Bill Gates has voiced his concerns about Elon Musk's decision to potentially shut down USAID, stating it could lead to millions of deaths due to its crucial role in global health initiatives. While Gates acknowledges Musk's innovations in the private sector and called him super-smart, he criticized Musk's support of far-right party in Germany.
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A 35-year-old father, Michael Virgil, died aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise after an alleged drunken rampage involving assaults on crew members and threats to passengers. Fellow travelers reported Virgil's violent behavior, which included kicking a crew member in the face and attempting to force his way into a locked closet.
The US is developing the Golden Dome, an advanced missile defence system combining space-based radars, missile interceptors, and laser weapons to protect against threats like ICBMs and hypersonic weapons. Defence companies aim to operationalise parts of the system by 2026, starting with key cities and potentially expanding to all US territories.
Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani has warned that an attack on Iran's Gulf coast nuclear facilities would leave countries across the region without water. Iran has a nuclear power plant at Bushehr on the Gulf coast, though its uranium enrichment facilities, key to building atomic weapons, are located hundreds of kilometres (miles) inland.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged global leaders to sustain pressure on Putin for a Ukrainian ceasefire during a virtual 'coalition of the willing' meeting. Starmer emphasized the need for concrete commitments as Russia plays 'pointless games' with Trump's peace plan. He called for action over studies and vowed to support Ukraine amid ongoing military pressure from Russia.
US special envoy Steve Witkoff admitted that Hamas might have deceived him regarding a ceasefire proposal. The terms would have extended the Gaza ceasefire in exchange for hostages, but Hamas stuck to the original agreement, leading to resumed hostilities and US airstrikes against Houthi leaders.
Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was arrested and questioned in relation to a criminal insurrection probe, the first such case for a sitting president in the country. Yoon, who had declared martial law, surrendered after weeks of standoff, leading to increased tensions.
Father Paolo Dall'Oglio, an Italian Jesuit priest and critic of Bashar al-Assad, disappeared in 2013 while negotiating with extremists in Syria. Friends at Deir Mar Musa monastery, where he promoted interfaith dialogue, hope Assad’s recent overthrow will reveal his fate. The monastery, once abandoned due to war, has reopened, continuing Dall'Oglio’s mission of unity. His supporters aim to heal Syria’s sectarian divides through reconciliation and shared remembrance.
Judge James Boasberg has been assigned to oversee a lawsuit against the Trump administration over leaked Pentagon plans discussed on Signal. American Oversight accuses officials of violating federal records laws, while Republican lawmakers criticize Boasberg's involvement, citing potential bias and past controversial rulings.
Senator Chris Van Hollen has accused El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele of staging a deceptive media stunt during a meeting with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, wrongfully deported under the Trump administration. Van Hollen claims Bukele's team planted margarita glasses to falsely portray a casual encounter, downplaying Abrego Garcia's detention in the notorious CECOT prison.
Sam Nujoma, Namibia’s first president who led the country to independence from apartheid South Africa in 1990, has died at 95. Nujoma, a key figure in Namibia’s liberation and long-time leader of SWAPO, passed away after a three-week illness, leaving a significant legacy in African history.