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Comprehensive coverage of international news and global events
Germany is holding an important election in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, where the far-right party Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) hopes to win a majority for the first time in post-war history. The AfD’s rise has caused concern among other parties and may affect Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s position as he faces criticism and a divided public.
Key Facts
The AfD aims to win control of Saxony-Anhalt’s regional parliament, marking the first time a far-right party could lead a German state government since World War II.
Ulrich Siegmund leads the AfD in this election and is popular in the region, often seen with supporters and gaining media attention.
Voters in the east feel unhappy about immigration, public safety, the economy, energy costs, and foreign aid, which has boosted AfD support.
The AfD wants to separate refugee children into special classes, restrict LGBT symbols in schools, and teach less about Nazi history while emphasizing positive German history.
The party plans to strengthen deportation efforts for migrants without legal status and stop what it calls "illegal, culturally alien" immigration.
AfD’s sympathy towards Russia has raised trust concerns, especially after a Russian army mug appeared in one leader’s office during a period of increased Russian-German tensions.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his Christian Democratic Union (CDU) oppose working with the AfD and face criticism over handling far-right growth.
German security warns of increasing Russian-backed disinformation campaigns targeting AfD’s political rivals.
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Brazil’s Supreme Court is facing a crisis as two justices, Alexandre de Moraes and Andre Mendonca, have accused each other of serious misconduct. The conflict is connected to a major investigation into fraud at Banco Master, which involves politicians and legal questions ahead of Brazil’s upcoming elections.
Key Facts
Justice Alexandre de Moraes helped put former President Jair Bolsonaro in prison for an attempted coup.
Justice Andre Mendonca is the court’s first evangelical member and was appointed by Bolsonaro.
Mendonca wants Moraes suspended while deciding if he should be investigated for possible corruption.
Moraes wants Mendonca investigated and possibly impeached for conducting an unauthorized investigation into him.
Evidence shows that the bank owner Daniel Vorcaro often sought advice from Moraes during the fraud case.
Moraes’ wife worked under a contract for Banco Master, raising questions about conflicts of interest.
Politicians, including Bolsonaro’s son Flávio Bolsonaro, have asked Moraes to resign amid the scandal.
Mendonca met with Vorcaro multiple times, including after the fraud investigation began, and questioned him without formal authorization.
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The BepiColombo mission, led by the European Space Agency with help from Japan and the U.S., is nearing Mercury after eight years of travel. The spacecraft recently released its propulsion module and is preparing to enter orbit around Mercury later this year.
Key Facts
BepiColombo launched in 2018 to explore Mercury, the closest planet to the Sun.
The mission costs nearly $2 billion and is led by Europe with Japanese and American contributions.
The spacecraft used nine flybys of Earth, Venus, and Mercury to adjust its speed and direction.
BepiColombo has the most powerful electric propulsion system ever used in deep space.
It recently dropped the Mercury Transfer Module, which provided power and propulsion during the trip.
BepiColombo consists of three parts: the Mercury Transfer Module, the European Mercury Planetary Orbiter, and the Japanese Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (Mio).
The two orbiters will separate in December after arriving at Mercury and carry instruments to study the planet.
The spacecraft faces extreme heat and solar radiation near Mercury, making its final steps risky and complex.
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Two men were rescued from a tunnel in Nepal nine days after a major flood hit the area. In other news, a Russian drone attacked Ukraine’s security service headquarters, and New York police shot a man carrying a knife on the Brooklyn Bridge.
Key Facts
Two men were saved from a tunnel in Nepal nine days after a severe flood.
The flood caused serious damage in Himalayan river valleys.
A Russian drone struck the Ukrainian security service headquarters.
The attack was reported by Ukraine’s president.
In New York City, police shot a man who was holding a knife.
The shooting occurred on the Brooklyn Bridge.
These events were reported together in a news summary.
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A baby in Pennsylvania has died from measles, confirming one of two suspected measles deaths last month. Federal health officials had initially been unsure but have now verified that the virus caused the infant’s death.
Key Facts
The infant who died was from Pennsylvania.
The death was confirmed to be caused by measles.
There were two suspected measles deaths reported in Pennsylvania last month.
Federal health officials previously expressed doubt about the causes.
Measles is a contagious viral illness that can be severe, especially in young children.
The confirmation came after health experts reviewed the case.
Measles deaths are rare but still occur in the United States.
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Dale Sanders, a 91-year-old man known as "Grey Beard," became the oldest person to hike the entire Appalachian Trail. This trail is a long hiking path that stretches across the eastern United States.
Key Facts
Dale Sanders is 91 years old.
He completed the entire Appalachian Trail.
The Appalachian Trail is a very long hiking route in the eastern U.S.
Sanders is now the oldest person to finish this trail.
He is nicknamed "Grey Beard."
The achievement was reported by Amna Nawaz.
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Nepal relies almost entirely on hydropower for electricity and exports surplus power to nearby countries. Recent deadly floods caused by a glacier collapse damaged several hydropower plants, reducing Nepal's electricity capacity and raising concerns about the country's hydropower strategy amid climate change risks.
Key Facts
Nearly 100% of Nepal's electricity comes from hydropower.
Nepal earns about $200 million yearly by exporting hydroelectricity to India and Bangladesh.
The floods last week killed more than 1,300 people and damaged 12 hydropower plants in the Trishuli River basin.
Damage to these plants cut over 10% of Nepal's total power production capacity.
Nepal has 225 hydropower plants with over 3,900 MW installed capacity, enough for about three million households.
The Himalayan region is warming 50% faster than the global average, increasing environmental risks.
Authorities say many recent disasters are linked to climate change.
Experts say Nepal needs to diversify energy sources and build more flood-resilient infrastructure with early warning systems.
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Researchers discovered ancient cave art in south-west Ireland that shows humans lived there at least 15,000 years ago, about 5,000 years earlier than previously known. They believe these early people came from Wales, crossing a land bridge exposed during the Ice Age when sea levels were lower.
Key Facts
The cave art sites date back at least 15,000 years, pushing back known human presence in Ireland by 5,000 years.
During the last Ice Age, lower sea levels exposed a land bridge between Pembrokeshire (Wales) and south-east Ireland.
This land bridge was about 46 miles wide and had forests and grasslands supporting large animals like mammoths and wild horses.
Researchers used artificial intelligence (AI) to find potential cave sites in Ireland by comparing them to known cave dwellings in south Wales.
Out of 28 sites identified by the AI, eight caves in Ireland showed ancient rock art.
The exact locations of the caves are kept secret to protect them from vandalism or looting.
Early modern humans settled south Wales around 35,000 to 40,000 years ago, likely traveling from southern England, France, and Spain.
The discovery suggests that humans used the land bridge to move from Wales to Ireland during the Ice Age.
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Israeli police killed a Palestinian man near Damascus Gate in Jerusalem, saying he tried to stab an officer. Meanwhile, the Israeli army blocked humanitarian aid from reaching a West Bank village, Qusra, which has been under siege by settlers for weeks.
Key Facts
A 33-year-old Palestinian man named Ibrahim al-Hendi was shot dead by Israeli police in Jerusalem.
Israeli police said the man tried to stab a border guard, leading to the shooting.
Israeli forces arrested Palestinians in the West Bank town of Qabatiya and Nablus, accusing them of planning attacks.
Soldiers and settlers attacked Palestinian communities in the West Bank on the same day.
Tear gas and concussion grenades were used by Israeli forces against Palestinians who resisted these attacks.
The Israeli army stopped about 100 peace activists from delivering food and medicine to Qusra village.
Qusra has been besieged by Israeli settlers for 28 days, with families cut off from supplies.
About 750,000 Israeli settlers live in settlements in the occupied West Bank, where settler violence against Palestinians is reported.
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Costa Rican President Laura Fernandez said that U.S. military operations in Costa Rica could help improve national security if focused on fighting crime and terrorism. However, she stressed that any such operations would need approval from Costa Rica’s legislature, and currently, no plans exist for U.S. forces to operate there.
Key Facts
President Laura Fernandez took office in May and succeeded former President Rodrigo Chaves.
She suggested U.S. military help could be good for fighting transnational crime, drug trafficking, and terrorism in Costa Rica.
Any U.S. military presence in Costa Rica would require approval from the national legislature.
Costa Rica faces rising violence, with its homicide rate doubling over the last decade to 17.2 per 100,000 people in 2023.
Fernandez said she is not planning to declare a state of emergency, a measure used by neighboring El Salvador to increase police and military powers.
U.S. President Donald Trump is promoting military cooperation in Latin America to combat drug trafficking, including through the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition (ACCC).
The U.S. has recently supported military operations in Ecuador, but these have been linked to human rights abuses such as torture and attacks on civilians.
Some Latin American countries reject U.S. military operations on their soil due to concerns about sovereignty and past rights violations.
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Two senior aides to Nigel Farage, leader of the U.K. Reform party, resigned after an undercover report accused the party of breaking British election rules about foreign donations. The party is investigating the claims, but Farage denies any illegal actions and says the accusations are entrapment.
Key Facts
Nigel Farage leads the U.K. Reform party.
Two key party officials, James Orr and Dan Jukes, stepped down during an internal investigation.
The investigation followed an undercover report where a journalist posed as a wealthy American’s son offering donations.
British law only allows political donations from registered UK voters or UK companies.
The undercover footage showed discussions about donations totaling about £32,500 (around $44,000) for political polls.
Farage denies the party accepted illegal donations and calls the report entrapment.
Channel 4, the broadcaster of the report, says their investigation was carefully checked for accuracy.
This scandal comes amid broader questions about the party’s funding, including a separate enquiry into a large donation from a crypto billionaire.
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The United States, Britain, France, and Germany have created a proposal for the U.N. nuclear agency’s board to report Iran to the U.N. Security Council. This is because Iran has not followed rules to keep its nuclear program peaceful and has stopped cooperation with international inspectors.
Key Facts
Iran is required by an international treaty to declare all its nuclear materials and allow inspections.
In June 2025, the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), officially found Iran in violation of these rules.
The U.S. and Israel carried out attacks on Iranian nuclear sites just after the IAEA’s finding.
The draft resolution asks to refer Iran to the U.N. Security Council, which can take stronger actions like sanctions.
Russia and China, who can block decisions at the Security Council, support Iran.
The resolution underlines the importance of finding a diplomatic solution for regional peace.
The resolution is still being negotiated and has not yet been formally presented or voted on.
Iran stopped giving inspectors access to its nuclear sites affected by the strikes, breaking its legal obligations.
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President Donald Trump said US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will travel to Ukraine and Russia this weekend to try to restart peace talks and end the war. The envoys plan to meet leaders in Kyiv and Moscow, while fighting and attacks continue between the two countries.
Key Facts
Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are US special envoys sent by President Trump to promote peace talks in Ukraine and Russia.
They will visit Moscow on Saturday and Sunday, and Kyiv on Sunday, their first visits since Trump returned to power.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said negotiations with Ukraine are currently "frozen."
The day before the envoys’ trip, Russia struck the Ukrainian security service headquarters, injuring at least 12 people.
President Trump said a peace deal is difficult because of personal dislike between President Zelenskyy of Ukraine and President Putin of Russia.
The war has lasted more than four years and caused many deaths—estimated at about 450,000 for Russia and 125,000 to 150,000 for Ukraine.
The attacks continue despite efforts to relaunch talks, raising concerns about future targets and peace prospects.
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CBS News' 60 Minutes visited ground zero after months of cleanup following the September 11 attacks. The cleanup involved carefully searching through debris for human remains and items from the site before the destruction.
Key Facts
The cleanup at ground zero was a long process lasting several months.
Workers carefully sorted through tons of debris.
Their goal was to find human remains to identify victims.
They also looked for artifacts from the World Trade Center buildings.
The site is where the 9/11 terrorist attacks caused major destruction.
The 60 Minutes report shows the careful and respectful efforts involved.
The cleanup marked an important step after the tragedy.
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Cleveland Police Chief Constable Victoria Fuller said she is proud of her officers but feels the force is underfunded and understaffed compared to its high crime rates. Following a fatal crash that killed seven people, including two police officers, she called for more money and resources to better fight organized crime in the area.
Key Facts
Seven people died in a crash involving a Volkswagen Passat and a police car near Middlesbrough.
Two of the victims were police officers, PCs Matthew Blades and Tom Clough.
The Passat had been driven the wrong way on the motorway and linked to earlier criminal activity.
A police chase was stopped shortly before the crash happened.
Cleveland Police has one of the highest crime rates in England and Wales but fewer officers compared to larger city forces.
The force has seen the largest drop in officer numbers since 2010 and often operates with staffing like a rural police force.
The government will give Cleveland Police an extra £2 million and 200 additional officers to help after the crash.
Chief Fuller wants the force to become part of a larger, better-funded police organization and calls for continuous funding increases to improve policing.
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Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, spoke at the party’s conference in Birmingham. He denied claims from an investigative report that said his party accepted illegal foreign money, while protesters interrupted him.
Key Facts
Nigel Farage leads the political party Reform UK.
He spoke at the Reform UK conference in Birmingham.
Protesters heckled him during his speech.
An investigative report claimed Reform UK took illegal foreign donations.
Farage denied these claims during his address.
The event took place on a Friday.
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An Argentine court approved a deal returning an 18th-century portrait stolen by a Nazi officer during World War II to the heir of the original Jewish owner. The painting, taken from Dutch-Jewish art dealer Jacques Goudstikker, was hidden in Argentina by the daughter of a Nazi official and will now be returned after a legal agreement.
Key Facts
The painting “Portrait of a Lady” was stolen by Nazi officers during World War II from art dealer Jacques Goudstikker.
Goudstikker was a Dutch-Jewish art dealer whose collection was seized by Nazis after they invaded the Netherlands in 1940.
The painting was found in Argentina in the home of Patricia Kadgien, daughter of a Nazi official who fled Europe after the war.
Kadgien and her husband were charged with hiding the painting but agreed to give up their claim to avoid criminal trial.
The painting has been authenticated as part of Goudstikker’s collection and is valued at about 250,000 euros ($290,000).
Jacques Goudstikker died fleeing Amsterdam as German forces invaded in 1940.
Many works from Goudstikker’s collection were illegally sold to Hermann Göring, a top Nazi leader.
The deal includes court supervision of Kadgien and payments to a local hospital during a two-year period.
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The United States has given Ukraine billions of dollars in military aid since Russia started its invasion. President Trump says Europe should repay the U.S. for this support because the weapons and ammunition were sent without charging them.
Key Facts
The U.S. has provided large amounts of military aid to Ukraine during President Biden’s administration.
President Trump claims that this military aid was given to Ukraine free of charge.
He says European countries should pay the U.S. back for the weapons and ammunition sent.
Funding Ukraine’s defense has caused disagreements between the U.S. and Europe.
The war in Ukraine is ongoing, and both sides are trying to find a way to keep supporting Kyiv.
Experts from think tanks and universities are discussing the situation and its challenges.
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Argentina's President Javier Milei has renewed strong claims that the Falkland Islands belong to Argentina, marking a sharper tone in the dispute with Britain. President Donald Trump has suggested he might reconsider the United States' traditional neutral position, which has so far recognized British control over the islands.
Key Facts
Argentina and the UK have long disputed control over the Falkland Islands, which Britain reoccupied in 1833.
President Milei said the islands "rightfully belong" to Argentina, accusing Britain of colonial occupation.
Historically, the islands were uninhabited when Britain took control, and Argentina's earlier settlement was removed by the US Navy in 1831.
The US has traditionally been neutral but supported Britain during the 1982 Falklands War.
President Trump said he is "re-evaluating" the US position on the Falklands, breaking from usual US policy.
The change in US stance has energized Argentina's political debate ahead of next year’s presidential election.
Argentina sees the Falklands issue as urgent partly due to upcoming energy explorations by Israeli and UK companies near the islands.
The Falkland Islanders voted overwhelmingly in 2013 to remain a British overseas territory.
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Mexican authorities seized almost 17 tonnes of methamphetamine from three secret labs in Sinaloa. They also shut down a large 5,700-square-metre facility where the drugs were made, causing criminal groups to lose about $347 million.
Key Facts
Nearly 17 tonnes of methamphetamine were seized.
The drugs came from three hidden labs in Sinaloa, Mexico.
A 5,700-square-metre production facility was dismantled.
The operation caused a financial loss of $347 million to criminal groups.
The action was carried out by Mexican authorities.
The labs were used to produce methamphetamine, a powerful illegal drug.
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