Author: Admin

GENEVA — An international committee of experts has formally condemned the United States for what it describes as serious human rights violations stemming from inflammatory political rhetoric and aggressive immigration enforcement policies.

The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, operating under United Nations oversight, released its findings Wednesday from Geneva, specifically calling out President Donald Trump’s language regarding immigrants and minorities as contributing to widespread discrimination.

The 18-member international panel issued recommendations for the U.S. to halt immigration enforcement activities near educational institutions, medical facilities, and houses of worship under what’s known as an early warning protocol.

While the committee’s recommendations carry no legal enforcement power, they represent an attempt to hold the United States accountable to international agreements it has previously signed.

The experts expressed particular alarm over what they characterized as dehumanizing rhetoric directed at migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. They connected reported increases in racial discrimination to inflammatory language from high-ranking officials, though they did not provide specific statistical evidence.

“Portraying them as criminals or as a burden, by politicians and influential public figures at the highest level, particularly the President,” the committee stated in its official release, “may incite racial discrimination and hate crimes.”

While previous administrations under Joe Biden and Barack Obama have also faced UN criticism regarding systemic racism, this particular assessment specifically highlighted Trump’s public statements as problematic. Neither Biden nor Obama received similar direct criticism for their rhetoric in this report.

The committee also targeted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection for what it described as racial profiling practices and seemingly random identity verification procedures targeting people of color.

White House spokesperson Olivia Wales dismissed the international assessment, saying: “This United Nations assessment is just as useless as their broken escalator, and their extreme bias continues to prove why no one takes them seriously.” Wales emphasized Trump’s efforts to reduce crime and strengthen border security.

“No one cares what the biased United Nations’ so-called ‘experts’ think, because Americans are living in a safer, stronger country than ever before,” she continued.

The committee’s report alleges the United States is failing to meet its commitments under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, which was established by the UN in 1965. The document highlighted recent incidents involving what it termed “discriminatory, dangerous and violent methods” that resulted in eight fatalities over the past three months.

Among those deaths were Alex Pretti and Renee Good, both American citizens who were killed during separate shooting incidents involving federal agents during Operation Metro Surge while protesting in Minnesota.

The panel characterized the use of deadly force in these cases as equivalent to “arbitrary deprivation of life and other gross violations of international human rights law.”

The report also addressed conditions for detained migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers, arguing they have been systematically denied fundamental services including medical care, educational opportunities, and social assistance, in violation of international conventions.

The committee’s recommendations include a comprehensive review of U.S. immigration policies to ensure compliance with international human rights standards. Specific suggestions include ending enforcement operations near sensitive locations, eliminating what they term “discriminatory measures” in asylum processes, and establishing protections to prevent immigration agencies from accessing personal information in government databases.

The enforceability of these recommendations remains questionable, as the UN lacks mechanisms to compel compliance.

This marks the third time in recent years the panel has criticized American policies regarding racism and discrimination. Previous condemnations came in 2014 following widespread Black Lives Matter demonstrations after Michael Brown’s shooting death and other incidents, and again in 2020 after George Floyd’s murder.

A separate UN human rights body also heard comparable arguments in 2020 from a special investigator focused on modern racism, discrimination, and xenophobia.

The current Trump administration has prioritized mass deportation efforts as a central component of its second-term policy agenda, implementing extensive immigration restrictions and enhanced enforcement operations across numerous American cities. This intensified approach has resulted in increased immigrant arrests while generating significant criticism regarding detention and enforcement methods.

Administration officials have justified these measures by citing national security and economic considerations.

The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination consists of 18 independent experts from various countries worldwide who oversee compliance with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. The United States officially ratified this convention in 1994.

WASHINGTON — More than 45 Democratic senators pressed the Trump administration for explanations Wednesday amid mounting evidence indicating American forces may have been behind a deadly attack on an Iranian elementary school that claimed over 165 lives, with children making up a significant portion of the victims.

The lawmakers directed their letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, questioning whether the United States bore responsibility for the February 28th strike and demanding details about any prior assessment of the targeted building. The senators also expressed alarm over the administration’s reduction of a Pentagon office specifically created by Congress to minimize civilian deaths.

This school bombing has emerged as a central controversy in the conflict, and if American responsibility is confirmed, it would rank among the most devastating civilian casualty incidents resulting from U.S. military actions over the past twenty years.

President Trump’s response to the incident has evolved over time – first attributing blame to Iran, then expressing uncertainty about responsibility, and finally stating he would accept the Pentagon investigation’s findings. The situation gained additional urgency Wednesday following a New York Times report indicating that preliminary findings pointed to U.S. culpability.

The senators highlighted how administrative budget and staffing reductions have stripped military commands of essential resources needed to prevent and address civilian casualties. Their concerns specifically mentioned cuts affecting U.S. Central Command, which oversees military operations against Iran, and the Civilian Protection Center of Excellence – a facility established through 2022 legislation aimed at reducing strike-related deaths.

Should American responsibility be established, this development could significantly undermine domestic support for the Iran campaign. This comes as Trump, who campaigned against what he termed “stupid” foreign wars, continues facing scrutiny about the conflict’s objectives and potential resolution.

A former Pentagon official noted that the strike on Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary School, situated adjacent to an Iranian Revolutionary Guard facility, resulted naturally from Trump administration changes that reduced civilian protection personnel while Hegseth emphasized combat effectiveness over legal considerations.

Multiple factors suggest the school attack could have been prevented. The incident occurred on a Saturday morning – the beginning of Iran’s school week – when the facility was filled with young students. Associated Press satellite analysis reveals that the school and other targets struck that day displayed characteristics visible from above that should have identified them as civilian locations.

Last week, the AP reported that satellite imagery, expert analysis, U.S. official statements, and publicly released military information all suggested American involvement. This evidence strengthened Monday when new video footage emerged showing what specialists identified as a U.S.-manufactured Tomahawk cruise missile striking the military compound while smoke was already visible from the school’s location.

Satellite imagery available to the public shows the school building was originally part of the military complex until approximately 2017, when construction of a new barrier separated the two areas. A watchtower on the property was simultaneously removed. During this same period, the imagery reveals that building walls were decorated with bright murals in blue and pink colors so vivid they can be seen from space.

The educational facility was clearly identified as a school on internet mapping services and maintained an easily accessible website containing information about its students, faculty, and administration.

International warfare law prohibits attacks on structures, vehicles, and individuals that are not military targets or combatants. Civilian residences, educational institutions, medical facilities, and cultural sites are typically protected from military strikes. The proximity of a school to a legitimate military target does not alter its classification as a civilian site, explained Elise Baker, a senior staff attorney at the Atlantic Council, a Washington-based nonprofit organization.

Senator Tim Kaine addressed the implications during a Wednesday media briefing, stating: “It’s either we’ve changed our traditional targeting rules or we made a mistake.”

Kaine continued: “If we’ve changed our traditional targeting rules and we no longer provide the same level of protection for civilians, that would be tragic.”

Republican lawmakers are also expressing concerns about the incident.

North Dakota Senator Kevin Cramer told reporters that an investigation must “get to the bottom of it,” and then “admit if you know whose fault it is.”

If American involvement is confirmed, Cramer said, the military must “do everything you can to eliminate those mistakes going forward.”

He concluded: “But you also can’t undo it.”

Congressional legislation in late 2022 mandated Pentagon creation of the Civilian Protection Center of Excellence as part of the comprehensive annual defense authorization bill, which received broad bipartisan approval. The legislation stated the center would “institutionalize and advance knowledge, practices, and tools for preventing, mitigating, and responding to civilian harm.”

This measure formalized an initiative previously launched by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin earlier that year. Austin described the 36-step action plan as “ambitious and necessary.”

By April 2023, the office employed a full-time Army-hired director and an initial core team of 30 civilian personnel, according to a 2024 Pentagon report indicating expected workforce expansion.

Wes Bryant joined the office in 2024 as Branch Chief of Civil Harm Assessments. Among the office’s priorities was updating the “no strike list” – Pentagon records of civilian targets in foreign countries that should be avoided. During his Pentagon tenure, Bryant said it was widely understood that these lists were outdated. However, under Hegseth’s leadership, the office’s staff was dramatically reduced and work on updating no-strike lists ceased.

“They have no budget. They’re just sitting there trying to maintain any semblance of the mission,” Bryant explained.

Captain Tim Hawkins, spokesman for U.S. Central Command, disputed reports claiming the military command assigned only one person to this mission but declined to provide additional details, citing the ongoing investigation.

LISBON – Portugal’s national intelligence agency has issued an unusual public alert about an international cyber offensive targeting secure messaging applications used by government personnel and military members worldwide.

The intelligence service (SIS) revealed Wednesday that hackers backed by a foreign government are conducting a widespread digital assault aimed at infiltrating WhatsApp and Signal communications of high-level officials.

According to the SIS warning, these cyber criminals are attempting to deceive platform users “into sharing sensitive data, such as passwords” to compromise both private conversations and group communications, including access to shared documents.

The intelligence agency specified that the cyber offensive is focused on “government officials, diplomats, military personnel, and civil society members with access to privileged information from Portugal and allied countries.”

Portuguese intelligence officials declined to name which nation is orchestrating the hacking operation, noting that the attackers are “exploiting potential careless use by individuals relying on the end-to-end encryption of the two applications,” both of which are commonly utilized by government workers, defense personnel, and business executives.

The agency clarified that these intrusion attempts “do not mean that WhatsApp or Signal have been compromised,” though they did not completely dismiss that possibility.

This Portuguese warning comes just days after Dutch intelligence authorities reported Monday that Russian-supported hackers had similarly launched a worldwide cyber operation targeting the same messaging platforms.

The SIS stated it released this public advisory to assist citizens in defending against potential cyber threats.

PRAGUE — The Czech Parliament voted Wednesday to approve a defense budget for 2026 that doesn’t satisfy NATO spending requirements, ignoring appeals from both American officials and the nation’s president.

In a 104-87 vote in the lower chamber’s 200-member assembly, lawmakers — many supporting the new administration led by populist Prime Minister Andrej Babiš — authorized nearly 155 billion koruna ($7.4 billion) for the Defense Ministry. This represents slightly more than 1.7% of the country’s gross domestic product.

NATO requires member nations to dedicate 2% of GDP to defense spending. Czech expenditures would barely exceed the 2% threshold only when including defense-related funding distributed across other government departments. Whether this accounting method would satisfy alliance standards remains uncertain.

Defending his position, Babiš contended his administration faced competing priorities, including “the health of our citizens,” and described the allocation as “the maximum possible” given the deteriorated public financial situation left by the former government.

Alliance members pledged in 2014 to reach the minimum 2% GDP defense spending level, with NATO anticipating all countries, including the Czech Republic, would achieve this benchmark by the previous year.

During the 2025 Hague summit, responding to Trump administration demands, the alliance established more ambitious goals: investing 3.5% of GDP on essential defense needs and an additional 1.5% on defense and security-related expenditures by 2035.

President Petr Pavel, a former military general, pressed legislators to boost the budget allocation, referencing Russia’s continuing assault on Ukraine. “Today, there is not a single justifiable reason for defense and security spending to stagnate,” Pavel stated.

While the president must approve the budget, he has indicated he will sign it, acknowledging that budgetary decisions belong to the government’s authority rather than his own.

Babiš regained leadership following his ANO (YES) movement’s decisive victory in October elections, establishing a coalition government with two smaller parties: the Freedom and Direct Democracy party and the Motorists. Their platform includes reducing support for Ukraine and opposing certain European Union initiatives.

U.S. Ambassador Nicholas Merrick has emphasized Czech NATO responsibilities to the nation’s leadership.

“If Czechia fails to fulfill its commitments, it impacts the entire alliance,” Merrick addressed a Prague security conference last week. “And I don’t need to remind you, and the Czech people, how essential it is that allies honor commitments.”

The ambassador warned that with the proposed defense spending plan, “Czechia would risk being among the lowest spenders in the alliance, and would be demonstrating negative momentum compared to peer NATO partners.”

QUITO, Ecuador — Ecuador’s government announced plans Wednesday for a large-scale military campaign targeting criminal organizations across three western provinces, with logistical assistance from United States forces.

Interior Minister John Reimberg announced during a radio interview that authorities will implement a nighttime curfew running from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. between March 15-30 across Guayas, Los Ríos and Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas provinces — regions experiencing the highest violence rates in the South American nation.

Reimberg emphasized that residents must remain indoors during curfew hours and keep streets clear to allow military personnel and equipment to move freely through the areas.

“We do not want collateral victims from the attacks we are about to launch,” Reimberg said. “We have significant support from U.S. forces for the operations we are about to carry out.”

The U.S. Embassy in Ecuador did not provide immediate response to requests for comment from news organizations.

When contacted Wednesday afternoon, U.S. Southern Command referenced earlier statements from Marine Gen. Francis L. Donovan following March 3 military strikes: “We commend the men and women of the Ecuadorian armed forces for their unwavering commitment to this fight, demonstrating courage and resolve through continued actions against narco-terrorists in their country.”

The announcement follows recent joint military operations between Ecuador and the United States targeting organized crime networks, though neither nation previously disclosed specific locations or operational scope.

Reimberg described the upcoming strikes as efforts to “destroy what they have built in various parts of the country,” but refused to elaborate on tactical details for security reasons.

Beginning in early 2021, Ecuador has confronted persistent attacks from organized crime networks that law enforcement officials say maintain strong connections to drug trafficking organizations operating in Colombia and Mexico.

Authorities identify Ecuador as a critical logistics center for international drug smuggling operations, functioning as a transit and distribution point for narcotics — primarily originating from Colombia, with additional shipments from Peru. Officials report these illegal substances move through Ecuadorian ports toward destinations including Central America, the United States and Europe.

JOHANNESBURG — Diplomatic tensions between the United States and South Africa have escalated after the country’s foreign minister called in America’s new ambassador to account for his controversial public statements, officials announced Wednesday.

Ambassador Leo Brent Bozell III faced official scrutiny following his Tuesday address to a gathering of business executives, where he questioned South Africa’s relationship with Iran and criticized domestic policies promoting opportunities for Black citizens over other racial groups.

The diplomatic relationship between these former allies has deteriorated significantly since Donald Trump resumed the presidency. Current relations have reached their most strained level since apartheid — the system of white minority governance — concluded in 1994. Trump has consistently criticized South Africa’s Black-majority leadership.

Bozell, a conservative political figure selected by Trump, began his duties in Pretoria just last month.

During his initial comprehensive public statements regarding US-South Africa relations since his arrival, Bozell argued that South Africa should modify certain affirmative action policies created to address inequalities stemming from decades of racial separation under apartheid. He drew parallels between these current laws and the discriminatory legislation that oppressed Black South Africans during apartheid.

The ambassador additionally advocated for changes to property legislation that permits the South African government to seize land without providing compensation under specific conditions.

“While South Africa welcomes active public diplomacy and the strengthening of bilateral ties, we emphasize that such engagements must remain consistent with established diplomatic etiquette and international protocols,” Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola stated during a news briefing. “In this regard, we have called in the ambassador of the United States, Ambassador Bozell, to explain his undiplomatic remarks.”

Zane Dangor, the foreign ministry’s director-general, revealed that Bozell held discussions with South African representatives on Tuesday, during which the ambassador “apologized and expressed regret.”

The US government has not yet provided any official response.

Trump’s primary accusation against South Africa’s government centers on his unsubstantiated assertion that white farmers from minority communities face targeted violence and murders. Even certain conservative white Afrikaner organizations have disputed the Trump administration’s allegations.

These claims became the focus of a tense White House encounter between Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa last year, highlighting the deteriorating diplomatic relationship.

Bozell did modify one of his earlier statements on Wednesday. During Tuesday’s business leader gathering, he had criticized a South African judicial decision that determined an apartheid-era slogan used by an extreme-left political organization did not constitute hate speech, despite containing the words “kill the Boer.” The term Boer describes white farmers in South Africa.

The Trump administration has labeled this slogan as anti-white hate speech. Bozell reinforced this position Tuesday, stating: “I am sorry, I don’t care what your courts say, it’s hate speech.” However, he clarified on social media Wednesday that his remarks represented his personal opinion and “the U.S. government respects the independence and findings of South Africa’s judiciary.”

The Trump administration has implemented additional unprecedented measures against South Africa — America’s largest African trading partner — including removing its ambassador from Washington last year and excluding South Africa from Group of 20 meetings held in the United States this year.

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Officials in Cambodia announced Wednesday their goal to eliminate every remaining online fraud operation within the country’s borders before May arrives, according to the leader of the nation’s anti-cybercrime initiative.

Senior Minister Chhay Sinarith, who oversees the Commission for Combating Online Scams, revealed during an Associated Press interview that authorities have identified 250 suspected fraud locations since beginning operations in July. Of those sites, approximately 200 have been successfully dismantled, representing an 80% closure rate.

Following the April deadline, Sinarith indicated that law enforcement will continue enforcement operations to prevent these criminal enterprises from reestablishing themselves.

This marks another attempt by Cambodia to address the scam center problem, though previous efforts have yielded limited success.

Online fraud has become a massive problem across Southeast Asia, with Cambodia and Myanmar serving as major hubs for these operations. International experts and United Nations officials estimate that victims worldwide lose tens of billions of dollars each year to these schemes.

These criminal operations are deeply connected to human trafficking networks, as foreign workers are recruited through deceptive job advertisements and then forced into near-slavery conditions to operate romance and cryptocurrency fraud schemes.

According to Sinarith, the current enforcement campaign has resulted in 79 criminal cases targeting 697 suspected operation leaders and their accomplices.

During the same period, nearly 10,000 scam center employees from 23 different nations have been sent back to their home countries, with fewer than 1,000 still waiting for official repatriation. Additional workers have independently returned home after escaping or being freed from raided facilities.

Sinarith emphasized that Cambodia maintains strong cooperation with multiple nations, particularly China and the United States, in addressing this criminal activity.

On Tuesday, Cambodian authorities conducted a raid on a suspected fraud center located in a Phnom Penh high-rise, resulting in the arrest of approximately 60 individuals of Cambodian and Chinese nationality who were caught working at their stations.

“They did chat to convince people in Europe to invest the money with them, but their investment is fake and fraudulent. It is not real,” explained Bun Sosekha, a deputy commissioner with Phnom Penh Municipal Police.

Media representatives were shown seized materials on Wednesday, including costumes and counterfeit identification documents that fraudsters used to impersonate Japanese law enforcement officers online as a method to deceive and intimidate their targets.

The illegal activity has troubled Cambodia since its modest beginnings in 2012, when operators primarily used voice-over-internet-protocol technology to hide their true locations and identities, Sinarith noted.

These fraudulent schemes expanded dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic, as casinos that had previously focused on questionable online gambling activities lost their walk-in clientele and shifted to large-scale internet fraud operations.

Since then, similar scam operations have established themselves globally, reaching as far as Africa and Latin America.

The painful spike in gas prices hitting drivers’ wallets stems largely from an ongoing conflict that has shut down the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping channel for Persian Gulf oil and natural gas. This narrow waterway along Iran’s coastline has become impassable due to warfare, prompting international governments to develop emergency plans for restoring commercial traffic once hostilities end.

French President Emmanuel Macron is spearheading a multinational initiative to restore access to this energy bottleneck, enabling oil, gas and commercial goods to resume flowing freely “when circumstances permit.” His strategy involves deploying naval warships to provide protection for oil tankers and cargo ships navigating the strait after the intense combat subsides.

However, retired naval commanders with extensive experience in Hormuz waters warn that any vessels attempting passage would face extreme vulnerability in the strait’s confined shipping channels if foreign military forces tried reopening the route before fighting ceased.

“In today’s context, sending warships or civilian vessels into the Strait of Hormuz would be suicidal,” retired French navy Vice Admiral Pascal Ausseur told The Associated Press.

A ceasefire with Iran “would make the situation shift from suicidal to dangerous. At that point, military ships could be deployed. And then escort operations could begin,” he explained.

Naval forces from France, America, Britain and other nations possess crucial hands-on experience defending against missile and drone attacks in the region. These crews have successfully protected cargo ships during Red Sea operations against strikes launched by Iran-supported Houthi fighters from Yemen.

French warships deployed machine guns, artillery and advanced air-defense systems to repel Houthi assaults. The French frigate Alsace destroyed three ballistic missiles in Red Sea waters during 2024 while protecting a container vessel. Captain Jérôme Henry, who commanded the ship during that period, described the potentially fatal attacks as nerve-wracking and exhausting for his crew. American Navy vessels and sailors also endured significant stress from these maritime confrontations.

“There were repeated attacks, either by drones or missiles,” Henry recalled. “The crew didn’t get much sleep.”

Retired French Vice Admiral Michel Olhagaray, formerly leading France’s advanced military studies center, noted that “all navies learned a great deal” about collaborative operations and ship protection from Red Sea missions, while also incorporating lessons from Ukraine’s defense against Russian missile and drone bombardments during Moscow’s invasion.

“It would allow us to deploy to that region with fairly refined know-how and a high level of cooperation — and that is extremely important,” stated Olhagaray, who previously commanded a French frigate patrolling the Strait of Hormuz during the 1980s Iran-Iraq conflict.

Iran possesses significantly more advanced military capabilities than its Houthi allies in Yemen, who caused extensive damage and disruption in Red Sea shipping. Equipped with Iranian weapons, these rebels attacked over 100 commercial vessels using missiles and drones between November 2023 and January 2025, destroying two ships, killing four crew members, and severely reducing trade volumes.

According to U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency analysis, Iran can strike throughout the entire Strait of Hormuz and surrounding areas using anti-ship cruise missiles developed from Chinese-designed weapons. The country can also attack vessels with extended-range missiles, unmanned aircraft, high-speed assault boats and underwater mines, which were deployed during the Iran-Iraq war. Recent American strikes against Iranian mine-laying ships highlight the seriousness of this threat.

With active warfare continuing, the Hormuz corridor remains “very, very dangerous” with shipping risks “much greater” than Red Sea operations against the Houthis, Olhagaray warned.

“The means to counter this threat must be far more substantial and far more effective,” he emphasized. “Before the heat can decrease… most of the offensive installations on land in Iran would have to be eliminated. There would need to be constant monitoring, patrols, extremely close surveillance, and a very high level of intelligence to be able to say that it would be possible to allow tankers to transit, even with military escorts.”

“That will not happen at all — not at all — in the near future.”

Maritime specialists identify another major obstacle: convincing shipping insurance companies and vessel operators that Hormuz navigation has become safe again. Insurance costs for strait transit have skyrocketed to levels France’s transportation minister called “insane,” creating “a big problem” for shipping firms.

“Maritime traffic is a business. That business has to make money. If insurance costs are so high that you can’t make a profit by sailing through a given area, then you don’t sail through that area. Shipowners are not going to operate at a loss,” explained Ausseur, currently serving as director of the Mediterranean Foundation for Strategic Studies think tank.

Insurance premiums for oil tankers seeking Hormuz passage have increased dramatically compared to pre-war rates and are nearing costs charged for grain ships departing Ukraine during the ongoing Russian conflict, according to Marcus Baker, global marine, cargo and logistics director for insurance broker Marsh Risk.

Potential military escort services for commercial vessels “would be helpful,” Baker noted.

“That’s been done before in conflicts past, so that’s not something unusual and that will obviously give a degree of confidence to the insurers that the vessels are going to have a greater degree of safety,” he said.

Israel’s Ambassador to the United States is raising alarms about Iran’s potential to disrupt global energy supplies, warning that the conflict extends far beyond Middle Eastern borders.

Ambassador Yechiel Leiter spoke out Tuesday as concerns grew over the security of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for international oil transport. The ambassador posed a stark question about the implications of Iranian control over this strategic passage.

“If a Nuclear Iran Took the Strait of Hormuz, Who Would Control the World’s Oil?” Leiter asked, emphasizing the global stakes involved in the current tensions.

The strait serves as a crucial bottleneck for energy markets, with approximately 20 percent of the world’s petroleum liquids flowing through this narrow waterway. Even potential threats to disrupt or block this passage are enough to cause significant concern among oil markets and international governments.

According to Leiter, the joint efforts between the United States and Israel focus on preventing Tehran from developing nuclear capabilities, stopping the spread of terrorism, and blocking Iran from gaining control over critical global energy transportation routes.

The ambassador’s comments highlight how regional conflicts in the Middle East can have far-reaching consequences for global energy security and economic stability worldwide.

BRAZZAVILLE, Republic of Congo (AP) — Citizens of the Republic of Congo will cast ballots in a presidential election this weekend, though the results appear predetermined as the nation’s long-serving president encounters minimal opposition from political rivals.

Numerous young citizens indicate they have no intention of taking part in an election that current President Dennis Sassou N’Guesso is virtually guaranteed to win. The half-dozen opposition contenders have failed to present any meaningful challenge to the leader who has governed this oil-wealthy Central African nation of 5.61 million residents for 42 years combined.

The 82-year-old Sassou N’Guesso initially assumed power in 1979 and remained in control until the 1992 election where he placed third. He regained authority as a militia commander following a four-month civil conflict in 1997 and has maintained leadership ever since, securing victory in four elections against divided opposition forces.

He ranks as Africa’s third longest-serving leader, trailing only Cameroon’s Paul Biya and Equatorial Guinea’s Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. A 2015 constitutional referendum eliminated both age restrictions and term limits for the presidency, ensuring Sassou N’Guesso could continue seeking office.

Throughout the nation’s youth population, optimism for transformation appears minimal, with many planning to skip Sunday’s voting.

This includes Macaire Epoha, a 38-year-old mathematician who performs various temporary jobs to make ends meet in the capital city of Brazzaville.

“N’Guesso will be re-elected with his usual scores, which are close to 80%,” Epoha said. “The elections have no bearing on young people.”

Cyprien Massamba earned a university degree in geography but has worked as a taxi driver for a decade. He plans to abstain from voting and wishes enough citizens would boycott the election to draw international attention to the nation’s severe economic struggles.

“The people are languishing in poverty,” Massamba said.

Remadji Hoinathy, a senior researcher on central Africa at the Institute of Security Studies, describes the elections as serving only to “legitimize power without competition.”

N’Guesso, representing his Congolese Party of Labor, confronts six challengers, including Mabio Mavoungou Zinga, a former parliament member leading an opposition alliance.

Political experts believe the opposition stands no chance following the ruling party’s power consolidation, frequently employing intimidation methods to undermine rivals. Two prominent opposition candidates are skipping the election due to claims of biased electoral procedures.

Grappling with substantial debt levels and persistent economic decline, unemployment among youth aged 15 to 24 reaches 41% — almost twice the 22% rate for the entire workforce, based on World Bank data.

Dependent on petroleum resources, the nation’s economy remains vulnerable to global oil market fluctuations and confronts a soaring debt-to-GDP ratio of 95.4%, according to World Bank figures.

“If you look at the level of the debt and youth unemployment, then it clearly appears the oil revenues have been ill-managed in terms of being unable to diversify the economy, respond to people’s daily needs and create jobs for the youth,” said Hoinathy, the senior Central Africa researcher.

Political observers identify another emerging concern — the question of presidential succession. Given the nearly inevitable electoral victory and considering his advanced age, this may represent N’Guesso’s final term, analysts suggest.

Denis-Christel Sassou Nguesso — the president’s 51-year-old son who has held the position of minister of international cooperation and promotion of public-private partnership since 2021 — appears to be prepared for leadership, they indicate.

The president’s campaign message to young citizens has emphasized a pledge to “accelerate the march toward development,” vowing to expedite infrastructure projects and agricultural mechanization.

However, in a country where 47% of residents are under 18, youth voters seem unmoved by this appeal.

“The system is locked down by the old guard,” said Coretta Imongui, a 28-year mother of three seeking employment.

“However, they will not live forever,” she said. “I still have hope for my children and grandchildren.”

A prominent Bedouin human rights attorney says her years of community work have convinced her that female leadership and cooperation between different ethnic groups are vital for creating lasting peace and fairness in Israeli society.

Hanan Alsanah, a feminist lawyer who has dedicated decades to activism, spoke about her experiences during an International Women’s Day conversation on the program “Facing the Middle East” with host Felice Friedson. Her work has ranged from educational initiatives in the Negev region to providing emergency assistance following the October 7 terrorist attacks.

During the interview, Alsanah discussed her transformation from growing up in a traditional Bedouin household to establishing herself as a respected legal advocate and peacebuilder who is now considering entering the political arena.

The attorney emphasized that increasing women’s involvement in politics and building cooperation at the community level can help strengthen social justice efforts and create more stable, long-term solutions across Israeli society.

While the broader Middle East conflict between Israel, the United States, and Iran dominates headlines, Palestinian communities find themselves caught in the crossfire with their governing authority increasingly pushed aside from key decisions affecting their future.

The West Bank continues to experience intense security pressures, Gaza’s political direction remains unclear, and the Palestinian Authority appears to have little influence over the developments that will shape both territories.

Two regional experts provide contrasting perspectives on the current situation. Hiba Husseini, an attorney who previously served as legal counsel to Palestinian negotiators during peace talks, and Kobi Michael, a political researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies and the Misgav Institute, disagree on the implications but both acknowledge that Palestinian issues are being swept along by a broader regional conflict controlled by outside powers.

According to Husseini, the most pressing concern is the daily insecurity facing Palestinians, particularly in the West Bank, where civilian protections are minimal and freedom of movement remains severely limited.

“This is not an Israeli–American retaliation against Iran. It’s an attack on Iran, and the retaliation was made by Iran, which is affecting not only our lives but also those of the entire region,” she told The Media Line.

Husseini emphasized that the threat encompasses both physical and mental health impacts. The West Bank lacks protective shelters, leaving residents vulnerable to debris from missile defense systems while also subjecting them to the psychological stress of witnessing warfare in their vicinity.

“The situation in the West Bank is very difficult because we don’t have shelters in Palestine,” she said. “If you have parts falling on the West Bank and on any part of the West Bank, it will cause damage, of course, and may even cause a death. We are not very safe. Also, the situation is very difficult because we hear everything, we feel everything, and we see everything.”

The Palestinian Authority has implemented crisis measures including school and university closures, online learning transitions, and advisories for residents to remain indoors. However, these actions highlight the constraints on Palestinian self-governance, as Israeli military checkpoints continue controlling inter-area travel and West Bank operations persist despite the Iranian conflict.

“You still have daily incursions in the West Bank by the Israeli military,” she said. “Even though they’re busy fighting Iran, the troops that usually are present in the West Bank have remained in the West Bank; they’re still going into incursions in the northern West Bank—Nablus, Jenin—regularly.”

Husseini argued that for most Palestinians, immediate concerns stem from local circumstances rather than the wider regional military confrontation.

“There is fear, more fear, ironically and sadly, more fear from the settlers and from the protection they receive from the army, more so than from missiles or parts of missiles falling on the West Bank on our heads,” she said.

The Palestinian Authority’s budget crisis compounds this sense of insecurity. While the authority continues managing aspects of daily governance, it operates with diminished resources. Since much of its funding relies on tax collection by Israel under Oslo Accords arrangements, recurring delays or withholding of these funds has created difficulties in paying employee wages and maintaining public services.

Husseini noted that the broader crisis has intensified economic hardships for Palestinians already struggling financially.

“It has already affected our economics, this situation. We’re not earning, so revenues are not coming in,” she said. “There is no welfare system in Palestine. … There is no unemployment support. So it’s a very difficult situation financially for people to sustain themselves for a long time.”

She also contended that the Palestinian Authority has been politically marginalized, excluded from regional diplomatic efforts and discussions about Gaza’s future governance.

“They have been sidelined,” she said. “The US and Israel don’t want them to participate in the technocratic committee or anything related to Gaza. … They don’t seek their input. … They don’t even have a role to play in the West Bank at the moment.”

This marginalization is particularly evident in Gaza, where the proposed technocratic government intended to assume control following the ceasefire has not yet been established. Hamas maintains its military presence, while local armed factions reportedly receiving Israeli support have emerged in portions of the territory. Without consolidated governance, issues of reconstruction, public services, and security remain unaddressed.

Michael views the current situation through a different lens. He believes Iran serves as the central player in the regional conflict system, and the confrontation with Tehran could fundamentally transform the region beyond Palestinian territories.

“I think that Israel perceives the event as a very historical opportunity to reshape the regional architecture in its entirety,” Michael told The Media Line.

He noted that Gulf nations remain cautious about openly supporting Israel and the United States due to concerns about potential abandonment if Washington fails to see the conflict through to completion.

“The Gulf countries are very hesitant when it comes to Iran because they don’t rely on the Americans,” he said. “They are afraid that if they join the American-Israeli coalition now … the Americans will not finish the job, and then they will remain there with Iran, which is the wounded lion.”

Michael characterized the military operation as carefully coordinated and potentially transformative in its impact on Iran.

“It’s a very well-planned campaign, a very clear division of war between both sides,” he said. “The accumulation of the damages that are caused to Iran is very significant. … Iran after the war … will not be Iran that we used to know.”

However, he emphasized that the crucial question concerns what happens after the military phase transitions to political decision-making.

“The big question … is what is going to be on the day after,” he said. “On the day that President Trump reaches the conclusion that he won the war … what will remain here in the region?”

This uncertainty also applies to the Palestinian Authority, whose diminished role Michael attributes less to deliberate exclusion than to being overshadowed by larger developments.

“They became very marginal,” he said. “Nobody now has the patience to deal with the Palestinians because everybody understands that we are facing a tectonic event that will change the entire world.”

Nevertheless, Michael acknowledged that the West Bank situation is becoming increasingly problematic within Israel, particularly due to violence perpetrated by Israeli settlers.

“When it comes to the West Bank and to the brutal, violent, and the terrorist behavior of some of the Israeli settlers—we are talking about a marginal group—but unfortunately this marginal group is very vocal, very violent, and very damaging,” he said.

He suggested there is growing awareness in Israel that this issue requires attention.

“I think that there is an understanding among the Israeli leadership that enough is enough in this regard, and measures will be taken,” he noted.

Recent violence in communities like Abu Falah, where three Palestinians were reportedly killed in settler-related incidents within recent days, continues escalating West Bank tensions even as regional focus shifts toward Iran.

For Husseini, this convergence of pressures has created a situation where Palestinians face multiple simultaneous crises: weakened institutions, economic difficulties, settler violence, movement limitations, and uncertainty about Gaza’s future.

“It’s a disastrous formula for the Palestinians,” Husseini said. “A bankrupt and sidelined PA, an uncertain future for Gaza, and restrictions also in East Jerusalem. It’s a grim situation for us.”

The difference between these two assessments is striking. Michael envisions a regional realignment underway that could shift Middle Eastern power dynamics. Husseini sees Palestinian challenges deepening as attention turns elsewhere. Currently, both viewpoints align on one aspect: the Iranian conflict has not settled Palestinian questions but has instead embedded them more deeply within a broader regional struggle while leaving fundamental issues unresolved.

Officials at Thailand’s Phuket airport temporarily shut down their main runway Wednesday following a landing gear failure involving an Air India Express aircraft arriving from India.

Flight AXB938, which had departed from Hyderabad, encountered problems with its nose wheel during the landing process, causing damage to the aircraft’s landing gear system as it touched down on the runway surface.

According to an Air India Express representative, the aircraft “experienced an issue with the nose wheel at Phuket Airport.” The spokesperson continued, “The crew followed all standard protocols, and guests were deplaned.”

Airport officials confirmed that no injuries occurred during the incident and announced the runway would resume operations at 6 p.m. local time (1100 GMT).

Photos shared on social media by Thai state broadcaster MCOT revealed the aircraft’s damaged landing gear making direct contact with the runway pavement, with one wheel completely detached. The images also showed extensive skid marks zigzagging across the tarmac surface.

The budget airline, which operates as Air India’s low-cost division, maintains a fleet exceeding 100 aircraft from both Boeing and Airbus manufacturers.

This incident adds to a series of safety concerns surrounding the airline. India’s aviation regulatory body issued a reprimand to Air India Express in March of last year for failing to replace engine components on an Airbus A320 as mandated by the European Union’s aviation safety authority, Reuters previously reported. Officials also criticized the airline for creating false documentation to appear compliant with safety requirements.

Between January and November of last year, Air India Express documented 95 technical problems, ranking second among Indian carriers for reported defects during that timeframe, according to India’s civil aviation ministry in December. Ministry officials did not elaborate on the specific types of mechanical issues encountered.

The parent company, Air India, has faced heightened regulatory attention in recent months following multiple safety violations and a fatal crash in Ahmedabad last June that claimed 260 lives.

Phuket serves as a major transportation hub for Thailand, handling hundreds of daily flights connecting passengers from Middle Eastern, European, and Asian destinations, along with domestic travel routes.

Two people died and five others were wounded when a Russian drone struck a civilian business in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, according to local authorities.

Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov confirmed the casualties on the Telegram messaging platform, stating, “Unfortunately, there is preliminary information about two people killed.”

Regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported that all five injured individuals sustained serious injuries and are receiving medical treatment. The drone attack also sparked a fire at the targeted business, Syniehubov added.

The city of Kharkiv sits approximately 18 miles from Ukraine’s border with Russia. The city successfully defended against Russian ground forces during the initial stages of the full-scale invasion that began in February 2022, but has remained under constant threat from aerial bombardments throughout the ongoing conflict.

TORONTO (AP) — Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal Party has gained another step toward majority control of Canada’s Parliament following the latest opposition member to switch allegiances.

New Democratic Party interim leader Don Davies expressed strong disappointment Tuesday evening over Member of Parliament Lori Idlout’s decision to join the Liberal ranks, according to his official statement.

The move brings the Liberals significantly closer to achieving majority status, which would enable them to advance legislation without requiring support from opposition parties.

Liberal Cabinet minister Sean Fraser posted a welcome message for Idlout on social media platforms.

This marks the fourth recent defection to Carney’s party, following three Conservative members who switched sides in previous months.

Following Idlout’s departure from the left-leaning New Democratic party, the Liberals now hold 170 seats in the House of Commons. A majority requires 172 Members of Parliament, which would grant them unilateral authority to enact any legislation.

Neither Carney’s spokesperson nor Idlout’s office provided immediate responses to requests for comment.

The prime minister has scheduled special elections in three constituencies that could deliver the majority if Liberals capture two of the three seats.

Carney announced March 8 that voting will take place April 13 across three districts: Scarborough Southwest and University-Rosedale in the Toronto region, both viewed as Liberal strongholds, plus Terrebonne near Montreal, where the outcome remains uncertain.

The three Conservative legislators who recently joined the Liberal caucus include Chris d’Entremont, Michael Ma and Matt Jeneroux.

Jeneroux cited Carney’s World Economic Forum address in Davos as influential in his decision. During that speech, Carney criticized economic pressure tactics used by major powers against smaller nations, earning widespread acclaim and overshadowing U.S. President Donald Trump at the international gathering.

Since taking over from Justin Trudeau as prime minister in 2025 and securing electoral victory, Carney has positioned the Liberals toward the political center.

“One year into his tenure as PM, Carney maintains strong domestic popularity and, particularly following his notable January 20 Davos address, has emerged as a more visible figure internationally,” observed Daniel Béland, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal.

“Mark Carney’s Liberals have successfully drawn both Conservative and NDP Members of Parliament into their ranks, demonstrating the current political success of the Prime Minister’s moderate positioning amid ongoing domestic concerns about economic issues and trade relationships, particularly regarding Canada-US relations,” Béland explained in an email.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un monitored strategic cruise missile launches alongside his teenage daughter via video feed from a naval vessel, according to state media reports released Wednesday, amid rising tensions over U.S.-South Korean joint military exercises.

Photos distributed by the Korean Central News Agency depicted the pair inside a conference room viewing a display screen that showed weapons being launched from the naval destroyer Choe Hyon, which entered service one year ago.

The North Korean leader monitored the missile launches through video transmission on Tuesday and emphasized the importance of maintaining “a powerful and reliable nuclear war deterrent,” according to KCNA’s report, which made no reference to his daughter’s presence.

The young woman, identified by sources as Kim Ju Ae and believed to be approximately 13 years old, has been present at multiple high-profile occasions alongside her father, including military ceremonies and weapons demonstrations, beginning in late 2022. Intelligence officials from South Korea concluded last month that Kim Jong Un appears poised to name her as his successor.

According to KCNA, the missiles successfully struck target islands located off North Korea’s western coastline. The news agency quoted Kim Jong Un as explaining that the launches were designed to showcase the naval force’s strategic attack capabilities and provide troops with weapons training experience.

The North Korean leader personally witnessed comparable cruise missile tests from the same destroyer just one week earlier, though his daughter did not attend that demonstration.

The missile testing on Tuesday followed the commencement of annual spring military exercises between the United States and South Korea, which North Korea characterizes as preparation for an attack.

Kim Yo Jong, the dictator’s sister and a high-ranking government official, issued a warning on Tuesday that the military drills once again expose the United States and South Korea’s “inveterate repugnancy toward” North Korea. She declared that North Korea would “convince the enemies of our war deterrence.”

The Freedom Shield exercise, scheduled to run for 11 days starting Monday, consists primarily of computer-based command center simulations paired with practical field exercises. North Korea typically responds to these training operations by conducting its own weapons testing.

International legal experts filed a formal complaint Tuesday with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, charging that El Salvador’s government has engaged in crimes against humanity.

The legal filing details allegations of widespread torture, killings, and forced disappearances occurring during the nation’s state of emergency, which President Nayib Bukele’s administration put into effect four years ago this month.

According to the complaint, there exist “reasonable grounds” to conclude that crimes against humanity, as outlined in Article 7 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, are taking place in the Central American nation.

The document further contends that these human rights violations stem from government policy “known and even promoted by the highest levels of President Nayib Bukele’s government.”

Bukele’s administration first enacted the emergency measures on March 27, 2022, responding to an outbreak of gang-related violence that claimed 87 lives during a single weekend period.

Since implementing the emergency powers, government forces have imprisoned more than 90,000 individuals, with approximately 500 of those held in custody dying while in state facilities.

Government statistics indicate that murders have dropped by over 90% during Bukele’s presidency.

However, Salvadoran Public Defender General Rene Escobar pushed back against the accusations, stating that the administration rejects any policy involving “forced disappearance, torture, sexual violence, or arbitrary executions.”

KABUL, Afghanistan — Taliban officials on Tuesday pushed back against American accusations that they hold foreign citizens captive to gain political advantages, insisting that Afghan law enforcement arrests individuals solely for breaking the country’s laws, not for negotiating purposes.

The State Department made the announcement Monday, officially classifying Afghanistan as a nation that sponsors wrongful detention and claiming it practices “hostage diplomacy.” This designation places Afghanistan alongside Iran, which received similar criticism from the U.S. within the last two weeks for holding Americans to secure policy changes.

Afghanistan’s Foreign Affairs Ministry in Kabul described the U.S. designation as “regrettable” in their Tuesday response.

During a United Nations-facilitated conference in Doha this past July, Taliban representatives suggested trading Afghans imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay for Americans currently held in Afghanistan. The ministry characterized their ongoing diplomatic conversations with the United States about this matter as productive on Tuesday. However, they emphasized that any foreign nationals in Afghan custody had broken the nation’s laws.

“The government of Afghanistan underscores that no foreign nationals have been detained for purposes of a deal,” the ministry said. “Certain individuals have been detained on charges of violating established laws, and in many instances, they have been released in the normal course following the completion of legal procedures.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a travel warning for Americans on Monday, advising against trips to Afghanistan because the Taliban “continues to unjustly detain our fellow Americans and other foreign nationals.”

“The Taliban continues to use terrorist tactics, kidnapping individuals for ransom or to seek policy concessions. These despicable tactics need to end,” Rubio said.

Rubio demanded freedom for two Americans reportedly in Taliban hands: Dennis Coyle, a university researcher held since January 2025, and Mahmood Habibi, an Afghan American business owner who worked as a contractor for a telecommunications firm based in Kabul and disappeared in 2022.

Both the FBI and Habibi’s relatives believe Taliban forces captured him, though Taliban officials deny having him in custody.

Last September, Afghan Taliban authorities released American citizen Amir Amiri from prison as part of efforts to improve diplomatic ties with Washington.

TORONTO — Authorities in Toronto are examining reports that shots were fired at the United States consulate building in the city’s downtown area during the early hours of Tuesday.

Officials confirm that no one was injured in the incident.

Law enforcement officers with Toronto police responded to calls around 5:30 a.m. regarding someone discharging a weapon at the American diplomatic facility.

Authorities posted on social media that officers were dispatched to the location in the vicinity of University Avenue and Queen Street West.

“Evidence of a firearm discharge has been located,” authorities stated in their social media update.

Police have not yet provided any details about potential suspects.

This incident follows recent attacks on two synagogues in the Toronto metropolitan area that were targeted by gunfire over the past weekend.