FRANCE: The Paris prosecutor’s office said today that it had opened a preliminary investigation into suspicions that far-right leader Marine Le Pen’s 2022 presidential campaign received illegal finance.

Opened on July 2, the judicial probe is looking into allegations that a loan was accepted and that there was misappropriation of property, fraud and forgery. But it did not give details.

Ms Le Pen has not commented.

YEMEN: A suspected attack by forces of the Houthi-led government targeted a ship in the Gulf of Aden yesterday.

The captain reported an explosion in close proximity to the vessel off the coast of Nishtun, Yemen, near the border with Oman, according to the British military’s Maritime Trade Operations office. 

The ship, whose name and flag were not released, and all its crew are said to be safe.

INDIA: Separatist rebels are believed to be behind the ambush of an army vehicle in the Kathua district of Kashmir on Monday.

Five Indian soldiers were killed and another five wounded, officials said.

No group has immediately claimed responsibility for the attack in Kashmir, which is divided between India and Pakistan. Both countries claim the entire territory.

INDONESIA: Rescue workers dug through tons of mud and rubble today in a search for dozens of missing people after a landslide hit an unauthorised gold-mining area on Sulawesi island, killing at least 23.

Reports said that 66 villagers escaped from the landslide, 23 were pulled out alive by rescuers, including 18 with injuries, and 23 bodies were recovered. About 35 remain missing.