A strong, 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck in Afghanistan on Monday, according to the United States Geological Survey. Follow our coverage here.

The temblor happened at 12:59 a.m. Afghanistan time about 20 miles southeast of Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan, data from the agency shows.

As seismologists review available data, they may revise the earthquake’s reported magnitude. Additional information collected about the earthquake may also prompt U.S.G.S. scientists to update the shake-severity map.

A Mexican mayor who was outspoken in his opposition to drug cartels and pushed for hardline laws against trafficking was killed in a shooting at a Day of the Dead celebration this weekend.

Before his death, Uruapan Mayor Carlos Manzo had been critical of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum for what he saw as a lack of effort in combating cartels. His city lies in Michoacán State, which suffers from particularly high levels of cartel violence.

“We need greater determination from the president of Mexico,” Manzo told local media in September, vowing not to take “a single step back.”

“I do not want to be just another mayor on the list of those who have been executed and had their lives taken away from them,” he continued. “I am very afraid, but I must face it with courage.”

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State officials say Manzo was shot seven times on Saturday night during a Day of the Dead vigil. He died of his wounds in a nearby hospital.

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Mexican Security Minister Omar García Harfuch announced an investigation into Manzo’s killing on Sunday.

Family and friends attend the funeral of Carlos Manzo, the mayor who was shot dead during a Day of the Dead event, in Uruapan, Mexico, Nov. 2, 2025. (REUTERS/Ivan Arias)

“We send our deepest condolences to his family, loved ones and the residents of Uruapan, who today are experiencing a painful and unjust loss at the hands of organized crime,” Harfuch said at a press conference. “There will be no impunity.”

Authorities said Manzo’s security was extensive, comprised of officers handpicked by Manzo as well as 14 National Guard members.

A person holds a picture of Carlos Manzo, the mayor who was shot dead during a Day of the Dead event, in Uruapan, Mexico, Nov. 2, 2025. (REUTERS/Ivan Arias)

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Manzo’s aggressive approach to crime earned him the moniker “Mexican Bukele,” referring to El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, who has led a massive crackdown on gang violence in his country. According to the New York Times, Manzo had been critical of Sheinbaum’s approach to cartel issues since her inauguration in October 2024.

“If she thinks she’s going to detain these criminals without a single shot fired and that they’ll just turn themselves in, well, she should get it done,” Manzo said in a May speech, referring to Sheinbaum. “And believe me, if she manages to do that, I will immediately submit my resignation.”

It might still be too early for some, but with Halloween over, Christmas is well and truly on the way, and a wave of misinformation about the festive season is also on its way.

A picture going around online and shared on social media in multiple European languages, allegedly shows a small German Christmas market surrounded by police, vehicles and fences.

The captions shared with the photo lament that Christmas markets in Europe now have to be so heavily protected from terrorist attacks, with some baselessly blaming immigration or “diversity”.

However, the image has clearly been AI-generated: zooming into people’s faces, and text like the vehicles’ registration plates, shows that they are blurred and distorted.

Additionally, in the bottom right-hand corner of the picture, we can just about see the logo of Gemini, Google’s AI assistant, proving that it was artificially created.

Those sharing the photo appear to want to whip up fear off the back of real attacks that have targeted German Christmas markets in the past, such as the attack in Berlin in 2016 and the attack in Magdeburg last year.

The former saw a terrorist drive a lorry into the market, killing 12 and leaving more than 50 injured, while in the latter, a man drove an SUV into the crowd, killing six and injuring more than 300.

The incidents have also sparked other misleading narratives related to the markets, most notably false claims that Germany is cancelling all its Christmas markets due to fears over immigration and terrorism.

We can easily check this by visiting the tourism office websites belonging to the cities where Germany hosts some of its most iconic markets.

The city of Cologne, for example, whose Christmas markets welcome around 4 million people a year, is still clearly preparing to celebrate the festivities from mid-November.

The same is true of Frankfurt, which clearly indicates the dates its market will be open.

To be sure, both cities confirmed when contacted by The Cube that they will be hosting their Christmas markets as well.

Unfortunately, some German Christmas markets will indeed be closed this year, but not due to concerns over potential terrorist attacks.

Visitors to the popular market in Dortmund’s Bodelschwingh Castle will have to wait until 2027 to celebrate as, according to its website, the castle is undergoing repairs.

Elsewhere, market operators in Rahlstedt have cited diminishing returns as a reason for cancelling their market, as stallholders failed to make enough money to justify holding the market again.

Despite the news of some smaller markets being shut down for various reasons, the vast majority in Germany will still go ahead, complete with comprehensive, reasonable, and often increased security measures. These include things such as erecting concrete barriers, hiring extra security staff and conducting bag checks.