Venezuela quake kills 164; French seize Russian tanker
A magnitude 7.5 earthquake devastated Venezuela, while French commandos intercepted an oil tanker from Russia's shadow fleet in the Mediterranean.
Venezuela quake kills 164; French seize Russian tanker — A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck Venezuela on Thursday night, followed by a stronger 7.5 quake. Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez reported at least 164 people killed and 971 injured. Footage shows residents fleeing as buildings collapse behind them. Israel is preparing to send rescue teams, despite the lack of diplomatic relations between the two countries.[^1] In the Mediterranean near Sicily, French commandos seized an oil tanker from Russia's 'shadow fleet' in a helicopter-borne operation. The seizure comes as Russia's oil revenues fell by 24% in 2025, according to reports.[^2] The operation highlights ongoing efforts to enforce sanctions on Russian oil exports. Meanwhile, the trial of former Syrian mufti Ahmad Hassoun, known as the 'Mufti of Barrel Bombs,' opened on June 25, 2026. Hassoun was arrested in March 2025 at Damascus Airport while attempting to flee Syria. His trial marks a rare legal reckoning for a figure who legitimized the Assad regime's use of barrel bombs during the civil war.[^3] Violent crimes dominate Israeli courts: from filicide to settler shootings — A 27-year-old Jerusalem father, Khalil Ayyad, was indicted for murdering his toddler son by suffocation with a plastic bag—a crime witnessed by the child's 4-year-old sibling.[^1] The indictment underscores a grim pattern of domestic violence reaching the courts. In a separate case, Samid Jahjah, 43, from Ar'ara, was charged with reckless murder after firing at least eight shots into his family yard during Eid al-Adha about a month ago, killing his 9-year-old daughter Lila.[^2] The Tel Aviv District Court, meanwhile, rejected the prosecution's request to restrict Jonathan Auerbach, the Prime Minister's communications advisor, from working in the PM's office or contacting Netanyahu. Judge Ariel Arlich described the act as severe and establishing dangerousness, but considered the 'unique circumstances' of the event.[^3] Defense attorney Yael Igra described the case as difficult and unusual.[^3] In the occupied West Bank, Uriya Cohen, a 38-year-old resident of the Itzhar settlement, was indicted for participating in a settler rai