Category: World

Iran is seeking to have its matches at the upcoming FIFA World Cup relocated from the United States to Mexico, amid growing uncertainty over logistical, political and security considerations surrounding the team’s participation in the North American tournament.The request reflects mounting concerns within Iranian football authorities about travel restrictions, diplomatic tensions and the practical challenges of staging fixtures on US soil. Officials have indicated that moving matches to Mexico would offer a more predictable environment for players, staff and supporters,

Nigeria’s telecommunications sector faces escalating risks from artificial intelligence-driven fraud, prompting warnings that operators must strengthen defences with advanced detection systems and tighter internal controls to protect revenue and customer trust.A new advisory from PwC highlights how fraudsters are increasingly deploying generative AI tools, automated bots and deepfake technologies to exploit vulnerabilities across mobile networks, digital payment platforms and customer verification systems. The firm says the pace and sophistication of such attacks are outstripping traditional fraud-prevention frameworks used by many

South Africa’s long-term inflation expectations have fallen to their lowest level on record, signalling a shift in sentiment among households, businesses and financial analysts as price pressures ease and monetary policy credibility strengthens.The Bureau for Economic Research’s latest quarterly inflation expectations survey, covering the first three months of the year, shows average expectations for inflation over the next five years declining notably compared with previous readings. The data suggests that respondents now anticipate price growth to remain closer to the

Zimbabwe’s abrupt ban on the export of unprocessed lithium has sent ripples through global battery supply chains, triggering uncertainty among miners, refiners and manufacturers while intensifying competition for alternative sources of the critical mineral.The government’s move, aimed at forcing local beneficiation and boosting domestic value addition, has effectively halted shipments of lithium ore to key overseas buyers. The policy has disrupted established trade flows, particularly those feeding China’s vast battery manufacturing ecosystem, which relies heavily on imported raw materials to

Chicago soybean futures retreated on Monday as traders reassessed market optimism that had lifted prices to near two-year highs the previous week, with uncertainty over a possible delay in talks between United States President Donald Trump and China’s President Xi Jinping prompting fresh caution in agricultural markets.The decline in soybean prices followed strong gains driven by expectations that renewed diplomatic engagement between Washington and Beijing could ease trade tensions and stimulate larger agricultural purchases from China, the world’s biggest soybean

President Donald Trump’s call for China to deploy naval forces to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz has stirred a sensitive strategic debate in Beijing, drawing attention to the question of whether the world’s second-largest economy should assume a greater military role in safeguarding global trade routes.Trump argued that China, as one of the largest importers of Gulf energy supplies, should contribute naval assets to protect maritime traffic passing through the narrow waterway that links the Persian Gulf with

Manchester United secured a 3–1 victory over Aston Villa at Old Trafford, strengthening their hold on third place in the Premier League table after a composed performance that underlined the club’s push for Champions League qualification. Goals at key moments and sustained pressure in the second half allowed the home side to overcome a determined Villa team and extend their advantage in the race for European places.United entered the fixture seeking to consolidate momentum during the latter phase of the

Britain’s counter-drone and air-defence units have shot down multiple Iranian drones across the Gulf theatre as London expands what it describes as a strictly defensive military posture, with ministers arguing the operations are aimed at protecting British personnel, allied states and vital regional infrastructure rather than joining any offensive campaign against Tehran. The latest intercepts come as tensions around the Gulf and the wider Middle East continue to unsettle energy markets and commercial shipping routes.The Ministry of Defence has

Switzerland’s federal government is preparing to determine how much additional capital UBS Group AG must hold as regulators complete a major overhaul of banking rules following the collapse of Credit Suisse. The decision, expected in April, will set the tone for one of the most significant regulatory shifts in the country’s financial sector since the emergency takeover that reshaped Swiss banking.Authorities are weighing stricter capital requirements designed to ensure the enlarged UBS can withstand severe financial shocks. Proposals circulating in

Stalled software development for the F-35 Lightning II has drawn scrutiny from Pentagon auditors, even as the stealth fighters continue to fly operational missions linked to tensions with Iran, underscoring a widening gap between battlefield deployment and technological modernisation.An annual assessment by the Pentagon’s weapons testing office found that efforts to introduce new software capabilities for the aircraft failed to produce additional combat functionality during the past year, with upgrade programmes described as having “stagnated.” The findings come as the

Pressure from Washington for allies to help secure shipping lanes in West Asia has placed Tokyo in a delicate strategic position, with senior figures signalling that dispatching Japanese military vessels to the Middle East would face formidable political and legal barriers.Takayuki Kobayashi, policy chief of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, stated that any move to send Japanese naval assets to escort commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz would encounter “high hurdles,” reflecting the complex legal framework governing overseas operations

Cuba has confirmed that discussions are under way with officials from the United States as Washington intensifies economic and diplomatic pressure on the island, raising tensions between the neighbouring nations separated by just 90 miles of water across the Florida Straits.Havana said contacts with US representatives have taken place through diplomatic channels, signalling a cautious attempt to maintain dialogue even as relations remain strained under policies promoted by Donald Trump. The confirmation follows mounting economic restrictions, tighter financial enforcement and

United States military authorities have dispatched thousands of interceptor drones originally refined on the battlefields of Ukraine to the Middle East, aiming to counter Iranian aerial attacks while reducing reliance on expensive missile defences.Officials say about 10,000 drones were moved to the region within days of a joint US–Israeli military campaign against Iranian targets that began in late February. The deployment reflects a broader shift in modern air defence strategy as drone warfare increasingly shapes conflicts from Eastern Europe to

International Monetary Fund officials have urged South Africa to ensure that a planned fiscal rule designed to guide public spending and debt management is carefully structured and strongly supported, warning that the success of such a framework will depend on clear targets, institutional oversight and political commitment.The recommendation comes as authorities in Africa’s most industrialised economy attempt to stabilise public finances following years of rising government debt and persistent budget deficits. The IMF said a well-designed fiscal rule could strengthen

Washington is preparing a temporary suspension of a century-old shipping rule as the administration seeks to blunt a sharp rise in fuel prices triggered by turmoil in global energy markets and disruptions to key maritime routes.Officials are examining whether to grant a short-term waiver of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, widely known as the Jones Act, which requires goods transported between United States ports to be carried on vessels that are built, flagged and largely crewed domestically. The potential

Microsoft is intensifying efforts to expand the use of its artificial-intelligence platforms across Africa, positioning the technology group against rising competition from China’s DeepSeek and other global providers seeking influence in one of the world’s fastest-growing digital markets.Executives from the US technology company have outlined plans to deepen partnerships with governments, universities and technology startups across the continent, aiming to embed Microsoft’s AI tools into public services, education systems and commercial enterprises. The strategy reflects a broader contest among global

Growing scrutiny surrounds a deadly missile strike that destroyed a girls’ school in southern Iran, after a Republican senator said the United States must acknowledge responsibility if investigations confirm that American forces carried out the attack.The remarks followed mounting evidence that a Tomahawk missile used during joint military operations against Iranian targets may have struck the school in the town of Minab, killing scores of civilians, many of them children. The attack has become one of the most controversial incidents

LG Energy Solution is preparing to commercialise an upgraded iron-based battery designed for large-scale energy storage, marking a strategic push by the South Korean manufacturer to capture a larger share of the rapidly expanding global market for grid and renewable-energy storage systems.The company plans to introduce the higher-performance lithium-iron-phosphate battery model next year, seeking to strengthen its position in the energy storage sector at a time when demand for stationary batteries is rising alongside the global expansion of renewable power.

Global political tensions linked to conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran have triggered speculation about potential disruption to major sporting events, yet FIFA’s senior leadership has signalled that the football World Cup will proceed as planned, arguing that the scale and logistical complexity of the tournament make postponement impractical.Colin Smith, FIFA’s chief operating officer for the World Cup, said the global competition is “too big” to delay even as geopolitical uncertainty spreads across parts of the Middle East

Search teams from New Mexico authorities have begun examining a sprawling ranch once owned by disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, reopening scrutiny of allegations that the secluded property served as a site for sexual abuse and trafficking of underage girls.The investigation focuses on Zorro Ranch, a vast estate about 48 kilometres south of Santa Fe. State officials initiated the search after Attorney General Raul Torrez revived a dormant inquiry into activities linked to Epstein at the property, citing newly disclosed federal

Israeli forces struck an apartment in central Beirut on Wednesday, Lebanese state media reported, marking another escalation in a widening conflict that has drawn Lebanon deeper into regional hostilities and heightened fears of further urban strikes in the capital.Lebanon’s official National News Agency said the attack targeted a residential unit in the city centre, sending smoke rising above one of Beirut’s densely populated districts. Initial reports from local authorities indicated casualties and injuries, though the precise toll was still being