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The US has sanctioned Mexican hip-hop artist El Makabelico for allegedly laundering money for the Cartel del Noreste. Authorities say 50 percent of his streaming royalties go directly to the group, which is accused of drug trafficking, extortion, and human smuggling, BBC reported.

Three senior cartel members—Abdon Rodriguez, Antonio Romero, and Francisco Esqueda—were also sanctioned. The Treasury called the cartel one of Mexico’s most violent and reaffirmed its commitment to cutting off its funding.

El Makabelico’s label, DEL Records, has not commented, according to BBC.

Southern Europe is battling deadly wildfires and extreme heat, forcing evacuations in France, Spain, and Portugal, Al Jazeera reported.

In France’s Aude region, the largest wildfire this season has killed one person, injured nine, and burned an area bigger than Paris. Over 1,800 firefighters are struggling to contain the blaze amid drought and dry conditions worsened by climate change.

Spain faces multiple fires amid a heatwave reaching 43°C (109°F), with evacuations near Tarifa, Galicia, and Cadiz. Heat-related deaths rose sharply in July.

Portugal has seen huge wildfires this year, with tens of thousands of hectares burned and several fires still active. Lisbon declared a state of alert as fire risks soar, according to Al Jazeera.

Experts say rising temperatures are making Southern Europe’s fire seasons longer and more intense.

Israel is moving ahead with plans to build over 4,000 new settlement homes in the West Bank’s E1 area, linking Ma’ale Adumim to Jerusalem and effectively splitting the West Bank. This move faces strong international criticism, seen as a major blow to the two-state solution, according to Al Jazeera.

The expansion would take more than 1,200 hectares of Palestinian land and restrict access, deepening concerns that Israel aims to fragment Palestinian territories and block a viable Palestinian state. Germany and others have condemned the plan, warning it threatens long-term peace prospects.

The UN World Food Program is calling for continuous aid to Gaza to prevent mass starvation, as hunger-related deaths rise to 193, including five new deaths in the past 24 hours. Gaza’s Interior Ministry warns that aid airdrops are causing injuries and fueling disorder, according to UN News.

Israel’s war on Gaza has killed over 61,000 and wounded more than 151,000. In Israel, 1,139 were killed in the October 7 attacks, with over 200 taken captive.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah has dismissed a Lebanese government plan to disarm.

President Donald Trump has set up a federal task force to prepare for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, aiming to make the event “safe, seamless and historically successful”, Al Jazeera reported.

The group, including top officials like Vice President JD Vance and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, will coordinate on security, visas, and transport.

Trump also praised the US Olympic Committee for its stance on transgender athletes, saying the US won’t let “men steal trophies from women.”

LA28 chair Casey Wasserman called the task force a key step in delivering an unforgettable Games. Trump also noted his excitement for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico, according to Al Jazeera.

Apple is set to announce a $100bn investment to expand manufacturing in the US, the White House said Wednesday.

The move aims to boost job creation and shift parts of Apple’s supply chain to the US. White House adviser Kevin Hassett called it a major win under President Trump’s efforts to reshore production, according to BBC.

The announcement is expected later today, with limited details so far. Apple shares rose over 3.8 percent following the news.

President Donald Trump has announced a 25 percent tariff increase on Indian imports, raising the total duty to 50 percent, in response to India’s continued purchase of Russian oil. The move, set to take effect on 27 August, is aimed at pressuring countries to cut ties with Moscow over its actions in Ukraine, according to BBC.

India called the tariff “unfair and unjustified”, saying it buys Russian oil to meet its energy needs after traditional supplies were diverted. Delhi warned it will take necessary steps to protect its interests.

Experts say the hike could cut Indian exports to the US by up to 50 percent, straining trade ties between the two partners, BBC reported.

The principal shooting of the Nepali movie Parivartan has been completed in 56 days, according to producer Deepak Siwakoti. Except for two songs—a patriotic number and a folk song—filming of all other scenes concluded on Monday. The movie has been filmed in various locations across Jhapa district, including Buddhashanti Rural Municipality, Kachankawal Rural Municipality, Bhadrapur Municipality, Arjundhara Municipality, Kankai Municipality, Birtamod, and Mechinagar Municipality, as well as in the eastern city of Biratnagar.

Directed by Bijay Kerung, the film features actor Sushil Shrestha and actress Anjana Baraili in lead roles. The cast also includes Gautam Tiwari Suryavanshi, Buddhi Tamang, Karishma Manandhar, Asha Paudel, Subash Meche, Pukar Bhattarai, Hemant Budhathoki, Ayesha Karki, Sagar Kharel, Raju Kharel, Krishna Koirala, Subash Kharel, Kalpana Khatiwada, Shankar Shrestha, Rohan Century, and Yamnath Kharel, among others.

Produced under the banner of Divyasi Films Pvt Ltd, Parivartan is said to center around themes of border security, corruption, and the struggles of underprivileged and marginalized communities in Nepal.

Producer Siwakoti has also written the story, while the screenplay and dialogues have been penned by Shivam Adhikari. Other members of the production team include Arun Regmi (Production Head), Shiva Dhakal (Director of Photography), Bande Prasad (Editor), Shri Shrestha (Action Director), Sajan Bastakoti (Assistant Producer), Navaraj Sharma (Chief Assistant Director), Bishwo Jung Shahi and Nishan Subba (Assistant Directors), and Royal Bhimsen and Trident Concept (Poster and Promotional Design).