French prosecutors have requested a two-year sentence with an electronic monitoring order and a five-year ban from holding public office for former culture minister Rachida Dati in connection with a corruption trial involving the Renault-Nissan automobile group. The case also includes Carlos Ghosn, the former Renault-Nissan chairman now living in Lebanon, who is being tried in absentia. Prosecutors have called for a four-year prison term for Ghosn. The final verdicts in the Paris trial are expected in the coming months.
In northern France, authorities reported the deaths of three individuals attempting to cross the English Channel illegally. The incident occurred off the coast of Wissant, a seaside village in the Pas-de-Calais region, when a "taxi boat"—a small vessel used to transport migrants—capsized. French officials continue to monitor the situation amid increasing migrant crossings in the area.
In India’s northern state of Uttar Pradesh, recent monsoon floods caused by unusually heavy rainfall have claimed at least 81 lives. The state, home to over 240 million people, frequently experiences severe weather during the monsoon season from June to September. The latest fatalities were confirmed in a report issued by the Relief Commissioner’s office, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by the region during this period.
South Africa is grappling with the aftermath of two mass shootings over the weekend, which have left a total of 28 people dead. Police confirmed that an individual wounded during an attack on a tavern later died in hospital. The violence has further unsettled a nation already burdened by one of the world’s highest murder rates, with an average of approximately 60 homicides occurring daily.
Tragedy also struck mountaineers near the Nepal-China border, where an avalanche at Himlung peak buried the base camp under snow. Rescuers recovered two bodies and continue to search for 14 missing individuals following the Sunday incident at the 7,126-meter summit, according to Tul Singh Gurung, president of the Nepal National Mountain Guide Association.
Meanwhile, in Zambia, the Catholic Archbishop of Lusaka, Alick Banda, was detained by anti-corruption officers. Banda, a vocal supporter of the opposition in the recent August elections that secured President Hakainde Hichilema a second term, faces allegations linked to a vehicle reportedly gifted by former president Edgar Lungu, who is a political rival of Hichilema.
In India, the Election Commission is under scrutiny following allegations of misconduct related to a large-scale revision of the voter rolls known as the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). A recent investigation claims critical decisions in the process were made without the consent of two of the three election commissioners. The revision exercise led to the removal of approximately 130 million names, prompting accusations that it disproportionately affected marginalized and minority communities. The Election Commission has rejected these claims, stating all decisions were reached unanimously and are legally valid.
Opposition parties demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and are calling for a Supreme Court-led investigation into the matter. They assert that if decisions related to the SIR were made without full commission approval, the entire voter-roll revision could be deemed legally invalid. The controversy has sparked widespread public debate and calls for greater transparency in the management of India’s electoral processes.