Author: Elizabeth Jenrola Oso

Republican and Democratic senators have offered sharply conflicting views on President Donald Trump’s bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities, following a delayed and contentious behind-closed-doors intelligence briefing on Capitol Hill. The briefing, held on Thursday, was originally scheduled for Tuesday but postponed by the White House amid accusations of leaks, fueling Democratic outrage and accusations of obstruction. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer labelled the delay “outrageous”, accusing the administration of withholding crucial information from Congress. “Senators deserve full transparency, and the administration has a legal obligation to inform Congress precisely about what is happening,” he said. Senators briefed by top security…

Japan has executed a man known as the “Twitter killer” for the brutal murders of nine people he met online, marking the country’s first use of the death penalty in two years. Takahiro Shiraishi, 33, was hanged on Friday after being convicted of murdering and dismembering nine individuals, mostly young women, whom he lured via Twitter, now known as X, in 2017. Shiraishi admitted to the killings, having approached vulnerable users on the platform who had expressed suicidal thoughts. He offered to help them die, before bringing them to his apartment near Tokyo, where he killed and mutilated them. The…

The United States and China have reached an agreement to expedite shipments of rare earth minerals into America, in what appears to be a significant step towards easing the long-running trade war between the world’s two largest economies. Speaking on Thursday, President Donald Trump announced that the deal had been signed the previous day, although he provided few details. He also hinted at a forthcoming agreement that would “open up” trade relations with India. China confirmed the details of the agreement on Friday and reiterated its commitment to approving export permits for controlled items. The breakthrough follows trade talks held…

Kenyans across the country are preparing for nationwide marches today to mark the first anniversary of the historic storming of parliament, honouring those killed and disappeared during last year’s anti-government protests. While the planned events are being organised as peaceful demonstrations, there are growing fears that the day may descend into violence. The protests of June 2024, sparked by a controversial finance bill proposing tax increases, claimed the lives of at least 60 people. Many others went missing or were later confirmed dead, fuelling a deeper national reckoning with state brutality and government accountability. Although the demonstrations began peacefully, they…

An initial classified assessment by the US Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) has found that recent strikes ordered by President Donald Trump on Iran’s nuclear facilities did not destroy two key sites and are likely to have delayed Iran’s nuclear ambitions by only a few months. The preliminary findings, shared by two individuals familiar with the report, suggest that Iran’s nuclear programme remains largely intact, despite Trump’s public declaration that the enrichment sites were “completely obliterated.” According to the DIA report, based on a battle damage assessment conducted by US Central Command, critical infrastructure, including centrifuges, could be operational again within…

The head of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has strongly condemned an attack on Al-Mujlad Hospital in West Kordofan, Sudan, that killed more than 40 civilians, including six children and five health workers. The deadly strike occurred on Saturday near the frontline between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), as the country’s brutal civil war continues to spiral into what global agencies now describe as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. The WHO’s local office confirmed dozens of additional injuries but stopped short of attributing blame for the incident. In a post…

Harvard has filed two lawsuits against the Trump administration, both heard by Judge Burroughs

Canada has signed a landmark security and defence pact with the European Union, in a move widely seen as a strategic shift by traditional US allies seeking greater autonomy in the face of global instability and a turbulent American presidency. Canada, EU reps meet Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney joined European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa in Brussels on Monday to formalise the wide-ranging partnership. The agreement includes closer cooperation on defence, artificial intelligence, the climate crisis, and continued support for Ukraine. At a warm and optimistic press conference, Carney declared Canada “the…

Thailand’s military has shut border crossings with Cambodia across seven provinces, barring almost all travellers.

Scientists have discovered a groundbreaking method to transform plastic waste into paracetamol.