyramid with each block weighing between 2.5 and 15 tons. Researchers said the ancient river also provides clues about why pyramids were built at different locations. They explained that the river’s course and flow changed over time which may have led Egyptian rulers to construct pyramids at different locations.

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    UN warns Afghanistan’s child malnutrition crisis deepens

    Afghanistan is facing a rapidly worsening malnutrition emergency as severe funding cuts leave millions without life-saving assistance, the United Nations has warned. Speaking from Kabul, the World Food Programme’s (WFP) Afghanistan Director John Aylieff said the country’s nutrition crisis is escalating at an alarming pace, with growing numbers of severely malnourished children reaching health facilities too late to receive effective treatment. He said child wasting, the deadliest form of malnutrition, has now reached critical levels in nearly one-third of Afghanistan’s provinces. According to the WFP, ongoing conflict, disruptions to trade, the return of thousands of Afghan migrants from neighbouring countries, and shrinking international aid have combined to create an unprecedented humanitarian emergency. The UN official said last year recorded the sharpest annual increase in malnutrition cases, while the situation has deteriorated even further in 2026. Children under the age of two account for around 80 percent of the most severe cases, highlighting the devastating impact on the country’s youngest and most vulnerable population. Aylieff said the WFP has only enough resources to provide treatment to one out of every seven acutely malnourished women and children this year. The remaining six are forced to leave without assistance because of a severe shortage of funds. He warned that the cries of starving children in Afghan health centres reflect a preventable tragedy that could claim countless more lives if emergency funding is not secured. The humanitarian agency also expressed concern that widespread hunger could fuel migration, instability and extremism, stressing that a stable Afghanistan remains important for regional security. Millions of Afghans have also returned from neighbouring countries, including Pakistan and Iran, over the past three years, placing additional pressure on already overstretched resources. Although this year’s harvest has improved, the gains have been overshadowed by the country’s worsening economic and humanitarian challenges. The WFP estimates that nearly 14 million Afghans are currently experiencing acute hunger. However, funding shortages have limited food assistance to only a small fraction of those in need, while preventive food distribution programmes in high-risk areas have been suspended.

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    UN experts urge Canada to protect Sikh Activist

    United Nations human rights experts have called on Canada to strengthen security measures for Sikh activist Moninder Singh, citing repeated warnings from Canadian authorities about credible threats to his life. In a letter sent to the Canadian government on June 3 and released publicly under standard UN procedures, five independent experts expressed concern over allegations of foreign intimidation and reprisals targeting Singh, a Canadian citizen. The experts noted that since 2022, Canadian authorities have issued Singh four separate “duty to warn” notices, informing him of serious and imminent threats to his safety. They urged Ottawa to ensure his protection, safeguard his family, and provide security for others facing similar risks. The letter also called on Canadian authorities to speed up investigations, hold those responsible accountable, provide justice to victims, and take steps to prevent similar incidents in the future. The appeal was signed by UN special rapporteurs responsible for issues related to counterterrorism and human rights, freedom of peaceful assembly, human rights defenders, freedom of religion, and democratic international order. A copy of the communication was also shared with the Indian government. Singh visited Geneva earlier this year to seek international attention over what he described as the targeting of Sikh activists abroad and the broader issue of transnational repression. The case comes amid longstanding tensions between Canada and India following the 2023 killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar near a Sikh temple in British Columbia. Canadian authorities alleged Indian involvement in the assassination, an accusation New Delhi has consistently denied. The dispute strained diplomatic relations, leading both countries to expel diplomats in 2024. Although bilateral ties have improved under Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, concerns over the safety of Sikh activists continue to draw international attention. Singh, who supports the Khalistan movement advocating for an independent Sikh homeland, said the UN experts’ intervention highlights growing concerns over the safety of Sikh voices abroad.

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    Mrunal Thakur warns of legal action over deepfake …

    Bollywood actress Mrunal Thakur has strongly condemned the misuse of artificial intelligence to create fake videos and images using her identity. Expressing serious concern over the growing circulation of AI-generated deep fake content on social media, the actress warned that she will pursue legal action against anyone involved in creating or sharing such material. According to Indian media reports, several deepfake videos and manipulated images featuring Mrunal Thakur have recently appeared across social media platforms. The actress described the unauthorized use of her face and identity through AI technology as unacceptable and called for an immediate end to the practice. Taking to her Instagram Stories, Mrunal Thakur issued a clear warning to individuals responsible for generating or distributing fake AI content using her name or likeness. She urged them to stop immediately, stating that continued misuse of her identity would leave her with no choice but to take legal action against those involved. Deepfake technology, powered by artificial intelligence, allows users to create highly realistic but fabricated videos, images, and audio recordings. While the technology has legitimate applications in entertainment and education, it has increasingly been misused to spread misinformation, damage reputations, and violate personal privacy. Mrunal Thakur’s statement has once again highlighted the growing concerns surrounding the ethical and legal challenges posed by deepfake technology. Experts warn that AI-generated fake content can seriously affect an individual’s reputation, personal life, and professional career. In many cases, victims may also face emotional distress and legal complications as a result of manipulated media circulating online. The issue has become increasingly significant in the entertainment industry, where celebrities are frequent targets of AI-generated fake content. Actors, musicians, and public figures across the world have raised concerns about the unauthorized use of their identities and have called for stronger legal protections against digital impersonation. Governments and technology companies are also working to address the misuse of artificial intelligence by introducing stricter regulations, improving content detection systems, and developing tools to identify manipulated media. However, experts believe that public awareness and responsible use of AI remain equally important in tackling the problem. Mrunal Thakur’s strong response reflects the growing determination among celebrities to protect their privacy and digital identity. Her warning serves as a reminder that while artificial intelligence offers remarkable technological advancements, its misuse can have serious legal, ethical, and social consequences. As deep fake technology continues to evolve, stronger safeguards and greater accountability will be essential to prevent its abuse.

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    Indian cargo ship sinks after suspected attack nea…

    An Indian cargo ship sank in the Red Sea after suffering severe damage in a suspected maritime attack near Yemen’s western coast. The incident, which reportedly involved an explosive-laden boat or unidentified projectile, caused a powerful explosion and fire aboard the vessel before it eventually went down despite rescue efforts. According to international media reports, the cargo ship sustained extensive damage following the blast. Several crew members were injured during the incident, but no fatalities have been reported. The crew immediately initiated emergency procedures and alerted nearby maritime authorities, who responded with rescue operations. Authorities attempted to secure and tow the damaged vessel to a safe location. However, the ship’s condition deteriorated, and it eventually sank in the Red Sea. Medical assistance was provided to injured crew members, while rescue teams ensured the safe evacuation of everyone on board. India’s Ministry of External Affairs stated that the vessel was struck by an unidentified projectile, confirming that the cargo ship later sank. The ministry added that all crew members were safely rescued and no loss of life occurred. As of now, no group has officially claimed responsibility for the attack. However, the incident comes amid heightened security concerns in the Red Sea, where commercial shipping has faced repeated threats in recent months. Several previous attacks on merchant vessels in the region have been claimed by the Iran-backed Houthi movement, although no evidence has yet linked this specific incident to any particular group. The Red Sea has become one of the world’s most sensitive maritime routes due to ongoing regional tensions. Commercial vessels transiting the area have encountered increased security risks, prompting many shipping companies to strengthen safety measures or alter their routes. Recent months have also seen warnings and threats against ships passing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a strategic waterway connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. Disruptions in this corridor can have significant consequences for global trade, particularly the transportation of oil, gas, and other essential commodities. The Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait rank among the world’s busiest shipping lanes, serving as critical links between Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Any disruption in these waters can affect international supply chains, increase shipping costs, and impact global energy markets. Investigations into the cause of the attack are expected to continue as maritime authorities gather evidence. Meanwhile, shipping companies and governments are closely monitoring the security situation in the region to ensure the safety of commercial vessels and international trade routes.

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    Gaza holds funeral for 112 victims recovered nearl…

    Funeral prayers have been held in Gaza for 112 Palestinians whose bodies were recovered nearly three years after the destruction of residential buildings in the Al-Sabra neighborhood during the 2023 Gaza conflict. The remains were retrieved from beneath the rubble following an extended rescue operation, bringing long-awaited closure to many grieving families. According to local civil defense authorities, the bodies were recovered after approximately 136 hours of continuous search and rescue efforts at the site of collapsed residential buildings in Gaza City. The operation was carried out under challenging conditions, including damaged infrastructure, limited heavy machinery, and shortages of fuel. The funeral procession drew large crowds as mourners carried flag-draped coffins to the cemetery. Family members and residents gathered to pay their final respects, with many expressing the pain of waiting years before they could bury their loved ones. Several families reportedly lost multiple relatives in the same incident, making the ceremony particularly emotional. Civil defense officials stated that many of those recovered belonged to the Abu Sharia family, while around 40 children were among the victims identified. Authorities also warned that an estimated 157 additional bodies may still remain trapped beneath the rubble, highlighting the scale of the destruction and the ongoing recovery challenge. The buildings collapsed during an Israeli airstrike on November 22, 2023, in the Al-Sabra area of Gaza City. According to Palestinian authorities, more than 300 people were killed in the attack. Due to the intensity of the bombardment and the limited rescue capabilities at the time, only a small number of bodies were initially recovered, leaving many victims buried beneath the debris. Israeli authorities have previously stated that military operations in Gaza target armed groups and military infrastructure, while emphasizing that measures are taken to reduce civilian casualties. The humanitarian impact of the conflict, however, has been widely documented by international organizations, which have repeatedly called for greater protection of civilians. Meanwhile, Türkiye, Egypt, and Qatar have expressed concern over reported violations of the Gaza ceasefire and urged all parties to fully implement the terms of the agreement. The three countries stressed the importance of protecting civilians, hospitals, and medical facilities in accordance with international humanitarian law. Rescue workers continue to search through destroyed neighborhoods, warning that thousands of people may still be missing beneath collapsed structures across Gaza. They say recovery efforts remain slow because of damaged infrastructure, equipment shortages, and difficult working conditions. The latest mass funeral serves as a solemn reminder of the lasting human cost of the conflict and the enduring grief faced by affected families.