British founder of White Helmets found dead
Death comes a week after Moscow accused him of spying

A former British Army office who founded the organisation that trained the White Helmets rescue group in Syria has been found dead in Istanbul.
The body of James Le Mesurier, who set up the Mayday Rescue emergency response group, was discovered yesterday near his home in the Turkish capital.
According to reports in the Turkish media, Le Mesurier was found with fractures to his head and legs and appeared to have fallen from the balcony of his apartment.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
His wife told the authorities that she and her husband went to bed at about 4am after taking sleeping pills. Later, she was woken by knocking on the door, as her husband lay in the street surrounded by police.
Sky News special correspondent Alex Crawford said Le Mesurier’s wife had been “telling friends that he had just begun taking anti-depressants”.
Crawford added: “She says she was not disturbed by any intruder and appeared to be at pains to try to quash rumours that somehow he’d been killed.”
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Get your first six issues for £6–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
The cause of Le Mesurier’s death is unknown but CNN reports that it comes after he was accused of being a spy by the Russian foreign ministry.
Last week, the Russian foreign ministry tweeted: “The White Helmets' co-founder, James Le Mesurier, is a former agent of Britain's MI6, who has been spotted all around the world, including in the Balkans and the Middle East.
“His connections to terrorist groups were reported back during his mission in Kosovo.”
The Mayday Rescue Foundation described him as a “great leader” and a “visionary” as it confirmed his death.
In 2016, the White Helmets received the Right Livelihood Award in recognition for “outstanding bravery, compassion and humanitarian engagement in rescuing civilians”. In the same year the group was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize and Le Mesurier received an OBE.
However, the BBC points out that the White Helmets is “seen as a terrorist group by Syria's government”.
-
Art review: Noah Davis
Feature Hammer Museum, Los Angeles, through Aug. 31
-
How can you borrow less for grad school?
the explainer Borrowers will soon face stricter limits on federal student loans. But there are other ways help cover the cost of grad school.
-
How is Trump's economy doing?
Talking Points The latest jobs numbers suggest a slowdown in the offing
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctions
The Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
Rubio says US brokered end to Syria conflict
Speed Read Syria's defense ministry was targeted in Israeli attacks on the capital
-
Syria's returning refugees
The Explainer Thousands of Syrian refugees are going back to their homeland but conditions there remain extremely challenging
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?
today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
What happens if tensions between India and Pakistan boil over?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION As the two nuclear-armed neighbors rattle their sabers in the wake of a terrorist attack on the contested Kashmir region, experts worry that the worst might be yet to come
-
Why Russia removed the Taliban's terrorist designation
The Explainer Russia had designated the Taliban as a terrorist group over 20 years ago
-
Inside the Israel-Turkey geopolitical dance across Syria
THE EXPLAINER As Syria struggles in the wake of the Assad regime's collapse, its neighbors are carefully coordinating to avoid potential military confrontations
-
'Like a sound from hell': Serbia and sonic weapons
The Explainer Half a million people sign petition alleging Serbian police used an illegal 'sound cannon' to disrupt anti-government protests