It says rebels use the fake vehicles to trick drones into wasting expensive missiles by firing at them.

Bamako

Mali's army has seized 20 inflatable pickup trucks that were allegedly being used by armed groups as decoys to mislead drone attacks. The plastic vehicles, costing around $1,300 each, are significantly cheaper than real vehicles and are intended to trick drones into wasting expensive missiles.

Authorities have not disclosed the date or location of the seizure due to an ongoing investigation. An official from one of the suspected groups, the FLA, stated that they have been using such decoys since the previous November and claimed to have been targeted by Malian army drones on three occasions.

Mali seizes inflatable cars armed groups planned using as decoys

It's a popular make of pickup truck across Africa, but these inflatable versions are not meant as toys. Mali's army has seized 20 of the plastic vehicles, saying armed groups intended using them as decoys to trick drones into wasting expensive missiles by firing at them. They cost about probably like $1,300, $1,300. And compared to the cost of a real vehicle or even on the human loss or the damages that the drones could cause, this is relatively cheap for them. So, this is one way for the groups to avoid the increased use of drones in both countries, in Mali and Burkina Faso. The Malian army says that due to the ongoing investigation, it would not disclose the date the shipment was seized or the location. But Leon Mouri says there are several possible groups who may be involved. In Mali, absolutely, we can think of two groups. We can think of GNM as well as the FLA, because these are the two groups that are being targeted by the drones heavily in recent years. So, I think these groups, definitely, they are using them. And if not, maybe this is, as this seizure, I think maybe was destined to one of these groups, if not for both of them. An FLA official told the Associated Press news agency that it's been using inflatable cars as decoys since last November and claimed that they've been targeted three times by Malian army drones.

A shipwreck off Yemen has killed at least 68 people, the UN's migration agency said, with dozens still missing after the boat carrying mostly Ethiopians sank.

Sana'a

Migrant boat sinks off Yemen, killing at least 68

After two unverified videos of Israeli hostages were released, Hamas said the hunger crisis in the region puts them at risk. The militant group said it would deliver food from the Red Cross to the hostages under a couple of conditions, including permanent humanitarian corridors.

Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

Hamas says hunger crisis putting hostages at risk

U.S. President Donald Trump fired the U.S. commissioner of labour statistics after weak jobs numbers signaled tariffs weren’t yet leading to his promised economic boom.

Washington

Trump dismisses weak jobs numbers, fires labour statistics chief

Government scientists warn that the 2025 wildfire season in North America is projected to be the longest ever, with fires already causing significant damage across the western United States and Canada. Major blazes have led to evacuations, destruction of historic sites, and widespread air quality alerts.

Santa Barbara

Wildfire season in North America shaping as worst on record

A volcano in Russia's Far East has erupted after sitting dormant for 600 years. Scientists believe the eruption was triggered by the massive earthquake that struck the region last week.

Kamchatka Peninsula

Russian volcano erupts for first time in 600 years

An independent watchdog agency responsible for enforcing a law against partisan political activity by federal employees has opened an investigation into Jack Smith, the special counsel who brought two criminal cases against Donald Trump before his election to the White House last year.

Former Trump prosecutor Jack Smith faces probe by U.S. watchdog

New outbreaks of violence overnight into Sunday (August 3) rocked Syria straining a fragile ceasefire. Meanwhile residents in Sweida are calling access to more humanitarian aid.

As Suwayda

Humanitarian needs escalate in Sweida as truce frays

Parts of the European Commission's much-anticipated AI Act come into force this weekend. It's been hailed as the first piece of comprehensive legislation aimed at regulating AI globally, though critics say it doesn't go far enough.

Brussels

Rise of AI

EU's landmark AI act enters new phase

A Ukrainian lawmaker and a pair of local officials, as well as an unspecified number of National Guard personnel, have been caught in a major graft scheme that involved using state funds to buy drones and other military hardware at deliberately inflated prices in return for bribes.

Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

Ukraine uncovers major drone procurement graft scheme

Over the past few days, Hamas and its ally Islamic Jihad have released three videos showing two hostages seized during the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that triggered the ongoing war in Gaza. The videos sparked reactions from Israelis who are stepping up calls for a truce.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Israeli hostage families protest in Tel Aviv

Pope Leo XIV celebrated the concluding mass of one of the most important events of the Holy Year. A million faithful filled the Tor Vergata esplanade in Rome. Pope Leo sent a message of hope for the young people afflicted by wars and recalled the words of his predecessor.

Rome

Pope Leo urges Catholic youth to spread faith and enthusiasm

President Trump explained why he fired Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner Erika McEntarfer on Friday. Government data showed fewer jobs were added to the U.S. economy last month than expected.

Global Tariffs

Trump announces new tariff rates, fires employment commissioner

Former Special Counsel Jack Smith, who ran two federal prosecutions of President Trump, is under investigation for allegedly violating a law barring federal employees from using their position to influence elections.

Jack Smith investigated for using position to influence elections

Montana authorities released a new surveillance image showing who they have identified as the suspect in a bar shooting in Anaconda. Meanwhile, nearly 2,000 miles away, police in Tennessee are searching for a quadruple homicide suspect.

Anaconda

Suspect on the run after Montana bar shooting

Los Angeles officials are praising an appeals court ruling limiting immigration stops, but the decision may only escalate a battle over transparency and control. Elise Preston has the latest information.

Los Angeles

Appeals court keeps restrictions on California ICE raids

Disturbing new video shows a severely malnourished Israeli hostage being held in what appears to be an underground tunnel. This comes as witnesses and aid workers say Israeli troops opened fire on hungry civilians at two Gaza food distribution sites.

Sderot

Hamas propaganda shows malnourished Israeli hostage

Donald Trump has ordered the repositioning of two United States nuclear submarines to “appropriate regions” relative to Russia, blaming a heated exchange with Dmitry Medvedev, Moscow’s military leader and former president.

Moscow

Trump sends nuclear submarines towards Russia

A mass shooting in Anaconda triggers community shock and concern, as witnesses share their experiences and the investigation unfolds amid rising tensions.

Community in shock following deadly shooting in Anaconda

U.S. President Donald Trump said he's ordered his administration to fire the commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, on the same day new data was released showing weak job growth in July. The Labor Department also sharply revised job growth for May and June down.

Trump orders firing of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner

U.S. President Donald Trump says he ordered two nuclear submarines to be positioned in the "appropriate regions" as a response to comments made by Russia's former president. CBS News' Charlie D'Agata reports.

Trump says nuclear submarines moved in response to Russia

Jeffrey Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell has been transferred to a Bryan, Texas, prison, CBS News confirms. Maxwell was previously held in Tallahassee, Florida.

Bryan

Ghislaine Maxwell transferred to Texas prison

The announcement comes as international pressure mounts on Israel over the war in Gaza and the deepening humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave.

Ljubljana

Slovenia becomes first EU country to ban arms trade with Israel

The United States imposed sanctions on Palestinian Authority officials just as other nations are stressing the importance of the PA in governing Gaza in the event of an end to the devastating war in the enclave.

New York

U.S. sanctions Palestinian Authority in growing diplomatic rift

Ukraine’s Parliament has reversed a controversial law signed last week by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which would have allowed the government greater control over anti-corruption agencies. The decision comes as the country faces one of its most significant political crises since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.

Ukraine parliament reverses bill on anti-corruption agencies amid crisis

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order increasing tariffs on Canadian goods that don't meet the terms of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement to 35 per cent.

Breakdown