World

For years, Iran's leadership believed time was on their side. After the United States withdrew from the 2015 nuclear agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Tehran effectively adopted what later came to be described as a 'strategic patience' approach. This involved enduring economic pressure while waiting to see if diplomacy could be revived. The underlying logic was simple: eventually, Washington would recognize that confrontation with Iran was against its own interests.

The US-Israeli war on Iran has entered its 12th day, with Iranian authorities reporting that nearly 10,000 civilian sites across the country have been bombed and over 1,300 civilians killed. Iranian officials have condemned these actions as 'aggression' and accused the US and Israel of violating international law.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced it had launched missiles and drones at targets across the Gulf, including United States (US) bases, in what it called its 37th wave of attacks on day 12 of the US-Israel war on Iran. The strikes occurred as tensions rise over a global energy crisis, with a vessel ablaze in the Strait of Hormuz. Reports indicate that Camp Arifjan in Kuwait, a US base, was targeted by two missiles, though Kuwaiti authorities did not confirm this, only stating that eight drones had been downed.

Qatar's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mohammed bin Abdulaziz al-Khulaifi, has called for a de-escalation of hostilities across the Middle East and urged Iran and the United States to return to the negotiating table for a mediated solution. In an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera, he stated that Iran's attacks on its neighbors bring "benefit for no one."

Sanjay Nerkar, residing in Nashik city in India's Maharashtra state, waits each evening for a call from his son Varad, but that call never comes. Varad died by suicide on February 15, 2024, while pursuing a master's programme at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi. This incident is one of 65 student suicides across the IIT system and the eighth at IIT Delhi since 2021.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, announced on Tuesday its acquisition of Moltbook, a social network designed for AI agents, as the tech giant pushes deeper into artificial intelligence (AI) development. Moltbook, launched earlier this year, drew viral attention as an unusual online hub where AI agents "share, discuss, and endorse" content, according to the company.

In July 2019, on the day Jeffrey Epstein was arrested for child sex trafficking, FBI agents raided his New York mansion and forced open a large safe, finding diamonds, bundles of cash, passports, binders of CDs, and hard drives. However, an issue with the warrant meant they could not take the items. When they returned with a new warrant, the safe had been emptied while they were gone, according to FBI documents.

US President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have claimed the US has a 'virtually unlimited' supply of weapons during the 'Operation Epic Fury' against Iran. However, analysts suggest these assertions may not reflect the reality on the ground. Trump quietly acknowledged on his Truth Social platform that stockpiles of the highest-grade missiles are 'not where we want to be,' highlighting underlying challenges.

Alfredo Bryce Echenique, a towering figure in Peruvian literature, has died at the age of 87. He is best known for his 1970 novel "A World for Julius," which chronicled the frivolous lives of the elite in Peru's capital Lima through the eyes of an orphan, offering a poignant critique of social disparities.

Following their elimination from the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Gold Coast, Australia, five Iranian football players and two support staff members have sought asylum, refusing to return to Iran amid fears of reprisals. This development comes after state TV in Iran labeled them “traitors” for not singing the national anthem in their first match, sparking concerns over their safety and highlighting the political pressures faced by athletes under the Iranian government.

The special election to replace former Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene is projected to head to a runoff after none of the candidates secured a majority of votes on Tuesday night. According to a projection by the BBC's US partner CBS, Republican Clay Fuller, who received former President Donald Trump's endorsement, will face Democrat Shawn Harris in the runoff to represent Georgia's 14th congressional district. The election serves as an early test of Trump's purported power to shape the upcoming midterm elections in November.

Passenger train services between China and North Korea resumed on Thursday, reviving a transport link that had been suspended for six years due to the pandemic, according to an announcement by China's rail operator. The resumption marks a significant step in reconnecting the two neighboring nations after prolonged isolation.