U.S. government websites remained accessible on Friday despite reports suggesting they would be taken offline. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) clarified that the claims were based on a misinterpretation of a memo issued earlier in the week.
The memo, dated Wednesday, instructed federal agencies to remove references to "gender ideology" from contracts, job descriptions, and social media in compliance with President Donald Trump's executive order recognizing only two sexes.
A source had initially indicated that most government websites would go offline after 5 p.m. ET on Friday but later clarified that the deadline applied only to the removal of diversity-related content.
An OPM spokesperson stated that while the memo set guidelines for implementing the executive order, it did not mandate a shutdown of government websites. "It may have been misinterpreted to mean we would shut down government websites who weren't able to comply, but that is not the plan," the spokesperson said.
When asked earlier about a potential shutdown, Trump responded, "I don't know. It doesn't sound like a bad idea to me," adding that he supported the removal of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
Since taking office on Jan. 20, Trump has moved swiftly to roll back federal diversity policies, drawing support from his base while facing criticism from rights advocates concerned about reversing anti-discrimination efforts.
Saudi Arabia’s air defences have intercepted and destroyed a hostile drone over the Riyadh region, according to the Saudi-led coalition fight...
Police were deployed across Paris on Saturday, as a curfew was set to take effect in the Republique and Chât...
A drone strike hit a power station in northern Sudan early Sunday (1 November), sparking a fire and triggering loud explosions, witnesses said....
The U.S. has approved the sale of 500 Patriot PAC-3 missiles to Ukraine in a deal worth an estimated $2.1 billion, but Kyiv could face years of delays before receiving the weapons it urgently needs to defend against intensifying Russian attacks.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has ordered Iran's armed forces to respond to any threat immediately and without geographical limits in statements posted to social media platforms on Saturday (31 October).
Demonstrators carrying Iranian flags and placards supporting the hijab gathered outside the Azerbaijani Embassy in London.
A Chinese-made AI chip has matched Nvidia’s H200 in tests conducted by its developer, marking a potential breakthrough in China’s efforts to reduce its dependence on foreign technology.
A hacking group linked to North Korea is widely believed to be behind the theft of $6.3 billion from cryptocurrency giant Binance, a cyberattack that experts describe as the largest cryptocurrency heist on record.
Police were deployed across Paris on Saturday, as a curfew was set to take effect in the Republique and Châtelet-Les Halles areas from 11pm Saturday until 6am Sunday (1 November).
A drone strike hit a power station in northern Sudan early Sunday (1 November), sparking a fire and triggering loud explosions, witnesses said.
Gen Z protests swept 34 German cities on Saturday (31 October) over education and living costs. Violence erupted in Frankfurt, where shops were looted and police reported Molotov cocktail attacks.
Iran designated Britain's Royal Navy and Royal Air Force as terrorist organisations on Sunday, (1 November), and classified the country's foreign intelligence agency, MI6, as a hostile group, according to a statement from the Iranian Foreign Ministry.
Thousands protested in Albania's capital, Tirana, on Saturday (31 October), demanding Prime Minister Edi Rama's resignation over perceived corruption allegations and dissatisfaction with the government over a lack of jobs and poor education standards.
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