A B-52 bomber crashed shortly after takeoff at a US Air Force base in Southern California's Mojave Desert and burst into flames Monday, killing all eight people aboard, military officials said. Aerial footage showed virtually nothing left of the aircraft that went down around 11:20am. during a routine test mission at Edwards Air Force Base, which is north of Los Angeles. Black smoke rose from a large swath of charred desert near the runway on the base, with emergency vehicles nearby.

Those on the B-52 included government contractors and uniformed military. Aircraft manufacturer Boeing confirmed Monday evening that two of its employees were on board.

After reviewing footage of the crash, it was determined that no one could have survived, Col. James Hayes, the deputy commander for the 412 test wing at Edwards, said at a news conference. It was not immediately clear what caused the crash, and it could take up to six months to complete an investigation.

An initial agreement between the United States and Iran to extend their shaky ceasefire inched toward a formal signing despite questions over the fate of Tehran's nuclear program and an offensive by Israel in Lebanon that could prolong the fighting and scuttle the deal. The agreement signed electronically on Sunday (Jun. 14) is meant to provide a meaningful truce in a monthslong war that has killed thousands across the Middle East, including the top leaders of Iran's theocracy, and raised the prices of fuel, food and other basic goods far beyond the region.

But logistical and military challenges underscored the fragile nature of the deal, which was set for a ceremonial signing Friday in Geneva. At the core of the pact is a planned reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway whose blockage has choked the supply of the world's oil and natural gas. Yet even a full reopening would not immediately alleviate the global energy crisis its closure created.

A leadership standoff in the Philippine Senate ended with the removal of an ally of former President Rodrigo Duterte as leader of the chamber, which will soon start the impeachment trial of his daughter, incumbent Vice President Sara Duterte. With 13 of 24 senators backing him, Sherwin Gatchalian, an ally of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., was elected Senate president. His rival, Alan Peter Cayetano, a key supporter of Duterte, conceded defeat.

Both had claimed leadership of the Senate in the last two weeks based on contrasting legal interpretations of the quorum that led to their elections. An allied senator of Cayetano, however, defected Wednesday (Jun.17) and gave his rivals' bloc a clear majority. "It's a relief," Jean Franco, a political professor at the state-run University of the Philippines said, but added that the country's democracy, "with its weak and fragile institutions," faces more headwinds.

Protesters blocked copper exports from a huge Rio Tinto mine in Mongolia on Wednesday, partially cutting off the supply of a mineral vital to China's renewable energy ambitions. The protest group, called the Radical Reform Movement, is pushing for a greater share of mining revenue for Mongolians, a long-running demand in a nation where poverty persists despite the exploitation of its mineral riches. Copper is needed for electric vehicles and solar and wind power installations, all industries where China is a world leader.

It wasn't clear if the protest was a one-day affair aimed at drawing attention to the issue or the start of a prolonged standoff that could have a deeper economic impact in both countries. Videos posted on Facebook by the Radical Reform Movement showed a small group of protesters milling around a barrier set up on a two-lane road running through a barren landscape on a bright sunny day.