Dubai Airport introduces passport-free AI immigration system

Luigi Mangione has pleaded guilty in federal court to charges linked to the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare executive Brian Thompson, bringing a major development in a closely watched case that sparked intense public debate over the US health insurance system. Mangione admitted in court that he shot Thompson in Manhattan on December 4, 2024. He pleaded guilty to two federal stalking charges involving Thompson and acknowledged that he had targeted the executive with the intention of killing him. “I shot Mr Thompson in Manhattan, and he died,” Mangione told the court. US District Judge Margaret Garnett warned Mangione that the federal charges could carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. She scheduled his sentencing for December 18. Federal prosecutors have indicated that they will seek a life sentence. The guilty plea eliminates the need for a federal trial over Thompson’s killing. It could also strengthen Mangione’s efforts to challenge or seek dismissal of separate murder charges filed against him in New York. Thompson, who headed UnitedHealth Group’s insurance division, was shot outside a Manhattan hotel while attending an investor conference. His death triggered widespread attention across the United States, while the circumstances surrounding the killing led to renewed public discussion about healthcare costs, insurance coverage and patients’ frustrations with the industry. Mangione, 28, told the court that he had experienced a serious back injury and had subsequently dealt with the health insurance system. He said he researched UnitedHealthcare’s investor conference before travelling to New York with the intention of killing Thompson. Prosecutors have alleged that Mangione used a 3-D printer to manufacture part of a firearm. He was later arrested in Pennsylvania following a nationwide manhunt. Thompson’s family welcomed the guilty plea, describing it as an important step toward justice. The family said it expected the court to impose a sentence that reflected the seriousness of the crime. The case has attracted enormous media and public attention since graphic footage of the shooting emerged and authorities launched a five-day search for the suspect. Mangione’s arrest also generated intense debate on social media, including criticism of the healthcare industry and reactions to the circumstances surrounding Thompson’s death. Mangione had previously denied the federal allegations and pleaded not guilty to murder, weapons and stalking charges in April 2025.

Yemen’s Houthi-aligned Ansarullah movement has claimed responsibility for targeting two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, alleging that the vessels violated a newly declared naval blockade imposed by the group against Saudi Arabia. According to Saudi state media, a Saudi-owned tanker, identified as the Encelia, was struck while transiting the Red Sea, resulting in a fire at the vessel’s bow. Saudi authorities confirmed that the crew managed to contain the fire safely and that no casualties or environmental damage were reported. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) and maritime security group Vanguard had earlier reported a missile strike on a tanker approximately 70 nautical miles southwest of Al Shuqaiq, Saudi Arabia. The vessel’s captain reported that the fire was caused by an incoming projectile. The strike follows Ansarullah’s formal declaration of a naval blockade targeting vessels bound for or operating near Saudi ports. An Ansarullah spokesperson stated that the blockade was enacted in direct response to the siege on Yemen, specifically citing the ongoing closure of Sanaa International Airport, and warned that maritime restrictions would match those imposed on Yemeni airspace.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has officially removed Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan after member states voted in favour of his dismissal over allegations of sexual misconduct. The decision marks a significant leadership change at the world’s top war crimes court, which has been under growing international scrutiny in recent years. The vote was taken by the Assembly of States Parties, the governing body of the ICC, following months of discussions over the allegations against the British lawyer. Khan had already stepped aside from his duties in June after an oversight process recommended further action. Karim Khan has consistently denied all allegations. His legal team said the decision to remove him was politically motivated and argued that he was not given a fair opportunity to defend himself during the proceedings. His lawyers maintained that an independent judicial panel had not found sufficient evidence to establish misconduct under the court’s legal framework. They claimed the final decision ignored those findings and raised concerns about the independence and credibility of the removal process. The development comes at a sensitive time for the ICC. Khan attracted global attention in 2024 after seeking arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to the conflict in Gaza. The move sparked strong reactions from Israel and the United States. Following the warrants, the administration of US President Donald Trump imposed sanctions on Khan and several other ICC officials, increasing pressure on the court. Legal representatives for Khan argued that the prosecutor was removed while facing international political pressure and economic sanctions, suggesting that the circumstances surrounding the vote could affect the court’s independence. The ICC announced that Deputy Prosecutors Nazhat Shameem Khan and Mame Mandiaye Niang will jointly lead the Office of the Prosecutor until a new chief prosecutor is elected. The court said the process to select Khan’s successor will begin soon, but member states are not expected to elect a permanent replacement before next year. The ICC also clarified that Karim Khan’s removal will not affect existing investigations or previously issued arrest warrants. The warrants issued in 2024 against Israeli officials remain legally valid because only ICC judges have the authority to cancel or withdraw them. The court reaffirmed its commitment to conducting independent and impartial investigations despite the leadership change. It said its work to investigate alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide in different parts of the world will continue without interruption.

Fighting between Iran-backed Houthi rebels and Yemeni government troops intensified in Taiz province, claiming the life of at least one government soldier and critically injuring another amid fears of a renewed civil war. Yemeni military officials reported that the recent flare-up is part of a broader wave of Houthi assaults across multiple provinces that have killed dozens of government troops over the past week. Concurrently, the Houthis claimed responsibility for a drone attack targeting a Saudi Aramco oil refinery in Jazan, marking the second reported strike on the facility following an incident last weekend that caused a localized fire. The military escalation coincides with a Houthi-announced blockade on Saudi maritime shipping, further threatening crucial red sea trade corridors. In response to regional instability, the US Navy directed the USS George Washington to deploy toward the Middle East, replacing the USS Abraham Lincoln following reported operational strains and crew welfare concerns aboard the long-deployed carrier.