Candace Owens has sparked fresh controversy by claiming Charlie Kirk was unaware of key details during his relationship with Erika Kirk. She alleges Erika misrepresented connections to Kanye West’s circle, raising questions about credibility and hidden truths. The remarks have triggered intense online debate, with critics demanding evidence while supporters cite Owens’ proximity as reason to take her claims seriously.

Candace Owens has started another online scandal with her comments about the shady dealings of people close to Kanye West. Her statements have been rapidly circulated on social media and have elicited mixed responses with those in support and those against it calling them into doubt. What is most striking is the confidence that Owens is able to convey in her account as she highlights the fact that she is too close to the people she is writing about. She presents her arguments as something subject to personal experience and not speculation; this has heightened public criticism. With the debate intensifying, viewers find themselves torn between her claims and the necessity of verifiable facts and the debate has become a wider debate on truth, influence and credibility.

Candace Owens doubles down on claims, sparks intense online debate

Owens’ comments have ignited widespread discussion, largely because of the detailed and personal tone she uses to explain her stance. She did not hold back while outlining her belief that key information had been concealed, suggesting a deeper story beneath the surface.Here’s what Candace Owens said, “It is my personal opinion that a deal was done. When I look at the evidence when I look at everything I’m looking at when I see how duplicitous she was and I know that Charlie did not know these things because I was there. I was the closest person to Charlie.”She continued, “While he was dating, he was beginning to date Erika. Okay, no one spent more time with him or spoke to him more He did not know these things about Erika Kirk or erica franz fey was her name at the time We had no idea that she was telling people that she knew the people That were in Kanye’s orbit when he sent that tweet out something is not right. We all know something is not right and I am just Just aghast at the people who are going to pretend continue to pretend like all of this is perfectly normal”The strength of her words has fueled a larger conversation about influence, perception, and credibility in high-profile circles. Critics say that these kinds of claims need hard evidence, especially when they involve more than one person and their reputations. However, supporters say that her closeness to the situation makes her claims more credible.At its core, this ongoing debate shows a tension that is common in today’s media. Personal testimony can be powerful, but it can also make people very skeptical. With more people joining the conversation, the focus now turns to whether new evidence will come to light or if this is still a battle of stories based on opinion and public perception.

Google, Meta, Amazon, Microsoft along with nine other tech and retail giants have now come together to launch the Tech Industry Accord to Combat Scams. This initiative from the companies is designed to tackle the increasing problem of online fraud. Announced this week, the Accord is one of the largest industry collaborations till date which deals with scams that target consumers via fake ads, phishing and fraudulent listings.As part of the Accord the companies have pledged to share best practices, improve scam detection and collaborate more closely with law enforcement and consumer protection agencies. The initiative also stressed on information-sharing across platforms, so that fraudulent activity detected on one service can be flagged across others.According to the accord document, the goal is to create a “safer digital ecosystem” by reducing the prevalence of scams that erode consumer trust and cause billions in losses annually.“This Accord addresses the growing problem of online scams and fraud, specifically deceptive schemes targeting individuals or organizations with the intent of taking money and/or personal information, which impacts billions of users across the globe,” reads the document.The Accord also seeks to set expectations for how signatories will work across online services to counter scammers, in line with their own policies and practices as relevant to the commitments in the Accord.

Why the companies signed the Accord now

Online scams are on a rise worldwide and are exploiting the growth of e-commerce and digital services. The fraudsters are now using AI-generated content and other sophisticated social engineering tactics to exploit the users. By coming together these big companies now hope to stay ahead of fraudsters and also assure the customers all the platforms are now taking coordinated action.The move comes amid heightened scrutiny of tech platforms’ responsibility in protecting users. Regulators in the U.S., U.K., and EU have been pressing companies to strengthen safeguards against fraud. Similar alliances have emerged in financial services, but this marks a significant expansion into the broader tech and retail sectors.

State run oil marketing companies on Friday increased the price of their premium-grade power petrol by over Rs 2 per litre, while keeping the prices of regular petrol and diesel unchanged.The revised rates apply to high-performance fuel variants, including BPCL’s Speed, HPCL’s Power and IOCL’s XP95, with prices increasing in the range of Rs 2.09 to Rs 2.35 per litre.There has been no change in the price of regular petrol, according to ANI. The revision comes amid ongoing volatility in global energy markets due to the Middle East crisis. However, HPCL said it has taken steps to shield retail consumers from broader price increases.The ongoing Iran conflict has triggered a sharp surge in global oil prices, largely due to disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint through which nearly 20% of the world’s energy supplies pass.Escalating attacks on energy infrastructure by both sides — Iran and Israel-US — and threats to shipping in the region have pushed crude prices above $100 per barrel, with spikes nearing $120 at peak levels, as markets priced in supply risks.For India, the impact is significant due to its heavy dependence on imports. The country meets about 85–90% of its crude oil needs from overseas, with roughly 40–50% of supplies routed through the Strait of Hormuz.Any disruption in this corridor increases shipping costs, insurance premiums and overall import bills, while also raising the risk of supply shortages. Analysts warn that even a $10 rise in crude prices can substantially widen India’s import bill and add to inflationary pressures.The impact is already visible, with pressure on the rupee, foreign investor outflows, and concerns over rising fuel and LPG costs.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard spokesperson Ali Mohammad Naini was killed in joint US and Israeli strikes, Iranian state media reported on Friday. His death came hours after he issued a defiant warning challenging US naval claims in the Gulf.Naini “was martyred in the criminal cowardly terrorist attack by the American-Zionist side at dawn”, the IRGC said in a statement, as quoted by news agency AFP

The brigadier-general had openly mocked Donald Trump’s assertion that Iran’s navy had been destroyed, daring Washington to deploy ships into the Persian Gulf. He had also insisted Iran continued producing missiles despite ongoing strikes.“Didn’t Trump say that Iran’s navy has been destroyed? If so, let him send his ships into the Persian Gulf if he dares,” Naini was quoted as saying by the semi-official Tasnim news agency.