Author: Admin

American diplomat Tom Barrack held discussions with Iraq’s former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Friday, according to two sources with knowledge of the meeting.

Al-Maliki, who previously served as Iraq’s leader, has received backing from an influential Shiite political group to reclaim the prime minister position. However, Washington has indicated it may withdraw its support for Iraq should al-Maliki be selected to lead the government once again.

The meeting highlights ongoing diplomatic efforts as Iraq navigates its political leadership decisions amid international concerns about al-Maliki’s potential return to power.

KABUL – Overnight airstrikes by Pakistani forces targeted an ammunition storage facility on the western edge of Kabul, sparking hours of chain-reaction explosions that shook buildings throughout Afghanistan’s capital and left civilians worried about escalating violence.

The bombing represents a dangerous deterioration in relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Taliban leadership, with the former allies now engaging in cross-border military actions and Pakistan characterizing the situation as active warfare.

Footage confirmed by Reuters captured massive clouds of dark smoke billowing over Darulaman, a residential district in western Kabul that also contains various government and military installations, as flames consumed portions of the weapons facility and repeated bursts illuminated the darkness when stored ordnance detonated.

Local residents reported the attack commenced just after midnight.

“We were asleep when we heard the sound of a plane,” said Tamim, a taxi driver who lives near the depot. “It came and dropped two bombs, then flew away again. After that, we heard explosions.”

According to Tamim, the opening blasts triggered ongoing detonations as stockpiled weapons ignited.

“The ammunition inside the depot kept exploding on its own,” he said. “Everyone, in panic, ran down from the second floor of the house.”

Tamim reported the inferno continued burning until approximately 6 a.m. before being contained. While his family avoided injuries, the blast force damaged doors and windows and shattered glass throughout his home.

“The blaze was very intense. We were extremely scared and even planned to leave the area,” he said.

Danish, a 35-year-old pharmacist residing roughly 10 minutes from the storage site, explained he had remained awake monitoring reports of increasing tensions.

“I couldn’t sleep again until morning.”

Reuters reporters in other parts of Kabul documented hearing powerful explosions and aircraft sounds, followed by emergency vehicle sirens piercing the nighttime quiet.

Mohammad Ali, 31, who operates a mobile electronics business, was staying at a guesthouse when an explosion around 2 a.m. startled them awake.

“At first we thought it was an earthquake,” he said, but quickly recognized it was gunfire.

“We are just ordinary people,” he added, explaining they worry more about earning income and poverty than military conflicts.

Both nations claim to have eliminated dozens of opposing fighters in battles following months of intensifying militant attacks that each country blames the other for supporting, along with border skirmishes.

Afghanistan continues struggling with widespread poverty, joblessness and growing food insecurity since international aid collapsed after the Taliban regained control in 2021, ending a 20-year insurgency against the American-supported government.

For many Kabul residents, the strike brought back painful memories of previous wars.

Yalda, 35, traveled to Darulaman Thursday to check on her sister after learning about the explosion. “If they attack here today, tomorrow they might target our area as well,” she said.

“Misery has started again.”

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — The jailed leader of Turkey’s Kurdistan Workers’ Party issued a fresh appeal Friday for legislative action to support peace negotiations with Ankara following their prolonged armed conflict.

Abdullah Ocalan’s message comes one year after his groundbreaking appeal for the PKK to abandon armed resistance and disband the organization.

His most recent statement was delivered in Turkey’s parliament by legislator Pervin Buldan, a senior figure in the nation’s pro-Kurdish political party. The message arrived weeks following a parliamentary committee’s recommendation of various reforms to bolster peace negotiations, including provisions to help former PKK fighters who reject violence reintegrate into society.

“The transition to democratic integration necessitates laws of peace,” read Ocalan’s message.

“We aim to close the era of politics based on violence and to open a process based on a democratic society and the rule of law,” Buldan stated while reading the communication.

“We invite all segments of society to create opportunities and take responsibility in this direction,” the message continued.

Since 1984, the PKK has conducted an armed rebellion against Turkey that has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and extended into neighboring Iraq and Syria. Turkey, the United States, and the European Union all classify the organization as a terrorist group.

Following Ocalan’s February 27, 2025 declaration, the PKK announced in May its intention to surrender weapons and dissolve, bringing more than four decades of fighting to an end.

The organization subsequently conducted a ceremonial disarmament event in northern Iraq, where its militants had maintained strongholds throughout the insurgency. They destroyed numerous weapons in a symbolic burning ceremony before beginning to relocate remaining fighters from Turkey into Iraq.

This month, a bipartisan parliamentary committee proposed multiple reforms, including reintegration programs for PKK members who abandon violence. The committee emphasized that legal measures should depend on security agencies confirming the group has surrendered its arsenal.

The committee’s additional recommendations included expanding free speech protections, releasing elderly or ill detainees, and preventing the prosecution of non-violent activities under terrorism statutes.

Friday also saw the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party, known as DEM, advocate for implementing these legal changes.

“The state and the executive branch are obligated to move this process forward with the seriousness and determination that matches Mr. Ocalan’s pace for a solution,” stated DEM party co-chairman Tuncer Bakirhan. “The responsibility now rests with the state and the executive branch.”

The 76-year-old Ocalan has remained incarcerated on Imrali island near Istanbul since 1999 following his treason conviction. Despite his imprisonment, he maintains considerable sway over PKK operations. The organization originally pursued Kurdish independence but later modified its goals to seek autonomy and enhanced rights within Turkey.

LONDON — A stunning electoral triumph by Britain’s Green Party has delivered a crushing defeat to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, sparking serious doubts about his political survival as Labour leader.

In a dramatic reversal of fortunes, Starmer’s center-left Labour Party suffered a humiliating loss in what was once considered a safe seat in northern England, placing third behind both the environmentalist Greens and the far-right Reform UK movement — barely 20 months after Labour’s overwhelming general election victory.

The special election held Thursday in Greater Manchester’s Gorton and Denton district represents just one parliamentary seat among 650 total, yet it offers a telling preview of Britain’s increasingly fractured political landscape with potentially sweeping implications.

The outcome delivers another devastating setback to Starmer, whose tenure has lurched from one crisis to another and nearly collapsed entirely just weeks ago.

Following Labour’s July 2024 electoral triumph, Starmer has failed to fulfill campaign promises of economic expansion, public service improvements, and cost-of-living relief. His administration has been plagued by policy reversals and controversial decisions regarding welfare reductions and other unpopular measures.

With the next nationwide vote not required until 2029, Starmer’s primary threat emerges from his own party ranks. British parliamentary rules allow the ruling party to replace its prime minister without calling new elections.

Just three weeks prior, such a change appeared imminent when fallout from newly released Jeffrey Epstein documents in America triggered widespread party rebellion.

Multiple Labour members of parliament and the party’s Scottish leadership demanded Starmer’s resignation, his top staff members departed, and his government appeared on the verge of collapse.

Though Starmer pledged to remain and received public support from potential successors, his already fragile position has deteriorated further, with upcoming May 7 local elections expected to bring additional Labour losses.

Labour MP Jon Trickett declared Friday that Starmer should “look in the mirror and make a decision about his own personal future.”

Green Party leader Zack Polanski proclaimed the results demonstrate that “Labour’s electoral stranglehold is over.”

For the past century, British national politics has been controlled by two major forces: the Conservative Party on the right and Labour on the left. Unlike numerous European nations, Britain lacks proportional representation, historically preventing smaller parties from gaining significant influence.

However, this dynamic is shifting dramatically. Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland maintain distinct regional parties, while emerging movements on both political extremes are capturing growing voter support.

Reform UK, the newest organization led by anti-immigration activist Nigel Farage, holds merely eight parliamentary seats yet has consistently led public opinion surveys for months, surpassing both Labour and Conservative support.

The Green Party, under new leadership from “eco-populist” Polanski, has expanded its platform beyond environmental issues to address cost-of-living concerns, drug legalization, and Palestinian solidarity, presenting itself as a left-liberal alternative to Labour.

The newly elected representative, Hannah Spencer, is a 34-year-old plumber who used her victory address to apologize to customers for canceling work appointments to begin her parliamentary duties.

Spencer addressed concerns that traditionally belong to Labour’s core message: living costs, deteriorating public services, and diminished prospects in former manufacturing regions that historically supported Labour candidates.

“For people here in Gorton and Denton who feel left behind and isolated: I see you and I will fight for you,” Spencer stated.

The election results underscore Labour’s difficult position facing opposition from multiple directions.

Thursday’s contest occurred in a demographically diverse constituency containing traditional working-class communities — formerly Labour strongholds now leaning toward Reform — alongside substantial student and Muslim populations. Many feel alienated by Labour’s centrist pivot under Starmer and the government’s perceived reluctance to condemn Israel’s military actions against Hamas in Gaza — creating opportunities for Green Party growth.

University of Manchester political science professor Rob Ford characterized the outcome as “the nightmare scenario for the incumbent government.”

“They have fallen into the electoral Valley of Death,” Ford posted on social media. “Rejected in the center. Rejected on the right. And now rejected on the left.”

Following the defeat, numerous Labour voices demanded strategic changes, arguing that attempts to attract “Reform-curious” voters through immigration restrictions had alienated liberal supporters.

“If the Labour Party thinks it can win an election by moving on to the territory which has been occupied by Mr. Farage and his party, they’ve made a big mistake,” Trickett told Times Radio. He said the party wrongly assumed “that the progressive voters had nowhere else to go.”

Starmer has been damaged by scandals involving Jeffrey Epstein, despite never meeting the disgraced financier and having no connection to his crimes.

The recent leadership crisis stemmed from revelations about convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s relationship with Peter Mandelson, the experienced Labour politician Starmer appointed in 2024 as UK ambassador to the United States.

Law enforcement is examining emails suggesting Mandelson shared classified government information with Epstein fifteen years ago. Mandelson was arrested and questioned this week before being released on bail, though he faces no sexual misconduct allegations.

Starmer dismissed Mandelson in September 2025 after evidence showed the ambassador maintained contact with Epstein following the financier’s 2008 conviction for sex crimes involving a minor. Recent revelations have intensified Labour lawmakers’ criticism of Starmer’s judgment in selecting Mandelson for the Washington position.

On Friday, Starmer acknowledged the disappointing results but promised to “keep on fighting.”

“Incumbent governments quite often get results like that mid-term, but I do understand that voters are frustrated,” he said. “They’re impatient for change.”

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Ancient treasures spanning centuries of Cambodian history have made their way home after being stolen during the country’s darkest periods of conflict and chaos.

Deputy Prime Minister Hun Many presided over a special ceremony Friday at Phnom Penh’s National Museum, where 74 priceless artifacts were officially returned from the United Kingdom. These cultural treasures had been taken from Cambodia as part of an illegal smuggling operation and were recovered through a 2020 settlement with the estate of Douglas Latchford, a deceased art dealer accused of running the smuggling network.

According to the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, “This substantial restitution represents one of the most important returns of Khmer cultural heritage in recent years, following major repatriations in 2021 and 2023 from the same collection. It marks a significant step forward in Cambodia’s continued efforts to recover, preserve, and restore its ancestral legacy for future generations.”

The recovered pieces span from the pre-Angkorian era through the peak of the mighty Angkor Empire and include massive sandstone carvings, intricate bronze artwork, and sacred ceremonial items. The Angkor civilization flourished from the 9th through 15th centuries and left behind the famous Angkor Wat temple complex, now the country’s premier tourist destination.

Latchford operated as a well-known antiquities trader who allegedly masterminded an extensive network for selling stolen Cambodian sculptures to international buyers.

During Cambodia’s devastating civil conflicts and the horrific Khmer Rouge period from the 1970s through 1980s, systematic looting operations delivered stolen artifacts to Latchford, who then marketed them to collectors, dealers, and museums throughout the West. Many pieces suffered damage when thieves forcibly removed them from temple structures and ancient sites.

Federal prosecutors in New York brought charges against Latchford in 2019, including wire fraud and conspiracy allegations, but he passed away in 2020 at 88 years old before authorities could bring him to trial.

The return of these artifacts reflects a growing international movement to restore cultural treasures to their countries of origin. This trend has benefited Cambodia and Thailand, along with nations affected by conflicts in Syria, Iraq, and territories occupied by Nazi Germany. Major institutions like New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art have participated in returning illegally obtained works, including pieces from Cambodia.

“The ancient artifacts created and preserved by our ancestors are now being returned to Cambodia, bringing warmth and joy, following the country’s return to peace,” Hun Many stated. He serves as the younger brother of current Prime Minister Hun Manet.

American diplomatic personnel stationed in Israel received urgent instructions Friday to evacuate immediately if they wish to leave the country, as military tensions continue to escalate throughout the Middle East region.

In an internal communication sent to embassy workers, U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee informed staff that Washington officials had approved voluntary departures for personnel wanting to exit Israel.

According to a source familiar with the embassy operations who spoke anonymously to The Associated Press, Huckabee’s message was distributed before 10:30 a.m. Friday morning. The communication stressed the urgency for staff members to secure any available flights departing Israel and subsequently travel back to Washington.

“Those wishing to take AD should do so TODAY,” Huckabee stated in his message, referring to the military term “authorized departure.”

“While there may be outbound flights over the coming days, there may not be,” he continued.

The ambassador emphasized that while panic wasn’t necessary, personnel desiring to leave should make arrangements without delay.

This directive followed Thursday’s breakdown in nuclear discussions between Iran and the United States, which concluded without reaching an agreement. Major airlines including Netherlands-based KLM have already declared intentions to halt service from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport, while additional foreign missions have implemented similar evacuation protocols for Israel and surrounding nations.

Australia took action Wednesday, ordering “the departure of all dependents of Australian officials posted to Israel in response to the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East.” Meanwhile, India and multiple European nations with diplomatic presence in Iran have warned their citizens against traveling to that country.

During a staff meeting held Friday following his initial message, Huckabee mentioned his efforts to persuade airlines to maintain flight operations.

These evacuation authorizations represent an escalation in emergency preparedness as substantial U.S. military assets, including aircraft and naval vessels, gather throughout the Middle East.

Badr al-Busaidi, Oman’s foreign minister serving as a mediator in ongoing negotiations, indicated that meaningful advancement occurred Thursday, despite the absence of public announcements from Iranian and American representatives regarding any breakthroughs.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi declined to provide specifics Thursday but stated “what needs to happen has been clearly spelled out from our side.”

Spanish authorities and the European Union’s border protection agency are actively conducting search operations for a vessel carrying migrants that vanished while attempting to reach Spain’s Balearic Islands, according to government officials on Friday.

The advocacy organization Walking Borders had issued an alert Thursday regarding three vessels that had disappeared while traveling from Algeria to the Balearics across the Mediterranean, carrying a total of 81 individuals including 10 women and two infants.

This maritime corridor experienced significant growth as a migration pathway into the European Union during the previous year, even as total arrivals to the region decreased overall.

Data from the International Organization for Migration indicates that no fewer than 483 migrants perished or went missing in the Western Mediterranean during attempts to reach Europe last year.

European border officials reported that smuggling operations had shifted from Morocco to Algeria due to what traffickers viewed as weaker enforcement measures, with criminals now utilizing higher-speed vessels.

Spain’s regional representative for the Balearics confirmed Friday that Algeria’s naval forces had successfully intercepted two of the three missing boats, while aerial units from both Spanish Civil Guard and European border patrol continue their search for the remaining vessel.

Officials have not disclosed the number of individuals aboard the missing boat or provided updates on the health status of those rescued from the two intercepted vessels.

Algeria’s diplomatic mission in Spain has not yet responded to media inquiries regarding the incident.

According to Spain’s Interior Ministry statistics, unauthorized maritime arrivals to the Balearic Islands decreased by 25% during the period from January through February 15 when compared to the corresponding timeframe last year.

In response to increased migration activity during the previous year, Spanish officials have pursued enhanced collaboration with Algeria to combat human trafficking operations.

Spain’s Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska indicated to reporters last month that Madrid might seek expanded aerial monitoring from European border agencies along the Algeria-to-Balearics corridor.

However, he dismissed the possibility of deploying Spanish law enforcement personnel or providing equipment to Algeria, citing recent diplomatic tensions, and emphasized that cooperation would focus primarily on enhanced intelligence sharing regarding security matters.

NEW DELHI – A court in India has dismissed corruption charges against former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday, refusing to move forward with a trial that his political party claimed was designed to damage his reputation.

The former anti-corruption advocate turned politician was taken into custody in March 2024 on charges brought by the Central Bureau of Investigation regarding suspected improprieties in the distribution of alcohol licenses through a policy his administration implemented in 2022. After spending six months behind bars, he was granted bail and subsequently stepped down from his position as chief minister.

The Aam Aadmi Party, led by Kejriwal, had rejected the accusations, calling them “a desperate attempt to malign his image” in advance of both national and Delhi electoral contests.

In February 2025, the AAP suffered defeat in Delhi’s election, giving Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party authority over the capital territory for the first time in nearly three decades. The 58-year-old Kejriwal had previously secured victory in three consecutive Delhi elections.

Speaking to media representatives outside the Rouse Avenue district court with visible emotion, Kejriwal stated, “We have always said the truth prevails. They slapped a false case on us but the court said that we are fiercely honest.”

The Central Bureau of Investigation announced its intention to challenge the court’s decision, claiming that “several aspects of investigation have either been ignored or not considered adequately.” The Enforcement Directorate, conducting its own separate investigation into the matter, had also been pursuing legal action against Kejriwal.

According to the CBI’s allegations, the alcohol policy established under Kejriwal’s administration provided improper benefits to private retail operators. Both Kejriwal and his associates have consistently rejected these accusations.

Defense attorney Sumer Singh Boparai, representing one of the defendants, confirmed that the court’s ruling also cleared 22 additional people, including Kejriwal’s former deputy Manish Sisodia. The complete written judgment from the trial court has not yet been made public.

A recent NPR interview explored how international partners are preparing for the possibility of American military operations against Iran under the Trump administration.

Host Michel Martin conducted the discussion with Dennis Ross, who previously served as both an Ambassador and Special Envoy to the Middle East, bringing extensive diplomatic experience to the conversation.

The interview centered on examining the strategic preparations and concerns of allied nations as they monitor escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran.

Ross provided insights into the diplomatic landscape and how longtime U.S. partners are positioning themselves amid uncertainty about potential military engagement in the region.

BRUSSELS — In an unprecedented move, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced Friday her intention to begin provisional enforcement of a sweeping trade agreement with South American countries, despite lacking authorization from the European Parliament.

“When they are ready, we are ready,” von der Leyen declared. With support from European leaders, she stated the Commission would “provisionally apply the agreement” following Thursday’s ratification of the EU-Mercosur trade pact by Uruguay and Argentina.

This historic agreement represents 25 years of negotiations between regions now housing over 700 million residents and representing 25% of worldwide gross domestic product, establishing one of the globe’s most extensive free trade areas.

The move comes amid worldwide trade disruptions caused by U.S. tariff policies and China’s restriction of essential mineral exports, prompting the 27-member EU to pursue numerous free trade agreements with nations worldwide.

Nevertheless, the agreement has encountered fierce resistance from Europe’s farming industry and was anticipated to face intense scrutiny from European Parliament members.

Von der Leyen’s decision to bypass these legislators represents an uncommon action for the European executive branch and will likely draw sharp criticism.

“Mercosur embodies the spirit in which Europe is acting on the global scene,” von der Leyen stated during a press conference where no questions were permitted.

“Our businesses, our workers, and our citizens will reap the benefits, and they should reap them as soon as possible,” she continued. “This is about resilience, this is about growth, and Europe shaping its own future.”

She did recognize that the “agreement can only be fully concluded once the European Parliament has given its consent.”

“So the commission will continue closely with all EU institutions, member states, and stakeholders to ensure a smooth and transparent process,” she explained.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney touched down in Mumbai Friday, beginning his inaugural official visit to India as he works to rebuild diplomatic ties that suffered significant damage in recent years under the previous administration.

The four-day diplomatic mission will include discussions with business executives and a scheduled meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Monday.

India’s foreign ministry released a statement Thursday indicating the leadership meeting would provide a chance to reinforce “the positive momentum and shared vision” for a partnership focused on the future. Officials expect Modi and Carney’s discussions to address collaboration in trade and investment, energy sectors, critical minerals, and technology development.

Following his India visit, Carney plans stops in Australia and Japan next week as part of his broader strategy to reduce Canada’s trade dependence on the United States. The Prime Minister has established an ambitious target of doubling Canada’s non-American exports over the coming decade, citing concerns that U.S. tariffs are dampening investment confidence.

The two nations took steps last year to move forward on a trade agreement following a two-year period of diplomatic friction.

Relations between the countries soured when Canadian officials claimed India played a role in the death of a Canadian Sikh activist near Vancouver in June 2023. India strongly rejected these claims and criticized former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s administration for allegedly providing sanctuary to Sikh extremists connected to the Khalistan movement. Indian authorities have prohibited this movement, which seeks to establish an independent Sikh state.

Diplomatic conditions began improving last June when Carney extended an invitation to Modi for the G7 summit held in Alberta.

Canada isn’t alone in making accusations against Indian officials regarding assassination plots on international territory.

In 2023, American federal prosecutors charged an Indian government official with directing a failed plot to kill another Sikh separatist activist in New York. Earlier this month, an Indian national pleaded guilty to conspiring to hire an assassin to murder the Sikh separatist leader.

BRUSSELS – European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced Friday that the European Union will move forward with implementing a disputed trade agreement with four South American nations, despite ongoing controversy surrounding the deal.

The trade pact represents the EU’s most significant agreement in terms of duty reductions, involving Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay through the Mercosur trading bloc. Negotiations for this landmark deal spanned a quarter-century before reaching completion.

According to EU officials, the agreement will eliminate approximately 4 billion euros worth of tariffs on European exports, equivalent to about $4.7 billion.

Nations including Germany and Spain are championing the agreement, arguing it’s crucial for compensating for commercial losses caused by American tariffs while decreasing dependence on China for essential raw materials.

However, significant resistance comes from France, which leads the EU in agricultural production. French officials and farming groups argue the agreement will flood European markets with inexpensive beef, sugar, and poultry from South America, creating unfair competition for local farmers who have organized multiple demonstrations against the proposal.

Von der Leyen emphasized that provisional implementation would give the European bloc an important competitive edge in the region.

KYIV – Ukraine’s defense leadership is exploring collaborative partnerships with allied countries to develop advanced air defense capabilities that can intercept ballistic missiles, as the nation grapples with a severe shortage of ammunition for its American-supplied Patriot systems, according to the country’s defense minister.

The Patriot defense systems have played a crucial role in Ukraine’s ability to protect its airspace from Russian ballistic missile attacks, which travel at supersonic speeds and cannot be stopped by Ukraine’s other existing air defense technologies.

Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov revealed that supplies of PAC-3 missiles used by the Patriot systems have reached “critically” low levels.

“Ukraine has significant potential to independently produce counter-ballistic systems and missiles,” Fedorov explained to members of the press earlier this week, noting that air defense capabilities have been his primary priority since assuming his role in mid-January.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has frequently expressed frustration over delays from partner nations in delivering Patriot missiles and additional air defense equipment following Russia’s 2022 invasion, revealing that multiple systems were completely out of ammunition at one point during January.

According to Fedorov, he has already spoken with Zelenskiy about establishing joint air defense partnerships. Reuters was unable to confirm whether formal talks have begun with potential partner countries or identify which nations Ukraine is considering for these collaborations.

“This requires a dedicated project – the mathematics is complex and requires time. But Ukraine must develop its own capabilities,” Fedorov stated.

MOSCOW – The Russian government called on Afghanistan and Pakistan Friday to immediately end cross-border military strikes and pursue diplomatic solutions to their disputes.

Moscow maintains unique diplomatic relationships with both nations, standing as the sole country that has formally recognized Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government while also keeping strong ties with Pakistan.

“Of course, the direct military clashes that have taken place do not bode well. Therefore we hope that they will cease as soon as possible… Like everyone else, we are closely monitoring this situation,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said during a press briefing.

Peskov also acknowledged that preparations are underway for Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to visit Russia, though he did not specify when. According to state media outlet RIA, the visit is expected to occur within the coming week.

The Russian Foreign Ministry also weighed in on the situation, with spokesperson Maria Zakharova expressing Moscow’s alarm over the rapid military escalation between the two neighboring nations.

“We call on our friends Afghanistan and Pakistan to abandon this dangerous confrontation and return to the negotiating table to resolve all differences through political and diplomatic means,” Zakharova posted on her Telegram channel.

BEIJING — Chinese officials have expelled 19 members from the country’s national legislature just seven days before the body’s yearly session is scheduled to begin.

Thursday evening’s announcement provided no explanation for why the representatives were dismissed, though such actions typically stem from corruption probes.

President Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption initiative continues more than ten years after its launch, with military leadership facing increased scrutiny in recent years. This includes last month’s dismissal of the military’s highest-ranking general, as Xi works to overhaul and update the nation’s armed forces.

Political experts suggest the crackdown also serves as a method for Xi, now in his fourteenth year leading the country, to eliminate possible challengers and secure loyalty from those under his command.

The expulsions are unlikely to significantly affect the National People’s Congress session, which begins next Thursday and typically lasts one week. The mostly symbolic legislative body routinely approves decisions already made by the governing Communist Party.

Among the dismissed military personnel are two serving under the Central Military Commission, the armed forces’ top governing body, plus representatives from the army, navy, air force, and rocket force divisions. Three hold general rank. The rocket force, responsible for China’s nuclear weapons program, has been a primary focus of military purges.

The remaining expelled members were regional delegates representing various provinces. These dismissals bring the National People’s Congress membership down to 2,878.

The legislature’s Standing Committee, a smaller but more influential group that convenes regularly throughout the year and has legislative approval authority, announced the removals.

During its pre-congress meeting, the Standing Committee also dismissed two additional officials: the military court president and Emergency Management Minister Wang Xiangxi. Officials revealed last month that Wang faces corruption charges.

KABUL/ISLAMABAD – Taliban officials in Afghanistan announced Friday that their forces carried out drone attacks targeting Pakistani military installations, marking an escalation in tensions between the neighboring nations.

According to Afghanistan’s defense ministry and a government spokesperson, the Taliban forces “successfully conducted” the aerial strikes using unmanned aircraft against military positions inside Pakistan as conflicts between the two countries persist.

However, Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar offered a different account of the events, stating that militants affiliated with the Pakistani Taliban attempted drone operations against targets within Pakistan’s borders. Tarar claimed the country’s anti-drone defense systems successfully intercepted the aircraft, resulting in “no damage to life.”

The conflicting reports highlight ongoing hostilities between Afghanistan and Pakistan as both sides continue to engage in cross-border military activities.

A Tunisian court has handed down a 24-year prison sentence to Ali Larayedh, the country’s former prime minister, after finding him guilty of assisting jihadist fighters in their journey to Syria during the past ten years, according to state media reports released Friday.

Larayedh’s political party, the Islamic opposition group Ennahda, maintains that the prosecution is driven by political motives and represents part of a broader campaign against opposition voices since President Kais Saied consolidated power in 2021 by dismantling parliament and assuming rule through executive orders.

The convicted former leader held the prime minister’s office from 2013 through 2014, a chaotic time period that followed Tunisia’s 2011 uprising.

During Thursday’s court proceedings, Larayedh, who has remained in custody since 2022, declared to the judge: “I am innocent. I am being subjected to injustice, abuse and ingratitude.” Legal options remain available to him as he can challenge both the guilty verdict and the prison term.

In the years after the 2011 revolution, several hundred Tunisian citizens made their way to Syria, Iraq, and Libya to join forces with or fight for Islamic State organizations. Ennahda encountered harsh condemnation from secular political opponents who claimed the party enabled these departures while holding government positions, charges the organization has consistently rejected.

The legal proceedings against Larayedh encompassed seven additional defendants, including former Interior Ministry personnel.

According to TAP state news agency, which cited a court official, the prison sentences for all defendants varied from three years up to the maximum 24-year term.

JERUSALEM, February 27 – As tensions between the United States and Iran continue to escalate, Israel maintains a comprehensive defensive network against potential Iranian missile strikes that could target Israeli soil during any military confrontation.

The nation’s protective shield consists of several interconnected systems operating at different ranges and altitudes:

ARROW INTERCEPTORS

Israel’s long-distance protection comes from the Arrow-2 and Arrow-3 systems, specifically created with Iranian missile capabilities in mind. These interceptors engage threats both within Earth’s atmosphere and in space, operating at heights that ensure safe neutralization of any unconventional warheads.

Israel Aerospace Industries, a government-owned company, leads the project with Boeing participating in interceptor production.

DAVID’S SLING

Targeting medium-distance threats, David’s Sling neutralizes ballistic missiles launched from distances between 100 and 200 kilometers (62-124 miles).

This system results from collaboration between Israel’s government-owned Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and RTX Corp, the American company formerly called Raytheon. Beyond ballistic missiles, David’s Sling can also destroy aircraft, drones and cruise missiles.

IRON DOME

Israel’s close-range protection system was created to counter rocket attacks like those launched by Hamas militants from Gaza.

Built with American support, Iron Dome began operations in 2011. Mobile units mounted on trucks launch radar-controlled missiles that destroy incoming rockets, mortars and drones while airborne.

Naval vessels received their own Iron Dome protection starting in 2017.

The technology evaluates whether incoming rockets threaten populated areas. Rockets aimed at empty areas are left to fall without interception.

Initially designed to protect cities from rockets traveling 4 to 70 kilometers (2.5-43 miles), defense experts indicate the system’s range has grown significantly.

IRON BEAM

After more than ten years of development, Israel’s ground-based laser defense system became fully operational in late 2025. Iron Beam targets smaller aerial threats including unmanned aircraft and mortars. The laser technology superheats and disables incoming threats at much lower costs than missile-based interception systems.

U.S. THAAD DEPLOYMENT

American military forces deployed their advanced Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system to Israel in October 2024.

THAAD represents a crucial component of U.S. air defense capabilities, designed to intercept and eliminate short, medium and intermediate-range ballistic missiles during their final flight phase.

Following Israel’s attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, U.S. ground-based systems helped intercept Iranian missiles in June 2025, according to American officials. Israeli media also reported that a U.S. Navy destroyer in the Eastern Mediterranean assisted in stopping incoming ballistic missiles.

AERIAL INTERCEPTION

Israeli military helicopters and fighter aircraft have used air-to-air missiles to eliminate drones approaching Israeli territory, according to military leadership.

GENEVA – The United Nations’ leading human rights official issued an urgent plea Friday for Iran to immediately halt all death penalty executions, expressing alarm that numerous additional protesters could face capital punishment following this week’s first execution sentence connected to January’s widespread demonstrations.

Speaking before the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva, Volker Turk expressed his shock at recent developments in Iran. “I am horrified by reports that at least eight people, including two children, have been sentenced to death in connection with the protests,” Turk stated, noting that approximately 30 additional individuals appear to face similar potential sentences.

The warning comes as Iran continues its crackdown on demonstrators who participated in mass protests throughout the country in January.

ANKARA – The imprisoned leader of a Kurdish militant organization released a statement Friday urging Turkey to enact legislation focused on peace as part of moving toward democratic integration within the country.

Abdullah Ocalan, who heads the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), delivered his message exactly one year after making a historic appeal for his group to abandon its long-running armed rebellion and dissolve entirely. Representatives from the pro-Kurdish DEM Party delivered Ocalan’s latest statement during a news conference.

Ocalan’s previous appeal to end the insurgency sparked optimism that Turkey’s prolonged conflict might finally conclude. The decades-long fighting has resulted in over 40,000 deaths, created significant social rifts, and hampered economic progress throughout Turkey’s predominantly Kurdish southeastern regions. However, meaningful advancement toward resolution has remained limited since that initial call for peace.

COPENHAGEN, Feb 27 – New polling data released ahead of Denmark’s upcoming March 24 parliamentary election suggests Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen’s Social Democrats and their left-leaning allies are approaching a legislative majority, potentially bringing an end to almost four years of cross-party governance.

The upcoming vote will test whether Danish citizens support Frederiksen’s handling of sovereignty issues regarding Greenland and her international diplomatic efforts, or whether they believe her administration has overlooked pressing domestic issues, as her political opponents contend.

Recent surveys conducted by Epinion and Megafon for television networks DR and TV2 project the left-leaning coalition under Frederiksen’s leadership could capture between 87-88 seats in Denmark’s 179-member legislative body, falling just short of the 90 seats required for an outright majority.

Meanwhile, the conservative coalition headed by Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen from the Liberal Party is expected to secure between 73-77 seats based on the same polling data.

The parliamentary structure includes four representatives from Greenland and the Faroe Islands, who typically remain neutral on Denmark’s internal political matters but may play a crucial role if the election results are tight.

While Danish political parties have historically organized into left and right coalitions, the 2022 election resulted in an unusual cross-party alliance combining the Social Democrats, Liberal Party, and the Moderates under Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, who previously served as prime minister.

This existing coalition appears headed for a loss of its majority position, with polling showing a decline of 13-15 percentage points across both surveys.

During Thursday’s initial leaders’ debate, sharp disagreements emerged over Frederiksen’s proposed wealth tax plan designed to generate funding for education and social welfare programs.

Liberal Alliance leader Alex Vanopslagh characterized the proposal as “pettiness,” while Moderates leader Rasmussen labeled it “stupid.”

Those opposing the wealth tax pointed to Norway’s experience with similar legislation, arguing it caused wealthy individuals to relocate overseas and potentially damages long-term economic development. Supporters counter that such a measure would help address income inequality while providing resources for social programs.

Polling shows Frederiksen’s Social Democrats have recovered from a December low point of 17% support, now registering 20.8% and 21.8% in the recent surveys. This remains below their 28% showing in the 2022 election.

BEIRUT (AP) — During last month’s violent suppression of anti-government demonstrations in Iran, armed security personnel interfered with medical treatment at hospitals overwhelmed with injured protesters, according to healthcare workers who witnessed the events.

A physician working in the northern city of Rasht described attempting to save a man in his 40s who had sustained a gunshot wound to the head at point-blank range. Armed plainclothes officers physically prevented medical staff from reaching the patient, using their weapons to push healthcare workers away.

“They surrounded him and didn’t allow us to move further,” the doctor in the northern city of Rasht said.

The patient died within minutes as security agents prevented resuscitation efforts. Officers then placed the body in a black bag and loaded it with other deceased victims into a vehicle before departing.

Such incidents occurred repeatedly across multiple Iranian cities during early January, as security forces fired on crowds to suppress widespread demonstrations against the nation’s 47-year-old government. Plainclothes agents flooded medical facilities treating thousands of wounded protesters, monitoring and sometimes preventing patient care, intimidating medical personnel, arresting protesters, and removing bodies. Authorities detained dozens of physicians.

The Associated Press compiled this report through interviews with three Iranian doctors and six medical professionals living overseas who maintain contact with colleagues in Iran, along with human rights organization reports and verification of more than twelve social media videos. All physicians in Iran requested anonymity due to fears of government retaliation.

Working with Berlin-based organization Mnemonic, the AP identified online videos, posts and additional material documenting hospital violence.

Medical professionals both inside Iran and abroad described the level of violence and militarization of healthcare facilities as unprecedented, even for a nation with decades of experience suppressing dissent and monitoring public institutions. In at least one case, snipers positioned on a hospital rooftop in the northern town of Gorgan fired at patients attempting to approach the facility, according to witness testimony provided by IIPHA, a U.S.-based association of Iranian healthcare professionals.

The Oslo-based Iran Human Rights Center has documented numerous hospital incidents involving security agents preventing medical treatment, disconnecting patients from ventilators, harassing physicians and detaining protesters.

“It is systematic,” said Amiry-Moghaddam, an Iranian-Norwegian neuroscientist who founded the group. “And we have not experienced this pattern before.”

Government officials have attributed the protests and resulting violence to armed foreign-supported “terrorists.”

Health Ministry spokesman Hossein Kermanpour rejected reports of prevented treatment or patient removal from hospitals, calling them “untrue, but also fundamentally impossible.” State media quoted him saying all injured received treatment “without any discrimination or interference over political opinions.” Iran’s United Nations mission did not respond immediately to requests for comment regarding the physicians’ testimonies.

The suppression campaign, which peaked on January 8 and 9, marked the most lethal crackdown since the Islamic Republic’s establishment in 1979. Complete casualty figures and other details have emerged slowly due to government-imposed internet restrictions.

The Human Rights Activists News Agency reports confirming over 7,000 deaths while investigating thousands more. Government officials have acknowledged more than 3,000 fatalities, though authorities have historically undercounted or failed to report casualties from previous unrest.

Once the crackdown commenced, the Rasht physician said he endured 66 hours of continuous work, moving daily between different facilities to assist with wounded patients — initially a trauma center, then a hospital, and finally a private clinic.

On January 8, “every 15 to 30 minutes, the entire emergency ward would be emptied and then refilled with new patients,” the doctor said.

Conditions deteriorated on January 9, as live ammunition wounds became more frequent and security agents grew increasingly threatening.

Officers brought wounded protesters to facilities and monitored them during treatment, the physician said. They forced their way into wards carrying automatic weapons, threatening staff, filming patients and examining identification documents.

During patient discharge, he said, “they would take anyone who was confirmed to be a protester.”

At one point, security agents delivered the corpse of a deceased man with shackled hands. The body showed pellet wounds to the abdomen and chest plus a clear bullet wound to the head, according to the doctor.

He immediately recognized the victim. Moments earlier, the man’s family had been circulating his photograph throughout the hospital, inquiring whether he had been admitted.

Amnesty International has received credible reports of targeted, close-range shootings of protesters occurring “at a far greater scale” than in previous protest crackdowns, according to the organization’s Iran researcher Raha Bahereini. Two AP-verified videos show protester bodies with close-range gunshot wounds and connected medical equipment.

The physician said he and colleagues attempted to protect wounded protesters by falsifying hospital records. Gunshot wounds to the abdomen were documented as abdominal pain; fractures were recorded as falling accidents. One patient shot in the genitals was listed as a urology case.

“We knew that no matter what we did for the patients, they wouldn’t be safe once they stepped out of the hospital,” he said.

The AP could not independently verify the physician’s account of Rasht hospital events, though it aligned with other AP reporting.

The AP confirmed videos from four hospitals showing Iranian security forces’ activities. Mnemonic collected dozens of videos, posts and testimonies indicating forces were present at nine hospitals, sometimes firing weapons and tear gas. Since 2022, Mnemonic has preserved digital evidence of Iranian human rights violations, creating archives containing over 2 million documents with partners.

One AP-verified video shows security agents smashing glass entrance doors at Imam Khomeini Hospital in the western city of Ilam, then charging through corridors with weapons while shouting at people.

The Health Ministry told state media it was investigating the incident, stating its commitment to protecting medical centers, staff and patients.

Additional AP-verified videos show heavy security presence surrounding three Tehran hospitals, firing tear gas and pursuing protesters.

Other physicians operated secret treatment centers to care for wounded patients away from authorities.

On the evening of January 8, a 37-year-old general surgeon was dining in Tehran when he received a call from a professional colleague he hadn’t spoken with in years. The friend, an ophthalmologist, spoke vaguely, but the fear in her voice clearly indicated she urgently needed assistance. She provided an address.

Just before midnight, he drove to the location, a cosmetic procedure clinic. Inside, he discovered the lobby converted into a trauma ward, with over 30 wounded men, women, children and elderly people on couches and the blood-covered floor, shouting and crying.

The surgeon spent nearly four days there, treating an estimated 90 people as volunteers brought additional wounded. Initially, only he, the ophthalmologist, a dentist and two nurses were present.

He fashioned splints from cardboard boxes and soft metal pieces for broken bones. Without anesthesia or strong pain medications, he used weaker suppository analgesics. The clinic lacked blood supplies or transfusion equipment, so he administered IV fluids to rehydrate patients and raise blood pressure, a process requiring hours.

Phone lines were severed that night, and for 12 hours, he couldn’t request additional help. They couldn’t transfer patients to hospitals for fear of arrest.

One woman in her 30s had been struck by bird shot at close range, destroying her mouth’s roof and the areas around her nose and below her eyes, the surgeon recalled.

A young man in his 20s had been shot with live ammunition in his elbow, shattering it. The surgeon sutured the wounds but knew amputation would be necessary.

A four-member family – mother, father and their 8- and 10-year-old children – were all riddled with pellets, the surgeon said. The older boy had dozens of pellets in his face, but miraculously none struck his eyes.

On the morning of January 9, phone service resumed, and the surgeon contacted trusted physicians to refer patients. First, he had to remove all bullets and pellets from their bodies to prevent detention at hospitals. He wrote referral letters claiming the patients had been in automobile accidents.

The surgeon called three additional doctors to assist at the hidden clinic. When new wounded arrived, stabilized patients applauded and showed victory signs to them, he said.

“They started to make the atmosphere happy through their pain. … I just couldn’t believe that moment,” the surgeon said, his voice breaking. “It was so human.”

No wounded patients died at the clinic, though two bodies with head gunshot wounds were brought there, he said. The AP could not independently verify the surgeon’s account of clinic events.

Since January 9, at least 79 healthcare professionals have been detained, including twelve medical students, according to Homa Fathi, an Iranian dentist pursuing a Ph.D. in Canada and IIPHA member who has monitored Iranian government actions against health professionals since 2022. Many detainees were accused of resisting security agents’ orders or other charges related to providing medical care to protesters, Fathi said.

Approximately 30 have been released, mostly on bail, but many still face charges, including one accused of “waging war against God,” a charge carrying a death penalty, Fathi said. Authorities are also maintaining surveillance of some doctors at home to ensure they don’t receive or visit wounded protesters — an unprecedented level of control, she said.

The surgeon who treated protesters at the secret clinic said he was surprised security forces never raided that location to make arrests.

However, arrests have occurred since. Two healthcare workers who volunteered at the clinic were seized from their homes, the surgeon said.

“I am waiting, too.”

Swedish naval forces have disrupted a suspected Russian drone operating in waters off the country’s southern coast while a French aircraft carrier was making a port visit, military officials announced Thursday.

According to Sweden’s armed forces, a naval vessel spotted the suspicious drone during routine patrol operations in the Öresund strait, which separates Sweden and Denmark. Military officials confirmed they deployed unidentified countermeasures against the aircraft before losing contact with it.

The incident took place while France’s nuclear-powered carrier Charles de Gaulle was visiting Malmö as part of standard NATO training exercises. The Swedish port city sits along the Öresund waterway, directly across from Copenhagen, Denmark.

French military spokesman Guillaume Vernet confirmed to The Associated Press that Swedish forces detected the drone on Wednesday and handled the situation through an integrated security network protecting the carrier. Vernet noted Friday that the aircraft remained more than 6 miles away from the Charles de Gaulle.

“This system showed it is robust, and this event had no impact on the activity of the aircraft carrier battle group,” Vernet said.

Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson told the public broadcaster SVT Thursday night that the apparent airspace breach occurred while a Russian naval vessel was operating in Swedish waters. When asked which nation he believed operated the drone, Jonson responded: “Probably Russia.”

Jonson explained that the Russian ship moved on into Baltic Sea waters, and Swedish officials maintained close coordination with Danish authorities throughout the incident. Military forces reported no additional drone sightings.

According to Western intelligence officials, Russia has been orchestrating a widespread campaign of sabotage and interference throughout Europe. An Associated Press investigation has recorded more than 100 such incidents.

Many incidents remain classified, and authorities sometimes require months to confirm Moscow’s involvement. Officials say this campaign, which began with President Vladimir Putin’s Ukraine invasion in 2022, seeks to undermine support for Kyiv while also testing European vulnerabilities and straining law enforcement capabilities.

BRUSSELS — European Union officials have directed their anti-fraud watchdog to examine Peter Mandelson’s connections to Jeffrey Epstein during his tenure as the bloc’s trade commissioner, according to commission representatives.

A commission spokesperson, speaking without authorization for public identification, revealed late Thursday that the European Commission requested OLAF to examine the situation on February 18th, stating “Given the circumstances, and the significant amount of documents made available publicly, the European Commission also asked OLAF on 18 February to look into the matter.”

OLAF, which stands for the European Anti-Fraud Office using its French abbreviation, serves as the EU’s oversight body that has previously pursued migration officials and legislators for financial misconduct and rights abuses, along with other infractions. The agency has not verified the investigation’s existence.

The prominent British politician faces scrutiny for suspected improper conduct in his official capacity connected to his association with Epstein, the late convicted sex criminal.

These connections to Epstein have created political difficulties for Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who selected the experienced political figure for the ambassadorial role despite concerns about his association with the notorious financier.

Prior to the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union through Brexit, Mandelson held the position of Trade Commissioner for the European bloc between November 2004 and October 2008. Documents reviewed by the Associated Press show he maintained communication with both Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell throughout periods before, during, and following his commission service.

European commissioners must adhere to strict ethical standards and follow an established conduct code. When potential violations of these requirements are suspected, formal investigations may be initiated.

JAKARTA – A court in Indonesia’s capital has handed down prison sentences to nine individuals connected to a massive corruption scandal involving the country’s state-owned energy giant Pertamina, with prosecutors alleging the scheme resulted in $17 billion in government losses.

The corruption case focuses on unauthorized leasing arrangements for a fuel terminal and unlawful crude oil import operations, marking one of the most significant anti-corruption prosecutions launched during President Prabowo Subianto’s tenure, who has made eliminating graft a key priority.

Verdicts were delivered by the Central Jakarta Court beginning Thursday afternoon and extending into Friday’s early morning hours. The court imposed sentences between nine and 15 years behind bars for the defendants, which fell short of prosecutors’ requests for 14 to 18-year terms.

Two former subsidiary leaders received nine-year sentences: Yoki Firnandi, who previously headed Pertamina International Shipping, and Riva Siahaan, former leader of Pertamina Patra Niaga.

The harshest penalty of 15 years was given to Muhamad Kerry Adrianto Riza, who held beneficial ownership of a fuel terminal that Pertamina had leased. This sentence was three years less than what prosecutors had requested.

Riza is the child of business figure Mohammad Riza Chalid, who authorities have identified as a suspect in the case and who police report remains a fugitive.

All three men had maintained their innocence throughout the proceedings and entered not guilty pleas, according to local news coverage of the trial.

Attorney Patra Zen, representing Riza, announced Friday that his client disputes the court’s decision and intends to file an appeal.

Speaking outside the courthouse Friday, Firnandi expressed his dissatisfaction with what he characterized as a sham verdict and indicated he would consult with his legal team regarding an appeal.

Legal counsel for Siahaan, attorney Luhut Pangaribuan, described feeling both sorrow and disappointment over the court’s ruling.

Pertamina issued a statement through company spokesperson Muhammad Baron expressing respect for the judicial decision while reaffirming the company maintains a policy of complete intolerance toward corrupt practices.

“We continue to make improvements and transform in carrying out business processes and operations,” Baron stated, noting that the company stands ready to provide legal support to the defendants pending a final court determination.

MOSCOW – Against the backdrop of freezing temperatures just outside Russia’s capital, visitors from Oman and the United Arab Emirates experience their first taste of winter weather while being pulled through snow-laden landscapes by teams of sled dogs.

At a nearby location, travelers from Qatar interact with deer while other Middle Eastern guests navigate hovercrafts at high speeds across frozen lake surfaces.

“It was like drifting in the desert but here on ice,” explained Badreya Almarooqi, a UAE visitor at the Nazarievo Husky Park located 30 miles west of downtown Moscow, where signage appears in both Arabic and Russian languages.

Further north of Moscow, additional Gulf region tourists gather in hot air balloons to float above the expansive winter terrain.

“(It was) one of the best activities in my life!” exclaimed Ayoub Aziz, a Saudi Arabian traveler who participated in activities in the Dmitrov area, situated 40 miles from Moscow’s center and representing one of numerous recreational destinations surrounding the capital.

As Russia enters its fourth year of conflict in Ukraine, Moscow’s strategic shift away from Western nations and efforts to strengthen relationships with other global regions has created a significant increase in Arabic-speaking visitors.

Enhanced diplomatic connections have resulted in additional direct flight routes connecting Moscow with major Gulf capitals, implementation of visa-free travel policies, and strengthened political relationships through Qatar, UAE, and Saudi Arabia’s involvement in facilitating prisoner exchanges and child transfers to Ukraine.

Chinese tourists, representing Russia’s longstanding ally, dominated visitor statistics with over 800,000 arrivals last year. However, Saudi Arabia claimed the second position for the first time with approximately 75,000 tourists, representing a nearly 36% year-over-year growth, while the UAE contributed more than 59,000 visitors, ranking sixth overall.

“Virtually all Arab countries have at least doubled their numbers,” stated Alexander Musikhin, who serves as general director of the Intourist tour operator.

“But there are also destinations like Saudi Arabia, which has increased its arrivals in Russia — and in Moscow in particular — by almost 15 times compared with the pre‑pandemic period,” he added.

Gulf visitors typically choose luxury accommodations in Moscow’s central district and frequently visit premium Russian-themed dining establishments and popular shopping areas throughout the city.

Tour operators report these guests typically spend between 200,000-300,000 rubles ($6,523) on additional services, though spending could be higher if regulations didn’t restrict cash imports to $10,000 without declaration. Western sanctions have disabled Visa and Mastercard services in Russia, “so it has to be in cash,” noted UAE visitor Rashan Godani.

Despite ongoing military operations in Ukraine, Russia attracted 1.64 million total tourists in 2025 according to the nation’s tour operator association, marking a 4.5% increase from 2024, though significantly below 2018’s 4.2 million foreign visitors during the World Cup year.

In comparison, 2.45 million Russians traveled to the UAE alone last year, increasing nearly 25% year-over-year, while some Russian business owners have established Dubai offices.

Musikhin acknowledged that war-related impacts are constraining tourism growth, including periodic Russian airport closures due to Ukrainian drone strikes and extended border crossing times from enhanced security procedures.

“Tourists are generally understanding about this,” he observed.

Border clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan escalated through the night on February 27th, with casualties reported on both sides and Pakistan’s defense minister declaring his nation in an “open war” with Afghanistan.

Military analysis from the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London shows Pakistan holds overwhelming advantages in military strength compared to Afghanistan’s Taliban-controlled forces.

MILITARY STRENGTH COMPARISON

Pakistan maintains well-staffed military forces with strong recruitment programs, supported by equipment partnerships with China. The country continues advancing its nuclear weapons programs while upgrading naval and air capabilities.

In contrast, Afghanistan’s Taliban military forces have seen their operational capacity diminish since taking control in 2021. Their ability to operate foreign military equipment captured during their rise to power has deteriorated significantly.

The Taliban government’s lack of international recognition has also hampered efforts to modernize their military capabilities.

TROOP NUMBERS

Pakistan fields 660,000 active military personnel across all branches: 560,000 army troops, 70,000 air force members, and 30,000 naval personnel.

Afghanistan’s Taliban forces maintain only 172,000 active military members, though they have announced intentions to grow their forces to 200,000 personnel.

GROUND EQUIPMENT

Pakistan operates more than 6,000 armored combat vehicles and maintains over 4,600 artillery pieces.

While Afghan forces control various armored vehicles including Soviet-era tanks, personnel carriers, and underwater vehicles inherited from previous governments, exact quantities remain unclear.

Afghanistan’s artillery capabilities span at least three different systems, but precise numbers are not publicly available.

AVIATION CAPABILITIES

Pakistan’s air power includes 465 combat aircraft and more than 260 helicopters serving multiple roles including attack, transport, and multi-mission operations.

Afghanistan lacks any operational fighter jets or substantial air force. Their aviation assets consist of approximately six aircraft, some dating to Soviet times, plus 23 helicopters of questionable operational status.

NUCLEAR WEAPONS

Pakistan possesses nuclear weapons capability with 170 warheads in its arsenal, while Afghanistan has no nuclear weapons program.

Officials in Kazakhstan report that a deadly explosion and subsequent fire at a restaurant has resulted in at least seven fatalities and injured 19 others in the northern community of Shchuchinsk on Friday.

Local authorities confirmed through social media that a 16-year-old girl was among those killed in the tragedy, while up to 13 victims remain hospitalized for their injuries.

Officials have not yet released additional information about what may have caused the explosion or the current condition of those being treated at area hospitals.

Three women from Brazil’s Akuntsu Indigenous community had spent years believing their ancestral line would end with them. Pugapia and her two daughters, Aiga and Babawru, represented the final survivors of their people after government-sponsored Amazon development projects decimated their tribe decades ago.

Everything changed this past December when Babawru, the youngest woman in her 40s, delivered a baby boy named Akyp. The unexpected arrival has sparked renewed optimism for the tribe’s future and broader Amazon conservation initiatives.

“This child is not only a symbol of the resistance of the Akuntsu people, but also a source of hope for Indigenous peoples,” declared Joenia Wapichana, who leads Brazil’s Indigenous protection agency, Funai. “He represents how recognition, protection and the management of this land are extremely necessary.”

The birth carries significance beyond tribal survival. Environmental experts consider Indigenous land protection among the most successful strategies for preventing Amazon deforestation. The massive rainforest plays a crucial role in regulating Earth’s climate, and scientists caution that ongoing forest destruction could worsen global warming.

Data from MapBiomas, a coalition of environmental organizations monitoring land usage, revealed that Indigenous territories in Brazil experienced only 1% native vegetation loss over thirty years, while private lands nationwide lost 20% during the same period.

The Akuntsu territory in Rondonia state exemplifies this conservation success. Satellite imagery shows their protected land as a green forest island completely encircled by cattle ranches, soy plantations, and corn fields. Approximately 40% of Rondonia’s original forest has disappeared, with remaining wilderness primarily existing within conservation zones and Indigenous reserves.

The destruction began during Brazil’s 1970s military government, which actively encouraged rainforest settlement. A World Bank-supported infrastructure initiative promoted internal migration to the Amazon region and included highway construction through Rondonia state.

Census records show Rondonia’s population more than doubled during the 1980s. Government policies promised land ownership to settlers who cleared forest for farming while threatening to revoke claims if Indigenous peoples occupied the area. This system incentivized violent attacks by hired gunmen against Indigenous communities including the Akuntsu.

Funai officials first encountered the Akuntsu in 1995, discovering seven survivors. Researchers estimate approximately 20 tribe members existed ten years earlier before ranchers attacked them to seize their territory. Government agents uncovered assault evidence, and surviving Akuntsu members described the violence when contacted. Several still carried gunshot injuries.

The tribe’s final male member passed away in 2017, leaving Babawru with her mother Pugapia and sister Aiga. The women, whose exact ages remain uncertain, have maintained their isolation from the outside world and shown minimal interest in non-Indigenous society.

Funai established territorial protection for the Akuntsu in 2006, creating the Rio Omere Indigenous Land, which they now share with the Kanoe people. These formerly hostile groups began interacting through official mediation, though their relationship remains complicated by cultural distinctions and communication barriers.

Anthropologist Amanda Villa from the Observatory of Isolated Peoples explained that Akuntsu women rely on Kanoe men for traditionally masculine duties like hunting and field preparation. The groups have also shared spiritual practices, with the current Kanoe spiritual leader having learned from the deceased Akuntsu patriarch.

The most significant development occurred when Babawru became pregnant by a Kanoe man last year.

Linguist Carolina Aragon serves as the sole outsider capable of communicating with the three women after years documenting their language. She collaborates closely with Funai, providing daily translation services through video conferences. Aragon remotely assisted Babawru during childbirth and accompanied her to ultrasound appointments confirming the pregnancy.

According to Aragon, Babawru expressed shock at the pregnancy news. “She said, ‘How can I be pregnant?’” Aragon remembered. Babawru had consistently used contraception to prevent pregnancy.

The remaining Akuntsu women had previously chosen not to become mothers. Their decision stemmed not only from lacking men in their community but also from believing their world had become too chaotic and unsuitable for child-rearing.

“You can trace this decision directly to the violent context they lived through,” Villa explained. “They have this somewhat catastrophic understanding.”

The Akuntsu felt they couldn’t bring children into a world lacking Akuntsu men who could perform and teach traditionally male responsibilities like hunting and shamanic practices.

“A breakdown of social relations that followed the genocide shaped their lives and deepened over the years. That does lead people to think — and rethink — the future,” Aragon noted. “But the future can surprise everyone. A baby boy was born.”

Aragon described the women as beginning a “new chapter,” choosing to embrace the child and modify their traditions with assistance from the Kanoe and Funai. Villa emphasized that having a male newborn creates possibilities for restoring traditional male roles like hunting.

Researchers and officials who have worked extensively with the three women recognized that territorial protection depended on the Akuntsu’s survival as a people. They wanted to prevent a situation similar to Tanaru, an Indigenous man discovered after living alone for decades without outside contact.

Following Tanaru’s discovery, authorities faced challenges protecting his territory. After his 2022 death, non-Indigenous groups began claiming the land. The federal government finally secured the area late last year, converting it into a protected conservation zone.

Funai’s Wapichana said Babawru’s child “is a hope that this next generation will indeed include an Indigenous person, an Akuntsu, ensuring the continuity of this people.”

Through careful long-term efforts, Funai secured territorial protection for the Akuntsu and facilitated relationships with the Kanoe. The agency also provided spiritual support from an allied shaman, helping the women feel secure about bringing new life into their world after decades of trauma and loss.

The Akuntsu maintain deep emotional connections with the forest and its wildlife. Now they’re building those same bonds with new human life in their community.

“What kind of relationship will this boy have with his own territory?” Aragon wondered. “I hope it will be the best possible, because he has everything he needs there.”

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Three vastly different candidates are competing to lead Nepal in the country’s first national election since violent demonstrations forced out the previous government last September, leaving dozens dead.

The contenders include a former hip-hop artist turned mayor, a youthful politician leading Nepal’s most established party, and a seasoned communist official seeking to reclaim power after being driven from office during the deadly youth uprising.

The victor will become Nepal’s 16th prime minister in fewer than 20 years, highlighting the ongoing political turmoil that has plagued the Himalayan country since ending its monarchy in 2008.

Last year’s demonstrations exposed deep frustration among Nepal’s youth over widespread corruption and limited opportunities in a nation where approximately 20% of young people lack employment, while politicians’ children appear to live lavishly with numerous privileges.

Following public anger that forced the government’s collapse, millions of Nepali citizens are preparing to choose representatives for the House of Representatives, parliament’s influential lower house. The future prime minister will need to secure a majority within this chamber.

Balendra Shah, commonly called Balen, leads the race after becoming a campaign sensation. The 35-year-old served as Kathmandu’s mayor in 2022 before stepping down to pursue the National Independent Party’s prime ministerial nomination.

Shah studied structural engineering before achieving recognition as a rapper, incorporating social and political themes into his music.

Wearing his characteristic black clothing and sunglasses, Shah has traveled nationwide to enthusiastic crowds of supporters who gather to demonstrate their backing for him and his movement.

Shah captured Kathmandu’s mayoral position as an independent candidate, benefiting from widespread dissatisfaction with established political organizations. He earned recognition for removing unauthorized street vendors, addressing the capital’s persistent waste management crisis, and expanding roadways, though he also faced backlash for demolishing buildings and homes without sufficient planning or warning.

“Our agenda is that the poor people who have no money in their pockets should get a full education. The poor people with empty pockets should get access to the health facilities. That is our agenda,” he stated to supporters in western Nepal recently.

Gagan Thapa represents another option as the recently appointed head of the Nepali Congress, the nation’s oldest major political organization and a liberal democratic party maintaining strong connections with India.

Thapa, 49, had long been viewed as a promising figure within the Nepali Congress but was constrained by veteran party leadership until this year, when he successfully challenged the establishment and won election as party leader.

While the Nepali Congress maintains popularity, it participated in the previous coalition government that youth protesters forced from power in September. The youth-driven demonstrations began over social media restrictions before expanding into widespread government opposition. Dozens died and hundreds sustained injuries when demonstrators stormed government facilities and police responded with gunfire.

Thapa pledges his primary goal would involve eliminating corruption from Nepal within five years while ensuring complete government transparency to citizens.

The third candidate is Khadga Prasad Oli, the divisive yet influential communist politician who headed the coalition government removed from power last year. Many blame him for the fatalities during the violent demonstrations that ended his tenure.

Despite facing criticism over his response to last year’s protests, Oli retains backing within the Communist Party and among numerous supporters.

Oli consistently maintains that consistent policies and governance are vital for Nepal, emphasizing that economic development requires political stability.

Oli’s reputation reached its peak when he resisted an economic embargo imposed by neighboring India in 2015, which created shortages of fuel, medical supplies, and other essential goods.

Nepal sits between regional powers India and China, with both nations actively seeking influence over their smaller neighbor. Thapa’s organization traditionally aligns with India, while Oli’s communist factions are considered more favorable toward China.

Officials from both Pakistan and Afghanistan confirmed Friday that Pakistani forces conducted overnight airstrikes targeting major Afghan cities, marking a dangerous escalation in months of border tensions between the neighboring Islamic nations.

The aerial and ground operations targeted Taliban military installations, command centers, and weapons storage facilities across multiple border areas, according to officials in both Islamabad and Kabul. The strikes followed an Afghan assault on Pakistani border personnel, officials reported.

Casualties were reported on both sides of the conflict, with Pakistan’s defense minister characterizing the situation as an “open war.”

The violence represents an intensification of tensions that began building after Pakistan conducted airstrikes against militant positions in Afghanistan the previous weekend.

Previous border fighting in October resulted in dozens of military deaths before diplomatic intervention by Turkey, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia helped establish a temporary truce between the countries.

ROOT OF THE CONFLICT

Initially, Pakistan celebrated the Taliban’s return to control in Afghanistan during 2021, with former Prime Minister Imran Khan declaring that Afghans had “broken the shackles of slavery.”

However, Pakistan’s government quickly discovered the Taliban leadership would not provide the level of cooperation Islamabad had anticipated.

Pakistani officials maintain that leaders and fighters from the militant organization Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) operate from Afghan territory. They also claim that armed separatists fighting for Balochistan province’s independence use Afghanistan as a base for operations.

Data from Armed Conflict Location & Event Data, an international monitoring group, shows militant activity has grown annually since 2022, with increasing attacks from both TTP and Baloch separatist forces.

Afghan officials have consistently rejected claims that they permit militants to launch Pakistani attacks from their soil.

The Taliban government accuses Pakistan of providing sanctuary to Islamic State fighters, allegations Pakistani officials deny.

According to Islamabad, the previous ceasefire collapsed due to ongoing militant strikes originating from Afghanistan, leading to repeated confrontations and border shutdowns that have disrupted commerce and travel along the mountainous frontier.

RECENT TRIGGER EVENTS

Pakistani security officials claimed they possessed “irrefutable evidence” linking Afghan-based militants to a recent series of attacks and suicide bombings targeting Pakistani military and law enforcement personnel.

These sources identified seven planned or executed militant operations since late 2024 with connections to Afghanistan.

A recent attack in Bajaur district that claimed the lives of 11 security personnel and two civilians was carried out by an Afghan citizen, Pakistani security sources reported. The TTP claimed responsibility for this operation.

BACKGROUND ON PAKISTANI TALIBAN

Multiple militant groups operating in northwestern Pakistan formed the TTP in 2007, earning the designation “Pakistani Taliban.”

The organization has conducted attacks on civilian markets, religious sites, airports, military installations, and police facilities while seizing territory along the Afghan border and in interior regions including the Swat Valley. The group orchestrated the 2012 assault on student Malala Yousafzai, who later received the Nobel Peace Prize.

TTP forces fought alongside Afghan Taliban against American-led coalition forces in Afghanistan while providing refuge for Afghan fighters within Pakistan. Pakistani military campaigns against TTP on domestic soil achieved limited results, though a major offensive concluding in 2016 significantly reduced attacks until recent years.

FUTURE OUTLOOK

Military analysts predict Pakistan will expand its campaign while Afghanistan may respond with border post raids and increased cross-border guerrilla operations against security forces.

The military balance heavily favors Pakistan. Taliban forces number approximately 172,000 personnel, less than one-third of Pakistan’s military strength.

While the Taliban possess at least six aircraft and 23 helicopters, their operational status remains unclear, and they lack fighter aircraft or functional air power.

Pakistan maintains over 600,000 active military personnel, operates more than 6,000 armored combat vehicles, and fields over 400 military aircraft, according to 2025 International Institute for Strategic Studies data. Pakistan also possesses nuclear weapons capability.

Young people across Europe are embracing creative and unconventional housing solutions as the continent grapples with an unprecedented affordability crisis that has left traditional homeownership out of reach for many.

The severity of the situation becomes clear when examining the numbers: European Commission data reveals that housing costs have climbed 10% faster than wages over the last ten years, with younger generations bearing the brunt of this economic squeeze.

In response to these challenging conditions, innovative businesses are developing alternative pathways into property ownership. Spain’s Habitacion.com has carved out a unique niche by marketing individual bedrooms in shared apartments for up to 80,000 euros ($95,200) – roughly one-third the cost of purchasing a complete one-bedroom unit in comparable neighborhoods.

The company’s success speaks to the desperate need for affordable options: they completed 200 bedroom sales in the previous year and maintain a waiting list of 32,000 potential buyers across seven Spanish cities.

Company founder and CEO Oriol Valls attributes the demand to both financial pressures and evolving lifestyle patterns. Spanish wage data shows salaries increased just 26% over the past decade while property values jumped 81%.

“People no longer get married, or if they do, they get married but don’t have children … or they do it much later,” Valls explained. “They require much smaller living spaces that are also much more affordable.”

The bedroom-buying process involves detailed compatibility assessments covering everything from relationship status to dishwashing habits, ensuring suitable matches between co-owners or renters. Buyers must secure personal loans rather than traditional mortgages and work through the company for any future resales.

One potential customer, Alvarez, who preferred not to share his full name, described how Habitacion.com arranged a 10-year personal loan at 6% interest through a regional bank – double the typical mortgage rate. However, he ultimately couldn’t locate available rooms in Madrid and noted the arrangement “loses all appeal if I can’t live with my partner.”

Across the English Channel, London-based developer Fairview has launched their “Buddy Up” program, facilitating joint property purchases between friends by connecting them with brokers and solicitors while contributing up to 2,000 pounds ($2,726) toward legal expenses for buyers in London and surrounding areas.

Financial institutions throughout Britain, France, Germany, and Italy are also reintroducing zero or minimal down payment mortgages that disappeared following the 2008 financial crisis. While these products carry higher costs and require proof of substantial, steady income, they provide opportunities for those unable to accumulate traditional down payments.

Natalie and Martin Walker from West Yorkshire exemplify this trend. After receiving an eviction notice when their infant was just one month old, they secured a zero-deposit mortgage last year to purchase their home following four years as renters.

“The sense of stability that it brings you, that’s the biggest delight for me,” Natalie shared.

In Spain, 36-year-old industrial engineer Carlos Sempere faces a different challenge. Unable to afford Madrid properties selling for approximately 1 million euros, he purchased rental property in southern Spain through investment firm PropHero.

“Either it helps me pay the rent, or I sell it in the future,” Sempere said.

PropHero also accommodates smaller budgets by offering fractional ownership in rental apartment buildings across Spain and Ireland for investments as low as 20,000 euros.

Real estate consultant Patricio Palomar, who heads alternative investments at AIRE Partners, believes the harsh market reality drives first-time buyers to overlook the legal complications and additional costs associated with these innovative approaches.

“All these housing solutions serve to show how people are getting poorer,” Palomar concluded.

The head of the World Food Program announced Thursday she will be leaving her leadership role due to medical reasons.

Cindy McCain, who serves as the executive director of the global humanitarian organization, revealed her decision to resign from the position, pointing to health issues as the driving factor behind her departure.

McCain’s announcement marks the end of her tenure leading the United Nations agency responsible for addressing hunger and food insecurity worldwide.

Deep beneath the ocean’s surface, France’s nuclear-powered submarines patrol as a final line of defense, ready to deliver devastating retaliation if their nation’s leader ever gives the order.

On Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron will deliver a significant address outlining potential changes to how France might deploy its nuclear weapons carried by submarines and aircraft. The speech comes amid growing European anxiety that Russia’s aggression could expand beyond Ukraine’s borders, combined with questions about President Donald Trump’s commitment to defending allies.

For generations, Europe has depended on America’s nuclear shield, with US atomic weapons deployed across the continent since the 1950s to discourage Soviet and later Russian aggression. Recently, though, European leaders and security experts are expressing doubts about America’s willingness to deploy such weapons when necessary.

These concerns carry special weight for France, which stands as the European Union’s sole nuclear-armed nation among its 27 members.

Any adjustments to France’s nuclear strategy, which will be closely examined by both friends and foes, could rank among Macron’s most significant decisions during his final 14 months in office before the 2027 presidential race.

Macron’s decision to deliver this major nuclear policy address – his second such speech since taking office in 2017 – reflects his repeatedly expressed worries about shifting global security dynamics that endanger France and its partners.

Among those questioning America’s dependability is Rasmus Jarlov, who leads Denmark’s parliamentary Defense Committee.

“If things got really serious, I very much doubt that Trump would risk American cities to protect European cities,” he said in an interview with The Associated Press. “We don’t know but it seems very risky to rely on the American protection.”

Jarlov and other officials are now looking toward France for security assurances. Long-term, he believes additional European countries should develop their own nuclear capabilities – a previously unthinkable idea when US protection seemed guaranteed.

“The Nordic countries have the capacity. We have uranium, we have nuclear scientists. We can develop nuclear weapons,” he said. “Realistically, it will take a lot of time. So in the short term, we are looking to France.”

Global circumstances have shifted dramatically since Macron’s initial nuclear policy speech in 2020, replacing longtime assumptions with new uncertainties.

Russia’s comprehensive assault on Ukraine, now in its fifth year, brought warfare to Europe’s doorstep while Russian President Vladimir Putin repeatedly threatened nuclear escalation.

Both China and North Korea continue expanding their atomic arsenals. In October, Trump discussed potentially resuming US nuclear testing for the first time since 1992, though Energy Secretary Chris Wright later clarified this wouldn’t involve actual nuclear detonations.

Russia updated its nuclear doctrine in 2024, reducing the threshold for potential atomic retaliation. Britain announced plans to acquire nuclear-capable US F-35A fighter aircraft, restoring air-delivered nuclear strike capabilities it abandoned in the 1990s while maintaining only submarine-launched nuclear missiles.

Macron’s choice to speak at the Île Longue submarine base on Monday will emphasize that French leaders also possess nuclear capabilities in an increasingly volatile world. Each of France’s four nuclear submarines can deploy 16 M51 intercontinental ballistic missiles equipped with multiple warheads.

“There are high expectations from the allies and partners, and maybe also the adversaries, about how the French nuclear doctrine could evolve,” said Héloïse Fayet, a nuclear deterrence specialist at the French Institute of International Relations, a Paris think tank.

Speaking in an AP interview, Fayet said she’s hoping for “real changes.”

“Maybe something about a greater and a clearer French commitment to the protection of allies, thanks to the French nuclear weapons,” she said.

In 2020, Macron revealed France maintains fewer than 300 warheads – a figure that has stayed constant since former President Nicolas Sarkozy announced a modest reduction to that level in 2008.

Macron described this arsenal as adequate to cause “absolutely unacceptable damage” to the “political, economic, military nerve centers” of any nation threatening France’s “vital interests,” “whatever they may be.”

Nuclear experts will monitor whether Macron suggests the French arsenal might be insufficient and require expansion.

Nuclear deterrence language typically involves intentional vagueness, keeping potential adversaries uncertain about actions that might provoke atomic response. Macron administration officials, speaking anonymously about possible nuclear policy modifications, remained extremely cautious in their comments, particularly since nuclear decisions rest solely with the president.

“There will no doubt be some shifts, fairly substantial developments,” one of the officials said.

Using measured language in 2020, Macron indicated France’s “vital interests” that could warrant nuclear defense extend beyond national boundaries and possess “a European dimension.”

Several European countries have accepted Macron’s previous invitation to discuss French nuclear deterrence and potentially participate in French nuclear training exercises.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz reports having “initial talks” with Macron regarding nuclear deterrence and has publicly speculated about German Air Force aircraft possibly carrying French nuclear weapons.

European nations engaging with France seek “a second life insurance” against any possibility of losing US nuclear protection, explains Etienne Marcuz, a French nuclear defense expert at the Paris-based Foundation for Strategic Research think tank.

“The United States are unpredictable — have become unpredictable — because of the Trump 2 administration,” he said. “That has legitimately raised the question of whether the United States would truly be prepared to protect Europe, and above all, whether they would be willing to deploy their nuclear forces in defense of Europe.”