Author: Admin

Municipal candidates across France are making data center opposition a central campaign issue as the country prepares for local elections on March 15 and 22.

In Le Bourget, a suburb outside Paris, mayoral candidate Sofiane Milous is promising to block a proposed data center that he argues will increase local temperatures, add noise pollution, and provide minimal employment opportunities for residents.

The former judo champion, campaigning on an environmental platform, criticized the push for artificial intelligence infrastructure as inadequate compensation for the industrial jobs his working-class community lost when manufacturer Alstom closed its facility thirty years ago.

“We lost an industry that gave us a livelihood, even if it polluted, and now we face this new ‘industry 4.0’ that doesn’t create jobs for residents,” Milous stated.

While President Emmanuel Macron has promoted data centers as essential for France’s technological sovereignty and announced plans for 109 billion euros in private investment, community opposition continues mounting due to electrical grid concerns, environmental issues, and American technology companies’ market dominance.

Reuters identified candidates in at least ten municipalities, including major cities like Marseille and Bordeaux, who are either opposing new data facilities or demanding construction pauses and increased public disclosure.

The municipal races will determine control of more than 35,000 local government seats and serve as an indicator of far-right political strength before the 2027 presidential election.

This resistance movement parallels similar trends throughout Europe and America, where rapid data center expansion has created political controversy over energy consumption and technology companies’ community impact.

Ireland exemplifies these tensions, with data centers consuming 22 percent of the nation’s electricity supply. Opposition parties have criticized the government’s decision to end a four-year connection moratorium. Near London, activists are legally challenging a massive data center project, arguing developers failed to properly assess climate consequences.

France is addressing speculative land purchases for inactive projects, following Britain’s similar regulatory actions last year amid increased grid connection requests.

Chris Adams from the Green Web Foundation noted that critics include environmentalists, academics, property owners, and labor organizations.

“It’s an unregulated industry that is now upsetting people across the political spectrum,” Adams explained.

France is marketing its nuclear energy as an affordable, clean power source to compete with Britain and Germany for data center investment.

Regional authorities approved the Le Bourget project in January, requiring developer Segro Bourget to complete additional environmental and noise studies plus conduct public meetings. The company declined to comment.

Current right-wing mayor Jean-Baptiste Borsali has expressed confidence in the government’s evaluation and suggested the facility could benefit half the town’s population through waste heat recovery systems. He did not respond to interview requests.

Local residents at Le Bourget’s weekend market indicated the data center proposal would influence their voting decisions.

“I signed the petition — it’s right next to schools. I want a park for my children; we have no green space,” said Veronique Pernolet, a 28-year-old teacher living near the former retail warehouse site designated for the facility.

In Marseille, where underwater cables have established the port as a data center hub, left-wing candidate Sebastien Barles advocates for a construction moratorium.

“We have significant electricity needs — powering ships at dock, ship-repair facilities — and these data centres consume a large share of available power,” said Barles, representing the France Unbowed party.

In Wissous, south of Paris, municipal candidate Philippe de Fruyt is pursuing legal action scheduled for next week to prevent expansion of an existing Amazon data center. Amazon provided no comment.

According to climate research organization Ember, connecting new data centers in major European markets typically requires seven to ten years, though French grid access remains less restricted than neighboring countries.

Proposed legislation would designate data centers as “projects of national interest,” reducing legal and environmental obstacles while allowing federal authorities to override local decisions. The bill remains stalled in France’s parliament.

Academic experts and politicians argue these measures would diminish public participation in decision-making.

“We’ve seen what happened in the U.S., where so many data centres were built that serious opposition emerged,” said Anthony Devillet from The Cloud Is Under Our Feet advocacy organization. “With the rise of AI, I think the debate will become omnipresent here.”

Military officials report that a KC-135 Stratotanker went down in western Iraq while conducting refueling operations in support of the ongoing conflict with Iran, prompting immediate rescue efforts.

According to U.S. Central Command, which manages Middle Eastern operations, the incident occurred in friendly territory and involved a pair of aircraft. The second plane successfully made it to safety and touched down without incident.

This marks the fourth confirmed U.S. military aircraft loss during the current Iranian conflict.

The KC-135 Stratotanker serves as the Air Force’s primary aerial refueling platform, enabling fighter jets and bombers to extend their range and mission duration without returning to base. These versatile aircraft also handle medical evacuations for injured personnel and conduct reconnaissance operations when needed.

Built on the same framework as the Boeing 707 commercial airliner, these tankers have served American and allied forces for over six decades. The Air Force plans to eventually replace the aging fleet with newer KC-46A Pegasus aircraft, though this transition has moved slower than originally anticipated.

The advanced age of these aircraft has raised questions about their continued reliability and structural integrity.

“The last of these planes were produced in the 1960s,” said Yang Uk, a security expert at South Korea’s Asan Institute for Policy Studies. He added that the transition to the KC-46A has progressed more slowly than expected.

Congressional Research Service data shows the Air Force operated 376 KC-135s last year, with 151 serving in active duty units, 163 assigned to Air National Guard squadrons, and 62 supporting Air Force Reserve operations.

Standard crew composition includes three personnel: a pilot, co-pilot and boom operator. Medical staff join the crew during evacuation missions.

Fuel transfer operations occur at the aircraft’s rear section, where the boom operator manages a retractable fuel line that connects to receiving aircraft. Many operators perform this task while lying prone and observing through a window positioned on the plane’s underside.

Certain KC-135 variants can also dispense fuel through wing-mounted pods. These aircraft feature cargo space above fuel storage areas for transporting supplies or personnel when required.

Military analysts suggest refueling aircraft may become increasingly vital if the Iranian conflict continues, as American warplanes could face longer missions pursuing retreating enemy forces further inland, Yang noted.

Casualty information remains unavailable following the Iraq incident. An anonymous U.S. official told The Associated Press that the aircraft carried no fewer than five crew members.

A separate official, also speaking anonymously, confirmed the second aircraft involved was another KC-135. Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter posted on X that this plane landed safely in Israel.

U.S. Central Command has not provided details about the crash circumstances, but stated it “was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire.”

Yang observed that enemy forces rarely target refueling tankers since these operations typically occur well behind front-line combat areas.

This incident follows last week’s friendly fire tragedy when three U.S. F-15E fighters were accidentally shot down by Kuwaiti forces.

Several deadly KC-135 accidents have occurred throughout the aircraft’s service history. The most recent fatal crash happened May 3, 2013, when a KC-135R went down after departing an airfield south of Chaldovar, Kyrgyzstan during Afghanistan war operations.

Air Force investigators determined that crew members battled rudder control problems during the 2013 incident. As they attempted to regain aircraft control, the tail section separated and the plane exploded in flight, killing all three crew members.

The aircraft’s most catastrophic midair collision occurred in 1966 when a nuclear-armed B-52 bomber collided with a tanker near Palomares, Spain.

That accident destroyed the tanker and killed four personnel aboard. The disaster triggered a massive cleanup operation to remove nuclear contamination after conventional explosives in the hydrogen bombs detonated upon ground impact.

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — A jury in Sydney has found a business consultant guilty of violating Australia’s foreign interference statutes after he supplied intelligence reports to two individuals who were likely Chinese operatives.

Alexander Csergo, 59, becomes just the second individual convicted under Australia’s anti-espionage and covert interference legislation that was enacted in 2018, drawing criticism from China at the time.

The New South Wales District Court jury determined that Csergo should have realized that two contacts he knew simply as Ken and Evelyn were operatives for China’s ministry of state security.

Following his conviction on reckless foreign interference charges, Csergo was granted bail through the weekend and must appear in court Monday, when prosecutors will seek his detention. The conviction carries a maximum sentence of 15 years imprisonment.

Defense attorneys contended that Csergo relied on publicly available information for his research work. They noted he fabricated stories to the suspected operatives, including false claims about conducting interviews with prominent figures such as Kevin Rudd, Australia’s former prime minister who now serves as the nation’s U.S. ambassador.

While working as a communications and technology consultant in Shanghai during 2021, Csergo was contacted via LinkedIn by someone calling herself Evelyn, who claimed to represent a Chinese research organization.

In exchange for payment, he delivered handwritten intelligence assessments to both Evelyn and Ken covering defense matters, security issues, political developments and mining operations. His reports included information about the AUKUS defense agreement, under which Britain is assisting Australia in acquiring nuclear-powered submarines using American technology.

Citizens of Kazakhstan head to the polls this Sunday to decide on constitutional amendments that opposition voices claim might enable President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to extend his leadership of Central Asia’s biggest economy past his scheduled 2029 departure.

The 72-year-old president, a seasoned diplomat who has successfully balanced relationships with Russia, the United States, and China, has described the referendum as “a truly historic moment” that will shift Kazakhstan—a major energy and mining nation—from what he calls a “super-presidential” structure toward better separation of governmental powers.

However, political observers argue the proposed amendments still concentrate excessive authority in the presidency.

Political analyst Dosym Satpayev explained that the draft “[s]ignificantly increases the powers of the head of state and does not create a system of checks and balances.”

The constitutional changes would combine parliament’s dual chambers into a single body and bring back the vice-president role, eliminated in 1996, with the president selecting this position.

Under current rules, Kazakh presidents serve one seven-year term—a restriction Tokayev implemented in 2022.

While Tokayev has stated he plans to leave office in 2029, some political watchers suggest a new constitution might reset his term limitations, mirroring strategies employed by other former Soviet leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Addressing widespread speculation in Kazakhstan about Tokayev potentially pursuing the UN secretary-general position this year, Satpayev noted the vice-presidency would enable Tokayev to choose his replacement before departing early.

A diplomatic source from Kazakhstan informed Reuters that Tokayev, who led the UN’s Geneva operations from 2011-2013, is weighing both a secretary-general bid and a potential second presidential campaign.

Tokayev has publicly denied interest in returning to the United Nations.

Government-sanctioned polling organizations report strong public support for the constitutional amendments, with limited visible opposition.

This vote occurs during challenging times for Kazakhstan, whose economy remains tightly connected to Russia’s and has experienced negative effects from the Ukraine conflict.

While economic expansion has picked up pace, inflation has also risen, reaching 11.7% in February, with interest rates climbing to a historic 18%. New tax increases have added to public frustration.

At an Almaty marketplace, horsemeat vendor Asya Tuligenova—selling the traditional Kazakh specialty—explained that merchants are absorbing increased expenses rather than burdening customers.

“We’re kind of afraid. If we raise prices, it will be difficult for our regular customers,” she said.

Tuligenova declined to reveal her voting intentions for Sunday.

The European Union’s foreign policy leader has accused the United States of intentionally working to fracture European unity, according to remarks published in a Financial Times interview on Friday. The comments from Kaja Kallas come after more than a year of strained relationships across the Atlantic.

“What I think is actually important for everybody to understand is that the U.S. has been very clear that they want to divide Europe. They don’t like the European Union,” Kallas stated during her conversation with the Financial Times.

President Donald Trump has consistently criticized the European Union throughout his current presidency, implementing trade penalties against EU member nations and discussing the potential acquisition of Greenland – a proposal that could potentially dissolve the NATO partnership.

Earlier this week, the Trump administration initiated trade reviews targeting the EU along with several other nations including China, India, Japan, South Korea and Mexico, citing allegedly unfair commercial practices. These investigations could result in additional trade penalties by summer, following the Supreme Court’s decision last month to dismantle significant portions of Trump’s previous tariff framework.

According to the Financial Times, Kallas noted that America’s strategy toward the EU mirrors methods employed by the bloc’s opponents.

She urged EU member states to avoid individual negotiations with Trump, emphasizing instead that they should engage with him collectively, “because we are equal powers when we are together,” as reported by the Financial Times.

Regarding military matters, however, Kallas acknowledged the bloc must “to buy from America because we don’t have the assets or the possibilities or the capabilities that we need,” while emphasizing that Europe should strengthen investment in its own defense manufacturing sector.

BERLIN (AP) — In Germany’s capital city, a social media personality organized a welcoming Ramadan dinner that brought together individuals from various backgrounds to champion unity and understanding among different communities.

Ali Darwich, a 33-year-old German citizen with Palestinian and Lebanese heritage who shares content on Instagram and TikTok under the handle @alifragt, brought together a diverse group including Muslims and Christians, LGBTQ+ individuals and straight allies, as well as native Germans and immigrants for the special meal.

“No one can be ‘too queer’ to belong,” Darwich stated, emphasizing his message of inclusion that bridges religious faith and sexual identity.

The event represents part of a curated photo collection assembled by Associated Press photo editors.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Following fresh assaults by Iran on Friday morning targeting Gulf Arab nations, including a barrage of dozens of drones aimed at Saudi Arabia, President Donald Trump issued severe threats of retaliation after Iran’s new supreme leader warned about American military presence in the region.

“Watch what happens to these deranged scumbags today,” Trump posted on social media. “Iran’s Navy is gone, their Air Force is no longer, missiles, drones and everything else are being decimated, and their leaders have been wiped from the face of the earth.”

Trump’s remarks followed statements from Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, who pledged Thursday to “not refrain from avenging the blood” of Iranian casualties and urged Gulf Arab countries to close American military installations, calling U.S. protection promises “nothing more than a lie.”

Heavy bombardments struck areas around Tehran and surrounding regions early Friday morning, though immediate details about specific targets remained unclear.

Brent crude oil prices continued hovering above $100 per barrel as Iran maintained its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the critical passage where one-fifth of global oil shipments travel from the Persian Gulf to international waters.

Oil costs have surged as high as approximately $120 per barrel, representing a 40% increase since the United States and Israel launched their initial assault on Iran on February 28, marking the conflict’s beginning.

Iranian forces have been targeting vessels attempting passage through the strait, with Khamenei’s statements — his first public address since assuming leadership after his father’s death on the war’s opening day — confirming Iran’s intention to maintain the waterway closure.

Recovery operations continued in Iraq following the crash of an American KC-135 refueling aircraft, U.S. Central Command confirmed. Additionally, French President Emmanuel Macron announced Friday that a French soldier stationed in northern Iraq was killed in an attack.

Iran’s campaign against oil facilities and other infrastructure throughout the Gulf region continued Friday, with Saudi Arabia reporting the destruction of nearly 50 drones launched in successive waves during early morning hours.

Warning sirens activated in Bahrain as incoming fire approached from Dubai, while black smoke rose from an industrial zone after officials said intercepted debris ignited fires.

Approximately 60 individuals sustained injuries in northern Israel after Hezbollah claimed responsibility for launching multiple rocket attacks toward the region and Israeli forces in southern Lebanon. Medical officials characterized most injuries as minor.

Lebanese Health Ministry reports confirmed one fatality in southwestern Beirut from an Israeli strike, while another attack set an apartment building ablaze in the capital. Israeli military officials stated they were targeting a Hezbollah member with Iranian connections.

Since fighting commenced, Lebanon’s Health Ministry has documented over 600 deaths, with the U.N. refugee agency reporting nearly 800,000 internally displaced persons.

Iranian officials report more than 1,300 casualties within their borders, while Israel has confirmed 12 deaths. American losses include at least seven soldiers killed and eight others with serious injuries.

In his Friday morning social media post, Trump declared that “we are totally destroying the terrorist regime of Iran, militarily, economically, and otherwise.”

“They’ve been killing innocent people all over the world for 47 years, and now I, as the 47th President of the United States of America, am killing them,” Trump stated. “What a great honor it is to do so!”

Military officials report American forces have conducted strikes against more than 6,000 targets since operations against Iran began, including over 30 mine-laying ships.

French President Macron confirmed Friday that a French soldier died in an attack on Erbil in Iraq’s Kurdish region. France previously reported six soldiers injured in an Erbil drone strike, where French troops serve in a multinational counterterrorism mission supporting Iraqi forces against Islamic State militants.

British authorities reported that several American personnel received minor injuries Wednesday when drone attacks hit an Erbil base housing both British and American forces.

Italy confirmed that its base in Erbil was also struck Wednesday, though no injuries occurred. The Italian presence trains local Kurdish forces at the Iraqi government’s request.

Recovery efforts for the crashed American KC-135 refueling plane in western Iraq continued Friday. Casualty information remained unclear, though the aircraft carried five crew members.

U.S. Central Command stated the crash was unrelated to enemy or friendly fire, noting two aircraft were involved with one landing safely.

The KC-135 represents the fourth publicly confirmed aircraft loss during U.S. military operations against Iran. Three American fighter jets were accidentally shot down by friendly Kuwaiti fire last week.

JUBA, South Sudan (AP) — United Nations peacekeepers in South Sudan announced Monday they will disregard a military directive demanding they abandon their base in Akobo, a town controlled by opposition forces located near the Ethiopian border that has become a refuge for tens of thousands of displaced people.

The South Sudanese military issued the evacuation order on Friday, instructing UN peacekeepers, non-governmental organizations, and civilians to leave Akobo in advance of a military operation they plan to conduct.

However, the peacekeeping mission rejected the demand and declared it will maintain “a protective presence for civilians” in the area, emphasizing that the safety and security of its staff “must be fully respected at all times.”

According to the UN Mission, officials are conducting “intensive” discussions with various government levels regarding the evacuation directive. Mission leader Anita Kiki Gbeho stated, “Any military operations in and around Akobo gravely endanger the safety and security of civilians.”

South Sudan’s government has been engaged in combat with opposition groups since a 2018 peace agreement collapsed approximately one year ago.

The conflict intensified significantly in December 2025 when opposition fighters captured multiple government positions in northern Jonglei. Government forces launched a counter-attack one month later that pushed back opposition troops but caused more than 280,000 people to flee their homes. Thousands of these displaced individuals have sought safety in Akobo, where a small group of UN peacekeepers maintains a presence.

With concerns mounting about the impending government offensive against Akobo, aid workers were removed over the weekend, and large numbers of residents have started leaving the town.

Local authorities who spoke with The Associated Press described the dangers facing evacuating civilians and critical shortages of necessary supplies. Dual Diew, who serves as Akobo County’s health director and has escaped to Ethiopia, reported that 84 injured patients were at the local hospital. “We have most of them with us here now,” Diew explained, noting they are without adequate medicine and basic medical equipment.

Christophe Garnier, who heads Doctors Without Borders operations in South Sudan, reported his organization had to remove its personnel from Akobo on Saturday and later discovered their hospital had been looted and their office destroyed.

“People in Akobo must now either flee without protection or remain at risk of being killed, while losing access to healthcare and other essential services,” Garnier stated.

Three Western nations that have been central to peace negotiations — the United States, United Kingdom, and Norway — delivered a letter to President Kiir on Monday calling for the military’s evacuation order to be withdrawn and cautioning about “further deaths, displacement and suffering for the South Sudanese people” if the Akobo offensive proceeds.

Frightened by blasts that have rocked their neighborhoods in Tehran and major urban centers, thousands of Iranian families have evacuated to rural areas, seeking safety in remote villages during ongoing strikes by Israeli and American forces.

Among those who fled is 22-year-old Pouya Akhgari, now staying with relatives in a mountain village in Zanjan province, roughly 120 miles from his Tehran residence. While snow blankets the rural landscape, he passes time watching entertainment programs and occasionally traveling to nearby larger communities.

Though his current location remains untouched by attacks, contacts back in the capital describe constant explosions around them.

“It just feels so chaotic. I thought it’d be very short but it’s dragging on,” he told The Associated Press by a messaging app. “If it goes on like this, we’ll run out of money.”

United Nations refugee officials report that approximately 100,000 residents abandoned Tehran during the conflict’s opening 48 hours, representing a significant portion of the metropolitan area’s 9.7 million population. Officials believe the actual number of displaced persons is considerably higher, though comprehensive data from subsequent days and other affected cities remains unavailable.

A 39-year-old attorney experienced a full day of explosions rattling her residence in Ahvaz, located 500 miles southeast of Tehran. The following day, March 2nd, she departed with her siblings and their families – including their pets Coco and Maggie – heading to their family’s strawberry cultivation operation in a distant small community.

The woman and others contacted by AP requested anonymity to avoid potential retaliation, and she declined to identify their current location.

Their temporary refuge lacks military installations, providing a sense of relative security. However, Iran’s southern regions have experienced some of the heaviest bombardment. She noted that a neighboring community witnessed an explosion when strikes targeted a Revolutionary Guard ammunition facility belonging to the country’s most influential military organization.

She remains concerned about potential attacks on a fitness center used by Guard personnel located several hundred meters from their agricultural property. Air strikes have targeted numerous athletic facilities throughout Iran, apparently because Guard forces frequently utilize such locations for meetings. While the gym’s distance would likely protect them from direct impact, she acknowledged, “but all the same, the danger exists.”

With no one reporting to jobs and children separated from their schools, families occupy themselves by walking their dogs, engaging in board games, and harvesting strawberries.

The tranquil natural surroundings help create distance from the conflict – clouds drifting over verdant hills and neighboring goats calling at dusk. The attorney described the birth of puppies to one of their farm dogs, Maya, as the most uplifting moment.

Nevertheless, uncertainty pervades their daily existence.

“From morning to night, we talk about what is happening, our worries, how everything gets more expensive every day, about how far our money will stretch,” she said.

“If this situation continues, we will have problems meeting basic needs.”

The American-Israeli military operation has delivered significant damage to Iran’s governing structure, eliminating Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and senior military commanders. The campaign has specifically focused on Revolutionary Guard and paramilitary Basij forces, the organizations responsible for defending the clerical Islamic Republic and suppressing anti-government demonstrations, including recent January protests.

Leadership control continues under Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, the former supreme leader’s son, who assumed the top position this week. Guard and Basij organizations have maintained their local operational networks thus far.

During infrequent trips from the farm into town, the lawyer observed increased weaponry among street-patrolling Basij members.

“They are waiting for the slightest movement” showing dissent, she said.

Previously an activist opposing mandatory head covering requirements – she faced brief detention in the past – and had abandoned wearing hijab years earlier, she now covers her hair when leaving home to avoid provoking Basij forces.

The community traditionally supports the government, she explained, with many residents holding state employment or Guard membership. Religious and patronage connections remain strong in rural regions particularly, since the Islamic Republic extended essential services to Iran’s countryside and smaller communities.

Despite this, she has observed increasing dissatisfaction even locally. Substantial crowds participated in January’s anti-government demonstrations, and compliance with official mourning observances for Khamenei has been limited, with few residents wearing black clothing as authorities requested.

One father described how explosions caused his 6½-year-old son to shake with terror before they evacuated their Tehran home.

“You place him between you and your wife in bed, hoping he might feel safer,” he said, but the child continued screaming during sleep. They determined departure was necessary.

While driving through the capital, they witnessed roadside vehicles with windows destroyed by blasts. Departing the city at the Alborz Mountain foothills north of Tehran, they observed smoke columns rising from various city sections into the cloudy sky.

“The scene made the city look frightening,” he said.

On the western highway from Tehran, heavy with traffic, explosions shook their vehicle, terrorizing his son. Eventually they reached family accommodations in a small mountain village northwest of the capital, overlooking the Caspian Sea.

They now spend days in the house, surrounded by rice cultivation fields, with snow-covered peaks visible in the distance. Daily, he and his wife take their son for walks.

“Boys have so much energy, and in a village, there is not much fun for him,” he said. Evenings bring visits from his wife’s parents, who also evacuated Tehran.

Throughout the disruption, local residents demonstrate “remarkable kindness,” he said.

At the neighborhood bakery, he encountered a lengthy line. When the baker recognized him as an outsider, he was called forward and the baker attempted to refuse payment for bread.

“The others in line were very friendly, asking whether I had a place to stay and whether I needed anything,” he said.

Evacuation remains impossible for everyone.

A 53-year-old Tehran man explained he cannot relocate his elderly parents and must remain home. The psychological pressure is overwhelming, he said.

“At night, I go down to the parking garage, sit inside my car and scream out loud,” he said. “I pray for calm and for quieter days.”

KABUL, Afghanistan — The Taliban administration in Afghanistan has leveled serious allegations against Pakistan’s armed forces, claiming they conducted deadly overnight bombing raids on residential neighborhoods in the capital city and Kandahar province early Friday morning.

Taliban government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid posted on X that the alleged Pakistani air attacks resulted in casualties among women and children living in civilian areas. The claims come as hostilities between the neighboring nations have persisted for three weeks, continuing despite international appeals for both sides to de-escalate.

According to Mujahid’s statement, Pakistani warplanes also bombed fuel storage facilities owned by private carrier Kam Air located near the airport in Kandahar.

Pakistani military officials and government representatives have not yet responded to the Taliban’s accusations.

During the week spanning March 6 through 12, 2026, significant developments unfolded across Latin America and the Caribbean region.

In Chile, José Antonio Kast officially assumed the presidency after taking his oath of office. The inauguration marked a new chapter in Chilean leadership as Kast began his presidential term.

Security concerns dominated headlines in Mexico, where civilian defense groups took positions throughout Guerrero state. These community members organized patrols as a direct response to escalating violence from drug trafficking organizations operating in the region.

Sports enthusiasts followed international baseball competition as the World Baseball Classic continued its tournament schedule. Teams from Panama and Colombia faced off in a matchup held in Puerto Rico, showcasing talent from across the Americas.

These images were selected and compiled by photo editor Jon Orbach, who works from Mexico City covering regional events throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.

Crude oil markets have surged past the $100 per barrel mark as military operations intensify between the United States, Israel, and Iran, with no clear resolution in sight to the expanding conflict affecting Persian Gulf energy infrastructure and shipping routes.

Heavy bombardments targeted Tehran and surrounding areas near Iran’s capital city, while Iranian forces continued launching attacks against neighboring Arab Gulf nations.

President Donald Trump vowed to “finish the job,” describing Iran as “virtually destroyed.” Pentagon officials report the conflict’s first seven days have already drained $11.3 billion from U.S. military resources. The United Nations refugee organization estimates approximately 3.2 million Iranians have fled their homes, while Lebanese officials say 800,000 residents have been displaced as Israeli forces target structures connected to Iran-supported Hezbollah fighters.

Casualty figures show more than 600 deaths in Lebanon, over 1,300 in Iran, and twelve in Israel. Seven American service members have also lost their lives during combat operations.

Saudi Arabia’s military reported intercepting ten additional drones approaching the kingdom’s Eastern and Central regions early Friday, pushing the total to nearly 50 aerial threats within several hours.

This drone assault marks an unusually high volume of airborne dangers for Saudi Arabia, which has witnessed attacks on various targets including the American Embassy in Riyadh, petroleum facilities, and military installations housing U.S. personnel as the Iranian conflict expands.

Dense black smoke billowed across Dubai’s horizon Friday morning following what officials characterized as a blaze in the emirate’s industrial district.

An Associated Press reporter observed the fire in Dubai’s Al Quoz area, where onlookers assembled to view the smoke plume.

Authorities prevented the AP correspondent from approaching the fire scene, located within a dead-end street.

Dubai’s Media Office stated that “debris from a successful interception caused a minor incident on the façade of a building in central Dubai.” Officials reported no injuries, though the dark smoke stretched across the skyline toward the distinctive sail-shaped Burj al-Arab hotel.

An Israeli attack early Friday struck a vehicle in Jnah, a waterfront district in southwestern Beirut, killing one individual, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.

In a separate incident, Israeli forces hit an apartment building in the Nabaa area, leaving it consumed by flames, local news outlets reported. Nabaa sits on Beirut’s northern edge within the crowded Burj Hammoud section, which houses a significant Armenian population. Initial reports indicated no immediate casualties.

This marked the first time such locations have been targeted during this confrontation or throughout the 2024 hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel.

After these attacks, Israeli military officials announced they had targeted a Hezbollah operative in Beirut. Both neighborhoods lie far from Beirut’s southern suburbs, areas the Israeli military has designated as dangerous zones requiring civilian evacuation.

Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency service reported 58 individuals injured during a missile strike on Zarzir, located roughly 100 kilometers north of Jerusalem near the Lebanese border. Medical personnel said one person suffered moderate injuries while 57 others sustained minor wounds from glass fragments.

Video footage from the ambulance service showed damaged vehicles and scattered wreckage at the impact location.

Israeli military forces coordinated with emergency responders to remove debris from the strike zone.

Hezbollah announced Friday morning it had launched multiple rocket barrages targeting northern Israeli territory and Israeli forces positioned in southern Lebanon.

French President Emmanuel Macron revealed Friday on social media platform X that the assault targeted Irbil in Iraq’s northern Kurdish territory.

Macron named the fallen soldier as Chief Warrant Officer Arnaud Frion from the 7th Battalion of Chasseurs Alpins stationed in Varces.

“To his family, to his brothers in arms, I want to express all the affection and solidarity of the nation,” Macron stated. “Several of our soldiers have been wounded. France stands by their side and with their loved ones.”

France previously confirmed six soldiers were injured in a drone assault in Irbil. French forces operate in Iraq under a multinational counterterrorism initiative supporting regional forces battling Islamic State extremists.

President Donald Trump expressed his belief that Iran’s newly installed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei remains alive despite sustaining injuries, following the death of his father in the current U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran.

Speaking during a Fox News interview on “The Brian Kilmeade Show,” Trump stated his assessment of the Iranian leader’s condition. “I think he probably is (alive). I think he is damaged, but I think he’s probably alive in some form, you know,” the President remarked. Fox News released these comments late Thursday evening.

The younger Khamenei assumed the supreme leadership position after Iranian clerical authorities selected him on Sunday, following his father’s death on the opening day of the U.S.-Israeli offensive. Since taking power, the new leader has remained out of public view, with Iranian citizens unable to see him directly.

On Thursday, Iranian state television broadcast the new supreme leader’s initial public statements, which were delivered by a news anchor rather than spoken by Khamenei himself. A Reuters source within the Iranian government confirmed Wednesday that the recently appointed leader sustained minor injuries but continues his official duties, corroborating earlier state media reports describing him as wounded in combat.

In his first official communication, Khamenei issued aggressive threats, promising to maintain the closure of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz shipping lane. He also demanded that regional nations expel American military installations from their territories, warning that Iran would consider them legitimate targets otherwise.

The military confrontation between the United States, Israel, and Iran commenced on February 28. Iran has retaliated against both Israeli targets and Gulf nations hosting U.S. military facilities.

As the conflict nears its two-week anniversary, the violence has claimed thousands of lives and created significant instability in global financial markets. Leadership from Iran, Israel, and the United States have all maintained defiant positions and pledged to continue military operations.

A political newcomer who once performed rap music criticizing Nepal’s government has led his upstart party to an overwhelming electoral triumph that could bring much-needed stability to the troubled Himalayan nation.

Balendra Shah’s Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) captured a commanding 182 seats out of 275 in parliament during the March 5 elections, election officials announced Thursday. The victory represents the most decisive parliamentary majority achieved by any single party in more than six decades.

The stunning results position Shah, a former Kathmandu mayor whose anti-establishment rap songs made him a social media sensation, to become Nepal’s next prime minister. He would be the first leader from the country’s southern Madhesh region to hold the top office.

The electoral success follows violent demonstrations last September that claimed 77 lives and forced the previous government from power. Young protesters had taken to the streets after authorities imposed social media restrictions, sparking nationwide unrest in the nation of 30 million people situated between China and India.

Constitutional scholar Purna Man Shakya expressed optimism about the prospects for governmental continuity. “If everything goes well, we can expect that it can give a stable government for five years,” Shakya stated, referencing how previous administrations fell apart due to disputes over power-sharing arrangements.

The electoral outcome offers hope for political consistency in a country that has endured 32 government changes over the past 35 years. This chronic instability has undermined investor confidence and hampered both economic development and job creation.

“We are encouraged by the victory,” declared Sisir Khanal, a newly-elected RSP legislator and senior party official. “The mandate has made us very responsible.”

Traditional political forces suffered crushing defeats in the voting. The established Nepali Congress party managed only 38 seats, while the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), led by former Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli, secured just 25 seats. Former Chief Justice Sushila Karki had served as interim leader following Oli’s departure.

Shah’s campaign focused heavily on anti-corruption measures, employment generation, and an ambitious pledge to more than double Nepal’s $42 billion economy within five years. His rise from musician to mayor to potential prime minister has captivated voters seeking change from conventional politics.

However, the party faces challenges ahead. RSP’s prominent leader Ravi Lamichhane, a former television personality, is currently fighting allegations of financial misconduct involving small savings companies. Lamichhane has denied any wrongdoing and remains free on bail.

Regional parties from the Madhesh plains, where Shah originates, failed to win any parliamentary representation despite the area’s significant population.

Afghan Taliban authorities announced Friday that Pakistani forces struck a fuel storage facility belonging to Kam Air, a private airline, located close to Kandahar airport, signaling a renewed escalation in the severe border dispute between the neighboring nations.

The cross-border violence began last month when Pakistani military forces launched aerial attacks within Afghan territory, which Pakistan justified as operations targeting militant bases. Afghan officials condemned these strikes as violations of their national sovereignty and responded with counter-attacks.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid explained that the targeted facility serves both commercial aviation and United Nations flights. “The company (Kam Air) supplies fuel to civilian airlines as well as to United Nations aircraft,” Mujahid stated.

According to Mujahid, Pakistani forces also conducted bombing operations in additional locations, including Afghanistan’s capital city of Kabul, resulting in casualties among women and children when residential areas were hit. He warned that this aggression would “not go unanswered.”

Prior to this recent incident, both nations had not documented any Pakistani aerial operations against Afghanistan for several days, and combat activity along their 2,600-kilometer shared border had diminished.

Pakistani military officials have not provided any response to requests for statements regarding these allegations.

The root of tensions between these former allies centers on militant activity, with Pakistan claiming that Afghanistan harbors extremist groups responsible for attacks on Pakistani soil. Afghan Taliban leadership rejects these accusations, maintaining that Pakistan’s militant problems are domestic issues.

Chinese mediation efforts aimed at ending the violence had reportedly helped reduce hostilities between the countries, according to Thursday reports. Pakistani foreign ministry representative Tahir Andrabi confirmed that Pakistan and China were participating in diplomatic discussions regarding Afghanistan.

BUDAPEST, Hungary — Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has directed Hungarian officials to detain a shipment of Ukrainian money and gold valued at approximately $82 million for as long as 60 days while the nation’s tax agency conducts an investigation.

Hungarian forces intercepted the valuable cargo last Thursday as it traveled by road through the country, with officials citing concerns about potential money laundering activities. The confiscated materials consisted of $40 million in U.S. currency, 35 million euros in cash, and 9 kilograms of gold bullion.

Ukrainian leadership has expressed fury over the confiscation, with officials condemning Hungary’s Russia-aligned administration for what they consider unlawful conduct.

Footage from Hungary’s Counter Terrorism Center depicted masked tactical officers detaining seven workers from Ukraine’s government-operated Oschadbank. The employees were traveling in two armored vehicles that had departed Austria and were bound for Ukraine.

Ukrainian officials characterized the transport as a standard transfer of resources between government banking institutions.

The banking personnel remained in custody for more than 24 hours before being removed from Hungary on Friday evening. Hungarian authorities provided no explanation for their release or whether criminal charges were being considered.

The directive issued by Orbán on Monday evening instructs the National Tax and Customs Administration to investigate the cargo’s source, final destination, and planned usage. The order also calls for background checks on the seven deported Ukrainian citizens “and their possible links to criminal or terrorist organizations.”

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha criticized Hungary’s actions on social media Monday night, stating the country was “falling down a spiral of lawlessness.” He accused Orbán’s administration of attempting to “‘legalize’ the illegal seizure.”

“This is a de facto recognition that Hungary’s actions lack any legal grounds,” Sybiha wrote. “They are just adding lawlessness on top of lawlessness.”

Hungary’s tax administration has not yet provided a response to requests for comment.

The country has maintained a “state of danger” declaration due to the conflict in adjacent Ukraine, granting Orbán’s administration the power to implement policies through executive orders without legislative approval.

In his latest decree, Orbán—who confronts his most significant electoral challenge from a center-right rival with voting scheduled for next month—also directed the tax authority to examine whether Ukrainian financial transfers have supported “Hungarian criminal organizations, terrorist organizations present in Hungary or political organizations.”

Leading up to the April 12 election, the right-wing populist leader and his network of supportive media have repeatedly claimed, without substantiation, that his main challenger Péter Magyar and the Tisza party receive Ukrainian funding.

The inclusion of “political organizations” in the executive order has generated speculation that Magyar and Tisza might become subjects of the cash shipment investigation.

Orbán, whose polling numbers currently lag behind Tisza in most surveys, has intensified his anti-Ukraine messaging in recent weeks before the election. He has labeled Ukraine as Hungary’s “enemy” and warned that his electoral defeat would result in national financial ruin and force Hungarian young people into combat roles.

Tensions with Kyiv escalated further when Hungary’s parliament approved a resolution Tuesday authorizing the government to block Ukraine’s European Union membership bid and oppose any weapons or financial support initiatives for Ukraine.

KYIV, Ukraine — Military leaders from both Ukraine and Russia are presenting conflicting accounts of battlefield victories in their ongoing four-year conflict, with Ukrainian commanders reporting territorial gains while Moscow maintains its military campaign continues to advance.

Russian aerial bombardments targeting Ukrainian civilian areas persist on an almost daily basis. On Tuesday, regional administrator Vadym Filashkin reported that three devastating glide bombs hit central Sloviansk in eastern Ukraine, resulting in four fatalities. The attack also injured at least 16 others, including a 14-year-old girl.

Emergency services reported Tuesday that nighttime drone attacks across three additional Ukrainian cities left at least 17 people injured, including two children.

Ukrainian air defense forces successfully intercepted 122 of the 137 drones launched by Russia during overnight operations, according to the country’s air force.

Peace negotiations facilitated by the United States have been suspended as Washington’s focus has shifted to the Iran conflict, drawing international attention away from Ukraine’s struggle against Russia’s larger military force.

Major General Oleksandr Komarenko told RBC-Ukraine in a Tuesday interview that Ukrainian troops have successfully reclaimed nearly the entire southeastern Dnipropetrovsk industrial region through recent counteroffensive operations, forcing Russian forces from over 400 square kilometers of territory, despite facing troop shortages.

Komarenko characterized the front-line situation as challenging yet manageable, noting that the most intense combat continues around Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine and Oleksandrivka in the south, where Russian forces have concentrated their primary offensive efforts.

Independent confirmation of these military developments was not available.

The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War reported Monday that Ukraine’s recent counterattacks “are generating tactical, operational and strategic effects that may disrupt Russia’s spring-summer 2026 offensive campaign plan.”

Conversely, Kremlin spokesperson Yuri Ushakov told reporters that Russian President Vladimir Putin informed U.S. President Donald Trump during a Monday conversation that Russian military forces are “advancing rather successfully” in Ukraine.

Ushakov suggested this military progress should “encourage” Kyiv to “move toward a negotiated settlement of the conflict,” despite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s repeated calls for a comprehensive peace agreement and European leaders’ accusations that Putin is only pretending to seek diplomatic solutions while continuing military operations.

The Kremlin anticipates the Iran conflict will provide financial benefits through increased oil prices, shift global focus away from Ukraine, deplete Western military stockpiles, and pressure the U.S. and NATO allies to reduce military aid to Kyiv.

Zelenskyy hopes that by providing Ukraine’s advanced, combat-proven drone technology to the United States and Gulf partners for Middle Eastern operations, his country will gain greater international diplomatic influence against Moscow.

He is also pursuing reciprocal agreements for advanced American air defense missile systems that Ukraine requires to counter Russian attacks.

A former Syrian military intelligence colonel made his court appearance through video conference Tuesday in London, where he faces serious charges of crimes against humanity and torture connected to his role in crushing peaceful protests in Damascus over a decade ago.

Salem Michel Al-Salem, 58, participated in the Westminster Magistrates’ Court hearing from his residence, appearing with medical breathing equipment due to his battle with motor neurone disease, a progressive neurological condition.

The defendant faces three murder charges classified as crimes against humanity for deaths that occurred in April and July 2011, described by prosecutors as “part of a widespread or systematic attack against a civilian population with knowledge of the attack.”

Additional charges include three counts of torture for incidents spanning 2011 and 2012, plus one count of conduct related to murder as a crime against humanity. Al-Salem remained silent throughout the proceedings and entered no plea.

Defense attorney Sean Caulfield informed the court that his client was too ill to verbally confirm his identity during the hearing.

These seven criminal charges represent a historic case under British legislation that permits prosecution of severe international crimes committed on foreign soil. According to the Crown Prosecution Service, this marks the first instance of murder charges being filed as crimes against humanity under this law.

British courts previously convicted Afghan warlord Faryadi Zardad of torture in 2005 for acts committed in Afghanistan.

Prosecutors describe Al-Salem as a colonel who served in Syria’s Air Force Intelligence division, specifically overseeing the Information Branch in Jobar, a district located east of Damascus city center. He has applied for permanent residency status in Britain.

According to the prosecution, Al-Salem commanded a unit responsible for suppressing demonstrations that typically took place during Friday afternoon prayer services. Authorities allege he instructed his subordinates to shoot at demonstrators, causing fatalities.

The charges also include allegations that Al-Salem participated in or witnessed the torture of detained men at the Information Branch facility.

Police initially arrested Al-Salem in central England during December 2021. His legal team attempted to keep his identity sealed, citing safety concerns, but Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring denied this request while agreeing to keep his home address confidential.

The case will continue Friday at London’s Old Bailey courthouse.

PANAMA CITY — Rising energy prices and ongoing Middle Eastern tensions could drive more commercial shipping traffic toward the Panama Canal, according to the waterway’s top official.

Canal Administrator Ricaurte Vásquez told reporters Thursday that escalating fuel expenses and navigation challenges elsewhere are positioning the interoceanic passage as an increasingly cost-effective alternative for global cargo operations.

“When costs increase, in general when the price of marine fuel rises, the Panama Canal becomes a more attractive route,” Vásquez explained during his remarks.

Energy prices have climbed as Middle Eastern warfare has disrupted regional shipping lanes, including Iran’s temporary blockade of the Strait of Hormuz following strikes by U.S. and Israeli forces. The Persian Gulf waterway handles approximately 20 percent of global oil shipments.

Should elevated energy expenses continue, Vásquez noted that Panama Canal routing could shorten shipping journeys by three to 15 days while simultaneously cutting fuel usage, depending on the specific voyage path.

The canal chief expects container vessels, bulk freight carriers, and liquefied natural gas tankers to be most affected by increased fuel expenses. Should Middle Eastern energy supplies face further interruption, alternative sources including U.S. producers might reroute LNG shipments from European destinations toward Asian markets through Panama.

Panama Maritime Chamber executive Gerardo Bósquez suggested that extended regional conflict could fundamentally alter worldwide shipping patterns, with natural gas transportation among the sectors positioned to gain.

However, Vásquez warned that any traffic shifts would not occur immediately and would depend largely on shipping companies’ expectations regarding the duration of Gulf region conflicts and instability.