International
Former Democratic senator Bob Menéndez is sentenced to 11 years in prison for corruption

Former Democratic senator for New Jersey Bob Menéndez, one of the most prominent Latino politicians in the United States, was sentenced today to eleven years in prison for corruption, in a sentence communicated this Wednesday by a federal judge in New York.
Judge Sindey Stein found Menéndez, 71, guilty of accepting bribes in the form of gold bars, a luxury car and briefcases full of money while presiding over the Foreign Relations Committee of the US Senate, where he amassed immense power and became an almost necessary channel for Latin American politics.
Menéndez led a whole plot of corruption fueled by the governments of Qatar and Egypt, the latter country from which his wife Nadine is originally, also accused in the same plot.
An FBI agent secretly recorded Nadine while offering her services as an intermediary to a senior Egyptian official.
When the FBI raided his home in New Jersey, he found 13 gold bars hidden in a safe in his room, as well as half a million dollars in bills scattered throughout the house and hidden even inside boots or in the pockets of the suits.
“You have been at the top of our political system,” the judge told you today when reading the sentence, “But somewhere along the way, you lost your way,” reported the media present at the hearing.
Visibly affected, Menéndez replied with a broken voice: “I have sat in this court for nine weeks, but you do not know me,” and went on to relate his childhood as a Cuban immigrant. “This is who I am, a man dedicated to serving others. I have lost everything that mattered to me, and for someone dedicated to public service, every day is a punishment.”
A historic member of the Democratic Party, Bon Menéndez carved out his career in his feud in New Jersey, a state he represented as a senator between 2006 and 2024; his own son Robert Menéndez is also a Democratic congressman.
Menéndez clung to his position as senator until last July, when his position became unsustainable when he was found guilty by a jury of the corruption crimes for which he was convicted today.
International
Florida officials warn against raw milk after dozens sickened

Unprocessed milk from a farm in Florida has sickened at least 21 people, prompting state authorities to issue a public health alert, U.S. media reported Monday.
The 21 cases include six children under the age of 10, all diagnosed with infections caused by E. coli and Campylobacterbacteria linked to raw milk from the farm in the southeastern U.S. state. Local authorities have also warned about the dangers of drinking unpasteurized milk.
Seven people have been hospitalized, two of whom have suffered complications, according to multiple reports.
The Florida Department of Health has urged the public to avoid raw milk consumption and blamed the outbreak on the farm involved—without naming it directly—citing poor sanitary practices.
Florida law prohibits the sale of unprocessed milk for human consumption, although it can be sold if labeled for pets. Pasteurization, which involves heating milk to kill harmful bacteria, is required under U.S. federal regulations for any dairy products sold across states.
Despite these regulations, sales of raw milk have been increasing in recent years, fueled by online promotion from wellness influencers and advocates of unprocessed foods.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warn that raw milk can contain potentially deadly bacteria such as E. coli, Campylobacter, Listeria, or Salmonella, which can cause symptoms ranging from diarrhea, vomiting, and indigestion to severe complications like kidney failure.
International
Massive wildfire in Southern France kills one, injures nine

Hundreds of firefighters battled on Wednesday to contain a massive wildfire in southern France that has left one person dead and nine others injured.
The blaze, which broke out Tuesday in the Aude department, is the largest recorded in France during the current summer season. Authorities have deployed 1,800 firefighters in an effort to bring it under control.
An elderly woman died in her home in the town of Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse, while two others were injured—one in serious condition due to burns—according to the local prefecture. Seven firefighters suffered smoke inhalation injuries, and one person remains missing. The wildfire has already scorched an estimated 12,000 hectares of land.
“The fire is spreading very quickly due to unfavorable weather conditions. This is one of the driest areas of the department, and strong winds are fueling the flames,” said Lucie Roesch, secretary general of the Aude prefecture. Rémi Recio, subprefect for the city of Narbonne, added, “The fire is still spreading and is far from being contained or under control.”
The A9 motorway, which runs along the Mediterranean coast between France and Spain, has been closed in both directions between Narbonne and Perpignan, along with numerous secondary roads.
In Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse, the smell of smoke lingers over the charred hectares. A helicopter was seen drawing water from the river below the village and dropping it several kilometers away, AFP reporters observed.
A campsite and at least one village were partially evacuated, with 25 houses and around 35 vehicles damaged, according to a preliminary assessment.
French Prime Minister François Bayrou announced he will visit the affected area on Wednesday.
International
Japan marks 80 years since Hiroshima bombing with call for nuclear disarmament

Japan observed a minute of silence on Wednesday to mark the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, a solemn reminder to the world of the horror it unleashed, amid heightened tensions between nuclear powers the United States and Russia.
At exactly 8:15 a.m. local time (23:15 GMT), the moment when the U.S. bomber Enola Gay dropped the “Little Boy” atomic bomb on August 6, 1945, the city paused to remember.
The bombing claimed an estimated 140,000 lives, not only from the devastating blast and fireball but also from the deadly radiation that followed. Three days later, another bomb dropped on Nagasaki killed 74,000 more. Japan’s surrender on August 15 marked the end of World War II.
On a sweltering morning, hundreds of students, survivors, and officials dressed in black laid flowers at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial. The city’s mayor, Kazumi Matsui, warned of “an accelerating trend toward military buildup worldwide,” citing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the ongoing war in the Middle East.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba stated that Japan has a mission “to take the lead toward a world without nuclear weapons.”
Today, Hiroshima is a thriving metropolis of 1.2 million people, yet the skeletal remains of one building still stand at its center as a powerful reminder of the tragedy.
Wednesday’s ceremony was attended by representatives from around 120 countries and regions, including delegates from Taiwan and Palestine for the first time.
Among the attendees was 96-year-old Yoshie Yokoyama, who arrived in a wheelchair accompanied by her grandson. She told reporters that her parents and grandparents were victims of the bombing.
-
Central America5 days ago
Costa Rica faces historic vote on lifting presidential immunity for Rodrigo Chaves
-
International3 days ago
Israel says 136 food aid boxes airdropped into Gaza by six nations
-
International5 days ago
Study finds COVID-19 vaccines prevented 2.5 million deaths worldwide
-
International5 days ago
Trump administration blasts judge’s ruling reinstating TPS for Honduras, Nepal, and Nicaragua
-
International2 days ago
U.S. Embassy staff restricted as gunfire erupts near compound in Port-au-Prince
-
International2 days ago
Uribe requests freedom amid appeal of historic bribery conviction
-
International16 hours ago
Massive wildfire in Southern France kills one, injures nine
-
International3 days ago
Seven inmates dead, 11 injured after violent riot in Veracruz prison
-
International16 hours ago
Florida officials warn against raw milk after dozens sickened
-
Central America16 hours ago
Four honduran presidential candidates sign anti-corruption pact ahead of 2025 elections
-
International16 hours ago
Japan marks 80 years since Hiroshima bombing with call for nuclear disarmament