International
Hezbulá appoints Naim Qassem as its new secretary general
The Shira Council of Hizbula, the highest governing body of the Lebanese Shii Islamist group, announced the appointment of Naim Qassem as its new secretary general to replace Hasan Nazralá, who died in a bombing of Israel on September 27.
In a statement issued by the leadership of Hezbulá, the group assured that “according to the mechanism approved for the election of the general secretary, the Council of the Shura of Hezbulá agreed to elect His Eminence Sheikh Naim Qassem as secretary general of Hezbulá, carrying the blessed banner on this journey, asking God Almighty to guide him in this noble mission at the head of Hezbulah and his Islamic resistance.”
In the note, the armed formation promised that with the appointment of Qassem “they will work together to achieve the principles of Hezbullah and the goals of their path, and keep the flame of resistance shining and its banner high until victory is achieved.”
Number two of Hizbula since 1991
Just over a month after Nasrala’s murder, the group has decided to choose the number two of the formation and who has been in charge of delivering the three television speeches offered after the death of the previous head of Hezbulá, who was in charge for three decades.
This decision has been made after last week Hezbulá confirmed the death of Hashem Safi al Din, head of the Executive Council of the formation and considered one of the main candidates to succeed the clergy Nasrala.
Qassem, whose location is unknown, was appointed deputy chief of Hizbulá in 1991, when Nasrala was not yet the leader of the formation.
He has been considered one of the main spokesmen of the Shiite group and the highest level figure who has even given interviews to foreign media.
Rocket rand against Israel after appointment
After the announcement of the appointment of its new leader, Hezbulá launched a fly of rockets from Lebanon against northern Israel that, according to Jewish emergency services, caused the death of one man.
“It was a difficult scene, there was great destruction in the place and we started looking. We saw a man unconscious, without a pulse and without breathing. His injury was critical and we had to declare him dead,” reported a spokesman for the Maguen emergency services David Adom (MDA).
In addition, they had to treat several people with anxiety crises, according to the MDA.
The Army detected the launch of about 50 rockets towards various locations in northern Israel. Some of them were intercepted, but several fell in the city of Maalot Tarshiha.
The projectiles set off the alarms in at least 30 locations.
After more than a year of exchange of fire between the Israeli Army and Hezbullah on the border between the two countries, Israeli troops embarked on a ground incursion into Lebanon on October 1 after escalating the conflict days earlier with intense bombings that killed numerous Hezbulah fighters, but also civilians.
International
WHO Warns Ebola Outbreak Is Spreading Rapidly in DR Congo
The World Health Organization on Friday raised the risk level of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo from “high” to “very high,” the highest alert category used by the organization.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the outbreak is spreading rapidly across the country, particularly in the eastern provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu.
“The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is spreading rapidly,” Tedros stated during a press conference.
He explained that the WHO had previously classified the risk as high at both the national and regional levels, while maintaining a low risk assessment globally.
“We are now revising our risk assessment to classify it as very high at the national level, high at the regional level, and low at the global level,” he added.
A WHO spokesperson told AFP that “very high” represents the organization’s highest risk category.
The outbreak has expanded across North Kivu and South Kivu, regions divided by the frontline between Congolese government forces and the armed group M23, which is reportedly backed by Rwanda and has seized large areas of territory since 2021.
International
Guatemalan Man Sentenced to 50 Years in U.S. Prison for Child Exploitation Crimes
Ángel Emilio Rodríguez Marroquín, a Guatemalan citizen living illegally in California, was sentenced to 50 years in prison on multiple charges related to the sexual exploitation of his two eight-year-old nephews, both of whom are disabled, according to a report published by Fox News.
The Central American national was arrested on November 22, 2025, on charges of producing and possessing child pornography, the report stated.
The investigation was led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Los Angeles and the Homeland Security Investigations division of the immigration service. Authorities said Rodríguez Marroquín recorded himself sexually abusing both children.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, Rodríguez illegally entered the United States in 2024, was arrested, and later released.
The convicted man is also under investigation in Guatemala for child exploitation offenses. That investigation is being conducted by HSI in coordination with the Los Angeles Cyber Crimes Against Children Unit.
“This depraved illegal alien from Guatemala pleaded guilty to producing and possessing child pornography involving the abuse of his nephews,” said acting DHS Deputy Secretary Lauren Bis.
She also criticized U.S. immigration policies under former President Joe Biden, claiming the defendant would not have been in the country if stricter border controls had been enforced.
International
Trump Delays Potential Iran Strikes as Regional Peace Talks Continue
Donald Trump announced a new deadline for potential military action against Iran, saying he would temporarily delay planned strikes while regional negotiators continue efforts to secure a peace agreement.
Speaking at the White House, Trump said he decided to postpone the operation after receiving requests from the leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.
The U.S. president explained that the pause would remain in place for only a limited period, adding that discussions could continue through the end of the week or early next week.
Trump also warned that military action remained a possibility if negotiations fail to produce results, stressing that the United States could not allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon.
“Maybe we’ll have to hit them again,” Trump said, referring to Iran while reiterating his willingness to resume military operations if necessary.
WHO Warns Ebola Outbreak Is Spreading Rapidly in DR Congo
Guatemalan Man Sentenced to 50 Years in U.S. Prison for Child Exploitation Crimes
Trump Delays Potential Iran Strikes as Regional Peace Talks Continue
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