Liberian President Joseph Boakai has launched what his office describes as an unprecedented reconciliation campaign, overseeing memorial services for two assassinated presidents and issuing the government's first apology to war victims.

Monrovia

Liberian President Joseph Boakai has formally apologised to victims of the country’s civil wars during a national reconciliation ceremony, marking the first time a Liberian head of state has issued such an apology. Boakai pledged to establish an official day of remembrance and attended memorial services for former presidents Samuel Doe and William Tolbert, both of whom were killed during the conflict.

The reconciliation campaign comes as Liberia continues to address the aftermath of civil wars that claimed around 250,000 lives and saw widespread atrocities. Although Boakai previously signed an executive order to create a special war crimes tribunal, no prosecutions have yet taken place for crimes committed during the wars.

Liberia's Boakai apologises to war victims, honours slain presidents

It was an unprecedented move for a Liberian head of state. During a national reconciliation ceremony, President Joseph Buakai pledged to make July 5th an official day of remembrance and apologised to the population for the government's involvement in the civil war. There is hardly a Liberian family that has not been touched by the pain, the violence and injustice that have haunted our nation. On this historic occasion, I offer a formal apology on behalf of the state. The apology marked the latest step in an ongoing reconciliation drive launched by the Liberian head of state. Days earlier, Buakai attended memorial services for former presidents Samuel Doe and William Tolbert, both executed during the war. There too, he urged Liberians to draw strength and unity from their collective trauma, and to make sure history wouldn't repeat itself, in a speech that resonated with families of victims. It definitely doesn't fix it. But I do think and agree that the president is trying to reconcile. It's all about reconciling issues. Because, yes, we can forgive, but we can never, ever forget. Liberia's back-to-back civil wars, which devastated the country between 1989 and 2003, claimed a quarter of a million lives and resulted in widespread atrocities, including the use of thousands of child soldiers. Last year, Buakai signed an executive order to establish a special war crimes tribunal, but the country has yet to try anyone for crimes committed during that period.

Russia has intensified its aerial attacks on Ukraine, using upgraded drones designed to cause more damage and evade air defences. In Kyiv, a young woman captured video of the drones overhead — just before explosions echoed through the city.

Kyiv

Global Tariffs

Russia’s upgraded drone tactics bring intensified attacks across Ukraine

The Ventura County Fire Department said they responded to calls of people having breathing problems at a farm in Ventura County, California, after federal agents appeared to deploy tear gas canisters into the crowd.

Ventura County

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Washington

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A partial tunnel collapse in Los Angeles temporarily buried 31 workers in Los Angeles, California. CBS News' Carter Evans reports on the rescue operation.

Los Angeles

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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed “disappointment and frustration” over continued Russian attacks on Ukraine and said new sanctions on Russia are a “real option.” Kylie Atwood has more details from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Kuala Lumpur

Rubio: New Russia sanctions a ‘real option’

With Russia again bombarding Ukraine with drones, U.S. President Donald Trump says he’s considering sending another missile defence system to Ukraine.

Ukraine Invasion

Trump muses missile defence system for Ukraine

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Texas

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Linda Yaccarino is stepping down as CEO of X after two years leading Elon Musk's social media company. Yaccarino's departure comes one day after the company's Grok chatbot began pushing antisemitic tropes in responses to users.

San Francisco

Yaccarino steps down as CEO of Elon Musk's X

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Moscow

Trump calls out Putin for stalled peace talks

The Trump administration branded the event as one of the steps it is taking to reshape its relationship with the African continent.

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Kerr County

Recovery operations ongoing in Texas as more than 160 still missing

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on social media that he issued tariff letters to Algeria, Brunei, Iraq, Libya, Moldova and the Philippines.

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Sana'a

Middle East Conflict

Houthi rebels claim responsibility for attack on ship in Red Sea

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U.S. President Donald Trump pushed back during his Cabinet meeting about a question regarding Jeffrey Epstein. The DOJ claims Epstein had no list of clients, which is drawing criticism from some of the president's supporters.

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Ontario

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CNN’s Josh Cambell reports on questions over a lack of flood warning signals and lagging investment in river gauges in Kerr County after deadly floods killed over 100 people in Central Texas.

Officials face questions over preparedness for Texas floods

Hundreds of firefighters battled a fast-moving wildfire that reached the outskirts of the southern French city of Marseille on Tuesday, forcing people to stay indoors and the nearby airport to close.

Marseille

France wildfire shuts down Marseille airport

Liverpool's Portuguese forward Diogo Jota was probably speeding when the Lamborghini car he was driving crashed in northwestern Spain, killing him and his brother, police said in a preliminary report.

Cernadilla

Liverpool's Jota likely speeding when car crashed, police say

French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Britain on Tuesday for a state visit mixing royal pageantry with thorny political talks about stopping migrants from crossing the English Channel in small boats.

London

UK royals welcome France's Macron for state visit

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Trump says U.S. will send more weapons to Ukraine

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Rio de Janeiro

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U.S. President Donald Trump, hosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, said the United States had scheduled talks with Iran and indicated progress on a controversial effort to relocate Palestinians out of Gaza.

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Video captured by a BBC News crew shows French police slashing a boat filled with migrants trying to cross into the U.K. The crackdown comes ahead of a summit this week between the French president and British prime minister.

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President Donald Trump's Justice Department and FBI released a memo concluding that there is no evidence Jeffrey Epstein had a "client list." The FBI confirmed that more than 1,000 victims were harmed by Epstein.

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The death toll from the devastating floods in Texas has risen to at least 90 as rescue workers continue to search for dozens of missing people. At least 27 campers and counselors at Camp Mystic in central Texas died in the floods.

Kerrville

At least 90 people killed in Texas floods

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