Felix Baumgartner, Professional Daredevil, Dies Paragliding at 56
© Red Bull Content/Red Bull Stratos, via Reuters
© Red Bull Content/Red Bull Stratos, via Reuters
They paid the highest price for Ukraine’s freedom. British journalist Colin Freeman, in his book The Mad and the Brave, told the stories of foreign volunteers who joined Ukraine’s International Legion, writes The Telegraph.
The International Legion of the Ukrainian Defense Forces, a military unit established in 2022, brings together volunteers from over 50 countries, including the US, Canada, and the UK, to help Ukraine fight off Russian aggression.
Freeman compares the influx of volunteers who rushed to aid Ukraine in the early weeks of the all-out war to the International Brigades in the Spanish Civil War of 1936–1939 when thousands from around the world fought fascism.
He portrays a variety of individuals, from veterans of the Syrian war against ISIS to adrenaline seekers and those fleeing heartbreak.
One striking story is that of British combat medic John Harding, who joined the Azov Battalion in 2018. He disproved Russian propaganda about “national extremists” and endured the horrors of the battle for Mariupol, the siege of Azovstal, and months of torture in captivity.
Another hero is Briton Christopher Perryman, a veteran of wars in Iraq, Somalia, and Bosnia, who left behind a young son to fight the Russian aggressor.
Perryman believed he had no moral right to abandon millions of Ukrainian parents in distress, given his extensive military experience. Sadly, he was killed by artillery fire at the end of 2023.
After more than three years of war, the fates of foreign volunteers vary: some died, some cope with PTSD, and others continue fighting alongside Ukrainians.
Earlier, Euromaidan Press published a story about a former paramedic from Colombia, known as Miguel, who came to Ukraine intending to serve as a combat medic. However, due to the language barrier, he was assigned to the infantry.
Despite this, he never abandoned his mission. Every day on the front line, he saves the lives of his comrades. He is learning Ukrainian by singing Chervona Kalyna, the country’s patriotic anthem, and surviving tactics against Russian artillery.
The International Fencing Federation seeks to bring back athletes who support or take part in the killing of Ukrainians. Over 440 fencers from 40 countries have signed an open letter to the organization, urging it to reinstate strict background checks for Russian and Belarusian athletes, Reuters reports.
The reason is the admission of athletes from aggressor states to the World Championship in Tbilisi, scheduled for 22–26 July, without thorough vetting of their involvement in Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Russia’s war has killed over 500 Ukrainian athletes, including children. Nearly 500 sports facilities have been partially or completely destroyed in Russian attacks.
“By removing comprehensive background checks, the FIE risks allowing individuals whose affiliations or actions conflict with the values of neutrality and non-violence to compete under a neutral status,” the athletes stated in the letter, published by the Global Athlete movement.
Elite fencers voiced their opposition to the International Fencing Federation’s decision to replace screening procedures with a formal declaration of neutrality.
Putin’s “neutral” athletes cheer Russia’s atrocities in Ukraine — but FIFA can’t wait to get them back
“The FIE’s decision contradicts the core principles of fencing, respect, integrity, and fair play, and deviates from the approach originally taken by the international sporting community,” the letter reads.
The Ukrainian Fencing Federation has warned it may pursue legal action, as some admitted Russian athletes hold military ranks. The European Fencing Confederation also condemned “the lack of independent verification in the eligibility process for so-called neutral athletes.”
Last week, the organization claimed that its position “underscores the Federation’s commitment to peace, fairness, and the global unity of sport.” But many athletes and federations see this as a cover for bringing aggressors back into international sports.
Ukrainian Olympic champion Olga Kharlan, who was disqualified in 2023 for refusing to shake hands with a Russian opponent, says that such International Fencing Federation policies could destroy fencing’s presence in the Olympic program.
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© Sophie Park for The New York Times
Le défenseur américain s’était amené avec le CF Montréal en décembre 2022.
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Toronto doit commander 55 nouvelles rames de métro pour la ligne 2, au coût estimé de 2,3 milliards de $.
Stéphane Dupuis, 55 ans, de Saint-Anaclet-de-Lessard, arrêté le 12 septembre relativement à du trafic de stupéfiants, a été cité à son procès le 14 juillet par le juge Yves Desaulniers à la suite de la tenue de son interrogatoire qui, au préalable, s’est tenu la semaine précédente.
La date du procès devrait être fixée le 8 septembre. Dupuis a opté pour un procès devant un juge de la Cour du Québec (sans jury).
Une ouverture des paquets scellés a eu lieu dans ces dossiers pour permettre à la défense d’avoir accès aux arguments ayant mené à l’émission du mandat de perquisition.
Me Caroline Bérubé remplace Me Pierre Gagnon, qui a présenté une requête pour cesser d’occuper en décembre.
Quatre nouvelles accusations ont été portées contre Dupuis, le 20 septembre.
Il est accusé de possession dans le but de faire le trafic de cocaïne et de métamphétamines, d’avoir eu en sa possession de l’argent en sachant qu’il a été obtenu par la perpétration d’un acte criminel et d’avoir eu en sa possession une arme à feu sans détenir de permis.
L’accusé a été remis en liberté sous conditions le 20 septembre. Dupuis a comparu une première fois le 13 septembre pour face à des accusations en matière de trafic de stupéfiants.
Le 12 septembre en avant-midi, des enquêteurs de la division des enquêtes sur les crimes majeurs de Rimouski ainsi que des policiers du poste de la MRC de Rimouski-Neigette ont procédé à l’arrestation de Stéphane Dupuis.
Lors d’une perquisition à son domicile, les policiers ont saisi un peu plus de 1300 grammes de cocaïne, environ 1500 comprimés de métamphétamine, près de 65 000$ en argent, une dizaine d’armes de chasse, deux arbalètes, une camionnette de style pickup saisie comme bien infractionnel, une liste de comptabilité et trois téléphones cellulaires.
Un nouveau dossier a été présenté à la cour le 24 février pour une accusation de vol de moins de 5000$. Pour cette infraction, il est admissible au Programme de mesure de rechange (PMRG).
Il reviendra en cour le 8 septembre pour vérifier si la mesure de rechange (généralement un don ou des travaux communautaires) a été exécutée. Si c’est le cas, le dossier sera rayé et il n’y aura pas de peine.
Zelenskyy installs ex-defense minister Umierov to run Security Council
The man once in charge of defense now oversees war tech, arms deals, and talks.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed Rustem Umierov to lead the country’s National Security and Defense Council. He takes over the Security Council after stepping down as defense minister in a wartime Cabinet reshuffle, and will now oversee arms deals, tech coordination, and peace negotiations.
Zelenskyy signed the decree appointing Umierov secretary of the Security Council on 18 July, according to the presidential website. He replaces Oleksandr Lytvynenko, who had held the position since 26 March and is now reportedly being considered for an ambassadorial role in Serbia, Forbes reports, citing a government source speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of the issue.
Yuliia Svyrydenko was appointed Prime Minister, with new ministers named across the government. Zelenskyy emphasized that the new cabinet must ensure Ukraine’s defenders have confidence in reliable supply, and that boosting internal economic potential would support that goal.
In a post on X, Umierov confirmed his appointment and outlined his top priorities in his new role.
“Coordination and control of the security and defense sector,” he wrote, adding that an audit will be conducted on the implementation of decisions made by the Headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief.
He pledged to coordinate all arms deliveries, joint production, and sensitive international defense partnerships.
“I remain in constant dialogue with our international partners,” he said, referring to critical yet discreet defense agreements.
Umierov also stated he would fully restore the operation of the Technological Command Post to accelerate front-line modernization and battlefield tech innovation. One of the primary missions now under his oversight is the synchronized execution of orders across all components of Ukraine’s defense system.
Umierov’s responsibilities also include overseeing the negotiation track.
“Ukraine consistently advocates for a just peace — and we are working to achieve it in close coordination with our allies,” he wrote.
RFE/RL reports that Zelenskyy met with Umierov on 18 July to discuss the new leadership tasks. Among the key priorities mentioned by the president was “more dynamics” in implementing the agreements with Russia reached during the second summit in Istanbul.
Zelenskyy also tasked Umierov with continuing weapons coordination with Ukraine’s partners, fully implementing all supply agreements, and advancing new projects for joint arms production and defense manufacturing facilities on partner territory.
According to the president’s office, Umierov is expected to strengthen the format of the technological headquarters, enforce decisions delayed in execution, and ensure full compliance across the defense and security sectors.
The spies are also blamed for a prolonged campaign of cyberattacks across Europe
© AP
© Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire
Noah Jalbert, un homme de 19 ans de Rivière-du-Loup arrêté lors d’une opération policière dans le secteur de la rue Témiscouata à Rivière-du-Loup et accusé notamment d’extorsion et de séquestration, était de retour au palais de justice de Rivière-du-Loup le 14 juillet pour la tenue de son enquête sur remise en liberté. Celle-ci a finalement été reportée au 1er août.
Les policiers de la division des crimes majeurs de Rimouski, en partenariat avec ceux de la MRC de Rivière-du-Loup, ont procédé à l’arrestation de Jalbert le 13 mai. Celui-ci a été interrogé relativement à des actes de violence qui auraient été commis dans les jours précédents dans le secteur de Rivière-du-Loup.
Il a comparu le jour même sous plusieurs chefs d’accusation, notamment de séquestration, d’extorsion et de voie de fait.
Dans le cadre de cette opération, environ 140 grammes de cocaïne, près de 2000$ en argent et de l’équipement servant à la vente ont également été saisis. Il pourrait aussi faire face à des accusations relatives au trafic de stupéfiants.
Selon la Sûreté du Québec, les enquêtes en cours tendent à démontrer que les actes de violence seraient liés aux violences armées opposant le groupe Blood Family Mafia et les Hells Angels pour le trafic de stupéfiants dans l’Est-du-Québec.
« La Sûreté du Québec continuera d’assurer une pression constante sur le crime organisé et, ainsi, lutter activement contre la violence armée sur l’ensemble de notre territoire », mentionne le service de police par voie de communiqué.
Russia is “burning the candle at both ends” economically as top bankers quietly brace for bailouts amid a growing Russian debt crisis, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) wrote on 17 July. While the Kremlin pretends its economy is stable amid the ongoing protracted invasion of Ukraine, structural fractures continue to widen beneath that illusion.
Bloomberg reported on 17 July that senior executives at several of Russia’s largest banks have quietly discussed the possibility of requesting government bailouts. This comes as non-performing loans — debts that are late or unpaid — continue to rise in 2025. Documents reviewed by Bloomberg show that three systemically important Russian banks may need to recover funds lost to bad credit.
Russian banks have already seen non-performing loans grow by 1.2% this year. Forecasts suggest the rate could increase from the current 4% to as high as 6–7% by 2026. While ISW cannot independently verify these figures, it notes mounting signs of concern within the financial sector.
Central Bank Chairperson Elvira Nabiullina has dismissed fears of a banking crisis, claiming that reserves totaling eight trillion rubles (around $102.5 billion) are sufficient to cushion any shocks. However, ISW assesses that the Central Bank is likely unwilling to bail out major banks outright — a decision that could spark liquidity problems or even bank failures, directly undermining Russian President Vladimir Putin’s narrative of economic resilience.
ISW argues that the Kremlin is worsening the growing Russian debt crisis by expanding military spending while relaxing monetary policy to support short-term growth. Since 2022, the government has boosted one-time payments and salaries to attract military recruits and reinforce its defense industrial base. These high payments are necessary due to sustained battlefield losses and the challenge of attracting volunteers.
As defense wages rise, civilian industries struggle to retain workers, pushing up prices across service sectors. Labor shortages now impact both economic growth and war production. ISW maintains that Russia cannot indefinitely sustain these payouts or replace troops lost at current rates without a general mobilization — a step Putin has avoided.
On the surface, the Russian Central Bank reports success in reducing inflation. Bloomberg noted that in June 2025, the seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of inflation fell to 4%, matching the Bank’s target. The drop is attributed in part to a temporarily strong ruble, which lowered the cost of imported goods and helped suppress input costs and inflationary pressures for companies.
However, the Central Bank acknowledged that official annual inflation still stands at 9%. The SAAR is a short-term measure and does not reflect deeper economic trends. ISW argues that this data masks the real problems. Two complicating factors — the fading effect of ruble strength and rising service costs — are expected to slow progress in bringing inflation under control.
The think tank concludes wrote:
“Russia is effectively burning the candle at both ends by simultaneously loosening monetary policy to stimulate short-term growth, while expanding fiscal expenditure to feed the military effort.”
This path is likely to deepen the country’s macroeconomic instability, erode the value of the ruble, and diminish consumers’ ability to cope with rising costs. Behind the Central Bank’s controlled narrative, ISW sees rising stress in Russia’s economic foundation — a crisis building quietly but steadily.
Plus des deux tiers des foyers sont désormais équipés d'un tel système pour se rafraîchir.
Les attaques sur les médias sociaux, le mépris des citoyens et l'intimidation ont eu raison d'un conseiller.