Russian Soldier Remanded After Allegedly Killing Five Ukrainian Servicemen and One Civilian

A Russian soldier has been remanded in custody without bail after being accused of murdering five unarmed Ukrainian servicemen and a civilian in Kharkiv Oblast on 13 October. [3]

Russian Soldier Charged With Six Murders in Kharkiv Oblast

Leonid Ryzhykov has been accused of shooting dead a 60-year-old local civilian who was fishing in a pond near the village of Mykhailivka in the Kharkiv district on 13 October without any apparent reason. [3] After killing the elderly man, he pushed his body into the water. [3] On the same day, Ryzhykov entered a private property in the village of Momotove, where five Ukrainian servicemen were temporarily staying. [3] At the time, they were not taking part in hostilities, were unarmed and were dressed in civilian clothes, making them civilians under the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War. [3] Without any necessity, Ryzhykov ruthlessly shot these people dead, some of whom were simply sleeping. [3] Law enforcement officials say Ryzhykov hid his rifle and headed towards Kharkiv. [3] On 14 October, SSU officers, together with the National Police and the National Guard, detained him in the city's Saltivskyi district. [3] On 15 October, the detainee was formally notified that he is suspected of committing a crime. [3] At the request of a prosecutor from Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor's Office, a Russian soldier suspected of murdering six people in Kharkiv Oblast has been remanded in custody without the right to bail. [3]

Biker Shooting in Pretoria Sparks Public Dispute Between Clubs

A MAC’s Motorcycle Club member was killed and another wounded in a shooting outside a Pretoria pub late on Saturday, 10 October. [1] A biker affiliated with the Crusaders Motorcycle Club was arrested in connection with that incident, which, according to the police, involved one bullet being fired. [1] Crusaders biker Brian Smith was later arrested. [1] Smith made his first appearance in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, 13 October, and is expected back in the dock again next week on 20 October when he may apply for bail. [1] The National Prosecuting Authority in Gauteng issued a statement after Smith appeared in court, saying he faced a murder and attempted murder charge. [1] It alleged that when Smith arrived at the pub last Saturday, Watson and the man who went on to be wounded allegedly approached Smith at the entrance and asked him to leave because he belonged to a different biking club. [1] It is alleged that Smith then drew a firearm and opened fire on the two men before fleeing the scene. [1] In the early hours of the following morning, Smith handed himself over to the police and was subsequently arrested. [1] National Vice-President of the Crusaders, Eddie Jacobsen, replied on Thursday and focused on the recent shooting. [1] Jacobsen said the matter is therefore sub judice, and we are unable to comment further while the investigation and legal process are ongoing. [1] Crusaders MC has pledged its full cooperation with SAPS should this be required, but we cannot comment on any aspect of the matter until the investigation has run its full course. [1] MAC’s Motorcycle Club released a public statement on Friday, 16 October 2026, calling the videos “defamatory”, “propaganda” and cautioning that AI capabilities needed to be taken into consideration. [1] Its statement also referenced active police investigations and expelled MAC’s members who still had club apparel. [1]

Ghana Police Seize Cannabis and Reject Bribe

Police in the Northern Region have arrested four persons and seized 142 compressed parcels of suspected Indian hemp following an intelligence-led operation on the Bimbilla-Tamale highway. [4] The operation was carried out on Thursday, 15 October, at about 6:30 p.m. by the Northern Regional Special Operations Team, codenamed Red Maria, led by Chief Inspector Abu Isahaku and comprising 13 personnel. [4] The team intercepted a mini commercial bus with registration number GW 7800-14 travelling from Bimbilla towards Tamale, driven by 46-year-old Alhassan Zeblim, and a search conducted on the vehicle revealed 142 compressed parcels of suspected Indian hemp concealed in four jute sacks. [4] The driver told the police officers he was transporting the consignment to an unidentified tricycle rider in Tamale and subsequently contacted the intended recipient, leading police to an agreed meeting point. [4] At the location, police arrested Ibrahim Yussif, 34, the tricycle rider, and his brother, Bawa Yussif, 56, who had accompanied him to receive the consignment. [4] During interrogation, Ibrahim Yussif identified Mohammed Haruna as the owner of the consignment and led the team to a drinking spot known as Sarafina in Tamale, where Haruna was arrested. [4] The suspects offered the arresting team a bribe of GH¢50,000, which the officers rejected. [4] All four suspects and the exhibits have been handed over to the Regional Drugs Law Enforcement Unit for further investigation. [4]

Chinese Student Deported From Taiwan Over Threatening Post

The National Immigration Agency said it has revoked a Chinese exchange student’s entry permit and deported him over a gesture it said targeted President William Lai. [2] A Chinese exchange student surnamed Wang on Douyin posted footage of Lai speaking at the event, along with remarks widely seen as threatening, including: “Is this the only chance you’ll ever get?” and “Take down little Lai Ching-te.” [2] The post also included slogans such as: “Unification across the Taiwan Strait is a historical inevitability” and “Oppose separatist acts promoting Taiwan independence.” [2] The post sparked an outcry online, with many calling on the Ministry of the Interior to deport Wang. [2] The agency said it had completed its investigation in accordance with the law and consulted the Ministry of Education, the Mainland Affairs Council and other government bodies. [2] It concluded that Wang’s conduct violated the principle of mutual respect and dignity and had caused social unrest in Taiwan. [2] Wang was deported at 3pm yesterday, and barred from entry for five years, it said. [2] Wang is also barred from applying to visit Taiwan for five years, and any subsequent applications will be subject to strict scrutiny, it said. [2] In response to the case, NTU said yesterday it had accompanied the student when he was questioned by authorities and providing him with assistance. [2] NTU said it respected the government's enforcement of relevant rules and remained committed to freedom of expression and an open, diverse and respectful campus. [2]

Arizona County Identified as Primary Source of Guns Trafficked to Mexico

Maricopa County, in Arizona, has emerged as the “main epicenter” of illegal arms trafficking into Mexico, according to John Lindsay-Poland, coordinator of Stop US Arms to Mexico. [5] Maricopa County accounts for a high volume of weapons trafficked to Mexico and used in crimes on U.S. soil. [5] More than two-thirds of the firearms recovered in Mexico in 2024 and traced back to the United States came from just three counties: Maricopa County, in the Phoenix metropolitan area (53.9%); Pima County, home to Tucson (8.8%); and Harris County, in the Houston area of Texas (6.4%). [5] The ATF measures this through what it calls “time to crime,” the period between a firearm’s legal purchase and its recovery at a crime scene. [5] After analyzing firearms with a time-to-crime of less than one year between early 2024 and May 2026, researchers identified just over 4,000 weapons, the vast majority originating in Maricopa County, particularly in Phoenix. [5] One case highlighted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security last August illustrates the scale of the problem. [5] After a two-year investigation, authorities announced five indictments and the seizure of weapons and ammunition. [5] The case involved 21 individuals, including Fernando Daniel Castro, a 24-year-old resident of Phoenix, and his alleged associates. [5] Prosecutors accuse Castro of recruiting and paying so-called “straw purchasers” to acquire firearms through legal channels with the intention of illegally transferring them to third parties. [5] As part of the operation, authorities seized 100 firearms and more than 125,000 rounds of ammunition in Arizona. [5]

What to watch next: Smith is expected back in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on 20 October when he may apply for bail, while the four suspects in the Ghana cannabis case have been handed over to the Regional Drugs Law Enforcement Unit for further investigation.