Author: WTX News

Venezuelan opposition leader’s lawyer detained Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado’s lawyer, Perkins Rocha, has been detained, marking the latest in a series of arrests targeting opposition figures since last month’s disputed presidential election. Rocha, who also serves as a legal adviser for the Vente Venezuela party, was reportedly seized by unidentified men, and his whereabouts remain unknown. President Nicolás Maduro’s government has detained over 2,400 people in the past month, which the UN describes as creating “a climate of fear.” Human rights group Provea warns that political persecution has intensified since July 29, when the National Electoral Council (CNE)…

World Food Programme halts Gaza staff movements The World Food Programme (WFP) has announced a halt to the movement of its staff in the Gaza Strip “until further notice” following an attack on its convoy near an Israeli checkpoint. According to the WFP, the incident occurred on Tuesday evening at the Wadi Gaza bridge when two of its armoured vehicles, escorting a convoy of humanitarian aid trucks, came under fire. Although no injuries were reported, one vehicle was directly hit despite the convoy being clearly marked and having received multiple clearances from Israel. “It sustained at least 10 bullets: five…

At least 10 Palestinians killed in Israeli raids in West Bank Israeli forces have launched a significant operation in the north of the occupied West Bank, resulting in the deaths of at least 10 Palestinians, according to the Palestinian health ministry. The Israeli military described the action as a “counterterrorism operation” targeting Jenin and Tulkarm, where they reported killing five armed individuals. Additionally, four more were killed in an airstrike at the al-Faraa refugee camp near Tubas, and another death occurred west of Jenin. Local journalists have noted that this operation is the largest seen in the West Bank since…

Brazil says criminals likely set São Paulo fires Brazilian government officials suspect that “criminals” are responsible for the record number of fires that have ravaged large areas of São Paulo state. Wolnei Wolff, head of Brazil’s National Office for Protection and Civil Defence, stated that 99.9% of the fires were caused by human actions, with no natural causes like lightning or downed power lines accounting for the blazes. Four individuals have been arrested in connection with the fires. Environment Minister Marina Silva described the situation as “unusual,” noting that it is rare to see so many fires ignite simultaneously in…

At least 11 dead as Israel launches major West Bank operation At least 11 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank, according to Palestinian health officials. The fatalities include five people killed in an air strike on the al-Far’a refugee camp and six others during a drone strike and armed clashes in Jenin. Israeli security forces described their actions in Jenin and Tulkarm as a “counterterrorism operation to thwart terror.” It appears that they have targeted multiple locations simultaneously—Jenin, Tulkarm, Nablus, and Tubas—marking the first time since the second intifada (2000-2005) that several Palestinian cities…

Africa to finally receive first batch of vaccines for deadly mpox virus Nigeria has become the first African country to receive mpox vaccines, obtaining 10,000 doses to combat the ongoing outbreak of the disease. The country began securing the vaccines well before the World Health Organization (WHO) declared mpox a global health emergency earlier this month. Africa has been significantly affected by the rapid spread of mpox, prompting calls for a faster response from international agencies. While Nigeria has confirmed 40 cases of mpox this year, officials suggest the actual number could exceed 700. The 10,000 vaccine doses Nigeria received…

Five dead after Israeli airstrike on refugee camp in West Bank At least five people were killed in an Israeli airstrike on the Nur Shams refugee camp near Tulkarm in the occupied West Bank, according to Palestinian officials. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) confirmed the attack, stating it targeted the command centre of a “terror cell.” Separately, the Palestinian Authority reported that one person was killed and three others were injured in an attack by Israeli settlers near Bethlehem. The IDF said it is investigating these reports. Violence in the West Bank has escalated since the war in Gaza began…

UN says Gaza aid operation paused due to evacuation orders The United Nations has temporarily suspended its aid operations in the Gaza Strip due to Israeli military evacuation orders in the central area of the territory. A senior UN official reported that humanitarian staff could not work on Monday because of safety concerns stemming from evacuation orders around Deir al-Balah, where the UN has its main operations centre. The evacuation forced UN staff to relocate quickly, leaving behind essential equipment. Despite the disruption, the UN emphasised it would not be leaving Gaza and is looking for a safe location to…

Japan says Chinese spy plane violated its airspace Japan has accused a Chinese spy plane of violating its airspace, marking the first known incident of such a direct breach. The Japanese military scrambled fighter jets after a Y-9 surveillance plane reportedly entered the airspace over the Danjo Islands for about two minutes on Monday morning. Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary condemned the breach as “utterly unacceptable” and summoned a Chinese embassy official in Tokyo to protest. The incident has raised tensions in a region already marked by rivalry between China and the U.S., along with its allies, including Japan. During the…

Macron rules out leftist PM as ongoing government crisis continues French President Emmanuel Macron has refused to accept a government led by the left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) alliance, which won the most seats in last month’s legislative election. Macron argued that France needs institutional stability and believes the NFP cannot secure a confidence vote in parliament.  In response, the NFP, which nominated Lucie Castets for prime minister, called for street protests and Macron’s impeachment. Despite his centrist party placing second in the election, Macron is set to begin fresh discussions with party leaders and urged the left to collaborate…

Europe today has many leading headlines about the escalation of war in the Middle East.
Israel has attacked Lebanon overnight and the region is no closer to peace.
The fallout from the middle east can be seen in Germany as tensions are high after an explosive attack in West Germany.

Oil tanker crew rescued after attacks in Red Sea A Greek-owned oil tanker was attacked in the Red Sea on Wednesday. The ship, carrying 150,000 tonnes of crude oil, was hit by gunfire and projectiles, causing a fire and leaving it without power. All 25 crew members were successfully rescued by a European warship. The tanker is now a danger to navigation and the environment. “The MV Sounion now represents a navigational and environmental hazard,” EUNAVFOR warned. “It is essential that everyone in the area exercises caution and refrains from any actions that could lead to a deterioration of the…

Thailand confirms first Asian case of new Mpox strain Bangkok, Thailand – A 66-year-old European man has become the first confirmed case of the potentially deadlier Clade 1b strain of Mpox in Asia. The man arrived in Bangkok from an unnamed African country on August 14 and began experiencing symptoms the following day. This marks the second case of Clade 1b outside of Africa, following a similar case reported in Sweden a week earlier. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared Mpox a public health emergency of international concern due to the recent spread of this more virulent strain and…

Venezuelan Court Upholds Maduro’s Victory Caracas, Venezuela – The Venezuelan Supreme Tribunal of Justice has upheld the re-election of President Nicolás Maduro, despite widespread accusations of voter fraud during the July elections. The court’s decision has been criticised by the United Nations, which has warned of the court’s lack of independence and impartiality. Announcing the court ruling, TSJ head Caryslia Rodríguez said: “The electoral material assessed is certified unobjectionably and the results of the presidential election of 28 July released by the National Electoral Council (CNE), where Nicolás Maduro was elected president of the republic, are validated.” The decision could…

Canadian government forces rail lockout to end  Ottawa, Canada – The Canadian federal government has intervened to resolve a labour dispute that halted operations of two major railways, potentially disrupting supply chains throughout North America.  After failing to reach a deal with the Teamsters union, Canadian National Railway (CN) and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) locked out nearly 9,300 workers on Thursday. To prevent further disruptions, the government intervened and ordered both sides to undergo binding arbitration. Labor Minister Steve McKinnon said that rail operations should resume within days. “Workers, farmers, commuters and businesses rely on Canada’s railways everyday, and…

Three staff members killed in Bosnia school shooting – reports A tragic incident occurred at a secondary school in northwestern Bosnia when a disgruntled employee opened fire, killing three staff members. The gunman, identified by local reports as the caretaker at the Sanski Most school, used an automatic rifle to carry out the attack before attempting to take his own life. The shooting took place during the summer holiday period, and local police received reports of gunfire at the school around 10:00 AM local time. The perpetrator, who sustained serious injuries from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, was transported to a…

Brazil imposing entry restrictions on some Asian nationals to stop migration to US and Canada Brazil has announced plans to implement stricter entry requirements for certain Asian nationals who use the country as a transit point to migrate to the United States and Canada. The new restrictions, which will take effect on Monday, will apply to individuals from Asian countries that require visas to remain in Brazil. It does not apply to people from Asian countries currently exempt from visas to Brazil. US citizens and many European nationals also do not require visas for Brazil. A Federal Police investigation revealed…

Fifth body found in Sicily yacht wreck to be brought ashore as one person still missing Five bodies have been found on the wreck of the Bayesian, with four already brought to shore and the preparations are being made to bring the fifth.  Six people were missing after the luxury yacht sank, due to severe weather, but have not been formally identified. The body of Recaldo Thomas, the yacht’s chef – was recovered from the sea on Monday. One person remains missing and search efforts are continuing this morning. The recovery operation is difficult due to the yacht being on…

Election law changes spark mass protests in Indonesia Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets across Indonesia to denounce government efforts to overturn a recent constitutional court ruling that would expand electoral participation for smaller parties. Demonstrations have been held in major cities, including Jakarta, Padang, Bandung, and Yogyakarta. The court’s decision on Wednesday eliminated the requirement for parties to have 20% representation in regional assemblies to field candidates. However, the government swiftly responded by introducing emergency legislation to reverse this change, sparking widespread condemnation and fears of a constitutional crisis. Scenes from the demonstration today against the planned…

Suspected serial killer in Kenya escapes from police station A suspected serial killer accused of murdering and dismembering 42 women has escaped from a Nairobi police station, sparking a manhunt and prompting the arrest of eight police officers. Collins Jumaisi, 33, who was arrested last month following the gruesome discovery of mutilated bodies in a Nairobi slum, managed to break free from the police cell along with 12 other prisoners. The escapees reportedly cut through a wire mesh roof at the police station. According to authorities, preliminary investigations suggest that the escape was aided by insiders. Eight police officers who…

Iranian bus accident kills at least 28 Pakistani pilgrims On Tuesday night, a bus carrying Pakistani pilgrims overturned in the Yazd province in Iran, killing 28 people. Twenty-three passengers were injured, including seven critically. The pilgrims were travelling to Karbala, Iraq, for a religious event.  Ali Malekzadeh, crisis management director, said the bus swerved off the road “due to lack of control by the driver of the vehicle, unfamiliarity with the road, high speed and technical problems”. The crash happened on a highway near Dehshir-Taft checkpoint, approximately 423 miles south of Tehran. The bus was carrying a total of 53…

Israeli strike on Gaza school kills 12, more trapped under rubble An Israeli air strike on a school housing displaced people in Gaza City has killed at least 12 Palestinians, the Civil Defence Authority has said.  Rescuers are struggling to recover a number of missing people who they suspect are trapped under the rubble at Mustafa Hafez school in the western Rimal neighbourhood. The Israeli military claims it had targeted a Hamas command and control centre inside the school and it had taken steps to minimise the risk of harming innocent civilians. Mahmoud Basal, Hamas’ Civil Defence spokesman, said in…

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Bank boss among missing in Sicily yacht disaster Six people, including prominent figures from the finance and legal sectors, are missing after a luxury yacht sank during a storm off Sicily on Monday. Among those unaccounted for are Jonathan Bloomer, chairman of Morgan Stanley International, and Chris Morvillo, a lawyer from Clifford Chance. UK tech tycoon Mike Lynch and his daughter Hannah are also missing. The 56-meter yacht, Bayesian, was carrying 22 people when it capsized about 700 meters off the coast of Sicily, near the port of Porticello. Fifteen people, including a one-year-old British girl, were rescued. The body…