Kenya Insights

Author: Agencies

  • Epstein Files: Trump Accused of Auctioning Underage Girls, Measuring Genitals and Murder

    Epstein Files: Trump Accused of Auctioning Underage Girls, Measuring Genitals and Murder

    The newly released Epstein Files have allegations of underage girls being auctioned at Mar-a-Lago, brought in by Jeffrey Epstein, in “Calendar girl parties”.

    The report stems from 2020 complaints received through the National Threat Operations Centre, related to the Epstein investigation.

    The complaint alleges that Trump used to test girls on their “genital tightness” by inserting a finger into their private parts, in the presence of many other guests, like Elon Musk, Eric Trump, Ivanka Trump, Allan Dershowitz, and Bob Shapiro.

    “We were taken in rooms, forced to give oral sex to Donald J Trump, forced to allow them to penetrate us. I was 13 years old when Donald J Trump raped me,” the report further alleges. The FBI has categorised the report as “false”.

    Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced on Friday that thousands of new documents related to the case of convicted child sex predator Jeffrey Epstein were being released.

    Screenshot of EFTA01660679 Photograph: (DOJ)
    Screenshot of EFTA01660679 Photograph: (DOJ)

    Allegations of murder against Trump

    An FBI agent reported that he spoke to a woman code-named “caller”.

    The woman and her friend, “victim-1′ went out one night and ended up at Trump Plaza.

    Apparently, “Victim-1” really wanted to meet the infamous Donald Trump.

    The “caller” then says that an unknown man approached her friend and offered to introduce her to Trump. He then offered her a drink, and later she woke up naked and sore with $300 in a bed.

    “Victim 1 didn’t remember how she got to the room. She remembered seeing ‘a flash’ of Trump’s face. Victim 1 called the Caller and told her she thought she had been raped”.

    The darker part is that Victim 1 was never seen again. Years later, her remains were found, and the Victim is identified as deceased in the agent report. These reports get darker and darker. A girl says that she witnessed a sex trafficking ring at the Trump Golf Course in Los Angeles, “Complainant reported Ghislaine Maxwell as the madam and broker for sex parties, clients of whom included Epstein. Robin Leach and Donald Trump.

    Complainant reported participating in orgies and that some girls went missing, rumoured to have been murdered and buried at the facility.” She also claimed that she was later warned by Trump’s Head of Security that if she ever mentioned to anyone about this, she would “end up as fertiliser for the back nine holes like the other cunts”.

  • Epstein Files: Sheikh Offered His ‘Virgin Daughter’ to Trump

    Epstein Files: Sheikh Offered His ‘Virgin Daughter’ to Trump

    The FBI received an anonymous tip involving Trump, Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell and another man. The anonymous tipster alleged that she overheard a private conversation between Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump during a trip shortly after the September 11, 2001, attacks.

    A sheikh in a country whose name is redacted offered his virgin daughter to him.

    The claim was entirely based on the caller’s recollection of a conversation and would require corroboration and investigation.

    The caller claimed that Trump allegedly spoke about visiting a country, but indicates uncertainty, “possibly Israel”. According to the tipster, Epstein allegedly responded positively, making sexually explicit remarks about young women.

    “There was an incident after 09/11/2001, Epstein, Trump, Ghislaine, Joe and Palm Beach, FL, for the weekend. was waiting on the plane for others reading magazines, overhearing Epstein and Trump’s conversation, overheard Trump talking about how he just came from visiting a country (possibly Israel), where they have sheikhs, claiming the sheikh gave his virgin daughter to him.” read the complaint.

    Screenshot EFTA00095502 FBI Crisis Intake Photograph: (DOJ)
    Screenshot EFTA00095502 FBI Crisis Intake Photograph: (DOJ)

    The woman said that she was introduced to Epstein in 2004 by Caroly Dougherty and described the recruiter as being associated with Epstein. Epstein allegedly made unwanted remarks at her and attempted to unzip her pants. After which she withdrew from the interaction.

    The witness became friends with Ghislaine Maxwell and observed that Maxwell was actively involved in recruiting young women for Epstein.

    The witness made multiple visits to Epstein’s private island with her then-boyfriend, who was friends with Epstein. During these visits, she observed various high-profile individuals and overheard Epstein discussing plans for massage rooms and a “harem.”

    “Epstein had two types of women he would keep around, including young women he would pay and the high-end girlfriends,” said Epstein.

  • Epstein Files: Bill Clinton and George Bush Accused Of Raping A Boy In A Yacht Of ‘Ritualistic Sacrifice’

    Epstein Files: Bill Clinton and George Bush Accused Of Raping A Boy In A Yacht Of ‘Ritualistic Sacrifice’

    The latest tranche of Epstein Files released on Friday shows an email exchange where Former US President Bill Clinton and George Bush have been accused of raping a boy. The boy, in an interview with an FBI agent on August 27, 2019, made some horrifying claims. He said that he was in an yacht where he was raped (sodomized) by Epstein in 2000. US President Donald Trump was also present on the trip.

    “(Redacted) reports that while being raped by EPSTEIN and CLINTON, he was in a heavy drug-induced state”. He further added some disturbing details. While being on the yacht, he noticed African American males having sexual intercourse with blonde females, all of whom were bleeding. He was allegedly a victim of a type of ritualistic sacrifice in which his feet were cut with a scimitar, but left no scarring. He further added that babies were dismembered, intestines removed and individual consuming faeces from these intestines.

    Screenshot EFTA00147661 Photograph: (DOJ)
    Screenshot EFTA00147661 Photograph: (DOJ)

    “(Redacted) stated he has ingested hallucinogenic mushrooms as well as other illicit substances in the past and currently smokes marijuana. (Redacted) reported being raped (sodomized) by his great uncle since the age of 5 Y/O until age 22. (Redacted) described meeting EPSTEIN at a yacht club in M, of his relatives were members, first at age 5 and later at age 8,” read the transcript of the interview.

    The victim reportedly did not provide any supporting or corroborating evidence. He claimed that he was reportedly raped in a heavily drug-induced state. He was reportedly taken to the FBI by Michael Moore, who is accused by many of being a far-right conspiracy theorist. He was describing these incidents from “recovered repressed memories” until he started taking therapy in 2016. The FBI did not expand on the investigation, as they claimed he was “emotionally unbalanced”, though he was “not intoxicated” at that moment.

  • Why South Sudan Is Blaming Riek Machar For A ‘Ghost’ Army

    Why South Sudan Is Blaming Riek Machar For A ‘Ghost’ Army

    The UN issued warnings of potential mass violence between the South Sudanese government and the White Army in January 2026. A peace agreement ended a five-year civil war in the country in 2018. This was followed by a period of relative calm that ended in 2025 in the wake of clashes between the government and White Army. Attempts to bring peace since have faltered. The government has charged and suspended first vice-president Riek Machar over claims he commanded the White Army during the violence in Nasir, Upper Nile State. Jan Pospisil, who has studied South Sudan’s conflict dynamics, explains the origins of the White Army and its political impact.

    What is the White Army?

    The White Army is best understood as a set of temporary, community-mandated self-defence mobilisations, organised along sectional and clan lines.

    The term “White Army” refers to the ash traditionally used in Nuer cattle camps to repel mosquitoes. The ash is smeared on the bodies and faces of young men and gives them a whitish appearance. The Nuer are one of South Sudan’s largest ethnic groups. They primarily keep cattle and inhabit the greater Upper Nile region.

    Authority in the White Army flows upward from communities, not downward from political leaders.

    The White Army’s orientation is primarily defensive: protecting cattle, land and local autonomy in an environment where the state is experienced less as a provider of security than as a source of threat.

    But this defensive logic coexists with raiding and inter-communal violence.

    Its history explains its ambivalent role.

    The White Army grew out of Nuer youth self-defence formations that had existed since the 1960s.

    In 1991, the White Army started to pro-actively use this name and was drawn into national conflict around the so-called Nasir split. This is when suspended vice-president Riek Machar and other predominantly Nuer commanders broke with John Garang’s Sudan People’s Liberation Movement. Garang, who died in 2005, was from another of South Sudan’s major ethnic groups, the Dinka.

    South Sudan's Vice President Riek Machar addresses a news conference, as the first case of coronavirus was confirmed in the country, in Juba, South Sudan April 5, 2020. Photo credit: Reuters
    South Sudan’s Vice President Riek Machar addresses a news conference, as the first case of coronavirus was confirmed in the country, in Juba, South Sudan April 5, 2020.
    Photo credit: Reuters

    White Army forces fought alongside the Nasir faction (led by, among others, Machar) and were central to a massive attack on Bor later in 1991. The Bor massacre led to the death of several thousand Bor Dinka, a sub-group of the Dinka people who primarily inhabit Jonglei State.

    Attacks were carried out largely by White Army fighters pursuing revenge over cattle raids and local objectives that aligned only partially with Machar’s political aims. This is an episode Machar apologised for in 2011, saying he was responsible for both the good things and the bad things that came as a result of the Nasir Declaration.

    The apology was revealing. It acknowledged political responsibility without implying operational command.

    The Bor massacre remains a dominant lens through which many Bor Dinka understand the White Army: as an organised anti-Dinka force opposing the ruling party. This is understandable, but is also a source of lasting misperception about how the group operates.

    What’s the relationship between Riek Machar and the White Army?

    Machar has benefited politically from White Army mobilisation. But he does not direct it.

    His current prosecution is therefore deeply ironic. Machar is accused of commanding a force that has, time and again, demonstrated its structural resistance to sustained external control, including his own.

    He is now being tried for exercising a form of command that he has long sought but never fully possessed.

    From the 1991 Nasir split to the civil war between the government and the Machar-led opposition that erupted in December 2013 and the renewed violence of 2025, White Army forces have repeatedly fought alongside Machar’s forces.

    However, the White Army exists as an amalgamation of community militias that are tied to particular areas rather than as one organised force. Their size depends on the capacity of regional leaders to mobilise the youth at a given time.

    First Vice President of South Sudan Riek Machar.Photo credit: File | AFP
    First Vice President of South Sudan Riek Machar.
    Photo credit: File | AFP

    During the civil war, White Army mobilisations delivered some of the opposition’s most significant battlefield successes.

    Yet these forces often withdraw once immediate objectives – such as the defeat of militias aligned with the government in a certain territory – are achieved. This leaves opposition units unable to hold territory.

    The assumption that’s made is that these temporary alliances equate to control of the White Army. They don’t. Confusing the two has repeatedly distorted how South Sudan’s conflicts are understood – and mismanaged.

    Conflating the White Army with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army-in-Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) serves a political purpose. It legitimises state counterinsurgency, including airstrikes over the course of 2025 that hit civilian areas. It recasts local resistance as elite manipulation.

    But it also obscures deeper drivers of South Sudan’s violence: the collapse of civilian protection, the outsourcing of force to allied ethnic militias such as the Agwelek or the Abushok, and the ethnicisation of political belonging since 2013.

    If the White Army continues to be misunderstood, the danger is further ethnicisation of South Sudan’s politics. This is where complex communal violence is reduced to criminal conspiracy and used to legitimise militarised state responses.

    Treating political crises as matters for prosecution rather than compromise risks deepening the very dynamics that have fuelled South Sudan’s wars since 2013.

    The state portrays the White Army as a terrorist group: why is this a problem?

     

    In the case it has brought against Machar, the government is advancing a familiar claim: that the White Army is an armed wing of the SPLM/A-IO acting on Machar’s orders.

    The charge matters. It underpins not only Machar’s prosecution, but also a wider narrative that treats community mobilisations as opposition conspiracy in South Sudan.

    The claim rests on a fundamental misunderstanding of what the White Army is, and has been for more than three decades.

    Firstly, the group draws on long-standing Nuer community self-defence traditions, even if it became politically visible in national conflict in the early 1990s. It is neither purely protective nor purely predatory. This makes the White Army difficult to incorporate into elite peace agreements, and easy to mischaracterise as irrational or terrorist.

    Secondly, the White Army is not a standing militia, nor an insurgent organisation with a central command. Authority flows from the community.

    To understand why the White Army mobilises as it does, it is important to consider December 2013. The mass killing of Nuer civilians in Juba at the outbreak of civil war marked a decisive rupture in South Sudan’s political order. Violence that had previously been mediated through elite rivalry and fragmented local conflicts became overtly tribalised.

    For many Nuer communities, December 2013 was experienced not as a power struggle within the ruling party, but as an existential attack marked by mass killings, displacement and the collapse of civilian protection.

    This interpretation – whether accepted or rejected by external observers – has shaped mobilisation ever since. White Army fighters interviewed by journalists and researchers over the past decade have been consistent: they did not fight because Machar was removed from office, but because Nuer civilians were killed.

    And since 2013, Nuer diaspora networks across North America, Europe and east Africa have played a role in supporting White Army mobilisations. This support has taken multiple forms: fundraising, advocacy and social media campaigning, logistical assistance, and political pressure on opposition leaders.

    Diaspora involvement reinforces White Army mobilisation by amplifying narratives of collective victimhood and unfinished justice, often from a distance that strips away the everyday constraints faced by communities on the ground.

    As a result, South Sudan’s 2013 war did not merely fragment the state; it reshaped political identities far beyond its territory.

    Written by Jan Pospisil.

    Researcher at the Austrian Institute for International Affairs (Österreichisches Institut für Internationale Politik, OIIP).

  • Any Attack On Iran Would Trigger Response Reaching ‘The Depth’ Of Israel: Senior Advisor To Supreme Leader

    Any Attack On Iran Would Trigger Response Reaching ‘The Depth’ Of Israel: Senior Advisor To Supreme Leader

    Ali Shamkhani, a senior advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned Saturday that Tehran’s retaliation to any attack on Iran would not be limited in scope, but also include “attacks on the depth of the Israeli regime,” state media reported.

    “Any move indicating hostile intent by the enemy will be met with a proportional, effective, and deterrent response,” Shamkhani said, according to state-run news agency IRNA.

    Iran “has uncovered the enemy’s operational plan and has full intelligence dominance over it,” he added.

    “At the appropriate time, we will strike points that will choke this plan at its inception,” he said, adding that if necessary, Iran would resort to “more effective and efficient options” to defend its national security and territorial integrity.

    ​​​​​​​Shamkhani noted that such a response would not be limited in scope, saying it would include “attacks on the depth of the Israeli regime.”

    Separately, speaking at a military event, Iran’s army chief Amir Hatami said: “Today we are at a high level of defensive and military preparedness, and we are monitoring the enemy’s movements,” according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency.

    “Because we are aware of their malicious intentions, our hand is on the trigger.”

    “Without a doubt, we are the most peace-seeking system governing the region,” he said.

    Hatami added that Iran’s defense capabilities have not weakened despite years of sanctions, saying they have instead become fully domestic and resilient.

    He said Iran’s forces gained firsthand knowledge of both their own strengths and weaknesses, as well as those of their adversaries. “We confronted the enemy’s science, technology, and hybrid warfare,” he said. “Today, we are prepared in a different way.”

    He also compared Iran’s experience to other conflicts, saying even countries engaged in prolonged wars lack similar operational exposure. “Even Russia, which has been engaged with NATO countries for more than three years, does not have the 12-day experience that we have,” Hatami said.

    The remarks come as tensions have escalated between Tehran and Washington in recent weeks, following US President Donald Trump’s statements that a “massive armada” was moving toward Iran, alongside his call for Tehran to “come to the table” for negotiations.

    Iranian officials have warned that any US attack would draw a “swift and comprehensive” response, while reiterating that Tehran remains open to talks only under what it describes as “fair, balanced, and noncoercive terms.”

  • Takeaways From The Millions of Newly Released Epstein Files

    Takeaways From The Millions of Newly Released Epstein Files

    Millions of new files relating to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein have been released by the US Department of Justice, the largest number of documents shared by the government since a law mandated their release last year.

    Three million pages, 180,000 images and 2,000 videos were posted publicly on Friday.

    The release came six weeks after the department missed a deadline signed into law by US President Donald Trump that mandated all Epstein-related documents be shared with the public.

    “Today’s release marks the end of a very comprehensive document identification and review process to ensure transparency to the American people and compliance,” Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said.

    The files include details about Jeffrey Epstein’s time in prison – including a psychological report – and his death while incarcerated, along with investigative records on Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s associate who was convicted of helping him traffic underaged girls.

    They also include emails between Epstein and high-profile figures.

    Many of the emails and documents go back more than a decade, showcasing Epstein’s relationships amid his legal troubles. He was convicted in 2008 in Florida for soliciting sex from a 14-year-old girl after coming to a controversial plea agreement with prosecutors.

    He died in August 2019 while in jail on charges in a sprawling sex trafficking case.

    Epstein invited ‘The Duke’ to meet Russian woman

    The documents shed light on the disgraced financier’s close association with Britain’s elite.

    Another message from Epstein includes an offer to introduce “The Duke” to a 26-year-old Russian woman.

    The emails are signed “A”, with a signature that appears to read “HRH Duke of York KG”. They were exchanged in August 2010, two years after Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting a minor.

    The emails do not indicate any wrongdoing.

    The BBC has contacted Andrew, formerly known as the Duke of York, for a response. Mountbatten-Windsor has faced years of scrutiny over his past friendship with Epstein. He has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

    Some emails in the latest release appear to be between Epstein and Sarah Ferguson, Andrew’s ex-wife.

    One email dated 4 April 2009, was signed “Love, Sarah, The red Head.!!”

    It says that she was going to be in Palm Beach and wanted to have tea. The email goes on to discuss ideas for Ferguson’s company, Mother’s Army. The former Duchess of York refers to Epstein as “My dear spectacular and special friend Jeffrey”.

    She calls him a “legend” and says “I am so proud of you”.

    The financier was still under house arrest for his 2008 conviction when the email exchange was sent.

    Epstein sent money to Mandelson’s husband

    Other emails show Epstein sent £10,000 ($13,692) to Lord Peter Mandelson’s husband Reinaldo Avila da Silva in 2009.

    In an email to Epstein, da Silva sets out the costs of an osteopathy course, provides his bank details and thanks the financier for “anything you can help me with”.

    Epstein replies a few hours later saying he would wire the loan amount and da Silva, who married Mandelson in 2023, replies with a thank you the following day.

    In another batch of emails, Lord Mandelson asks to stay at one of Epstein’s properties.

    The emails are from 16 June 2009, when Epstein was serving a prison sentence for soliciting prostitution from someone under the age of 18. For much of his sentence, Epstein was allowed to work from his office during the day and returned to jail each night.

    In December 2024, Lord Mandelson was appointed as the UK’s ambassador to the US, but was sacked less than a year later when it emerged he had sent supportive messages to Epstein following the conviction.

    Lord Mandelson has repeatedly said he regrets his past friendship with Epstein, which has long been public knowledge. He has said he never saw any wrongdoing while with Epstein and “fell for his lies”.

    Trump mentioned hundreds of times

    The US president is mentioned hundreds of times in the newly released files. Trump had a friendship with Epstein but he says it soured many years ago and has denied any knowledge of his sex crimes.

    Among the new documents is a list compiled by the FBI last year of allegations made against Trump by callers to its national Threat Operation Center tip line. Many of these appear to be based on unverified tips received by the agency and were made without supporting evidence.

    The list includes numerous allegations of sexual abuse made against Trump, Epstein and other high-profile figures.

    Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein and has not been accused of any crimes by Epstein’s victims.

    When asked about the latest allegations, both the White House and justice department pointed to a line in a news release accompanying the new batch of files.

    “Some of the documents contain untrue and sensationalist claims against President Trump that were submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 election,” the US Justice Department said.

    “To be clear, the claims are unfounded and false, and if they have a shred of credibility, they certainly would have been weaponised against President Trump already.”

    Elon Musk asked Epstein when ‘wildest party’ on his island will be

    The documents also include email correspondence between Epstein and tech billionaire Elon Musk.

    Musk, who has not been accused of any wrongdoing in the case, has previously said that Epstein had invited him to his island but he had declined.

    The new emails show Musk had discussed travelling there on more than one occasion – including a proposed 2012 trip – in which he asked Epstein: “What day/night will be the wildest party on your island?”

    The emails from November 2012 show Epstein asked how many people Musk would need transporting on a helicopter to the island and Musk replies that he it would only be himself and his then-wife, Talulah Riley.

    An email from Musk to Epstein on Christmas in 2012 includes Musk inquiring whether the financier had any parties planned because he needs to “let loose”.

    “I’ve been working to the edge of sanity this year and so, once my kids head home after Christmas, I really want to hit the party scene in St Barts or elsewhere and let loose,” he writes, adding that a “peaceful island experience” is the opposite of what he’s wanting.

    In another batch of emails from the end of 2013, Musk and Epstein discuss a visit to the financier’s island and are working on logistics and dates.

    There is no evidence that Musk ever did end up taking a trip to Epstein’s island.

    Musk said in an X post on Saturday that he was “well aware that some email correspondence with [Epstein] could be misinterpreted and used by detractors to smear my name”.

    He added: “I don’t care about that, but what I do care about is that we at least attempt to prosecute those who committed serious crimes with Epstein, especially regarding heinous exploitation of underage girls.”

    Bill Gates dismisses lurid claims by Epstein as ‘absurd and false’

    A spokesperson for Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has responded to lurid allegations contained in the latest Epstein files – including that he caught a sexually-transmitted disease – calling them “absolutely absurd and completely false”.

    Two emails from 18 July 2013 appear to have been drafted by Epstein but it is unclear if they were ever sent to Gates. Both were sent from Epstein’s email account and back to the same account, while no email account associated with Gates is visible and both emails are unsigned.

    One email is written as a resignation letter from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and complains about having had to procure medicine for Gates “to deal with the consequences of sex with Russian girls”.

    The other, which begins “dear Bill”, complains about Gates having ended a friendship and makes more claims about Gates having tried to cover up a sexually transmitted infection, including from his then-wife, Melinda.

    A spokesperson for Gates told the BBC: “These claims – from a proven, disgruntled liar – are absolutely absurd and completely false.”

    They added: “The only thing these documents demonstrate is Epstein’s frustration that he did not have an ongoing relationship with Gates and the lengths he would go to entrap and defame.”

    Criticism over identification of victims

    Gloria Allred, a women’s rights lawyer who has represented many of Epstein’s victims, told the BBC that numerous survivors’ names had been disclosed in the latest release, including some who had not been previously identified publicly.

    Many of the documents released on Friday include heavy redactions. The law mandates that redactions can only be made to protect victims or information currently under investigation. It also mandates a summary of the redactions made and the legal basis for them.

    Deputy Attorney General Blanche said the redactions aimed to protect victims and the justice department had hundreds of employees combing through the documents for more than two months to ensure they were released quickly.

    But Allred said Blanche’s stated hope that the release would “bring closure” to the victims was “ridiculous”.

    “They have devastated so many of these survivors by publicly releasing their names,” Allred said.

    “In some cases… they have a line through the names but you can still read the names.

    “In other cases, they’ve shown photos of victims – survivors who have never done a public interview, never given their name publicly.”

    She said that while her legal team was working to inform the department of where further redactions needed to be made to protect victims’ identities, “many people have already downloaded the files”.

    Allred described the situation as “an absolute mess”, saying the department had “reached a new low” and “should be ashamed of themselves”.

    The BBC has contacted the Department of Justice for further comment.

    Have all the Epstein files now been released?

     

    It is uncertain if this is end of the road for the Epstein documents release saga.

    Blanche said Friday’s drop “marks the end of a very comprehensive document identification and review process” signalling that as far as the US justice department is concerned, it’s job over.

    However, Democrats continue to argue that the department has withheld too many documents – possibly around two-and-a-half million – without proper justification.

    Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna, who spearheaded the Epstein Files Transparency Act alongside Republican Congressman Thomas Massie, said he’s wary.

    “The DOJ said it identified over 6 million potentially responsive pages but is releasing only about 3.5 million after review and redactions,” he said.

    “This raises questions as to why the rest are being withheld. I will be reviewing closely to see if they release what I’ve been pushing for.”

    The Department of Justice had been under heavy scrutiny after missing the 19 December deadline to release all files as mandated in the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which passed Congress and was signed into law in November.

    But still, whether this saga is over remains to be seen.

    Many – including within Trump’s base – have long believed there was a conspiracy to protect the rich and powerful who were connected to Epstein.

    Blanche acknowledged the release of these documents would not satisfy that need for more information. He said the files don’t contain the names of specific men who abused women and that, if the department had those names, the men would be prosecuted.

    “I don’t think that the public or you all are going to uncover men within the Epstein files that abused women, unfortunately.”

  • Photos Released In Epstein Files Appear To Show Andrew On All Fours Over Female

    Photos Released In Epstein Files Appear To Show Andrew On All Fours Over Female

    Photographs appearing to show Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor kneeling on all fours over a female lying on the ground have been included in the latest batch of Epstein files released by the US Department of Justice.

    In two of the images, he is seen touching the person, who is unidentified and fully clothed, on her stomach. Another image shows him staring directly at the camera.

    Separate emails released on Friday also suggest the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein invited Mountbatten-Windsor to have dinner with a 26-year-old Russian woman. The messages were exchanged in August 2010, two years after Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting a minor.

    The messages and images are likely to put further pressure on Mountbatten-Windsor, who has faced years of scrutiny over his past friendship with Epstein. BBC News has approached Mountbatten-Windsor for comment. He has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

    Photographs appearing to show Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor kneeling on all fours over a female lying on the ground have been included in the latest batch of Epstein files released by the US Department of Justice.

    In two of the images, he is seen touching the person, who is unidentified and fully clothed, on her stomach. Another image shows him staring directly at the camera.

    Separate emails released on Friday also suggest the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein invited Mountbatten-Windsor to have dinner with a 26-year-old Russian woman. The messages were exchanged in August 2010, two years after Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting a minor.

    The messages and images are likely to put further pressure on Mountbatten-Windsor, who has faced years of scrutiny over his past friendship with Epstein. BBC News has approached Mountbatten-Windsor for comment. He has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

    The emails between Epstein and an account named “The Duke” on 11 and 12 August 2010 suggest that the American wanted to introduce “A” to a 26-year-old Russian woman, whom Epstein suggests he “might enjoy having dinner with”.

    He says that the woman would be in London in August 2010.

    “The Duke” replies that he would be in Geneva “until the morning of the 22nd but would be delighted to see her” before asking: “Will she be bringing a message from you? Please give her my contact details to get in touch.”

    He asks Epstein whether there is “any other information you might know about her that might be useful to know?”

    Epstein replies that “she [is] 26, russian, clevere [sic] beautiful, trustworthy and yes she has your email”.

    Epstein was convicted in 2008 of soliciting sex from a 14-year-old girl in Florida and completed his sentence in July 2010, a month before the email exchange. The BBC has not been able to independently verify the emails.

    Also among the latest tranche of documents is an email exchange dated 27 September 2010 between Epstein and the account titled “The Duke”.

    Epstein writes that he is in London, adding: “What time woudl [sic] you like me and [redacted], we will also need/ have private time”.

    “The Duke” replies: “I am just departing Scotland should be down by 1800. I’ll ring you when I get down if you can give me a number to ring. Alternatively we could have dinner at Buckingham Palace and lots of privacy. A”.

    Epstein replies: “bp pleease [sic].”

    The emails do not indicate any wrongdoing. The BBC has contacted Mountbatten-Windsor for a response.

    Another document, from 2020, is a formal request for assistance from US authorities asking to interview the former prince as they believed that “Prince Andrew may have been a witness to and/or participant in certain events of relevance to the ongoing investigation”.

    They said documentary evidence “has revealed information suggesting that Prince Andrew had knowledge that Maxwell recruited females to engage in sex acts with Epstein and other men” and “there is evidence that Prince Andrew engaged in sexual conduct involving one of Epstein’s victims”.

    The letter also said: “Prince Andrew is not presently a target of the investigation, and US authorities have not, to date, gathered evidence that he has committed any crime under US law.”

    Mountbatten-Windsor has repeatedly denied all wrongdoing in relation to Epstein, and said he did not “see, witness or suspect any behaviour of the sort that subsequently led to his arrest and conviction”.

    He has faced allegations, which he repeatedly denied, that he sexually assaulted Virginia Giuffre as a teenager after she said she was trafficked by Epstein.

    He paid a financial settlement to Giuffre, who he claims to have never met, to settle a civil sexual assault claim in 2022.

    Some emails which appear to have been between Sarah Ferguson and Epstein have also been found in the latest release.

    One email dated 4 April 2009 – signed “Love, Sarah, The red Head.!!” – read: “Hello Jeffrey. I am landing in Palm Beach in a couple of hours. Is there any chance on my quick layover, that I can get to have a quick cup of tea…”

    The email goes on to discuss ideas for Ferguson’s company, Mother’s Army. The former Duchess of York refers to Epstein as “My dear spectacular and special friend Jeffrey. You are a legend, and I am so proud of you.”

    The financier was still under house arrest when the email exchange was sent.

    In another exchange in August 2009, Ferguson emails Epstein again to discuss “my Sarah Ferguson Brand” and thanks the billionaire “for being the brother I have always wished for”.

    The emails do not indicate any wrongdoing. The BBC has contacted Ferguson for a response.

    More than 2,000 videos and 180,000 images are included in the latest batch. Their release comes six weeks after adeadline mandated in a law signed by President Donald Trump.Many of the documents are heavily redacted, with some files showing pages which are entirely blacked-out.

  • “I’m not Scared”: Anthony Joshua Reflects On Mortality After Surviving Nigerian Accident

    “I’m not Scared”: Anthony Joshua Reflects On Mortality After Surviving Nigerian Accident

    British former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has paid tribute to his two close friends who died in a car accident in Nigeria last month.

    Joshua, 36, sustained minor injuries in the crash in Nigeria, which killed his strength and conditioning coach, Sina Ghami and his trainer, Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele.

    “It’s tough. It’s really tough. I’m not going to sit here and show all of my emotions,” Joshua said in the video posted on social media.

    “One day, my time will come, and I’m not scared either at all.

    “It’s actually comforting knowing I got two brothers on the other side.

    “I’ve lost people before, but I don’t think I’ve lost people like that. My left and my right.”

    The accident occurred just a week after Joshua had knocked out Jake Paul in a bout in Miami. He is expected to fight fellow Briton Tyson Fury this year, but his next bout has not been announced.

  • Muhoozi Kainerugaba: Uganda’s Army Chief Who Threatened To Castrate Opposition Leader and Claimed Descent From Jesus

    Muhoozi Kainerugaba: Uganda’s Army Chief Who Threatened To Castrate Opposition Leader and Claimed Descent From Jesus

    A fiery tweeter who is in charge of Uganda’s military, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba is decried by his critics as being in the middle of an unholy trinity, or alliance, of three men who rule the East African nation with an iron fist.

    Kainerugaba, the son of the country’s long-time leader Yoweri Museveni, has posted on social platform X about the killing of opposition supporters during this month’s fiercely contested presidential election.

    In posts which were subsequently deleted, he also threatened to have the testicles of defeated opposition candidate Bobi Wine removed.

    With the 81-year-old president winning a seventh term, analysts say this is likely to be his last term and he is grooming his 51-year-son to succeed him.

    The so-called “unholy alliance” – a play on the Christian doctrine of the Holy Trinity – is made up of Museveni, Kainerugaba, and the president’s powerful brother and special adviser, Salim Saleh.

    Kenya-based analyst for the Institute for Security Studies think-tank, Nicodemus Minde, tells the BBC that he heard the description during a recent research trip to Uganda.

    “The Father being Museveni, then the Son being Muhoozi, then the Unholy Spirit could be the uncle, Salim Saleh,” he says.

    Minde describes Saleh as a “power behind the scenes”, saying he was “influential in terms of money, business and access”.

    Opposition supporters accuse the family of believing they have a God-given right to rule Uganda, with Museveni extending his 40-year-rule after he was declared the winner of the election with more than 70% of the vote.

    “We believe in God the Father – and God the Father is President Museveni. God the Son is MK [Muhoozi Kainerugaba], and now you [the voters] are the Holy Spirit. Therefore, vote for them,” she was quoted as saying in comments that came in for some criticism.

    After getting just 24% of the vote, Wine dismissed the results as “fake”, claiming widespread “ballot-stuffing” was behind Museveni’s victory.

    This incurred the wrath of Kainerugaba, who threatened the opposition leader, giving him “exactly 48 hours to surrender himself to the police”.

    “If he doesn’t we will treat him as an outlaw/rebel and handle him accordingly,” he wrote.

    Those tweets – and the one in which he threatened to remove Wine’s testicles – have since been deleted.

    Wine, who had gone into hiding after a raid on his house following the election, later called out the general on X and included a screengrab of some of the deleted tweets – to which Kainerugaba responded with the comment: “Boo hoo hoo Mr. 24%.”

    The army chief later accused the US of helping Wine escape and said that all military co-operation between the two countries would be suspended.

    On Friday, he apologised, saying he had been given “wrong information”.

    Kainerugaba has a long history of controversial posts, some of which have been later deleted, and is also known as the “tweeting general”.

    He has also invoked religion to advance his political aspirations.

    “I fear no one on this planet because my bloodline is from Jesus Christ,” he posted earlier this month. This tweet has also been deleted.

    A long-time friend of the general, who spoke on condition of anonymity, says he is “incredibly loyal”, and compares his posting to US President Donald Trump.

    “He might be Trumpian, but that’s him expressing himself,” the friend tells the BBC.

    He says “it is wrong to try to understand him from the tweets that he posts”, adding that Kainerugaba is “a man of complex character”.

    Minde describes the general’s posts as often “wild”, but says that many of his comments can make sense when viewed within the context of Uganda’s succession politics – in particular Kainerugaba’s bid to position himself as his father’s heir.

    President Museveni won the 15 January elections by a landslide
    President Museveni won the 15 January elections by a landslide

    “He probably wants to endear himself to his father,” Minde tells the BBC, but adds that some of the posts are deliberate “provocations”.

    He says that Kainerugaba’s statements do little to win him public favour.

    Kainerugaba’s friend, on the other hand, tells the BBC the general would be an “incredible successor” to his father.

    He points out that Uganda is a post-conflict country where security is all-important.

    “This is our number-one priority, to make sure that you are peaceful and stable and [Kainerugaba] is very experienced in that sphere. He’s been doing this all his life,” he adds.

    However, some of his posts could threaten international relations if taken at face-value.

    In 2022 he threatened to invade neighbouring Kenya, triggering a backlash from Kenyans who trolled him for his “reckless” comments.

    He responded by urging them to “relax”, but as the row escalated, Museveni was forced to phone his Kenyan counterpart William Ruto to apologise for his son’s “mistake”.

    Kainerugaba has in the past downplayed some of his remarks as “musings” and “abstractions” that do not need to be taken seriously.

    Uganda-based security analyst Freddie David Egesa observes that the military chief “enjoys having that kind of vibe”.

    “He sometimes likes joking around it,” Egesa says.

    Ugandan security forces have been accused of rights violations
    Ugandan security forces have been accused of rights violations

    Kainerugaba’s friend says the general is “a kind, generous, intensely smart person who spends all his time thinking about the peace and security of this country”.

    He adds that the general executes his responsibilities to the best of his abilities.

    “And that’s why he serves in the role that he serves.”

    Critics say Kainerugaba has brooked little opposition in the country, acting decisively against anyone perceived as a threat to his father’s administration.

    By the general’s own admission on X, at least 30 people were killed and 2,000 others detained by security officers following the recent elections.

    Kainerugaba played a role in the four-day internet blackout that lasted until after the elections, Reuters news agency quoted Andrew Mwenda, a Ugandan political commentator and close ally of the general, as saying.

    The internet remained partially restricted afterwards, but on Monday, Kainerugaba posted that access to all social media platforms was being restored.

    “We are releasing all social media today,” he wrote.

    She had alleged from her hospital bed on Saturday that military officers had assaulted her overnight as they searched for her husband.

    According to Minde, Kainerugaba’s actions appear driven by loyalty or a desire to protect Museveni’s administration. The general’s first name, Muhoozi, means avenger.

    “I named him Muhoozi, which means vengeance, such that when someone wrongs me, he avenges,” Museveni once explained.

    Kainerugaba, who was born in 1974, grew up in exile in Tanzania, Kenya and Sweden before his father took power in 1986 after overthrowing the brutal regime of Milton Obote.

    He joined the military in 1999, enrolled at the UK’s elite Sandhurst military academy and graduated the following year. He is married with several children.

    He rapidly rose through the military ranks shortly after joining the army, reaching the rank of lieutenant-general 10 years later. He was promoted to a full general in 2022.

    He played a pivotal role in the formation of the Special Forces Command (SFC), an elite military unit responsible for his father’s security.

    The SFC has been accused of involvement in a wave of abductions and torture of opposition members. It has denied the allegations, but some of its officers have been convicted of abusing their power.

    The most prominent case was that of a 32-year-old SFC soldier, who was court-martialled and sentenced to death in 2024 for shooting dead three people and injuring two others, including a one-year-old child.

    And after a bodyguard of Wine, Edward Sebuufu went missing last May, Kainerugaba revealed on X that he was in detention “in my basement”, and sparked a social media storm after he published a photo of him appearing half-naked and with his beard shaved off.

    As with Wine, he threatened to castrate Sebuufu.

    Wine has alleged that members of the SFC, as well as the military, were behind a raid on his home the day after the election.

    The unit is viewed as a shadow army that has helped Museveni, along with his ever-growing family dynasty, to consolidate power.

    The latest addition to the political dynasty is Kainerugaba’s son, Ruhamya, who has joined the army – seen as the first step to acquiring power in Uganda.

    In the years to come, the composition of the trinity could change, with Kainerugaba as the Father, Ruhamya as the Son and another family patriarch succeeding Saleh as the Spirit.

  • US Justice Dept Releases Documents, Images, Videos From Epstein Files

    US Justice Dept Releases Documents, Images, Videos From Epstein Files

    The US Justice Department began releasing millions of new pages on Friday from the Jeffrey Epstein files along with photos and videos, adding fuel to the politically explosive case that has dogged President Donald Trump.

    Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the White House played no role in the review of the extensive files related to the convicted sex offender, a former friend of Trump.

    “They did not tell this department how to do our review, what to look for, what to redact, what to not redact,” Blanche said at a press conference.

    The Justice Department said some of the documents being released contained “untrue and sensationalist claims” about the 79-year-old Trump submitted to the FBI before the 2020 presidential election.

    But Blanche — who previously served as Trump’s personal lawyer — dismissed suggestions that embarrassing material about the president had been redacted from the more than three million documents, 180,000 images and 2,000 videos being released on Friday.

    “We did not protect President Trump,” he said. “We didn’t protect or not protect anybody.”

    Blanche said all images of girls and women were being redacted aside from those of Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted of trafficking underage girls for Epstein and is serving a 20-year prison sentence.

    However, a statement by survivors of Epstein’s alleged abuse claimed identifying information about them still remained in the files, “while the men who abused us remain hidden and protected.”

    The letter signed by 19 individuals, some using aliases or initials, demanded “the full release of the Epstein files” and that Attorney General Pam Bondi directly address the matter when she testifies before Congress next month.

    A wealthy US financier, Epstein died in a New York prison cell in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking of underage girls. His death was ruled a suicide.

    Previous document releases have shed light on Epstein’s ties to top business executives such as Microsoft’s Bill Gates, celebrities such as filmmaker Woody Allen, academics and politicians, including Trump and former president Bill Clinton.

    In a draft email among the documents published on Friday, Epstein said Gates had engaged in extramarital affairs, a claim the Gates Foundation denied in a statement to The New York Times.

    “These claims — from a proven, disgruntled liar — are absolutely absurd and completely false,” it said.

    In other emails, Epstein connected Steve Tisch, 76, producer of the movies “Forrest Gump” and “Risky Business” and the co-owner of the New York Giants football team, with multiple women.

    In one exchange with Tisch, Epstein describes a woman as “russian, and rarely tells the full truth, but fun.”

    – Conspiracy theories –

    Trump’s right-wing base has long been obsessed by the Epstein saga and conspiracy theories that the financier oversaw a sex trafficking ring for the world’s elite.

    Only one person — Epstein’s former girlfriend Maxwell — has ever been charged in connection with his crimes, and Blanche appeared to play down expectations that the latest files would lead to further prosecutions.

    Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, the only former Epstein associate convicted in connection with his activities© US District Court for the Southern District of New York/AFP/File
    Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, the only former Epstein associate convicted in connection with his activities © US District Court for the Southern District of New York/AFP/File

    Trump and Clinton both figure prominently in the records published so far but neither has been accused of wrongdoing.

    A Republican-led House panel voted recently to launch contempt of Congress proceedings against Bill and Hillary Clinton over their refusal to testify before its probe into Epstein.

    Trump, who used to move in the same social circles as Epstein in Florida and New York, fought for months to prevent release of the vast trove of documents about the disgraced financier.

    But a rebellion inside his Republican Party forced him to sign off on a law mandating release of all the documents.

    Trump has given varying accounts of why he eventually fell out with Epstein. He has criticized the file dumps, expressing concern that people who “innocently met” Epstein over the years risked having their reputations smeared.

    The Epstein Files Transparency Act called for all of the documents held by the Justice Department to be published by December 19.

    Blanche said Friday’s release “marks the end of a very comprehensive document identification and review process to ensure transparency to the American people.”

    He blamed the delay on the need to painstakingly carry out redactions that protected the identities of Epstein’s more than 1,000 alleged victims.

  • UN Risks ‘Imminent Financial Collapse’, Secretary General Warns

    UN Risks ‘Imminent Financial Collapse’, Secretary General Warns

    The United Nations is at risk of “imminent financial collapse” due to member states not paying their fees, the body’s head has warned.

    António Guterres said the UN faced a financial crisis which was “deepening, threatening programme delivery”, and that money could run out by July.

    He wrote in a letter to all 193 member states that theyhad to honour their mandatory payments or overhaul the organisation’s financial rules to avoid collapse.

    It comes after the UN’s largest contributor, the US, refused to contribute to its regular and peacekeeping budgets, and withdrew from several agencies it called a “waste of taxpayer dollars”. Several other members are in arrears or are simply refusing to pay.

    Though the UN General Assembly did approve a partial change to its financial system in late 2025, the organisation still faces a massive cash crisis compounded by a rule that means it is refunding money it never received.

    At its headquarters in Geneva, signs warning of the situation have been put up everywhere. In an almost desperate attempt to save cash, the escalators are regularly turned off and the heating turned down.

    Guterres wrote in his letter that the UN had faced financial crises in the past but that the current situation was “categorically different”.

    “Decisions not to honour assessed contributions that finance a significant share of the approved regular budget have now been formally announced,” the secretary general said, without naming specific members.

    He said the “integrity of the entire system” depended on states adhering to their obligation under the UN charter to pay their “assessed contributions”, adding that 2025 ended with a record amount unpaid – equivalent to 77% of the total owed.

    Guterres said a rule that the UN must return unspent money on particular programmes to members if it could not implement a budget created a “double blow” in which it was “expected to give back cash that does not exist”.

    “I cannot overstate the urgency of the situation we now face. We cannot execute budgets with uncollected funds, nor return funds we never received.”

    As a result, the UN is now returning millions of dollars it never actually had.

    The letter reads: “Just this month, as part of the 2026 assessment, we were compelled to return $227m [£165m] – funds we have not collected.”

    “The bottom line is clear,” Guterres wrote. “Either all member states honour their obligations to pay in full and on time – or member states must fundamentally overhaul our financial rules to prevent an imminent financial collapse.”

    UN agencies rarely get all the money they ask for to tackle humanitarian crises, but the past 12 months have been particularly difficult.

    The US is the UN’s largest contributor, but President Donald Trump has said it was not fulfilling its “great potential” and has criticised it for failing to support US-led peace efforts.

    The US did not pay its contribution to the UN’s regular budget in 2025 and offered only 30% of its expected funding to UN peacekeeping operations.

    Other countries, such as the UK and Germany, have also announced significant reductions in foreign aid, which will inevitably impact the UN’s work.

    Guterres had warned earlier that same month that the UN faced its most fragile financial position in years – again citing unpaid fees – having said in October that it faced a “race to bankruptcy”.

    Trump has separately been accused by critics of seeking to replace some functions of the UN with his Board of Peace to oversee regeneration efforts in Gaza.

    The US president has said its work would happen “in conjunction with the United Nations” – but when previously asked by a Fox TV journalist whether the board would take the UN’s place, he replied: “Well, it might.”

    The US officially left the UN’s World Health Organization last week. It had refused to pay its 2024 and 2025 dues despite, WHO lawyers say, being legally obliged to do so.

    Other agencies are also making huge cuts.

    The UN’s human rights office has warned that serious violations will now go undocumented because it lacks the funds to deploy investigators. In the past, their evidence has led to prosecutions for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

    In Afghanistan, which has one of the highest rates of maternal mortality in the world, UN Women has had to close mother and baby clinics.

    Meanwhile, the World Food Programme has had to cut rations to refugees fleeing the conflict in Sudan.

  • US Judge Bars Prosecutors From Seeking Death Penalty Against Luigi Mangione

    US Judge Bars Prosecutors From Seeking Death Penalty Against Luigi Mangione

    A US judge on Friday barred prosecutors from seeking the death penalty against Luigi Mangione, the man accused of gunning down a health insurance CEO in New York in December 2024.

    The judge dismissed two charges against Mangione that could carry the death penalty: murder and using a gun with a silencer. The 27-year-old suspect is still charged with two counts of stalking in his federal case, and faces state-level murder charges.

    He has pleaded not guilty to the state and federal charges.

    Friday’s decision “is solely to foreclose the death penalty as an available punishment to be considered by the jury”, Judge Margaret Garnett wrote in a court filing.

    Mangione faces life in prison without parole if convicted of the stalking charges. The federal trial is to begin with jury selection on September 8.

    The murder of UnitedHealthcare executive Brian Thompson, captured on surveillance video, shocked the United States and exposed public anger with the profit-driven private healthcare system.

    Mangione was arrested five days after the killing at a McDonald’s restaurant in Altoona, Pennsylvania, some 230 miles (370 kilometres) from the crime scene, following a tip from a staff member.

    In another significant ruling Friday, Garnett rejected Mangione’s lawyers’ efforts to suppress as evidence the police search of a backpack recovered at the time of his arrest.

    Inside, officers found a handgun, a silencer, a magazine with bullets wrapped in underwear and a red notebook described as a “manifesto”.

    The defence argued the search breached legal standards.

    Following through on Donald Trump’s campaign promise to vigorously pursue capital punishment, Attorney General Pam Bondi had ordered Manhattan federal prosecutors last April to seek the death penalty against Mangione.

    It was the first time the Justice Department was seeking to bring the death penalty in Trump’s second term.

    He returned to office a year ago with a vow to resume federal executions after they were halted under his predecessor, former president Joe Biden.

  • South Africa Expels Israeli Top Diplomat

    South Africa Expels Israeli Top Diplomat

    South Africa ordered Israel’s top diplomat to leave the country within 72 hours on Friday, citing a “series of violations” and prompting the Israeli government to expel Pretoria’s own diplomatic representative. [Getty]

    South Africa has declared Israel’s top diplomat in the country “persona non grata” and given him 72 hours to leave, the foreign ministry said on Friday, citing a “series of violations”.

    Ties between the two nations are already strained, with South Africa bringing a case before the United Nations top court in 2023 to argue that Israel’s war on Gaza, an illegally occupied Palestinian territory, amounted to genocide.

    The Israeli government had been informed that its charge d’affaires, Ariel Seidman, has been “declared persona non grata” and “required to depart from the Republic within 72 hours”, the ministry said in a statement.

    “This decisive measure follows a series of unacceptable violations of diplomatic norms and practice which pose a direct challenge to South Africa’s sovereignty,” it said.

    They included “the repeated use of official Israeli social media platforms to launch insulting attacks” on President Cyril Ramaphosa.

    The foreign ministry also accused the embassy of a “deliberate failure” to inform South Africa of “purported visits by senior Israeli officials”.

    The Israeli foreign ministry swiftly responded that South Africa’s senior diplomatic representative “is persona non grata and must leave Israel within 72 hours”.

    In a statement on X, it accused Pretoria of “false attacks against Israel in the international arena” and described Seidman’s expulsion as a “unilateral, baseless step”.

    He was Israel’s most senior representative in South Africa after Tel Aviv recalled its ambassador in 2023.

    Screenshot

    ‘Abuse of privilege’

    South African officials were angered by a tweet from the Israeli embassy in November that commented: “A rare moment of wisdom and diplomatic clarity from President Ramaphosa.”

    The post was in reaction to a news story citing Ramaphosa as saying “boycott politics doesn’t work”, in reference to US President Donald Trump’s decision to not attend the G20 summit in Johannesburg.

    South African government officials also condemned as a breach of protocol a visit by an Israeli delegation this month to the Eastern Cape province where it reportedly offered to provide water, healthcare and agriculture expertise.

    The visit, which appeared to take the government by surprise, was hosted by a traditional king from the Xhosa people who had met Israeli President Isaac Herzog on a trip to Israel in December last year.

    In its statement, the foreign ministry accused representatives of Israel of actions that “represent a gross abuse of diplomatic privilege and a fundamental breach of the Vienna Convention”.

    “They have systematically undermined the trust and protocols essential for bilateral relations,” it said.

    South Africa, which hosts the largest Jewish community in sub-Saharan Africa, is largely supportive of the Palestinian cause and sharply critical of Israel.

    Pretoria’s embassy in Tel Aviv has been closed since November 17, 2023.

    The government filed a case against Israel with the International Court of Justice in 2023 saying that its war on Gaza — which followed the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Palestinian group Hamas — breached the 1948 United Nations Genocide Convention.

    Israel has denied that accusation.

    When more than 150 Palestinians flew into South Africa in November without departure stamps from Israel on their passports, the South African foreign minister said there appeared to be “a clear agenda to cleanse Palestinians out of Gaza and the West Bank”.

    “We are suspicious as a South African government about the circumstances surrounding the arrival of the plane,” Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola said.

    There have been regular protests in South Africa against the Israeli government’s and military’s actions in Gaza, including calls for the embassy in Pretoria to be closed.

    In an editorial in November, Seidman criticised South Africa for maintaining full ties with Iran but framing any engagement with the Israel state as “illegitimate”.

    South Africa’s ties with the Trump administration — a strong ally of Israel — have also deteriorated over the past year, with the case before the ICJ a major sticking point.

  • Former CNN Anchor Don Lemon Arrested By US federal Agents After Minnesota Church Protest

    Former CNN Anchor Don Lemon Arrested By US federal Agents After Minnesota Church Protest

    Former CNN anchor Don Lemon was taken into custody by federal agents late Thursday in Los Angeles, his attorney said.

    “Don has been a journalist for 30 years, and his constitutionally protected work in Minneapolis was no different than what he has always done,” Abbe Lowell said in a statement.

    Lemon joined dozens of protesters opposing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) who surged into Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, earlier this month, disrupting a worship service and sparking heated confrontations.

    “Instead of investigating the federal agents who killed two peaceful Minnesota protesters, the Trump Justice Department is devoting its time, attention and resources to this arrest, and that is the real indictment of wrongdoing in this case,” Lowell said.

    The attorney called Lemon’s arrest an “unprecedented attack on the First Amendment.”

    “The First Amendment exists to protect journalists whose role it is to shine light on the truth and hold those in power accountable. There is no more important time for people like Don to be doing this work,” Lowell said, adding that Lowell will fight the charges “vigorously and thoroughly” in court.

  • Norway Police File Charges Over Suspected Oil Bribery in Congo Republic

    Norway Police File Charges Over Suspected Oil Bribery in Congo Republic

    Norwegian police said on Monday they had charged an oil company and two executives in Norway on suspicion of paying millions of dollars in bribes to close family members of Congo Republic President Denis Sassou Nguesso.

    Norwegian police said the investigation was launched after Monaco police sought legal assistance related to a suspicious bank transaction, and that substantial assistance also came from other countries, including France and the United States.

    “The bribes … are linked to the President of Congo and his close family members, and the value of the bribes is particularly high,” the National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime said in a statement.

    Congo’s government dismissed reports linking Nguesso and his entourage to alleged corruption in the awarding of oil licences, saying in a statement on Tuesday that no legal proceedings target the government.

    The government condemned “interpretations,” “allusions” and “shortcuts” that harmed the honour and reputation of the head of state and his associates without an established legal basis, the statement said.

    It added that Nguesso and members of his circle were not the subject of prosecution, investigation or a court decision in the case, and it noted that judicial authorities involved had acknowledged they had no jurisdiction over them.

    Part of the investigation has been closed “due to lack of sufficient evidence,” according to the statement.

    Offshore Licence

    The accused company, Hemla Africa Holding AS, is a fully owned indirect subsidiary of Oslo-listed oil group PetroNor and controls a 20 percent stake in the offshore PNGF Sud licence via Hemla E&P Congo.

    PetroNor said in a statement it categorically contested the indictment and welcomed the chance to have the case examined in court. The company’s share price was down 10.5 percent as of 1516 GMT on Tuesday.

    MGI International, which was controlled by the president’s family, was given a 25 percent stake in Hemla E&P Congo, and MGI received dividends of close to $25 million between 2018 and 2024, according to the indictment seen by Reuters.

    Other payments took place in parallel with the application for the oil licence in Congo, investigators said.

    Hemla co-founders Knut Soevold and Gerhard Ludvigsen, who will stand trial alongside the company, denied any criminal guilt and will defend themselves “with full force,” their lawyers Halvard Helle and Arild Dyngeland said in a statement.

    “All agreements with the Congolese company are made on commercial terms and purely commercial considerations, and have nothing to do with corruption,” the lawyers said.

    Soevold stepped down from the position of PetroNor CEO in 2021 after a police raid in the case on the company’s premises.

    Norway has no jurisdiction over the individuals who received the payments and no consideration has been made of any criminal liability on their part, the police said.

    The PNGF Sud licence lies in shallow waters about 25 km (15 miles) off the coast, and encompasses several producing fields. It is operated by Perenco, an independent Anglo-French oil company.

    Perenco did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

    Sassou first came to power in 1979 and ruled until he lost Congo’s first multi-party elections in 1992, before returning to office in 1997 after a civil war.

  • Ivory Coast President Appoints Brother As Vice Prime Minister

    Ivory Coast President Appoints Brother As Vice Prime Minister

    ABIDJAN, Jan 23 (Reuters) – Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara reshuffled his cabinet on Friday, maintaining most senior ministers while appointing his brother, Defence Minister Tene Birahima Ouattara, to the newly created role of vice prime minister, which he will hold alongside his defence portfolio.

    The move elevates the younger Ouattara within the government hierarchy, while most key portfolios remained unchanged, signaling continuity rather than a comprehensive overhaul.

    The reshuffle follows Ouattara’s re-election in October and his party’s victory in December’s legislative elections, securing a parliamentary majority.

    Ouattara, 84, a former deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund, has led the country since 2011 and has said that he intends to prepare the ground for a new generation of political leaders during his tenure.

    The changes come as Ivory Coast, the world’s largest cocoa producer, seeks to build on nearly 15 years of sustained economic growth that has made it among the region’s fastest-growing economies.

  • US Military To Prioritize Homeland and Curbing China, Limit Support For Allies

    US Military To Prioritize Homeland and Curbing China, Limit Support For Allies

    Washington (United States) (AFP) – The US military will prioritize protecting the homeland and deterring China while providing “more limited” support to allies in Europe and elsewhere, a Pentagon strategy document released on Friday said.

    The 2026 National Defense Strategy (NDS) marks a significant departure from past Pentagon policy, both in its emphasis on allies taking on increased burdens with less backing from Washington, and its softer tone on traditional foes China and Russia.

    “As US forces focus on homeland defense and the Indo-Pacific, our allies and partners elsewhere will take primary responsibility for their own defense with critical but more limited support from American forces,” the strategy said.

    The previous NDS — released under President Donald Trump’s predecessor Joe Biden — described China as Washington’s most consequential challenge and said that Russia posed an “acute threat.”

    The new document however urges “respectful relations” with Beijing — while making no mention of US ally Taiwan, which China claims as its territory — and describing the threat from Russia as a “persistent but manageable” one affecting NATO’s eastern members.

    Both the Biden and Trump strategies say homeland defense is important, but their descriptions of the threats facing the US differ significantly.

    The Trump administration’s NDS takes aim at the past administration for neglecting border security, saying this led to a “flood of illegal aliens” and widespread narcotics trafficking.

    “Border security is national security,” and the Pentagon “will therefore prioritize efforts to seal our borders, repel forms of invasion, and deport illegal aliens,” it said.

    ‘Restore military dominance’

    Biden meanwhile focused on China and Russia, saying they posed “more dangerous challenges to security and safety at home” than even the threat of terrorism.

    The 2026 NDS also includes no mention of the dangers of climate change — which Biden’s administration had identified as an “emerging threat.”

    Like Trump’s national security strategy, which was released last month, the NDS elevates Latin America to the top of the US agenda.

    The Pentagon “will restore American military dominance in the Western Hemisphere. We will use it to protect our Homeland and our access to key terrain throughout the region,” the NDS said.

    The document called that the “Trump Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine,” a reference to the declaration two centuries ago by the then-young United States that Latin America was off limits to rival powers.

    Since returning to office last year, Trump has repeatedly employed the US military in Latin America, ordering a shocking raid that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife, as well as strikes on more than 30 alleged drug-smuggling boats that have killed more than 100 people.

    Trump’s administration has provided no definitive evidence that the sunken vessels were involved in drug trafficking, and international law experts and rights groups say the strikes likely amount to extrajudicial killings as they have apparently targeted civilians who do not pose an immediate threat to the United States.

  • 30 Killed in Uganda Post-Election Crackdown

    30 Killed in Uganda Post-Election Crackdown

    Uganda’s army chief, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, said on Friday that 30 opposition supporters had been killed and around 2,000 detained following the January 15 presidential election.

    Kainerugaba, who is known for his provocative social media posts and has publicly expressed ambitions to succeed his father, wrote on X that authorities had arrested “over 2,000 hooligans” linked to Wine’s party, the National Unity Platform (NUP), and that 30 NUP members had been killed.

    Uganda Army Chief Says 2,000 Opposition Supporters Arrested.
    Supporters of opposition leader and presidential candidate for the National Unity Platform (NUP) Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, hold electoral banners as they chant slogans during the party’s final campaign rally ahead of the 2026 general elections in Kampala on January 12, 2026. (Photo by Luis TATO / AFP)

    “We have arrested over 2,000 hooligans that Kabobi thought he would use. So far, we have killed 30 NUP terrorists,” he wrote, using his nickname for Bobi Wine.

    Opposition leader Bobi Wine remained in hiding after reportedly accusing security forces of raiding his home in the wake of the vote, which he described as “blatant theft.”

    According to the Electoral Commission. Museveni, 81, was declared the winner with 72 per cent of the vote, while Wine received 25 per cent.

    Among those detained is opposition lawmaker Muwanga Kivumbi from Butambala, one of the areas hardest hit by election-day violence. Kivumbi said 10 of his campaign agents were killed when security forces stormed his home.

    Police said his supporters had been shot after allegedly attempting to burn down a vote-tallying centre and police station.

    A lawyer representing opposition figures said more than 600 people had been arrested in connection with post-election protests. He added that many detainees were unaware of the charges against them and claimed they were picked up from their homes before appearing in court.

    Human rights groups and African election observers have criticised the heavy repression of opposition supporters, including a nationwide internet shutdown, following the vote.

     

  • What Makes Casino Roulette One of the Classic Table Games

    What Makes Casino Roulette One of the Classic Table Games

    Roulette stands out as one of the most recognizable table games because it combines simple rules with a strong sense of ceremony.

    The spinning wheel, the measured pace, and the clear structure of each round create a rhythm that many players appreciate. It doesn’t take long to learn the layout, and the game explains itself through design. From the first spin, everything feels organized and easy to follow.

    What keeps roulette relevant is how it balances simplicity with depth. The rules stay consistent, but the table gives players multiple ways to engage and build comfort over time. Each round has structure, which makes the game feel intentional instead of rushed. That’s why roulette holds its reputation in both land-based casinos and online formats.

    The Wheel, the Layout, and a Game Built for Clarity

    Roulette earns its classic status because it’s visually organized and easy to follow. The table layout presents numbered spaces, grouped betting areas, and clear categories that guide decisions.

    Players quickly understand the difference between inside bets on specific numbers and outside bets on broader groups. That structure keeps the game approachable while still offering plenty of choice.

    The wheel reinforces the clarity. Each spin creates a defined moment of focus, and the result lands in a way that feels official and final. Nothing drags. Nothing feels unclear. The outcome is visible immediately, and the table design keeps the next decision simple.

    This clarity is a major advantage for anyone exploring casino roulette as an online table game. It builds confidence because the layout presents every betting option clearly, making each decision simple to understand and execute.

    A Classic Ritual That Makes Every Round Feel Important

    Roulette is not only about numbers. It’s about ritual. The dealer sets the pace, handles the wheel, calls the action, and keeps the round moving with structure. That steady routine gives roulette a sense of tradition that many table games can’t match. It feels polished from the first spin to the final placement of chips.

    Players notice how the pace encourages calm decision-making. There’s time to scan the grid, choose an approach, and place chips with intention. That rhythm makes the game feel premium, even before considering the variety of bets. The table stays active, but it doesn’t feel rushed or chaotic.

    Even online, roulette holds onto the same ritual through live dealer games. Real wheels, real hands, and real motion preserve the ceremony. Let’s face it, that kind of atmosphere is a major reason roulette still feels like a classic.

    Flexible Betting Options That Support Different Playing Styles

    One reason roulette stays a classic is its flexibility. The game offers multiple ways to participate without changing the core rules.

    Some players prefer the sharp focus of picking a single number. Others lean toward grouped outcomes like red or black, odd or even, or high and low. Either approach works naturally at the same table, and that keeps roulette welcoming.

    That variety helps players shape the experience to match their style. Many begin with broad selections, then branch into more detailed bets once the layout feels familiar. The table rewards attention and planning, even when the goal is to keep decisions quick, clean, and controlled.

    The design makes this flexibility practical. Grouped betting zones guide the eye, reduce hesitation, and keep the flow steady. It’s rare to find a table game that stays this structured while still offering so many valid paths. That balance is a big reason roulette holds attention in the long run.

    Why Roulette Adapts So Well To Modern Casino Play

    Roulette remains one of the most enduring table games because it moves easily into modern formats without losing its character.

    Online roulette offers the same structure as land-based play, whether it uses digital wheels or live dealer tables. The experience stays centered on the wheel, the betting grid, and the clear outcome after each spin. That consistency helps roulette translate naturally to screens.

    Technology also improves the player experience. Online tables often show clear confirmations, bet tracking, and clean visual prompts that reduce mistakes and keep decisions organized. Live dealer roulette adds realism by keeping the ritual intact, which makes the format feel authentic rather than simulated.

    Players also appreciate how modern roulette keeps the table orderly. Interfaces highlight valid betting areas, limit errors, and make chip placement feel precise. That support keeps the pace steady and helps the game feel premium, even on mobile.

    In physical casinos, roulette still fits into modern gaming floors because it draws attention and supports group play. The wheel becomes a centerpiece, and the table creates steady momentum. Roulette doesn’t fight modern casino play. It blends into it while keeping its classic identity.

    The Timeless Table Game That Still Leads the Way

    Roulette remains one of the most classic table games because it delivers a complete experience. It feels refined, organized, and easy to follow, yet it still offers enough variety to keep the table engaging.

    The wheel creates a strong focal point, and the layout guides decisions with clarity. Players always know where to look and what each choice means, which makes roulette feel controlled rather than confusing.

    Roulette doesn’t rely on trends. It relies on design, tradition, and presentation. The game looks classic, feels classic, and plays with a rhythm that continues to define what a true table game experience should be.

  • Trump Says He Spoke To Colombia’s Petro; Plans White House Meeting

    Trump Says He Spoke To Colombia’s Petro; Plans White House Meeting

    US President Donald Trump said Wednesday it was a “great honor” to speak with his Colombian counterpart, Gustavo Petro, who called to discuss issues, including drug trafficking and other disputes between the two countries.

    “I appreciated his call and tone, and look forward to meeting him in the near future,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

    Trump said arrangements for the meeting are being coordinated between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Colombia’s Foreign Minister Rosa Villavicencio.

    “The meeting is expected to take place at the White House in Washington, D.C.,” he added.

    Petro said on US social media company X that the two leaders discussed “disagreement” about Trump’s view of the relationship between the US and Latin America.

    He noted it would be possible to establish an “American alliance” if the annual potential of clean energy in South America were harnessed, adding that Latin America could enable 100% of the US energy matrix in a step to “fight to stop the climate crisis.”

    “Using Latin America solely for oil would only lead to the destruction of international law and therefore to barbarism and a third world war,” Petro added.

    He proposed that a $500 billion investment by the US could make the “clean energy potential of Latin America” a reality.

    Earlier, Trump issued a warning to Petro, accusing him of being a drug trafficker.

    The Colombian president has denied the accusations, asserting that he has never been involved in drug trafficking.