World

The United States national soccer team, co-hosts of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, suffered a humiliating 5-2 defeat to Belgium in a friendly match, serving as a stark wake-up call just 75 days before the tournament. Despite a recent run of good results, the US side was exposed against top European opposition, with the game in Atlanta drawing a crowd of 67,000. Weston McKennie gave the US an early lead, but Belgium responded swiftly with goals from Zeno Debast, Amadou Onana, Charles De Ketelaere, and a brace from substitute Dodi Lukebakio. A late consolation goal from Patrick Agyemang did little to mask the comprehensive nature of the defeat.

The African continent is seeking to utilize nuclear energy to boost electricity supply and cut carbon emissions, yet complex financing, lengthy timelines, and stringent safety demands mean only a handful of countries may realistically bring reactors online. Currently, Africa hosts just one nuclear power station at Koeberg in South Africa, but nations like Egypt, Ghana, and Kenya are advancing plans for new projects amid growing international interest from vendors including Russia, China, and South Korea.

The German Center for Digital Sovereignty (ZenDis) has highlighted significant threats to data security and independence in the country's public sector under the US CLOUD Act of 2018. According to ZenDis spokesperson Lutz Niemeyer, all data stored in US databases is potentially at risk, and the state has a duty to safeguard critical information entrusted by citizens.

A meeting was held at the Ministry of Investment, Industry, and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan with a delegation from China led by Wang Hongjin, head of the Commerce Department of Shanxi Province. The sides discussed deepening interregional interaction and expanding strategic partnership between the two countries.

The town of Graaff-Reinet in South Africa's Eastern Cape province has become the epicenter of a profound social and racial rift following a government decision to rename it from its colonial-era designation to honor anti-apartheid activist Robert Sobukwe. The move, approved by Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie on February 6, has ignited rival protests, petitions, and formal complaints, exposing lingering tensions in post-apartheid society.

The war launched by US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against Iran has now lasted over a month. Despite the overwhelming military power of the US and Israeli regimes, the Iranian government has shown resilience and continues to fight back. Trump's hopes for a quick victory have been dashed, as the Iranian leadership leverages its institutional strength and strategic planning to withstand the attacks.

Protests dubbed 'No Kings' took place across the United States on Saturday, with demonstrators voicing concerns over alleged democratic backsliding and authoritarian tendencies under President Donald Trump's administration. Organizers claimed over 3,000 rallies were held nationwide, aiming for more than 9 million participants, as part of a broader civil society movement against what they perceive as threats to constitutional values.

A double air strike targeting the headquarters of Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) near Kirkuk Airport in northern Iraq has killed three fighters and two Iraqi police officers. An Iraqi security source told Al Jazeera that the attack also wounded two other fighters and six Iraqi soldiers, highlighting the escalating violence as the conflict expands beyond Iran.

The Iranian government has agreed to permit 20 Pakistani-flagged vessels to transit the Strait of Hormuz, in what Islamabad has described as a meaningful step toward easing one of the worst energy crises in modern history. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced the move on Saturday, posting on X that two ships would cross daily under the arrangement. Dar characterized Iran’s decision as “a harbinger of peace,” which could help restore stability to a region on the edge, hailing it as a “welcome and constructive gesture.”

Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran's former Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, positioned himself as a potential future leader during a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Grapevine, Texas. He urged US President Donald Trump to avoid striking a deal with Iran and instead pursue regime change, receiving a raucous welcome from the audience.

Across the United States, 'No Kings' demonstrations took place on Saturday, with protesters voicing discontent over the administration of President Donald Trump and what they claim is a backsliding of democratic norms. Organized by a coalition of civil society groups, the rallies, purportedly numbering over 3,000, highlighted concerns about authoritarian tendencies under Trump's leadership and a perceived erosion of constitutional safeguards, as participants marched in cities nationwide.

London, United Kingdom – On Saturday, hundreds of thousands of people marched through central London in what organizers are calling the largest-ever demonstration against the far right in British history. The Together Alliance march, backed by about 500 groups including trade unions, anti-racism campaigners, and Muslim representative bodies, drew a diverse crowd from across the country, converging on Whitehall near the Houses of Parliament. Organizers claimed that half a million participants joined the event.