Category: News

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.

Wildfires across more than a quarter of a million acres in Washington state have prompted widespread evacuations and power outages in the Spokane area, state officials said on Saturday evening.

About 4,000 people were fighting more than a dozen fires throughout the state, Dave Upthegrove, the state's commissioner of public lands, said during a virtual press conference.

Governor Bob Ferguson declared a statewide emergency and burn ban on Saturday morning. No injuries or fatalities related to the fire were known at this point, officials said.

Spokane, home to about 230,000 residents of eastern Washington, is dealing with the Old Trails Fire, which Washington State Forester George Geissler said was active on 3,000 acres and threatened 4,000 structures.

Some major facilities in Spokane have been evacuated, Mayor Lisa Brown said, including water reclamation facilities, a waste-energy plant and the Department of Veterans Affairs hospital.

As of 3:30 p.m. local time, about 200 homes in Spokane had been evacuated, but officials expected that figure to change. "These are large areas of the city, so I assume it's going to be more than that," Brown said.

Utilities company Avista, which services eastern Washington, reported that 60,000 people were without power, according to Stacey McClain of the Washington State Emergency Management Division.

"Our state is facing a very serious situation with multiple fires," Ferguson said, noting that high winds and high temperatures throughout the weekend would make fighting the fires more challenging.

For the summer so far, about 450,000 acres have burned in Washington state, Upthegrove said. "This is not normal… Throughout the state of Washington we're seeing fires raging," he said.

The fire in Spokane is one of five “major complex fires” in the state, Geissler said. The biggest, the Kaiser Canyon Fire in the northeastern part of the state, is approximately 134,000 acres, he said.

Wildfires this summer have been a problem in other parts of the Pacific Northwest. Nearly 34,000 lightning strikes last month led to a series of fires and evacuation orders in the southern part of British Columbia.

In addition to the National Guard, firefighters from more than a dozen states are helping, Washington officials said during the news conference.

"It's a tragedy what we're seeing over there," said Major General Gent Welsh, adjutant general of the Washington National Guard. "When the sun sets and the sun rises in the morning, I think we're going to be in shock to see some of the scenes that emerged out there."

A US ambassador was convicted of spying for Cuba as part of a larger Cuban spy network undermining US interests, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a Fox News interview on Saturday. 

“People forget that when it comes to things like espionage and influence operations, they actually are an influence and espionage superpower,” Rubio said, adding that Cuba is the only country that “consistently has implanted and embedded spies” within US systems without pay. 

According to Rubio, the infiltration of the ambassador, Ana Belén Montes, was one of the “single biggest intelligence failures” of the US and one of the “biggest penetrations” that the Defense Intelligence Agency has ever had.

Additionally, Rubio claimed that Cuba has influenced “every communist left-wing insurgency” that impacted governments throughout Latin America in the past 40 years. 

Cuba has also influenced a network of protesters across the US, Rubio said. The same network has been mobilized to support Antifa, Hamas, and former Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro, along with protesting US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). 

“It [these protests] is funded, it is organized, and Cuba is a part of that network, and in some cases a critical part of that network,” Rubio said.

Rubio said that there were large pockets of Cuban sympathizers within the US, specifically within academia and the press, which was how Cuba was able to recruit spies without pay.