European Anti-Fraud Office Opens Investigation Into Peter Mandelson
The European Anti‑Fraud Office (OLAF) opened a formal investigation on April 24 into former UK ambassador Peter Mandelson over alleged ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Mandelson, who served as EU trade commissioner (2004‑2008) and was appointed Britain’s US ambassador in late 2024, was dismissed in September 2025 after a leak of emails revealed extensive contact with the convicted sex offender. OLAF’s move follows a February notice of a preliminary review, signaling deeper scrutiny. The probe arrives amid heightened scrutiny of political figures’ ethical conduct across Europe.
Leaders of Colombia, Venezuela Expected to Discuss Security at Caracas Meeting
Colombian President Gustavo Petro will travel to Caracas on Friday to meet Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez, focusing on security along their 2,200‑kilometre border. The dialogue follows recent ministerial talks that covered trade, energy and illicit activity, and comes amid heightened...
Israeli Strike Kills Three in Gaza, Medics Say
An Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on April 24 killed at least three people, hitting a crowded area near a police‑guarded bank. Palestinian health officials said the strike targeted a police patrol, though it remains unclear if any officers were...
What to Know About the Falkland Islands as US Considers Reassessing Position
The United States is weighing a review of its stance on the Falkland Islands as a way to pressure Britain for perceived insufficient support in the ongoing Iran war. A Pentagon email, reported by Reuters, suggests the U.S. could question...
US Health Secretary Kennedy Defends Trump’s Mathematically Impossible Drug Discount Claims
U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. defended President Donald Trump’s mathematically impossible drug‑discount claims during a Senate Finance Committee hearing, insisting a drop from $600 (≈ $566 USD) to $10 represented a 600% reduction. The assertion contradicts basic percentage math, as the actual discount...
Fire After Ukrainian Attack at Russia's Tuapse Refinery Hits Air Quality
A Ukrainian drone strike on Russia's Tuapse oil refinery ignited a fire at the sea terminal, prompting a three‑day firefighting effort. The blaze forced the refinery, which exports most of its output, to halt operations after earlier attacks on April 16....
Russia Says Africa Corps Has Freed Russian and Ukrainian Nationals Abducted in West Africa
Russia’s defence ministry said its Africa Corps rescued a Russian and a Ukrainian employee of a geological exploration firm after they were abducted in Niger in July 2024. The men were freed during a special operation in Mali, highlighting the Corps’...
US Says It Intercepted ‘Stateless Sanctioned’ Oil Vessel in Asia-Pacific, Amid Iran Crackdown
The U.S. Department of Defense announced a right‑of‑visit boarding of the orange‑hulled motor tanker M/T Tifani, labeled a “stateless sanctioned” vessel, in the Indo‑Pacific Command’s area of responsibility on April 21. Helicopters landed on the ship without resistance, demonstrating that...
Trump’s $1.9 Trillion Defence Budget Includes Ships, Jets and Golden Dome
The Pentagon unveiled President Trump’s FY2027 defence budget request of $1.5 trillion (≈S$1.9 trillion), the biggest year‑over‑year increase since World War II. A new "presidential priorities" line funds Golden Dome missile defence, AI, data infrastructure and the defence industrial base. The proposal allocates...
At Senegal Forum, Niger and Mali Say Neighbours Sponsor Terrorism
At a security forum in Senegal, Niger and Mali’s foreign ministers accused neighboring states – notably France – of financing terrorism and even hinted at Ukrainian mercenary activity in Mali. Both nations, which have withdrawn from ECOWAS and created the...
While You Were Sleeping: 5 Stories You Might Have Missed, April 20, 2026
The United States announced it seized an Iranian‑flagged cargo vessel attempting to breach its Gulf blockade, prompting Tehran to reject a second round of US‑backed peace talks. In the United States, a domestic‑violence‑linked shooting in Shreveport, Louisiana, left eight children...
Ukraine Pushes for Europe to Build Defence System Against Ballistic Weapons
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on Europe to create its own anti‑ballistic missile defence system, saying talks are already under way with several unnamed countries. He stressed the need for a functional European shield within a year to counter Russia's...
Germany's Merz, Brazil's Lula Stress Close European-Brazilian Cooperation
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula met at the Hanover industrial fair to promote deeper EU‑Brazil ties. They welcomed the EU‑Mercosur free‑trade agreement, which came into force on May 1, 2026, and highlighted Brazil’s vast mineral wealth, including the...
Ukraine Says It Hit Three Russian Warships in Crimea with Drones
Ukraine’s Security Service reported that its Alpha special‑operations unit launched a drone strike on the Russian‑occupied Crimean peninsula, damaging three Russian warships, including the landing ships Yamal and Azov, as well as radar, communications gear and fuel storage. Russian officials...
Thousands Protest in Germany Urging Faster Green Shift, Amid Iran War
Thousands took to the streets in Berlin, Cologne, Hamburg and Munich on April 18, demanding a faster transition to renewable energy. Organisers claim about 80,000 participants nationwide, while police estimates are lower. Protesters blamed Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s centre‑right coalition and Economy...