Abbas Araghchi, foreign minister of Iran, said US military deployment in the region “does not scare us” as nuclear talks with United States resume. Speaking at a forum in Tehran, he ruled out ending uranium enrichment even under threat of war. He said Iran has little trust in Washington and questioned its seriousness in negotiations. Araghchi said sanctions must be lifted in return for nuclear confidence steps. He also confirmed consultations with China and Russia. His remarks came after a US aircraft carrier group moved into nearby waters. The US and Israel want talks to also cover missiles and regional armed groups. (PC: NDTV)

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s chief of staff Morgan McSweeney has resigned after a controversy linked to the Jeffrey Epstein files and the decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as US ambassador. The row grew after emails about Mandelson’s past links with Epstein became public. McSweeney said he advised the 2024 appointment and accepted responsibility for it. He said the decision was “wrong” and had damaged trust in politics. Mandelson served as UK ambassador to the United States from February to September 2025. The issue has increased pressure on Starmer’s office. No replacement has been announced yet. (PC: X)

Newly released documents from the Epstein Files reveal disturbing details about convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s plans before his 2019 death while facing federal sex-trafficking charges. According to the files, Epstein discussed using his sprawling New Mexico ranch to impregnate women with his DNA in an effort to create a so-called “super race” of humans — a concept linked to transhumanism and compared to eugenics. He shared this idea with scientists, advisers and elites over years, although there’s no evidence the plan was ever carried out. The releases also fuel continued scrutiny of Epstein’s influence and network. (PC: X)

Italian police fired tear gas and used water cannons to disperse protesters near a Winter Olympics venue in Milan on Saturday. The clash happened after a small group broke away from a larger protest and threw firecrackers, smoke bombs and bottles at officers. Police said six people were arrested. Around 10,000 people joined the main march to protest rising housing costs and the environmental impact of the Games. Demonstrators criticised Olympic construction projects, saying they damaged local ecosystems. The International Olympic Committee said most venues use existing facilities to limit harm. Police later brought the situation under control.

Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit is under intense scrutiny after hundreds of emails with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were released by the U.S. Justice Department, revealing exchanges from 2011–2014 and a four-day stay at his Palm Beach home. Critics are questioning her judgment and suitability as future queen as charities reconsider ties, and public criticism grows. In response, she issued a formal apology saying she regretted the association and the embarrassment it caused the Royal Family. The situation is compounded by her son’s ongoing rape trial, adding further strain to the monarchy’s reputation. (PC: Getty Images)

Washington Post publisher and CEO Will Lewis has stepped down just days after the newspaper laid off about one-third of its staff, including over 300 journalists, in a sweeping cost-cutting move that shuttered key departments like sports and photography. Lewis, whose two-year tenure was marked by internal turmoil, subscriber losses and strategic shifts, announced his departure in a brief email, saying it was the “right time” to step aside. Jeff D’Onofrio, the Post’s chief financial officer, has been named acting publisher and CEO as the paper seeks stability and a sustainable future. (PC: AP)

Manchester United owners the Glazer family have made a reported £1.3 billion ($1.8 billion) bid for Royal Challengers Bengaluru as they renew efforts to enter the IPL. According to State of Play, the offer was placed through Lancer Capital, linked to Avram Glazer. The family are also in the race to buy Rajasthan Royals. Reports say they are among the top bidders from nine groups for RCB. The bid is not final and more rounds are expected. The Glazers earlier failed to secure IPL expansion teams in 2021. BCCI rules do not allow multi-team ownership, so they may have to choose one franchise if both bids succeed. (PC: X)

India faced early trouble against USA in the T20 World Cup 2026 match after a sharp top-order collapse. The side slipped to 77 for six in 13 overs after a triple-wicket over from Shadley van Schalkwyk. Head coach Gautam Gambhir looked worried in the dugout as wickets fell quickly. During the drinks break, cameras caught him signalling captain Suryakumar Yadav to stay calm after his fifty. Suryakumar continued attacking despite the gesture. He finished unbeaten on 84 off 49 balls. He hit 21 runs in the final over to push India to 161 for nine. It became the second-highest score on T20 World Cup captaincy debut.

US President Donald Trump has refused to apologise after a racist video shared on his social media platform showed Barack Obama and Michelle Obama depicted as apes. The post was later deleted, with the White House blaming a staff member for sharing it by mistake. Trump said he did not see the full video and claimed he “didn’t make a mistake”. The clip sparked outrage across US politics. Democratic leaders, including Kamala Harris, criticised the post and urged Trump to apologise. Trump has a long history of attacking Obama, including promoting false claims about his birthplace.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the United States wants the war between Russia and Ukraine to end by June. He said both countries have been invited to the US for peace talks next week, possibly in Miami. There was no immediate response from Washington or Moscow. US President Donald Trump has been pushing for an end to the war since returning to office. Zelensky said recent US-backed talks in Abu Dhabi made little progress, with key issues still unresolved. Meanwhile, Russia has continued heavy drone and missile attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, causing power cuts during winter. (PC: State Emergency Service of Ukraine)