Author: Frank Deux

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday raged against what he called “bullying” tactics to force the Islamic Republic to engage in negotiations about its nuclear programme. On Friday, US President Donald Trump threatened Teheran by saying Iran can either “make a deal” or be handled militarily. Iran says will not be ‘bullied’ into nuclear talks with US, has not received letter from Trump

President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday condemned Russia’s “brutal” new strikes on Ukraine, warning that Moscow is “not thinking about how to end the war”, but said his country remains fully committed to constructive talks with the US next week. Russia, meanwhile, said it had recaptured three more villages seized by Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region last August.   Zelensky condemns Russia’s ‘brutal’ strikes on Ukraine, Moscow claims advances in Kursk region

The Trump administration announced Friday that it is pulling $400 million in federal grants and contracts from Columbia University, saying the university failed to take action against anti-Semitism on campus. The statement said that the cuts were just the “first round of action”.   Trump administration cuts $400 million from Columbia University over Gaza protests

The Israeli army said Friday that it launched strikes on “military sites” in southern Lebanon, where it said there were “weapons and rocket launchers” belonging to Hezbollah.  Israeli army says it struck Hezbollah 'military sites' in southern Lebanon

In today’s edition, The United States is no longer part of a climate agreement that should have helped South Africa to switch from coal to green energy. Also, Rwanda faces recurring accusations of exploiting neighboring DRC natural resources. And Africa has the highest rate of female entrepreneurial activity in the world, but many obstacles continue to hold women back. US pulls out of energy partnership with South Africa

Ukraine’s energy and gas infrastructure was “under massive missile and drone shelling” by Russia on Friday, a Ukrainian minister said. This comes hours after EU leaders, shaken by the prospect of US disengagement, agreed to boost the bloc’s defences at a crisis summit on Thursday. Follow our live blog for the latest developments. Live: Ukraine says energy infrastructure under 'massive' Russian attack

European leaders pledged to dramatically boost defence spending and build a stronger, more sovereign military bloc at a crisis summit Thursday, as fears grow that the United States – long Europe’s security guarantor – is stepping back from its commitments. EU leaders vow to re-arm Europe amid US retreat on Ukraine

SpaceX carried out another launch of its Starship rocket Thursday but quickly lost contact with the vessel as it roared over the Gulf of Mexico. The rocket scattered debris over parts of the Caribbean, prompting numerous flight diversions around Turks and Caicos and ground stops at four Florida airports. SpaceX loses another Starship rocket during eighth test flight

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will join EU leaders for a Brussels summit on Thursday aimed at cementing the bloc’s support for Kyiv’s three-year fight against Russia’s full-scale invasion. Follow our liveblog for all the latest. Live: Zelensky to attend EU summit on Ukraine in Brussels

French President Emmanuel Macron said Wednesday he will open talks with European allies about using France’s nuclear arsenal to help protect the continent, warning that Europe can no longer rely solely on the United States for its security as Russia escalates its military threats. Macron will discuss extending French nuclear protection to Europe with allies

Europeans can now apply for a digital travel permit known as an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) if they wish to visit the UK. The permit will be mandatory from 2 April 2025. Pre-travel entry scheme opens to Europeans seeking to visit UK

The Champions League round of 16 kicked off with a tight Real Madrid win over Atlético Madrid in a derby matchup on Tuesday, North London club Arsenal smashed seven goals past Dutch side PSV Eindhoven and Aston Villa continued its stellar campaign with a 3-1 victory over Club Brugge. French side Lille held last year’s runner-up Borussia Dortmund to a 1-1 draw. Champions League: Real Madrid bests Atletico as English teams run riot

Hong Kong firm Hutchinson sold its Panama Canal ports to US company BlackRock after US President Donald Trump’s refused to rule out a military invasion of Panama to retake control of its strategic canal, which Trump says China controls. BlackRock acquires Panama ports from Hong Kong firm amid Trump pressure

The use of rape as a weapon of war has been uncovered in the midst of a major conflict. Investigators for the UN children’s agency say hundreds of little girls and boys, some not even a year old, more than a dozen under the age of five, have been horrifically sexually abused by armed men in Sudan’s civil war. Both the army and RSF paramilitaries have been accused of the atrocities, adding a horrific new dimension to a brutal war that has claimed tens of thousands of lives since April.  UN : Children raped as weapon of war

A new study warns that by 2050, nearly 60% of adults and one-third of children globally will be overweight or obese without governmental intervention. Published in the Lancet, the study analysed data from 204 countries, highlighting obesity as a major health challenge this century. Over half of worldwide adults to be overweight or obese by 2050, warns study

US Vice President JD Vance expressed confidence Monday that Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky would “eventually” agree to discuss peace with Russia, following his bitter Oval Office clash last week with Donald Trump.Read our liveblog for all the latest. Live: US confident Ukraine's Zelensky will 'eventually' engage in peace talks

The UN reported Tuesday that armed men in Sudan raped children as young as one, with UNICEF citing widespread child sexual abuse amid the conflict. Over 221 child rape cases have been recorded since early 2024, with two-thirds of the survivors being girls. Children as young as one raped during conflict in Sudan, says UN

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu on Sunday thanked President Trump for releasing previously withheld US munitions to assist Israel’s efforts against Iran’s influence, including its nuclear ambitions and proxy groups including the Palestinian militant group Hamas. The Israeli leader made similar remarks last month, at a news conference with visiting US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Netanyahu thanks Trump for weapon support to 'finish the job' against Iran axis

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Sunday that European leaders, showing strong support for Ukraine at a London summit, agreed to draft a peace plan for Ukraine to present to the US. The initiative aims to secure essential security guarantees from Washington to deter Russian aggression, following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s disastrous Washington visit. Starmer says 'coalition of the willing' to present Ukraine peace plan to Trump

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday that he is still ready to sign a minerals deal with the United States. He made the comments to British media in London, explaining that he believed he could salvage his relationship with US President Donald Trump after their explosive meeting in the Oval Office. Zelensky says Ukraine ready to sign minerals deal with United States

A day after Romania’s pro-European coalition government survived a no-confidence vote, anti-government protesters took to the streets of the capital Bucharest on Saturday. The demonstration by far-right groups was held to demand a second round of presidential elections after the first round, which was won by a far-right populist, was annulled due to Russian interference allegations. Romanian far-right supporters hold protest rally ahead of election re-run

One person was killed and nine others wounded in clashes near Damascus between forces affiliated to Syria’s new rulers and gunmen from the minority Druze community on Saturday, according to a Syrian human rights monitor. Clashes between Syrian forces and Druze gunmen turn deadly

French President Emmanuel Macron said he is ready to start discussions on a nuclear deterrence for Europe, in an interview published Saturday. It came as more than a dozen European leaders are set to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in London on Sunday following Zelensky’s extraordinary clash with US President Donald Trump in the White House.  Macron reopens debate on European nuclear umbrella after Trump-Zelensky showdown

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday that it would be “difficult” for Ukraine to hold off Russia without US support and that he believed the relationship with the White House could be repaired after President Donald Trump shouted at him in an angry White House meltdown accusing the Ukrainian leader of refusing to make peace with Russia. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates. Live: Holding off Russia 'difficult' for Ukraine without US support, Zelensky says

Stupefaction worldwide, and dismay. World leaders have swiftly been reacting to a tense verbal clash between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump on Friday. The confrontation erupted during a meeting in the Oval Office, where the two leaders were holding talks. Guillaume Gougeon has more on the international reactions. World leaders react to Trump-Zelensky clash in Oval Office