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- Plane crashes into CITIC Tower in Beijing, wreckage falls to ground
- Europol identifies 731 organised crime networks operating across the EU
- Shipping Traffic in Strait of Hormuz Continues Amid Iranian Vessel Attacks
- Moroccan court sentences 29 to prison, including politicians and athletes, in drug trafficking case
- 24 Sussex Drive to be restored, says Carney as competition begins
- Billionaire Leon Black to testify before congressional panel on Epstein payments
- 14-year-old boy charged with murder after body of missing girl found in Blaina
- Nearly 50,000 missing and 235 dead after twin earthquakes in Venezuela
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Plane crashes into CITIC Tower in Beijing, wreckage falls to ground
6:18 pm
Get you up to speed: Plane crashes into Beijing’s tallest skyscraper the China Zun with wreckage plummeting to the ground | News World
A small aircraft, identified as a B-12PP, crashed into Beijing’s CITIC Tower at around 6pm local time, breaking into pieces upon impact. The building suffered minor damage, with two windows smashed, while police evacuated the area and smoke was observed rising from the ground where parts of the aircraft smouldered.
Emergency services have established a perimeter around the CITIC Tower and are assessing the scene for potential casualties, though the status remains unclear. The B-12PP aircraft took off from Shifosi Airport approximately 30 minutes before the incident, deviating from its flight path before losing signal near Beijing’s East Fifth Ring Road.
Beijing authorities have initiated an investigation into the incident, with police confirming the evacuation of the CITIC Tower prior to the crash. As recovery efforts continue, the cause of the aircraft’s deviation from its flight path remains under scrutiny, and emergency services have established a perimeter around the site.
What remains unclear — It is not yet known if there are any casualties from the crash or the cause of the incident.
Plane crashes into CITIC Tower in Beijing, wreckage falls to ground
A plane has crashed into Beijing’s famous CITIC Tower skyscraper, also known as the China Zun.
The small aircraft broke into pieces, plummeting to the ground after hitting the city’s tallest building, which stands at 109-storeys.
It appears from footage on social media that the skyscraper is largely undamaged, with two windows smashed on impact.
Police arrived on the scene and evacuated the building ahead of the crash, which happened around 6pm local time.
The entire tail of the plane, identified by local outlets as a B-12PP, was found lying on the road.
Smoke could be seen rising from the ground where parts of the aircraft sat smouldering.
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The plane smashed two windows on impact (Picture: AP Photo/Han Guan Ng)
Emergency services set up a perimeter around the base of the building (Picture: REUTERS)
It’s not currently clear if there are any casualties, with the pilot reportedly flying solo. The cause of the crash is also unknown.
The plane reportedly deviated from the flight path, according to Global.hk, after taking off from Shifosi Airport half an hour earlier.
It was due to turn around and return to the airport for 5.45pm, but flight monitoring lost tracking signal around Beijing’s East Fifth Ring Road.
After this, the aircraft was unable to be reached and moments later crashed into the skyscraper.
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Europol identifies 731 organised crime networks operating across the EU
5:00 pm
Europol identifies 731 organised crime networks operating across the EU
Criminal Networks
Europol has identified 731 criminal networks operating within the EU, comprising over 400,000 members from 118 nationalities, primarily engaged in drug trafficking and fraud.
Europol has identified 731 criminal networks operating within the EU, comprising over 400,000 members from 118 nationalities, primarily engaged in drug trafficking and fraud.
Criminal Network Scale
Over 731 identified criminal networks operate within the EU, comprising more than 400,000 members across 118 nationalities, illustrating a vast and complex threat landscape.
Over 731 identified criminal networks operate within the EU, comprising more than 400,000 members across 118 nationalities, illustrating a vast and complex threat landscape.
Cybercrime Concern
“All crime is nurtured online, is accelerated by AI and technology,” stated Jürgen Ebner, Acting Executive Director of Europol, during a recent press conference.
“All crime is nurtured online, is accelerated by AI and technology,” stated Jürgen Ebner, Acting Executive Director of Europol, during a recent press conference.
New Europol report delves into EU’s most threatening criminal networks
Published on
Organised crime in the EU evolves rapidly, becomes increasingly sophisticated, transnational and resilient, the EU’s law enforcement agency, Europol, stressed on Friday.
A staggering 731 criminal networks have been identified as operating within the EU, with over 400,000 members from 118 nationalities.
Their main business areas are drug trafficking, followed by fraud and online fraud.
The EU’s law enforcement agency highlights, in particular, the rise in cybercrime.
“All crime is nurtured online, is accelerated by AI and technology,” Jürgen Ebner, Acting Executive Director of Europol, said Friday during a press conference in Brussels.
Criminal networks also exploit weaknesses in financial systems and global trade.
“They have a very strong financial backup. They use sophisticated countermeasures. They use high levels of corruption. They are globally internationally connected cells across the EU and beyond, so an international enterprise,” Jürgen Ebner explained.
He stressed that law enforcement has to look at the relationship between organised crime and society.
Indeed, 85% of the most threatening criminal networks exploit legal business structures to facilitate their criminal activities.
Europol stresses that targeting individuals and identifying high-value targets is not enough because, as long as the business model survives, others will step in and replace them.
“Ultimately, our objective is not simply to arrest individual offenders, but to identify, disrupt, and dismantle entire criminal networks, target their leadership structures, and deprive them of the assets and profits that sustain their activities,” Themistos Arnaoutis, Chief of the Cyprus police, said.
Hence, the EU agency recommends strengthening coordination in European logistical hubs such as the Port Alliance. This public-private partnership was launched in 2024 to protect ports from drug trafficking and criminal infiltration.
Other recommendations include strengthening cross-border law enforcement, investing more in disrupting criminal digital infrastructure and following the money to recover criminal assets.
“The strength of criminal networks lies in their ability to operate across borders,” Themistos Arnaoutis said. “Therefore, our strength must lie in our ability to work across them.”
Shipping Traffic in Strait of Hormuz Continues Amid Iranian Vessel Attacks
4:02 pm
Media Lens: Shipping Traffic in Strait of Hormuz Continues Amid Iranian Vessel Attacks
Iran maintains control over shipping traffic in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz despite recent attacks on vessels. The waters remain a critical trade route, impacting global commerce from the region.
Quick links: What has happened | Status quo | Confirmed facts | Preconceptions | Elisions | One story, four angles | Related links
What has happened
On June 25, 2023, an incident occurred in the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran launched an attack on a commercial vessel, escalating tensions in this strategically significant waterway. The incident briefly interrupted UN efforts to facilitate the evacuation of ships from the region, highlighting ongoing security challenges in the area critical for global oil transportation.
Despite this attack, reports indicate that maritime traffic in the Strait continued, with vessels using alternate routes through Oman to avoid Iranian threats. The developments underscore the delicate balance of commercial interests and regional security as Iran seeks to maintain its influence over this vital maritime corridor.
Status quo
The Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route connecting the Persian Gulf with the Arabian Sea, is strategically significant for global oil transport. Recently, tensions have escalated in the region, particularly with incidents involving attacks on vessels and increased military presence from Iran. This ongoing situation affects international shipping and trade, highlighting the geopolitical stakes at play in controlling this narrow passageway.
Confirmed facts
- The Strait of Hormuz is a critical passage for global oil trade.
- Vessels crossing the Strait often use routes through Oman despite warnings from Iran.
- Recent ship attacks in the region have raised security concerns.
- Iran has attempted to maintain control over shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Preconceptions
- NBC News emphasizes ongoing trade routes through the Strait of Hormuz post-attack, focusing on the implications for global commerce, while reducing attention to the historical context of regional tensions.
- CNN prioritizes the escalation of military tensions between Iran and international forces, highlighting immediate threats and diplomatic failures, with less emphasis on economic impacts.
- France 24 underscores the alternative routes being utilized by ships, reflecting a pragmatic response to Iran’s threats, while minimizing coverage of international diplomatic responses and sanctions.
- Fox News focuses on U.S. domestic implications of international incidents, specifically related to policy shifts under Trump, thereby downplaying international reactions and regional dynamics.
Elisions
- **Maritime Security Focus**: CNN emphasizes Iran’s attack on a vessel and its implications for UN evacuation efforts, while NBC News highlights the ongoing traffic flows despite threats to shipping, indicating a contrast in emphasis on immediate security risks versus operational continuity.
- **Geopolitical Tensions**: Fox News discusses the Iran deal being tested by drone attacks, whereas France 24 focuses on how ships are redirecting to avoid Iranian threats, showcasing differing narratives on whether events escalate or indicate resilience in trade operations.
- **Impact of Iran’s Actions**: While NBC News reports on Iran’s attempts to maintain control over the Strait of Hormuz, CNN warns of the direct implications of Iranian strikes, pointing to a gap in exploring broader regional impacts versus immediate tactical scenarios.
One story, four angles
NBC News – Hormuz traffic flows despite ship attack as Iran fights to keep its grip on key trade route
Publication: NBC News | Intensity: (8/10) | Sentiment: Neutral | Legal precision: High
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Espresso Shot: The headline directs readers to focus on ongoing traffic in the Strait of Hormuz despite recent maritime incidents, suggesting resilience in trade dynamics.
Key differences:
1. Comparison: NBC emphasizes the operational flow in the Strait despite hostility, stating, “traffic flows despite ship attack,” showcasing tenacity against disruptions.
2. Example: The positioning of “Japan-bound ship attack” hints at broader geopolitical implications, which is less emphasized in others.
3. Comparison: The language here is neutral, avoiding sensationalism by presenting facts pragmatically.
Bias: Selection: Focuses on resilience; Language: Neutral and straightforward; Omission: Less attention on the human impact of attacks.
Assessment: Readers likely perceive a stabilized, if precarious, situation in a critical shipping zone.
CNN – Iran strikes vessel, pausing UN efforts to evacuate ships from Hormuz
Publication: CNN | Intensity: (9/10) | Sentiment: Negative | Legal precision: Medium
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Espresso Shot: The headline draws immediate attention to Iranian aggression against maritime targets, framing it as a significant impediment to international diplomatic efforts.
Key differences:
1. Comparison: CNN presents Iran’s actions as aggressive and detrimental, using “strikes vessel,” which emphasizes hostility.
2. Example: “pausing UN efforts” conveys a sense of urgency and international diplomatic concerns.
3. Comparison: The alert language contrasts with more neutral descriptions seen in NBC; CNN’s tone is more alarming.
Bias: Selection: Focuses heavily on Iranian aggression; Language: Strong, evocative language; Omission: Lacks context on the resilience of maritime flows.
Assessment: Readers are likely to perceive a heightening military conflict impacting diplomatic resolutions in crucial trade zones.
France 24 – Ships crossing Hormuz use Oman passage despite Iran warnings
Publication: France 24 | Intensity: (7/10) | Sentiment: Neutral | Legal precision: Medium
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Espresso Shot: The headline encourages focus on the continuation of maritime trade through alternative routes despite Iranian threats, highlighting trade resilience.
Key differences:
1. Comparison: France 24 emphasizes defiance against Iranian pressure, stating “despite Iran warnings,” showcasing resistance.
2. Example: The phrasing “Oman passage” indicates practical solutions for trade continuity.
3. Comparison: The tone is more investigative, aiming to inform about trade strategies in challenging environments than dramatizing military conflict.
Bias: Selection: Positively frames resilience in trade; Language: Neutral yet informative; Omission: Little emphasis on potential risks for vessels.
Assessment: Readers likely emphasize innovative solutions for maintaining trade routes amidst geopolitical tensions.
Fox News – Iran deal tested by drone attack as Trump offers up US farm goods
Publication: Fox News | Intensity: (9/10) | Sentiment: Negative | Legal precision: Low
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Espresso Shot: The headline leads readers to consider the connection between military actions and political maneuvering, particularly as it relates to U.S. agriculture.
Key differences:
1. Comparison: Fox links military action directly with political negotiations, suggesting a causative relationship.
2. Example: “Trump offers up US farm goods” contextualizes military tensions in economic terms, diverging from others’ pure military focus.
3. Comparison: This juxtaposition intensifies the sense of instability, making it appear as a multifaceted crisis involving both military and economic stakes.
Bias: Selection: Focuses on the U.S. perspective in international tensions; Language: Suggestive and sensational; Omission: Lacks depth on the international repercussions of military actions.
Assessment: Readers are likely to perceive interconnected crises where military actions impact economic negotiations, enhancing tensions overall.
In analyzing the coverage of the Hormuz incident, CNN’s framing of “Iran strikes vessel, pausing UN efforts” presents a direct escalation narrative, portraying a critical situation needing urgent attention. In contrast, NBC News emphasizes stability, highlighting that “Hormuz traffic flows despite ship attack,” which focuses on resilience amidst disturbances. Thus, CNN encapsulates a more alarming tone while NBC offers a calm perspective. The facts do not change. What changes is where scrutiny lands.
Related links
NBC News
Hormuz traffic flows despite ship attack as Iran fights to keep its grip on key trade route
CNN
Iran strikes vessel, pausing UN efforts to evacuate ships from Hormuz
France 24
Ships crossing Hormuz use Oman passage despite Iran warnings
Fox News
Iran deal tested by drone attack as Trump offers up US farm goods
Moroccan court sentences 29 to prison, including politicians and athletes, in drug trafficking case
3:00 pm
Get you up to speed: Morocco jails 29, including politicians and sports figures, in drug trial
A Moroccan court in Casablanca has sentenced 29 individuals, including politicians and sports figures, to prison terms of up to 12 years for involvement in a major drug trafficking and corruption trial. The convictions resulted from allegations of drug and gold trafficking, forgery, and money laundering following testimony from Malian drug trafficker El Hadj Ahmed Ben Brahim.
The trial involved over 20 defendants and 18 witnesses, focusing on a trafficking network that transported Moroccan cannabis resin and Latin American cocaine. The court also mandated the seizure of assets from the main ringleaders and imposed significant financial penalties amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars.
Following the landmark verdict, King Mohammed VI has called for a legally binding code of ethics to “moralise” parliamentary life in response to widespread corruption revealed in the trial. Families of the convicted were reportedly left in shock over the sentences, as many were present in court without legal representation amidst an ongoing lawyers’ strike.
What remains unclear — The exact nature of the assets seized and the total amount in fines levied against the principal ringleaders has not been specified.
Moroccan court sentences 29 to prison, including politicians and athletes, in drug trafficking case
News|DrugsMorocco jails 29, including politicians and sports figures, in drug trial
Casablanca court delivers landmark verdict in ‘Escobar of the Sahara’ case: up to 12 years for top figures.
Published On 26 Jun 202626 Jun 2026
A Moroccan court has handed prison sentences of up to 12 years to 29 individuals – including prominent politicians and sports figures – concluding a major international drug trafficking and corruption trial.
The verdicts, delivered late on Thursday in Casablanca following a two-year trial, mark one of the largest anti-corruption operations in Morocco’s history.
Among those convicted were Abdennebi Bioui, a construction tycoon and former regional council president, Said Naciri, former president of Casablanca’s Wydad AC football and sports club and former MP Belkacem Mir – all senior members of the governing PAM party. Naciri received 10 years, Bioui 12 and Mir 10.
Besides the three main defendants, sentences for the remaining ranged from two to nine years, depending on their individual role in the network.
The wide-ranging case was triggered by courtroom testimony from El Hadj Ahmed Ben Brahim, a notorious Malian drug trafficker nicknamed the “Pablo Escobar of the Sahara”.
Currently serving a 10-year sentence in Morocco, Ben Brahim told judicial investigators that his former Moroccan political and business associates had betrayed him, seizing millions of dollars worth of his luxury real estate and vehicles following his arrest in 2019.
The trial involved more than 20 defendants, 18 witnesses and two civil parties which centred on a sophisticated network that transported tonnes of Moroccan cannabis resin across North Africa to Europe, alongside Latin American cocaine shipments.
Family members of Moroccan public figures Said Naciri and Abdennabi Bioui react as they are given 10 and 12 year prison sentences for a major drug trafficking scheme [Abdel Majid Bziouat/AFP]
Defendants were convicted on charges including drug and gold trafficking, corruption, forgery and money laundering.
The court also ordered the seizure of assets and levied hundreds of millions of dollars in customs and exchange fines against the principal ringleaders.
Moroccan media reported that families of the convicted, present without legal representation due to a lawyers’ strike, were left in shock, with some collapsing in the courthouse.
The scandal reached the highest levels of state, prompting King Mohammed VI to demand a legally binding code of ethics aimed at “moralising” parliamentary life.
24 Sussex Drive to be restored, says Carney as competition begins
2:00 pm
Get you up to speed: 24 Sussex Drive will be restored, Carney says as competition launches
The residence has been deemed uninhabitable for a prime minister for years. Prime Minister Mark Carney is currently residing in Rideau Cottage.
The residence has been in an uninhabitable state for several years, leading to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s temporary accommodation at Rideau Cottage. Investigations are ongoing regarding the structural issues, but no timeline for completion has been provided.
The National Capital Commission has confirmed plans to undertake significant renovations to the official residence of the Prime Minister, acknowledging its uninhabitable condition. Meanwhile, public officials are calling for timely action to ensure the residence is ready for use ahead of the next election cycle.
What remains unclear — It is not specified why the residence has been deemed uninhabitable for a prime minister.
24 Sussex Drive to be restored, says Carney as competition begins
The residence has been deemed uninhabitable for a prime minister for years, with Prime Minister Mark Carney currently residing in Rideau Cottage.
Billionaire Leon Black to testify before congressional panel on Epstein payments
12:00 pm
Get you up to speed: Billionaire Leon Black expected to testify Friday before congressional Epstein panel
Billionaire Leon Black is scheduled to testify before the House Oversight Committee regarding his financial relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, with payments amounting to $170 million between 2012 and 2017. Democratic Senator Ron Wyden has expressed concerns over Black’s lack of a credible explanation for these payments and indicated that he has not received satisfactory answers from Black.
Leon Black is scheduled to testify before the House Oversight Committee, with his appearance set for Friday. The internal investigation conducted by Dechert LLP concluded that Black paid Epstein for wealth management, despite Senator Ron Wyden’s assertion that Black has not provided a credible explanation for substantial payments to Epstein.
Billionaire Leon Black is set to testify before the House Oversight Committee, with Senator Ron Wyden pressing for clarification on Black’s $170 million payments to Jeffrey Epstein. Wyden stated that Black has not provided a “credible explanation” and accused him of “stonewalling” in response to inquiries regarding their financial relationship.
What remains unclear — It is not clear how much influence Epstein had on Black’s financial decisions beyond wealth management advice.
Billionaire Leon Black to testify before congressional panel on Epstein payments
An investor who employed and was close to Jeffrey Epstein is scheduled to appear before members of Congress investigating the deceased sexual abuser.
Billionaire Leon Black paid Epstein extraordinary sums that his spokespeople have said was for tax advice and estate planning. Earlier this month, Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon wrote to the House Oversight Committee — which is set to interview Black on Friday — demanding they ask Black about some $170 million in payments to Epstein between 2012 and 2017.
“To date, I do not believe Black has provided a credible explanation as to why he paid Epstein amounts that vastly exceeded those paid to other professional advisors involved in his tax and estate planning,” the Oregon senator wrote.
Wyden also wrote to Black in March to demand answers to questions arising from revelations from the Epstein files about his “significant personal and financial entanglements with Epstein.”
On Thursday, asked whether Black had responded to his letter, Wyden said, “He stonewalled repeatedly. We just haven’t gotten the answers that are responsive.”
An attorney for Black, the co-founder of Apollo Global Management, wrote in an April letter to Wyden that documents released this year under the Epstein Files Transparency Act “do not contain any credible evidence that Mr. Black was aware of, or involved with, Mr. Epstein’s then-ongoing criminal activities.”
Another of his attorneys told WTX US News in December that an internal investigation at Apollo “concluded that Mr. Black paid Epstein for estate planning and tax advice, no more, no less.”
Emails released by the committee last year document Epstein was involved in Black’s personal matters while providing wealth management advice. Black had a six-year affair with a former Russian model, which ended in acrimony and allegations of abuse, according to court records.
As Black prepared a nondisclosure agreement in 2015 to secure the model’s silence, Epstein offered him advice, including suggesting in an email that Black hire former law enforcement officers to approach her.
“Choose method of message delivery, my choice. – two highly respected former —- fill in the blank, immigration, scotland yard. sfo. . who may knock on her door and present the terms,” Epstein wrote. His writing frequently eschewed basic grammar and punctuation.
The nondisclosure agreement broke down four years later, leading to a series of lawsuits and countersuits. Court filings show Black discussed the agreement with just two people: Epstein and a private investigator.
The internal investigation at Apollo, which was conducted by the law firm Dechert LLP, concluded that while Black had “confided” in Epstein about personal matters, he paid Epstein for wealth management. The investigators wrote “that Black genuinely believed that Epstein was extremely smart, capable, and saved him substantial amounts of money.”
Black is among several billionaires to testify before the House Oversight Committee, which also interviewed Microsoft founder Bill Gates, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and businessmen Les Wexner.
Others who are expected to be interviewed in the next month include former Goldman Sachs executive and Obama White House lawyer Kathy Ruemmler, and Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz and former JPMorgan Chase executive Jes Staley.
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