International
UNICEF: Over 500,000 people affected by Afghanistan earthquake, urgent aid needed
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has estimated that more than 500,000 people have been affected by the earthquake that struck eastern Afghanistan on August 31, which left 2,205 dead and 3,640 injured, and has launched an urgent appeal for donations to cover immediate needs.
According to the UN agency, over half of those affected—263,000—are children, with 393 girls and 338 boys among the fatalities. Additionally, 271 children have been orphaned, and 81 unaccompanied minors remain hospitalized, raising fears that they may have lost their entire families.
The earthquake has destroyed or damaged over 6,700 homes across the provinces of Kunar, Nangarhar, and Laghman, and entire valleys have been cut off due to landslides, complicating rescue efforts.
Healthcare facilities have treated 2,854 trauma patients and performed 304 major surgeries. A fleet of 47 ambulanceshas been operating nonstop to transport patients to Jalalabad and Asadabad. UNICEF has delivered medical supplies including IV medications, antibiotics, and ready-to-use therapeutic food packs.
Child protection teams have identified 45 unaccompanied minors, of whom 34 have been reunited with their families, and nine safe spaces for children have been set up, serving nearly 1,000 children.
UNICEF highlights urgent needs for water and waste management, distributing 5,150 hygiene kits, 40,000 fuel containers, and installing 150 latrines, while continuing to send water tankers to the hardest-hit areas.
In Kunar, $150 cash assistance is being distributed to 5,000 households, and winter supplies are being provided to 25,000 families. The agency warns that malnutrition, already at crisis levels before the earthquake, has worsened in Kunar, Nangarhar, and Laghman, with rates expected to continue rising.
In light of the disaster, UNICEF has issued an appeal for $21.6 million to sustain relief efforts and meet the urgent needs of affected children and families.
International
Trial begins for man accused of attempting to kill Trump at Florida Golf Course
The trial of Ryan Wesley Routh, a 59-year-old resident of Hawaii accused of attempting to assassinate former U.S. President Donald Trump while he was playing golf in West Palm Beach, Florida, begins this Monday. Routh was arrested nearly a year ago after being spotted by a Secret Service agent.
Routh has chosen to represent himself in the trial, which will include witness testimony allegedly placing him fleeing the scene, statements from people who claim to have sold him the rifle, and a letter in which he supposedly confessed to the crime, according to CNN.
He faces five charges, including attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, assault on a federal officer, possession of a firearm and ammunition, and possession of a firearm with a removed serial number. If convicted, he could face life in prison.
Jury selection begins Monday in a federal court in Fort Pierce, Florida, with District Judge Aileen Cannon, appointed by Trump, presiding. Judge Cannon previously drew criticism in 2024 for dismissing the classified documents case against Trump due to the slow pace of the proceedings.
According to court documents, in August 2024, Routh traveled from North Carolina to West Palm Beach, and in September, made several trips to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago mansion and nearby golf course. On September 15, while Trump and his now special envoy Steve Witkoff were playing golf, a Secret Service agent saw the face of a man partially hidden and the barrel of a rifle.
The agent fired multiple shots in response before taking cover to report the threat. A civilian saw Routh fleeing toward a nearby car, photographed the scene, and shared the images with authorities. Agents later stopped the vehicle 45 minutes away, discovering a loaded rifle with 11 bullets, a digital camera, and bulletproof plates capable of withstanding gunfire.
International
Ukrainian refugee fatally stabbed on Charlotte train; suspect charged with murder
A tragic incident unfolded on the night of August 22 when Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee, was fatally stabbed inside a light rail train operated by the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) in North Carolina.
According to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), the attacker, identified as Decarlos Brown Jr., 34, had a lengthy criminal record and was riding the train without a valid ticket. Authorities reported that the assault was unprovoked and occurred just four minutes after Zarutska boarded the Blue Line train near the intersection of Camden Road and East and West Boulevard.
Witnesses immediately called emergency services, but despite security personnel being present elsewhere on the train, they were unable to intervene in time. Zarutska was pronounced dead at the scene.
Brown was apprehended while attempting to leave the train and was found with a hand injury. He was treated at a local hospital before being booked into the Mecklenburg County Jail, where he faces first-degree murder charges and is being held without bail.
Authorities released images showing the suspect leaving a trail of blood inside the train car. The incident has sparked public outrage and renewed concerns over the lack of adequate security on Charlotte’s public transportation system.
International
Texas shooting: One dead, five injured in Liberty County bar attack
Authorities in Liberty County, Texas, reported that a gunman remains at large after opening fire outside a bar early Sunday morning, leaving one person dead and five others injured.
According to the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, the suspect arrived at the bar around midnight, ordered a drink, and stayed for about an hour before stepping outside to his vehicle. He then fired multiple shots toward the bar before fleeing the scene.
Officials believe the suspect acted alone and escaped in his vehicle. The motive behind the shooting remains under investigation.
Law enforcement agencies, including the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office and local police, are actively searching for the gunman. Authorities have urged anyone with information about the suspect’s whereabouts to contact them immediately.
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