International

Hutis say that they attacked 3 other ships and the United States, that a Ukrainian freighter was hit

Yemen’s Shiite Houthi rebels claimed new attacks “with direct impact” against three other merchant ships in the Red and Arabian Seas, while the United States confirmed that a Ukrainian-owned freighter was hit and a member of its crew was seriously injured.

The Houthi military spokesman, Yehya Sarea, said in a statement that the new attacks were carried out “with drones and missiles during the last 24 hours,” shortly before the US force in the area announced that one of those attacks caused a fire on a Ukrainian freighter, operated by Poland, and “serious injuries” to a member of its crew.

“The first attack targeted the Verbena ship in the Arabian Sea (…) the second the Seaguardian (…) and the third the Athina,” said the insurgent spokesman, who assured that the latter two were hit in the Red Sea, and that the three actions were carried out with drones and ballistic missiles and had a “direct impact.”

Sarea did not reveal more details about the attacked vessels, although the U.S. Central Command. (Centcom, in English) said in his account in X that “two anti-ship cruise missiles of the Houthis, backed by Iran, hit M/V Verbena.”

It is “a bulk cargo ship operated by Poland, Ukrainian-owned and with the flag of Palau” that “reported damage and subsequent fires on board,” according to the message from Centcom, which pointed out that “the crew continues to fight the fire,” and that “a civilian sailor was seriously injured during the attack.”

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“A plane of the USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) medically evacuated the sailor who was injured in a nearby associated ship to receive medical attention,” Centcom added, pointing out that the M/V Verbena recently docked in Malaysia and was heading to Italy with wooden construction material.

The new attacks of the Houthis come after the fighters of this Shiite ideology movement announced on Wednesday a similar action in the Red Sea against a Greek freighter that was “seriously damaged”, in a new escalation of violence on that strategic sea route.

“This continuous reckless behavior of the Houthis backed by Iran threatens regional stability and endangers the lives of sailors in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden,” the Centcom message added.

He pointed out that “the Houthis claim to act on behalf of the Palestinians in Gaza and yet attack and threaten the lives of third-country nationals who have nothing to do with the conflict in Gaza,” and “their threat makes it more difficult to provide help to the people of Yemen and Gaza.”

Since mid-November, the Houthis have claimed dozens of attacks on merchant ships in the Red and Arabian Seas, which they accuse of being Israelis or linked to Israel, in response to that country’s attacks on the Palestinian enclave.

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Its actions against navigation have intensified in the last two weeks, while the United States and the United Kingdom have also intensified their bombings against Houthi positions in the context of an operation started in February to protect navigation in the Red Sea.

International

Actress Hayden Panettiere Dies at 36, Representative Confirms

Actress Hayden Panettiere has died at the age of 36, her representative confirmed to CNN.

“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden. She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to everyone who knew her, and to the millions who saw her on screen,” her father, Skip Panettiere, said in a statement to CNN.

The circumstances surrounding her death were not immediately known. ABC was the first outlet to report the news.

Panettiere rose to prominence in the late 2000s with her role as Claire Bennet in the television series “Heroes.” Her character was a cheerleader with the ability to heal herself, becoming one of the show’s most recognizable figures.

She later starred in the musical drama series “Nashville,” portraying Juliette Barnes, a young country music star whose career and personal life were central to the series.

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Panettiere also appeared in the 2011 horror film “Scream 4” as Kirby Reed. She later returned to the franchise more than a decade later in “Scream VI.”

Her other notable film credits included “I Love You, Beth Cooper” and “Remember the Titans.”

Panettiere’s career spanned television and film, with roles that made her a familiar face to audiences from the 2000s onward.

International

Luigi Mangione Pleads Guilty to Killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson

Luigi Mangione admitted Friday to fatally shooting Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, the largest health insurance group in the United States, during an appearance before a federal judge.

The case shocked the U.S. business community and dates back to December 2024, when Mangione opened fire on Thompson, 50, on a Manhattan street. Prosecutors have described the attack as being motivated by Mangione’s opposition to the U.S. health insurance system.

“On the morning of December 4, I shot Mr. Thompson in Manhattan and he died,” Mangione said as he pleaded guilty to a federal stalking charge related to his pursuit of the executive.

Mangione, 28, is scheduled to be sentenced on December 18, and prosecutors have indicated that they will seek a life sentence.

In addition to the federal charges related to stalking Thompson, Mangione also faces a murder case brought by the state of New York.

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Following his guilty plea in federal court, Mangione’s defense asked a state court to dismiss the state charges, arguing that prosecuting him again for the same conduct would violate protections against double jeopardy.

“We have just filed our motion in state court to explain why the charges should be dismissed under New York’s protections against double jeopardy,” Mangione’s attorney, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, said Friday.

Both the federal and state cases could result in a life sentence. Two other federal charges that initially carried the possibility of the death penalty were dismissed by a judge earlier this year.

International

ICE Plan to Equip Agents With Electric Shock Gloves Raises Abuse Concerns

Plans to equip U.S. immigration agents with gloves capable of delivering electric shocks are raising concerns over potential abuses by a law enforcement agency that critics accuse of using excessive force and providing inadequate training to its personnel.

The plan involves the potential purchase of electric-shock gloves for agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the agency primarily responsible for carrying out President Donald Trump’s campaign to deport millions of undocumented immigrants.

Democratic Representative Maxwell Frost criticized the proposal on X, arguing that the agency has already faced accusations of excessive force during immigration enforcement operations.

“As if assaulting and shooting people in the streets wasn’t enough,” Frost wrote. He also criticized the reported $20 million potential expenditure on the devices and called for greater restrictions on ICE.

The agency has faced growing scrutiny following a series of deadly shootings during immigration enforcement operations. Among the incidents were the deaths of two U.S. citizens in Minnesota in January who were participating in protests against the agency.

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Critics have focused on the tactics used by ICE agents when detaining immigrants, as well as allegations that training standards for newly recruited personnel have been lowered.

According to a procurement plan first reported by the Associated Press, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees ICE, could spend between $10 million and $20 million on the devices.

The gloves are described by the agency as tools intended for “distraction and de-escalation,” rather than lethal weapons. The system, known as GLOVE, stands for “Generated Low-Output Voltage Emitter.”

The device is manufactured by Compliant Technologies, a Kentucky-based company that describes its products as advanced non-lethal tools designed to protect and assist law enforcement and other personnel.

The proposal comes amid an intensifying national debate over ICE’s enforcement methods and the use of force during the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.