Afghanistan Quake Death Toll Rises to Over 800
Sudan Landslide Kills Over 1,000
Suspected GPS Jamming Hits EU Chief’s Plane
Maduro Threatens ‘Republic in Arms’
Belgium to Recognise Palestinian State at UN
Genocide Scholars Accuse Israel Over Gaza
China, Russia Back Iran on Snapback
Xi and Putin Blame West at China Summit
Putin Says Trump Talks Open Path to Ukraine Peace
Nestlé CEO Dismissed Over Undisclosed Relationship
Rescue workers in eastern Afghanistan are struggling to reach mountain villages devastated by a 6.0-magnitude earthquake late Sunday that killed more than 800 people and injured more than 2,500. The shallow quake struck Kunar province near the Pakistani border just before midnight, collapsing mud and brick homes and burying families under rubble. Casualties were also reported in neighboring Nangarhar, and tremors were felt as far away as Kabul and Islamabad.
Blocked roads, rain and landslides have hampered recovery efforts, leaving some remote communities cut off more than 24 hours later. Survivors described entire villages destroyed, with residents digging by hand to find relatives. Authorities warned the toll could rise as helicopters ferry the wounded to hospitals. The Taliban government appealed for international aid, while India, China, Iran, Japan and the EU pledged support. The disaster deepens Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis, with more than half the population already reliant on aid.
Sources: The Guardian, New York Times,BBC
A landslide in Sudan’s western Darfur region has killed more than 1,000 people, according to the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army, which controls the affected area. The disaster struck on Sunday in the Marra Mountains after days of heavy rainfall, flattening an entire village and leaving only one survivor. Victims included children, and the group has appealed to the United Nations and international aid agencies to help recover bodies.
The landslide comes as Sudan remains mired in a civil war that has entered its third year. Famine has already been declared in parts of Darfur, and millions face severe hunger amid ongoing clashes between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Fighting has escalated particularly around El-Fasher, the last major city in Darfur under army control, which has been under siege by the RSF. Aid efforts remain severely constrained by insecurity across the region.
Sources: Euronews, Al Jazeera
A jet carrying the European Commission president lost GPS navigation on approach to Plovdiv on Sunday, forcing the crew to rely on ground-based instruments and manual procedures. Bulgarian air traffic authorities said the airport area experienced GPS interference; the aircraft did not need to divert and landed safely. The Commission said Bulgarian authorities suspect Russia carried out the interference.
The incident occurred during a tour of frontline EU states to underline efforts to strengthen defence and security, with stops including Latvia, Finland, Estonia, Poland, Lithuania, Bulgaria and Romania. While in Bulgaria, the president visited an arms producer in Sopot with the prime minister.
Officials noted a broader rise in GPS jamming and spoofing since 2022 across Europe’s eastern flank, disrupting satellite-based navigation for aircraft and ground systems. Another senior European military official has reported experiencing similar interference during flights over the Baltic Sea and while observing exercises in Lithuania.
Sources: Politico Europe, FT
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro warned Monday he would “constitutionally declare a republic in arms” if the country were attacked by U.S. forces deployed to the Caribbean. His comments came as Washington prepared to expand its naval presence to counter drug cartels, including three amphibious assault ships with more than 4,000 sailors and Marines.
The U.S. Navy already has guided-missile destroyers and a cruiser operating in the region. While Washington has not indicated plans for a land incursion, Caracas has deployed troops along its coast and border with Colombia and urged citizens to join militias. Maduro denounced the buildup as an “unjustifiable, immoral and bloody threat.”
Foreign Minister Yván Gil argued the deployment rests on a “false narrative,” citing a UN report showing most Colombian cocaine transits the Pacific. Opposition leader María Corina Machado, however, welcomed U.S. actions, calling Maduro’s government a “criminal enterprise.” Maduro countered that any attack would “stain” U.S. hands with blood.
Sources: PBS, Associated Press
Belgium announced it will formally recognise a Palestinian state during the United Nations General Assembly session beginning 9 September, joining France, Australia, Canada and the UK in a coordinated initiative led by France and Saudi Arabia. Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot said the move aims to increase pressure on Israel and Hamas, citing international law and the need to prevent further humanitarian tragedy.
Alongside recognition, Belgium will impose 12 national sanctions on Israel. Measures include banning imports from Israeli settlements, reviewing procurement policies, restricting consular aid for Belgian citizens in settlements, and declaring Hamas leaders and several Israeli figures persona non grata. Additional steps under consideration include judicial prosecutions, overflight bans, and support for suspending EU cooperation agreements with Israel.
Prevot stressed the actions were not aimed at the Israeli people but at ensuring respect for humanitarian law. The announcement comes amid division within the EU over how far to pressure Israel during the Gaza war.
Sources: Euronews, RFI
The world’s leading association of genocide scholars has declared that Israel’s actions in Gaza meet the legal definition of genocide. The International Association of Genocide Scholars passed a resolution with 86% of participants voting in favour, citing attacks on civilians, restrictions on aid, widespread destruction of housing, and dehumanising statements by Israeli leaders. The resolution also described Israel’s conduct as crimes against humanity and war crimes.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry dismissed the declaration as “an embarrassment to the legal profession,” arguing it relied on “Hamas lies” and stressing that Israel itself is the victim of genocide. Officials pointed to Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack, in which 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage.
The resolution noted that Israel’s policies have killed or injured tens of thousands of children and contributed to famine in parts of Gaza. Hamas welcomed the ruling, while UN bodies said only international courts can issue authoritative genocide findings.
Sources: Times of Israel, BBC
China and Russia backed Iran in rejecting a European move to reimpose UN sanctions under the “snapback mechanism.” In a joint letter, the Chinese, Russian and Iranian foreign ministers called the action by Britain, France and Germany “legally and procedurally flawed.” The Commission of the deal in 2015 had included China, Russia and the E3; the United States withdrew in 2018.
The Europeans launched snapback last week, accusing Iran of violating the nuclear accord, which traded sanctions relief for curbs on Iran’s program. Iran has exceeded uranium limits, arguing that Washington’s exit justifies its position. The joint letter was posted by Iran’s foreign minister, who said the European step abuses UN Security Council authority.
The accord is due to expire in October, and snapback would restore lifted sanctions. After mid-June strikes on Iranian nuclear installations, Iran and the E3 held talks toward a new agreement, but the E3 said last week’s Geneva discussions showed insufficient readiness from Iran.
Sources: Jerusalem Post, Straits Times
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin used the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin to criticize the West and showcase deepening ties. Xi urged members to oppose “cold war mentality” and “bullying behaviour,” while Putin defended Russia’s Ukraine offensive, blaming the conflict on Western support for a coup in Kyiv. He added that NATO ambitions provoked the war, which has killed tens of thousands.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also attended, marking his first visit to China since 2018. Modi and Putin held an hour-long discussion, with Modi later describing their partnership as “special and privileged.” Xi and Modi also met, pledging to advance ties on “mutual trust” despite rivalry.
Putin later told Xi their relationship was at an “unprecedented level.” Leaders signed a declaration to boost security and economic cooperation, admitted Laos as a dialogue partner, and prepared for a military parade marking 80 years since World War II’s end.
Sources: SBS News, The Guardian, Japan Today
Russian President Vladimir Putin said he reached “understandings” with U.S. President Donald Trump at their Alaska meeting that he hopes will open the way to peace in Ukraine. Speaking at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin, he said he would brief fellow leaders on the talks and thanked China’s Xi Jinping and India’s Narendra Modi for efforts to facilitate a resolution.
Putin defended Russia’s invasion, blaming the West and efforts to draw Ukraine into NATO for the conflict. He reiterated that “root causes” must be addressed for a lasting settlement and described NATO-related security concerns.
After the Alaska meeting, a U.S. special envoy said Putin had agreed to security guarantees for Ukraine as part of a potential deal, though Moscow has not confirmed this. Putin did not say whether he would accept peace talks with President Volodymyr Zelensky. French President Emmanuel Macron has said Trump set a Monday deadline for a response.
Sources: BBC, The Independent
Nestlé abruptly removed Chief Executive Laurent Freixe after finding he had failed to disclose a romantic relationship with a subordinate, breaching the company’s code of conduct. The dismissal came exactly one year after he assumed the role, following nearly four decades with the company.
The investigation began after internal complaints in the spring and was expanded with the help of external counsel. It confirmed the relationship, which Freixe initially denied to the board. He will not receive an exit package. Nestlé’s chairman Paul Bulcke said the decision was necessary to uphold the company’s values, thanking Freixe for his service.
Freixe is succeeded immediately by Philipp Navratil, previously head of Nespresso and a Nestlé executive since 2001. The leadership change comes amid falling sales, a 40% share slump since 2022, and regulatory scrutiny, including a July raid in France over water filtration practices. Analysts called the shift a sensitive juncture but noted Navratil’s strong track record.