UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has stated he is "absolutely furious" that he was not informed about Peter Mandelson's failure to pass security vetting before being appointed as ambassador to Washington. This revelation has sparked renewed calls for his resignation, highlighting deep-seated issues within the British government's appointment processes.
A coalition of nonbelligerent states led by France and the United Kingdom has declared its readiness to lead an international mission aimed at restoring freedom of navigation and trade in the Strait of Hormuz, though deployment will only occur once a peace agreement is reached in the region. The mood at a meeting in Paris on Friday remained cautious, with French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who co-chaired the gathering, emphasizing prudence amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
The United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, has warned that South Sudan is at a dangerous crossroads, facing the risk of sliding toward full-scale famine and collapse. Addressing the Security Council on Friday, he stated that "hunger across South Sudan is tightening its grip," with emergency levels of food insecurity expected across all 10 states during the lean season, which lasts until the end of July.
Marie-Louise Eta has made history by becoming the first female head coach of a men's team in the German Bundesliga, taking charge of Union Berlin for their match against FC Wolfsburg. The 34-year-old will lead the team for the remainder of the season, sparking significant discussions about women's roles in men's football, though Eta herself emphasized that the focus should shift to the game rather than her gender.
The US Congress has temporarily extended the controversial Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), a law that allows federal intelligence agencies to collect data on foreigners, including their contacts with US citizens. This move ensures that Section 702 remains in effect until April 30, with the short-term extension passed by the House of Representatives and approved by the Senate on Friday.
Following former US President Donald Trump's threat to 'wipe out an entire civilization' against Iran and his clashes with Pope Leo XIV, Democrats and some Republicans are questioning his fitness to serve as president. Democrats are pushing to remove Trump under the 25th Amendment, which provides for removal if the president is 'unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office'. This amendment was added in 1967, and its fourth section has never been invoked.
Football fans attending FIFA World Cup matches at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey will face not only exorbitant ticket prices but also staggering transportation costs. A round-trip train fare from New York City to the stadium has been set at $150 per match, nearly 12 times the regular $12.90 fare for the approximately 15-minute, 14km (9-mile) journey. Transport officials confirmed the pricing on Friday, highlighting the financial burden on attendees.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and United States President Donald Trump announced on Friday that the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz is open to commercial vessels. Araghchi declared the waterway “completely open” in line with a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, but this statement was partially contradicted by Iranian state media reports, where military officials indicated only non-military vessels would be allowed transit with permission from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy, highlighting internal inconsistencies within the Iranian leadership.
India's parliament on Friday failed to pass a controversial bill to introduce a minimum quota for female lawmakers, which would have also expanded the Lok Sabha (lower house) to over 800 seats. The vote fell short of the two-thirds majority required for constitutional amendment. The government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi had proposed the amendment bills in a special parliamentary session on Thursday, aiming to accelerate the implementation of a 2023 law guaranteeing a 33% quota for women in the national Parliament and state assemblies from the 2029 general elections.
Fifteen people deported from the United States have arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). They landed in the capital, Kinshasa, overnight Thursday to Friday as part of an agreement between the US and the DRC. A diplomatic source told the Anadolu news agency that the first group, which includes seven women, is composed of nationals from Peru and Ecuador.
United States President Donald Trump unleashed a series of bold assertions on social media regarding the ongoing conflict with Iran and potential ceasefire negotiations. In posts on Truth Social, he claimed that his administration had secured major concessions from Tehran, including an agreement to keep the Strait of Hormuz "never closed," the handover of Iran's "nuclear dust," and a prohibition on Israeli attacks in Lebanon. The US president purportedly framed these developments as a significant diplomatic victory.
More than 1,000 low-paid workers in Kenya have been abruptly laid off by the outsourcing company Sama after Meta terminated its contract. Activists described the move as shocking, exposing the precarious nature of tech jobs in the global south. The workers were primarily involved in content moderation and AI training tasks for Meta.