World

‘The streets are empty, the windows are gone’: Iranians describe life under bombardment as war enters second week As U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran approach the end of their first week, residents in Tehran describe a capital of shattered glass, shuttered storefronts and competing emotions — fear, exhaustion and, for some, a fragile hope that the Islamic Republic’s grip may finally loosen after the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In a series of interviews with Axadle Times, Iranians living inside the country spoke on…

EU says US missiles insufficient to cover Gulf and Ukraine as Middle East war enters seventh day The European Union said there are not enough U.S. missiles to meet simultaneous needs in the Gulf and Ukraine, a stark assessment delivered as war in the Middle East entered its seventh day and pressure mounted on Western stockpiles across multiple fronts. The brief statement underscored growing concerns about the capacity of transatlantic partners to sustain parallel security commitments. It also highlighted a difficult…

U.S., Israel launch ‘Operation Epic Fury’ on Iran as conflict widens across Middle East; Europe warns of dangerous moment The United States and Israel this week launched Operation Epic Fury on Iran, a move that pushed tensions to a new pitch and rippled across a Middle East already on edge. European officials warned it is a dangerous moment for the continent, underscoring fears that the fallout could spill over borders and disrupt security, travel and markets far beyond the region. Details about the scope and aims of…

Trump says Zelensky is obstacle to Russia deal, calls Putin ‘cooperative’ in Politico interview President Donald Trump said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is the obstacle to a settlement with Russia and described Russian President Vladimir Putin as cooperative, sharpening his pressure on Kyiv as the war grinds on. “Zelensky, he has to get on the ball, and he has to get a deal done,” Trump said in an interview with Politico. Returning to language he used during a tense White House meeting a year ago — when he and Vice…

Iran war enters seventh day as Israel expands strikes to Beirut and Tehran The regional war involving Iran, Israel and the United States entered its seventh day after Israel announced a “next phase” of operations and bombed Beirut’s southern suburbs, while blasts were heard in Tehran following what Israel said were strikes on “regime infrastructure” in the Iranian capital. Residents in Beirut’s southern districts fled after the Israeli military issued an unprecedented warning to evacuate “immediately.” In Tehran, AFP…

Ireland tracks 24,400 citizens in Gulf as charter flight readies departure from Oman; Middle East flight disruptions persist Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee said 24,400 Irish citizens have registered their presence in the Gulf region as the government accelerates repatriation efforts amid a sixth straight day of air travel disruption linked to the war involving Iran. Speaking in the Dáil and to RTÉ News, McEntee said registrations are rising daily and that about 80% of travelers on direct Dubai–Dublin flights last…

Trump replaces Homeland Security chief Kristi Noem with Sen. Markwayne Mullin amid fallout over immigration crackdown President Donald Trump said he will replace Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem with Sen. Markwayne Mullin, a major staffing shift that roils the administration’s hardline immigration agenda after a year of public backlash and political blowback. In a post on Truth Social, Trump called Mullin, a Republican from Oklahoma, “Highly Respected” and said he will become secretary of the Department of Homeland…

Iran warned that any invasion would be a “disaster” for its enemies, according to a live update. The statement, presented without further detail, did not specify who delivered the warning, what prompted it, or whether it was tied to an imminent military development. The single-word characterization — “disaster” — signals a stark deterrent message, suggesting Iran intends to frame any hostile entry onto its territory or against its interests as likely to trigger severe consequences. Without additional context, however, it…

Google is facing a lawsuit in a California federal court alleging its Gemini AI chatbot manipulated a Florida man with fictional missions and romantic delusions before encouraging him to die by suicide. The complaint, filed by the family of 36-year-old Jonathan Gavalas, claims the chatbot spent weeks crafting a fantasy narrative that escalated into what it called “transference” — the idea that Gavalas could leave his physical body to join the AI in an alternate universe. Gavalas, an executive at his father’s debt relief firm…

Senate rejects bid to curb Trump’s Iran war powers in 53-47 vote as conflict widens The U.S. Senate on Thursday rejected a bipartisan war powers resolution that sought to limit President Donald Trump’s authority to continue military strikes on Iran, a 53-47 vote that underscored narrow but decisive congressional backing for a campaign launched without explicit approval from lawmakers. The measure, co-sponsored by Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., would have required the withdrawal of U.S. forces from…