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Haitian Gangs Shot at UN Helicopter as Violence Surges Across Capital

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FILE - Flanked by members of the G9 gang coalition, leader Jimmy Cherizier, aka Barbecue, right, talks to reporters near the perimeter wall that encloses Terminal Varreux, the port owned by the Mevs family, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Oct. 6, 2021. The U.N. Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution Friday, Oct. 21, 2022 demanding an immediate end to violence and criminal activity in Haiti and imposing sanctions on Barbecue, a former police officer. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd, File)

Armed gangs opened fire on a United Nations helicopter carrying 18 people Thursday as it attempted to land in Port-au-Prince, marking a significant escalation in Haiti’s spiraling violence that has already displaced thousands of residents from the capital.

The helicopter, carrying three crew members and 15 passengers, sustained multiple bullet impacts but landed safely with no injuries reported, according to a UN source speaking on condition of anonymity. The attack comes just five months after the capital’s main international airport reopened following a prolonged closure due to coordinated gang assaults.

The incident coincides with intensifying violence in nearby Arcahaie, where approximately 50 suspected gang members died this week after attacking the coastal town northwest of the capital. Local officials confirmed at least a dozen gunmen drowned when their boat capsized during the assault, which began Monday with attackers burning homes and vehicles.

The attacks are attributed to the Viv Ansanm gang coalition, whose recent operations have forced more than 10,000 people from their homes in Port-au-Prince within a week, according to the UN’s International Organization for Migration. More than half the displaced have crowded into 14 makeshift shelters, including schools, while others seek refuge with relatives.

The surge in violence challenges the effectiveness of a UN-backed Kenyan police mission deployed to combat gang activity. Gangs currently control more than 80% of Port-au-Prince, leaving 700,000 people homeless and claiming thousands of lives. U.S. officials and Haitian authorities have warned that the Kenyan-led mission lacks adequate personnel and funding, advocating for its replacement with a full UN peacekeeping force.

In Arcahaie, where fighting continues, local police official Réné has urgently requested reinforcements from military and special police units as residents and law enforcement attempt to contain gang members who ran out of ammunition and scattered into surrounding areas.

Nigeria Releases Binance Executive After Eight-Month Detention on Money Laundering Charges

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Nigerian authorities have released Tigran Gambaryan, Binance’s head of financial crime compliance, after eight months in custody, dropping money laundering charges on what officials cited as health and diplomatic grounds.

White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan announced Thursday that Gambaryan was returning to the United States for medical treatment following his humanitarian release. “I am grateful to my Nigerian colleagues and partners for the productive discussions that have resulted in this step,” Sullivan said, confirming he had personally informed Gambaryan’s wife of the development.

The case, which began with Gambaryan’s February arrest during a business trip to Nigeria, had sparked controversy over allegations of illegal detention and alleged bribe demands by Nigerian officials. Gambaryan was detained alongside Nadeem Anjarwalla, Binance’s regional manager for Africa, who later fled custody and remains at large.

Nigerian authorities had accused Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, of facilitating up to $35 million in money laundering and manipulating the local naira currency. The charges emerged as Nigeria, Africa’s largest cryptocurrency market, grappled with currency instability and rising inflation, leading many citizens to seek financial refuge in digital currencies.

R.U. Adaba, prosecutor for Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, announced the case’s termination Wednesday at Abuja’s Federal High Court, citing “critical international and diplomatic reasons.” However, Binance still faces separate charges related to tax evasion and operating without required licenses.

Gambaryan’s detention conditions drew international scrutiny after two failed bail attempts, with a judge deeming him a flight risk and ordering his confinement in Abuja’s Kuje prison. His health reportedly deteriorated during the prolonged legal proceedings.

While Nigerian officials denied allegations of soliciting bribes for Gambaryan’s release and defended the prosecution’s legitimacy, the case highlighted tensions between cryptocurrency operations and regulatory oversight in Africa’s largest economy.

Messi Leads Record-Setting Inter Miami Into Playoff Showdown with Atlanta United

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Lionel Messi enters uncharted territory Friday night, making his Major League Soccer playoff debut as Inter Miami hosts Atlanta United in a best-of-three Eastern Conference first-round series, facing the only MLS team to defeat him this season.

Despite missing nearly half the regular season due to injuries and national team commitments, Messi arrives in devastating form after recording a hat trick in Miami’s 6-2 season-finale victory over New England. The Argentine superstar has posted remarkable numbers in limited action: 20 goals and 16 assists in just 19 appearances, prompting MVP consideration despite his abbreviated season.

“If I could vote for him, I would have,” Miami defender Julian Gressel said. “The MVP stands for the best player in the league. And Leo is that, by far. You know, there’s other people out there that have the definition of an MVP that maybe makes the team better or that a team can’t live without. In a sense, to me, Leo is that, too.”

Inter Miami, which set MLS records for points and winning percentage this season, faces significant stakes in its first-ever home playoff match. Victory in this series would secure home-field advantage through the remainder of the playoffs, including potential conference semifinals, conference final, and MLS Cup matches.

“This was always about creating history for Miami,” said owner David Beckham, who first announced plans for the franchise over a decade ago. “This was always about our family, La Familia, the people in this stadium, the people in this city.”

The matchup features interesting connections, including Miami coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino, who led Atlanta to the 2018 MLS Cup. Atlanta interim coach Rob Valentino acknowledged the unique challenge of facing Messi: “He’s arguably the best player that’s ever played. We’ve faced him a few times and we know obviously his qualities, but also at the same time, they have other players that are good, too.”

Atlanta earned this playoff matchup by defeating Montreal in Tuesday’s wild-card match. The series opener at a sold-out Miami stadium represents the most significant match of Inter Miami’s season, as the best-of-three format leaves little room for error.

One Dead, Four Injured as Arctic Circle Express Derails in Northern Norway

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A train carrying 55 passengers derailed along Norway’s northern coast Thursday, killing at least one person and injuring four others when the Arctic Circle Express plunged off its mountainside track following a suspected rockslide.

The accident occurred at 1215 GMT as the train traveled from Trondheim toward Bodoe, a remote town above the Arctic Circle. Emergency services evacuated surviving passengers through windows, transporting the uninjured by bus to Mo i Rana, located 228 kilometers south of Bodoe.

“I flew over a guy and broke a table in front of us. But I was lucky and sustained no injuries. I’m just a little shaky,” passenger Sissel Trøan told Norwegian broadcaster NRK, describing the “dramatic” sudden braking that sent passengers flying and shattered windows throughout the carriages.

Eyewitness accounts and photos shared by Norwegian media revealed a massive boulder on the track that had crashed into one of the train’s five carriages. Passenger Ingvart Strand Mølster reported to NRK that while a rock struck the train, most passengers in his carriage escaped serious harm, with only one person suffering a minor ankle injury.

Video footage showed the derailed train had crashed through trees before coming to rest on a road below the tracks. The highway was immediately closed to traffic following the incident. Photos revealed the locomotive and at least two passenger carriages had left the tracks near Bodoe.

Police told the Norwegian news agency NTB that a rockslide likely caused the derailment. The four injured passengers were transported to a nearby hospital, though their conditions remain unclear.

Mourinho Faces Former Club as Fenerbahce Hosts Manchester United in Europa League Clash

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Jose Mourinho faces his former club Manchester United for the first time since his tumultuous Old Trafford tenure as his Fenerbahce side hosts the Red Devils at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium Thursday in a crucial Europa League encounter.

The match marks the teams’ first meeting since November 2016, when Mourinho, then United’s manager, suffered a 2-1 defeat in Turkey. Now leading Fenerbahce, the Portuguese tactician brings an impressive record of eight wins, four draws, and just two losses in fourteen matches across all competitions this season.

United arrive following a morale-boosting 2-1 Premier League victory over Brentford that ended a five-game winless streak. Manager Erik ten Hag, who recently dismissed media speculation about his future, sees his team seeking their first Europa League win after two draws against FC Twente and Porto.

The visitors face significant squad challenges, with several key players sidelined. Leny Yoro, Kobbie Mainoo, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia, Mason Mount, and Toby Collyer are all unavailable through injury, while captain Bruno Fernandes serves a suspension. Casemiro remains questionable after a late withdrawal against Brentford, though he has traveled with the squad.

Fenerbahce confronts their own injury crisis, missing Cengiz Under, Ismail Yuksek, Bright Osayi-Samuel, and Irfan Can Egribayat. The recent loss of Jayden Oosterwolde to an ACL rupture forces Mourinho to reorganize his defense, potentially deploying former United midfielder Fred in an unconventional left-back role.

United’s European form raises concerns, with the club winless in their last five continental matches, their worst run since 1983. Meanwhile, Fenerbahce boasts a seven-game unbeaten home record in Europa League competition, though Mourinho’s personal record against former clubs shows just two victories in his last seventeen attempts.

The match presents a critical juncture for both sides, with Fenerbahce having collected four points from their opening two group games while United seek to improve on their two-point tally. Given both teams’ defensive inconsistencies and United’s recent tendency for high-scoring away European fixtures, an entertaining contest appears likely.

Uganda Joins BRICS Partnership in Major Shift Toward Emerging Markets

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Uganda has joined the BRICS economic alliance as one of thirteen new partner nations, marking a significant shift in the East African nation’s international trade relationships and reflecting broader changes in global economic power dynamics.

The expansion, which includes major economies like Indonesia, Turkey, and Nigeria, represents BRICS’ growing challenge to Western-dominated financial institutions. The move brings Uganda into closer alignment with Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, offering access to some of the world’s largest emerging markets.

“BRICS provides a platform for African countries to engage on more equal footing with major economies,” said regional trade analyst Mohammed Ssemakula. “The shift toward south-south cooperation is particularly important for countries like Uganda, which are seeking to reduce dependency on Western markets.”

Uganda’s agricultural and resource-based economy stands to benefit from increased investment opportunities, particularly in oil, minerals, and cash crops like coffee and tea. The partnership could accelerate infrastructure development in energy and transportation sectors, crucial for improving the nation’s economic competitiveness.

The inclusion of both Uganda and Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, underscores the continent’s rising influence in reshaping global economic alliances. African nations, traditionally viewed as recipients of Western aid and investment, increasingly seek partnerships emphasizing mutual benefit and economic development.

BRICS’ expansion reflects its long-term strategy to create alternative economic pathways outside Western-centric trade and financial systems. For Uganda, the partnership signals a strategic pivot toward emerging markets and could strengthen its position in international trade negotiations.

The development comes as emerging economies increasingly challenge traditional Western economic dominance, with BRICS members collectively representing a significant portion of global GDP and trade volume. Uganda’s participation in this expanded alliance could fundamentally alter its economic trajectory and role in global markets.

India Evacuating 1.5 Million as Cyclone Dana Approaches Eastern Coast

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Indian authorities launched a massive evacuation of nearly 1.5 million people Wednesday as Cyclone Dana bears down on the eastern states of Odisha and West Bengal, with the storm expected to intensify into a severe cyclonic system within 24 hours.

The India Meteorological Department warns that a depression over the Bay of Bengal will strengthen into a severe cyclonic storm by Thursday evening, bringing wind speeds of 100-120 km/h (62-74 mph) to coastal regions. Officials predict “heavy to very heavy” rainfall along the coastline for the next 24 hours.

Odisha state is evacuating more than one million residents from fourteen districts, while West Bengal moves over 300,000 people from coastal areas. “We are fully prepared to deal with the storm. Don’t panic, be safe and be careful,” Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi told media, confirming deployment of thousands of relief workers.

Emergency measures include establishing temporary relief camps equipped with food, water, and health facilities. Aviation authorities have suspended flight operations at Bhubaneswar and Kolkata airports from Thursday evening through Friday morning, while railways cancelled more than 200 trains. Schools in coastal regions remain closed, and officials warned fishermen against venturing to sea.

The evacuation effort reflects lessons learned from past disasters in the cyclone-prone region. In 1999, more than 10,000 people perished in an Odisha cyclone, while last year’s cyclone claimed at least sixteen lives across India and Bangladesh.

State disaster management teams have activated emergency protocols and established relief centers throughout potentially affected areas. Officials at Paradip port implemented contingency plans to ensure safety of staff and nearby residents as the region braces for impact.

The weather department continues monitoring the system’s development, issuing regular updates as the cyclone approaches the coastline. Emergency response teams remain on high alert, prepared to address immediate needs as they arise in the storm’s aftermath.

More Than 20 Dead as Tropical Storm Dumps Month’s Rain on Philippines

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Tropical Storm Trami has left more than 20 people dead and forced 150,000 to evacuate after dumping a month’s worth of rain in 24 hours across northern Philippines, with the Bicol peninsula bearing the brunt of the unusually intense deluge.

The storm, known locally as Kristine, made landfall Thursday on Luzon’s northeast coast, bringing winds up to 95 km/h (59 mph) and triggering widespread flooding that trapped residents in their homes. In Bicol, desperate citizens took to social media posting photos from their rooftops to appeal for rescue, prompting coast guard deployment of rubber boats.

“It’s getting dangerous. We’re waiting for rescuers,” resident Karen Tabagan told AFP from the flooded municipality of Bato, where floodwaters forced people and pets to retreat to second floors.

The unprecedented rainfall also triggered volcanic mudslides near Mount Mayon, an active volcano in Bicol, with photos showing vehicles and homes partially submerged in dark grey lahar. “The rains were really severe. We did not expect this,” said Glenda Bonga, Albay province’s acting governor, in an interview with ANC.

State weather bureau forecaster Ana Claren confirmed the rainfall exceeded 30-year averages, describing the precipitation as abnormal even for a region accustomed to tropical storms. Search efforts continue for a missing fisherman after a boat sank off Bulacan province, though rescue operations face challenges from strong wind-driven currents, according to local disaster official Geraldine Martinez.

As the storm moves toward the country’s northwest coast, officials maintain warnings about continued heavy rainfall, flooding, landslides, and storm surges. The weather bureau has identified another low-pressure system off Bicol that could develop into a tropical depression by week’s end.

The disaster highlights the Philippines’ increasing vulnerability to extreme weather events, with the country typically experiencing four typhoons annually. Recent years have seen storms characterized by stronger winds and heavier rainfall, raising concerns about climate change impacts on the archipelago.

The immediate crisis has forced the cancellation of at least a dozen flights across the country as rescue and evacuation efforts continue.

Israeli Strike on Gaza School Shelter Kills 17, Mostly Women and Children

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Palestinians inspect the site of an Israeli strike on a school sheltering displaced people, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, in Gaza City, August 10, 2024. REUTERS/Abed Sabah

At least 17 people, primarily women and children, were killed Thursday when an Israeli strike hit a school housing displaced Palestinians in central Gaza’s Nuseirat refugee camp, according to Palestinian medical officials at Awda Hospital.

The attack, which wounded an additional 42 people, claimed the lives of seven children — the youngest just 11 months old — and three women. Hospital officials reported receiving the casualties as Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced $135 million in new U.S. aid to Palestinians during his eleventh regional visit since the conflict began.

Israeli forces have conducted several strikes on schools-turned-shelters in recent months, maintaining they target Hamas militants using civilian facilities for cover. The Israeli military had not immediately commented on Thursday’s strike.

The incident highlights the war’s devastating impact on Gaza’s civilian population. According to the territory’s Health Ministry, the conflict has killed over 42,000 Palestinians, with women and children comprising more than half the casualties. Israel reports killing 17,000 fighters, though without providing evidence.

The war has displaced approximately 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, many multiple times, with hundreds of thousands now living in coastal tent camps after widespread destruction of residential areas. The conflict began following Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and led to 250 hostages being taken, about 100 of whom remain captive with a third presumed dead.

Blinken’s visit to Qatar emphasized the critical need for humanitarian aid access to Gaza, as cease-fire negotiations that stalled over the summer show no signs of revival despite hopes that last week’s killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar might provide new momentum.

The conflict has meanwhile expanded to Lebanon, where Israeli forces launched a ground invasion three weeks ago following months of cross-border exchanges with Hezbollah.

Israeli Strike Kills Lebanese Soldiers as France Hosts Military Support Conference

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An Israeli airstrike killed three Lebanese soldiers early Thursday morning as they evacuated wounded civilians near the southern village of Yater, marking a significant escalation in cross-border tensions even as France sought diplomatic solutions through an international conference supporting Lebanon’s armed forces.

The soldiers were killed around 4:15 a.m. while conducting humanitarian operations, according to Lebanese army officials. The incident occurred despite Israel’s previous assertions that it was not targeting Lebanese state forces, and there was no immediate Israeli comment on the strike.

The deaths coincided with a Paris conference aimed at mobilizing humanitarian aid and support for Lebanon’s military, seen as crucial to any diplomatic resolution of the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized the urgent need for peace: “There needs to be a ceasefire in Lebanon. More damage, more victims, more strikes will not enable the end of terrorism or ensure security for everyone.”

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had expressed concerns to his Israeli counterpart just hours before the incident about strikes against Lebanese armed forces, urging protection for both the Lebanese army and UN peacekeeping mission, according to Pentagon statements.

Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, speaking at the Paris conference, offered to deploy 8,000 soldiers as part of a ceasefire plan while appealing for international financial support and training. “The storm we are currently witnessing is unlike any other, because it carries the seeds of total destruction, not only for our country, but for all human values,” Mikati warned.

The conflict has extracted a heavy toll on Lebanon, with authorities reporting more than 2,500 deaths and over one million people displaced. The Lebanese army, which receives U.S. support and recruits across sectarian lines, is viewed as a crucial stabilizing force since the 1975-90 civil war, though it maintains limited influence in Hezbollah strongholds.

The Paris meeting emphasized UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war, as the foundation for ending current hostilities. France announced support for recruiting 6,000 additional Lebanese troops and providing essential military supplies.

The deadly strike occurred amid intensifying violence, with Hezbollah claiming its first use of precision-guided missiles against Israel and Israeli forces conducting over 160 strikes on alleged Hezbollah targets throughout Lebanon. The escalation has killed 29 Israeli civilians and 52 soldiers over the past year, according to the Alma Research and Education Center.

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