reports

A Russian oil tanker nearing Cuba has opened a narrow lifeline for the island as US President Donald Trump insisted the shipment would do little to change the trajectory of Havana's communist government. Even as the expected delivery promised some badly needed relief, Mr Trump sharpened his warnings toward Cuba's leadership, saying the government would collapse "within a short period of time." The Anatoly Kolodkin, carrying 730,000 barrels of crude, was positioned off Cuba's northeastern coast yesterday evening and was due…

French police foiled what authorities described as an apparent bomb attack outside a US bank in Paris early Saturday, arresting a man seconds before he could trigger a homemade explosive device, according to sources familiar with the investigation. The incident unfolded at around 3.30am local time, or 1.30am Irish time, in front of a Bank of America building in the city’s upscale 8th arrondissement, just a couple of streets from the Champs-Elysees. One of the sources said officers detained the suspect shortly after he had…

Friday March 27, 2026 In Mogadishu, a crowd of hundreds turned a football match into a statement of change—watching two women’s teams compete at Eng. Yariisow Stadium on February 17, 2026, after years when such scenes were nearly unthinkable in the conservative, conflict-torn country. The U17 Somalia players trained as the women’s game continued despite criticism from some religious conservatives who describe it as “un-Islamic.” (Photo by Hassan Ali ELMI / AFP) For many in the stands, Tuesday’s match felt like a…

The United States is weighing the potential deployment of 10,000 troops to the Middle East, according to media reports. The move, which has not been formally confirmed in the available information, comes as the region remains a focal point for U.S. planning and security assessments.

In a call to action, Human Rights Watch (HRW) is pressuring Nigerian officials to prioritize civilian safety in high-risk areas and to improve early warning systems in response to the tragic bombings that recently shook Maiduguri. The deadly attacks on March 16, 2026, targeted bustling public spaces—including a market, a post office, and the entrance to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital—resulting in the loss of 23 lives and leaving 108 others injured. HRW highlighted that the indiscriminate nature of these…

Spain plans a sharp cut to its value-added tax on fuel, dropping it to 10% from 21% to soften the economic fallout of the Middle East conflict, SER radio reported, citing sources familiar with the plans. Madrid also intends to suspend the excise duty on hydrocarbons, a step that would immediately trim the price of diesel and petrol by between 0.30c and 0.40c per litre, the SER report said. The government will also scrap the 5% tax on electricity consumption, according to the report. A government spokesperson declined to…

The Zimbabwe Peace Project reported more than 100 human rights violations affecting 3,205 people across Zimbabwe in February 2026. In its latest report, the watchdog said the cases spanned severe abuses — including torture, assault, enforced disappearances and abductions — as well as infringements on civil and political rights. The group said members of the ruling Zanu PF party were responsible for 35.46% of incidents, largely through political intimidation, coercion and interference with fundamental freedoms. It added that…

BAIDOA, Somalia — Southwest State’s information minister on Monday denied social media reports that fighting erupted overnight in Baidoa, insisting the regional capital remains calm despite unverified accounts of a mortar incident near a military installation. Minister says “no shooting” occurred and daily life is normal in Baidoa Unconfirmed online claims alleged a mortar round landed near a Southwest State base Officials accuse unnamed groups in Mogadishu of spreading misinformation Denial comes amid broader political…

Taiwan reports return of large-scale Chinese air force activity after two-week lull TAIPEI — Taiwan on Sunday said Chinese military flights around the island have resumed at scale after an unexplained pause of more than two weeks, with 26 People’s Liberation Army aircraft detected in the previous 24 hours, the defense ministry reported. The sorties — concentrated in the Taiwan Strait — mark the largest single-day tally since Feb. 25, when Taipei tracked 30 aircraft as Beijing carried out what it called a “joint combat…

KYIV, Ukraine — Russian drone and missile strikes across Ukraine killed six people and wounded dozens, officials said, as Kyiv reported damage to homes, schools, businesses and energy sites from a sweeping overnight barrage. Mykola Kalashnyk, head of the Kyiv regional military administration, said five people were killed in the region and four of the wounded were in critical condition after attacks that “targeted ordinary settlements in the region: residential buildings, educational institutions, businesses, and critical…