EU external relations, diplomacy, and security
A Russian strike reduced Kyiv’s historic Petrivka book market to rubble on Sunday in what observers are calling a deliberate assault on Ukrainian cultural identity. Since summer began, millions of books have been destroyed across Ukraine as cultural sites continue to bear the brunt of Russian attacks.
UN humanitarian teams reached families trapped in Qusra village after a days-long settler blockade in the northern West Bank. But officials warn the crisis is far from over — in the West Bank or in Gaza.
Iran’s military announced a $30,000 bounty for killing or capturing US soldiers, doubling the reward to $60,000 if carried out by a woman. The offer marks a sharp escalation in tensions between Tehran and Washington.
Qatar has rejected Iranian claims that it’s holding three captured military pilots following the downing of two Iranian fighter jets. The disputed incident is rapidly becoming a flashpoint in the wider US-Iran conflict.
Three days after a devastating 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck Colombia, Cali is still searching for the missing — but volunteers and survivors are rewriting the story of the city’s response. In the ruins, something unexpected is taking hold.
Israeli soldiers are forcing Palestinian families out of their homes in the West Bank village of Qusra, using the buildings as military barracks after a settler attack on the community. The mayor says at least 15 homes have been occupied and residents were given as little as 30 minutes to leave.
Mourners gathered Thursday to remember 44 lives lost in Tuesday’s ferry disaster, as candlelit tributes filled the waterfront. Meanwhile, Zambia counts votes and researchers flag a sharp fertility decline across North Africa.
Spain is urging European allies not to blame Morocco as thousands of migrants crossed into Ceuta in just 48 hours. Madrid says preserving ties with Rabat is critical to managing migration across the region.
Colombia’s strongest earthquake this century has killed at least 265 people, with rescuers now entering the final phase of operations as hope for survivors fades. Nearly 500 people remain missing beneath collapsed buildings across the Nariño and Cauca departments.
Former US Marine Robert Gilman has walked free from Russian custody after more than four years behind bars, following a 2022 arrest over an alleged assault on a police officer near Voronezh. His release marks the latest chapter in a string of high-profile American detentions in Russia.
