Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that worries about a closed Strait of Hormuz are overblown, claiming the U. S. has plans to keep oil moving even while Iran’s forces threaten shipping. He brushed off reports that the Pentagon had no strategy before the recent conflict, noting that Iran has long u
For more than a hundred years, a giant drum that once echoed through the villages of the Ebrié people was kept far from its homeland. French soldiers seized the instrument in 1916, then shipped it to Paris where it sat on museum shelves for decades. Now the drum, known locally as Djidji Ayôkwé or
The United Arab Emirates has taken a hard line against social media posts that show missile and drone attacks coming from Iran. Twenty-one individuals, including a 60‑year‑old tourist from Britain, were charged under the country’s cybercrime rules. The British man was taken into custody in Dubai
The United States military announced that a KC‑135 refueling plane crashed in western Iraq, killing all six crew members. The incident was reported by U. S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which confirmed that the loss was not caused by enemy fire or friendly fire. The crash comes amid a two‑week conflic
The United States began striking Iranian targets on February 28, a move that surprised many because it came from a president who had campaigned against foreign wars. The campaign was launched without asking Congress for permission and without a clear plan shared with the public. Now, officials must
Zelensky criticises the United States for easing sanctions on Russian oil, arguing it gives Moscow extra money to fund its war in Ukraine. The U. S. President granted a 30‑day waiver that lets nations buy Russian oil stuck at sea, hoping to calm rising fuel prices worldwide. Ukraine’s leader s
Cuban leaders have opened a conversation with Washington, a first step after years of tension. President Miguel Díaz‑Canel said the meetings aimed to tackle the growing power crisis and other differences between the two nations. He did not give details, but the timing suggests a response to the isla
The U. S. announced that a refueling plane crashed in Iraq, killing all four crew members who were called heroes by the Defense Secretary. A briefing said that U. S. –Israeli attacks have damaged many Iranian targets, but the exact number was not confirmed. The Secretary also mentioned that Ir
The capital city of Pointe‑Noire buzzes early, with market stalls and street sellers hustling through crowds. Among them is Romain Tchicaya, a 37‑year‑old who once studied management but now sells medicines in small, informal stalls because job prospects are scarce. He says the country’s oil wealth
Ohio’s governor has reignited talk about a long‑pending bill that would mandate an hour of recess each day for students from kindergarten to eighth grade. The proposal, introduced last year by two state representatives, calls for 30 minutes in the morning and another 30 in the afternoon unless a stu
