International

Hillary Clinton skips Epstein inquiry as house panel threatens contempt charges

Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton failed to appear on Wednesday before a congressional committee seeking to question her as part of an investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a day after her husband, former President Bill Clinton, also declined to testify.

By refusing to appear, the Clintons could face potential contempt of Congress charges. The committee had sought to question Hillary Clinton about alleged connections between individuals close to her and the wealthy financier, who was found dead in his New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

Committee Chairman James Comer, a Republican, told reporters on Wednesday that proceedings would be initiated against the Clintons for obstructing Congress. If approved, the matter could be referred to the Department of Justice for possible legal action.

In a letter released on Tuesday, the couple announced their decision not to attend the hearings, arguing that the subpoenas issued to them were “legally invalid.”

They also criticized Comer’s handling of the investigation, accusing him of using the committee to target political opponents rather than pursue the truth.

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“We tried to provide the little information we have. We did so because Epstein’s crimes were horrific,” the Clintons said.

A prominent figure in New York’s elite social circles, Epstein was accused of sexually exploiting more than 1,000 young women, some of them minors.

Epstein’s death in custody fueled numerous conspiracy theories — promoted in part by supporters of former President Donald Trump — claiming he was killed to protect high-profile figures.

International

Iran Reports 201 Dead, 747 Injured After U.S. and Israeli Strikes

The Iranian Red Crescent Society reported Sunday night (local time) that at least 201 people were killed and 747 injured following attacks carried out by Israel and the United States against the Islamic Republic.

A spokesperson for the humanitarian organization said more than 220 rescue teams have been deployed across affected areas and that relief operations are continuing without interruption. The official highlighted the difficulty of treating the large number of wounded and the urgent need for additional resources in impacted provinces.

Out of Iran’s 31 provinces, 24 have reported damage, according to a statement carried by the Isna news agency. This marks the first overall casualty toll released by Iranian state-affiliated media since the launch of the offensive.

Among the dead are 85 schoolgirls from a school in the southern city of Minab, according to the country’s judiciary. “The number of martyrs at the Minab girls’ school has risen to 85,” the local prosecutor’s office said, as quoted by the judiciary’s website, Mizan Online.

Iranian President Masud Pezeshkian described the attack as a “savagery” that “constitutes a new black page in the record of countless crimes committed by the aggressors.”

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Meanwhile, the international community continues to monitor the situation closely amid concerns about possible further reprisals and the broader impact on Middle East stability, energy markets, and global security.

AFP noted that it was unable to independently verify the casualty figures or the circumstances surrounding the events.

International

Pope Leo XIV Urges End to ‘Spiral of Violence’ in Middle East

Pope Leo XIV on Sunday called for an end to the “spiral of violence” in the Middle East, following military strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran and subsequent retaliatory bombardments in the region.

“Faced with the possibility of a tragedy of enormous proportions, I urge the parties involved to assume their moral responsibility and stop the spiral of violence before it becomes an irreparable abyss,” the pontiff told the crowd gathered in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican.

Speaking during the Angelus prayer, the U.S.-born pope said stability and peace cannot be achieved through threats or weapons. “Stability and peace are not built with reciprocal threats or with arms that sow destruction, suffering and death, but only through reasonable, sincere and responsible dialogue,” he declared.

The leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics also called for diplomacy to “regain its role” amid escalating tensions.

In addition, the pope urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to urgently resume dialogue after several days of clashes between the two countries.

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International

Security Council to Hold Emergency Meeting on Middle East Crisis

UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Saturday condemned the “military escalation in the Middle East” following attacks by the United States and Israel against Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory strikes, just hours before an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council.

“I call for the immediate cessation of hostilities and de-escalation,” Guterres said in a statement.

The Security Council is scheduled to meet on Saturday at 21:00 GMT (4:00 p.m. in New York) to address “the situation in the Middle East,” the United Nations announced.

The meeting, during which Guterres will deliver remarks, was convened at the request of France, Bahrain, Colombia, Russia and China, according to a diplomatic source.