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Europe's 2025 wildfire season, the worst on record, saw over 1 million hectares burned across Spain, Portugal, and the Mediterranean. Research from World Weather Attribution shows climate change made extreme heat and dry conditions 30-40 times more likely, intensifying fires by up to 30%, causing fatalities, mass evacuations, and damage to protected habitats.
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Ryan Borgwardt staged his own death at Green Lake in Wisconsin, disappearing after overturning his kayak. He traveled internationally to Georgia to meet a woman he met online, then returned to face charges. His actions stemmed from debt, relationship issues, and feelings of failure, leading to a legal sentence and divorce.
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Russian prosecutors seek charges against critic Yevgeny Chichvarkin, who owns a London restaurant, for statements deemed 'foreign agent' activity. Meanwhile, members of Pussy Riot face lengthy prison sentences for anti-war protests, reflecting Russia's ongoing suppression of dissent and anti-government activism.
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Georgia's ruling party, Georgian Dream, secured majorities in local elections amid protests and accusations of election rigging. Opposition protests turned violent as police used force to disperse demonstrators, including arrests of opposition figures and claims of foreign interference. The unrest follows a disputed parliamentary vote and ongoing tensions over Georgia's EU accession bid.
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Bella Culley, 19, from Billingham, UK, was sentenced to over five months in Georgia for smuggling drugs. She was found with 12kg of marijuana and 2kg of hashish at Tbilisi airport after being reported missing in Thailand. She is pregnant and has been transferred to a mother and baby unit following a plea bargain.
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Authorities in Georgia, Hong Kong, and Russia have uncovered large-scale cybercrime operations involving money laundering, identity fraud, and illicit virtual asset transactions. Raids resulted in arrests, seizure of cash and equipment, and ongoing investigations into organized syndicates exploiting digital and border security vulnerabilities. These cases highlight the growing sophistication of financial cybercrime today.
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UAE travelers face higher airfares for regional and European trips amid school holidays, while Disney increases ticket prices, prompting families to adjust plans. New airline routes and premium options aim to meet demand, but affordability remains a concern for many.
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The European Parliament awarded the Sakharov Prize to Belarusian journalist Andrzej Poczobut and Georgian journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli, both imprisoned on charges seen as politically motivated. The award highlights ongoing struggles for press freedom and human rights amid authoritarian regimes in Belarus and Georgia.
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Bella Culley, a 19-year-old pregnant woman from Teesside, was released from Georgian custody after serving five months for drug smuggling. She was arrested in Georgia in May while attempting to transport drugs from Thailand, claiming she was coerced through torture. Her family paid a substantial plea deal to reduce her sentence.
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On November 11, 2025, a Turkish C-130 military cargo plane crashed near the Georgia-Azerbaijan border shortly after departing Azerbaijan en route to Turkey. All 20 personnel aboard, including flight crew, were killed. Search and rescue operations were conducted by Turkish, Georgian, and Azerbaijani authorities. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
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A Turkish military cargo plane crashed in Georgia’s Sighnaghi municipality during a flight from Azerbaijan to Turkey. All 20 crew members and military personnel onboard were killed. The aircraft was involved in logistics for Turkey’s armed forces and was participating in Azerbaijan’s Victory Day celebrations. An investigation is underway.
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A Turkish military cargo plane crashed in Georgia last week, killing 20 soldiers. The aircraft, which had been operating since 1957, was carrying a maintenance team and was being inspected after the crash. The black box analysis is expected to take at least two months. Turkey has grounded its fleet pending investigation.
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Aleksandre Elisashvili, a former opposition MP and Citizens party founder, broke into a Tbilisi court building at dawn, smashing a window, pouring gasoline, and injuring a court official during his arrest. The incident follows ongoing protests against the government’s democratic backsliding.