Author: Admin

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed on Friday through social media that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer in its early stages and has completed successful treatment in Jerusalem, stating that he has made a full recovery and remains in good health.

The 76-year-old prime minister explained that doctors discovered a cancerous tumor smaller than 1 centimeter during routine follow-up appointments after he underwent a procedure in December 2024 to address a non-cancerous enlarged prostate. Medical professionals characterized the discovery as an extremely early-stage malignancy that had not spread to other parts of his body.

Netanyahu completed a course of focused radiation treatment at Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem. His therapy finished approximately two and a half months prior to making the announcement public in April 2026. Medical professionals report that follow-up scans and laboratory work show no remaining signs of the disease.

In his public statement, Netanyahu described his current physical state as being in “excellent physical condition.”

During his treatment period, Netanyahu asked for his yearly medical report to be postponed to avoid releasing it “at the height of the war, to prevent the Iranian terror regime from spreading further false propaganda against Israel.”

This health revelation follows several other medical interventions in recent years. Netanyahu had surgery in December 2024 for his enlarged prostate condition. Previously, in March 2024, he underwent an operation to repair a hernia. In July 2023, doctors implanted a pacemaker after he experienced what medical staff called a “transient heart block” and “fainting episode.”

Even with this medical background, Netanyahu emphasized that his cancer was detected in its earliest phase and has been effectively eliminated through treatment.

America’s departure from Syrian military installations represents a crucial turning point in a conflict spanning over ten years. This military shift goes beyond tactical changes, sparking wider discussions about foreign military footprints in Syria and their sustainability as regional and global dynamics rapidly evolve.

As Washington exits the conflict zone, discussions have grown more intense about whether Syria faces a comprehensive reshuffling of international influence or if this represents solely an American departure that won’t affect other nations, particularly Russia.

America’s exit, concluding a military presence that started in 2014 during the fight against ISIS, is viewed by strategic experts as reflecting Washington’s broader policy change—minimizing direct military engagement in global conflicts while depending on more cost-effective political and military approaches.

Military expert Hossam Darwish explained to The Media Line that “the United States no longer sees long-term military presence as an effective means to achieve its objectives, which is reflected in similar decisions across multiple theaters.” He emphasized that this change puts foreign military installations in Syria under genuine examination within a complicated environment influenced by intersecting regional and global interests.

America began operations in Syria during 2014 with aerial attacks on ISIS locations in Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor, and surrounding regions, operating without direct coordination with Syria’s previous government after the militant organization expanded and seized control of significant portions of northern and eastern Syria. Subsequently, American involvement grew to include limited special operations forces providing ground support, advisory services, and coordination with local allies, primarily the Syrian Democratic Forces.

Washington constructed small installations and outposts in northeastern Syria to facilitate air and ground missions, implementing a strategy combining aerial power with local partnerships rather than massive ground forces. Although successful in destroying ISIS’s “territorial caliphate,” the organization wasn’t completely eliminated, continuing operations through dormant cells and conducting occasional attacks in Syria and Iraq, sustaining low-level activities today.

Russia maintains a significant role in Syria through substantial military installations. Moscow joined the conflict on September 30, 2015, responding to the Syrian government’s request under Bashar Assad as violence intensified and the state lost territorial control to opposition groups.

Russian involvement focused mainly on aerial power, conducting extensive bombing operations from Khmeimim Air Base while deploying military advisors, limited special operations units, and sophisticated air defense equipment.

Unofficial assessments indicate Russian personnel in Syria numbered between 4,000 to 7,000 at different times, emphasizing specialized roles rather than massive ground deployment.

Russia also utilized Wagner Group elements, which aren’t classified as regular military forces. This intervention helped shift military advantages toward the Syrian government by supporting the recapture of important cities and strategic territories, while enhancing Moscow’s regional influence before the Syrian regime’s collapse at 2024’s end.

Following that period, Russia has maintained a restricted but strategically important network of military facilities concentrated mainly along Syria’s coastline. The primary installation is Khmeimim Air Base near Latakia, functioning as the central hub for aerial operations where fighter aircraft and bombers conducted most strikes, housing sophisticated air defense systems plus command and logistical support infrastructure.

Tartus naval facility represents the second foundation of Russia’s presence. This location serves as Moscow’s sole Mediterranean naval installation, offering resupply and maintenance capabilities while providing Russia permanent maritime access beyond its territory.

Additionally, Russia maintained less stable operations at military airfields including Shayrat and T4 (Tiyas), plus limited deployments in regions like Aleppo and Deir ez-Zor, before gradually withdrawing from most positions following the regime’s collapse.

Recent months have shown signs of Russia reducing its interior presence while strengthening coastal deployment, indicating tactical repositioning designed to lower expenses while maintaining strategic objectives.

Syrian political expert and Russia specialist Muhammad Hamza told The Media Line that “Russia is moving toward reducing its broad deployment in favor of a more concentrated model in key strategic locations.” He added that “the coastal bases will remain a red line because they are Moscow’s gateway to the Mediterranean, but its inland presence may be reconsidered.”

Researcher Amjad Saeed observes that this deployment’s future depends on “the trajectory of the war in Ukraine, the level of international pressure and the future nature of relations with Damascus.”

Within Syria domestically, foreign military installations remain among the most delicate matters, directly connected to sovereignty questions.

Syrian political activist Kinana al-Kurdi believes Syrian leadership might pursue “restructuring its military relations in a way that allows for a gradual reduction of foreign presence without direct confrontation with partners.” She noted that “the issue cannot be resolved by unilateral decisions but through complex understandings.”

An anonymous diplomatic source suggests further that “Damascus may use the issue of military bases as a bargaining chip to obtain economic or political support, particularly during the reconstruction phase.”

From a legal perspective, expert Mahmoud Hammam clarifies that military agreements with Russia “are not rigid and can be renegotiated if political circumstances change.” This creates possibilities for various outcomes, including modifications, partial reductions, or complete termination.

Within the larger framework, foreign installations’ future in Syria cannot be separated from broader international developments. Ukraine’s ongoing war continues depleting Russian resources, while Western nations seek to restrict Moscow’s Middle Eastern influence. Simultaneously, Turkey and other regional countries closely observe developments due to direct security consequences.

Since Syria’s major political transformations in 2024, including power transitions and certain power centers’ decline, Moscow has shifted toward reducing interior presence and concentrating on coastal installations, appearing to move toward a more restricted role focused on logistical and training support rather than extensive military deployment.

Afghanistan’s Taliban government issued a statement Saturday encouraging Afghan nationals currently housed at a U.S.-operated transit facility in Qatar to come back to their homeland, asserting that safety conditions have improved significantly.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi declared that Afghan citizens living overseas should have confidence in returning to their country. Balkhi emphasized that no security dangers currently exist for anyone within Afghanistan’s borders and stated that residents are not being forced to flee due to safety concerns.

This announcement follows reports from multiple American news organizations that the Trump administration is exploring the possibility of sending former Afghan allies to the Democratic Republic of Congo, a nation widely considered among the world’s most war-torn regions.

The New York Times reported that “After halting a US resettlement program for Afghans who helped the American war effort, President Trump is in talks to send as many as 1,100 of them to the Democratic Republic of Congo, an aid worker briefed on the plan said Tuesday.”

Over 1,100 Afghan evacuees who fled to Qatar following Kabul’s collapse in 2021 are preparing for the closure of Camp As-Sayliyah in Doha, as the American-operated facility was scheduled to close on March 31.

The facility has provided temporary shelter for former Afghan military personnel, translators, and relatives of U.S. military members, many of whom were evacuated during the turbulent withdrawal when the Taliban regained control.

The majority of camp residents have completed thorough security screenings and received approval for U.S. resettlement, including more than 400 minors.

U.S. senators have voiced strong opposition to the reported plan to transfer Afghan allies from Qatar to Congo.

Senator Alex Padilla wrote on his X account, “Unbelievable. When we betray our allies, we signal to every future partner that the US isn’t worthy of their trust.” Senator Jeff Merkley characterized the proposal as “evil and wrong.”

Additional senators, including Tammy Duckworth, Tim Kaine, and Ed Markey, have condemned the reported transfer plan, demanding its immediate suspension and enhanced protections for Afghan partners.

Nadir Khalili, a former Afghan special forces member, expressed his despair to The Media Line, saying “It would have been better for us to have been killed in the war than to be transferred to a country like Congo.”

Khalili added, “At the time, US officials clearly told us that, morally, the responsibility for our protection now rested with the United States, which is why we brought our children with us. But hearing this now has only deepened our anxiety.”

Humanitarian organizations and human rights advocates, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, have consistently called for accelerated international solutions for Afghan refugees, cautioning that resettlement delays heighten vulnerability and create instability.

BOGOTA – A devastating bombing in western Colombia has resulted in 13 fatalities and injured 17 additional victims, according to a police official who spoke with Reuters on Saturday.

The deadly explosive incident took place in Colombia’s western region, though authorities have not yet released additional details about the circumstances surrounding the attack or the identities of those responsible.

The casualty count was confirmed by law enforcement sources as investigations into the bombing continue.

KYIV, April 26 – Ukraine observed the 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl nuclear catastrophe on Sunday while grappling with concerns that Russia’s ongoing military campaign could trigger another nuclear emergency at the world’s most infamous atomic disaster site.

Ukrainian officials report that Moscow has consistently launched missiles and unmanned aircraft along flight routes that pass dangerously close to the nuclear facility when targeting Ukrainian population centers. Last year, one such attack caused damage to an essential protective barrier at the site.

The annual remembrance of the catastrophe – which released radioactive contamination across vast portions of Europe despite Soviet officials’ attempts to conceal its magnitude – has gained heightened significance during Russia’s military operation against its neighboring country.

“The Chornobyl disaster was the result of a reactor experiment ordered by Moscow, in violation of safety protocols, and followed by lies and cover-ups,” Ukraine’s foreign ministry said in a statement this week.

“To this day, the world has to face consequences brought by a totalitarian system that subordinated truth and science to ideology and political power.”

The catastrophic explosion and subsequent reactor meltdown at the Soviet-constructed facility’s fourth unit during the early morning hours of April 26, 1986, exposed millions to dangerous radiation levels, displaced hundreds of thousands from their homes, and rendered enormous areas uninhabitable due to contamination.

Thousands of people have died from radiation-induced diseases including cancer in the decades since, though experts continue to debate the complete casualty count and lasting health impacts.

International cooperation led to the construction of a enormous steel and concrete containment structure in 2016, designed to protect the hastily-built concrete shelter that was erected in 1986 to encase massive amounts of radioactive wreckage.

But a Russian drone attack in February 2025 breached the airtight seal of this protective barrier, according to officials. While no radiation leaks were found, the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development estimates repairs will cost at least 500 million euros to prevent lasting harm.

Ukraine’s chief prosecutor revealed to Reuters earlier this week that radar systems had tracked a minimum of 92 Russian drones flying within a five-kilometer radius of the protective structure since June 2024.

For security reasons, Ukrainian authorities typically do not announce details of official memorial events during wartime.

Located approximately 100 kilometers north of Kyiv and surrounded by a 2,600-square-kilometer restricted area, the facility – which Reuters journalists visited Wednesday – sits in an unsettling quietude that extends throughout the surrounding forests.

National Guard troops monitor the site, where roughly 2,250 workers operate in extended shifts to oversee the facility’s gradual dismantling process. Operations at the plant’s final reactor ceased in 2000.

The command center for the destroyed fourth reactor now stands as a darkened chamber filled with damaged and corroded Soviet-era machinery.

Wildlife including moose and feral horses now inhabit the area surrounding the plant and the deserted city of Prypiat, demonstrating how the natural world has reclaimed territory left vacant by human evacuation.

Moldova’s parliament speaker is urging investigators to expand their probe into a massive banking scandal after a court handed down a 19-year prison sentence to one of the country’s wealthiest businessmen.

Vladimir Plahotniuc was convicted this week in connection with what authorities are calling the “theft of the century” – a scheme that drained $1 billion from Moldovan banks more than ten years ago. The stolen amount represented 12% of Moldova’s entire economic output at that time, with the funds disappearing through questionable loans, asset exchanges, and shareholder agreements.

Prosecutors alleged Plahotniuc personally pocketed $39 million and 3.5 million euros ($4.1 million) from three different banks. The prosecution had originally requested a 25-year prison term.

Igor Grosu, who holds the second-highest position in Moldova’s government structure, emphasized on Saturday that additional investigation remains essential to uncover the complete truth about this widespread fraud. He stressed that Plahotniuc couldn’t have orchestrated such an elaborate scheme without assistance.

“The scale of the investigation shows that Plahotniuc could not have acted alone. He could not have organised, on his own, all the actions, operations and transactions,” Grosu stated.

“This is all quite sophisticated, all the more so as one of the accusations against him was organising a criminal group. I don’t know what other action is being taken by prosecutors, but I believe it is logical to look into episodes involving other persons, including those who insisted he was innocent,” he continued.

Plahotniuc maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings. His attorney, Lucian Rogac, criticized the case as a violation of proper legal procedures and claimed the decision was influenced by public pressure and political motivations.

Anti-corruption officials are currently pursuing three additional cases against Plahotniuc, including charges related to criminal organization involvement, bribery allegations, and creating monopolistic conditions in metal exports.

The 60-year-old Plahotniuc led Moldova’s Democratic Party between 2016 and 2019 while it was part of the ruling coalition, and also held the position of deputy parliament speaker. During his tenure in government, he exercised significant control over law enforcement agencies, the judicial system, and the courts.

Mexican authorities announced Saturday that two CIA operatives who perished in a fatal vehicle accident in the nation’s northern territory lacked proper authorization to conduct activities within Mexico’s borders.

The circumstances surrounding the two intelligence officers, who had been traveling back from dismantling an illegal narcotics laboratory in Chihuahua state, continue to raise questions about their mission.

According to regional officials, the agents were traveling in a convoy last weekend when their automobile plunged into a ravine and burst into flames. The incident also claimed the lives of two Mexican law enforcement personnel.

The Associated Press verified earlier this week through a U.S. official and two additional sources with knowledge of the situation that the deceased Americans worked for the Central Intelligence Agency. These individuals requested anonymity when discussing classified intelligence operations.

CIA representatives have refused to provide any statement regarding the incident.

Mexico’s Ministry of Security released information indicating that one American operative had entered the country using visitor status, while the second possessed diplomatic credentials.

The ministry further declared that Mexican leadership had no advance notice of international agents conducting or preparing to execute missions within their sovereign territory.

According to the ministry, officials are examining the situation alongside local law enforcement and the U.S. Embassy located in Mexico.

“Mexican law is clear: it does not permit the participation of foreign agents in operations within the national territory,” the ministry said in a statement.

The statement continued: “The Government of Mexico reiterates its willingness to maintain a close, serious, and respectful relationship with the Government of the United States for the benefit of the security of both countries.”

Representatives from both nations have provided conflicting information about the incident, with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum acknowledging Wednesday that federal personnel were participating after Mexico’s administration initially claimed no awareness of any mission or American involvement.

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced Saturday through a social media video that he will skip taking his parliament seat after suffering a crushing defeat in this month’s election, choosing instead to concentrate on restructuring his nationalist political movement.

The April 12 election marked the conclusion of Orbán’s 16-year tenure when Hungarian citizens voted decisively for a center-right opponent who campaigned on promises to combat widespread corruption and restore the country’s democratic systems that had weakened during Orbán’s administration.

The victorious challenger, Péter Magyar of the Tisza party who will become Hungary’s new Prime Minister, secured a two-thirds parliamentary majority that will enable his government to reverse numerous policies implemented by Orbán.

Questions about the former prime minister’s political future and potential government involvement had remained unanswered since the election results.

However, in his Facebook video announcement, Orbán declared that his party’s parliamentary delegation would undergo “radical transformation” following the electoral defeat, and confirmed he would forgo his legislative seat.

“Our task now is not in parliament,” Orbán stated, but rather in the “reorganization” of his political faction that he refers to as the “national side.”

“I have led our community for nearly four decades,” Orbán commented. “This camp has always been the most united and cohesive political community in Hungary.”

Magyar has promised to rebuild democratic institutions and legal frameworks that deteriorated during Orbán’s leadership, while also pursuing accountability for individuals he claims oversaw and profited from extensive government corruption.

When Hungary’s new parliament convenes on May 9, it will mark the first occasion since the country’s 1990 transition from state socialism that Orbán will not hold a legislative position.

In his announcement, Orbán indicated he plans to continue as Fidesz party president following the party’s June leadership election.

Magyar’s party captured 141 of 199 parliamentary seats, representing the largest majority in Hungary’s post-Communist era. Orbán’s far-right, eurosceptic Fidesz party will hold 52 seats, a significant drop from their previous 135 seats.

A recent polling survey reveals that Germany’s Alternative for Germany party, known for its far-right positions, has achieved unprecedented support levels, capturing 28% of voter preferences according to INSA’s latest weekly survey released Saturday.

This represents the party’s strongest showing ever in INSA polling data and marks a one-point increase from the week prior, establishing a four-point advantage over Germany’s traditional conservative political bloc.

The polling numbers show Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservative CDU maintaining its 24% support from the previous survey, while environmental party the Greens dropped to 12% support. The Social Democrats stayed at 14% backing, and the Left Party held at 11%.

Political analysts note that with 11% of voter support going toward smaller parties unlikely to meet parliamentary entry requirements, any governing coalition would need to secure at least 45% among qualifying parties to achieve a working majority.

Given that established parties continue rejecting partnerships with the Alternative for Germany, potential governing arrangements would likely require three-party agreements, according to the survey analysis. A combination of the Union, Social Democrats and Greens would control 50% support, while joining the Union, Social Democrats and Left Party would total 49%.

The polling organization conducted interviews with 1,203 German citizens from April 20 through April 24, asking participants about their voting intentions if national elections occurred this Sunday.

DAKAR – A terrorist organization with ties to Al Qaeda has announced it partnered with a Tuareg rebel faction to execute synchronized strikes throughout Mali this past Saturday, according to intelligence monitoring service SITE Intelligence Group.

The group known as JNIM, which operates as an Al Qaeda affiliate, stated it collaborated with the FLA, a rebel organization primarily composed of Tuareg fighters, in conducting the coordinated offensive operations across the West African nation.

SITE Intelligence Group reported on the joint claim of responsibility, citing an official statement released by JNIM regarding the attacks.

China’s Foreign Minister made a diplomatic visit to Myanmar’s capital on Saturday, meeting with the nation’s newly-installed military-backed president as Beijing works to expand its influence across Southeast Asia.

According to Myanmar’s state television network MRTV, Foreign Minister Wang Yi held discussions with President Min Aung Hlaing focusing on improving Myanmar’s international standing and collaboration within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

The diplomatic meeting in Naypyitaw occurred weeks after Min Aung Hlaing took the presidential oath on April 10, following elections that international observers criticized as unfair and orchestrated to preserve military control five years after the armed forces removed Aung San Suu Kyi’s civilian administration.

During their talks, Min Aung Hlaing expressed gratitude that Chinese President Xi Jinping sent congratulations just hours after his electoral victory, according to the state media report.

Beijing maintains significant economic and strategic interests in Myanmar, serving as the country’s largest trade partner and longtime supporter. Chinese companies have poured billions into Myanmar’s mining operations, energy pipelines, and infrastructure projects, while China ranks as a primary weapons supplier alongside Russia.

Among the limited number of nations backing Myanmar’s recent elections, China quickly sent congratulatory messages to Min Aung Hlaing following his presidential appointment.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which counts Myanmar among its 11 members, refused to recognize the elections due to the exclusion of most opposition groups and severe restrictions on dissent. Violence from Myanmar’s ongoing civil conflict also prevented voting in certain regions.

ASEAN previously excluded Myanmar’s leadership from meetings after the military government failed to follow through on a peace agreement from April 2021 that demanded an immediate halt to violence, inclusive dialogue, and humanitarian assistance.

The former military administration under Min Aung Hlaing permitted only limited humanitarian aid under strict conditions and ignored other provisions of the peace plan.

During his April 10 swearing-in ceremony, Min Aung Hlaing identified rebuilding ASEAN relationships as a key objective.

Saturday’s discussions also covered border security issues, trade relations, joint efforts against cybercrime, and Myanmar’s domestic peace initiatives, according to the report.

China simultaneously maintains relationships with ethnic armed groups along its border, including the influential “Three Brotherhood Alliance” that has fought for decades seeking greater independence from Myanmar’s central authority.

This alliance seized substantial territory near China’s border and in western Myanmar from late 2023 through 2024, encouraging other resistance movements opposing military rule to expand their campaigns nationwide.

Nevertheless, multiple China-mediated ceasefires in the past year slowed their progress, enabling the army to reclaim strategic areas and regain military advantage since mid-2025.

Lebanese officials reported Saturday that four individuals lost their lives during Israeli military operations in the country’s southern region, according to Lebanon’s state news agency. The fatalities come as both Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants continue exchanging fire despite an extended ceasefire arrangement.

While the truce between Israel and Lebanon has substantially decreased fighting overall, confrontations persist in southern Lebanon’s border area, where Israeli troops maintain positions in what they describe as a protective buffer zone against the Iran-supported militant organization.

Israeli defense forces announced Saturday they had targeted Hezbollah rocket launching equipment at three separate southern Lebanon sites during overnight operations and struck multiple Hezbollah operatives in additional attacks. Military officials later confirmed they had also hit installations operated by Hezbollah’s specialized Radwan unit in the same region.

Officials have not confirmed whether the four deaths reported by Lebanese state media resulted from these specific Israeli military actions.

Israeli forces renewed their advisory for Lebanese civilians to stay away from the Litani River region in southern Lebanon during ongoing operations against Hezbollah militants.

Military representatives reported intercepting a “suspicious aerial target” in territory currently under their control, while noting that Hezbollah launched two rockets toward northern Israel, with one being successfully intercepted. No injuries were reported from the rocket attacks.

On Friday, a Hezbollah legislator declared the U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement with Israel meaningless, one day after the truce received a three-week extension. The original ceasefire had been scheduled to end this Sunday.

Iran’s top diplomat outlined his nation’s stance during weekend peace negotiations in Pakistan, rejecting what Tehran calls excessive American demands in efforts to resolve a deadly conflict affecting worldwide energy supplies.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi concluded discussions with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and senior officials before departing Islamabad under military escort Saturday, according to government sources. Specific details about the negotiations remained limited.

The White House previously announced that President Donald Trump’s special representative Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner would fly to Islamabad on Saturday.

Whether Araqchi plans to return to Pakistan for additional talks remains uncertain. Tehran has previously rejected the possibility of renewed direct negotiations with Washington.

The standoff continues as Iran maintains its closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that typically handles 20% of worldwide oil and liquefied natural gas transport, while America blocks Iranian petroleum exports.

The crisis began February 28 with joint US-Israeli military strikes against Iran, though a ceasefire is currently holding. Iran has retaliated with attacks on Israeli territory, American military installations, and Gulf region nations. The fighting has driven energy costs to multi-year peaks, fueling inflation concerns and threatening global economic growth.

Araqchi “explained our country’s principled positions regarding the latest developments related to the ceasefire and the complete end of the imposed war against Iran”, according to a statement posted on the minister’s official Telegram channel.

When questioned about Iran’s objections to American negotiating positions, an Iranian diplomatic source in Islamabad told Reuters: “Principally, Iranian side will not accept maximalist demands.”

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth earlier suggested Iran still had an opportunity to reach a favorable agreement.

“Iran knows that they still have an open window to choose wisely,” he stated. “All they have to do is abandon a nuclear weapon in meaningful and verifiable ways.”

Araqchi reached Islamabad on Friday. However, an Iranian foreign ministry representative posted on social media that Iranian officials had no plans to meet with US representatives and would communicate Tehran’s position through Pakistani mediators.

Trump revealed Friday that Iran intended to present a proposal addressing American requirements, though he said he didn’t know the specifics. He refused to identify Washington’s negotiating partners, saying only “but we’re dealing with the people that are in charge now”.

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt indicated the US had observed some Iranian progress recently and anticipated further developments over the weekend, while Vice President JD Vance remained prepared to travel to Pakistan if needed.

Following Trump’s decision to extend the ceasefire earlier this week, international air travel resumed from Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport on Saturday, Iranian media reported. Initial flights departed for Medina in Saudi Arabia, Muscat, and Istanbul, with expanded operations planned for coming days.

“Well, it’s a good feeling. When flights resume, trade is done, and people can do their jobs. It’s a good feeling,” one traveler told reporters at the airport, where passengers lined up at check-in counters.

Iranian airspace has remained largely shut since hostilities began. Tens of thousands of flights worldwide have faced cancellations, diversions, and schedule changes, effectively closing much Middle Eastern airspace due to missile and drone threats.

Trump unilaterally extended a two-week ceasefire Tuesday to provide additional time for negotiators to reconvene.

Energy markets surged this week, with Brent crude futures jumping 16% amid uncertainty about peace negotiations and renewed regional violence.

Maritime data from Friday showed only five vessels had passed through the Strait of Hormuz in the preceding 24 hours, compared to approximately 130 daily crossings before the conflict. The ships included an Iranian petroleum products tanker but none of the massive crude-carrying vessels that typically supply global energy markets.

Analytics company Vortexa reported recording 35 total passages through the US blockade between April 13-22, involving Iran-connected or sanctioned ships traveling in both directions.

“The enemy, whose objective of crippling Iran’s missile and military capabilities has failed, is now seeking an honorable exit from the quagmire of war,” Iranian media quoted a defense ministry representative as saying. “Iran is today in firm control of the Strait of Hormuz.”

Iranian state television quoted the nation’s military leadership reaffirming that Iran would respond if US forces continued their “blockade and piracy” in the region.

Thursday saw Israel and Lebanon extend their ceasefire for three weeks during a White House meeting facilitated by Trump, though fighting persisted in southern Lebanon.

Israel launched an invasion of its northern neighbor last month to eliminate Iran’s Hezbollah allies after the militant organization fired across the border in support of Iran. Tehran maintains that a ceasefire there represents a prerequisite for negotiations.

Four people died in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon Saturday, Lebanon’s state news agency reported, while Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel, the Israeli military confirmed, representing the latest challenge to that ceasefire agreement.

ATHENS, Greece — French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized Saturday that Europe’s increased military spending represents a response to longstanding American requests for greater self-reliance, not an effort to create a rival to NATO.

Speaking alongside Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Athens, Macron stressed that European nations are finally addressing Washington’s decade-long appeals for the continent to shoulder more responsibility for its own protection.

“The lesson we must draw is, let us no longer be dependent,” Macron stated following discussions with Mitsotakis. “We Europeans must strengthen this European pillar of NATO, we must strengthen this Europe of defense — not against anyone, not as an alternative to anything.”

The Greek leader supported Macron’s position, arguing that the United States should welcome Europe’s commitment to greater self-sufficiency and increased defense investments, describing American calls for higher spending as “justified.”

Macron’s Athens visit followed an informal European Union summit in Cyprus and focused on reinforcing a 2021 defense agreement between France and Greece that features a mutual protection provision for armed attacks on either nation.

“This mutual assurance and assistance clause is inviolable, and it is not up for debate between us,” Macron declared. “So there are no question marks, no doubts to be entertained — and all our potential, or real, enemies need to be very clear about that.”

The comprehensive 3-billion-euro deal encompasses Greece’s acquisition of 24 Rafale fighter aircraft and four advanced frigates, including the Kimon vessel that both leaders toured Saturday.

Greece has been modernizing its armed forces amid ongoing tensions with neighboring Turkey, purchasing much of its new equipment from French suppliers. The procurement includes France’s MICA anti-aircraft missile technology designed for use across air, ground, and naval platforms.

Both officials promoted their partnership as a model for other EU members to enhance the 27-nation alliance’s global competitiveness. Mitsotakis urged European leaders to abandon “national egotism” that shields domestic industries and pursue greater consolidation for improved efficiency.

Macron highlighted the importance of European innovation and manufacturing to attract consumers with superior products that will fund the EU’s security objectives.

“All of us Europeans — the Franco-Greek relationship is a prime example — need to buy more European products, produce more European goods, and innovate more within Europe,” he explained.

The leaders referenced Article 42.7, the EU’s collective defense provision, which Macron insisted represents more than “just empty words.” He cited both nations’ rapid deployment of naval vessels to Cyprus in early March after a Shahed drone attacked a British facility during the Iran conflict.

Regarding concerns about energy supplies, Macron cautioned against creating alarm over potential fuel shortages linked to Strait of Hormuz disruptions, through which approximately one-fifth of global oil and gas flows. He described the fuel situation as “under control” and predicted no supply interruptions.

While acknowledging that normalizing conditions will require time, Macron said Europe remains committed to reopening the strategic waterway.

Mitsotakis, representing Greece’s significant maritime industry, insisted any diplomatic resolution must guarantee “non-negotiable” unrestricted passage through the strait without vessel fees, matching pre-conflict conditions.

Slovenia finds itself in political limbo after President Natasa Pirc Musar announced Saturday that she will not designate a prime minister candidate following last month’s parliamentary elections, citing insufficient coalition support among competing parties.

Last month’s electoral contest resulted in a razor-thin margin, with current Prime Minister Robert Golob’s liberal Freedom Movement (GS) claiming 29 parliamentary seats compared to 28 won by former Premier Janez Jansa’s right-wing Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS).

Despite his party’s narrow lead, Golob attempted negotiations with various political groups but acknowledged this week that he could not gather the necessary 46 parliamentary votes, leading his Freedom Movement to accept an opposition role.

Meanwhile, Jansa has challenged the election outcome and denies actively pursuing government formation, though reports suggest he may be quietly building support among smaller center-right parties that gained parliamentary representation.

The president’s refusal to nominate a candidate transfers the responsibility to parliament members, who must propose a prime ministerial nominee within a two-week timeframe.

Should lawmakers fail in this initial attempt, the 90-member parliament will proceed to a third round of nominations.

“Only if the second and third rounds are not successful, I can call early elections,” Pirc Musar explained during a press conference announcing her choice.

During this week’s political consultations, no parliamentary faction provided the required 46 votes of confidence, the president noted. She also expressed concern about the absence of trust and mutual respect among the political leaders she met with.

“If political actors want to gain my trust to propose a candidate for prime minister after consultations with them, I expect them to speak honestly and frankly,” she stated.

Any shift in leadership could significantly impact Slovenia’s policy direction, as Golob has championed European Union-compatible foreign relations and progressive social legislation.

Conversely, Jansa, who has expressed support for former U.S. President Donald Trump, advocates for corporate tax reductions and decreased government spending on non-governmental organizations, social programs, and media outlets, potentially reversing current policies if he returns to power.

Romanian authorities discovered debris from two Russian drones on Saturday following overnight strikes on neighboring Ukraine, marking an escalation in cross-border incidents that damaged property for the first time.

Officials found drone wreckage in the southeastern city of Galati, where an electrical pole and residential outbuilding sustained damage, along with additional fragments in nearby Tulcea county. No injuries were reported in either location, according to Romania’s defense ministry.

Emergency responders temporarily relocated residents near the Galati crash site while bomb disposal teams secured the potentially explosive drone remnants.

The incidents occurred as Russia targeted Ukrainian ports along the Danube River. Romania, which maintains NATO and European Union membership, shares approximately 400 miles of border with Ukraine and has experienced repeated airspace violations from Russian drones during Moscow’s ongoing military campaign.

While drone debris has previously landed on Romanian soil, Saturday’s events represented the first instance of actual property destruction.

“The defence ministry firmly condemns the irresponsible actions of the Russian Federation and emphasizes that these represent a new challenge to regional security and stability in the Black Sea area,” the ministry’s statement said.

“Such incidents demonstrate the Russian Federation’s lack of respect for the norms of international law and endanger not only the safety of Romanian citizens, but also the collective security of NATO.”

British Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft participating in Romania’s air policing mission launched to monitor the situation, following standard protocols. Authorities also issued shelter warnings for Tulcea county residents.

Recent months have seen increasing tensions across Europe’s eastern borders as suspected Russian drones have violated multiple NATO countries’ airspace.

Romanian legislation permits shooting down drones during peacetime when lives or property face threats, though officials have not yet exercised this authority.

Defense Minister Radu Miruta announced Friday that an American-made, artificial intelligence-powered anti-drone system would join national air defenses within days after completing final testing.

The Merops system, created by Project Eagle — a U.S. company supported by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt — will address drone threats along the Danube River, Miruta explained.

Poland currently operates the same system along NATO’s eastern frontier.

Romania’s foreign ministry summoned the Russian ambassador to formally protest the border violations.

BEIJING – Chinese officials issued a sharp rebuke Saturday against the European Union’s decision to place several Chinese businesses on its newest sanctions list targeting Russia, marking the 20th round of such penalties.

Beijing’s commerce ministry voiced strong disapproval of the EU’s action, calling for the Chinese companies to be struck from the sanctions roster without delay.

The latest European sanctions focus on foreign suppliers providing crucial advanced technology components to Russia. Several China-based companies were targeted for allegedly supplying equipment that serves both civilian and military purposes, or weapons technology, to Russia’s defense manufacturing sector.

A commerce ministry representative stated the EU’s decision “runs counter to the spirit of the consensus reached between Chinese and EU leaders, and seriously undermines mutual trust and the overall stability of bilateral relations.”

Chinese officials issued a stern warning that they would implement “necessary measures” to safeguard their domestic companies. The ministry added that “all consequences will be borne by the EU side” for this action.

A high-ranking Russian official arrived in North Korea Saturday to participate in ceremonies celebrating the country’s military support for Russia’s war efforts in Ukraine, according to reports from Russian state media.

Vyacheslav Volodin, who serves as speaker of Russia’s Duma and maintains close ties to President Vladimir Putin, was greeted by Jo Yong-won upon his arrival. Jo holds significant influence as a trusted advisor to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and leads the nation’s Supreme People’s Assembly, the Tass news agency confirmed.

Intelligence estimates indicate North Korea has contributed approximately 14,000 soldiers to assist Russian military operations against Ukrainian forces. International officials from South Korea, Ukraine, and Western nations report that more than 6,000 of these North Korean troops have been killed in combat.

The visit coincides with North Korea’s planned commemoration of what they term the “liberation of Kursk,” marking one year since Moscow announced it had retaken control of the disputed region from Ukrainian forces.

The military cooperation stems from a comprehensive strategic agreement signed by Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin during their June 2024 meeting. This treaty established a mutual defense arrangement between the two nations, whose diplomatic and military partnership has strengthened considerably since 2023.

French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized Saturday his dedication to reopening the Strait of Hormuz, following warnings from TotalEnergies’ chief executive about potential worldwide energy shortages if the Iranian conflict extends for additional months.

During a press briefing in Athens with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Macron noted that fear driven by geopolitical instability can itself create supply shortages.

“Our goal is to achieve a full reopening in the coming days and weeks, in accordance with international law, guaranteeing freedom of navigation without tolls on the Strait of Hormuz. Then things can gradually return to normal,” Macron stated.

Patrick Pouyanne, TotalEnergies’ chief executive, advocated Friday for the waterway’s reopening, noting that approximately 20 percent of worldwide oil and gas supplies typically pass through this corridor.

Transit through this crucial passage, which also serves as a vital shipping lane for fertilizers and pharmaceuticals, has been severely restricted due to the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran. Iranian forces have captured container vessels while the United States has established a blockade at Iranian harbors.

“If it lasts two, three months more, we are entering in a world of scarcity of energy, which Asian countries have already suffered,” Pouyanne stated at the World Policy Conference in Chantilly, near Paris. “You cannot have 20% of the oil and gas of the planet being stranded and not accessible without major consequences.”

Over a dozen nations have expressed willingness to participate in a French-British led international mission to safeguard shipping through the strait once conditions allow, despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s assertion that American assistance from allies is unnecessary.

“We’re all in the same boat, and it’s not a boat we chose, if I may say. We’re victims of geopolitics and we’re victims of this war that started several months ago,” Macron commented Saturday.

A grieving Palestinian father laid to rest his pregnant wife and two young children on Saturday following deadly Israeli military strikes in Gaza that claimed at least 13 lives on Friday.

Hospital officials reported that the Friday casualties included two fatalities in Gaza City and eight deaths in the southern community of Khan Younis. Medical staff at Nasser Hospital confirmed that the eight victims in Khan Younis, which included four police officers, died when Israeli forces struck a police vehicle.

Khalid Al-Tanani from Beit Lahiya described the devastating sequence of attacks that took the lives of his wife and two of his four children in northern Gaza.

“With the first shell, thank God we all survived and were calling out to each other. Then they fired the second, third, and fourth shells one after the other. Their voices fell silent. I went inside and found my wife, Islam Al-Tanani, martyred, and my son, Hamza, and Naya in her mother’s arms. I found them martyred,” Al-Tanani recounted. The children were ages 4 and 13.

One of Hamza’s 13-year-old twins and another child from the family survived the attack. Al-Tanani mentioned that he and his wife had recently begun discussing preparations for the expected twins, including gathering baby supplies and clothing.

During Saturday’s burial ceremony, family members grieved openly over the victims. “You took my soul with you, Hamza, you took me with you and broke me, Hamza,” cried the boy’s grandmother through tears.

Israeli military officials stated that armed militants had posed threats to their forces in the region, prompting the targeted airstrike after issuing civilian warnings. However, Al-Tanani maintained that no advance warning was provided before the strikes occurred.

The Israeli military confirmed targeting two militants who had threatened their personnel in Gaza City but offered no statement regarding the Khan Younis strike that resulted in eight deaths.

Although major combat operations have largely ended, continued Israeli military actions have consistently interrupted the ceasefire that began on October 10. The mounting Palestinian casualties have led many Gaza residents to feel that hostilities have never truly stopped.

Israeli troops regularly engage Palestinians approaching military-controlled areas. Armed groups have conducted attacks against Israeli forces, with Israel citing these incidents and other ceasefire violations as justification for their strikes. Four Israeli soldiers have died since the ceasefire implementation.

Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that Israeli operations have resulted in more than 790 Palestinian deaths during the six months since the tenuous ceasefire between Hamas and Israel was established. The ministry, operating under Hamas governance, keeps comprehensive casualty documentation that United Nations agencies and independent analysts consider generally credible. However, the records do not distinguish between civilian and militant casualties.

According to the health ministry’s overall count, 72,300 Palestinians have died since the Gaza conflict began with Hamas’s October 7, 2023 assault on Israel.

The current war started when Hamas-led fighters launched a major attack into southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people, predominantly civilians, on October 7, 2023.

The U.S. Navy has launched operations to locate and remove underwater explosives from the Strait of Hormuz, according to President Donald Trump, as the military works to reopen the critical shipping lane that carries a fifth of the world’s oil supply.

Military officials briefing House Armed Services Committee members this week indicated the mine-clearing mission could require half a year to complete, even with a fragile ceasefire in place between Washington and Tehran following weeks of warfare, according to sources familiar with the classified discussion.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declined to confirm the six-month timeline when questioned by reporters Friday, though he didn’t dispute the estimate. “Allegedly that was something that was said,” Hegseth stated during a Pentagon briefing. “But we feel confident in our ability, in the correct period of time, to clear any mines that we identify.”

The challenge extends beyond simply removing explosives from the seabed, according to defense analysts who warn that restoring commercial confidence in the waterway’s safety may prove even more difficult.

“You don’t even have to have lain mines — you just have to make people believe that you’ve laid mines,” explained Emma Salisbury, a researcher with the Foreign Policy Research Institute’s National Security Program.

“And even if the U.S. sweeps the strait and says everything’s clear, all the Iranians have to do is say, ‘Well, actually, you haven’t found them all yet,’” added Salisbury, who also works with the Royal Navy Strategic Studies Centre. “There’s only so much the U.S. can do to give that confidence back to commercial shipping.”

Trump announced an intensification of the mine-clearing efforts through social media Thursday, declaring he had directed naval forces to target any vessel attempting to deploy explosives in the strait.

“Additionally, our mine ‘sweepers’ are clearing the Strait right now,” the president wrote. “I am hereby ordering that activity to continue, but at a tripled up level!”

The operation represents one of several strategies the Trump administration is pursuing to restore traffic through the vital waterway as energy costs climb and economic pressures mount. Officials have also imposed blockades on Iranian ports, confiscated vessels linked to Tehran, and scheduled participation in additional ceasefire negotiations in Pakistan this weekend.

Admiral Brad Cooper, the senior U.S. military commander overseeing Middle East operations, recently confirmed to reporters that forces would work to eliminate mines from the strait, though he provided no operational specifics.

Current naval assets in the region include two littoral combat ships equipped with mine-clearing capabilities, according to defense officials speaking anonymously about sensitive military deployments. Additionally, two Avenger-class minesweepers stationed in Japan have begun transit toward the Middle East but remained in Pacific waters as of Friday.

Steven Wills, a former lieutenant commander with experience aboard Avenger-class vessels, explained that current operations likely focus on creating secure passage channels rather than comprehensive area clearing, which typically occurs after conflicts conclude.

“Minehunting is walking through your yard pulling individual weeds and dandelions so that you can walk safely from one side to the other. Minesweeping is more like mowing the grass,” said Wills, now an analyst with the Center for Maritime Strategy at the Navy League of the United States.

Intelligence assessments suggest Iran possesses several thousand mines in its arsenal, primarily older Soviet designs supplemented by some Chinese models and domestically produced variants, according to Salisbury. The weapons likely rest on the ocean floor or hang suspended beneath the surface on cables, activated by changes in water pressure or engine noise from passing ships.

“Minelaying is a lot easier than minesweeping, so you can literally push these things off the back of a speedboat,” Salisbury noted, though she acknowledged such activities would likely be detected by U.S. surveillance.

Iranian submarines capable of covert mine deployment pose a more significant detection challenge and appear to have survived the recent conflict, she added.

Naval mine-clearing teams employ remotely operated underwater vehicles equipped with sonar technology to locate explosives, along with specialized charges to destroy them safely. Helicopter units can also search for mines using laser systems, while explosive ordnance disposal divers provide additional clearing capabilities.

Scott Savitz, a RAND Corporation researcher specializing in naval operations and mine warfare, emphasized that complete clearance isn’t always necessary for resuming commercial traffic.

“There’s still areas that have not been cleared from World War II — and in some cases, World War I — just because it is so resource intensive and it takes a lot of time,” he explained.

Shipping companies will eventually accept calculated risks to transit the lucrative route, Savitz predicted, though current Iranian requirements mandate vessels use northern passages closer to Iranian shores rather than traditional shipping lanes.

Insurance companies have begun requiring ship owners to coordinate with Iranian authorities for safe passage certification, according to Dylan Mortimer, marine war insurance leader for broker Marsh. These approvals address the full spectrum of threats including missiles, drones, and potential vessel seizures, not just mines.

However, the psychological impact of potential mine threats continues influencing commercial decisions regardless of actual explosive presence, creating what Mortimer termed the “specter of threat.”

“That plays in the Iranians’ favor, because whether there are mines there or not, people think there’s mines there and they will operate accordingly,” Mortimer observed.

These persistent concerns may significantly delay the restoration of commercial confidence in strait safety even after hostilities formally conclude, experts warn.

Armed militants launched what appears to be a coordinated assault on multiple locations across Mali early Saturday morning, striking the West African nation’s capital and several other major cities, according to local residents and government officials.

Mali’s military confirmed in an official statement that “unidentified armed terrorist groups targeted certain locations and barracks in the capital.” The army added that its forces were “currently engaged in eliminating the attackers.”

The troubled nation has faced ongoing conflicts with militant groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIS, along with separatist fighters operating in northern regions.

A journalist with the Associated Press reported hearing continuous heavy gunfire and automatic weapons fire emanating from Modibo Keïta International Airport, located approximately 15 kilometers from Bamako’s center. Military helicopters were observed flying over surrounding areas. The airport sits next to an air base operated by Mali’s military. A local resident near the facility confirmed the gunfire and reported seeing three helicopters conducting patrols above.

Citizens in additional Malian cities described hearing weapons fire and explosions Saturday morning, indicating the attacks may have been synchronized across multiple locations.

Armed fighters penetrated the northeastern city of Kidal, seizing control of certain districts and engaging in firefights with military personnel, according to a former Kidal mayor who spoke to AP by telephone. The individual requested anonymity due to safety concerns.

The Azawad separatist faction has waged a prolonged campaign to establish an independent state called Azawad in Mali’s northern territory. These rebels previously expelled government security forces from the area before a 2015 peace agreement, which later fell apart, allowed some former insurgents to join Mali’s armed forces.

Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane, speaking for the Azawad Liberation Front, claimed on Facebook that his organization’s fighters had seized multiple areas in both Kidal and Gao, another northeastern city. The Associated Press was unable to independently confirm these assertions.

A Gao resident reported that gunfire and explosions began in the predawn hours Saturday and continued into late morning.

“The force of the explosions is making the doors and windows of my house shake. I’m scared out of my wits,” the resident told AP by phone. He spoke on condition of anonymity because of concerns for his safety. The resident said the gunfire came from the army camp and the airport, which are right next to each other.

In Kati, a community close to Bamako that houses Mali’s primary military installation, another resident reported being awakened early by sounds of gunfire and explosions.

Last year, an al-Qaeda-affiliated organization took responsibility for an assault on Bamako’s airport and a military training facility in the capital that resulted in dozens of deaths.

Mali, together with neighboring countries Niger and Burkina Faso, has struggled for years against armed organizations connected to al-Qaeda and ISIS, with violence intensifying over the last ten years.

After military takeovers, the ruling governments in these three nations shifted away from Western partnerships toward Russian assistance in their fight against Islamic extremists.

However, security conditions across Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso have deteriorated recently, according to experts, with militant attacks reaching record levels. Government troops have also faced accusations of killing civilians suspected of supporting militants.

The Biden administration has adjusted its sanctions policy toward Venezuela, clearing the way for that nation’s government to fund legal representation for former president Nicolás Maduro in his ongoing drug trafficking prosecution, according to court documents filed Friday.

Maduro, age 63, along with his spouse Cilia Flores, 69, were apprehended at their Caracas residence by American special operations forces on January 3rd and transported to New York to answer criminal charges that include narcoterrorism conspiracy. Both defendants have entered not guilty pleas and remain in custody at a Brooklyn detention facility while awaiting trial.

Defense attorney Barry Pollack petitioned Manhattan federal Judge Alvin Hellerstein in February to throw out the prosecution, arguing that existing U.S. economic restrictions were blocking Venezuela from covering his client’s legal expenses.

According to Pollack, this prohibition violated Maduro’s constitutional guarantee to legal representation of his choosing.

Defense counsel indicated that neither Maduro nor Flores possess the financial means to hire attorneys independently, while Venezuela’s government stands ready to cover their legal costs.

Constitutional protections for criminal defendants in America extend to all individuals facing charges, regardless of their citizenship status.

During a March 26th court session, Hellerstein indicated he would not dismiss the prosecution but expressed doubt about the government’s justification for preventing the fee payments.

Federal prosecutor Kyle Wirshba argued in court that the sanctions blocking these payments served valid national security and foreign policy objectives. Wirshba further contended that Hellerstein lacked authority to compel the Treasury Department to alter its sanctions framework, since foreign policy falls under executive rather than judicial control.

Hellerstein observed that Washington had already eased various Venezuelan sanctions following Maduro’s removal from power. Diplomatic ties between Caracas and Washington have strengthened since Delcy Rodriguez, Maduro’s former deputy, assumed interim leadership of Venezuela.

“The defendant is here, Flores is here. They present no further national security threat,” Hellerstein stated. The judge, who was appointed by Democratic President Bill Clinton, added: “The right that’s implicated, paramount over other rights, is the right to constitutional counsel.”

Throughout his initial presidential term, Donald Trump intensified economic penalties against Venezuela amid accusations that Maduro’s administration engaged in corruption and weakened democratic governance. Washington declared Maduro’s 2018 electoral victory illegitimate.

Maduro rejected these allegations, as well as drug trafficking accusations, characterizing them as fabricated justifications for what he described as America’s attempt to gain control over the South American OPEC member’s extensive petroleum resources.

An unmanned aircraft from Ukraine struck a residential high-rise in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg on Saturday, marking the first time the major urban center has been targeted since the conflict between the two nations began, according to regional authorities.

Denis Pasler, who serves as governor of the Sverdlovsk region, reported through the Telegram messaging platform that while no deaths occurred, several individuals sustained minor injuries and one woman required hospital treatment.

“Residents of the affected building have been evacuated,” he said. “All emergency services are working promptly.”

Social media footage confirmed by Reuters displayed thick smoke billowing from the upper floors of the contemporary tower. The building’s exterior showed significant fire damage and numerous shattered windows from the impact.

Ukrainian officials have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the incident.

This attack on Yekaterinburg occurred following a substantial overnight Russian assault on Ukraine that resulted in seven deaths and injured many others.

The targeted city houses 1.5 million people and sits in Russia’s Ural mountain region within Sverdlovsk, an area known for its numerous military manufacturing facilities. The distance from Ukraine’s capital city of Kyiv to Yekaterinburg spans more than 1,200 miles.

Since hostilities commenced in 2022, Russian forces have conducted extensive bombardments of Ukrainian locations using artillery, unmanned aircraft, and aerial strikes. In response, Ukraine has launched operations deep within Russian territory using sabotage teams and drones, eliminating Russian military commanders and targeting petroleum facilities and pipeline infrastructure.

KYIV, Ukraine — Overnight bombardments by Russian forces struck the Ukrainian city of Dnipro, leaving three dead and injuring 21 others, regional officials reported Saturday.

Rescue teams discovered the three victims in the debris of a residential home that was leveled during the nighttime assault, according to Dnipropetrovsk regional leader Oleksandr Ganzha, who warned that additional people could remain buried beneath the wreckage.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed Saturday that “11 people in hospitals in Dnipro after the Russian attack on the city.”

“The Russians have been hitting Dnipro and other cities and communities practically all night,” Ganzha posted on Telegram, describing the bombardment that sparked blazes throughout Dnipro and left multiple apartment complexes, commercial structures and a residence in partial ruins.

In the Odesa region to the southwest, drone assaults during the night injured two additional civilians.

The southern portion of that region saw damage to homes, port facilities and vehicles, regional administrator Oleh Kiper announced Saturday.

Meanwhile in Russia, a drone attack in the border area of Belgorod resulted in one woman’s death and left a man with severe injuries, according to local authorities.

These latest attacks came one day after Russia and Ukraine completed a prisoner exchange on Friday, trading 193 military personnel.

Such prisoner swaps represent among the limited positive developments from otherwise unsuccessful months of U.S.-mediated discussions between Moscow and Kyiv. The diplomatic efforts have failed to achieve breakthroughs on major obstacles to ending Russia’s military campaign against Ukraine, which has now entered its fifth year.

Afghanistan’s foreign ministry is encouraging Afghan nationals who supported American military operations and remain stranded in Qatar while hoping to reach the United States to come back to their homeland safely.

The Saturday announcement from foreign ministry spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi follows news reports indicating the Trump administration is considering relocating approximately 1,100 Afghans who aided U.S. forces during the Afghanistan conflict, along with family members of American military personnel, to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

A support organization known as #AfghanEvac, which advocates for Afghan resettlement initiatives, reported Wednesday that American officials had notified them of ongoing conversations between the U.S. and Congo regarding accepting the Afghan refugees who have remained in uncertain circumstances at Camp As-Sayliyah, an American military facility in Doha, throughout the past year.

The State Department confirmed it is exploring ways to “voluntarily” relocate these refugees to a third nation but declined to specify which countries are under consideration.

According to #AfghanEvac, refugees were presented with the option of returning to Afghanistan, where they worry about retaliation or execution by the Taliban, who have controlled the nation since taking control following the turbulent departure of U.S.-led military forces in 2021, due to their collaboration with American forces during the twenty-year conflict.

Afghanistan’s foreign ministry “reiterates that Afghanistan constitutes the shared homeland of all Afghans and it invites all those concerned, as well as others sharing a similar situation, (to) return to their homeland, whose doors remain open to them, to do so with full confidence & peace of mind,” Balkhi wrote in his statement.

He continued that “those intending to travel to another country may do so at an appropriate juncture through legal & dignified channels.” Afghanistan’s foreign ministry “stands ready to engage with all countries,” Balkhi stated, emphasizing that the foreign ministry “underscores to all sides that there exist no security threats in Afghanistan, & none is compelled to leave the country on account of security considerations.”

In a collective statement released by the #AfghanEvac organization representing those at Camp As-Sayliyah, the Afghans expressed they had not been informed by U.S. officials about discussions to potentially move them and learned about it through media reports. They described how their prolonged uncertain status is severely affecting their wellbeing.

“Many of us are not well. The uncertainty has been more than some of us can carry. There is deep depression,” the group stated, noting that some individuals are experiencing mental health challenges due to their circumstances.

“We will say this plainly. We do not want to go to the Democratic Republic of Congo,” the group declared, explaining that “it is a country in its own war. We have been in enough war. We cannot take our children into another one.”

The African nation has endured prolonged conflict between government troops and Rwanda-supported insurgents in its eastern territories for decades.

The Afghans at the Doha facility emphasized that returning to Afghanistan was not viable. “The Taliban will kill many of us for what we did for the United States,” the group stated. “This is not a fear. This is a fact. The United States knows this, because the United States is the reason we cannot go home.”

These relocation talks, first reported by The New York Times, emerge more than a year after President Donald Trump suspended his predecessor’s Afghan resettlement initiative as part of multiple executive actions targeting immigration.

This policy stranded thousands of refugees who escaped conflict and persecution and had completed an extensive, sometimes multi-year screening process to begin new lives in America at various locations globally, including the Qatar base.

In a Milan suburb each afternoon, Diego Di Franco collects his kids from school, coordinates their extracurricular activities, and cooks dinner — duties typically handled by Italian mothers. While this daily routine might seem ordinary, Di Franco stands out because he’s a father who documents his caregiving role on social media.

Although Italy’s legislature turned down a February proposal for equal maternity and paternity leave, Di Franco represents a growing movement of “dad influencers” who are transforming perceptions of fatherhood in a nation grappling with work-life balance and gender equality challenges.

Despite being the eurozone’s third-biggest economy under its first female prime minister, Giorgia Meloni — who has a 9-year-old daughter — Italy continues to see women handling most caregiving responsibilities while facing one of Europe’s largest gender employment disparities, hampering long-term economic growth as the population ages.

Economic experts and advocacy groups point to a significant policy disparity that worsens the problem: mothers receive five months of leave compared to fathers’ mere 10 days of paternity leave.

Opposition lawmakers proposed equal, non-transferable, and fully compensated parental leave for both parents, similar to reforms implemented in Spain and other nations. However, the center-right majority defeated the measure 137-117, claiming budgetary limitations.

Olympic swimming champion Federica Pellegrini, mother of two, expressed her frustration on Instagram after the bill’s defeat: “If a woman wants a career in Italy, she is better off not becoming a mother.” Her statement reflects what many Italians view as an impossible choice between professional advancement and family life.

This legislative setback stands in sharp contrast to developments on social platforms, where Italian fathers increasingly share content about daily childcare responsibilities, making paternal involvement more visible and mainstream.

Sociologist and Children’s Health Centre consultant Annina Lubbock observed: “The number of dad-influencing bloggers is increasing and it’s very varied. They’ve made a huge contribution in putting forward a different narrative about fatherhood, which is more inclusive, more equal, also fun.”

She added: “This is a reflection of a change that’s been ongoing in Italy already for some time, but these influencers are also driving this change.”

Di Franco exemplifies this trend as a 45-year-old father with over 50,000 Instagram followers who serves as the primary caregiver while his wife Raffaella maintains a full-time senior management position — an unusual arrangement in Italy.

“Around 85% of my followers are women, many asking how to encourage their partners to be more present at home,” Di Franco explained.

Raffaella credits Diego’s involvement as crucial to her professional success: “It gave me the confidence to face challenges and seize opportunities.”

However, the Di Franco family’s situation remains exceptional. Italy’s female employment rate reached only 53% in 2024, representing the European Union’s largest gender employment gap, according to Eurostat data. The EU average for female employment stands at 70.8%.

Women comprise approximately 70% of voluntary job departures in Italy, frequently occurring after childbirth, while involuntary part-time employment remains common.

Statistician Linda Laura Sabbadini characterized this pattern as “a clear sign of the child penalty women pay for having children.”

Economic analysts connect the challenges of balancing careers with child-rearing to Italy’s declining birth rates, emphasizing that increased female workforce participation is crucial for sustaining economic growth and public finances. They argue that additional support for working mothers would encourage childbearing.

Opposition Democratic Party leader Elly Schlein told parliament: “This law would have been a cultural revolution.”

Representatives from Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party claimed they harbored no ideological opposition to expanding paternity leave but maintained it was economically unfeasible.

Walter Rizzetto, who chairs the Chamber’s Labour Committee, told reporters: “Furthermore, a mandatory five-month leave for fathers would require deeper analysis due to possible impacts on public administration and small businesses.”

International examples demonstrate that policy structure is critical. After Spain expanded paid paternity leave to 16 weeks and made it mandatory and non-transferable in 2021, father participation increased dramatically and the gender wage gap decreased, according to academic research.

Italian research by the Tortuga think tank reveals that when private employers provide extended paternity leave, utilization rates climb to 71%, surpassing the 64% national average, with younger fathers showing greater likelihood to use the benefit.

Di Franco remains hopeful based on his personal observations: “With my first child I was the only dad at kindergarten. Six years later, there were three or four. And I thought: things are changing.”

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — The fragile peace established in the Middle East following the October 7th attacks hangs by a thread, held together only by temporary ceasefires and ongoing threats between opposing forces.

While Iran has taken significant hits, the damage hasn’t been substantial enough to alter its stance in negotiations. The country’s regional partners, Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza, remain weakened yet operational as Israeli forces continue conducting regular strikes against both organizations. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces increasing pressure to convert battlefield successes into concrete political gains before this year’s elections.

President Donald Trump, who frequently highlights his diplomatic capabilities, continues pursuing a nuclear agreement with Iran alongside broader Middle Eastern peace initiatives. However, negotiations have yielded no concrete outcomes, and both nations remain locked in an intensifying confrontation over the Strait of Hormuz.

While large-scale military campaigns have ceased, the fundamental issues that existed long before Hamas launched its October 7, 2023 assault remain unresolved. Millions continue living in displacement, with widespread concerns that hostilities could resume without warning.

According to Michael Ratney, former U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia, ceasefires “don’t fix anything — they just stop things from getting worse.” He explained, “It’s part of an answer to an immediate political problem, which is (Trump) needs to get out of war and can’t figure out how do that.”

Trump has spent recent weeks alternating between threatening devastating strikes on Iranian infrastructure — at one point warning he could destroy “a whole civilization” — and pursuing diplomatic solutions for Iran’s nuclear program and other longstanding disputes.

Earlier this week, the president extended an existing ceasefire while maintaining America’s naval blockade of Iranian ports. On Wednesday, he promised to target Iranian fast boats operating in the Strait of Hormuz, which Tehran has effectively sealed since fighting began, creating a global energy crisis.

Iran has shown no public willingness to compromise on its nuclear activities, ballistic missile development, or backing of regional allies. Iranian officials state the strait will remain blocked until America ends its blockade and Israel stops attacking Iran-supported groups including Hezbollah.

Both nations appear reluctant to engage in full-scale warfare, with new ceasefire discussions scheduled for Saturday in Pakistan.

Iranian leadership, based on their social media communications, appears convinced they can endure the blockade longer than Trump can tolerate rising fuel costs and an unpopular conflict, particularly with U.S. midterm elections approaching.

Jon Alterman, who chairs Global Security and Geostrategy at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, noted Trump’s history suggests he favors generating media attention and declaring rapid victories.

“The most visible part of the fighting has stopped, but the less visible efforts are roaring ahead,” Alterman observed. “Ceasefires can seem comfortable but lock in unsustainable patterns, with one side feeling it has lost the urgency to resolve the underlying conflict.”

A Lebanese ceasefire established last week has generally held except in border regions where combat continues. Israel has signaled intentions to maintain control over portions of southern Lebanon indefinitely. Iran-backed Hezbollah, which isn’t formally bound by the ceasefire agreement, insists Israel must withdraw.

Following White House meetings between Israeli and Lebanese representatives, Trump announced a three-week ceasefire extension on Thursday.

American and Israeli officials have insisted Lebanon’s government must take responsibility for dismantling Hezbollah. Beirut attempted implementing portions of such a plan before the current fighting erupted. However, Lebanese leadership acknowledged their limited capabilities, and their efforts produced minimal results as Hezbollah maintained its capacity to launch thousands of missiles and drones toward northern Israel over recent months.

Given Beirut’s reluctance to risk civil conflict by directly confronting the militants — particularly while Israeli forces occupy Lebanese territory — the ceasefire provides temporary relief.

Similar to Gaza, Israeli forces have established a “yellow line” in southern Lebanon, destroying homes they claim Hezbollah used, preventing resident returns, and announcing strikes against individuals they identify as militants attempting to cross. Many Lebanese fear a repeat of Israel’s 1982-2000 southern occupation, which concluded after years of deadly Hezbollah attacks on Israeli soldiers.

Wednesday, one day before Washington talks, Israeli strikes killed a prominent Lebanese journalist reporting from southern Lebanon and injured another reporter. Health officials reported Israeli forces fired on ambulance crews attempting to rescue journalist Amal Khalil, forcing them to retreat. Israel denied targeting journalists or rescue personnel.

A U.S.-mediated ceasefire reached in October resulted in the release of remaining Hamas-held hostages and ended major military operations. However, Israel continues conducting regular strikes against what it identifies as militant targets. Gaza health officials, considered generally reliable by U.N. agencies and independent experts, report over 790 Palestinian deaths since last year’s ceasefire, including approximately 225 children. Israeli forces have also faced occasional attacks.

Israel links its withdrawal from Gaza territories under its control, the return of hundreds of thousands of displaced residents, establishing new political authority, and urgently needed reconstruction to Hamas disarmament — something the militant organization shows no indication of accepting.

Hamas claims it has presented proposals to surrender weapons while seeking additional Israeli concessions and accusing Israel of ceasefire violations.

This situation leaves the vast majority of Gaza’s more than 2 million residents trapped in extensive tent settlements or their destroyed homes, with no visible end to their hardship.

Israel maintains its right to respond to ceasefire breaches or movement across another “yellow line” established there. Health officials report dozens of civilians have died in these strikes.

A committee of Palestinian technocrats has been formed to temporarily govern Gaza, but Israel has prevented their entry from Egypt, while Hamas continues controlling half the territory.

TUNIS, Tunisia — The Tunisian government has imposed a month-long closure on the Tunisian League for Human Rights, marking another escalation in what critics describe as an expanding assault on civil liberties organizations throughout the North African nation.

The targeted organization represents one of Africa and the Arab world’s most established human rights advocacy groups and was a member of the National Dialogue Quartet that received the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize.

In a Friday evening statement, the league acknowledged the government action and condemned it as “a serious and arbitrary violation of freedom of association” and “a direct assault” on fundamental democratic principles that Tunisia has achieved.

Under President Kais Saied’s leadership, foreign financial support for advocacy organizations has become a frequent target of criticism. The president regularly characterizes such funding as dangerous to Tunisia’s sovereignty and uses this narrative to brand political adversaries and social justice advocates as foreign operatives working to create domestic instability.

The organization emphasized that the suspension represents part of a larger pattern. “This measure cannot be seen in isolation from a broader context in the country marked by increasing systematic pressure on civil society and independent voices,” the group stated, announcing plans to contest the ruling through legal channels while maintaining their commitment to protecting human rights victims regardless of background.

This latest action continues a series of government moves against advocacy organizations across Tunisia, where judicial authorities previously forced several prominent non-governmental organizations to cease operations for month-long periods, including groups dedicated to protecting migrants and advancing women’s rights.

The suspension coincides with the 48-hour detention of journalist Zied El-Heni related to content he posted on Facebook, reflecting a wider campaign of arrests and legal actions targeting government critics.

During a Friday demonstration in Tunis, Mohamed Yassine Jlassi, who previously led the Tunisian journalists union SNJT, spoke with The Associated Press about the deteriorating situation. He reported that hundreds of individuals currently face detention on speech-related accusations, including charges stemming from social media activity.

“Repression has come to affect everyone. Journalism has become a crime, civil society work has become a crime, political opposition has been criminalized,” Jlassi explained.

“People now increasingly find themselves facing arbitrary prosecutions without the bare minimum guarantees of a fair trial.”

The investigative publication Inkyfada also faces legal challenges, with a May 11 court date scheduled as authorities seek to dissolve Al Khatt, the organization responsible for publishing the outlet.

According to the group’s statement, they reject the government’s legal justification for the case and maintain that the allegations have not undergone proper examination by Tunisian courts since 2024.

These recent actions have intensified worries among human rights advocates regarding restrictions on independent journalism, civil society organizations, and dissenting perspectives under Saied’s rule. The president has concentrated authority since 2021 and continues to target groups he consistently claims accept foreign money to create unrest and undermine Tunisia’s national security.

Turkey’s top diplomat indicated his nation would be open to participating in mine removal efforts in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz if Iran and the United States successfully negotiate a peace deal.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan made the comments while speaking with journalists in London on Friday evening, explaining that an international technical team would likely handle the explosive ordnance removal following any potential agreement between the two nations.

Fidan described Turkey’s perspective on such humanitarian operations as fundamentally supportive, calling them a moral obligation.

The foreign minister outlined several key points regarding Turkey’s potential involvement:

• An international technical team comprising multiple nations would handle the mine-clearing operations following a hypothetical Iran-United States peace accord

• Turkey would be willing to join such mine-removal efforts under these circumstances, stating the country would have “no problem” with participation

• However, Fidan warned that Turkey would reconsider its involvement if the international technical coalition eventually became entangled in renewed hostilities

• The minister also expressed optimism that disputes surrounding Iran’s nuclear program could find resolution during upcoming discussions scheduled to take place in Pakistan

An extensive overnight Russian bombardment across Ukraine resulted in four fatalities and more than 30 injuries, as Moscow deployed over 660 drones and missiles targeting multiple regions, with the southeastern city of Dnipro bearing the brunt of the assault.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy took to social media to describe the intensity of the attack, stating “Practically all night, the Russians bombed Dnipro and our other cities and communities.” He noted that urban infrastructure was the primary target of the strikes.

Regional governor Oleksandr Hanzha confirmed that rescue teams pulled two bodies from a structure damaged in the Dnipro attack, while five additional individuals may remain buried beneath the debris. The governor also reported that 21 residents of the city sustained injuries.

The northern Chernihiv region also suffered casualties, with local officials reporting two deaths and seven injuries from missile and drone strikes in that area.

Calling for international support, Zelenskiy emphasized the urgency of the situation, saying “Every strike like this must remind our partners that the situation needs immediate and firm action, rapid strengthening of our air defences.”

Ukrainian air defense forces reported intercepting a significant portion of the assault, shooting down 580 of the 619 drones and 30 of the 47 missiles that Russia launched, according to a statement posted on Telegram.

This large-scale bombardment represents an escalation from Russia’s typical pattern of conducting nightly attacks with smaller numbers of drones, occasionally punctuated by major offensives involving hundreds of drones and multiple missiles.

Iranian officials announced Saturday they had executed a man accused of collaborating with Israeli intelligence services during this year’s widespread demonstrations across the country, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency.

The executed individual, identified as Erfan Kiani, was described by authorities as a “hired thug of Mossad” who participated in destroying and burning both government and private buildings in Isfahan, a major city in central Iran. Officials also accused him of using a machete to intimidate residents and create widespread panic in the area.

According to Tasnim’s report, the execution took place in the early morning hours after Iran’s Supreme Court upheld the death sentence and all required legal processes were completed.

DAKAR, April 25 – Witnesses reported hearing two powerful explosions and gunfire early Saturday morning close to Mali’s primary military installation at Kati, located outside the capital city of Bamako, according to Reuters.

Military personnel responded to the incident by deploying troops and establishing roadblocks throughout the surrounding area, effectively cutting off access to the region where the disturbances occurred.

The sounds of combat were detected in the early morning hours near the West African nation’s most significant military facility.