International
The latest reporting, context, and conversations from this desk.
Taliban Detain Afghan Men for Peaky Blinders Outfits
The Taliban’s “morality police” in Herat have detained four young Afghan men, known locally as the “Jibrail Shelbys,” for dressing in vintage 1920s attire inspired by the British crime drama Peaky Blinders. The men – identified as Asghar Husaini, Jalil Yaqoobi, Ashore Akbari, and Daud Rasa – were accused of promoting “foreign and harmful culture”…
Photos and video from Epstein’s private island released by House Democrats
On December 3, 2025, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released a series of previously classified photos and videos documenting Little St. James, the private Caribbean island owned by the late Jeffrey Epstein. Representative Robert Garcia, the committee’s ranking member, explained that these materials were made public to provide transparency and help investigators reconstruct the…
Ousted President Embaló Arrives in Senegal Following Guinea-Bissau Military Takeover
Following a swift military takeover on November 26, 2025, Guinea-Bissau’s deposed President Umaro Sissoco Embaló arrived in neighboring Senegal after successful negotiations facilitated by the regional bloc ECOWAS. The Senegalese Foreign Ministry confirmed that Embaló landed safely in Dakar on November 27 aboard an aircraft chartered specifically for his transfer. While his release was framed…
Two National Guard members in critical condition after shooting near White House
A targeted shooting of two West Virginia National Guard members near the White House on November 26, 2025, has escalated into a national security crisis and a catalyst for major shifts in U.S. immigration policy. The attack, which occurred near the Farragut West Metro station, resulted in the death of Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, who…
Deadliest Fire in Decades: Fatalities at Tai Po Housing Complex Rise to 161
The confirmed death toll from the catastrophic fire at the Wang Fuk Court public housing estate has reached 161, solidifying it as Hong Kong’s most lethal residential disaster in nearly 80 years. The blaze, which ignited on November 26, 2025, burned for over 43 hours and eventually consumed seven of the complex’s eight towers, displacing…
Military Seizes Power in Guinea-Bissau: President Embaló Ousted Following Disputed Election
In a swift and coordinated takeover, military officers in Guinea-Bissau seized control of the country on November 26, 2025, ousting President Umaro Sissoco Embaló just one day before the official results of a tense general election were to be announced. The coup was led by Brigadier General Dinis Incanha, the head of the military office…
Donald Glover Reveals 2024 Stroke and Heart Surgery as Reason for Tour Cancellation
Donald Glover, also known as Childish Gambino, has revealed that a life-threatening stroke was the “ailment” that forced him to cancel his New World Tour in late 2024. Speaking to a crowd during an emotional “where have I been” monologue at Tyler, the Creator’s Camp Flog Gnaw festival on November 22, 2025, the 42-year-old artist detailed experiencing…
Zelensky warns Ukraine risks losing US support over White House peace plan
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a somber warning to his citizens during a televised address on Friday, November 21, 2025, describing the current period as one of the most precarious in the nation’s history. He characterized the choice ahead as a painful trade-off between preserving national dignity and maintaining the essential partnership with the United…
Florida Congresswoman Indicted on 17 Counts in $5 Million FEMA Fraud Case
In a significant legal blow to her political career, Florida Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick has been formally indicted on 17 federal charges, including conspiracy to commit money laundering, theft of government funds, and making illegal campaign contributions. The indictment, returned by a Miami grand jury on November 19, 2025, alleges that the 46-year-old Democrat and her…
ECOWAS to Deploy 1,650-Strong Standby Force to Combat Rising Regional Terrorism
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has announced the deployment of an initial 1,650 personnel as part of its standby force to address the escalating threat of terrorism across the subregion. This strategy was unveiled by Dr. Alieu Omar Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, during a high-level briefing at the United Nations…