
Bomb attacks in Colombia leave at least 17 dead
A car bomb and an attack on a police helicopter in Colombia left at least 17 people dead on Thursday, authorities said. Colombian President Gustavo Petro attributed both attacks to dissidents from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), a leftist guerrilla group that has since disbanded.
At least 12 police officers were killed in the attack on the helicopter, which authorities said was transporting personnel to an area in Antioquia, in the north of the country, to destroy coca leaf crops, the raw material for cocaine production. Petro initially reported eight fatalities, but Antioquia governor Andrés Julián said four more died later and three others were injured.
EU and US announce trade deal on tariffs of up to 15%
Brussels and Washington published the joint statement on Thursday that seals the trade agreement reached almost a month ago, confirming that vehicles, semiconductors and pharmaceuticals will face maximum tariffs of 15% to enter the US.
The declaration, like the agreement reached on July 27 in Scotland between European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and US President Donald Trump, is only 'de facto'. It foresees that the reduction in tariffs on cars will be reciprocal once the EU starts the procedures for reducing tariffs on US products.
Erik Menendez's parole request denied after decades in prison
Erik Menendez was denied parole Thursday by a California jury because his persistent bad behavior during decades in prison for the 1989 murders of his parents and his older brother shows he still poses a risk to public safety.
Menendez will be eligible to apply for parole again in three years, a two-judge panel ruled. A hearing for his brother, Lyle Menendez, who is being held at the same prison in San Diego, is scheduled for Friday morning.
The two brothers were sentenced to life in prison in 1996 for the shooting deaths of their father, Jose Menendez, and mother, Kitty Menendez, in their Beverly Hills mansion.
Russia launches one of the largest air strikes of the year against Ukraine
Russia carried out one of the largest air strikes of the year on Ukraine, launching 574 drones and 40 ballistic and cruise missiles overnight Thursday, according to the Ukrainian Air Force.
The attack mainly targeted the western regions of the country, where most of the military aid from Ukraine's Western allies is believed to be sent and stored.
At least one person was killed and 15 others were injured, according to officials.
According to official data, this was Russia's third-largest air strike this year in terms of the number of drones used and the eighth-largest in terms of the number of missiles. Most of these strikes have hit civilian areas.