Authorities in Bolivia have launched an investigation after a military aircraft crashed near El Alto International Airport, killing several people and injuring dozens, while officials were later seen burning large amounts of money recovered from the wreckage.

According to AFP, the crash occurred during severe weather conditions, with heavy hail and lightning reported at the time of the incident.

“A heavy hailstorm was falling and there was lightning when the plane went down,” said Cristina Choque, a 60-year-old vendor whose vehicle was struck by debris from the aircraft. She added that a tire from the plane landed on her car, leaving her daughter with a head injury.

Bolivia’s Ministry of Defense confirmed that an investigation has been opened to determine the cause of the crash.

Colonel Rene Tambo, head of the police homicide division in El Alto, said late Friday that casualties numbered “about 20, maybe a few more,” while Colonel Pavel Tovar of the National Fire Department earlier reported between 15 and 16 fatalities.

The country’s Health Ministry said at least 28 people were injured in the disaster.

Officials said deaths were recorded both at the airport and along a busy avenue where the aircraft crashed into several vehicles.

The Bolivian Air Navigation and Airports Authority (NAABOL) disclosed that the C-130 Hercules aircraft had departed from Santa Cruz and crashed while attempting to land at El Alto International Airport, which has since suspended operations.

In a controversial development, authorities at the crash site burned bundles of cash recovered from the aircraft. The Defense Ministry explained that the money carried aboard had no official serial numbers and therefore held no legal or purchasing value.

“It has no legal or purchasing power,” the ministry said, warning that collecting, possessing, or using the money constitutes a criminal offense.

Security forces also arrested 12 individuals after reports emerged of looting and criminal activity amid the chaos at the crash scene. Prosecutor Luis Carlos Torres confirmed the arrests, adding that investigations were ongoing.

Meanwhile, hospitals in El Alto have launched an emergency blood donation campaign to support victims receiving treatment following the crash.

Israel has shut its airspace to civilian flights following the launch of a military attack on Iran, as authorities brace for possible retaliation and heightened regional tensions.

In a statement, Israel’s Transportation Ministry announced that all civilian air traffic has been suspended until further notice due to the evolving security situation.

“The public is requested not to come to airports until further notice,” the ministry said, urging passengers currently outside the country to monitor updates through media outlets and their respective airlines regarding revised flight schedules once operations resume.

Israeli authorities also advised citizens abroad to comply with directives issued by the National Security Council, stressing the need for heightened vigilance amid fears of counterattacks.

Officials added that Israel’s airspace would reopen only when security conditions allow, noting that travelers will receive at least 24 hours’ notice before flights to and from the country resume.

The closure follows Israel’s confirmation of a “pre-emptive” strike on Iran, after explosions were reported in Tehran, significantly escalating tensions across the Middle East.

Israel has confirmed launching a military attack on Iran, with explosions reported in parts of the Iranian capital, Tehran, escalating tensions in the Middle East.

Israel Katz said the operation was a “pre-emptive” strike aimed at countering what Israel described as imminent threats from Iran.

Iranian state media reported multiple explosions in the eastern and northern areas of Tehran, while images received by the BBC showed smoke rising above sections of the city shortly after the strikes were announced.

Following the operation, Katz declared a nationwide state of emergency in Israel, warning citizens to prepare for possible retaliatory attacks from Iran or allied groups across the region.

Authorities in Israel said emergency systems had been activated amid fears of missile or drone responses, as regional security forces heightened alert levels.

More details shortly.

(DDM) – Nearly 30 years after the abduction and killing of 7-year-old Morgan Violi, authorities say a breakthrough has identified the man responsible for the long-unsolved crime.

Prosecutors allege that Robert Scott Froberg has admitted to kidnapping the child during a prison escape in July 1996.

The case, which had gone cold for decades, haunted the community of Bowling Green and remained a painful reminder of unanswered questions.

According to court filings, Froberg allegedly abducted Morgan near an apartment complex shortly after fleeing custody.

Prosecutors say he transported the child in a maroon van to another town before killing her.

Her body was later discovered, but investigators at the time were unable to definitively link a suspect to the crime.

Froberg was eventually recaptured following his escape, yet authorities say he managed to avoid suspicion in Morgan’s death for years.

Law enforcement officials now credit advancements in forensic testing for reopening the case.

Hair evidence originally collected from the van in 1996 was recently re-examined using modern DNA analysis techniques.

That re-testing reportedly provided the evidentiary link that investigators had previously lacked.

Cold cases often hinge on such technological breakthroughs.

In the 1990s, forensic science had not yet developed the precision available today.

DNA databases have since expanded, and testing methods have become more sensitive and accurate.

Prosecutors argue that the renewed analysis led to Froberg’s confession.

The suspect now faces severe legal consequences, including the possibility of life imprisonment or the death penalty if convicted.

Morgan’s killing deeply affected the Bowling Green community at the time.

Parents expressed fear and grief, while local authorities intensified public safety efforts.

The investigation involved extensive interviews, tips, and forensic reviews, yet leads repeatedly stalled.

Over the years, detectives revisited the file in hopes that new technology might one day unlock answers.

Cold cases present unique challenges for law enforcement.

Witness memories fade, evidence can degrade, and suspects may relocate or die before charges are filed.

However, persistent review of preserved evidence has led to renewed prosecutions in several high-profile cases nationwide.

Legal experts caution that even with a confession, prosecutors must present corroborating forensic and investigative evidence in court.

Defense attorneys may scrutinize the circumstances surrounding the admission.

Still, the alleged breakthrough has brought renewed attention to the enduring power of forensic science.

For Morgan’s family, the development represents a long-awaited step toward accountability.

Community members have expressed cautious relief that progress has finally emerged after decades of uncertainty.

Authorities emphasize that cold cases remain active investigations, even when years pass without visible movement.

The reopening of this case highlights how preserved evidence, combined with evolving scientific tools, can transform once-unsolved crimes.

As legal proceedings begin, the case underscores both the pain of unresolved tragedy and the determination of investigators who refuse to let time erase justice.

(DDM) – The administration of former US President Donald Trump has formally designated Iran as a state sponsor of wrongful detention, escalating pressure over Tehran’s history of imprisoning American citizens.

The move marks the first such designation carried out under an executive order signed last September aimed at deterring foreign governments from unlawfully detaining US nationals.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the decision, describing it as a necessary step to hold Iran accountable for what Washington considers unjustified arrests.

The designation authorizes additional diplomatic and economic measures intended to penalize governments accused of exploiting foreign detainees for political leverage.

American officials argue that Iran has repeatedly used detention as a bargaining tool in geopolitical disputes.

Tehran, however, has historically rejected such claims, insisting that arrests within its borders are conducted under its domestic legal framework.

The US government defines wrongful detention as the imprisonment of American citizens abroad under politically motivated or fabricated charges.

Over the years, several US nationals and dual citizens have been detained in Iran on accusations ranging from espionage to national security violations.

Some cases have ended in negotiated prisoner swaps between Washington and Tehran.

The latest designation comes amid renewed diplomatic maneuvering between the two nations.

The Trump administration has been pressing for a revised nuclear agreement following the US withdrawal from the 2015 accord formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

That agreement, negotiated during the Obama era, aimed to limit Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.

Tensions have fluctuated since Washington’s exit from the deal, with Iran expanding certain nuclear activities in response to renewed US sanctions.

The administration has also warned that military options remain on the table if diplomatic efforts fail.

Analysts note that the wrongful detention designation adds another layer to already strained relations.

Iran has long been listed by the US as a state sponsor of terrorism, a separate designation carrying its own sanctions regime.

The new label focuses specifically on detention practices and is intended to highlight human rights and consular access concerns.

Families of detained Americans have frequently called for stronger action to secure the release of their loved ones.

Advocacy groups argue that public designations increase international awareness and diplomatic leverage.

Critics, however, caution that additional punitive measures could complicate negotiations over nuclear and regional security issues.

They warn that escalating rhetoric may narrow the path for quiet diplomacy that has previously resulted in prisoner releases.

Iranian officials have yet to formally respond to the latest announcement, though past statements have denounced US sanctions as politically motivated.

The broader US-Iran relationship has been defined for decades by mistrust and periodic confrontation.

From disputes over nuclear enrichment to regional influence in the Middle East, bilateral tensions have shaped global security discussions.

The wrongful detention designation signals Washington’s continued effort to spotlight the treatment of American citizens abroad.

Whether the move will yield tangible results for detainees remains uncertain.

For now, the announcement underscores the intersection of human rights concerns and high-stakes geopolitical negotiations between the two longtime adversaries.

(DDM) – Former United States President Bill Clinton has denied having any knowledge of the crimes committed by disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein during a high-profile deposition that lasted nearly six hours.
The questioning, conducted in Chappaqua, New York, focused on Clinton’s past association with Epstein and sought clarity over lingering public suspicions about the relationship between the two men.

According to sources familiar with the testimony, Clinton described his relationship with Epstein as a “brief acquaintance” and insisted he was unaware of any criminal conduct.

Lawmakers repeatedly confronted the former president with photographs drawn from materials recently released by the US Justice Department.
The images allegedly showed Clinton alongside various women connected to Epstein’s social circle.
During the deposition, lawmakers directly asked Clinton whether he had engaged in sexual relations with any of the women shown in the photographs.

Each time, Clinton firmly denied the allegations, according to two individuals with knowledge of the proceedings.

The panel reportedly presented one particularly notable image showing Clinton seated in a jacuzzi with a woman whose face had been redacted in publicly released materials.
Clinton stated under oath that he did not recognize the woman and denied having any sexual relationship with her.
The deposition marks one of the most significant sworn testimonies involving Clinton since Epstein’s arrest and subsequent death in 2019.

Epstein, who had previously pleaded guilty in Florida in 2008 to charges related to soliciting prostitution from a minor, was later arrested on federal sex trafficking charges.
His arrest reignited global scrutiny over his extensive network of wealthy and influential acquaintances.
Epstein died in a Manhattan jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial, in what authorities ruled a suicide.

His death fueled widespread conspiracy theories and intensified demands for transparency regarding powerful individuals linked to him.
Clinton’s association with Epstein has long drawn attention, particularly after flight logs revealed that the former president traveled on Epstein’s private jet multiple times in the early 2000s.
Clinton has previously acknowledged those trips but maintained they were connected to philanthropic initiatives through the Clinton Foundation.
He has consistently stated that he severed ties with Epstein well before the financier’s legal troubles became widely known.
The Justice Department’s recent release of additional Epstein-related materials has renewed public interest in identifying individuals who appeared in documents and photographs connected to the case.
While appearing in Epstein’s social circles does not in itself constitute wrongdoing, the optics have continued to generate controversy for several public figures.
Legal analysts note that depositions under oath carry significant weight, as false statements could expose witnesses to perjury charges.
The latest testimony adds to a broader congressional effort to examine how Epstein cultivated relationships with politicians, business leaders, and celebrities over decades.
Critics argue that transparency is necessary to restore public trust in institutions shaken by the scale of Epstein’s crimes.
Supporters of Clinton emphasize that no evidence has emerged directly linking him to Epstein’s criminal activities.
They point to the former president’s categorical denials and the absence of formal allegations against him.
Nevertheless, the enduring mystery surrounding Epstein’s network continues to cast a long shadow over individuals once connected to him.

For Clinton, the deposition represents another chapter in a long public career marked by scrutiny and controversy.
As investigations and document releases continue, the broader questions about accountability, influence, and access to power in elite circles remain unresolved.

A United States congressman has alleged that illegal mining activities linked to Chinese entities in Nigeria are indirectly financing terrorist groups responsible for deadly attacks across parts of the country.

Riley Moore made the claim in a congressional report submitted to Donald Trump, asserting that unauthorized rare earth mineral mining operations in northern Nigeria are paying protection fees to armed extremist groups.

Speaking during an appearance on The Faulkner Focus on Fox News, Moore alleged that funds from these payments are being used to sustain violent campaigns targeting Christian communities.

According to the lawmaker, Chinese-linked mining operators working illegally in parts of northern Nigeria allegedly provide financial support to militants in exchange for security protection, thereby enabling continued attacks on civilian populations.

The report followed an investigation requested after Nigeria was redesignated as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act, citing ongoing concerns over religious violence.

Moore referenced estimates from advocacy organisation Open Doors, which claims tens of thousands of Christians have been killed in Nigeria in recent years. Figures cited in congressional discussions suggest between 50,000 and 100,000 deaths since 2009, with thousands reportedly killed annually.

Violence in affected regions has been attributed to armed groups including Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province, alongside armed bandit and militia networks operating across northern and Middle Belt communities.

The congressman recommended a series of measures to the White House, including targeted sanctions and visa restrictions against individuals linked to the violence, conditional U.S. assistance tied to improved civilian protection, and enhanced security cooperation between the United States and Nigeria.

Additional proposals include intelligence assessments on possible terrorist designations for certain armed groups and trade-related pressure mechanisms aimed at disrupting illicit funding networks.

Chinese authorities have rejected the allegations, describing claims that their companies fund terrorism as unfounded and insisting that Chinese firms operating abroad maintain zero tolerance for illegal activities.

Some Nigerian analysts acknowledge the widespread problem of illegal mining but caution that direct links between foreign mining operators and terrorist financing remain contested, noting that insecurity in the region is driven by multiple factors, including banditry, ransom economies, and local conflicts.

The report has intensified debate over religious freedom, foreign influence, and security policy in Africa, as U.S. officials consider potential responses to the recommendations.