🇺🇸 Bank of America has reached a $72.5 million settlement in a lawsuit brought on behalf of victims of Jeffrey Epstein, who had accused the bank of facilitating his sex trafficking operation.

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".

In the court documents, Bank of America says the settlement makes "no admission of liability" or "wrongdoing" on its part.

🇦🇺 Public transport in two Australian states will be made free to incentivise people not to drive as fuel prices soar due to the war in the Middle East.

Victoria, home to Melbourne, has said it will have free travel throughout April, while Tasmania has said commuters will not need to pay from Monday until the end of June.

However, other state governments have so far declined to follow suit, with New South Wales (in which Sydney is located) indicating it was reserving funds to meet increased demand for public transport.

Australia is among a host of nations that have seen fuel prices increase sharply since the start of the US-Israel war with Iran and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

🇮🇶 🇮🇷 🇺🇸 An American C-RAM intercepts an incoming drone in Erbil, Iraq

🇨🇭 UBS Halts Fund Withdrawals, Echoing 2008 Crisis Signals

Switzerland's biggest bank UBS has frozen withdrawals from a $469 million real estate fund, blocking investor access for up to three years.

This action is drawing sharp comparisons to Bear Stearns' fund freezes in 2007, which preceded the 2008 global financial crisis.

Minas Tirith | 24/7 News channel

🇫🇮🇺🇦 As several unknown drones were spotted over Finland with at least two crashing in its territory, the country's president confirmed that the objects belong to Ukraine.

Earlier, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania experienced similar incidents with Ukrainian drones randomly flying over their territory and crashing.

🇮🇷 🇱🇧 Iran's Ambassador Defies Expulsion Order from Lebanon

Iran's ambassador to Lebanon is defying a direct expulsion order from the Lebanese government, refusing to depart after a Sunday deadline.

The expulsion was ordered over accusations of the envoy's interference in Lebanon's internal affairs.

Minas Tirith | 24/7 News channel

🇺🇸 President Donald Trump signed ​an executive order on Thursday asking federal contractors ‌and their subcontractors to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion practices.

It also directs agencies to cancel, terminate, or suspend ​contracts - and to ​suspend or ⁠debar contractors - for failure to comply.

🇺🇸 - After 8 years of legal battles, a Florida woman was awarded 14 million dollars compensation after she unknowingly swallowed metal nails and shards hidden inside a serving of ice cream - injuries she says left her unable to have children.

🇮🇷 - Iran declares that residences of military and civilian officials of the countries involved in strikes against it are legitimate targets.

🇦🇪🇬🇧 As many as 70 Britons have been locked up in the United Arab Emirates for taking photos and videos of drone and missile attacks.

Even passively receiving an image is deemed illegal under the laws, which can carry a sentence of 10 years in prison or fines of up to $250 thousand.

Some of those arrested have been released on bail – but have had their IDs confiscated so they cannot leave the Emirates. If they are expats whose work visas expire in the meantime, they will not be able to work and risk homelessness.

When there is an Iranian strike, those nearby are sent a text message in both Arabic and English saying: 'Photographing or sharing security or critical sites, or reposting unreliable information, may result in legal action and compromise national security and stability.'

Police also approach those in the area and demand to see their phones. Anyone caught with photos of attack sites is arrested, while those who receive such photos on apps like WhatsApp are also tracked down and arrested.

🇺🇸 🇮🇷 President Trump told Israeli Channel 14 that the US can take control of the Strait of Hormuz, saying: "That is already happening."

🇩🇪 🇨🇳 German chemical giant BASF got tired of sanctions and EU regulations, so instead of building production facilities in Germany, it built a town sized complex in China, where it will be able to use Russian gas.

🕊️ 🇷🇺🇰🇿 Vasily Zinchenko, the Soviet soldier credited with capturing German Field Marshal Friedrich Paulus at Stalingrad, has died in Almaty, Kazakhstan, aged 101.

A decorated Red Army intelligence veteran, he fought from Stalingrad to Berlin and was awarded the Order of the Red Star and other wartime honors.

🇷🇺🇨🇺🇺🇸 Media reports say the US has allowed a Russian oil tanker to proceed to Cuba, according to The New York Times.

The vessel is said to be carrying around 730,000 barrels of oil, enough to help the island avoid fuel shortages for several weeks despite the ongoing energy embargo.

🇺🇸🇻🇪 Carlos, a Venezuelan father with temporary protected status, was vetted and told by federal officials that his reunification case was complete. Expecting to reclaim his 14‑year‑old son and 16‑year‑old daughter from a Texas shelter, he went to an ICE office in New Mexico in December.

Instead, officers allegedly pressured him to sign unclear documents, then stripped and shackled him before detaining him for months in El Paso under Operation Guardian Trace.

A federal judge later ruled that Carlos had been unlawfully detained and ordered his release on bond. But his children remain in federal custody, and their reunification process must begin again.

🇺🇸 TMZ spotted Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) at Chef Mickey’s, Disney World, Orlando, FL, chatting with a younger woman and a child at his table.