United States

Rubio to visit Israel as tensions with Iran escalate: US State Dept

Secretary of State Marco Rubio will make a quick trip to Israel early next week as tensions between the United States and Iran soar amid a massive buildup of US forces in the Middle East, the State Department said Friday. The department said in a statement that Rubio would visit Israel on Monday and Tuesday to "discuss a range of regional priorities including Iran, Lebanon, and ongoing efforts to implement President Trump's 20-Point Peace Plan for Gaza." It offered no other details. The announcement comes just hours after the US Embassy in Jerusalem implemented "authorised departure" status for non-essential personnel and family members, which means that eligible staffers can leave the country voluntarily at government expense.

'Did nothing wrong, saw no signs of Epstein's abuse,' says Bill Clinton

Former President Bill Clinton started his deposition before members of Congress investigating convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on Friday by telling them he "did nothing wrong" and saw no signs of Epstein's abuse. The closed-door deposition in Chappaqua, New York, marks the first time a former president has been compelled to testify to Congress. It came a day after Clinton's wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, sat with lawmakers for her own deposition. Bill Clinton has also not been accused of any wrongdoing. Yet lawmakers are grappling with what accountability in the United States looks like at a time when men around the world have been toppled from their high-powered posts for maintaining their connections with Epstein after he pleaded guilty in 2008 to state charges in Florida for soliciting prostitution from an underage girl. "Men - and women for that matter - of great power and great wealth from all across the world have been able to get away with a lot of ...

Russia remains India's top crude oil supplier despite Trump pressure

India's crude oil purchases from Russia remain strong at 1.1 million barrels per day (bpd) in February, showed data from maritime intelligence firm Kpler

Venezuela oil sale proceeds now routed to US Treasury: Chris Wright

The proceeds were initially deposited in an account in Qatar to protect it from seizure

China advises its nationals in Israel to strengthen safety precautions

Earlier on Friday, China advised nationals to avoid travelling to Iran and urged those in the country to evacuate as soon as possible, as tensions build between Tehran and Washington

US tells embassy staff to 'leave Israel if they wish' as war fears mount

The US Embassy in Israel on Friday told its staff that it could leave the country and urged anyone considering departure to do so immediately, as the threat of an American strike on Iran looms. US Ambassador Mike Huckabee told embassy employees in an email that discussions with officials in Washington had led to a decision authorizing departures for those who wished to leave. The email was recounted to The Associated Press by someone involved with the US mission who wasn't authorised to share details. Sent before 10:30 a.m., it urged staff considering departure to do so quickly, advising them to to focus initially on getting any flight out of Israel and to then make their way to Washington. "Those wishing to take AD should do so TODAY," Huckabee wrote, using an acronym for "authorized departure." "While there may be outbound flights over the coming days, there may not be," he added. Huckabee said that there was no need for panic, but for those desiring to leave, it was important t

US offers $10 mn reward for capture of Mexican Sinaloa cartel brothers

The US State Department said Thursday that it would pay up to $10 million for information leading to the arrests or convictions of two brothers identified as leaders of Mexico's Sinaloa cartel in the state of Baja California, which includes Tijuana. The reward offer came the same day that authorities announced a new indictment against Rene Arzate Garcia, 42, known as "La Rana" ("The Frog"). He was initially charged with drug crimes in San Diego. The superseding indictment includes charges of conspiracy, narcoterrorism and material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. The US is offering $5 million each for information on Rene Arzate Garcia and Alfonso Arzate Garcia, 52, known as "Aquiles" ("Achilles"). Their whereabouts are unknown. "As controllers of a critical trafficking node in Tijuana at the US border, the Arzate-Garcia brothers have become key essential components of the cartel's command-and-control structure," the State Department said. "Their control of the

IRS broke law 42,695 times by disclosing confidential info to ICE: Judge

A federal judge said Thursday that the IRS broke the law by disclosing confidential taxpayer information "approximately 42,695 times" to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. US District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly found that the IRS had erroneously shared the taxpayer information of thousands of people with the Department of Homeland Security as part of the agencies' controversial agreement to share information on immigrants for the purpose of identifying and deporting people illegally in the US. Her finding was based off a declaration filed earlier this month by Dottie Romo, IRS' chief risk and control officer, which revealed that the IRS had provided DHS with information on 47,000 of the 1.28 million people that ICE requested - and, in most of those cases, gave ICE additional address information in violation of privacy rules created to protect taxpayer data. Kollar-Kotelly said in her Thursday decision that the agency violated IRS Code 6103, one of the strictest confidentiality .

Hillary Clinton denies knowledge of Epstein activities in testimony

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testified before US House lawmakers in New York on Thursday as part of a congressional investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, saying she has no information on Epstein's criminal activities and never recalls meeting him. Her testimony starts off two days of depositions that will also include former President Bill Clinton. The closed-door depositions in the Clintons' hometown of Chappaqua, a typically quiet hamlet north of New York City, come after months of tense back-and-forth between the former high-powered Democratic couple and the Republican-controlled House Oversight Committee.

US, Iran deal possible if nuclear, non-nuclear issues are separated

Trump said on February 19 that Iran must make a deal in 10 to 15 days, warning that "really bad things" would otherwise happen

Mandelson, Summers, Brende: Big names who quit over Epstein connections

While not all individuals named faced consequences, a cluster of senior figures stepped down or lost positions after fresh scrutiny

Trump EPA eyes reallocating waived biofuel obligations to refiners: Report

The question of whether to reallocate those exempted blending obligations to larger refiners is a point of contention between the agriculture and fuel industries

Oil prices slip about 1.5% on high US crude stocks and US-Iran positivity

Brent crude futures were down 95 cents, or 1.3 per cent , at $69.90 a barrel ‌by 1351 GMT. WTI futures lost $1.06, or 1.6 per cent , to $64.36

Bill, Hillary Clinton prepare for House testimony over Epstein links

For some of their conservative critics, this is the scandal that could finally topple them. Their resistance to testifying proved futile. And now, staring down another epic fight, they're harnessing their considerable political skills to try and turn the table on their accusers. For Bill and Hillary Clinton, the 1990s are back. The Clintons are slated to testify Thursday and Friday in a House investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, part of a deal with Republicans after it became clear that Congress - with the help of some Democrats - was on track to hold them in contempt if they refused to cooperate. For the battle-hardened couple, it amounts to one more Washington brawl. And like so many of the battles that came before, this one is another mix of questionable judgment, sexual impropriety, money and power. During his 1992 campaign, Bill Clinton pitched his candidacy as "two for the price of one," previewing a presidential marriage like none that had come before, with a spouse whose ...

US tariff rate may rise to 15% or higher for some nations: USTR

The US tariff rate for some countries will go up to 15 per cent or higher from the newly-imposed 10 per cent, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said

Rahul Gandhi says PM Modi left for Israel after challenged on US deal

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying it has been more than 24 hours since he challenged the PM to scrap the India-US interim trade deal and once again, he (Modi)has "quietly slipped off to Israel". In a post in Hindi on X, Gandhi said, "Narendra 'Surrender' Modi, it's been more than 24 hours since I challenged you to cancel the US Trade Deal -- and once again, you've quietly slipped off to Israel." "At least once, you've already 'danced and sung' in Israel at Epstein's behest - so this time, on whose orders will you striking a deal against the country's interests and return?" the leader of opposition in Lok Sabha said. Speaking in Bhopal, Gandhi on Tuesday had said the Indo-US interim trade deal was sealed under pressure and dared Prime Minister Modi to scrap the "anti-farmer" agreement, following the US Supreme Court ruling. Addressing the 'Kisan Mahachaupal' rally, the former Congress chief had described the agreement as "

Ministers will no longer meet US ambassador: French foreign minister

France's spat with the US ambassador to Paris took another turn Tuesday with the French foreign minister saying the top US diplomat in France must respond to a summons and won't have access to French government officials until he complies. French authorities had summoned Ambassador Charles Kushner - the father of US President Donald Trump's son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner - for a meeting on Monday over comments from the Trump administration that France objected to. But Kushner did not show up, the foreign ministry said. The US Embassy did not immediately respond to repeated requests for comment. Speaking Tuesday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot described the failure to attend the meeting as "a surprise" that flew in the face of diplomatic protocol and will dent Charles Kushner's ability to serve as an ambassador. "It will, naturally, affect his capacity to exercise his mission in our country," Barrot said, speaking to public broadcaster France Info. He said that Kush

Former UK ambassador to US Peter Mandelson arrested amid Epstein probe

Peter Mandelson, theUK's formerambassador to the US,wasarrestedfrom his north London home on Monday onsuspicion of misconduct in public office, the Metropolitan Police said. Mandelson hadresigned from the House of Lords andLabour Party earlier this month following damaging allegations related to his association with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The Met Police had confirmed soon after that the force had opened aninvestigation into the former frontlineLabour politician, who served in the Cabinet underprimeministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. "Officers have arrested a 72-year-old man on suspicion of misconduct in public office,"said a Met Police spokesperson. "He was arrested at an address in Camden on Monday, 23 February and has been taken to a London police station forinterview.This follows search warrants at two addresses in the Wiltshire and Camden areas. "We are not able to provide further information at this stage to preventprejudicing the integrity of the investigation," ..

Gold imports not alarming yet, FDI inflows a puzzle: FM Sitharaman

'Too soon to comment on US tariff twist, but India committed to forging more trade deals'

Hegseth to meet Anthropic CEO to discuss military use of Claude AI

According to its Monday report, Defense officials say the Pentagon's talks with Anthropic are on the verge on collapsing