GENEVA — The United States pressed Iran to shut down and dismantle core parts of its nuclear program during a third round of talks here in February 2026, demanding the closure of three major sites and the removal of all enriched uranium from Iranian territory, according to details emerging from the negotiations. U.S. negotiators called for the destruction of facilities at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan — installations widely seen as the backbone of Iran’s uranium enrichment capacity — and proposed that Tehran’s stockpiled…

Kenya foils major terror plot in Nairobi during Ramadan NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya’s National Intelligence Service and the elite Special Operations Group have foiled a major attack planned for Nairobi during the holy month of Ramadan, disrupting a network authorities believe is linked to Somalia-based extremist group Al-Shabaab. Officials said Thursday the arrests were made late Tuesday at a Nairobi hideout where suspects were allegedly finalizing plans for a coordinated assault. The raid capped weeks — possibly months — of…

A massive winter storm is bearing down on the United States with a hazardous mix of freezing rain and heavy snow threatening some 160 million people through the weekend, prompting states of emergency across at least 14 states and Washington, D.C., and warnings of “catastrophic” icy conditions. The National Weather Service said the sprawling system could bring catastrophic ice accumulation capable of downing trees and power lines, leading to long-duration power outages and making travel extremely dangerous or impossible. The…

Somali forces kill more than 130 Al-Shabaab militants to repel major attack on Kudhaa, ministry says MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somali special forces and allied regional troops repelled a major Al-Shabaab assault on the strategic town of Kudhaa in the country’s south, killing more than 130 militants in a daylong battle, the Ministry of Defence said Thursday. The 24-hour operation unfolded in Kudhaa, about 70 kilometers southwest of the port city of Kismayo, and drew in the Somali National Army’s U.S.-trained Danab Special Forces,…

Trump retreats from Greenland seizure threat, touts open-ended Arctic security deal and lifts tariff warnings DAVOS, Switzerland — President Donald Trump backed down from threats to seize Greenland by force from U.S. ally Denmark, announcing a vague security arrangement he said delivers “everything we wanted” and lifting promised tariffs on European partners that opposed the move. Speaking at the World Economic Forum, Trump said the agreement was negotiated with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and would last “forever,”…

U.S., allies launch “large-scale” strikes on Islamic State targets across Syria after Palmyra attack U.S. and allied forces carried out large-scale strikes against the Islamic State group across Syria today, the U.S. military said, describing the operation as a direct response to last month’s attack that killed three Americans in the ancient city of Palmyra. U.S. Central Command said in a statement on X that “the strikes today targeted ISIS throughout Syria” as part of Operation Hawkeye Strike, launched after a Dec. 13…

U.S., allied forces launch large-scale strikes on ISIS in Syria after deadly Palmyra attack U.S. and allied forces carried out large-scale strikes against the Islamic State group across Syria on Saturday, U.S. Central Command said, the latest response to a Dec. 13 assault in Palmyra that killed three Americans. “The strikes today targeted ISIS throughout Syria” and were part of Operation Hawkeye Strike, which CENTCOM said was launched “in direct response to the deadly ISIS attack on U.S. and Syrian forces in Palmyra.” The…

Trump and Zelenskiy say they are closing in on a peace agreement to end the war in Ukraine, with security guarantees nearly settled but the fate of the Donbas region still unresolved after talks at Mar-a-Lago in Florida. At a joint news conference, the U.S. president said the two sides were “getting a lot closer, maybe very close,” while acknowledging that Donbas remains a “very tough issue.” Both leaders offered few specifics and set no deadline, though Trump said it should be clear “in a few weeks” whether negotiations…

Rwanda Closes 10,000 Churches in Major Crackdown on Religious Organizations The Rwandan government has reportedly closed about 10,000 churches across the country for failing to comply with a 2018 law regulating faith-based organizations. This sweeping action underscores an increasingly stringent approach to religious oversight and governance within the nation. According to the 2018 legislation, places of worship are mandated to meet strict health and safety standards, submit annual activity and financial reports, and…

New Epstein document dump sharpens scrutiny on Trump’s past ties, adds detail but few conclusions A fresh tranche of U.S. government records tied to Jeffrey Epstein offers new specifics on former President Donald Trump’s proximity to the financier in the 1990s and early 2000s, while underscoring how much remains unverified or sharply disputed. The materials, uneven and heavily redacted, do not alter the public record on Trump’s conduct. Trump has long denied any wrongdoing, and the Justice Department has labeled some of the…