NEWS

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The United Arab Emirates has insisted that any agreement to resolve tensions between the United States and Iran must guarantee free passage through the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that the vital waterway cannot be used as leverage in geopolitical disputes.

A senior UAE official, Anwar Gargash, said the security of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil transit routes, must be treated as a global economic priority, not a regional bargaining tool. He emphasized that uninterrupted navigation through the channel must be a core part of any settlement.

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The United States has lifted sanctions on Venezuela's interim president, Delcy Rodríguez. This action follows less than three months after U.S. forces seized the country's former leader, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife in Caracas, transporting them to New York to face drug trafficking charges. Rodríguez, a close ally and former vice-president to Maduro, had been sanctioned in 2018 over U.S. accusations of undermining democracy.

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President Donald Trump on Sunday made new, expletive-laden threats to escalate strikes on Iran and its infrastructure if it doesn’t open the Strait of Hormuz by his deadline, after American forces rescued an aviator whose Iran-downed plane fell behind enemy lines.

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A U.S. judge has temporarily halted President Donald Trump’s White House ballroom construction project, ruling that proper procedures were not followed before work commenced. The decision follows a lawsuit filed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. U.S. District Judge Richard Leon stated that the National Trust is "likely to succeed on the merits" because no existing statute grants the President the authority he claimed for the project.

Trump quickly criticised the ruling on his social media site, saying that the project is going well, and "will be the finest Building of its kind anywhere in the World".

The Trump administration previously said its plan was more economical than renovating the East Wing. It also noted that many presidents made changes to the White House.

Leon's ruling, published on Tuesday, continued: "The President of the United States is the steward of the White House for future generations of First Families. He is not, however, the owner!”

"Unless and until Congress blesses this project through statutory authorization, construction has to stop!" he added.

The 35-page ruling uses a large number of exclamation points, arguing that Congress must give approval in order for the project to resume.

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General Christopher LaNeve is set to become acting Chief of Staff of the US Army. His appointment comes after US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth asked Randy George to step down from the post, which he had held since 2023. The role is the most senior position in the Army, and office holders usually serve a four year term.

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In a dramatic turn for one of the most high-profile murder cases in recent American history, defense attorneys for Tyler Robinson, the man accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk, claim that federal ballistics tests have failed to link the fatal bullet to the weapon recovered at the scene.

According to court documents, a report from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) was “unable to identify the bullet recovered at autopsy to the rifle allegedly tied to Mr. Robinson.” The defense is now using this forensic discrepancy to push for a delay in the preliminary hearing, which was originally scheduled for May.

Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA, was shot on September 10, 2025, during a speaking engagement at Utah Valley University in Orem. The assassination of the prominent MAGA ally sparked national outrage and led to the swift arrest of Robinson, a 22-year-old who prosecutors allege targeted Kirk over political grievances.

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An Indiana teen was found guilty of raping a non-verbal neurodivergent child.

16-year-old Landon Doty was found guilty after a two-day jury trial that concluded

Wednesday, April 1.

The suspect was charged as an adult on June 12, 2025, after school bus surveillance video reportedly captured several instances of Doty allegedly assaulting the child over a period of several weeks when the suspect was 15 years of age.

Officials first became aware of Doty’s alleged actions on April 17, 2025, after a bus monitor reported seeing Doty push the child from his lap. The monitor then alerted the bus driver, and the students were separated. The incident was reported to Jennings County Schools.

Doty reportedly stated that he did not sexually touch the other child but claimed he used “calming techniques,” with his attorney arguing that neither the bus driver nor the monitor ever observed any sexual acts.

A June 9, 2025, filing, submitted after Doty was waived to adult court, stated that the teen was “beyond rehabilitation under the juvenile justice system” and that “it is in the best interest of the safety and welfare of the community” for him to stand trial as an adult, the outlet reported.

An officer also testified that Doty’s case “is the worst he has ever seen during his 39-year career as a juvenile probation officer,” according to the report. Doty was found guilty on the following charges: Rape, Child molesting, Sexual battery, Criminal confinement of a victim under four years of age, Public indecency.

A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled as of Thursday morning.

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FIFA president Gianni Infantino has confirmed that Iran will participate in the upcoming FIFA World Cup as planned, with their matches set to take place in the United States despite recent geopolitical tensions.

There had been growing uncertainty around Iran's involvement in the tournament due to the ongoing US-Israel war with Iran. Earlier in the month, Iran's football federation revealed it was in discussions with FIFA about potentially moving its matches from the US to Mexico.

However, Infantino dismissed any suggestion of a change in plans. Speaking to AFP, he confirmed that Iran would take part in the competition and that all fixtures would proceed according to the official draw. He also expressed enthusiasm about the team's participation, describing them as a strong side.