10 Things Global News- 12th August 2025
The news from around the world
Judge Blocks Release of Maxwell Grand Jury Records
Trump Federalizes D.C. Police, Deploys National Guard
Colombian Senator Uribe Dies After June Shooting
Mercedes CEO Warns EU Car Ban Risks Market Collapse
Trump, Putin to Discuss Land Swaps at Alaska Summit
Europe Faces Record Heat and Worsening Wildfire Threat
Mali Arrests Dozens of Soldiers Over Alleged Coup Plot
Zelenskyy Warns Putin Plans New Offensive, Not Ceasefire
Israel Defends Strike That Killed 5 Al Jazeera Journalists
US, China Extend Trade Truce for Another 90 Days
A Manhattan federal judge has denied the Trump administration’s bid to unseal grand jury transcripts from the case against Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence for helping Jeffrey Epstein sexually exploit minors. Judge Paul A. Engelmayer ruled Monday that releasing the records would erode the secrecy essential to grand jury proceedings and yield “next to nothing new.”
The Justice Department argued that public interest justified disclosure, but Engelmayer rejected the premise, calling the request potentially a “diversion” rather than genuine transparency. The materials, he said, name no additional individuals, reveal no undisclosed methods, and largely duplicate the public trial record.
The decision comes amid political friction over the Epstein investigation. The administration has faced backlash from supporters over unfulfilled promises of new revelations. A separate judge is still weighing a related unsealing request in Epstein’s case. Maxwell continues to appeal her conviction.
Sources: New York Times, Time
President Donald Trump on Monday placed Washington’s police force under direct federal control and ordered 800 National Guard troops onto city streets, citing an “emergency” under the Home Rule Act. The move, which overrides local authority for up to 30 days without congressional approval, strips D.C. leaders of policing powers and gives federal officials latitude to enforce law and order.
Mayor Muriel Bowser called the decision “unsettling and unprecedented” but said the city would comply. City officials note violent crime is down 26% this year, reaching a 30-year low, contradicting Trump’s portrayal of a crisis.
National Guard troops will work in shifts to support police, with authority to make arrests if needed. Trump said the approach could be extended to other cities, though he cannot take over their police forces. Critics, including the D.C. Council, decried the action as a political maneuver lacking legal justification.
Sources: Washington Post, Politico
Colombian Senator Miguel Uribe, a rising right-wing presidential hopeful, has died two months after being shot during a Bogotá campaign rally. The 39-year-old, grandson of former president Julio César Turbay Ayala, was struck twice in the head and once in the leg on 7 June. He remained in critical condition before succumbing to his injuries.
A 15-year-old suspect was arrested at the scene; authorities have not confirmed a motive, though investigators are examining possible links to FARC dissidents. Uribe’s killing has revived memories of Colombia’s era of political assassinations in the 1980s and 1990s and could reshape the 2026 presidential race.
President Gustavo Petro condemned the attack and called for unity against violence. Analysts say the Democratic Centre party, which had rallied around Uribe after the shooting, now faces a leadership vacuum that could influence the opposition’s strategy in the election.
Sources: BBC, CNN
Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius has urged the European Union to reconsider its planned 2035 ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars, warning it could cause Europe’s auto market to “collapse.” Speaking to German business daily Handelsblatt, Källenius said the policy, currently under review, risks prompting a rush of last-minute combustion car purchases rather than accelerating the shift to electric vehicles
Källenius, who also heads the European carmakers’ lobby ACEA, argued for a “technology-neutral” approach to decarbonization, with incentives for EV adoption such as tax breaks and lower charging costs. He stressed that while cutting emissions is essential, economic stability must remain a priority.
Critics of the ban say it would hinder manufacturers already battling weak demand, strong Chinese competition, and sluggish EV sales, while supporters insist it is central to the EU’s climate goals.
Sources: Reuters, Auto News
US President Donald Trump confirmed he will discuss potential “land swapping” with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a one-on-one summit in Alaska on Friday aimed at ending the Ukraine war. Trump voiced frustration with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s insistence that any territorial agreement must be approved by parliament, calling it an unnecessary obstacle.
European leaders have expressed concern over the lack of clarity on what territories Russia seeks and the risk of concessions being made without Ukraine’s involvement. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz invited Trump to emergency virtual talks with EU leaders and Zelenskyy before the summit, though Trump has not confirmed participation.
Trump said the Alaska meeting would be a “feel-out” session and might lead to direct Putin–Zelenskyy talks. He acknowledged a deal may be elusive, but predicted he would quickly know if an agreement was possible.
Sources: The Guardian, Sydney Morning Herald
Large parts of Europe are sweltering under another intense heatwave, with temperatures reaching 43–44°C in Spain, Portugal, and southern France. Records fell at multiple French weather stations, including Bordeaux’s new high of 41.6°C. The extreme heat has pushed north, with 35–40°C expected in northern France, Benelux, and central Europe this week.
Dry soils and strong winds have fuelled major wildfires. In France’s Aude region, the largest blaze in 75 years burned 16,000 hectares, killing one person and injuring 13. Bulgaria is battling nearly 200 fires, including along its borders with Greece and Turkey, while deadly blazes continue in Greece.
Scientists warn Europe is warming nearly twice as fast as the global average, with 2025 likely to be among the hottest years on record. Officials across the continent have issued top-level heat alerts, warning of health risks and disruptions to daily life.
Sources: The Guardian, France 24
Malian authorities have detained at least 20–50 soldiers accused of plotting to overthrow the ruling junta led by General Assimi Goïta, who came to power in coups in 2020 and 2021. Security sources say arrests have been ongoing for several days, targeting alleged attempts to “destabilise the institutions.”
Reports initially named Generals Abass Dembele and Nema Sagara among those held, but conflicting accounts emerged, with a source close to Dembele denying his detention. Other sources insist Dembele was arrested at his home near Bamako on Sunday.
The alleged plot comes amid rising discontent within the army and a worsening jihadist insurgency. Mali’s junta has intensified its crackdown on critics, dissolved political parties, and extended Goïta’s mandate until at least 2030. Despite military cooperation with Russian forces, attacks by armed groups have continued, and internal divisions have been fuelled by perceived preferential treatment for foreign mercenaries over Malian troops.
Sources: BBC, France 24
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says intelligence indicates Russia is preparing for “new offensive operations” rather than peace, despite an upcoming Alaska summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In a video address, Zelenskyy claimed Putin intends to present the meeting as a personal victory before continuing the war. He said troop redeployments, including in the Zaporizhia region, suggest plans for further attacks, not a ceasefire.
Zelenskyy warned that concessions to Russia would not halt its aggression, urging that Kyiv must be involved in any settlement. His comments came after Trump suggested land swaps could be part of a deal, an idea Ukraine rejects.
Leaders from Canada and the UK backed Zelenskyy’s stance, stressing Ukraine’s sovereignty and self-determination. The Institute for the Study of War said Kremlin messaging shows no sign of preparing Russians for a compromise short of full victory.
Sources: Al Jazeera, Anadolu Agency
Israel’s military says a Gaza strike that killed five Al Jazeera journalists targeted Anas al-Sharif, alleging he was a Hamas commander operating under journalistic cover. The attack, near Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, also killed two others, according to hospital officials. Al Jazeera denies the claims, calling the strike a deliberate attempt to silence critical reporting.
International condemnation followed, with the UN human rights office calling the killings a “grave breach of international humanitarian law” and press groups labelling them a war crime. Britain urged Israel to ensure journalists can work safely and called for an independent investigation.
Israel released documents it says prove Sharif’s Hamas affiliation, claims dismissed by media watchdogs as unsubstantiated. Qatar’s prime minister and press freedom advocates demanded accountability. Funerals were held Monday, with mourners carrying the journalists’ bodies through Gaza’s streets.
Sources: New York Times, The Times of Israel
President Donald Trump has extended the trade war truce with China by 90 days, postponing planned tariff increases just hours before the deadline. Beijing announced a parallel suspension of most retaliatory tariffs, with both sides citing progress in talks.
The pause maintains current US tariffs at 30% and Chinese tariffs at 10%, down from earlier triple-digit levels that rattled markets. Officials say the extension could pave the way for a Trump–Xi Jinping summit later this year.
Negotiations have focused on market access, rare earth exports, and easing some US technology export restrictions. While business groups welcomed the reprieve, analysts caution that deeper disputes over intellectual property and industrial subsidies remain unresolved.
Economists warn that even with the truce, tariffs on the world’s two largest economies continue to pressure global growth, and a long-term settlement appears unlikely in the near future.