Britain’s ⁠government has agreed a framework with the police on which documents relating to the late 2024 appointment of former ambassador to the United States Peter Mandelson ‌can be released, the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) said on Thursday. Mandelson, 72, was released from custody after the Metropolitan Police arrested him on Monday on suspicion of misconduct in public office, following revelations over his ties to ⁠Jeffrey Epstein. Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein is at...

Iran and the United States wrapped up another round of indirect talks in Geneva, Switzerland on Thursday aimed at reaching a deal on Tehran’s nuclear programme and potentially averting another war as the US gathers a massive fleet of aircraft and warships in the Middle East. US President Donald Trump wants a deal to constrain Iran’s nuclear programme and he sees an opportunity while the country is struggling at home, with growing dissent following nationwide protests. Iran also hopes to avert a...

A judge on Thursday ⁠declined to block US President Donald Trump from proceeding with the construction of a US$400 million White House ballroom to replace the demolished East Wing, finding that a challenge from preservationists did not meet the high bar for a preliminary injunction that would halt the project for now. US District Judge Richard Leon’s ruling came in a lawsuit by the National Trust for Historic Preservation aiming to stop construction until the White House complies ‌with federal...

A 27-year-old man was arrested on Thursday after New York City police said officers were hurt when they were pelted with snow and ice during a massive snowball fight in Washington Square Park this week. The New York Police Department said in a brief social media post the man was arrested for “assaulting our officers”. A spokesperson for the department said it did not immediately have additional information, including what the man was charged with. Information on whether the man had a lawyer was...

A Republican-led panel grilled Hillary Clinton on Thursday over her links to Jeffrey Epstein but she called for Donald Trump to testify about the president’s own connections to the convicted sex offender. Clinton told the congressional committee she had no information about Epstein’s crimes, did not recall encountering him and had never visited his island or flown on his plane, accusing the panel of trying to “protect one public official” – Trump. “You have compelled me to testify, fully aware...

A second British island voted on Thursday to approve assisted dying, as a similar bill that would allow terminally ill adults in England and Wales to choose to end their lives is bogged down in the British parliament. The bill, which requires the formality of approval by King Charles, would allow terminally ill residents who have lived in Jersey for more than a year and are expected to have less than six months to live – or less than 12 months if they have a neurodegenerative disease – to end...

Huawei Technologies is aiming for a major international comeback, with the overseas release of its latest flagship smartphone, the Mate 80 Pro, alongside a new smartwatch and the addition of a “wheelchair mode” to its wearable devices. Powered by the company’s self-designed, China-made Kirin 9030 Pro processor, the overseas version of its Mate 80 Pro handsets will run on the Android-based EMUI 15 operating system, Huawei announced at a launch event in Madrid, Spain, on Thursday. While the...