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- Flight instructor Leandro Bertazzo jumped from aircraft during training flight in Argentina
- NATO shifts focus towards Europe as US reduces defence commitments
- Russia Bans Diesel Exports Amid Attacks on Refineries and Fuel Crisis
- Flooding from Tropical Storm Maysak claims 39 lives in southern China
- Tourism Calgary promotes campaign at downtown Toronto subway station
- US military conducts second consecutive night of strikes on Iran
- Trump claims Iran considers him its ‘number one target’ for assassination
- More than 6,500 march in Bosnia to commemorate Srebrenica genocide victims
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Flight instructor Leandro Bertazzo jumped from aircraft during training flight in Argentina
2:00 pm
Get you up to speed: Flight instructor was ‘going through hard time’ when he jumped from plane | News World
Leandro Bertazzo, a 42-year-old flight instructor, reportedly jumped from a Cessna C-150 during a training flight near Toledo, Argentina, on July 4. His body was found in a field shortly after the incident, and emergency services confirmed his death at the scene.
The Federal Justice of Córdoba is currently investigating the incident, with officials examining all circumstances, as witness accounts suggest a deliberate act. Leandro Bertazzo had flown earlier that day without issues and had been applying for a position with a major airline, though his family disclosed he had recently received psychiatric treatment.
Eduardo Álvarez, director of the Flying Parrot Flight School, expressed shock and stated, “There is no way to understand what happened,” following the incident involving Leandro Bertazzo, who allegedly jumped from a plane during a training flight. The Federal Justice of Córdoba is investigating the circumstances, with officials examining all evidence as local authorities confirm the aviation community is reeling from the tragedy.
What remains unclear — Investigators have not specified the reasons behind the instructor’s reported “difficult time” or the nature of his psychiatric treatment prior to the incident.
Flight instructor Leandro Bertazzo jumped from aircraft during training flight in Argentina
Leandro Bertazzo’s body was found in a field after he jumped to his death (Picture: Jam Press)
The flight instructor who jumped to his death from a plane in Argentina was going through a ‘difficult time’ before he died.
An unnamed 22-year-old student had been training with her instructor, 42-year-old Leandro Bertazzo, over Toledo, Argentina, on July 4, when he reportedly opened the window of the Cessna C150 plane and jumped.
Leandro’s father told the director of the Flying Parrot flying school, Eduardo Alvarez, that his son was going through a ‘difficult time’ before the tragedy.
Alvarez added that Leandro’s family told him he had a consultation at a psychiatric hospital a week before his death.
Leandro lived with his parents in Cordoba, Argentina, and was single with no children.
He’s been remembered as a ‘wonderful person’ with a ‘great smile and clear outlook on life’.
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He’s been remembered for his smile and great outlook (Picture: Jam Press)
Alvarez added: ‘He was an excellent professional, always cheerful, and greatly admired by all his students.’
The student’s account of the incident states that she watched Bertazzo plunge to his death. While she previously thought he had deployed a parachute, she soon realised that was not the case.
Despite witnessing such a harrowing moment — and having only limited experience in flying — the student raised the alarm before landing the plane safely and unaided at Coronel Olmedo Airport, which is based in Cordoba and commonly used by flight schools for training pilots.
His body was found in a nearby field (Picture: Jam Press)
Before he fell to his death, Leandro took off his headphones, arranged his personal belongings on board, took off his seatbelt and opened the door to jump.
Reports said his body was found in a nearby field 20 minutes later.
It’s also been reported that at one point during the flight Mr Bertazzo told her: ‘You know what to do, keep moving forward.’
An investigation into the instructor’s death is ongoing with officials saying the circumstances surrounding the accident are so unusual they are unable to explain how it might have happened.
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NATO shifts focus towards Europe as US reduces defence commitments
12:00 pm
NATO shifts focus towards Europe as US reduces defence commitments
NATO’s Future
Jamie Shea stated that NATO 3.0 will be “much more a European show and less an American show” than in previous decades.
Jamie Shea stated that NATO 3.0 will be “much more a European show and less an American show” than in previous decades.
Strategic Shift
NATO’s evolving leadership dynamic suggests increased European responsibility for collective defence, reflecting a significant departure from the historically dominant American role in geopolitical security.
NATO’s evolving leadership dynamic suggests increased European responsibility for collective defence, reflecting a significant departure from the historically dominant American role in geopolitical security.
NATO Shift
Jamie Shea states that NATO 3.0 will be “much more a European show and less an American show” compared to its historical role.
Jamie Shea states that NATO 3.0 will be “much more a European show and less an American show” compared to its historical role.
NATO summit ended 'on a more positive note than feared', former NATO security advisor says
Jamie Shea, former NATO security adviser, says NATO 3.0 is going to be “much more a European show and less an American show” than it used to be. According to Shea, the US “is going to do a lot less in terms of holding up the collective defence than allies were used to during the Cold War”.
Russia Bans Diesel Exports Amid Attacks on Refineries and Fuel Crisis
9:01 am
Russia Bans Diesel Exports Amid Attacks on Refineries and Fuel Crisis
Geopolitical tensions escalate as Russia has announced a ban on diesel exports, a move linked to recent attacks on refineries that have triggered significant gas shortages domestically. The Russian government attributed these refinery strikes to Ukraine, intensifying security concerns amid the ongoing conflict. The Kremlin’s actions come as international scrutiny increases, reflecting apprehensions about Europe’s energy dependence on Russian resources. For further insights on this development, see our coverage of the global conflict updates.
In economic ramifications, the diesel ban is projected to further elevate energy prices across Europe, already facing supply constraints. The market response reflects anxieties over fuel availability and rising costs, posing challenges for businesses and consumers alike. All eyes now turn to the response from European officials at the upcoming energy summit where they will deliberate on potential strategies to mitigate these impacts.
Key developments across the world
Ukraine war briefing: Russia bans diesel exports as refinery attacks trigger gas shortages and price spikes
GLOBAL SECURITY — Russia has imposed a ban on diesel fuel exports amid escalating refinery attacks. This move has resulted in significant gas shortages and price spikes, raising concerns regarding energy security in Europe.
Recent drone strikes by Ukraine have intensified the conflict, leading to the destruction of infrastructure in Russia and creating a ripple effect on fuel supplies. The situation could further complicate the war as fuel shortages are expected to affect military operations.
Student pilot forced to land plane alone after instructor ‘jumps to his death mid-flight’
GLOBAL SOCIETY — A distressing incident occurred when a flight instructor jumped from a plane mid-flight, forcing a student to complete an emergency landing. This tragic event has raised serious concerns about aviation safety and regulations surrounding flight training.
The exact circumstances leading to the instructor’s actions are currently under investigation, highlighting a critical need for scrutiny in pilot training programmes. Such incidents could impact public confidence in aviation safety standards.
Flight instructor jumps to his death, leaving student to land plane solo
GLOBAL SOCIETY — A flight instructor’s tragic decision to jump from a moving aircraft has left a student pilot to land alone, raising serious questions about mental health support in aviation. The distressing incident underscores the pressing need for evaluating support systems for aviation professionals.
The incredible nature of the event, where the student successfully landed the plane despite the crisis, has garnered significant media attention while also prompting calls for tighter regulations within the industry.
Trump lashes out at allies at NATO summit, orders trade halt with ‘wasted cause’ Spain
DIPLOMACY — At the recent NATO summit, former US President Donald Trump criticized allied nations and ordered a halt to trade with Spain, described as a “wasted cause”. His remarks indicate ongoing tensions within NATO and concerns over mutual support among member states.
Trump’s rhetoric at the summit has intensified questions about America’s role in NATO and its commitment to collective security, potentially affecting international diplomacy and alliances moving forward.
Trump takes aim at ‘wasted cause’ Spain and revives Greenland claim at Nato summit
DIPLOMACY — Trump reiterated his discontent with Spain and revived his controversial claim regarding Greenland during the NATO summit. His remarks highlight lingering disputes within NATO concerning member contributions and political alignment.
The impact of Trump’s statements may further strain US relations with European allies and spark debates on future cooperation during critical global challenges.
What to watch — Observe potential repercussions from Trump’s criticisms at NATO concerning US-European relations.
Further reading from global news sources
The Guardian
Ukraine war briefing: Russia bans diesel exports as refinery attacks trigger gas shortages and price spikes
BBC News
Russian fuel shortages bite – but will Putin change tack in Ukraine war?
Financial Times
How Ukraine’s drone strikes brought war home to 50mn Russians
The Economist
Russians are growing anxious and angry
Flooding from Tropical Storm Maysak claims 39 lives in southern China
8:00 am
Get you up to speed: Flooding from Tropical Storm Maysak kills 39 in southern China
Flooding from Tropical Storm Maysak has killed 39 people in southern China, primarily due to a dam breach that inundated the city of Nanning. About 130,000 people have been evacuated from the Guangxi region, where rescue operations involving over 8,000 personnel and thousands of boats are underway.
Rescue operations in the Guangxi region involve over 8,000 personnel and approximately 5,700 boats, navigating strong currents to reach affected individuals. Authorities are working to clear mud and debris while ongoing road repairs and electricity restoration have successfully returned power to over 60,000 homes.
The vice mayor of Nanning, Ding Wei, reported the death toll from Tropical Storm Maysak has risen to 39, with ongoing rescue efforts involving over 8,000 personnel and 5,700 boats. Authorities are clearing mud and debris while also working to repair roads and restore electricity to affected homes, as further rainfall is anticipated in the coming days.
What remains unclear — It is unknown how many of the escaped animals from Guigang Zoo have been recaptured.
Flooding from Tropical Storm Maysak claims 39 lives in southern China
News|FloodsFlooding from Tropical Storm Maysak kills 39 in southern China
About 130,000 people have been evacuated from the Guangxi region while thousands of rescuers have been deployed.
Published On 9 Jul 20269 Jul 2026
Flooding from Tropical Storm Maysak has killed 39 people in southern China, most of them after a dam breach inundated the city of Nanning.
Ding Wei, the city’s vice mayor, announced the toll at a news briefing on Thursday, up sharply from a previous count of six, after record rainfall breached reservoirs and sent torrents of water through towns and cities in the Guangxi region.
The dam breach in Nanning killed 26 people, Ding said.
About 130,000 people have been evacuated from the region, and drones and thousands of boats have been used in a huge relief and rescue operation to reach people trapped by the waters.
Heavy rain battered southern Guangxi for days, with cumulative rainfall of 10-40cm (4-16in) in some areas and more than 90cm (35in) in hard-hit areas, the national meteorological centre said.
More than 8,000 people and about 5,700 boats have been deployed in the rescue operation, with rescuers battling strong currents and debris to reach victims.
Ding said the floodwaters are receding, but more rain is expected in certain areas in the next two days.
Floodwaters rush from a breach in the Liulan Reservoir dam following heavy rainfall brought by Typhoon Maysak on July 7, 2026 in Hengzhou, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China [Xie Feiyu/VCG via Getty Images]
Crews have been deployed to clear mud and debris and disinfect several towns in hard-hit Hengzhou city, which is east of Nanning and under its jurisdiction.
Road repairs are ongoing, and electricity has been restored to more than 60,000 homes, Ding said.
Animals escape after flooding hits zoo
At least 100 animals, including alpacas, miniature pigs and zebras, escaped Guangxi province’s Guigang Zoo after the flooding damaged their enclosures.
The zoo appealed to the public Wednesday for help in finding its escaped animals.
The missing creatures include “two North American raccoons, four porcupines and thirty peacocks”, according to a statement posted by a local district’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau.
The zoo said some of the escapees “may be frightened and potentially aggressive”.
“If you spot any of the animals, please keep a safe distance,” the statement said.
“Do not attempt to catch, approach or tease them, as this could be dangerous,” the zoo warned.
Tourism Calgary promotes campaign at downtown Toronto subway station
6:00 am
Get you up to speed: How Tourism Calgary took over a downtown Toronto subway station
A new tourism campaign has introduced Calgary-themed colours and references at a downtown Toronto subway station. The initiative aims to attract visitors to Calgary.
The campaign aims to promote Calgary to visitors in Toronto through vibrant displays at a subway station. Officials have not specified the duration of the campaign or its impact on local tourism metrics.
Officials have launched a new tourism campaign featuring Calgary-themed displays at a downtown Toronto subway station to attract visitors. The campaign aims to increase awareness of Calgary’s attractions, with plans for further promotional activities in the coming months.
What remains unclear — The duration of the tourism campaign and its anticipated impact on visitor numbers is not specified.
Tourism Calgary promotes campaign at downtown Toronto subway station
A pop of Calgary-coded colours and references has been greeting passengers at a downtown Toronto subway station as part of a new tourism campaign.
US military conducts second consecutive night of strikes on Iran
4:00 am
Get you up to speed: U.S. military launches second night of strikes against Iran
The U.S. military conducted strikes on approximately 90 Iranian targets late Wednesday night, following Iranian attacks on three commercial oil tankers earlier in the week. Reported explosions were heard in several Iranian cities, including Bandar Abbas, while Kuwait stated it was “confronting hostile missile and drone attacks” and emergency sirens were activated in Bahrain.
U.S. Central Command conducted a series of strikes against approximately 90 Iranian targets, including infrastructure and naval assets, in response to Iranian attacks on commercial oil tankers. The ongoing military exchanges and the recent escalation threaten the viability of a ceasefire agreement signed last month, which had aimed to facilitate further negotiations regarding Iran’s nuclear program.
The U.S. military, under President Trump’s orders, conducted significant strikes against Iranian targets to counter recent Iranian attacks on commercial vessels, stating the actions aim to “further degrade [Iran’s] ability to threaten freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.” Amid rising tensions, Kuwait and Bahrain reported missile and drone threats, with Kuwait acknowledging confrontations, while the U.S. positions itself firmly against Iranian claims to control the Strait as diplomatic talks appear to deteriorate.
What remains unclear — It is uncertain how the latest military actions will affect the ongoing peace negotiations and ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran.
US military conducts second consecutive night of strikes on Iran
Washington — The U.S. military launched another round of strikes against Iran late Wednesday night, U.S. Central Command said, in the second night of attacks as diplomacy between the two countries appears to collapse.
CENTCOM said on X that Wednesday’s strikes are intended to “further degrade [Iran’s] ability to threaten freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.” It said the strikes were ordered by President Trump in response to Iranian attacks on three commercial oil tankers earlier this week.
The military said it hit about 90 Iranian targets, including air defenses, drone and missile storage, naval targets and logistics infrastructure on Iran’s coast. Iranian state media outlets reported that explosions were heard in several cities, including the southern port city of Bandar Abbas.
Early Thursday morning, Kuwait said it was “confronting hostile missile and drone attacks.” Emergency sirens also sounded in Bahrain. The two countries did not specify the source of the threats, but Iranian counterattacks against U.S.-allied Gulf states have closely followed previous U.S. strikes on Iran.
Hours earlier, Mr. Trump had vowed to “hit [Iran] hard again tonight.” Asked about the three-month-old ceasefire between the two countries, which has repeatedly been mired by on-and-off fighting, he told reporters: “As far as I’m concerned, it’s over.”
After Wednesday’s strikes began, Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social that “it will get much worse” if Iran attacks more ships.
This week’s back-and-forth began with Iranian attacks on three oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday and Tuesday. The Trump administration retaliated by striking dozens of targets inside Iran on Tuesday and rescinding a sanctions waiver that allowed Iran to sell its oil abroad. Iran then fired drones and missiles at U.S.-allied Kuwait and Bahrain.
The latest round of fighting could endanger already tenuous peace negotiations between the U.S. and Iran. The two sides signed a memorandum of understanding last month to extend their ceasefire by 60 days, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, end a U.S. blockade on Iranian ports and begin easing sanctions on Iran. The two countries also agreed to hold two months of further talks to tackle thorny issues like the fate of Iran’s nuclear program.
Since then, there have been a handful of military exchanges between the U.S. and Iran, and both countries have accused each other of violating the deal. Commercial ships have begun returning to the Strait of Hormuz, easing oil prices, but Iran has continued to push for some degree of control over the strait — a demand the U.S. has rejected.
On Wednesday, Mr. Trump appeared pessimistic about diplomatic talks with Iran, calling the country’s leaders “sick” and saying “it’s just a waste of time dealing with them.”
“I’ll let our wonderful negotiators keep talking if they want, but I don’t see it,” he told reporters during a NATO summit in Turkey. “I don’t like these people, you know that.”
Later in the day, after Wednesday’s strikes began, Mr. Trump told reporters that Iran wants “to make a deal so badly,” but he doesn’t know if Iran is “worthy of making a deal.”
“I don’t know if they’ll honor a deal,” he said.
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