Africa & World

The Kremlin on Thursday accused European nations of pursuing militarisation rather than peace, as Western military leaders convened in Britain to discuss strategies for supporting Ukraine.

Spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that European capitals were prioritising military expansion, saying, “Europe has embarked on a militarisation of itself and has turned into somewhat of a war party.”

The meeting, attended by around 30 military officials, is being led by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron. Both leaders have expressed willingness to deploy peacekeepers to Ukraine following a ceasefire between Moscow and Kyiv, a proposal Russia has firmly opposed. Macron has also suggested discussions on extending France’s nuclear umbrella to the entire European Union.

The Kremlin’s criticism comes as European powers, including France and the UK, have moved to increase military spending since Donald Trump took office in January. Russia has increasingly directed its frustrations at Europe, accusing the EU and the UK of obstructing peace efforts in the ongoing Ukraine conflict.

Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu described recent European statements as reflective of “the anti-Russian sentiment that reigns in Europe today.”

Moscow also criticised Berlin after German chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz called for a significant boost in defence spending and described Russia’s actions as a “war of aggression against Europe.” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova denounced the remarks, claiming they reflected a “desire for historical revenge” and asserting that Russia had no plans to attack Germany.

More than 400 people have been killed in Gaza as Israeli airstrikes intensified following the breakdown of ceasefire negotiations, the Hamas-run health ministry has reported.

The Israeli military described the strikes as targeting “terror sites” across Gaza, marking the most intense bombardment since the ceasefire began on January 19.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office defended the renewed military action, stating that Israel would “act against Hamas with increasing military strength” due to the group’s “repeated refusal to release our hostages.” Israeli officials accused Hamas of rejecting multiple ceasefire extension proposals.

Hamas condemned the strikes, alleging they targeted “defenseless civilians,” and called on mediators to hold Israel “fully responsible” for “violating and overturning” the truce.

According to Israeli officials, 59 hostages remain in Gaza, with up to 24 believed to be alive.

A group representing the families of the hostages has criticized the Israeli government, accusing it of abandoning the captives by resuming military action instead of pursuing further negotiations.

The escalation has raised concerns over further casualties and destruction in Gaza, as international efforts to restore the ceasefire remain stalled.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has escalated his efforts to end birthright citizenship by bringing the case before the Supreme Court.

Trump’s executive order, signed on his first day in office, seeks to revoke birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants. However, federal district courts in Maryland, Massachusetts, and Washington state blocked the order.

The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees citizenship to individuals born on American soil. In response to legal challenges, the Justice Department filed an emergency application with the Supreme Court, requesting a narrowing of the lower court injunctions. The department argued that these nationwide injunctions should only apply to the individual plaintiffs in the cases.

Acting Solicitor General Sarah Harris characterized the request as “modest,” emphasizing that the government is not seeking a ruling on the constitutionality of eliminating birthright citizenship at this stage.

“Those universal injunctions prohibit a Day 1 Executive Order from being enforced anywhere in the country,” Harris wrote in the filing. She urged the Supreme Court to limit the injunctions to the parties directly involved in the lawsuits.

Trump continues to face legal challenges across the country as he pursues measures to curb illegal immigration, cut government spending, and reduce the federal workforce.

Indian teenager Lalit Patidar has secured a Guinness World Record (GWR) for the hairiest face on a male, with an official measurement of 201.72 hairs per square centimetre, according to a statement by Guinness World Records (GWR).

GWR described the 18-year-old as having a “one-in-a-billion werewolf syndrome,” scientifically known as hypertrichosis, a rare condition that results in excessive hair growth. The statement noted that “over 95 per cent of his face is covered in hair.”

Reacting to the recognition, Lalit expressed his excitement, saying, “I am speechless, I don’t know what to say because I’m very happy to receive this recognition.”

GWR highlighted the rarity of Lalit’s condition, stating that he is one of only around 50 documented cases worldwide since the Middle Ages, making him “one in a billion and certainly a special person.”

Despite achieving the record, Lalit has faced challenges, including ridicule and stares from others. The statement recounted his experiences, noting that his schoolmates were initially afraid of him.

“The other children at school were even scared of him when he arrived on his first day,” GWR stated.

Lalit recalled, “They were scared of me, but when they got to know me and started talking to me, they realised I was not so different from them. It was just my appearance that was different, but inside, I am the same.”

Although most people treat him well, he acknowledged that some have been less kind. In response to those who suggest he remove his facial hair, he said, “There is not much to say to people about that. I tell them that I like how I am, and I don’t want to change my look.”

Lalit has embraced his identity despite the challenges, drawing strength from his family and sharing his experiences online.

“Lalit fully embraces who he is and what makes him unique, even inviting others to follow his daily life on his YouTube channel,” GWR added.

His record was officially confirmed during a trip to Milan, Italy, where he appeared on GWR’s television show Lo Show dei Record. As part of the verification process, a trichologist assessed his facial hair by shaving small portions to determine the hairs per square centimetre.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order to create a strategic bitcoin reserve, a day before hosting cryptocurrency industry executives at the White House.

According to White House crypto czar David Sacks, the reserve will be funded with bitcoin seized by the federal government through criminal or civil asset forfeiture proceedings. Sacks, a billionaire investor, made the announcement in a post on X, stating that the reserve would serve as a “digital Fort Knox” for bitcoin, often referred to as “digital gold.”

At Friday’s White House crypto summit, Trump is expected to formally outline plans for the reserve, which will include bitcoin and four other cryptocurrencies—ether, XRP, Solana, and Cardano. The president’s announcement earlier this week of these five digital assets led to a surge in their market value.

Details on how the reserve will function or its benefits to taxpayers remain unclear. Sacks stated that the government will implement a strategy to maximize the value of its holdings but did not provide specifics. He emphasized that the U.S. will not sell bitcoin deposited into the reserve, positioning it as a long-term store of value.

Pope Francis’ health has shown slight improvement, the Vatican reported on Wednesday, though it cautioned that the prognosis for the 88-year-old pontiff remains uncertain as he continues to battle pneumonia.

“The clinical conditions of the Holy Father in the last 24 hours have shown a further, slight improvement,” the Vatican stated in its nightly bulletin. “Although a slight improvement is being recorded, the prognosis remains reserved.”

The Argentine pontiff was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on February 14 with breathing difficulties and bronchitis. His condition later worsened, raising concerns among Catholics worldwide.

Over the weekend, Francis suffered respiratory attacks that required high oxygen levels and blood transfusions. However, the Vatican confirmed that no further such episodes had occurred, although he remains on oxygen therapy and continues breathing exercises.

A CT scan conducted on Tuesday showed a “normal progression of the pulmonary inflammatory condition,” while blood tests on Wednesday confirmed ongoing improvement. Additionally, a mild renal insufficiency detected over the weekend has now resolved, the Vatican said.

Doctors have warned that the Pope’s recovery could be prolonged, with his hospital stay expected to extend beyond this week.

Despite his condition, Francis has remained engaged in Church affairs from his hospital suite. Now in his 13th day at the hospital, he was reportedly “sitting in a chair and continuing with the treatment as normal,” according to a Vatican source. He received the Eucharist in the morning and spent the afternoon working.

This marks the Pope’s fourth and longest hospitalization. Having had part of a lung removed as a young man, he has experienced increasing health challenges in recent years, including frequent bronchitis and chronic hip and knee pain, which have necessitated the use of a wheelchair.

Faithful from around the world continue to gather at the Vatican and outside the Gemelli Hospital to pray for his recovery, with a fresh round of prayers held in St. Peter’s Square on Wednesday evening.

President Donald Trump has announced plans to introduce a “gold card” visa program, offering a path to U.S. citizenship for $5 million. The new initiative would replace the EB-5 investor visa program, which has been in place since 1990.

Speaking Tuesday in the Oval Office, Trump emphasized the benefits of the proposed visa, stating that recipients would be “wealthy and successful,” contributing significantly to the economy through spending, taxation, and job creation.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick confirmed that the Trump Gold Card would replace the EB-5 visa within two weeks. The EB-5 program allows foreign investors to obtain legal residency by investing approximately $1 million in a U.S. business that creates at least 10 jobs. Lutnick argued that the new program would eliminate fraud concerns associated with the EB-5 system while increasing investment requirements. The gold card would function as a green card, granting permanent residency and a pathway to citizenship.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, nearly 8,000 people were granted investor visas in the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2022. A 2021 Congressional Research Service report cited concerns over fraud in the EB-5 program, including challenges in verifying the legal sources of investment funds.

Investor visa programs are widely used globally, with more than 100 countries—including the United States, United Kingdom, Spain, Greece, Malta, Australia, Canada, and Italy—offering “golden visas” to affluent individuals, according to advisory firm Henley & Partners.

Trump did not specify whether the new program would include job creation requirements. While the EB-5 visa program is capped, he suggested the federal government could issue up to 10 million “gold cards” to help reduce the national deficit, calling the proposal “potentially fantastic.”

Describing the initiative, Trump said the gold card would be “somewhat like a green card, but at a higher level of sophistication,” designed for wealthy individuals or those with exceptional talent. He suggested that companies could sponsor talented individuals through the program.

Although Congress determines citizenship qualifications, Trump stated that the gold card program would not require congressional approval.