From Epstein to UFOs — what really happened inside Hillary Clinton’s closed-door testimony?

Hillary Clinton spent hours behind closed doors before a House oversight committee investigating her alleged links to Jeffrey Epstein — and emerged accusing Republicans of staging a political distraction aimed at shielding former President Donald Trump.

The former secretary of state flatly denied knowing Epstein or visiting any of his properties. “I did not know Jeffrey Epstein,” she told reporters afterward. “I never went to his island. I never went to his homes. I never went to his offices.”

Clinton argued the Republican-led inquiry was less about uncovering facts and more about diverting attention. “What is being held back? Who is being protected? And why the cover-up?” she asked.

The session, held privately at the committee’s request, grew contentious at several points. Clinton said members repeated the same questions “over and over again,” before the discussion took what she described as an unusual turn. “I started being asked about UFOs,” she said, along with questions tied to the debunked “Pizzagate” conspiracy theory.

The hearing was briefly suspended after Representative Lauren Boebert leaked a photo from the closed session, which was later posted on social media by a conservative influencer. Clinton’s legal team objected, noting that photography is prohibited during private depositions. “We had agreed upon rules,” Clinton said. “One of the members violated that rule.”

Democrats on the committee countered that the investigation should focus on Trump and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who have both acknowledged past contact with Epstein. Representative Robert Garcia said Trump should testify under oath regarding his ties. Committee Chair James Comer dismissed the idea of subpoenaing the former president but left open the possibility regarding others.

Epstein, a convicted sex offender, died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal trafficking charges. Recently released Justice Department documents have renewed scrutiny of his network of prominent associates.

Clinton also defended her husband, former President Bill Clinton, who is scheduled to testify. She said she is “100% confident” he was unaware of Epstein’s crimes during their past social interactions and that his connection ended years before Epstein’s criminal conduct became public.

Transcripts and video from both testimonies are expected to be released, setting the stage for further political fallout in a case that continues to entangle high-profile figures across party lines.

he says she stood silently. Police say she broke the rules. So what really happened in the gallery?

A guest of Representative Ilhan Omar was arrested inside the U.S. Capitol after standing during President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address, setting off a dispute over protest, procedure and free expression in Congress.

Aliya Rahman, a Minneapolis resident invited by the Minnesota Democrat, was taken into custody by Capitol Police after she stood during the president’s speech. Authorities said she violated event rules that prohibit demonstrations in congressional buildings.

“The guest was told to sit down, but refused to obey our lawful orders,” Capitol Police said in a statement. She was charged with unlawful conduct and disruption of Congress.

Rahman, however, said she did not shout, gesture or display any sign. Speaking to Democracy Now, she described standing silently in response to comments she considered offensive. “There are only two things you can do at the State of the Union,” she said. “Sit down and stand up.”

Police maintained that standing in defiance of instructions constitutes prohibited conduct, regardless of whether the protest is silent. “It’s not allowed. She was told to sit. She refused. It’s simple,” a spokesperson said.

Rahman’s presence at the event carried added symbolism. In January, she was forcibly removed from her car by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis during enforcement operations. She later said she suffered shoulder injuries in the encounter. According to Omar’s office, Rahman warned officers at the Capitol about those injuries before being escorted out. She was later treated at George Washington University Hospital before being booked.

Omar called the arrest “heavy-handed” and demanded a full explanation. “The heavy-handed response to a peaceful guest sends a chilling message about the state of our democracy,” she said.

During the speech, President Trump defended his immigration crackdown and criticized sanctuary city policies. Omar, from the House floor, shouted: “You have killed Americans.” Lawmakers themselves were not subject to arrest under constitutional protections afforded to members of Congress.

Rahman said she would tell elected officials that their responsibility is to improve lives, not “construct enemies.” By Wednesday, Omar said her guest was “back and safe.”

The incident has added another flashpoint to an already charged political climate — one where even standing up can spark national controversy.

Cuba’s crisis deepens. Caribbean leaders warn of instability. Rubio arrives with pressure — and questions follow.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Caribbean leaders on Wednesday amid rising regional anxiety over Washington’s renewed pressure on Cuba.

Rubio, a longtime critic of Havana’s communist government, joined the CARICOM summit in Saint Kitts and Nevis as the Trump administration escalates its Western Hemisphere strategy. His visit follows US actions in Venezuela that have disrupted oil shipments to Cuba, worsening fuel shortages and rolling blackouts on the island.

Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness warned that further deterioration in Cuba could destabilize the wider Caribbean and fuel migration — a key concern for President Donald Trump.

“Humanitarian suffering serves no one,” Holness said, urging dialogue between Washington and Havana to promote “de-escalation, reform and stability.”

Summit host Terrance Drew, prime minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis, echoed the concern, saying a destabilized Cuba would affect the entire region. He cited worsening food shortages and power outages described by contacts on the island.

The United States has maintained sanctions on Cuba for decades. Under Trump, Washington has signaled readiness to intensify measures, including potential penalties for countries trading oil with Havana. However, some tougher proposals — such as restricting remittances — have not yet been enacted.

Rubio’s agenda also includes sustaining cooperation on Haiti and Venezuela. Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar openly backed US intervention in Venezuela, crediting Washington’s actions with curbing narcotics trafficking and reducing violence in her country.

But divisions were visible. While some leaders called for humanitarian relief for Cuba, others criticized regional silence over authoritarian governance in Caracas and Havana.

For Caribbean states, the balancing act is delicate: maintaining close ties with Washington while avoiding instability in neighboring Cuba. For Rubio, the summit is a test of how far US pressure can go without fracturing regional support.

Detained. Cameras seized. Videos erased. One journalist forced to apologize on camera. Press freedom in Lasanod under pressure.

Police in Lasanod have detained two journalists, confiscated equipment and forced the deletion of published content, prompting sharp condemnation from the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS).

On February 21, officers detained Raxanreeb Media reporter Abdirisaq Abdirahman, known as Kobciye, after his outlet aired a video in which construction laborers complained about low wages and alleged that foreign workers were undercutting local jobs.

According to Kobciye and Raxanreeb founder Farah Atto, police trailed the journalist, raided his office in central Lasanod and seized three cameras and two laptops. Officers later went to his home and allegedly harassed family members.

After spending three days in hiding, Kobciye was taken to a police station where, he said, he was forced to delete the video from Raxanreeb’s Facebook platform and record an apology message. The video was later posted on a page linked to police authorities.

Kobciye told SJS he was coerced into making the recording and informed he would not be released unless he complied.

On the same day, Halbeeg Media journalist Mowliid Ismaaciil was briefly detained after filming protests against an alleged forced eviction tied to the city’s mayor. He was released after two hours, and his footage was deleted.

SJS Secretary General Abdalle Ahmed Mumin described the incidents as “blatant violations of press freedom,” accusing authorities of abusing their power to silence reporting on matters of public interest.

The media rights group called on local authorities to return confiscated equipment, halt interference with journalists’ work and hold responsible officials accountable.

The detentions come amid heightened political tensions in the region, raising renewed concerns over the safety and independence of journalists operating in Lasanod.

Washington launched it. Europe is split over it. Now Brussels must decide how far to go with Trump’s Gaza board.

European Union foreign ministers are set to meet Monday in Brussels with Nikolay Mladenov, director of the U.S.-backed Board of Peace, as the bloc grapples with how to respond to President Donald Trump’s controversial plan for Gaza’s reconstruction and governance.

Mladenov, a former U.N. diplomat tapped by Trump to oversee the initiative, will sit down with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and ministers from the 27-member bloc. The discussions come as EU capitals remain divided over whether to formally align with the board, which aims to shape Gaza’s postwar future.

The EU maintains deep ties to both Israel and the Palestinians and plays a key oversight role at the Rafah border crossing. It is also the largest donor to the Palestinian Authority. That position has placed Brussels at the center of debate over reconstruction, humanitarian oversight and long-term governance in Gaza.

Hungary and Bulgaria have joined the board as full members, while candidate countries including Turkey, Kosovo and Albania have also signed on. Twelve other EU nations attended last week’s inaugural Washington meeting as observers. The EU flag was displayed at the event.

But resistance is growing. French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen declined formal participation. Von der Leyen did, however, send Mediterranean Commissioner Dubravka Šuica as an observer — a move that drew criticism from France.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said the Commission’s attendance broke institutional norms, arguing that such engagement should have been cleared by the European Council.

Commission officials insist accepting invitations falls within their remit and say the EU seeks to shape Gaza’s reconstruction while maintaining support for the United Nations’ central role in conflict resolution.

Trump’s ambitions for the Board of Peace reportedly stretch beyond rebuilding Gaza to reshaping the diplomatic framework traditionally led by the U.N. Security Council. Yet progress remains limited on even narrower ceasefire goals, underscoring the complexity of the territory’s political and security landscape.

For Brussels, the immediate challenge is balancing influence with unity — and deciding whether engagement means endorsement.

Thousands gather in Pyongyang. Loyalty pledges made. Nuclear power praised. What signal is Kim sending now?

North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party has re-elected Kim Jong Un as general secretary, using a rare national congress to spotlight what it described as major advances in the country’s nuclear arsenal.

State media reported Monday that senior military leaders pledged loyalty to Kim during the once-in-five-years gathering in Pyongyang, where thousands of party elites convened to set the country’s political and military direction.

The Korean Central News Agency said the congress praised Kim for “radically” strengthening North Korea’s nuclear forces and transforming the Korean People’s Army into a military prepared for “any form of war.” The message was unmistakable: national defense — anchored in nuclear capability — remains central to Kim’s rule.

The congress, only the ninth in the party’s history, offers rare insight into North Korea’s power structure. Analysts closely monitor seating arrangements and imagery to assess shifting influence within the regime. Attention is also focused on Kim’s teenage daughter, Ju Ae, who has increasingly appeared in state events and is viewed by South Korean intelligence as a potential successor.

Under Kim, North Korea’s nuclear program has evolved from intermittent testing to a more sophisticated weapons enterprise. Though it has not conducted a nuclear test in more than eight years, Pyongyang has worked to miniaturize warheads for long-range missiles. Days before the congress, Kim unveiled what state media described as nuclear-capable rocket launchers.

China’s President Xi Jinping congratulated Kim on opening a “new chapter” in bilateral relations, signaling continued regional backing. Kim has also appeared publicly with Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin in recent years, underscoring closer ties amid tensions with Washington.

The congress comes as US President Donald Trump has expressed openness to renewed talks with Kim. At the previous party congress, Kim labeled the United States his country’s “biggest enemy.” Whether he chooses to soften or reinforce that stance in the coming days will be closely watched.

For now, the message from Pyongyang is clear: Kim remains firmly in control — and nuclear power remains

Red bonnets, airborne units and a regional message — Abiy signals Ethiopia’s military ambitions beyond its borders.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Sunday hailed the country’s elite airborne forces as a symbol of “purpose in one wing and discipline in the other,” in a high-profile ceremony marking the 65th anniversary of the Special Operations Command.

Speaking at Hawassa International Stadium before senior military officials and defense leaders, Abiy — commander-in-chief of the armed forces — described the red-beret unit as an “exceptional gift of Ethiopia,” embodying the country’s culture, identity and national resolve.

“These heroic figures are not just fighters,” he said, portraying the force as both a shield against threats and a vehicle for national transformation.

The celebration comes at a time when Ethiopia faces complex security challenges at home and across the Horn of Africa. Abiy framed the airborne command not only as a domestic security asset but as a regional stabilizer. He said Ethiopia seeks to promote peace and counter terrorism from Somalia to the Red Sea port of Massawa, signaling broader strategic ambitions.

Equipped with advanced technology and specialized training, the two-winged unit is designed for rapid deployment and preemptive operations, the prime minister said. Its mission, he added, is to deter conflict before it escalates and to respond decisively when crises emerge.

Abiy linked the force’s evolution to Ethiopia’s long-term state-building project, arguing that national strength rests on disciplined institutions capable of safeguarding sovereignty and stability. He extended congratulations to East African nations, describing the elite unit as a contribution to continental security.

The anniversary event was marked by a display of military precision and symbolism, reinforcing the government’s emphasis on unity, national pride and regional influence.

In a volatile region, Abiy’s message was clear: Ethiopia intends to remain not only a defender of its borders, but a strategic actor shaping security across the Horn of Africa.