World

The United States Department of Defense has demanded the immediate retraction of a Financial Times report alleging that a wealth manager for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth attempted to make a multimillion-dollar investment in defense-related companies in the weeks leading up to the war on Iran. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell issued the demand on Monday, calling the allegations "entirely false and fabricated" and asserting that neither Hegseth nor his representatives had approached BlackRock about any such investment.

The national average price of gasoline in the United States has surged to $4 per gallon for the first time since 2022, according to GasBuddy, an app tracking fuel prices. This increase is linked to rising oil prices and escalating tensions in the Persian Gulf, exacerbating economic strain on American consumers amid broader inflationary pressures.

At least 70 people were killed and 30 injured during an attack near Petite-Riviere in Haiti's breadbasket Artibonite region, according to the human rights group Defenseurs Plus. This figure is significantly higher than official estimates, which initially reported approximately 16 dead. The attack began in the early hours of Sunday in rural communities around Jean-Denis and continued into Monday morning, with gang members storming the area and setting homes on fire.

Israel's parliament, the Knesset, passed a law on Monday making the death penalty by hanging the default punishment for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank convicted of killing Israelis. The legislation was championed by far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who was seen celebrating with champagne in the parliamentary chamber after it was approved with 62 votes to 48.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated in an interview with Al Jazeera that talks with Iran are proceeding through intermediaries, but Washington will continue its military campaign until Tehran abandons its nuclear and missile programs. He emphasized that Iran must never acquire nuclear weapons, insisting, "The Iranian regime can never have nuclear weapons." Rubio's comments come as US President Donald Trump allegedly escalated rhetoric on social media, threatening to target Iran's energy infrastructure.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera, asserted that the United States has taken 'nothing punitive' against the Cuban government. He argued that the severe humanitarian situation on the island predated recent actions by the administration of US President Donald Trump in the Caribbean. Rubio placed blame for Cuba's current woes squarely on the government in Havana, describing its economic system as 'completely dysfunctional' and 'not a real system', and allegedly stating that change is impossible without altering the leadership.

French police have intensified their investigation into a foiled attack on Bank of America’s Paris headquarters, arresting two additional suspects. The National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office (PNAT) confirmed that five individuals are now in custody, including three minors detained after Saturday’s attempted attack using a homemade explosive device, and two adults taken into custody on Monday. The plot involved a device comprising an ignition system and five litres of liquid, believed to be fuel, placed outside the US financial institution near the Champs-Elysees in the city’s 8th arrondissement.

Israel's parliament, the Knesset, voted on Monday to reinstate the death penalty by hanging as the default punishment for West Bank Palestinians convicted of murdering Israeli citizens. The bill was passed with 62 votes out of 120 lawmakers, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, marking a significant victory for far-right parties whose support is crucial for the ruling coalition. The move underscores the growing influence of ultranationalist factions in Israeli politics.

An overnight armed attack occurred in the Angwan Rukuba district of Jos city in central Nigeria's Plateau State. Gunmen arrived in the Gari Ya Waye community and opened fire indiscriminately, resulting in dozens of deaths and numerous injuries. Reuters and AFP news agencies, citing local youth agency representatives, reported that at least 30 people were killed.

US immigration authorities have announced the death of another migrant at a processing center in California, raising concerns about the escalating death toll of immigrants in government custody amid President Donald Trump's crackdown. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said on Monday that Mexican immigrant Jose Guadalupe Ramos-Solano was found unresponsive at the facility last week and was later pronounced dead at a hospital.

▪️ Amnesty International has stated that the upcoming FIFA World Cup in 2026, to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will take place during an “acute human rights crisis” and pose significant risks to traveling fans, local communities, and tournament workers. In a report released on Monday, the rights group outlined the threats faced by millions of local and international football fans traveling for the six-week tournament.

Several news outlets, including Fox News, the New York Post, and The Independent, reported that the Somaliland government had called for the extradition of U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar. These stories were based on a post from the X (formerly Twitter) account @RepOfSomaliland, which stated, “Extradition? Say the word…”. However, this account is not an official government channel, a fact that Somaliland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs publicly clarified in December.