Global Update
Ex U.S. Ambassador Makes Candid Assessment of Trump’s Recall of Nearly 30 Diplomats Worldwide
A former U.S. ambassador has described the Trump administration’s decision to recall nearly 30 career diplomats and ambassadors worldwide as unusual.
John Herbst, who served as U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, said the decision, however, is well within the president’s authority, as the White House seeks to ensure that U.S. embassies reflect its “America First” priorities.
Herbst, who is now senior director at the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center, told ABC News that while presidents can replace ambassadors, the number and timing of these recalls—nearly a year into the term—are noteworthy.
“It is unusual for him to recall as large a number of [diplomats], especially nearly a year into his term,” Herbst said. Many of the affected postings were reportedly led by junior career officials seen as loyal to the “America First agenda,” even though career diplomats are traditionally tasked with implementing the policies of the sitting president.
Herbst noted that Africa appears to be the most impacted region, with additional recalls in the Middle East, Far East, Europe, and parts of Latin America.
While the recalls are aimed at aligning embassies with Trump’s policy goals, experts warn that large-scale personnel changes may disrupt continuity and affect U.S. credibility abroad.
He emphasised that career diplomats are trained to serve the president, regardless of personal political leanings. “I served 31 years in the service… it’s your job to use your greatest efforts to achieve the objectives of the president of the United States,” Herbst said.
Still, he acknowledged that political distrust toward the foreign service may have influenced the decision.
Despite concerns, Herbst added that world leaders are likely to continue engaging with the United States, aiming to maintain strong relations even amid unusual personnel changes.
Global Update
Epstein Files: Document Details Unverified Claim Trump Witnessed Killing of Newborn Birthed by Trafficked Girl
An unclassified but heavily redacted Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) intake document released as part of the ongoing Epstein File exposé details serious but unproven allegations against President Donald Trump.
The allegations in the documents were made by a woman who claims she was trafficked as a minor in the 1980s by the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The document, dated August 3, 2020, records a follow‑up tip submitted through the FBI’s National Threat Operations Center. According to the intake summary, the complainant alleged she was trafficked at the age of 13 between May and September 1984, primarily aboard boats and yachts operating on Lake Michigan.
The report states that she had previously spoken with a detective affiliated with a joint NYPD–FBI sex trafficking task force and was seeking further contact and follow‑up.
The complainant alleged that the abuse involved multiple individuals and described severe crimes, including child sex trafficking. The intake form categorizes the alleged violations broadly as “child sex trafficking and infanticide,” though no charges, corroborating evidence, or court findings are referenced in the document.
Within the redacted filing, several names appear in sections labelled “subject” and “witness.” Among them is Jeffrey Epstein, who died in custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.
The name of former U.S. President Donald Trump is also listed in the “witness information” field, based solely on the complainant’s claims. The document does not indicate that Trump was interviewed, charged, or investigated in connection with the allegations.
As per the document, the woman said, “[Trump] participated regularly in paying money to force me to [redacted] with him and he was present when my uncle murdered my newborn child and disposed of the body in Lake Michigan.”
She claims that she reached out to the FBI on 8 March 2020, and told them that she was sex trafficked by her uncle and Jeffrey Epstein in 1984 at the age of 13. She was pregnant, and her newborn baby girl was killed and disposed of “because I gave birth to her while in the middle of this sex trafficking ordeal”, she told the FBI.
“I told [the FBI agent] some other important information about other high-profile individuals involved in my sex trafficking and the murder and disposal of my newborn daughter because I gave birth to her while in the middle of this ordeal,” the woman told the FBI, as per the documents. According to her, she contacted the FBI to get details of an NYPD detective whom she claimed had called her a few days before the murder.
Legal experts have cautioned that FBI intake or tip reports that are in the public domain as part of the Epstein Files release reflect unverified claims** submitted by members of the public or alleged victims of various crimes. Such documents are not findings of fact and do not imply guilt, investigation outcomes, or prosecutorial action. Being named in an intake form does not constitute evidence of wrongdoing.
U.S. authorities have not publicly confirmed any investigation stemming from the specific claims outlined in the document, and no court records linked to the allegations have been identified. Representatives for the individuals named have not issued public responses in connection with this filing.
However, the allegations have generated significant condemnation for Trump on social media.
The resurfacing of the document has also reignited debate online around the broader Epstein case, transparency in U.S. justice processes, and the distinction between allegations, investigations, and adjudicated facts. Journalists and legal analysts continue to stress the importance of careful reporting, particularly where historical claims, redacted records, and high‑profile names intersect.
As of now, the allegations contained in the FBI intake document remain unproven.
Epstein Files continue to be released in very large quantities, and on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, the DOJ announced it had discovered over 1 million documents. It is currently working on redacting the data of victims and said it will later release the files.
Global Update
Billionaire Pavel Durov Already With 100 Children Offers to Fund IVF to Father Even More
Russian tech billionaire and Telegram founder Pavel Durov has ignited international debate after revealing plans to fund in vitro fertilisation (IVF) for women willing to conceive children using his sperm.
The move is part of what he describes as a personal mission to combat the rising global issue of infertility.
Durov, who is worth an estimated US$17 billion, told The Wall Street Journal and other international media that he already has more than 100 biological children worldwide, the majority conceived through sperm donation. He is now offering to cover IVF costs for unmarried women under the age of 37 or 38, depending on clinic guidelines, who wish to use his genetic material.
The Dubai-based entrepreneur has framed the initiative as a “civic duty”, citing what he believes is a global shortage of “high-quality donor material” linked to environmental pollution and declining sperm counts.
“The shortage of healthy sperm has become an increasingly serious issue worldwide,” Durov said in a post on Telegram, adding that he is “proud” of his role in helping families conceive.
According to reports, Durov’s sperm remains stored at the Moscow-based Altravita Clinic, a fertility centre known for serving wealthy Russian and international clients. The clinic has reportedly received dozens of applications from women responding to past advertisements describing Durov as having “high genetic compatibility” and offering his sperm at no cost, with IVF expenses covered.
Clinic officials say Durov is not involved in selecting recipients, and that eligibility is restricted to unmarried women under 37 to avoid legal complications. A former doctor at the clinic told The Wall Street Journal that many applicants were “well-educated, healthy, and highly motivated,” viewing Durov as an ideal father figure based on his intellect and success.
Beyond funding fertility treatments, Durov has also stated that all his biological children will inherit a share of his fortune, regardless of how they were conceived. Speaking on Lex Fridman’s podcast, he said that children who can establish a biological link to him may, decades from now, be entitled to part of his estate. “I make no difference between my children,” he later told French magazine Le Point.
The revelations have raised ethical and social questions globally, including concerns about reproductive inequality, the concentration of genetic influence, and the long-term implications for children conceived through large-scale donation by a single individual. Critics argue that wealth and technology are increasingly blurring traditional boundaries around family, reproduction, and responsibility.
Observers note that Durov’s approach aligns him with a small but influential group of tech elites pushing the boundaries of reproductive ethics. While some billionaires are investing in genetic screening or enhancement technologies, others — including Tesla CEO Elon Musk — have openly advocated for higher birth rates to counter global population decline.
Durov says his sperm donation journey began in 2010, when he helped a friend struggling with infertility, and continued after fertility specialists encouraged him to donate more widely. He claims his donations have helped over 100 couples in at least 12 countries to have children.
However, the billionaire’s personal life has also drawn scrutiny. Reports indicate he is involved in an ongoing legal dispute with Irina Bolgar, a Swiss-based human rights lawyer and the mother of three of his children, who alleges he cut off financial support in 2023 and physically abused one of the children — claims his representatives have denied.
Despite the controversy, Durov remains a central figure in global technology. After founding Russia’s VK social network, he launched Telegram in 2013, which now boasts more than one billion active users worldwide, including strong user bases across Africa, Europe, and Asia.
Durov’s mission raises questions not only about who can afford to reproduce, but how future definitions of family and responsibility may evolve in a rapidly changing world.
Global Update
Viral Moment: Mozambique President’s Height Towers over Italian PM Meloni’s in Hilarious Video
A brief but unforgettable moment from a diplomatic meeting in Rome has captured global attention — not for policy announcements, but for a spontaneous reaction that quickly went viral on social media.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was caught on camera greeting Mozambique President Daniel Francisco Chapo at Palazzo Chigi on December 11, 2025. What stood out wasn’t the handshake or formalities, but the striking height difference between the two leaders.
President Chapo, reported to be around 6 feet 8 inches (2.04 meters) tall, stood head and shoulders above Meloni, who is around 5 feet 2 inches (1.57 meters) tall.

Video footage shows Meloni momentarily looking up at Chapo with a surprised expression before sharing a warm handshake and smile. The contrast was so pronounced that photographers reportedly crouched or even lay on the ground to fit both leaders into the frame for official photos.
The clip quickly spread across social platforms, inspiring humorous memes and reactions from users captivated by the visual contrast. One social media post remarked on the absurdity of the moment, while others joked about Meloni’s neck having to “stretch” to meet the Mozambican president.
Despite the light-hearted focus online, the meeting itself carried serious diplomatic significance. The two leaders marked the 50th anniversary of Mozambique’s independence and the establishment of diplomatic ties between Rome and Maputo. They also discussed deepening bilateral cooperation in areas such as energy access, sustainable agriculture, vocational training, digitalisation and healthcare, and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening trade relations and broader collaboration under Italy’s Mattei Plan for Africa.
The viral moment underscores how even informal interactions between world leaders can resonate widely in the digital age — providing a humanising glimpse into diplomacy that engages global audiences beyond traditional policy coverage.
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