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Multiple Fatal Shootings Near French Migrant Camp Leave Five Dead

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Multiple Fatal Shootings Near French Migrant Camp Leave Five Dead

Five people died in a series of shootings near Dunkirk in northern France, including an attack near a migrant camp, before a 22-year-old suspect surrendered to police. The incident marks one of the region’s deadliest shooting sprees in recent memory.

According to Dunkirk prosecutor Charlotte Huet, the violence began in Wormhout with the killing of a 29-year-old man outside his home at 15:15 local time. The shooter then moved to Loon-Plage, where he killed two security guards, aged 33 and 37, near a port facility, followed by the deaths of two migrant camp residents, aged 19 and 30.

All five murders occurred within a two-hour window in the Dunkirk area. The suspect, previously unknown to police, was found with multiple firearms in his vehicle. Dunkirk Mayor Patrice Vergriete indicated that the motive for the attacks remains unclear.

The shootings occurred near Loon-Plage’s temporary migrant settlements, an area known for housing individuals attempting to cross the Channel to the UK. Local authorities, including regional assembly head Xavier Bertrand, confirmed the “tragic event” as emergency services maintained a significant presence in the area.

Elon’s SpaceX Seeks to Establish Starbase as New Texas City Near Mexican Border

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Elon’s SpaceX Seeks to Establish Starbase as New Texas City Near Mexican Border

SpaceX has formally requested an election to incorporate its Starbase facility as a new Texas city, marking a significant expansion of its presence in the state’s southernmost region. The petition, submitted by local residents and announced in a letter to Cameron County officials Thursday, aims to transform the rocket manufacturing and launch site into an official municipality.

The move follows Elon Musk’s earlier relocation of both SpaceX and X company headquarters from California to Texas, with Starbase currently employing over 3,400 full-time workers and contractors. Kathryn Lueders, Starbase’s general manager, emphasized the need for community growth to support the site’s expanding workforce and Starship rocket development.

Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr. confirmed this marks the first official incorporation petition, despite Musk’s previous 2021 social media announcement about creating “the city of Starbase.” The county’s legal team will review the petition for compliance with statutory requirements.

The expansion has faced local opposition, including a lawsuit from Save RGV alleging environmental violations, though SpaceX maintains state reviews found no risks. The proposed city would be located at Boca Chica Beach near the Mexican border.

5 Australian Drug Traffickers Return Home After Two Decades in Indonesian Prisons

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5 Australian Drug Traffickers Return Home After Two Decades in Indonesian Prisons

Five members of the notorious “Bali Nine” drug trafficking group returned to Australia on Sunday as free citizens after spending nearly 20 years in Indonesian prisons, following a diplomatic agreement between both nations.

Matthew Norman, Scott Rush, Martin Stephens, Si Yi Chen, and Michael Czugaj flew from Bali to Darwin under a carefully managed transfer operation, marking the end of their incarceration for attempting to smuggle 8.3 kilograms of heroin to Australia in 2005.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed their release while acknowledging Indonesia’s “compassionate consideration,” though Indonesian Law Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra clarified the men were not pardoned but transferred under a new bilateral arrangement signed December 12.

The release represents the latest chapter in the infamous Bali Nine case, which saw two ringleaders executed by firing squad in 2015, causing diplomatic tensions between the nations. Another member died in custody in 2018, while Renae Lawrence was previously released in 2018.

The Australian government has offered the returning men temporary accommodation and support services. Their families issued a statement requesting privacy as the men begin their rehabilitation and reintegration into Australian society.

Cyclone Chido Leaves at Least 11 Dead in Mayotte, Causes Widespread Devastation

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Cyclone Chido Leaves at Least 11 Dead in Mayotte, Causes Widespread Devastation

Cyclone Chido has claimed at least 11 lives in the French territory of Mayotte, with authorities warning the death toll could rise as rescue operations continue, France’s Interior Ministry said Sunday. 

The intense tropical cyclone, which brought winds exceeding 220 kph (136 mph), struck the southeastern Indian Ocean region, causing widespread destruction in Mayotte, Comoros, and Madagascar. Chido, now classified as a Category 4 storm, made landfall Sunday in northern Mozambique, where millions are at risk. 

French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said Mayotte had suffered its worst cyclone in 90 years, leaving extensive damage to infrastructure and communities. Prime Minister François Bayrou confirmed severe damage to the island’s main hospital, airport, and public facilities. 

Mayotte’s population of 300,000, spread across two main islands, experienced significant devastation, with entire neighborhoods flattened and boats overturned. The local prefect described the cyclone’s impact as catastrophic, particularly for those living in precarious housing conditions. 

The Interior Ministry reported 246 injuries in Mayotte, with nine people critically injured. Emergency personnel from France and Reunion were deployed, with reinforcements and supplies being sent by military aircraft and ships. A force of 1,600 police and gendarmerie officers has been mobilized to assist residents and prevent looting. 

French President Emmanuel Macron said he was monitoring the situation closely, and Pope Francis offered prayers for the victims during his visit to Corsica. 

In Mozambique, Cyclone Chido made landfall in Cabo Delgado province, where 2.5 million people are at risk. UNICEF reported extensive damage to homes, schools, and health facilities, warning of potential long-term disruptions to basic services. Neighboring Malawi and Zimbabwe are bracing for flooding and possible evacuations. 

Southern Africa’s cyclone season, which lasts from December to March, has seen increasingly devastating storms. Cyclone Idai in 2019 killed more than 1,300 people, while Cyclone Freddy left over 1,000 dead last year. Chido adds to growing concerns over the region’s vulnerability to natural disasters and the lingering threat of disease outbreaks, including cholera, dengue fever, and malaria. 

AN AP Story

Lebanese Man Returns Home After 32 Years in Syrian Prisons

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Lebanese Man Returns Home After 32 Years in Syrian Prisons

A Lebanese man who spent 32 years in Syrian prisons returned home Sunday, reuniting with his family after an unexpected release amid chaos in war-torn Syria. 

Suheil Hamwi, 60, was one of hundreds of Lebanese citizens detained during Syria’s occupation of Lebanon from 1976 to 2005. He was taken in 1992 from his home in Chekka, a northern Lebanese town, by unknown men. His family heard little from him for years. 

Freedom came suddenly as opposition forces overran the prison in Latakia where Hamwi was held. Guards abandoned their posts, and prisoners were freed. “The first door opened,” Hamwi recalled. “Then others followed. And for those who couldn’t open their gates, they started coming out through the walls.” 

Hamwi crossed into Lebanon through the Arida border crossing, where his family awaited. He walked into his home — the same one he left decades ago — and met his grandchildren for the first time. “I’m still scared this might not be real,” he told The Associated Press from his living room, surrounded by photos of family moments he had missed. 

Hamwi was detained under unclear circumstances in 1992. He described interrogations in Syria’s Saydnaya prison as cryptic and said he spent years in near-total isolation, enduring torture early on. Visits from his wife, Josephine, began in 2008 and occurred about once a year. 

On Sunday, neighbors and friends gathered outside Hamwi’s apartment, sharing laughter and sweets as they welcomed him back. “Do you know me? Do you remember me?” one friend asked. Hamwi studied the man’s face before replying, “You’re Jean! Yes, you’re Jean.” 

Hamwi has since undergone medical tests to assess the toll of his captivity and is adjusting to life outside prison walls. He looks forward to reuniting with his only son, George, an engineer working in the Gulf. In their first phone call, George told his father, “I miss you. I love you. I’m waiting to see you.” 

Iran Arrests Female YouTube Singer for Performing Without Hijab

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Iran Arrests Female YouTube Singer for Performing Without Hijab

Iranian authorities have arrested a female singer after she performed a virtual concert on YouTube without wearing a hijab, a lawyer said Sunday. 

Parastoo Ahmady, 27, was detained on Saturday in Sari, the capital of Iran’s northern Mazandaran province, according to her lawyer, Milad Panahipour. The arrest follows a judiciary case filed Thursday concerning Ahmady’s concert, during which she wore a sleeveless black dress without a hijab. She was accompanied by four male musicians. 

Ahmady had shared the concert online the previous day, stating in the post, “I am Parastoo, a girl who wants to sing for the people I love. This is a right I could not ignore; singing for the land I love passionately.” The performance has since garnered more than 1.4 million views. 

Panahipour told The Associated Press that the charges against Ahmady remain unclear, as do the details of her detention. “We do not know who arrested her or where she is being held, but we will follow up on the matter through legal channels,” he said. 

Under Iranian law, women are prohibited from appearing in public without a hijab or singing solo for mixed-gender audiences. These restrictions have been in place since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, which also banned women from singing or dancing altogether before gradually allowing limited performances under strict conditions. 

The hijab has been a contentious political symbol in Iran. Protests erupted across the country in 2022 following the death of Mahsa Amini, 22, after she was detained by the morality police for allegedly violating hijab laws. While enforcement of the dress code became less strict in the aftermath of those protests, Iranian authorities have recently intensified their efforts to uphold Islamic dress rules. 

American Couple Killed in Mexico’s Michoacan State Drug Violence Zone

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American Couple Killed in Mexico’s Michoacan State Drug Violence Zone

An American couple from Sacramento, California, were fatally shot Wednesday when their pickup truck came under gunfire in Mexico’s Michoacan state, marking another violent incident in the country’s ongoing drug-related conflicts.

Rafael Cardona and his wife Gloria Ambriz were killed in Angamacutiro, a town near the border of Guanajuato state, which currently leads Mexico in homicides due to territorial disputes between drug cartels. Cardona was reportedly the brother-in-law of Angamacutiro’s mayor.

State prosecutors have launched an investigation into the shooting but have not yet identified suspects or established a motive. The town government has cancelled its scheduled Christmas season events in response to the tragedy.

The incident occurred in a region notorious for cartel violence, where rival drug organizations frequently clash for control of territory. Guanajuato’s border area has become particularly dangerous as competing gangs fight for dominance.

Armed Clashes in Libya Spark Oil Refinery Fires Amid Urban Violence

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Armed Clashes in Libya Spark Oil Refinery Fires Amid Urban Violence

Violent clashes erupted Sunday between rival armed groups in Libya’s western city of Zawiya, resulting in fires at the nation’s second-largest oil refinery and trapping civilians in their homes. The conflict pits Shurafaa tribal forces against fighters loyal to UN-sanctioned warlord Mohamed Kushlaf.

The National Oil Corporation declared force majeure after gunfire damaged storage tanks at the Zawiya refinery, causing “dangerous” fires and gas leaks. Firefighters battled blazes amid ongoing violence around the facility, highlighting the persistent threat to Libya’s critical oil infrastructure.

The violence, which closed major coastal routes and suspended local education, exemplifies the continuing instability in western Libya, where militias aligned with Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah’s government maintain substantial control. Residents report widespread gunfire in residential areas, creating panic among civilians.

The incident underscores Libya’s persistent division between rival administrations in Tripoli and the east, a split that has defined the nation since Moammar Gadhafi’s overthrow in 2011. The country’s western region, in particular, has become dominated by powerful militias who have accumulated significant wealth and influence.

Mauritius Orders Arrest of Ex-Central Bank Chief Amid Financial Fraud Investigation

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Mauritius Orders Arrest of Ex-Central Bank Chief Amid Financial Fraud Investigation

Mauritius police have issued an arrest warrant for former central bank governor Harvesh Kumar Seegolam as part of a conspiracy to defraud investigation, marking the first major action by Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam’s new administration in addressing alleged financial misconduct.

The arrest order, issued by the police anti-money laundering unit, follows Ramgoolam’s recent revelations that the previous government systematically falsified key economic indicators, including GDP, budget deficit, and public debt figures over multiple years.

A parliamentary report has also accused the central bank of improperly printing money to fund the Mauritius Investment Corporation (MIC), established in 2020 as a COVID-19 business support mechanism. The report criticizes this action as “irresponsible,” noting it should have been funded through official foreign exchange reserves instead.

Police authorities confirmed Seegolam is currently outside the country and will face arrest upon return to Mauritius. The former governor has not responded to requests for comment on the allegations or arrest order.

Oil Spill in Kerch Strait as Russian Tanker Splits in Storm, One Dead

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Oil Spill in Kerch Strait as Russian Tanker Splits in Storm, One Dead

A Russian oil tanker carrying thousands of tons of oil products split apart during a violent storm on Sunday, spilling oil into the Kerch Strait and leaving at least one person dead, Russian officials said. 

The 136-meter Volgoneft 212 tanker, built in 1969 and flagged in Russia, broke in half, with its bow sinking as waves battered its deck, according to footage shared by state media. Officials said the tanker had run aground and confirmed a spill of petroleum products. 

A second Russian-flagged tanker, the Volgoneft 239, also sustained damage and was drifting in distress, the Russian Emergency Ministry reported. The 132-meter vessel, built in 1973, has a crew of 14 and a loading capacity of approximately 4,200 tons of oil products. 

The incident occurred in the Kerch Strait, a critical waterway connecting the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov between mainland Russia and Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014. Both vessels issued distress signals during the storm. 

Russia’s water transport agency, Rosmorrechflot, said emergency crews, including Mi-8 helicopters and rescue tugboats, were deployed to the scene, involving more than 50 personnel. 

The Russian newspaper *Kommersant* reported that the Volgoneft 212 tanker was carrying approximately 4,300 tons of fuel oil at the time of the incident. Official statements did not specify the extent of the oil spill or the cause of the severe damage to the vessel. 

Unverified footage shared on Telegram showed blackened waters and a partially submerged tanker amid rough seas. 

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