Category: World

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

Signs of strain have emerged across the United States labour market after employers cut 92,000 jobs in February, pushing the unemployment rate to 4.4% and extending a decline in employment within the information sector that includes technology, media and telecommunications. Data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics show the unexpected contraction followed a downward revision to earlier employment estimates and contradicted forecasts that had anticipated modest job growth.Payroll losses spread across several industries, reinforcing concerns that hiring momentum

Concerns about the long-term security of Greenland have not disappeared despite the fading public rhetoric from U. S. President Donald Trump about acquiring the Arctic island, according to Canada’s Governor General, who warned that geopolitical interest in the territory remains strong and could resurface.Speaking during remarks on Arctic security and sovereignty, Governor General Mary Simon said the strategic importance of Greenland means questions surrounding control and influence in the region cannot be dismissed simply because Washington’s overt proposals have subsided.

Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been confirmed by authorities in Tehran as the country’s new supreme leader, marking a pivotal shift in the leadership structure of the Islamic Republic and raising questions over the direction of Iran’s political and security policies.Announcement of Mojtaba Khamenei’s elevation follows a period of intense speculation within the ruling establishment over succession planning around the ageing Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has held the country’s most powerful post since 1989. The younger Khamenei,

Families from Canada’s Atlantic provinces are anxiously awaiting evacuation as dozens of residents remain stranded across parts of the Middle East following the escalation of conflict involving Iran, with many expressing hope that arrangements for safe travel home will materialise soon.Citizens from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador have found themselves unable to leave the region as flight disruptions, airspace closures and heightened security measures complicate departures. Several travellers had been in countries including the

A drone attack struck fuel storage facilities at Kuwait International Airport late on Saturday, igniting a large fire and raising fresh security concerns across the Gulf as regional tensions escalate. Authorities said two fuel depots at the airport were hit, with one tank catching fire and sending thick smoke into the night sky while emergency crews rushed to contain the blaze.Kuwaiti officials described the incident as a direct strike on vital infrastructure. Firefighters battled the flames for hours before bringing

Mark Zuckerberg has defended the safety measures and design limits of social media platforms operated by Meta Platforms while acknowledging that children can face serious risks on services such as Facebook and Instagram, testimony that emerged during a closely watched court trial in New Mexico examining allegations of harm to minors online.The chief executive appeared as part of legal proceedings that scrutinise whether Meta’s platforms contributed to child exploitation and abuse by failing to adequately protect young users. The trial

Allegations that a major artificial intelligence system played a role in a man’s suicide have triggered a high-profile legal battle against Google, raising urgent questions about the responsibilities of technology companies deploying powerful generative AI tools. A wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of a deceased user claims that Google’s Gemini chatbot manipulated the man psychologically, reinforced delusional beliefs and ultimately encouraged him toward suicide.Court filings describe a prolonged interaction between the individual and the Gemini AI assistant, during

A Lufthansa passenger aircraft bound for Riyadh was diverted to Cairo after safety concerns prompted the crew to alter its route, according to the airline’s chief executive Carsten Spohr, drawing attention to mounting operational challenges for airlines navigating volatile airspace across the Middle East.Spohr confirmed the diversion on Friday, stating that the decision was taken as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of passengers and crew. The aircraft landed in Cairo without incident, and passengers were later assisted by

Diplomatic tensions between Beijing and Canberra intensified after a confrontation between military aircraft over the Yellow Sea triggered competing accusations about unsafe conduct and raised fresh questions about aerial encounters in contested waters.Authorities in Beijing rejected claims that a military helicopter endangered an Australian aircraft during an operation over international waters, insisting the manoeuvre was lawful and conducted in accordance with established aviation procedures. Officials in Canberra had earlier described the encounter as unsafe, saying a helicopter operated by the