The United States imposed new Cuba-related sanctions on Thursday, designating nine entities and three individuals over alleged malign activities directed at the United States.

United StatesCubasanctions

At least 13 people were killed and seven injured when a landslide struck an illegal gold mine in Policarpa, in Colombia’s southwestern Nariño region. Authorities said improper ore extraction weakened the mine’s base and caused the collapse; everyone reported missing was later found.

Colombiaillegal mininglandslidemine accident

At least 13 people were killed and seven injured when a slope collapsed at an illegal gold mine in Colombia’s southwestern Nariño department. A government official attributed the collapse to mining activity.

ColombiaNariñogold minelandslide

Thirteen workers lost their lives and seven were hurt when an open-cast mine slope failed in Policarpa, southwestern Colombia’s Narino department, local officials reported.

Colombiaopen-pit mineslope collapseworker casualties

At least 13 workers died and seven were injured when a landslide struck an unlicensed open-air artisanal gold mine near Policarpa in southern Colombia. Witnesses reported an explosion shortly before the workers were trapped. Four of the dead were from the same Indigenous family.

Colombiagold minelandslidemining accident

A boat overturned on a river near Gorau in Nigeria’s Sokoto State, killing dozens, according to officials and residents. Residents said at least 46 bodies had been recovered, while rescue teams continued working and authorities had yet to confirm an official toll. The boat may have carried farm workers.

Nigeriaboat capsizingrescue operation

A boat overturned on a river in Nigeria’s northwestern Sokoto state, leaving at least 47 people dead.

NigeriaSokotoboat capsizing

At least 50 people died when an overloaded boat capsized in a river in Nigeria’s northwestern Sokoto state. Local officials said around 40 children were among the casualties, while rescue operations continued.

NigeriaSokotoboat accident

An overloaded boat capsized in Nigeria’s Sokoto state, and about 40 bodies had been recovered, a local official with the inland waterways authority said on Thursday.

NigeriaSokoto Stateboat capsizing

Cameroon President Paul Biya returned home on Thursday after the longest recorded stay abroad since he took power more than four decades ago, ending months of speculation about his health and whereabouts.

CameroonPaul Biyapresidency

The International Criminal Court condemned the latest US sanctions against senior staff, including its president Tomoko Akane, calling them a “flagrant attack” on the tribunal’s independence. Washington also sanctioned senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye, freezing assets in US jurisdictions or linked to the US financial system. The court vowed to keep pursuing justice for atrocities worldwide.

International Criminal CourtUS sanctionsjudicial independencewar crimes

The International Criminal Court condemned US sanctions against its president, Tomoko Akane, as a “flagrant attack” on the court’s independence. Washington also sanctioned Senegalese trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye, while senior EU officials voiced firm support for Akane and other ICC officials.

International Criminal CourtUS sanctionsjudicial independence

Nathan Cofnas, the U.S. academic who questioned the late Cambridge professor Jason Arday’s work over alleged plagiarism, says Ghent University in Belgium has suspended him and opened a discrimination investigation.

academic controversysuspensiondiscrimination investigation

Nathan Cofnas, who had questioned plagiarism involving the late Cambridge professor Jason Arday, said on Thursday that Belgium’s Ghent University had suspended him.

academiaGhent Universitysuspension

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged allies to choose whether they support Washington’s effort to “squash” Iran’s economy, warning that countries doing business with Tehran could face US sanctions. He described the planned measures as the world’s largest coordinated economic isolation campaign, with more details due on 24 August.

United StatesIraneconomic sanctionsScott Bessent

Prince Harry is returning to Britain with Meghan and their children for an extended stay, six years after they stepped back from royal duties and moved to the United States. Their departure created a rift with King Charles III and Prince William.

Prince HarryMeghanBritish royal family

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their children plan to relocate from the US to the UK later this month. Harry and Meghan left Britain and stepped back from royal duties in 2020, and family relations have remained strained. King Charles III welcomes their return but, according to the BBC, was only told on Sunday; the Prince of Wales has made no official comment.

Prince HarryPrince WilliamBritish royal family

A year after announcing their withdrawal from royal duties, Prince Harry said the move was partly prompted by the actions of a “toxic” British press that was damaging his mental health.

Prince HarryMeghanBritish press

A man missing one hand was found dead in a pond on St. Petersburg’s Vasilyevsky Island. Local outlet Fontanka and Telegram channel Baza identified him as 45-year-old Dmitry Oganyan, a former bassist for Kukryniksy, but authorities have not officially confirmed his identity. Baza said he may have inflicted the injury himself before entering the water.

RussiaSt. Petersburgrock musiciandeath investigation

France, Germany, the UK and Italy condemned Israel’s decision to open bids for a planned settlement project in the occupied West Bank. The sprawling E1 development would further sever Palestinian-majority east Jerusalem from the West Bank; the report describes it, like all Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, as illegal under international law.

IsraelWest BanksettlementsEuropean diplomacy

Germany, the UK, France and Italy called Israel’s tender for settler housing in the E1 area near Jerusalem unacceptable and urged the government to withdraw the plans immediately and stop expanding West Bank settlements. Their joint statement said the project would harm Palestinian territorial contiguity and prospects for a two-state solution.

IsraelE1 settlement projectWest BankEuropean diplomacy

Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, have bought Strancally castle and its 178-hectare estate in County Waterford as a base for visits to Ireland. The gothic mansion was built in 1830, and the off-market purchase was estimated at €20m-€30m.

Mark ZuckerbergStrancally castleIrelandproperty

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has purchased a 19th-century Gothic-style castle overlooking a river in southeastern Ireland, a company spokesperson said Thursday. The property is 200 kilometres (125 miles) from Meta’s European headquarters.

Mark ZuckerbergMetaIrelandcastle

Federal agents seized electronic devices from former Rep. Eric Swalwell and searched his Washington home as part of an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct involving the former California Democratic congressman.

Eric Swalwellfederal investigationsexual misconduct

FBI agents seized former Rep. Eric Swalwell’s devices and later searched his home as part of an ongoing investigation tied to sexual assault allegations.

US politicsFBIsexual assault allegations

Twenty people deported by the United States have arrived in Liberia under a new agreement covering 1,200 migrants, including nationals from Africa, the Americas and the Caribbean. Advocates and immigration lawyers say third-country deportations can leave people facing safety risks and function as a legal loophole to push asylum-seekers back toward countries they fled.

US deportationsLiberiaimmigration policyTrump administration

The United States has sent 20 deportees to Liberia. They arrived Thursday as part of a new agreement under which the African country will receive 1,200 migrants.

United StatesLiberiadeportationmigration deal

President Javier Milei has persuaded Argentines to return their savings to banks, but getting them to leave the money there for more than a few months is proving difficult.

ArgentinaJavier Mileibank savingslending