Global Pulse

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  • How Morocco’s Gaza deployment is reshaping its ties with Israel

    How Morocco’s Gaza deployment is reshaping its ties with Israel

    In a groundbreaking move that makes it the first Arab and African nation to join the deployment, Morocco formalized its participation in the controversial International Stabilisation Force (ISF) for Palestine in mid-July, tying its involvement to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s divisive Gaza peace plan and the equally disputed Board of Peace (BoP) created to oversee the initiative.

    The signing ceremony was held in Rabat on July 15, with top Moroccan and international figures in attendance: Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, BoP Director General Nickolay Mladenov, senior Royal Armed Forces defense officials, and ISF Commander Jasper Jeffers. The deployment follows a direct order from King Mohammed VI, who serves as the Supreme Commander and Chief of General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces, as well as chairman of the Al-Quds Committee. Initial plans called for 500 Moroccan military personnel to be stationed at a refugee camp in Rafah, the southern Gaza city, but that number has since been cut to 200 troops according to Al Jazeera reporting. The force is set to operate in direct collaboration with the Israeli military.

    Shortly after Morocco signed the participation agreement, Hamas unveiled a conditional disarmament proposal aligned with Trump’s Gaza framework. However, Israel has failed to uphold its end of the broader agreement, showing no indication of withdrawing from the Palestinian territories it has occupied illegally for decades. Instead of committing to a withdrawal timeline, far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has pushed forward a proposal to expand illegal Israeli settlements into the Gaza Strip.

    In an official statement from Morocco’s National Defence Administration, the kingdom framed its contribution as a demonstration of unwavering commitment to cross-border peace, global cooperation, and regional stability. The statement added that the move is consistent with Morocco’s status as a founding member of the BoP.

    Said Saddiki, an international relations professor at Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University in Fez, explained the strategic benefits Rabat stands to gain from the deployment. He noted that joining the ISF gives Morocco a chance to reclaim a high-profile diplomatic role in the Palestinian issue, complementing the decades-long work it has carried out through the Al-Quds Committee and the Bayt Mal Al-Quds Agency. While independent analysis from the Council on Foreign Relations confirms the ISF is intended to act as Gaza’s primary security force, eventually replacing the Israeli military, Moroccan officials have heavily centered public narrative around a planned field hospital the kingdom will establish as part of its ISF mission.

    That field hospital framing is nothing more than political spin, according to Saadia, a leading Moroccan member of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement and an organizer for the most recent Global Sumud flotilla. Speaking to Middle East Eye, Saadia argued that while Morocco may claim to support Palestinian interests, its involvement ultimately benefits Israel far more — pointing to the kingdom’s existing role in arms shipments to the Zionist entity as evidence. Saddiki pushed back on that criticism, framing the field hospital as first and foremost a humanitarian undertaking rather than a military one. He acknowledged that Morocco maintains warm diplomatic relations with both Palestinian and Israeli leadership, but emphasized that the current tense regional climate leaves little room for any Arab state to serve as an effective mediator. As such, he said, Morocco is far more likely to contribute through humanitarian aid and diplomatic outreach than through active negotiation. To date, Morocco’s Ministry of Defence has not released any detailed public breakdown of the specific role its troops will fill as part of the ISF deployment.

    Saadia offered a far more skeptical take on the kingdom’s unstated goals. Beyond the humanitarian framing, she suggested Morocco’s role could include disarming Hamas resistance factions and even overseeing a new wave of American and Israeli colonization of the Gaza Strip. Saddiki countered that Morocco’s participation does not represent a strategic alliance against any party, nor does it come at the cost of the Palestinian cause. He added that domestically, the Moroccan government has worked to balance its foreign policy choices with widespread public support for Palestine, while noting that pro-Palestinian and anti-normalization movements have remained steadily active across the country since October 2023.

    Even as the Moroccan state has openly deepened ties with Israel, many ordinary citizens have warned that any normalization agreement with the country amounts to complicity in the ongoing genocide of Palestinian people in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. Younes, a key leader of Morocco’s pro-Palestinian protest movement and a veteran organizer of the past two Global Sumud flotillas, told Middle East Eye that joining the ISF amounts to full complicity in genocide. The activist added that entering Gaza alongside Israeli forces to impose a one-sided peace and force Palestinians to surrender and disarm is a grave injustice that the Moroccan public will never accept.

    Both Trump’s peace plan and the BoP have been widely condemned by grassroots activists and sovereign nations alike for violating core principles of international law. Younes argued that no genuine peace initiative can come from negotiations with Israel, noting that the country has long operated with impunity to expand its control over Palestinian land. Shams, a Rabat-based activist who requested to use a pseudonym, described Morocco’s involvement as deeply disheartening and disappointing, though she added that the decision did not come as a surprise. Shams noted that widespread opposition to normalization runs deep, particularly among younger Moroccans: “I cannot speak for all Gen Z Moroccans, but I would say that most are opposed to the Moroccan military support joining the ISF.”

    Data from the 2025 Arab Index, published earlier this year by the Arab Center Washington DC, backs up that claim: the survey found that 89 percent of Moroccans oppose recognizing Israel, with just 6 percent in favor of normalization.

    A Moroccan journalist who requested anonymity explained that the Moroccan state frames normalization as a strategic tool: the kingdom supports a two-state solution and cooperates with Israel in exchange for diplomatic and political backing from the United States. But the journalist added that public trust in the government’s approach is eroding fast, as the gap between official rhetoric and on-the-ground reality widens. With Israel continuing to expand illegal settlements on occupied Palestinian land, the prospect of a two-state solution grows more distant by the day.

    For Shams, the addition of Moroccan military forces to the ISF will not bring peace to Gaza. “I don’t think military intervention is going to facilitate peace when the oppressor has been destroying and bombing and blockading and [committing] genocide for decades on end,” she said. She added that the U.S. and Israel will only continue to destabilize Gaza, kill Palestinian civilians, and destroy the lives of millions.

    Morocco is the only North African and Arab nation contributing military troops to the ISF, joining a small coalition that includes Kosovo, Albania, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, and most recently Uganda. Neighboring Egypt has limited its involvement to training and logistical support, choosing not to deploy frontline forces. This unique position has triggered intense anger among Moroccan pro-Palestinian activists, with Younes expressing frustration over the rapid pace of normalization across the country’s public and private sectors. “Zionists in Morocco successfully penetrated every single sector within a short period,” he explained. “What we gather as voluntary efforts and popular mobilisation to face this cancer during the past years isn’t enough.” Acknowledging the gravity of his assessment, he added that Moroccan authorities have continued to push forward with normalization even as grassroots opposition grows, meaning activists must adapt their strategies and pursue new approaches to challenge the trend.

    Despite growing pressure from state authorities, Morocco’s pro-Palestinian movement remains defiant. Saadia argued that governments joining the ISF are operating under a dangerous delusion, wrongly believing that alignment with the American-Israeli axis will bring them greater security and protection. Pointing to the recent escalation of conflict between the U.S.-Israeli bloc and Iran, she noted that the U.S. only prioritizes Israel’s security, with no regard for the interests of other partner nations.

    (Names of interviewees have been changed to protect them from retaliation)

  • Athletes go ‘missing’ after Commonwealth Games ends

    Athletes go ‘missing’ after Commonwealth Games ends

    Weeks of world-class athletic competition at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow drew to a close on Sunday, but the event has been overshadowed by an ongoing investigation: multiple participating athletes have vanished from official team accommodation and failed to return home with their national delegations.

    Police Scotland confirmed this week that it has received formal reports of several athletes remaining unaccounted for in the days after the closing ceremony. Inquiries into their whereabouts are still active, authorities said, with early coordination already underway with the UK Home Office to clarify the circumstances of their disappearances.

    Local Ugandan media has identified four missing athletes all members of the country’s boxing delegation as Nuhu Batte, Angel Katushabe, Ibrahim Kemis and Emily Nakalema. Uganda-based sports outlet NBS Sport reported that it has spoken directly to one of the four missing boxers, who confirmed the group’s intention to seek asylum in Scotland. The athlete told the outlet the group made the decision to stay in the UK to pursue better training resources and professional boxing opportunities than they could access in their home country, and appealed to the Ugandan public for understanding, asking not to be condemned for their choice. A spokesperson for Team Uganda told BBC Scotland News the delegation would not issue any public comment on the incident, and the remaining members of the Ugandan contingent have already completed their departure back to Uganda.

    A separate report from Pakistani newspaper Pakistan Today added another missing athlete to the list: Pakistani boxer Qudratullah, who was not found in his Games accommodation when team officials prepared for the return flight and did not board the plane with his teammates.

    This is not the first time Glasgow has hosted the Commonwealth Games and seen athletes go missing post-event. During the 2014 edition of the Games, also held in the Scottish city, dozens of athletes disappeared after competition concluded, with many seeking asylum in the UK and others vanishing entirely. High-profile cases from 2014 include two Ugandan rugby players who disappeared and later resurfaced playing for a semi-professional side in Cardiff; one of those players, Philip Pariyo, was ultimately sentenced to four and a half years in prison after being convicted of rape in the Welsh city. Another 2014 missing athlete, Cameroonian weightlifter Cyrille Tchatchet II, stayed in the UK to seek asylum after escaping political unrest in his home country, and returned to compete for Great Britain at the 2026 Glasgow Games, winning a silver medal.

    Under Glasgow 2026’s official event policy, all athletes were required to leave official Games accommodation within 48 hours of their final competition to make way for departing operations. In a statement this week, Glasgow 2026 spokesperson Sophie Ashcroft noted that the event had welcomed 3,000 athletes from 74 Commonwealth nations and territories over 11 days of competition. “As athletes and support staff leave the city, we continue to work closely with wider partners – including Police Scotland, Border Force and UK Visas & Immigration – to ensure a safe and secure conclusion to the Games,” she said.

    UK authorities typically implement enhanced entry screening for athletes and staff ahead of major international sporting events held on British soil, working closely with event organizers to strengthen entry controls. The Home Office has confirmed that any asylum claims submitted by the missing athletes will be assessed individually, with each case evaluated based on its specific facts and supporting evidence.

    Beyond the missing athletes investigation, the 2026 Commonwealth Games has marked a key turning point for the quadrennial event. After original hosts Victoria, Australia withdrew from hosting duties amid funding disputes, Glasgow stepped in to organize a scaled-back edition featuring just 10 sports across four city venues. Organizers say the streamlined format has “saved and reinvented” the competition, securing its future for future editions.

  • Sheriff: Spokane arson suspect in custody

    Sheriff: Spokane arson suspect in custody

    A suspected arsonist has been placed behind bars in Spokane County, following on-scene observations and evidence recovered by local law enforcement. According to statements released by the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, Aaron Farinacci was spotted in suspicious circumstances at the location where the fire broke out. Witness accounts and deputy observations confirm that Farinacci was seen kneeling close to patches of dry grass at the fire’s origin point, a position that raised immediate red flags for responding authorities. After taking the suspect into custody, law enforcement officers conducted a lawful search and recovered common incendiary tools – a set of matches and a disposable lighter – in Farinacci’s possession. The Sheriff’s office has not yet released additional details about the extent of damage caused by the fire, potential motives for the alleged arson, or upcoming court dates for Farinacci. The investigation remains active as authorities continue to piece together the full sequence of events surrounding the blaze.

  • Big oil companies continue to post banner profits as fighting in Iran drives prices higher

    Big oil companies continue to post banner profits as fighting in Iran drives prices higher

    The ongoing military conflict in Iran has sent global energy markets into chaos, pushing oil and gasoline prices sharply upward — and delivering staggering windfall profits to the world’s largest oil companies, new corporate earnings reports show.

    Across Europe, the Middle East and North America, top oil producers have reported blowout profit growth in the first and second quarters of 2024, built on the back of elevated energy prices triggered by disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s busiest chokepoint for global oil trade. Roughly 20% of the planet’s daily oil supply moves through the strategic waterway, which has been largely closed to commercial tanker traffic since the outbreak of conflict in late February.

    Six of Europe’s biggest oil companies amassed a combined $22 billion in net profit during the first quarter, a jump of more than 40% compared to the same period last year. London-based BP extended that winning streak into the second quarter, announcing Tuesday that its profits more than doubled to $3.9 billion. Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest crude exporter, posted an even stronger performance: the state-owned energy giant notched a 44% year-over-year increase in second-quarter net profit, hitting $32.69 billion, lifted by rising prices for crude, refined fuels and chemical products.

    These blockbuster results from Middle Eastern and European oil majors follow similar blowout earnings reports from the largest U.S. oil drillers, released last week. Texas-based Exxon Mobil said Friday that its second-quarter profit doubled to $14.5 billion, fueled by record diesel production, with overall revenue climbing 42% to $116 billion. Houston-based Chevron saw an even steeper gain, with profits nearly quadrupling to $12 billion and revenue surging 56% to over $70 billion.

    For consumers worldwide, the energy market disruption has translated directly to higher everyday costs. Elevated oil prices have pushed up prices for gasoline, jet fuel and diesel, raising shipping costs for all goods that rely on ground, air or sea transport. In Western countries, this has translated to more expensive fill-ups at the gas pump and higher airfares for travelers. But the impact is far more severe across much of Asia, which relies disproportionately on oil exports that pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Several Asian nations have already faced acute fuel shortages, forcing governments to implement fuel rationing and temporarily close schools and public offices.

    The soaring profits of big oil have drawn sharp criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump, who slammed the companies this week for what he called outsized gains even after oil prices fell to a three-week low on Tuesday.

    “They made too much money, too much money,” Trump told reporters Monday. “They ought to give some of that back to the public, and they better cut the retail price.” Trump added that he was unhappy with the results posted by Chevron and Exxon Mobil, despite the fact that energy prices only spiked after the U.S.-backed military actions in Iran that led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

    Oil prices dipped sharply this week, following comments from U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who told CNBC that a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz could come as soon as 24 hours. On Tuesday, U.S. crude fell 5.4% ($4.36) to settle at $75.98 per barrel, down from roughly $92 per barrel in late July, but still more than 13% higher than levels seen before the conflict began. International benchmark Brent crude also dropped 4.9% to $83.87 per barrel.

    A diplomatic resolution to the five-month-long conflict would allow hundreds of tankers carrying oil and energy products trapped in the Persian Gulf to resume their journey to global markets, easing supply shortages.

    Despite the recent pullback in oil prices, shares of major oil companies have outperformed broader markets by a wide margin this year, with stock values climbing between 20% and 30% — far outstripping the 13% gain logged by the S&P 500 index over the same period.

  • Afghanistan’s child deaths are rising as food distributions face cuts, UN says

    Afghanistan’s child deaths are rising as food distributions face cuts, UN says

    The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) issued a stark alert on Tuesday, announcing that child malnutrition has reached catastrophic, critical levels across 12 of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces — one third of the entire country — and the crisis is poised to deteriorate rapidly as crippling funding gaps force widespread cuts to life-saving food distributions and nutritional support.

  • Video shows Russian drone chasing Ukrainian street vendor in ‘human safari’ attack

    Video shows Russian drone chasing Ukrainian street vendor in ‘human safari’ attack

    A shocking incident of alleged intentional targeting of an unarmed civilian by a Russian drone in southern Ukraine’s Kherson region has drawn widespread international condemnation, with Ukrainian leaders calling it a clear example of systemic war crimes perpetrated by Russian forces against civilian populations.

    The dramatic footage of the attack, shared by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on his official Telegram channel, captures the entire harrowing ordeal: a 52-year-old street vegetable vendor identified only as Yuriy is relentlessly pursued by a hovering drone along a city street in the Tavriiskyi district of northern Kherson, mere miles from active frontline positions. As the drone locks onto him, Yuriy attempts to evade the aircraft, first ducking behind his white work van, then holding up heads of garlic toward the drone’s camera in a desperate attempt to prove he is an unarmed civilian, not a military target. Even as Yuriy ducks under a market umbrella while fleeing, the drone continues tracking him before diving directly at him and detonating on impact.

    Yuriy survived the attack but was hospitalized with concussion, blunt force trauma, and multiple shrapnel wounds, according to his treating physician. His work van, which he used for his vending business, was completely destroyed in the blast. In a video statement released from his hospital bed by Kherson’s regional governor after the attack, Yuriy recounted that he and his wife had only just begun setting out crates of tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplants and other produce for sale when they heard the distinctive buzzing of a drone overhead. When his wife fled the area, the drone redirected its pursuit exclusively to Yuriy.

    Zelensky emphasized in his post that the footage must be seen globally, arguing that it provides irrefutable proof that Russian forces have adopted a deliberate strategy of terror against Ukrainian civilians. “It must see every piece of evidence that Russia has gone mad, and every fact that Russian soldiers are enjoying killings and tormenting people,” Zelensky wrote.

    Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha echoed the president’s condemnation, labeling the attack a barbaric war crime and noting that these so-called “human safari” drone strikes are a deliberate, systemic Russian strategy. “The sadist operating this drone knows full well that he is targeting a civilian,” Sybiha added.

    The practice of “human safari” attacks, in which remotely operated drones are used to hunt down and kill unarmed civilians in frontline areas, has been well-documented in Kherson for years. A 2025 United Nations report confirmed that Russian armed forces have recurrently killed and injured civilians in the region through this tactic. In many cases, drone operators film the pursuit and attack, then post the footage online to spread terror, allowing thousands to view the final terrified moments of their victims. The UN has repeatedly stated that publicizing these videos of attacked civilians amounts to an additional war crime of outrages upon personal dignity. Independent fact-checking team BBC Verify has confirmed the geolocation of the attack footage, matching it to a public market beside a roundabout in the Tavriiskyi district, matching Ukrainian authorities’ accounts.

  • EU commends Spain’s ‘swift response’ to Ceuta migrant crisis

    EU commends Spain’s ‘swift response’ to Ceuta migrant crisis

    In the wake of an unprecedented mass migration event that saw more than 70,000 people cross into Spain’s North African exclave of Ceuta in just 48 hours late last month, European Union interior ministers have formally commended Madrid for its rapid handling of the crisis, despite sharp divisions among member states that have tested the bloc’s border and migration policy frameworks.

    Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska confirmed that between July 30 and 31, approximately 72,000 migrants entered Ceuta from neighboring Morocco. In the days following the influx, Spanish authorities have moved to repatriate roughly 70,000 people back to Morocco, though the event has already left a devastating human toll: at least 75 people have been confirmed dead on the Spanish side of the border, with 11 additional fatalities recorded in Moroccan territory.

    The emergency meeting of EU interior ministers, held Tuesday, was convened after several member states publicly raised concerns over Spain’s management of the crisis, with far-right Italian leadership leading the criticism. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni framed the unplanned mass crossing as a direct security threat to the entire European continent, prompting Rome to suspend its Schengen Area free movement agreement with Spain late last week. Since Italy and Spain share no land border, the restriction only applies to air travel, requiring enhanced security checks for passengers traveling between the two nations.

    The divided stances among EU members deepened as Finland and Denmark publicly backed Italy’s action, while Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš went further, calling for a temporary suspension of Spain’s full Schengen membership. In total, 23 EU nations signed a joint letter expressing formal concern over the situation in Ceuta.

    Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez pushed back against the criticism, noting that Ceuta is not formally part of the Schengen border-free zone, and accused critical governments of attacking Spain for political gain, driven by “prejudice, fake news, ignorance, or political interest.” He acknowledged that most member states had offered support and solidarity, but condemned the actions of those that had not.

    Following Tuesday’s closed-door meeting, Irish Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan, who chaired the discussions, reaffirmed that the bloc remains united in solidarity with Spain, emphasizing that cross-border migration can only be addressed through coordinated, collective European action. Grande-Marlaska struck a conciliatory tone after the meeting, stating that the integrity of the Schengen Area remained intact and that he hoped Italy would reverse its additional border checks at the earliest opportunity.

    EU Commissioner Magnus Brunner characterized the Ceuta crisis as a critical stress test for European border security and collective resilience, a challenge he said the bloc had ultimately passed successfully. Brunner confirmed that the EU has offered Spain emergency funding to bolster border infrastructure and support ongoing crisis management operations. He added that investigations into the root causes of the sudden mass influx point to coordination by criminal smuggling networks and the spread of misleading disinformation across social media platforms that encouraged migrants to attempt the crossing.

    The mass crossing followed a recent ruling by Spain’s Supreme Court that barred authorities from summarily returning migrants intercepted at sea while attempting to reach Ceuta or Melilla, Spain’s second North African exclave, to Morocco. Moroccan officials claim they warned Spanish leaders that the ruling would trigger a major migration crisis, but Madrid has rejected this assertion, saying it received no intelligence warning of the unprecedented scale of the crossing.

    As of this week, hundreds of migrants remain in Ceuta, with photos and on-the-ground reports showing large groups gathering on city beaches to wait for food, water and emergency aid distributed by the Red Cross. Some migrants have carried handwritten banners calling for asylum, while many have been forced to sleep on public beaches and city streets due to overcrowding in local reception facilities.

    Public concern has grown over the conditions for vulnerable migrants remaining in Ceuta, particularly unaccompanied minor migrants, with local reports indicating roughly 800 children are being held in temporary facilities across the city. Grande-Marlaska moved to address these concerns, confirming that the Spanish government is committed to upholding the human rights of all migrants, including minors, and has earmarked 25 million euros (approximately $28.8 million) specifically to support care for underage migrants in Ceuta.

    Grande-Marlaska added that Spanish authorities are continuing close, firm cooperation with Moroccan officials to prevent further unauthorized border crossings, and that all remaining migrants in Ceuta will be processed and returned to Morocco as quickly as possible.

  • Trump administration will close 5 smaller US consulates in Africa, Asia and the Western Hemisphere

    Trump administration will close 5 smaller US consulates in Africa, Asia and the Western Hemisphere

    The Trump administration has formally notified Congress of a planned restructuring of U.S. diplomatic posts across three global regions, moving forward with the closure of five small diplomatic missions while advancing high-profile plans to restart formal diplomatic operations in three politically critical countries. According to internal administration notices obtained by the Associated Press, the State Department sent separate formal notifications to congressional legislators late last week outlining the five targeted locations for shutdown: the full U.S. embassy in the Caribbean island nation of Grenada, two U.S. consulates located in Nagoya, Japan and Medan, Indonesia, a small American Presence Post diplomatic outpost in Winnipeg, Canada, and a regional embassy branch office based in Douala, Cameroon.

    Department officials project that the streamlining measure will generate approximately $4.4 million in annual cost savings for the federal government. All five targeted missions are classified as small-scale posts, with extremely lean staffing compared to larger U.S. diplomatic facilities around the world. Breaking down the personnel numbers: the Grenada embassy and the Nagoya consulate each employ just one direct-hire American staff member and five locally hired workers; the Medan consulate has four American employees and 47 local staff; the Winnipeg outpost relies entirely on two local workers with no full-time U.S.-based personnel; and the Douala branch office counts 14 local staff members.

    This planned round of closures follows an earlier announcement from the State Department earlier this year, which ordered the permanent shutdown of the U.S. consulate in Peshawar, Pakistan. That facility had served as the closest U.S. diplomatic mission to Afghanistan after the complete withdrawal of American military forces from the country in 2021.

    The restructuring effort comes as the State Department pursues a broader organizational strategy to optimize its global operational footprint, reallocating resources toward priority diplomatic initiatives. A core component of that push is the multi-million dollar investment to reopen U.S. embassies in three countries: Caracas, Venezuela; Damascus, Syria; and Tripoli, Libya. The reopening of these posts marks a step to restore full formal U.S. diplomatic presence in these nations after long-ruling authoritarian leaders were ousted from power in each country, completing the restart of diplomatic engagement that had been paused for years.

  • US men to host Peru, Chile, Mexico and Canada to kick off next World Cup cycle

    US men to host Peru, Chile, Mexico and Canada to kick off next World Cup cycle

    After a promising run to the knockout stage of the 2022 men’s World Cup, the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) is ready to embark on the road to the 2030 edition of the tournament, announcing a packed 11-day schedule of four home-friendly matches to kick off its new cycle under newly re-signed head coach Mauricio Pochettino.

    All four matches will be hosted in American metropolitan areas that did not host 2022 World Cup matches, giving local soccer fans across different regions of the country a chance to see the national team compete in person. The opening match of the slate is scheduled for September 26, when the USMNT will face Peru at Orlando’s Inter&Co Stadium. Just three days after that first contest, the team will take on Chile at St. Louis’ Energizer Park.

    The iconic continental rivalry between the US and Mexico will be reignited on October 3, when the two sides clash at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The four-game stretch will wrap up three days later with a matchup against Canada at Allianz Field, located in St. Paul, Minnesota.

    For soccer fans unable to attend the matches in person, every game will be carried across multiple major streaming and broadcast platforms: linear sports network TNT, Warner Bros. Discovery’s streaming service HBO Max, Spanish-language broadcasters Telemundo and Universo, and NBCUniversal’s streaming platform Peacock will all carry the contests to reach both English and Spanish-speaking audiences across the country.

    This series of friendlies marks the first competitive action for the USMNT since Pochettino signed a new contract extension that will keep him at the helm of the national program through the 2030 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco.

    In an official statement announcing the schedule, Pochettino expressed enthusiasm for launching the new cycle with home matches for American supporters. “We are so excited to start this new phase of our journey with matches in front of our home fans,” he said. “Their amazing energy during the summer has set the standard. Our objective is always to play the best opponents possible, and these matches provide a variety of experiences for this group of players as we begin this new chapter of the U.S Men’s National Team.”

  • The Danube River’s water is dropping so low that World War II ships are emerging

    The Danube River’s water is dropping so low that World War II ships are emerging

    A crippling European drought has shrunk water levels on the Danube — Europe’s second-longest river — to near-record lows, revealing a haunting relic of World War II: the rusted hulls of dozens of deliberately sunken Nazi German warships near the Serbian port town of Prahovo.

    Lying along the central stretch of the river that forms the natural border between Serbia and Romania, the emerging wrecks include a corroded vessel with a snapped mast that once flew the Nazi battle flag. Historians confirm these ships were part of Nazi Germany’s Black Sea fleet, scuttled by retreating German forces in September 1944 as Soviet troops pushed into the Balkans. The deliberate sinking was intended to block the river and slow the Soviet advance, though the Third Reich collapsed just eight months later in May 1945. Experts estimate as many as 200 German warships were scuttled in the Danube gorge near Prahovo, many still holding undeployed weapons and unexploded ordnance that has kept them in place for nearly 80 years.

    While the visible wrecks have drawn curious onlookers escaping the record summer heat, the extreme low water triggering their exposure has sparked a far more urgent crisis across Central and Eastern Europe. Multiple regional power plants that draw cooling water from the Danube have been pushed to the edge of full shutdown, forcing national governments to implement strict electricity conservation measures. The shallow waters also create major hazards for commercial navigation, grinding cross-border river traffic to a near halt in the worst-hit stretches.

    Prahovo local resident Krsta Brandic confirmed the severity of the navigation disruption, noting large cargo and passenger vessels are no longer able to traverse the shallow section of the river near the town.

    Efforts to remove the dangerous wrecks have been underway for decades: the Serbian government has pursued removal projects with financial backing from the European Union, and Communist-era Yugoslav authorities already cleared a small number of the ships. However, the presence of unstable explosives onboard most wrecks has complicated and delayed large-scale clearance operations for generations.

    Climate scientists have linked this summer’s record-breaking heat and sustained drought across the Danube basin to human-caused global warming, a pattern that has intensified drought conditions across Southern and Central Europe in recent years. Spanning 10 European countries, the Danube functions as a critical commercial and ecological artery for the continent, making low water events a growing concern for regional energy, trade and infrastructure stability.