The United States has ordered the departure of non-essential diplomatic staff and their families from several embassies across the Middle East, citing escalating tensions with Iran and growing fears of a broader regional conflict. The U.S. State Department confirmed Wednesday that it had instructed non-essential personnel to leave the embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, as a precautionary measure. “This decision reflects our commitment to keeping Americans safe, both at home and…

In an unprecedented act of dissent, a group of 41 Israeli military intelligence officers and reservists has publicly declared their refusal to participate in combat operations in Gaza, accusing the government of issuing “clearly illegal” orders and perpetuating a “needless, eternal war.” In a scathing letter addressed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defence Minister Israel Katz, and the Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the officers, members…

Tragedy struck just minutes after takeoff as Air India Flight 171, en route from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed outside the airport perimeter in a catastrophic accident on Wednesday afternoon. The airline has confirmed the incident and expressed deep sorrow over the loss. “With profound sorrow I confirm that Air India Flight 171 operating Ahmedabad–London Gatwick was involved in a tragic accident today,” said Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Chair of Air India,…

The Vatican announced Wednesday the first appointment of a Chinese bishop under Leo XIV, signalling the new pope’s support for a controversial accord on nominations struck by his predecessor with Beijing. The Holy See expressed “satisfaction” at the recognition by China of the appointment of Joseph Lin Yuntuan as auxiliary bishop of Fuzhou, capital of the southeastern Fujian province. The pope made the nomination on June 5. “This event represents…

Protests against Donald Trump’s harsh immigration policies spread Wednesday across the United States despite a military-backed crackdown in Los Angeles and threats by the hard-right Republican president to use “heavy force.” In Los Angeles, where the unrest began last Friday, an overnight curfew intended to keep people out of the downtown area was largely effective, with police arresting around 25 people who had refused to leave. Officers patrolled near government…

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has admitted that some of his recent social media posts attacking U.S. President Donald Trump “went too far,” in what appears to be an attempt to de-escalate tensions between the two men. The statement, shared on Musk’s X platform (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, comes after a week of public hostility that saw both figures exchanging personal insults over Trump’s controversial tax and spending bill. “I regret…

Meta has announced the launch of the Llama Impact Accelerator, an eight-month artificial intelligence (AI) programme designed to support Nigerian startups leveraging AI to address local challenges. The initiative is being rolled out in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy (FMCIDE), the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). According to Meta, the programme is aimed…

The American multinational tyre manufacturer Goodyear has announced plans to close its manufacturing operations in Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa, marking the end of a facility that has been in operation since 1947. According to a report by BusinessTech South Africa, Goodyear will maintain its presence in the country through sales and distribution channels, including its Hi-Q Retail network, but will cease all local manufacturing activities. The Nelson Mandela Bay…

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is set to revive enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), a decades-old law banning bribery of foreign officials by companies operating in the U.S., though with a more focused and less burdensome approach for businesses. This shift was outlined in a memo from Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche and further explained by top DOJ official Matthew Galeotti during an anti-corruption conference in…

Hundreds of U.S. Marines have arrived in Los Angeles under orders from President Donald Trump, escalating a federal response to recent protests sparked by sweeping immigration raids. Despite largely peaceful demonstrations on Monday, Trump authorized the deployment of roughly 700 Marines and activated 4,000 National Guard troops, drawing sharp criticism from California Governor Gavin Newsom and other local leaders. According to a U.S. official, around half of the Marines arrived…

Majority of Rivers Residents Oppose Federal Intervention in State Governance, Survey Reveals Almost three months after a political crisis led to the disruption of governance in Rivers State, a new survey has revealed that more than 65% of residents view the federal government’s actions as illegal. The survey, conducted by the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), also shows that 92.7% of residents are aware of and oppose the…

President Donald Trump has officially placed Ireland on the White House’s trade ‘blacklist’, as transatlantic tensions mount ahead of a critical tariff deadline. Ireland now joins Switzerland and other long-standing US targets such as China, Japan, Germany, Vietnam, and South Korea on the US Treasury’s Monitoring List of major trading partners with large trade surpluses. The designation increases the risk that Ireland, whose economy is dominated by pharmaceutical and technology…