Month: August 2026

Morocco has named its 1,055-km. Tiznit-Dakhla expressway the “Donald J. Trump Highway” in recognition of the US president’s support for Rabat’s sovereignty claim over Western Sahara, the Moroccan state news agency MAP reported on Saturday.

King Mohammed VI informed US President Donald Trump of the decision in a letter dated July 2, saying relations between Morocco and the United States had become particularly strong and productive during Trump’s two presidential terms.

“Your historic recognition, in 2020, of Morocco’s sovereignty over its Sahara will forever be etched in the memory of Moroccans,” the king wrote.

Mohammed VI said the route was one of Morocco’s most important road projects and described it as the longest road infrastructure in Africa. The expressway connects northern and southern Morocco and forms part of an Atlantic transport corridor linking Europe with West Africa.

The roughly $1 billion route begins in Tiznit and passes through Guelmim, Tan-Tan and Laayoune before reaching Dakhla. Much of the southern section runs through Western Sahara, which Morocco considers part of its southern provinces.

Moroccan authorities say the road will shorten travel times, reduce disruptions caused by flooding and shifting sand, and improve the movement of people and goods between the country’s economic centers and its southern regions.

Trump publicly thanked the Moroccan monarch in a July 26 post on Truth Social.

“Such a Great Honor! I look forward to traveling the entire length of this Great Highway someday, hopefully soon!” Trump wrote.

The naming reflects the diplomatic relationship that developed during Trump’s first administration. In December 2020, Washington recognized Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara alongside a US-brokered agreement under which Morocco agreed to normalize relations with Israel.

Morocco subsequently became a member of the Abraham Accords framework, expanding diplomatic, economic and security ties with Israel.

Western Sahara has been disputed since Spain withdrew from the territory in 1975. Morocco controls most of the region, while the Algeria-backed Polisario Front seeks the establishment of an independent Sahrawi state.

Israel formally recognized Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara in 2023 and reaffirmed that position the following year.

The UN Security Council adopted a resolution in October 2025 that supported negotiations based on Morocco’s autonomy proposal, under which Western Sahara would receive limited self-government while remaining under Moroccan sovereignty.

In his letter to Trump, Mohammed VI presented the expressway as both an infrastructure project and a symbol of the two countries’ strategic partnership, saying it would strengthen Morocco’s position as a commercial link between Europe and Africa.

Capital One said that it closed some 300 bank accounts held by companies affiliated with US President Donald Trump for anti-money laundering (AML) reasons, according to a new motion filed by the bank on Friday. 

Further, Capital One argued that the complaint should be dismissed with prejudice as the plaintiffs have yet to bring forth a plausible, legally binding claim.

Capital One explained that it had notified the account owners by letter in March 2021 of its decision to close the accounts by June of the same year, giving them three months' notice to handle opening new accounts elsewhere.

It added that when requested, it granted extensions past that date as well.

The lawsuit was filed four years later, in March 2025, alleging that Capital One closed the bank accounts in an attempt to distance itself from Trump following the January 6 riots.

The bank rejected the claim in a newly filed motion, arguing that the companies’ theory is based on cherry-picked quotations unsupported by the full context of the bank's own records.

According to the motion, the decision to close the accounts followed "months of analysis and a careful review" by Capital One’s financial-crimes unit, which has “decades of law enforcement experience."

It added that it did not “impair[ed] Plaintiffs’ ability to obtain accounts with other banks,” and due to this, the decision to close the accounts only became public with the lawsuit. 

The court has already, in March, dismissed an earlier version of the lawsuit on similar grounds as the bank’s reason for closing an account under such a contract cannot generally be questioned in court.

Further, Capital One argued against a new claim added by the plaintiffs, that the bank had “defrauded” them by staying silent with its reasoning.

It noted that the “harm” alleged by the plaintiffs, including the loss of banking services, inconvenience, and difficulty obtaining new accounts, would have occurred even if the bank had notified them of the reason behind the closure.

However, Capital One’s lawyers have said that the bank was under no obligation to give the reason behind the accounts’ closure.

“Where (as here) a contract specifically provides that no explanation is required for termination, a party cannot simultaneously claim that the other party’s silence regarding its reasons for closure constitutes concealment,” the bank’s lawyers wrote in the motion.

Secondly, the bank’s lawyers note that the Bank Secrecy Act would have limited the information it was allowed to disclose about its internal anti-money-laundering process.

Further, Capital One noted that the “harm” alleged by the plaintiffs, including the loss of banking services, inconvenience, and difficulty obtaining new accounts, would have occurred even if the bank had notified them of the reason behind the closure.

The lawsuit with Capital One is one of several Trump-affiliated entities have filed against major banks, accusing them of “debanking,” a practice that allows them to terminate accounts with “with accounts they deem reputational risks and is solely based on perceived bias,” according to CBS News.

In January 2026, separate $5 billion lawsuit was filed by Trump against JP Morgan Chase and its CEO Jamie Dimon, for allegedly following similar conduct as Capital One and closing accounts due to political reasoning, though JP Morgan has denied any wrongdoing, according to CBS.

The case remains pending in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida, CBS said.

The Moroccan Ministry of the Interior officially confirmed the existence of an online campaign falsely encouraging people to attempt to reach Ceuta.

This came after more than 50,000 people crossed into Ceuta by land and sea on Thursday last week in an unprecedented surge. More than 48,000 returned to Morocco within 48 hours and more did so over the weekend, Spanish authorities said.

Speaking Sunday evening, Ministry Spokesperson Rachid Khalfi said the border crossings "were not the result of temporary or spontaneous factors" but resulted from "the interaction of several overlapping factors."

Specifically, he cited “the excessive exploitation of digital platforms, the dissemination of misleading information, the role of human trafficking networks, and incorrect interpretations of legal and administrative information.”

Khalfi said these factors were used to create the "false impression" that it was possible and easy to reach European territory without legal consequences, and that the border was open.

He confirmed that the Public Prosecutor's Office has opened judicial investigations into the various circumstances behind the events, with the aim of "identifying those responsible, and determining the appropriate legal consequences in accordance with the law."

José María Gil Garre, Co-Director of the International Security Observatory, released on Sunday a 70-page report into the disinformation campaign that stimulated the invasion of Ceuta.

Gil said the campaign began at the beginning of July across social networks from profiles in Algeria, Tunisia, France and observations from the US.

He presents a full chronological reconstruction of the precipitating events behind the incursion.

Gil said the first phase began on July 8, 2026, the date on which the Spanish Supreme Court issued a ruling concerning the return of migrants intercepted at sea with destinations in Ceuta and Melilla. In the days immediately afterward, “simplified and decontextualized interpretations” began, presenting the ruling as a supposed guarantee of permanent residence in Spanish territory.

Between July 8 and July 15, this narrative gradually expanded across social networks and messaging services. The evidence collected by Gil showed an increase in posts reproducing similar messages, sometimes accompanied by short audiovisual content, images, and comments designed to reinforce the perception that there was an immediate opportunity to gain access to Spanish territory.

By mid-July, Gil noted the first indicators of a transition from a primarily narrative phase toward an operational phase. His investigation identified the gradual arrival of people to the Fnideq (Castillejos) area from different Moroccan cities, while activity increased in existing Facebook groups and messaging channels used to exchange practical information about routes, schedules, and travel conditions.

Around July 25, "a qualitative shift" occurred in the nature of the content being distributed. Maps began circulating that showed routes for swimming from the Moroccan coast toward Ceuta and Melilla, accompanied by references to distances, departure points, and basic recommendations for completing the journey.

On July 27, digital activity experienced another acceleration. The evidence documents a significant increase in certain Facebook groups dedicated to exchanging information about access to Ceuta, alongside intensified circulation of videos, photographs, and messages related to preparing for the journey. During the same phase, content on TikTok and other audiovisual platforms also increased, strengthening the campaign’s visibility and expanding its reach among potential participants.

On July 28, one of the most relevant elements of the investigation emerged: the identification of a public messaging group called “Hijma Kiraib Setba” (هجرة قريبة سبتة, “Migration close to Ceuta”), administered from a telephone number with an Algerian international prefix (+213). The group distributed messages related to mobilization toward Ceuta.

During July 29 and 30, the campaign reached its highest intensity. The frequency of publications increased significantly, and specific instructions began circulating regarding schedules, meeting points, recommended equipment, and travel conditions.

During the night of July 30-31, the event with the greatest operational impact occurred, with a mass attempt to enter Spanish territory through the Ceuta area.

Although Gil said the nature of the platforms makes it impossible to determine an exact count of messages distributed without access to their internal systems, the information collected showed that the digital campaign may have generated between one and five million impressions, relying on communities that collectively exceeded 250,000 members and on profiles capable of reaching audiences of several million views.

The two accounts with the highest reach and interest were two Moroccan TikTok accounts, @haragaa_ceuta1 and @haragama00. These collectively had over 400,000 followers.

This was followed by two Algerian WhatsApp code groups designed to coordinate activity and provide logistical information. This was then followed by three Moroccan Instagram accounts and a Moroccan Facebook account with tens of thousands of followers each.

Overall, the research documented more than 11 million potential impressions, resulting from the aggregation of views of audiovisual content, members of digital communities, posts, comments, and interactions recorded during the analyzed period.

The investigation concluded that the digital dimension played a significant role in the dissemination of narratives, the circulation of information, and the coordination of physical movements, showing the power of social media in mobilizing real activity.

The US Defense Department has signed a framework deal with Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman to expand the production capacity of components for the Patriot PAC-3 and THAAD missile interceptor systems, it said on Monday.

Pentagon negotiators have pressed contractors to move much faster with tentative production agreements struck earlier this year to increase missile output as conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine strain US weapons stockpiles.

Ukraine has run chronically low on supplies of Patriots, which remain the only weapon in its arsenal capable of downing ballistic missiles.

In its statement on Monday, the department said the framework deal would allow production of Patriots to triple and THAAD systems to quadruple.

It did not give a value for the deal, which it said would establish a second source for PAC-3 solid rocket motors and ramp up output of ignition safety devices.

It follows a deal last week when the US Army awarded Lockheed Martin a contract worth up to $58.6 billion to produce Patriot interceptor missiles.

Heavy rains and floods battered parts of southern India over the weekend, killing at least 11 and displacing thousands in the state of Kerala, and setting off a landslide that killed at least three in neighboring Karnataka, authorities and news reports said.

The death toll in rain-related incidents rose to 11 by Sunday, and nearly 7,700 people were evacuated to around 275 relief camps across Kerala, a state government minister said.

Kerala’s Chief Minister VD Satheesan said on Monday he would be meeting district officials to review relief camp arrangements. On Sunday, he said clean-up operations had begun in flood-affected areas.

The state is likely to see strong winds and moderate rainfall in some areas on Monday, the state’s disaster management authority said.

Heavy rains also forced closures of many schools across the state, while the government postponed a state-level teacher recruitment exam.

In the neighboring northern state of Karnataka, heavy rains triggered a landslide that killed a couple and their son on Saturday, the newspaper the Hindu reported.

A record heatwave is gripping the Korean peninsula, sending temperatures soaring across South Korea and North Korea as authorities expand emergency measures and residents seek relief in cooling shelters, beaches and water parks.

Forecasters said on Monday that extreme heat, previously concentrated in South Korea’s southeast, was spreading into the Seoul metropolitan area and other western regions. North Korean state media also reported temperatures approaching 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in parts of the country and a fifth straight tropical night in Pyongyang.

South Korea's weather agency warned temperatures could rise further in western regions this week.

Data from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency from Sunday showed 14 had died and 1,889 people had suffered heat-related illnesses since mid-May.

The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said Yangsan recorded 42.5°C on Sunday, the highest temperature measured in 122 years of weather observations. The southeastern city had already broken the national record on the two preceding days.

Prime Minister Han Seong-sook ordered ministries and local governments to mobilize all available resources to respond to heatwave and drought risks, after the government raised its heatwave response alert to the second-highest level, unlocking funding for relief efforts and more frequent inspections in affected areas.

Power authorities have activated emergency measures and are closely monitoring supply and demand as electricity consumption is expected to reach a record high in late August amid surging air-conditioning use.

Severe heatwave warnings have been issued across parts of southern South Korea, including Busan, Ulsan, South Gyeongsang and parts of Gwangju and South Jeolla Province.

Local governments have scrambled to protect vulnerable residents. Seoul districts have expanded cooling shelters and distributed free water and sun umbrellas, while Yangsan has expanded water-spraying operations and water distribution.

Searing temperatures have disrupted daily life. Over the weekend, the Korea Baseball Organization canceled games in Busan and Changwon and said further schedule adjustments could be considered if dangerous conditions persist.

Local media reported packed beaches, water parks and riverside recreation areas.

North Korea is experiencing similar conditions. State media said heat advisories covering much of the country would remain in place through the week and reported that tens of thousands of people had visited the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone during July.

Water parks in Pyongyang were also packed, according to state television.

Armed men killed at least 12 people and abducted women and children during a night attack on a village in Nigeria’s northwestern Sokoto state, witnesses said.

Six members of one family burned to death after the attackers set fire to their house, one resident told Reuters.

The gunmen entered the village of Lajinge around 11 p.m. on Saturday and attacked residents until about 3 a.m. on Sunday, locals said.

The region has seen frequent attacks by heavily armed gangs, known as bandits, who raid villages, kidnap residents for ransom, and steal livestock.

“They killed at least 12 people, injured four others, abducted women and children after rustling many livestock,” resident Auwal Hassan told Reuters by phone.

Police were investigating and would provide updates later, Sokoto force spokesperson Ahmed Rufai said.

The attack comes a week after bandits killed at least 24 farmers in neighboring Zamfara state.

US climber Sarah Mallory Geis was named among four dead as Pakistan’s Broad Peak avalanche triggered a desperate rescue search.

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Rescue teams resumed a high-altitude search Saturday for climbers missing after an avalanche swept through an international expedition on Broad Peak, with four bodies recovered.

The remains of US climber Sarah Mallory Geis, 39, from Texas, were among those recovered from the 8,047-meter peak. The 10-person international expedition involved climbers from the United States, Pakistan, Nepal, China, Oman, and the United Kingdom and was led by renowned Nepal-born British mountaineer Nirmal “Nims Dai” Purja, 43.

Sarah Mallory Geis’ body was identified Friday, along with those of Omani female climber Nadhira Ahmed Abdullah Al Harthy and Nepalese mountaineer Pur Bahadur Gurung, according to the regional government of Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan province.

Purja, a former British Army and Royal Marines serviceman, gained international fame after climbing all 14 of the world’s peaks above 8,000 meters in record time. He is regarded as one of the world’s leading high-altitude mountaineers. According to rescue officials, Purja remains among those missing.

The avalanche struck Broad Peak in the Karakoram Range on Thursday as the climbers moved between Camp II and Camp III at an altitude of around 6,600 meters, according to The Kathmandu Post.

Irfan Arshad Khan, president of the Alpine Club of Pakistan, told reporters that the missing climbers include Purja, as well as Nepali climbers Kili Pemba Sherpa, Nima Sherpa, Gyalu Sherpa, and Nawang Thindu Sherpa. Pakistani climber Sohail Sakhi and Chinese climber Wang Zhong were also listed among those missing.

Search and rescue operations resumed Saturday after poor weather forced authorities to suspend the mission on Friday. Additional climbers from other expeditions joined the operation as rescuers returned to the mountain.

The rescue mission involves Pakistan Army Aviation helicopters, drones and ground teams working with local climbers. A three-member civilian rescue team led by veteran Pakistani mountaineer Sirbaz Khan was flown to Broad Peak base camp before proceeding toward Camp II on foot. Nepal’s embassy in Islamabad has been coordinating with Pakistani authorities, including the Alpine Club of Pakistan, to assist in the search-and-rescue operation.

Drone footage has detected several additional bodies on the mountain, although rescuers have been unable to recover them because of difficult terrain and severe high-altitude conditions.

The bodies recovered during the initial operation were airlifted to the Combined Military Hospital in Rawalpindi, where identification and legal procedures were being carried out.

Broad Peak, the world’s 12th-highest mountain, is located in Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region near K2, the world’s second-highest peak. At 8,047 meters, it is one of Pakistan’s five peaks exceeding 8,000 meters and attracts climbers from around the world during the summer climbing season.

Vincent Pastore, best known for portraying Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero in the acclaimed HBO crime drama The Sopranos, has died at the age of 80, Pastore’s manager confirmed on Saturday.

Pastore was found at his home in the Bronx, New York City. There was no indication of criminality, CBS News reported, citing law enforcement sources.

Robert Attermann, Pastore's longtime manager, paid tribute to the actor, saying his legacy extended well beyond his signature television role.

"To the world, he will always be remembered as the unforgettable 'Big Pussy,' but to those of us who knew him, he was so much more," Attermann told CBS News.

"He loved being an actor. He was passionate about his craft and was always encouraging, respectful, and generous with young actors, taking the time to offer guidance and support whenever he could," he added.

Attermann said Pastore's death was also a personal loss after decades of friendship.

"For me, losing Vinny is deeply personal. Over more than three decades, I had the honor of watching not only his remarkable career but also the incredible person he was. I will miss his friendship, his loyalty, his humor, and his heart."

Born in the Bronx in 1946, Pastore served in the US Navy during the Vietnam War before pursuing an acting career. He went on to build an extensive résumé in film and television, appearing in acclaimed movies including Goodfellas and Carlito’s Way before becoming a household name through The Sopranos.

His portrayal of Bonpensiero, Tony Soprano’s longtime friend who ultimately becomes an FBI informant, was central to one of the series’ defining storylines. Although the character was killed off during the second season, Pastore continued to appear throughout the show’s six-season run in flashbacks and dream sequences.

He also appeared in television series including Law & Order, General Hospital and Hawaii Five-0, establishing himself as a familiar face across both film and television.

In 2000, Pastore and the cast of The Sopranos received the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series, recognizing the show's critically acclaimed performances.

The Sopranos, which premiered in 1999, is widely regarded as one of the most influential television dramas ever produced, helping redefine serialized television storytelling and earning dozens of industry awards during its run. Pastore's portrayal of Bonpensiero remains one of the show's most recognizable performances, with the character's arc frequently cited among its most memorable storylines.

At least five people are dead, and 41 are still missing after a ferry caught fire off Indonesia's Madura island, the country's search and rescue agency said in a statement on Sunday.

This is a developing story.