IAEA Chief Grossi to Visit Iran May 6-8, Mehr Says

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi - Reuters
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi - Reuters
TT

IAEA Chief Grossi to Visit Iran May 6-8, Mehr Says

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi - Reuters
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi - Reuters

International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi is scheduled to visit Iran to take part in a nuclear conference from May 6-8 and meet Iranian officials, Iran's Mehr news agency said on Tuesday.

"Grossi will meet Iranian officials in Tehran before participating in the International Conference of Nuclear Sciences and Technologies held in Isfahan," the agency reported.

The IAEA chief said in February that he was planning a visit to Tehran to tackle a "drifting apart" in relations between the agency and Iran, Reuters reported.

Grossi said the same month that while the pace of uranium enrichment by Iran had slowed slightly since the end of last year, Iran was still enriching at an elevated rate of around 7 kg of uranium per month to 60% purity.

Enrichment to 60% brings uranium close to weapons grade, and is not necessary for commercial use in nuclear power production. Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons but no other state has enriched to that level without producing them.

Under a defunct 2015 agreement with world powers, Iran can enrich uranium only to 3.67%. After then-President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of that deal in 2018 and re-imposed sanctions, Iran moved well beyond the deal's nuclear restrictions.

The IAEA said the 2015 nuclear deal was "all but disintegrated".



Man Arrested After Crashing Car into Park Across from White House

A bomb-sniffing dog checks for explosives after a vehicle drove into the north-facing pillars outside the White House, in Washington, DC, US, November 9, 2026. (Reuters)
A bomb-sniffing dog checks for explosives after a vehicle drove into the north-facing pillars outside the White House, in Washington, DC, US, November 9, 2026. (Reuters)
TT

Man Arrested After Crashing Car into Park Across from White House

A bomb-sniffing dog checks for explosives after a vehicle drove into the north-facing pillars outside the White House, in Washington, DC, US, November 9, 2026. (Reuters)
A bomb-sniffing dog checks for explosives after a vehicle drove into the north-facing pillars outside the White House, in Washington, DC, US, November 9, 2026. (Reuters)

The White House was briefly placed on lockdown on Monday after a man crashed his car into the sidewalk of a park across from the presidential mansion.

The driver of the vehicle was "quickly placed under arrest" after he "became combative with law enforcement," a US Secret Service spokesperson said.

Video taken by witnesses showed the man struggling with police after being pulled from his car, which crashed into a sign on the sidewalk of Lafayette Park across from the White House.

An explosive ordnance disposal team was called in to "sweep the vehicle as a precaution," the Secret Service spokesperson said in a statement.

Around the same time as the vehicle incident, "a second individual jumped a barricade near the northwest corner of Lafayette Park," the spokesperson said.

"That individual was also quickly placed under arrest," the spokesperson said. "Both incidents are under investigation."

The White House was locked down for around half an hour during the incidents, correspondents said.


Hegseth Plays Down Impeachment Risks, Says Ready to Defend His Record

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth observes while President Donald Trump meets with Stephen Hubbard, a released Russian prisoner, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, US, 30 October 2026. (EPA)
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth observes while President Donald Trump meets with Stephen Hubbard, a released Russian prisoner, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, US, 30 October 2026. (EPA)
TT

Hegseth Plays Down Impeachment Risks, Says Ready to Defend His Record

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth observes while President Donald Trump meets with Stephen Hubbard, a released Russian prisoner, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, US, 30 October 2026. (EPA)
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth observes while President Donald Trump meets with Stephen Hubbard, a released Russian prisoner, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, US, 30 October 2026. (EPA)

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday played down the risks of an impeachment push against ‌him ‌and said ‌he ⁠was ready to defend ⁠his record at the Pentagon.

"We're not worried about that," ⁠Hegseth said, ‌when ‌asked if he ‌had enough ‌Republican support to defeat articles of impeachment.

Hegseth's remarks ‌came as Republican Representative Thomas Massie is ⁠attempting ⁠to force a vote on articles of impeachment against Hegseth in the House of Representatives.


Paraguay’s New President Asks All Ministers to Resign Amid Bank Crisis

Paraguay's interim President Pedro Alliana attends the swearing in ceremony of ministers at the government palace in Asuncion on November 9, 2026. (AFP)
Paraguay's interim President Pedro Alliana attends the swearing in ceremony of ministers at the government palace in Asuncion on November 9, 2026. (AFP)
TT

Paraguay’s New President Asks All Ministers to Resign Amid Bank Crisis

Paraguay's interim President Pedro Alliana attends the swearing in ceremony of ministers at the government palace in Asuncion on November 9, 2026. (AFP)
Paraguay's interim President Pedro Alliana attends the swearing in ceremony of ministers at the government palace in Asuncion on November 9, 2026. (AFP)

Newly appointed Paraguayan President Pedro Alliana on Monday asked all ministers to resign as the country endures a major banking crisis that has locked millions of people out of their accounts.

Former vice president Alliana took office on Friday when senators impeached Santiago Pena over the collapse of Ueno Bank, to which Pena is linked.

Alliana said he had instructed his new chief of staff Rolando de Barros to "ask ministers, secretaries and the highest state authorities who hold positions of trust to submit their resignations."

"My goal is to strengthen coordination within the Government and ensure more efficient management," he wrote on X, adding that "all institutions will continue to operate with complete normality."

Almost three million people lost access to their money when Paraguay's Central Bank seized Ueno on November 3, a move that triggered massive protests.

The Central Bank began restoring deposits Thursday through a guarantee fund, and by Saturday had returned about $160 million to nearly 1.2 million people.

Pena, who came to power in 2023, owned shares in the bank's holding company until he sold them last year.

He is accused of using his influence as president to steer millions in government deposits to Ueno and of hiding or downplaying its financial woes despite warnings about questionable loans and solvency issues.

Authorities placed the ex-leader under house arrest immediately after his impeachment and raided his home over the weekend as part of the probe into the bank collapse.