Category: World

 Washington — The U. S. Justice Department has released additional records linked to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, including FBI interview summaries describing an uncorroborated allegation involving President Donald Trump, a disclosure that has intensified scrutiny over the government’s handling of files connected to the disgraced financier.The documents, made public late Thursday, contain summaries of interviews conducted by federal investigators with an unidentified woman who alleged that Trump attempted to engage in a sexual encounter with her when she was a

Iran’s consular representation in Washington continues to operate despite escalating hostilities involving the United States and Israel, maintaining limited diplomatic and citizen services even as relations between Tehran and Washington remain severed and tensions surrounding the conflict intensify.Though Iran has not maintained a formal embassy in the US capital since diplomatic ties were cut following the 1979 Islamic Revolution and the hostage crisis at the former American embassy in Tehran, the country has long preserved a narrow diplomatic channel through

Suspicions are growing that a United States military strike may have been responsible for the bombing of a girls’ school in Iran that killed more than 150 people, many of them children, during the opening phase of the conflict that erupted between Iran and Western-backed forces. The incident has triggered intense scrutiny of military operations in the region as officials in Washington review the circumstances surrounding the strike.The explosion destroyed the school complex in a densely populated district and left

Ugandan health campaigner Regina Mariam Namata Kamoga has been named among eight Global Female Trailblazers recognised for efforts to confront antimicrobial resistance, a growing public health challenge that threatens the effectiveness of modern medicine worldwide.Kamoga, a community health advocate and founder of the Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance Solutions, received the international recognition for her work promoting awareness of responsible antibiotic use and strengthening patient voices in the fight against drug-resistant infections. The distinction places her among a small group of

Amazon users across several regions encountered difficulties accessing product listings and completing purchases after a technical disruption affected parts of the e-commerce platform, leaving many shoppers unable to load item pages or proceed through checkout.Complaints began circulating on social media and outage-tracking services as customers reported that searches returned incomplete results, product pages failed to load properly and payment processes stalled. Data compiled by monitoring platforms showed thousands of user reports during the disruption, with roughly 17 per cent of

Attacks on commercial tankers in the Gulf have intensified as hostilities between the United States and Iran expand into maritime routes, raising fears of prolonged disruption to one of the world’s most critical energy corridors.Multiple vessels have been struck by drones, missiles or explosive boats in waters surrounding the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman, according to maritime security authorities and shipping industry data. Several tankers have been damaged and seafarers killed or injured, while dozens of ships

United States defence authorities have removed 22 universities from the approved list for Professional Military Education fellowships, ending dozens of placements for serving Army officers and triggering debate over the future relationship between the military and elite academic institutions.A directive issued by the Department of Defense cancels 93 Senior Service College fellowships beginning with the 2026–27 academic cycle. Officers previously eligible to study at leading civilian universities as part of advanced strategic training will no longer attend programmes at those

Australia has deployed military assets to the Middle East as part of contingency planning tied to escalating regional conflict, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed, signalling Canberra’s readiness to assist citizens and safeguard strategic interests as tensions widen across the region.Albanese told parliament that defence resources had been sent earlier in the week alongside crisis response teams, describing the move as a precaution amid a rapidly deteriorating security environment. The deployment comes as hostilities involving Iran, Israel and the United States

China has announced plans to send a special diplomatic envoy to the Middle East as Beijing seeks to mediate escalating hostilities linked to military strikes on Iran and retaliatory attacks across the region.Foreign minister Wang Yi said the envoy would travel to several regional capitals to promote dialogue and reduce tensions following a widening confrontation involving Iran, Israel and the United States. The move marks one of Beijing’s most visible diplomatic interventions since the outbreak of the crisis, which has

President Donald Trump has pledged that the United States will ensure safe passage for oil shipments from the Middle East, seeking to prevent a global energy shock as war between Iran and Israel expands across the region and threatens vital maritime routes.Speaking as tensions intensified around the Strait of Hormuz, Trump signalled that Washington would take steps to safeguard tanker traffic and stabilise energy markets. The pledge followed warnings from Iran’s leadership and military commanders that shipping through the narrow

 Iran’s sweeping digital shutdown has crossed the 100-hour mark, cutting tens of millions of people off from the global internet and intensifying fears of deeper isolation as military tensions and internal unrest grip the country. Connectivity across Iran has plunged to only a fraction of normal levels, leaving citizens unable to communicate freely with the outside world and severely restricting the flow of information.Network monitoring groups tracking global connectivity reported that internet traffic in Iran collapsed to around one to

Escalating hostilities between the United States, Israel and Iran sent shockwaves through global energy markets and maritime trade as Tehran threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil shipping lanes, while Donald Trump vowed Washington would do “whatever it takes” to prevail in the widening confrontation.Energy prices surged and financial markets swung sharply after military strikes and retaliatory threats raised fears that a major supply artery for crude oil and liquefied natural gas could

Landmark agreements, product unveilings and policy signals at the IESA Vision Summit 2026 have sharpened the country’s bid to emerge as a significant player in the global semiconductor value chain, as industry leaders and policymakers mapped out the next phase of chip manufacturing, design and talent expansion.Held against a backdrop of supply chain realignment and geopolitical competition in advanced technologies, the annual gathering of the India Electronics and Semiconductor Association drew executives from domestic conglomerates, multinational chipmakers, equipment suppliers and

Kenya holds sufficient petroleum stocks to cushion the country and its regional partners from supply disruptions linked to conflict in the Middle East, Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi has said, seeking to calm fears of shortages and price spikes.Wandayi stated that the country’s strategic and commercial fuel inventories remain within statutory requirements, with diesel, petrol and jet fuel volumes adequate to meet domestic consumption and transit demand to neighbouring states. Kenya serves as a key fuel corridor for

Artificial intelligence chatbots are increasingly being used as informal mental health advisers, but new academic research has raised concerns that such systems may breach core ethical standards even when designed to emulate trained therapists.A study led by researchers at Brown University examined how large language models, including OpenAI’s ChatGPT, respond to therapy-style prompts. The researchers compared chatbot outputs with responses from licensed psychologists and trained peer counsellors. Their findings identified 15 categories of ethical risk, ranging from inadequate crisis management

United Arab Emirates authorities have issued a forceful denial of a Bloomberg report that questioned aspects of the country’s air defence capabilities, describing the coverage as inaccurate and misleading while reaffirming the state’s commitment to safeguarding its territory through advanced military systems.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the agency’s assertions did not reflect the strength or sophistication of the federation’s defence architecture. Officials stressed that the country operates a layered and integrated air defence network designed to address a range

Vodafone will begin linking mobile base stations in Germany to Amazon’s low Earth orbit satellites this year, marking the first phase of a wider plan to extend coverage across parts of Europe and Africa where fibre and microwave backhaul remain patchy.The partnership centres on Amazon’s Project Kuiper constellation, a network of thousands of low Earth orbit satellites designed to deliver broadband connectivity from space. Vodafone said the technology would initially be used to connect remote radio masts in Germany and

Apple has introduced its latest budget-friendly smartphone, the iPhone 17e, delivering a meaningful upgrade to storage, performance and everyday features while keeping the entry price at $599. The new model is positioned as the most accessible way for consumers to join the current iPhone ecosystem with modern capabilities that until now were reserved for more expensive models. The phone is set to go on sale from 11 March, with pre-orders opening on 4 March across more than 70 markets globally.The

France will expand its nuclear arsenal to reinforce Europe’s deterrence posture as uncertainty grows over the durability of United States security guarantees, President Emmanuel Macron has said, signalling a significant recalibration of Paris’s strategic doctrine.Macron declared that France would “adapt and strengthen” its nuclear forces in response to a deteriorating security environment, pointing to Russia’s war in Ukraine and mounting questions in European capitals about Washington’s long-term military commitments to Nato. He framed the decision as part of France’s responsibility

 Spain has formally prohibited the United States from using its military bases on Spanish soil as launching points for attacks on Iran, a move that forced the departure of several U. S. aircraft and highlighted growing diplomatic strain between Madrid and Washington amid escalating conflict in the Middle East. Spain’s decision applies specifically to operations directed at Iran and reaffirms its interpretation of sovereignty and international law regarding the use of its defence infrastructure.The government in Madrid said the use

China has condemned air and missile strikes carried out by the United States and Israel against targets in Iran, declaring they violate international law and heighten the risk of a broader regional conflict. Beijing’s foreign ministry said the attacks undermine the sovereignty of a UN member state and threaten stability across West Asia at a time of already acute tensions.Speaking in Beijing, foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said China “strongly opposes the use of force” and urged all parties to

Federal authorities are stepping up efforts to draw major technology companies into closer cooperation with surveillance and intelligence operations, relying on a mix of legal compulsion, regulatory leverage and private negotiations that civil liberties advocates argue could erode constitutional safeguards.Interviews with policy analysts, court records and public disclosures from technology firms show a pattern in which agencies expand demands for user data, metadata and technical assistance, often under sealed orders or national security authorities that limit public scrutiny. While governments

Belgian special forces, with backing from French naval units, have boarded and seized an oil tanker believed to be part of Russia’s clandestine “shadow fleet” in a maritime security operation in the North Sea. The vessel, identified by prosecutors and sanctions monitors as the Ethera, was intercepted in Belgium’s exclusive economic zone and is being escorted to the port of Zeebrugge for formal seizure and criminal investigation, authorities confirmed.The action, carried out under what officials have termed “Operation Blue

Kenya’s government has moved to repurchase about $415 million of its outstanding Eurobonds due in 2028 and 2032, a strategic manoeuvre designed to ease looming repayment pressures and recalibrate the nation’s external debt profile. The tender offer, which attracted substantial investor interest, comes amid broader efforts to manage refinancing risk and sustain fiscal stability as the East African economy navigates tight debt dynamics.Officials confirmed that all valid tenders for the 7.25 per cent notes maturing in 2028 were accepted

A wave of class-action lawsuits filed by individual customers against large corporations has brought Washington’s tariff reversal into a new legal front, as shippers and retail buyers press for restitution of fees they say were unlawfully imposed. Plaintiffs have targeted delivery giant FedEx and eyewear maker EssilorLuxottica, which owns the Ray-Ban brand, arguing that costs passed on to consumers after a Supreme Court ruling invalidating former President Donald Trump’s broad tariff regime should be refunded.The legal actions follow a

A Bolivian Air Force Hercules cargo aircraft carrying newly printed banknotes veered off the runway at El Alto International Airport on Friday evening and crashed onto a busy highway in the city of El Alto, adjacent to La Paz, killing at least 15 people and injuring dozens, officials said. Flames engulfed parts of the aircraft and several vehicles were destroyed as the C-130 transport plane barreled down Costanera Avenue before coming to rest in a field. Debris and banknotes were

A 20-year-old woman has taken the stand in Los Angeles County Superior Court to describe what she says was a damaging childhood addiction to social media platforms owned by Meta and Google, in a landmark civil trial that could reshape how tech companies are held accountable for harm to young users. Known in court as Kaley G. M., the plaintiff testified that heavy use of YouTube from age six and Instagram from age nine contributed to long-term mental health issues,