NEWS

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Robert S. Mueller III, the former director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation who later led the high-profile investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 U.S. election, has died at the age of 81. His family confirmed his passing on Friday, March 20,  but did not disclose the cause of death.

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President Donald Trump on Tuesday sharply criticized NATO allies for their reluctance to participate in the ongoing conflict in Iran, while insisting the United States is fully capable of continuing operations without external assistance.

Speaking during an Oval Office meeting with Ireland's prime minister, Trump described the alliance's stance as a "very foolish mistake," underscoring long-standing frustrations with NATO burden-sharing. He emphasized that while many countries support U.S. actions politically, they have stopped short of committing military resources.

Trump framed the situation as a defining moment for the alliance, arguing that despite their hesitation, the U.S. has achieved significant military success. He reiterated that Washington never depended on NATO involvement, adding that current operations would proceed regardless of allied participation.

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DoorDash has launched a standalone app called "Tasks" that allows its 8 million U.S. gig workers to earn money by training AI and robotics. Announced on Thursday, the app enables couriers to record themselves performing various physical activities. This data is intended to help artificial intelligence models better understand and navigate the physical world.

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US Attorney General Pam Bondi has been formally subpoenaed by the House Oversight Committee to answer questions regarding her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. Committee Chairman James Comer issued the summons to probe "possible mismanagement" of the case. Bondi is expected to provide testimony on her oversight and decision-making during the long-running inquiry into the convicted sex offender.

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Unidentified drones were detected above the Washington Army base where Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reside, according to a Thursday report from The Washington Post.

A senior administration official told the Post that the military is increasingly monitoring potential threats, as alert levels rise in the US amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.

Over the past 10 days, multiple drones were spotted flying over Fort McNair in a single night, though their origin remains unknown.

Fort McNair, which houses the National Defense University and some of the Pentagon’s top officials, is located near Capitol Hill and the White House. However, unlike other bases in the region, it lacks the same safety buffer, as noted by The Washington Post.

In response, a meeting was held at the White House to discuss the situation and consider relocating Rubio and Hegseth. The official clarified that neither official has been moved.

As global security threats mount, alerts have been issued for U.S. diplomatic posts worldwide, and several domestic military bases have been placed on lockdown. On Tuesday, the State Department ordered all US diplomatic posts to conduct immediate security assessments, citing the "potential for spillover effects" from the ongoing Middle East conflict.

The report noted that this week, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey and MacDill Air Force Base in Florida raised their force protection level to Charlie, a designation indicating that intelligence suggests an attack or danger is possible.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell declined to comment on the drones, stating, "The department cannot comment on the secretary’s movements for security reasons, and reporting on such movements is grossly irresponsible."

The report also highlighted that US Central Command (CENTCOM) headquarters at MacDill Air Force Base was placed on lockdown twice this week. The FBI is investigating a suspicious package that led to the closure of the base's visitors center on Monday. The base was also placed under a shelter-in-place order for several hours on Wednesday following an unspecified security incident.

An Air Force spokesperson explained, "To ensure the safety and security of our people and the mission, commanders adjust their installation’s security posture in accordance with local threat assessments."

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Bank of America has agreed to settle a lawsuit filed by victims of Jeffrey Epstein who accused the bank of facilitating his sex trafficking operation. The terms of the agreement remain confidential and the deal is currently awaiting court approval.

Sigrid McCawley, a lawyer for the victims, said in a statement that the resolution was "one more step on the road to much deserved justice".

It marks the third such settlement by a major bank, after JP Morgan Chase and Deutsche Bank agreed to pay out $290m and $75m respectively.

The proposed class-action lawsuit was filed in October by a Florida woman who says she was abused by Epstein "on at least 100 occasions" between 2011 and 2019 and held two accounts at Bank of America at the direction of his business team.

It alleged that the bank had "a plethora of information regarding Epstein's sex trafficking operation but chose profit over protecting the victims".

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A United States federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to reopen Voice of America and reinstate hundreds of journalists after ruling that the broadcaster’s closure was unlawful. The decision marks a significant development in a dispute that has raised concerns about press freedom and government authority over publicly funded media.

District Court Judge Royce Lamberth ruled that the shutdown of Voice of America was illegal and gave authorities one week to restore the international broadcaster to full operation. The ruling follows months of uncertainty for more than a thousand employees who were removed from their roles after the administration moved to dismantle the agency.

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An Iranian official who issued a warning to Donald Trump last week and threatened to "eliminate" the US has been k!lled in an airstrike. Iranian Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani was k!lled by an Israeli airstrike last night, March 16, according to Iran’s Defence Ministry.

The IDF confirmed they targeted Larijani, while also saying a separate strike k!lled the head of the Basji paramilitary force.

Just days ago, Larijani warned Trump: "The nation of Iran is not afraid of your empty threats.

"Even those bigger than you could not eliminate the Iranian nation. Watch yourselves, or you might be eliminated!"

Larijani played a role in the interim leadership council, which steered Iran as the council decided who would succeed Ali Khamenei.

Also k!lled in a strike was the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ all-volunteer Basij force, which has been used to suppress demonstrations in the Islamic Republic.

General Gholam Reza Soleimani is said to have been k!lled on Monday, but Iran did not immediately acknowledge the militia leader’s d£ath.

"The Basij forces are part of the armed apparatus of the Iranian terror regime," the Israeli military said in its statement.

"During internal protests in Iran, particularly in recent periods as demonstrations intensified, Basij forces under Soleimani’s command led the main repression operations, employing severe violence, widespread arrests and the use of force against civilian demonstrators.

" The US Treasury lists Soleimani as having been born in 1965. He has been sanctioned by the US, the European Union and other nations over his role in helping suppress dissent for years through the Basij.