Trump removes Attorney General Pam Bondi
Donald Trump, the US President has dismissed Attorney General Pam Bondi, a longtime ally and staunch defender of his administration. Bondi, whose tenure was marked by scrutiny over the handling of files relating to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, will transition to a private sector role, Trump announced on Truth Social.
Bondi, who faced tense congressional hearings and confrontations with lawmakers, said she would work to hand over responsibilities to her former deputy, Todd Blanche, calling her role “the honour of a lifetime.” She added that her new position would allow her to continue supporting the Trump administration. Bondi’s departure follows the recent ouster of Kristi Noem as homeland security chief.
Macron criticises Trump’s approach to Iran war
French President Emmanuel Macron criticised US President Donald Trump’s handling of the Iran conflict, calling for a “serious” approach that does not change daily. Speaking in South Korea, Macron said, “This is not a show. We are talking about war and peace and the lives of men and women.”
He also emphasised the value of alliances like NATO, warning that public doubt on commitments undermines trust. Macron refrained from commenting on specific US-Israeli operations, noting that European nations were not directly involved.
New York baby shot dead in pram
A seven-month-old girl was killed in broad daylight in Brooklyn, New York, in what police believe was a gang-related shooting.
The child was in her pushchair when a man on a motorbike fired multiple rounds before the bike crashed. The suspect was apprehended, while the driver remains at large.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the incident “a devastating reminder of how much more work there is to combat gun violence.”
Emergency services confirmed the baby died at Woodhull Hospital, and authorities are continuing the investigation.
Argentina expels Iranian diplomat
Argentina has declared Iran’s charge d’affaires in Buenos Aires, Mohsen Tehrani, persona non grata, escalating tensions after Iran rejected the designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist group.
The Argentine Foreign Ministry cited “false, offensive and unfounded accusations” from Tehran, while Iran condemned the move, calling it a threat to its national interests.
Iran’s steel production halted by strikes
Iran’s two largest steel plants have shut down following US-Israeli air strikes, potentially halting production for six months to a year.
Khuzestan Steel Company and Mobarakeh Steel Company reported complete shutdowns of key production lines.
Israeli media suggested the strikes, coordinated with the US, aim to damage the Iranian economy. Iran’s Foreign Minister confirmed multiple facilities, including civilian nuclear sites, were targeted.
AFRICA
Sixteen Kenyans missing in Russia after army recruitment
Sixteen Kenyans remain unaccounted for in Russia after joining its army, while 47 have returned from the front lines in Ukraine, Kenya’s foreign affairs minister Musalia Mudavadi told lawmakers. Thirty-eight others are in Russian hospitals with restricted access.
Mudavadi said over 250 Kenyans have participated in the conflict, many drawn by promises of salaries up to $2,700 a month, gratuities, and potential citizenship. Two are reportedly held as prisoners of war in Ukraine. The minister noted that most recruits joined willingly and were aware of the risks.
Four toddlers stabbed to death at Ugandan nursery school
Police in Kampala, Uganda, reported that four children, aged two and three, were “brutally stabbed and killed” at a nursery school. A 39-year-old man has been detained as investigations continue into the motive and background.
Witnesses described chaotic scenes as parents attempted to intervene. The other ten children present were unharmed and returned to their families. Authorities are reviewing how the attacker gained access to the school.
Over 1,800 killed since junta seized power in Burkina Faso
Human Rights Watch reports that more than 1,800 civilians, including children, have been killed in Burkina Faso since Ibrahim Traoré seized power three years ago. The killings, occurring in 57 incidents, are attributed largely to the military and allied militias, with Islamist militants responsible for the remainder.
HRW says Traoré and six senior commanders “may be liable as a matter of command responsibility” and calls for investigations into the violations, which include attacks on civilians, pillage, and forced displacement.
Twelve deportees from the US arrive in Uganda
A group of 12 deportees from the United States arrived in Uganda under a bilateral Safe Third Country Agreement, marking the first transfer under the policy. The agreement allows the US to relocate migrants who cannot be returned to their home countries.
Officials said the transfers were in full cooperation with the Ugandan government, though details of individual cases remain confidential for privacy reasons.
At least 43 killed in ADF attack in northeast DR Congo
At least 43 people were killed and 44 houses torched in Bafwakoa, Ituri province, in an attack by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a rebel group linked to ISIL. The regional army confirmed the casualties and blamed the ADF, which has been responsible for multiple deadly attacks in eastern DRC.
The army continues to face challenges from other armed groups, including the Rwandan-backed M23, which last year captured several major towns in eastern DRC.