Rubio Arrives in Iceland to Push for US Control Over the Arctic

U.S. President Donald Trump has approved the execution by firing squad of Nidal Hasan, a former U.S. Army psychiatrist convicted of killing 13 people in a mass shooting at Fort Hood, Texas, in 2009. The U.S. Department of Defense confirmed the decision. Hasan opened fire on fellow soldiers and civilians at the military base in what became one of the deadliest attacks on a U.S. military installation in history. He was convicted by a military court in 2013 and sentenced to death, but has remained on death row for over a decade. Trump's approval marks a significant step toward carrying out the long-delayed sentence. The use of a firing squad as the method of execution is notable, as it is rarely used in modern U.S. executions. The decision has drawn renewed attention to the case and to broader debates around military justice and capital punishment.

Belgian authorities arrested dozens of people on Monday during escalating student protests across the country. The majority of those detained are minors, indicating the demonstrations are largely driven by young people. The protests appear to have grown in intensity, prompting law enforcement to intervene with mass arrests. While the original excerpt does not specify the precise cause of the demonstrations, the scale and force of the response signals authorities view the situation as a significant public order concern. The arrests mark a notable escalation in what began as student-led activism. This story is being followed internationally, including in the Caribbean, as youth protest movements continue to gain momentum globally.

Romanian hunters are now permitted to kill nearly 1,000 brown bears per year following a recent change in national legislation. This new quota is almost double the previously allowed annual bear cull. The law change reflects ongoing tension in Romania between rural communities and one of Europe's largest brown bear populations. Proponents of the measure argue that bear attacks on livestock and humans have made the higher cull necessary. Conservation groups are expected to push back against the decision, raising concerns about the long-term impact on the bear population. Romania is home to an estimated 6,000 to 8,000 brown bears, making it a critical habitat for the species in Europe.