Police search for woman who escaped Panama hotel where US deportees are being held

Zheng Lijuan fled Panama City hotel as 170 of deported migrants were transported to dense, lawless region

Police are searching for a Chinese woman who escaped from a downtown Panama City hotel where she was being held following her deportation from the US under Donald Trump’s intensified campaign against immigrants.

Zheng Lijuan was one of 299 migrants – from China, Afghanistan, Iran and other countries with which the US lacks extradition agreements – who have been flown in shackles to Panama since last Wednesday. Panamanian authorities say they believe that Zheng was aided by locals who had been “prowling” outside the Decapolis hotel in the capital city where the deportees had been held.

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Doubts raised over US travel system during 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics

  • US will host 2026 tournament with Canada and Mexico
  • Report raises concern about visas and infrastructure

The United States is unprepared for the burdens placed on its air travel system when the country hosts the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, according to a report released on Wednesday.

The US Travel Association, a non-profit that represents the travel industry, commissioned a report written by former government officials and industry experts. The report raises concerns about visas, creaking infrastructure and poor security technology.

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India’s Got Latent: Ranveer Allahbadia’s ‘dirty’ comments spark massive row in India – BBC.com

  1. India's Got Latent: Ranveer Allahbadia's 'dirty' comments spark massive row in India  BBC.com
  2. Man who attended Indias Got Latent controversial episode shares video of what Ranveer Allahbadia did after crass joke  The Tribune India
  3. Ranveer Allabadia case: What has Supreme Court previously ruled on ‘onerous’ conditions and gag orders?  The Hindu
  4. A YouTuber in India is facing backlash over comments he made on a comedy show. Here's what to know  ABC News
  5. Ranveer Allahbadia fought Left cancel culture. And yet, the Right came after him  ThePrint
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‘It’s definitely not moving’: another bear makes evacuated LA home its own

Black bear weighing 500lb found in crawlspace in Pasadena, two weeks after Altadena man discovered unfamiliar tenant

Two 500-plus pound black bears have laid claim to homes evacuated during the destructive Eaton fire in southern California.

Last month, when Samy Arbid returned to his Altadena home, he found “Barry” – a 525lb black bear – living under the house. This week, another Californian reported a different unexpected visitor living in his house’s crawlspace in neighboring Pasadena: another 500 to 600lb bear.

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Troubled electric vehicle maker Nikola files for bankruptcy protection

After becoming embroiled in scandal, formerly hot startup and Wall Street star had said it would likely run out of cash

Troubled electric vehicle maker Nikola has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection months after saying that it would likely run out of cash early this year.

Nikola was a hot startup and rising star on Wall Street before becoming enmeshed in scandal and its founder was convicted in 2022 for misleading investors about the Arizona company’s technology.

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Rebel advance causes panic in Congolese border town Uvira – Reuters

  1. Rebel advance causes panic in Congolese border town Uvira  Reuters
  2. Advance of Rwanda-backed rebels in Congo threatens regional peace, UN officials warn  The Associated Press
  3. UN warns M23 advances threaten regional conflict in eastern DRC  Al Jazeera English
  4. Thousands arrive in Burundi within days, fleeing rising tension and violence in eastern DR Congo  UNHCR
  5. Calls grow for Congo to resolve conflict through dialogue  DW (English)
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British tourist dies after rescue from mountain trail in Himalayas

Man was trekking with another Briton in Dhauladhar range on trail from Dharamkot to Triund in northern India

A British tourist has died after seriously injuring himself while trekking in the Himalayas.

The man, who had gone on a short hike to the foot of the Dhauladhar mountain range in northern India with another British tourist, fell during his descent on Sunday evening and was taken down the mountain on a stretcher.

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European Leaders Try to Recalibrate After Trump Sides With Russia on Ukraine – The New York Times

  1. European Leaders Try to Recalibrate After Trump Sides With Russia on Ukraine  The New York Times
  2. Sidelined by Trump, Macron tries to rally Europe on Ukraine. But divisions run deep  The Associated Press
  3. France convenes second meeting on Ukraine with other Europeans, Canada  Reuters
  4. Europe’s Top Leaders Meet in Paris to Stay Relevant  Foreign Policy
  5. As Trump detonates relationship with Ukraine, Europe has no answer  NBC News
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Brazilians hail strength of democracy as Bolsonaro is called to account

‘In Brazil coup-mongers go to jail. In the US they get back into the White House,’ says one leading politician

Brazilian democrats have celebrated the strength of their country’s judiciary and institutions after the former president Jair Bolsonaro was left facing political oblivion and jail time for allegedly plotting a coup, in stark contrast to the US’s failure to bring Donald Trump to justice for his anti-democratic acts.

“In Brazil coup-mongers go to jail. In the US they get back into the White House,” said Marcelo Freixo, a leading leftwing politician on Wednesday after the attorney general formally accused Bolsonaro of engineering a sprawling conspiracy to cling to power following his defeat in the 2022 election.

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Thousands of Palestinians flee West Bank homes as Israel confronts militants – PBS NewsHour

  1. Thousands of Palestinians flee West Bank homes as Israel confronts militants  PBS NewsHour
  2. Israel demolishes West Bank apartment buildings as military campaign displaces tens of thousands of Palestinians  CNN
  3. Palestinian Displacement in the West Bank Is Highest Since 1967, Experts Say  The New York Times
  4. Israeli army’s Jenin raid enters 2nd month; mass displacement in West Bank  Al Jazeera English
  5. Gazafication of the West Bank Won't Solve Israel's Security Problems. It Has to Stop  Haaretz
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US adds Mexican cartels to list of foreign terrorist organisations

Six cartels added to list as part of Trump’s plan to ‘wage war’ on drug trafficking groups to address fentanyl crisis in US

The US has added six Mexican cartels to its list of foreign terrorist organisations (FTOs), as it calls for the “total elimination” of the criminal groups trafficking drugs to the US.

Mexico’s two biggest organised crime groups, the Jalisco New Generation and Sinaloa cartels, were among those added, as were Tren de Aragua and Mara Salvatrucha, groups with ties to Venezuela and El Salvador.

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Doctors say Pope Francis shows ‘slight improvement’ while in hospital – Catholic News Agency

  1. Doctors say Pope Francis shows ‘slight improvement’ while in hospital  Catholic News Agency
  2. Updates on Pope Francis’ Health Leave Room for Speculation  The New York Times
  3. Pope has restful night, has breakfast in armchair  Vatican News
  4. Ailing Pope's Obstinacy A Blessing Or A Curse?  Barron's
  5. Pope’s tests show ‘slight improvement’ as Italy PM Meloni visits hospital  Al Jazeera English
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