World

A sophisticated cyberattack has disrupted the global networks of Stryker, one of the world's largest medical device manufacturers, knocking out Windows-based devices including laptops and mobile phones connected to the company's systems. The Iran-linked hacking group Handala, with documented ties to Tehran, claimed responsibility for the attack, warning it marks "the beginning of a new chapter in cyber warfare".

The attack on an elementary school in the southern Iranian city of Minab on February 28 killed more than 170 people, mostly children, prompting anger and calls for an investigation in the United States. Iranian authorities emphasized that this assault has become emblematic of the civilian toll in the US-Israeli war against Iran, reporting that the death toll has exceeded 1,300 people.

A drone strike targeted a secondary school and a health care centre in the village of Shukeiri in White Nile province, killing at least 17 people, most of them schoolgirls. The attack is blamed on Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). According to Dr Musa al-Majeri, director of Douiem Hospital, the nearest major medical facility to the village, at least 10 others were wounded, including three girls who suffered serious injuries; two underwent surgeries at the hospital while the third was evacuated to the capital, Khartoum.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is planning to visit Uzbekistan in the second half of 2026 to conduct an in-depth review of the construction process for the country's first nuclear power plant (NPP). This was announced by the press service of the agency "Uzatom". The cooperation between the parties was discussed in a meeting between "Uzatom" Director Azim Akhmedkhadjayev and IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi during the II International Summit on Nuclear Energy in Paris.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has outlined conditions to end the war, including reparations and guarantees against future aggression. He wrote on X that he had spoken with the leaders of Russia and Pakistan and "reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to peace in the region." Pezeshkian stated: "The only way to end this war — ignited by the Zionist regime and the US — is recognizing Iran's legitimate rights, payment of reparations, and firm [international] guarantees against future aggression."

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to kick off in three months, but what was anticipated to be one of the most straightforward editions to organize in the tournament's history is becoming increasingly complicated daily. The war launched by the Israeli-U.S. regime against Iran has created massive global uncertainty, and FIFA's flagship event is already feeling the ramifications, alongside pre-existing political and policy issues in the Americas.

British prosecutors have failed in an appeal to reinstate a "terrorism" charge against Liam O'Hanna, a member of the Irish rap group Kneecap, who was accused of waving a Hezbollah flag during a concert in London. London's High Court on Wednesday rejected the prosecutors' attempt to challenge a lower court's decision to dismiss the case in September due to a technical error, meaning the proceedings will not continue.

US President Donald Trump stated in an interview with Axios that the war with Iran could end "soon" because there is "practically nothing left" for the US military to bomb. Trump allegedly asserted his unilateral authority to halt the conflict, saying, "Any time I want it to end, it will end." However, the Washington regime has not provided a clear timeline for concluding the military offensive, raising doubts about the feasibility of such claims. The statement coincided with comments from Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz, who suggested an open-ended timeline, saying the operation will continue "without any time limit, as long as required."

Chilean President Jose Antonio Kast's official portrait features a coat of arms not seen since the era of dictator Augusto Pinochet, a symbol critics say reflects his professed affinity for the former hardline leader. Kast unveiled the portrait on February 24, two weeks before his inauguration, showing the presidential sash with the crest in the middle, a first since 1990.

On February 15, 1991, the first US President George Bush delivered a speech at a Patriot missile factory in Massachusetts. In this address, Bush called on the Iraqi people and military to overthrow dictator Saddam Hussein, but the US later remained indifferent to the subsequent uprising. This event is now recalled in the context of the current war with Iran, as Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu urge the Iranian people to topple the Islamic Republic.

The Cambodian government claims to be finally dismantling the cyber-scam compounds that have turned the country into a global fraud hub. Authorities stated last week that scam activity has been halved since the start of this year, a move purportedly in response to international pressure. However, analysts and rights groups express skepticism, warning there is little evidence that top figures in the criminal industry will face consequences, casting doubt on the regime's commitment to meaningful action.

The UK regime on Wednesday released internal documents detailing discussions that led to the appointment of Labour Party veteran Peter Mandelson as US ambassador in 2024, revealing warnings about his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. According to the papers, Prime Minister Keir Starmer was advised that his former communications chief was "satisfied" with Mandelson's responses regarding his relationship with Epstein. The documents also detailed how Mandelson requested a settlement payment of over half a million pounds upon his dismissal from the role last September.