Wildfires in Turkey’s Canakkale force 1,000 evacuations, destroy homes
Two wildfires in Turkey’s northwestern Canakkale province forced around 1,000 people to evacuate and destroyed dozens of homes, officials said Saturday.
Environment Minister Murat Kurum reported 43 buildings in Sacakli village were badly damaged, with assessments ongoing.
The fires, now contained, also temporarily disrupted air and maritime traffic through the Dardanelles Strait, according to Xinhua.
IOC welcomes US task force for 2028 Los Angeles Olympics
The International Olympic Committee has praised the creation of a US government task force to support the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, calling it vital for smooth operations and full participation.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing the White House task force, which he will chair alongside Vice President JD Vance and key cabinet members. The group will focus on security, transportation, and visa processing for athletes, officials, and media, according to Xinhua.
In a statement, the IOC said the move reflects strong cooperation between the Organizing Committee and federal agencies, essential for delivering an inclusive and seamless Games. Los Angeles previously hosted the Olympics in 1932 and 1984; LA28 will be the first Summer Games in the US since Atlanta 1996.
Mozambique opens first forensic DNA lab
Mozambique has opened its first forensic DNA laboratory in Maputo to boost crime-solving and paternity case investigations, Xinhua reported.
SERNIC Director General Nelson Rego said the facility will help identify individuals, link suspects to crime scenes, and resolve complex cases through analysis of biological materials such as saliva, blood, and hair.
Built with state funding of about 150m meticais (US$2.35m), the lab can process up to 200 samples daily and will support the judiciary and law enforcement in criminal investigations and paternity disputes, according to Xinhua.
US seeks $1bn settlement from UCLA over antisemitism claims
The US government has demanded UCLA pay $1bn to settle antisemitism allegations, offering to restore $584m in frozen federal grants. A draft deal would require payments in installments, a $172m victims’ fund, and new oversight measures, Al Jazeera reported.
UC President James B. Milliken warned the payment would cripple California’s public university system, while Governor Gavin Newsom called the proposal “extortion” and vowed to fight it, accusing President Donald Trump of attacking academic freedom.
The freeze follows a Justice Department finding that UCLA ignored harassment of Jewish and Israeli students during 2024 campus protests. UCLA recently paid $6.45m to settle a related lawsuit, as over 60 US universities face similar federal probes, Al Jazeera reported.
