Author: Admin

BEIRUT (AP) — As Israeli bombardments shake Beirut and ground forces push forward against Hezbollah fighters, Lebanon’s leadership has shattered a longstanding diplomatic barrier by offering unprecedented direct negotiations with Israel — the first such proposal in more than four decades. However, Lebanese authorities insist the violence must cease before any dialogue begins, and that opportunity may already be slipping away.

Hezbollah’s choice to join the broader Iran conflict by launching rocket attacks against Israel has triggered devastating Israeli bombing campaigns across southern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern districts, resulting in approximately 850 Lebanese deaths and forcing more than one million residents to flee their homes.

The Iranian-supported Hezbollah considers this latest conflict a fight for survival, while Israel threatens expanded ground operations, territorial occupation, and the demolition of Lebanon’s essential civilian infrastructure.

The United States, which previously served as a mediator during earlier conflicts, has demonstrated little appetite for playing that role in the current crisis.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun announced his willingness to engage in face-to-face negotiations with Israel last week — marking the first such overture since Israel’s 1982 invasion during Lebanon’s civil conflict. Aoun simultaneously requested increased financial support for Lebanese military forces and renewed his pledge to dismantle Hezbollah’s arsenal, a long-sought goal of both Israeli and American officials.

However, Lebanon demands an end to hostilities before entering any discussions with Israel, according to three Lebanese diplomatic and government sources with knowledge of the situation. These officials requested anonymity because they lacked authorization to speak publicly.

Israeli representatives did not reply to requests for comment regarding the negotiation proposal. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, while visiting an Israeli community struck by Iranian missiles, rejected claims that any discussions were being planned.

The peace accord that concluded Lebanon’s 1975-1990 civil war mandated the dissolution of all militia groups, yet Hezbollah uniquely retained its weaponry, claiming these arms were essential for defending Lebanon against Israel, which maintained control over southern Lebanon until 2000.

Consecutive Lebanese administrations, including those led by Hezbollah’s political opponents, avoided direct confrontation with the organization, which was commonly perceived as more formidable than Lebanon’s official military. Concerns persisted that any forcible attempt to disarm Hezbollah might reignite civil conflict.

This calculation began shifting in 2024, as Israel eliminated most of Hezbollah’s senior leadership and devastated its military capabilities, potentially creating space for Lebanese officials to assert greater authority.

Aoun, a former military commander, and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, both assuming office in early 2025, committed to dismantling Hezbollah’s weapons — a stance enjoying broad backing among Lebanon’s conflict-weary citizens.

During the months preceding the war, government forces deployed throughout extensive areas of southern Lebanon and reported dismantling more than 500 Hezbollah storage facilities and military installations. However, it avoided direct confrontation with the group.

Following Hezbollah’s missile barrage against Israel in the days after the unexpected U.S.-Israeli strike on Iran, Lebanon’s government criticized the militant organization, banned its operations, and detained several fighters accused of illegal weapons possession.

Yet by that point, the nation had already descended into another war.

Hezbollah, which has continued launching missile and drone attacks against northern Israel since its initial strike, maintains its position as Lebanon’s sole credible defender.

The group claims Israel violated a 2024 U.S.-mediated ceasefire by continuing regular air attacks that frequently killed civilians and refusing to withdraw from five strategic border locations. Hezbollah likely also feels compelled to assist Iran, its primary backer, during this critical period.

Israel contends that Hezbollah has broken previous agreements requiring disarmament and that the airstrikes targeted potential attack preparations. It has consistently accused Lebanese officials of failing to neutralize the group and warned it would take action itself, potentially at enormous cost to Lebanon.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated last week that Lebanon’s government “will pay an increasing price in infrastructure damage and territorial loss until the commitment to disarm Hezbollah is fulfilled.”

Hezbollah leaders have condemned the direct negotiation offer with Israel and criticized the government for failing to halt Israeli strikes or end border occupation.

Mahmoud Qamati, a senior member of Hezbollah’s political bureau, called the negotiation offer “a concession and a big mistake” given “the ongoing occupation and aggression.”

“This move would be stabbing the resistance in the back. The state cannot make any promises without the resistance’s approval,” he told the Al Jazeera network.

During previous escalations, Lebanon typically sought assistance from the United States, which maintains influence over Israel and provides substantial aid to Lebanese military forces. However, Washington appears focused on the broader conflict and its global economic implications.

“There is no senior official in the White House focusing on Lebanon,” said Randa Slim, director of the Middle East Program at the Washington-based Stimson Center. Thomas Barrack, serving as White House envoy to Turkey, Syria and Lebanon, characterized Lebanon as a “failed state” last year.

Slim suggested the negotiation proposal was unlikely to succeed or prevent an Israeli invasion.

Israel and the United States had anticipated more decisive action from Lebanon’s military following the previous war, despite its limited resources and financial constraints, and the dangers of directly challenging Hezbollah. They may be reluctant to provide another opportunity.

“They had been very clear with the Lebanese on how important it was to control Hezbollah from doing anything offensively,” said Ed Gabriel, president of the American Task Force on Lebanon, a nonprofit organization promoting stronger U.S.-Lebanon relations.

“Hezbollah’s actions have now set back for the time being any resolution of this war and created a lack of confidence by U.S. officials that the (Lebanese armed forces) can control and disarm Hezbollah,” he said.

Israeli forces continue advancing deeper into southern Lebanon in preparation for an anticipated larger ground operation. The Israeli military has targeted and destroyed bridges and critical roadways, and issued evacuation orders for territory extending dozens of miles north of the border.

Lebanon’s government, struggling with a severe, prolonged financial crisis, is working frantically to provide housing and assistance for nearly one million displaced individuals. It is also appealing to the international community to pressure Israel to protect essential infrastructure, including Beirut’s airport and seaport, according to one Lebanese official.

Aoun, previously optimistic about disarming Hezbollah with minimal conflict, continues his intensive diplomatic efforts from the mountaintop presidential palace. Drones patrol overhead, explosions resound in the distance, and smoke clouds rise from the south.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Israeli military forces announced Tuesday they eliminated Ali Larijani, a prominent Iranian security leader who many believed was effectively governing the nation amid ongoing turmoil following the death of Iran’s supreme leader and escalating regional conflict.

The Israeli military also reported killing Iranian General Gholam Reza Soleimani, who commanded a formidable internal security force responsible for suppressing numerous mass demonstrations against Iran’s Shiite religious government.

Iranian officials have yet to verify or dispute these reported deaths. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and additional high-ranking security personnel were eliminated in unexpected joint U.S. and Israeli operations that initiated the current conflict. Khamenei’s successor, his son Mojtaba, has remained absent from public view, with Israeli intelligence suggesting he may have sustained injuries.

Despite the elimination of key leadership figures, the warfare continues unabated as Iran’s Revolutionary Guard maintains its missile attacks against Israel and neighboring Arab Gulf nations. Iran has successfully blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway handling twenty percent of global oil trade, causing petroleum prices to surge and destabilizing international markets.

Larijani belonged to one of Iran’s most prominent political dynasties, which news organizations have likened to America’s Kennedy family. His brother Sadeq held the position of Iran’s chief judge, while another sibling, Mohammad Javad, worked as a high-ranking diplomat who provided foreign policy counsel to the deceased Khamenei.

Throughout his career, Larijani maintained conservative positions within Iran’s religious government structure, delivering progressively aggressive statements over the years. During the 1990s, he held Iran’s culture ministry position, implementing stricter censorship policies. From 2008 to 2020, he led the parliamentary body, and recently directed the Supreme National Security Council.

Beyond politics, Larijani authored no fewer than six philosophical works, including three volumes examining German philosopher Immanuel Kant’s theories.

He received appointments to counsel Khamenei regarding nuclear negotiation strategies with the Trump administration and journeyed to Oman for diplomatic meetings just fourteen days before the U.S. and Israeli assault began. Similar to other senior Iranian officials, he faced extensive American sanctions related to violent suppression of January mass demonstrations.

While ineligible for supreme leader status due to his non-clerical background, he was anticipated to serve in a senior advisory capacity, with widespread belief that he was effectively governing as U.S. and Israeli attacks forced Iran’s leadership into hiding.

Seven days ago, following President Donald Trump’s warning to strike Iran “TWENTY TIMES HARDER” if Tehran blocked oil transport through the Strait of Hormuz, Larijani issued a response via social media platform X.

“The sacrificial nation of Iran doesn’t fear your empty threats. Even those bigger than you couldn’t eliminate Iran,” he posted. “Be careful not to get eliminated yourself.”

Scottish Parliament members will cast ballots Tuesday on historic legislation that could make Scotland the first region within the United Kingdom to permit terminally ill adults to receive medical assistance in ending their lives.

The Edinburgh-based legislature has designated this as a conscience vote, allowing representatives to decide based on personal beliefs rather than following party directives. This approach makes predicting the results challenging, with the decision anticipated after 10 p.m. GMT.

As one of four nations comprising the United Kingdom along with England, Wales and Northern Ireland, Scotland operates under a semi-autonomous government with jurisdiction over numerous policy areas, including healthcare matters.

Should the legislation pass, Scottish residents with six months or fewer to live could request medical assistance to end their lives. The proposal requires confirmation from two physicians that the individual has a terminal diagnosis and possesses the mental competency to make such a decision.

Liberal Democrat representative Liam McArthur, the bill’s author, made an impassioned plea for support from his fellow lawmakers.

“If you believe that dying people should not have to suffer against their will and you have heard, like I have, of the many instances where they have been simply failed by the lack of compassion and safety in our current law, you now have to back this bill,” he said. “It is time to look terminally ill Scots in the eye and make this change.”

Critics of assisted dying legislation contend that vulnerable populations including disabled individuals, seniors, sick patients and those battling depression might face coercion to end their lives to avoid burdening family members.

Scottish National Party Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes announced her intention to oppose the measure. Several medical associations, including the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, have also expressed opposition.

“Doctors, psychiatrists, pharmacists and palliative care specialists — the people who would be tasked with implementing this — are asking us not to do it,” Forbes said. “They think this bill is unsafe.”

Parallel legislation seeking to authorize assisted dying in England and Wales faces obstacles in the British Parliament located in London.

While the House of Commons gave approval to The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill in June, more than 1,000 proposed amendments have stalled progress in the House of Lords. Bill supporters characterize this as deliberate obstruction by opponents, though some chamber members maintain they are conducting essential review to improve the legislation.

The measure appears unlikely to gain passage from both parliamentary chambers before the current session concludes in May. Should this occur, the bill would expire and future assisted dying legalization efforts would need to begin anew.

The British Crown dependencies of Jersey and the Isle of Man have enacted comparable laws awaiting formal approval from King Charles III. While these small territories govern themselves, they depend on the United Kingdom for defense and certain international relations.

Medical assistance in dying operates legally in numerous countries including Australia, Belgium, Canada, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and several U.S. states, with eligibility requirements differing across jurisdictions.

Britain’s upper legislative chamber has approved new restrictions targeting online pornography, extending prohibitions that already exist for physical materials to digital platforms. The House of Lords voted to ban images showing children and violent content from internet pornography sites.

These latest amendments bring online regulations in line with existing laws that already govern traditional pornographic materials, closing what lawmakers saw as a regulatory gap. The United Kingdom has been steadily tightening controls on internet adult content over the past several years.

The legislative efforts have drawn attention from religious leaders and family advocacy groups in the United States, who have expressed hope that American lawmakers might adopt similar measures to restrict online adult content.

The European Union’s foreign policy leader firmly rejected suggestions Tuesday to rebuild diplomatic ties with Russia and resume purchasing inexpensive Russian energy supplies.

Kaja Kallas, the EU’s chief diplomat, dismissed remarks made by Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever in a weekend interview with L’Echo newspaper, where he advocated for restoring normal relations with Moscow.

De Wever’s position contradicts established EU policy, which maintains strict sanctions against Russia following its military invasion of Ukraine and seeks to eliminate dependence on Russian fossil fuels.

The Belgian leader claimed that European officials privately support his view but “no one dares to say it out loud.”

Speaking with Reuters in Brussels, Kallas disputed this characterization, stating she has witnessed no such sentiment during high-level discussions.

“I’ve been … behind those closed doors, when we talk about leaders’ meetings, and I don’t see this appetite,” Kallas explained, referencing her participation in European Council gatherings with EU heads of state and government.

The former Estonian prime minister emphasized the importance of establishing clear objectives before engaging with Russia.

“When we talk to Russia, of course, the most important thing is to first agree what we want to talk to them about,” Kallas noted.

She cautioned against premature diplomatic outreach, warning: “If we just go back to business as usual, we will have more of this – more wars. We have seen this before, so we have to be very vigilant and not to actually give Russia what they want because their appetite will only grow.”

Oil prices worldwide have jumped approximately 40% since conflicts involving the United States and Israel with Iran began, reaching levels not seen since 2022.

Following criticism from coalition partners over his weekend statements, De Wever has attempted to clarify his position, indicating he would only support normalized relations after a peace agreement ends the Ukrainian conflict.

French far-right political movements secured notable victories across southeastern regions during Sunday’s initial round of municipal voting, while leadership battles in major metropolitan areas including Paris remain unresolved before next week’s decisive runoff elections.

The electoral contest is being closely watched as an indicator of political sentiment ahead of France’s 2027 presidential campaign.

Approximately 35,000 communities participated in the voting process, with roughly 93% choosing their local leaders outright in the first round, primarily featuring independent candidates without party affiliations.

Participation levels hit just above 57%, surpassing the 2020 election held amid pandemic restrictions but falling short of 2014 numbers, Interior Ministry data shows.

Key developments before the March 22 second round:

Marine Le Pen’s National Rally demonstrated continued regional expansion, especially throughout France’s southeastern territories.

Party deputy leader Louis Aliot secured a decisive victory in Perpignan, his established political base.

Marseille’s current left-leaning mayor Benoît Payan finds himself in a virtual tie with National Rally challenger Franck Allisio heading into the runoff.

Along the French Riviera in Nice, Éric Ciotti, who departed conservative ranks to establish his own far-right movement in 2024 while partnering with the National Rally, positioned himself as the leading contender for the final round.

Right-wing candidates also gained strong footing in Nîmes and the Mediterranean naval hub of Toulon.

Thousands of municipal positions across France await determination, including leadership roles in Paris and other significant urban centers.

Where three or more contenders advanced to runoffs, candidate negotiations to combine voter lists concluded by Tuesday’s 6 p.m. deadline, potentially improving their chances for victory.

Political partnerships have sparked intense discussions between moderate leftist parties and the radical France Unbowed movement, headed by longtime activist Jean-Luc Mélenchon, which performed well in several metropolitan areas.

France Unbowed previously collaborated with Socialist, Green, and Communist parties, but the coalition fractured amid accusations that the hard-left group tolerated anti-Jewish rhetoric. Critics also blamed the far-left for escalating tensions following last month’s fatal beating of a far-right activist in Lyon.

Despite tensions, some electoral agreements emerged on individual race bases.

In Lyon, France’s third-largest municipality, current Green mayor Grégory Doucet partnered with France Unbowed in a competitive battle against right-wing candidate Jean-Michel Aulas, a business leader and former soccer club executive.

Anti-racism organization SOS Racisme urged mainstream political groups to collaborate against far-right advancement. Group president Dominique Sopo stated: “No alliance should be ruled out if it helps prevent this party from taking control of new municipalities.”

Le Pen’s organization maintains limited influence in several major urban areas, showing weak support in cities like Paris and Lyon.

Paris mayoral competition features left-wing candidate Emmanuel Grégoire leading after the initial vote, though the runoff against conservative opponent Rachida Dati promises to be competitive.

Dati, a high-profile politician who recently served as France’s culture minister, aims to break 25 years of leftist control at City Hall. However, her career faces scrutiny as she prepares for a September corruption and influence-peddling trial.

Grégoire, who previously served as deputy to departing mayor Anne Hidalgo, leads a coalition combining Socialists, Greens, and Communists. He declined to partner with France Unbowed, whose candidate also qualified for round two, creating uncertainty about the outcome.

Departing Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo, who won office in 2014 and secured reelection in 2020, decided against pursuing a third term after guiding the city through the 2015 terrorist attacks and hosting the 2024 Olympics.

Political attention increasingly focuses on the 2027 presidential contest, as municipal elections represent the final nationwide voting before the campaign for France’s highest office begins, offering all parties opportunities to strengthen local foundations. Current President Emmanuel Macron cannot pursue a third consecutive term under constitutional restrictions.

In the northern coastal city of Le Havre, sitting mayor Édouard Philippe, who finished first Sunday, seeks a runoff win that could boost his standing as a potential presidential candidate. The center-right politician served as Macron’s prime minister for three years.

The National Rally views key mayoral victories as demonstrations of the party’s governing capabilities.

Marine Le Pen had been viewed as a top presidential prospect until her embezzlement conviction last year, which included a five-year ban from public office. She is challenging the verdict, with a crucial court ruling expected July 7. Should the ban stand, her protégé Jordan Bardella would become the party’s presidential nominee.

Multiple prominent politicians across the political spectrum have expressed presidential interest, but no clear frontrunner has emerged.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy touched down in London Tuesday for high-level discussions with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, according to British government officials. The visit comes as European nations work to maintain global focus on Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine while world attention shifts to escalating Middle East conflicts.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte joined the meeting at 10 Downing Street, where leaders focused on peace initiatives for Ukraine and “the need to maintain sanctions pressure on Russia,” Starmer’s office announced.

The London summit follows recent U.S. decisions to temporarily lift certain Russian oil sanctions aimed at stabilizing global energy markets disrupted by Middle East warfare, which began with joint American-Israeli operations against Iran on February 28.

Zelenskyy condemned Washington’s sanctions relief, arguing it would give Moscow additional resources to continue its assault on Ukraine.

President Donald Trump has expressed intentions to broker a peace agreement ending what he calls Europe’s largest conflict since World War II, causing concern among European leaders who believe Russia may present a serious security threat to the EU within the decade.

However, U.S.-mediated negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian representatives have stalled, showing little advancement on critical matters as Middle East crises dominate international attention.

Trump has also rejected Zelenskyy’s proposal to assist the United States and Gulf allies in countering Iranian drone attacks, despite Ukraine’s emergence as a global leader in producing advanced, combat-proven drone defense systems.

UK officials report that Russia and Iran are working together on drone technology and strategies in the Middle East region. British and Ukrainian drone warfare specialists have been deployed to help Iran’s neighboring countries defend against drone strikes.

The UK and Ukraine will formalize an agreement combining “Ukraine’s expertise and the U.K.’s industrial base to manufacture and supply drones and innovative capabilities,” according to Starmer’s office. Britain is also financing an “AI Center of Excellence” in partnership with Ukraine’s Defense Ministry.

“More security and opportunities for Ukraine” are his main goals, Zelenskyy posted on X when announcing his London arrival.

“Drones, electronic warfare and rapid battlefield innovation are now central to national and economic security, and that has only been further magnified by the conflict in the Middle East,” Starmer stated.

“By deepening our defense partnerships, we are strengthening Ukraine’s ability to defend itself from Russia’s brutal, ongoing attacks, while ensuring the U.K. and our allies are better prepared to meet the threats of the future.”

Russian Defense Ministry officials reported Tuesday that their air defense systems shot down 206 Ukrainian drones during overnight operations across Russian territories, the occupied Crimean Peninsula, and Azov Sea areas. Forty of those intercepted drones were heading toward Moscow, ministry statements indicated.

When questioned about increased Ukrainian drone operations targeting Moscow in recent days, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov characterized Kyiv authorities as “continuing absolutely futile resistance” against Russia’s invasion.

Ukrainian forces’ counteroffensives at eastern and southern front positions have disrupted Moscow’s planned March offensive, Zelenskyy claimed Monday evening.

While his statements could not be independently confirmed, the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War noted Monday that Ukrainian counterattacks “are likely constraining” certain Russian offensive activities.

Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia deployed 178 long-range drones of different types nationwide overnight beginning late Monday, with 154 either intercepted or disrupted electronically while 22 additional drones reached their intended targets.

A Russian attack damaged a Nova Poshta terminal in southern Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia, injuring eight people, according to regional military administration head Ivan Fedorov. Nova Poshta is Ukraine’s largest private delivery service.

Healthcare facilities across Sudan are facing a dire shortage of medical supplies that could reach critical levels within the next two weeks, according to warnings from the international charity Save the Children.

The organization reports that ongoing conflict in the Middle East has severely disrupted shipping routes and supply chains, leaving approximately $600,000 worth of crucial medications stranded at Dubai ports.

Willem Zuidema, Save the Children’s global director of supply chain safety, explained to Reuters that nearly 90 government-operated medical facilities throughout Sudan depend entirely on their organization’s medication deliveries to serve around 400,000 patients.

“We have a couple of weeks to do this rerouting before the country’s stocks run out. The clock is ticking,” Zuidema stated, warning that patients will lose access to fundamental healthcare services once emergency reserves are depleted.

The stranded medical supplies include critical treatments such as antibiotics, antimalarial drugs, deworming medications, pain relievers, fever reducers, and pediatric injectable medicines. These shipments typically arrive through Port Sudan before being transported overland to regions including Darfur.

The escalating conflict between the U.S., Israel, and Iran has created widespread disruption to international supply networks, forcing airspace restrictions and halting maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher recently highlighted how the Middle East crisis is placing enormous strain on aid distribution systems, with sub-Saharan Africa and Gaza experiencing particularly severe impacts.

The World Health Organization has also issued warnings about increasing medical supply shortfalls affecting various regions of Sudan. WHO regional director Hanan Balkhy noted, “Right now there’s a huge crunch in Sudan, of course, and there’s also a bigger crunch in medical commodities going into certain provinces.”

Financial pressures are intensifying the crisis as transportation expenses surge while aid organizations face significant budget reductions from major donors. Container shipping rates have climbed 25-30% as maritime companies redirect vessels around the Cape of Good Hope, extending delivery schedules by several weeks.

Zuidema warned that the current disruption may prove more damaging than challenges faced during the early phases of the Ukraine conflict and COVID-19 pandemic, primarily because aid organizations have fewer resources available following recent funding cuts.

“Demand will go up, but the means for us to respond — especially with the increasing fuel prices driving up cost — will go down. That’s extremely worrying,” he explained.

Save the Children has experienced a $4 million reduction in their annual budget, bringing their total funding down to $98 million for this year.

Sudan continues to grapple with a three-year internal conflict that has forced millions from their homes and created one of the planet’s most severe humanitarian emergencies.

NAIROBI – Two individuals faced formal charges in a Kenyan courtroom Tuesday for allegedly operating an illegal wildlife trafficking scheme involving thousands of live ants.

Zhang Kequn, a 27-year-old Chinese national, was apprehended at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport last Tuesday as he tried to board an outbound flight carrying more than 2,000 living ants, according to court records. Immigration authorities had previously placed a stop order on his passport following his successful evasion of arrest in Kenya the previous year.

A second defendant, Charles Mwangi, was brought before the court Monday on accusations of providing live ants to international smuggling networks. Officials connected Mwangi to an ant shipment that authorities intercepted in Bangkok on March 10, which had been sent from Kenya’s coastal city of Mombasa.

Both Zhang and Mwangi entered not guilty pleas before Senior Principal Magistrate Irene Gichobi on charges that include handling protected wildlife species without proper authorization. The magistrate ordered both defendants to remain in jail custody while the case proceeds, with the next court appearance scheduled for March 27.

Collectors who keep ant colonies as a hobby often pay substantial amounts to house them in large glass containers called formicariums, which allow observation of the insects’ intricate social behaviors and organizational systems.

This case follows a similar prosecution last year where four individuals each received $7,700 fines for attempting to smuggle thousands of ants that play important roles in Kenya’s natural environment. Wildlife protection experts noted that such cases represent a shift in illegal animal trade from high-profile targets like elephant tusks to less conspicuous species.

Nigerian police confirmed Tuesday that suspected suicide bombers killed no fewer than 23 individuals and left more than 100 others injured during Monday evening attacks in Maiduguri, located in the country’s northeastern region.

The violence marks one of the most devastating incidents to strike the capital city of Borno state, a region long plagued by conflict, in recent memory.

The following chronology outlines significant fatal attacks that have occurred throughout Borno over the past five years:

Militants believed to be affiliated with Boko Haram launched rocket-propelled grenades into crowded sections of Maiduguri, striking locations including a university campus and a children’s play area, resulting in no fewer than 10 deaths.

Women carrying explosive devices struck a marriage ceremony, burial service, and medical facility in synchronized assaults throughout Gwoza town, claiming at least 32 lives and wounding more than 100 others. While no organization took credit for these attacks, authorities typically link suicide bombing tactics to Boko Haram operations.

An individual detonated an explosive-laden vehicle after ramming into a Nigerian military convoy that was conducting operations against Islamic State fighters in the isolated community of Malam-Fatori, killing the attacker along with numerous soldiers.

A bomber targeting a dining establishment in Konduga town killed at least 10 individuals and wounded multiple others in the blast.

Boko Haram fighters conducted a nighttime assault on Darul Jamal village, killing more than 60 residents who had recently relocated from a displacement camp back to their community.

An explosive device detonated during religious services at a Maiduguri mosque, claiming five lives in what authorities characterized as a probable suicide bombing.

Militants suspected of Boko Haram ties killed seven Nigerian military personnel and took 13 others captive during an ambush targeting troops conducting patrols near Damasak in Borno.

Several suicide bombers struck Maiduguri simultaneously, hitting a medical facility and two commercial markets, killing at least 23 people and injuring more than 100 others.

GENEVA — United Nations human rights officials issued a stark warning Tuesday about what they describe as potential “ethnic cleansing” taking place in the occupied West Bank, where more than 36,000 Palestinians have been forcibly displaced amid accelerated Israeli settlement expansion.

The comprehensive report from UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk examines a 12-month period ending in October, documenting escalating violence from Israeli settlers and security forces targeting Palestinian communities.

According to Türk, Israeli officials are “playing the central role in directing, participating in or enabling this conduct,” with the report condemning systematic harassment, intimidation and the destruction of Palestinian agricultural land and residences.

Israeli Foreign Ministry officials and the Geneva embassy have not yet responded to requests for comment on the allegations.

The majority of displaced Palestinians come from northern West Bank regions, where Israeli forces launched extensive military operations in early 2025. Israeli government officials justify these actions as necessary to eliminate militant organizations operating in those areas.

The UN document states that the displacement “appears to indicate a concerted Israeli policy of mass forcible transfer throughout the occupied territory, aimed at permanent displacement, raising concerns of ethnic cleansing.”

Simultaneously, Israel’s conservative government has accelerated new settlement development throughout the West Bank. While international law widely prohibits such settlements, the Trump administration has shown greater acceptance of the construction projects. Israel’s current leadership includes prominent settler advocates and their political supporters.

UN officials report that Israeli authorities have approved or advanced nearly 37,000 new housing units in occupied east Jerusalem, plus over 27,000 additional units in other West Bank locations.

Türk demanded immediate cessation of settlement activities and reversal of their effects, including complete settler evacuation and “an end to the occupation of the Palestinian territory.”

This construction surge coincides with increased settler attacks on Palestinian civilians. Israeli officials characterize such violence as actions by a small extremist faction, but Palestinian representatives and human rights organizations argue that Israeli military forces rarely intervene to stop these incidents, and perpetrators face minimal consequences.

Three Palestinians died earlier this month during violent confrontations with settlers near Khirbet Abu Falah, located east of Ramallah. In an unusual response, Israeli military leadership issued strong condemnation of the settler violence.

Though occurring after the UN report’s timeframe, Palestinian Authority officials accused Israel of “exploiting the atmosphere of war” and reduced international focus on West Bank issues to increase intimidation tactics, violence and forced population displacement.

MADRID, March 17 – Spain’s energy and competition regulatory authority CNMC announced Tuesday that its forthcoming investigation into last year’s extensive power failure across the Iberian Peninsula will not determine fault or responsibility for the incident.

The widespread electrical outage on April 28 plunged extensive areas of Spain and Portugal into darkness for as long as 10 hours, affecting millions of residents.

During testimony before senators on Tuesday, CNMC Director Cani Fernandez explained that while the investigation will provide recommendations and findings, it will stop short of assigning culpability. Fernandez stated that the current regulatory and technical tools available to CNMC are adequate for proper system oversight.

The ongoing conflict in Lebanon is taking a devastating toll on innocent people, with massive casualties and widespread forced evacuations, United Nations officials reported Tuesday from Geneva.

“Displacement is increasing incredibly quickly. Right now, hundreds of thousands of people left their homes. Many leaving with very little, just the clothes they were wearing,” U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator Imran Riza stated.

The violence erupted on March 2 when Hezbollah launched attacks against Israel, claiming the strikes were retaliation for the death of Iran’s supreme leader. Israeli forces have since launched a major military campaign that has resulted in over 800 deaths across Lebanon while displacing more than 800,000 residents from their communities.

Lebanese government data shows nearly 20 percent of the country’s population is now officially registered as displaced persons, with the U.N. warning that these numbers are expected to climb even higher.

Border violence between Pakistan and Afghanistan has reached devastating new levels, with Tuesday’s Pakistani airstrike reportedly claiming more than 400 lives and injuring 265 others at a drug rehabilitation facility in Kabul, according to Afghanistan’s Taliban government. Pakistani officials dispute this account, stating they targeted a military installation and “terrorist infrastructure.”

The escalating conflict between these South Asian nations, who were once close partners, has unfolded over several months with multiple failed peace attempts.

Key Events in the Conflict:

October 2025: The crisis began on October 12 when dozens of combatants died during nighttime border battles, marking the most severe confrontation since the Taliban assumed control in Kabul. A week later, both countries agreed to halt hostilities following negotiations facilitated by Qatar and Turkey, with plans for additional discussions. However, by October 28, these diplomatic efforts collapsed when neither side could reach an agreement during the second round of mediated talks.

November-December 2025: Violence resumed on November 25 when Pakistani airstrikes killed nine children and one woman across three eastern Afghan provinces, prompting Taliban officials to promise retaliation. Peace negotiations in Saudi Arabia on December 3 also ended without progress, despite involvement from Qatar, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia, along with Pakistani military, intelligence, and diplomatic representatives.

Early 2026: The conflict intensified dramatically on February 27 when Pakistani forces struck 22 Afghan military positions. Pakistan’s military reported losing at least 12 soldiers while claiming to have killed 274 Taliban officials and fighters within a 24-hour period. By March 3, fighting had spread to multiple border locations, with the United Nations mission in Afghanistan reporting 42 civilian deaths over six days.

Recent Developments: Chinese diplomatic intervention showed promise on March 12, with President Xi Jinping’s mediation efforts helping to reduce tensions. This included a February meeting between China’s ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, where Xi’s message to end hostilities was delivered. However, violence continued on March 13 when Pakistan bombed a Kam Air fuel depot near Kandahar airport and struck residential areas in Kabul, resulting in four deaths and more than a dozen injuries, according to Taliban authorities.

The March 17 incident represents the deadliest single attack in this ongoing conflict, with both sides providing conflicting accounts of the target and casualties involved.

A high-ranking Iranian official revealed Tuesday that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has turned down diplomatic overtures designed to ease hostilities with the United States.

According to the official, two countries acting as intermediaries had delivered proposals to Tehran calling for reduced tensions and a potential ceasefire with America, but these efforts were rebuffed by Iran’s top leader.

During what was described as Khamenei’s initial foreign policy meeting, the official characterized his position toward seeking retribution against both the United States and Israel as “very tough and serious.” The source did not specify whether the Supreme Leader participated in the session directly or remotely.

BRUSSELS – Europe’s top diplomat says the European Union has learned to anticipate erratic behavior from the United States following a year of surprising policy decisions from Washington.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas spoke with reporters Tuesday about how European leaders have adjusted their expectations when working with American officials.

“Of course, we are allies with America, but we don’t really understand their moves recently,” Kallas explained during the interview.

The Estonian diplomat described how European officials have changed their mindset over the past twelve months since working with the current U.S. administration.

“I think it is pretty clear after this one year that the word that we have to take into account is unpredictability. So we are now more calm because we are expecting the unpredictable things to happen all the time, and take it as it is, put some ice in our hats and be calm and stay focused,” she stated.

Kallas suggested that European leaders have developed a more patient approach to transatlantic relations, preparing themselves for sudden shifts in American foreign policy positions.

BRUSSELS – The European Union’s top foreign policy official emphasized Tuesday that peaceful negotiations must be pursued to maintain open access through the critical Strait of Hormuz waterway, responding to President Donald Trump’s requests for allied nations to deploy naval forces in the region during Iran’s ongoing conflict.

Kaja Kallas, who leads EU foreign policy, told Reuters in an exclusive interview that military deployment isn’t the preferred approach for European nations.

“Nobody is ready to put their people in harm’s way in the Strait of Hormuz. We have to find diplomatic ways to keep this open so that we don’t have a food crisis, fertilizers crisis, energy crisis as well,” Kallas stated during the Tuesday interview.

The strait serves as a crucial shipping corridor for global commerce, making its security a significant concern for international trade and supply chains.

Three European allies are working together on a plan to pool their resources for buying military equipment and weapons as global tensions continue to rise due to conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.

The United Kingdom, Finland, and the Netherlands announced Tuesday they are developing a collaborative approach to defense procurement that could be operational by 2027. According to a British government statement, additional unnamed partner countries are also participating in discussions about this new framework.

The announcement comes as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer prepares to host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in London on Tuesday, with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also expected to participate in the meetings.

This proposed partnership would work alongside current NATO and European Union defense programs rather than replacing them.

“By joining forces, we get more security with the same resources and we strengthen our alliances as well,” Dutch Finance Minister Eelco Heinen stated in the announcement.

British Finance Minister Rachel Reeves emphasized the importance of expanding partnerships with allied nations while building up domestic defense manufacturing capabilities.

Reeves plans to outline her vision for stronger European Union relationships later Tuesday, building on comments she made last month about how European defense collaboration could deliver better value through improved equipment compatibility and shared purchasing power.

Four Israeli officials have confirmed that Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani was among the targets of overnight military strikes conducted by Israeli forces across Iran, though his current status remains unknown.

The officials speaking to Reuters said it remains unclear whether Larijani was killed or wounded in the attacks that took place last night.

Iranian authorities have yet to issue any statement regarding these reports.

Should Larijani’s death be verified, he would represent the highest-ranking Iranian official eliminated since Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who perished on the conflict’s opening day.

A former nuclear negotiator who maintained close ties with Khamenei, Larijani was publicly observed in Tehran on Friday participating in Quds Day demonstrations.

That same Friday, the United States announced a bounty of up to $10 million for intelligence on top Iranian military and security leaders, with Larijani among ten individuals connected to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on the list.

Israeli news sources have also reported that the strikes aimed at Gholamreza Soleimani, who leads the Basij Resistance Force, along with other high-ranking Basij commanders, though the results of these operations are still under evaluation.

Emergency response teams continue searching through debris at a drug treatment center in Afghanistan’s capital city on Tuesday, following what local authorities describe as a nighttime Pakistani military attack that claimed hundreds of lives at the medical facility.

The overnight strike targeted the rehabilitation hospital, leaving rescue workers to navigate through collapsed structures as they work to recover victims from the destruction.

This report includes a collection of photographs selected by Associated Press photo staff documenting the aftermath and ongoing recovery efforts.

Ukrainian officials reported Tuesday that overnight Russian strikes targeted key infrastructure across the Odesa region along the Black Sea, knocking out electricity to multiple communities in the area’s southern districts.

Oleh Kiper, the regional governor, announced via Telegram that the bombardment hit industrial complexes, port facilities, and power infrastructure throughout the coastal region. According to Kiper, emergency crews rapidly contained resulting blazes, and the assault produced no casualties.

“Critical infrastructure has been switched to backup power,” Kiper stated.

The strategic port city of Izmail, Ukraine’s largest Danube River shipping hub located directly across from NATO ally Romania, bore the brunt of what local officials characterized as an intense overnight drone bombardment.

Izmail’s mayor reported through social media channels that the strikes caused significant damage to both infrastructure systems and civilian housing throughout the municipality.

Romanian defense officials announced Tuesday they were conducting searches for reported drone debris near the border village of Plauru, situated on the opposite bank of the Danube from the targeted Ukrainian areas.

LONDON, March 17 – British telecommunications regulators announced Tuesday they will continue oversight of BT Openreach’s nationwide broadband infrastructure for an additional five-year period, implementing expanded price controls to boost competition and bring fiber internet to the remaining one-fifth of properties across the country.

The regulatory approach established by watchdog agency Ofcom in 2021 has delivered remarkable results, with nearly 80% of households now able to access full-fiber broadband service – a dramatic increase from fewer than 25% just five years earlier.

While approximately three-quarters of consumers can now choose between two providers – typically Openreach paired with either Virgin Media or a smaller alternative network – Ofcom determined that Openreach maintains substantial market dominance, making complete deregulation premature.

Under the new framework, regulators will impose price limits on what Openreach can charge retail companies such as Vodafone or Sky – which rent access to its network infrastructure – for download speeds reaching 80Mbit/s, expanding from the current 40Mbit/s threshold.

However, pricing for premium high-speed services will continue without regulatory constraints, creating financial motivation for companies to invest in infrastructure capable of delivering faster connection speeds, officials explained Tuesday.

President Donald Trump’s decision to postpone his scheduled meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing has created uncertainty in U.S.-China relations, though experts believe the delay won’t significantly damage diplomatic progress made since their October meeting.

The postponement demonstrates how the Iranian conflict has disrupted Trump’s international diplomatic priorities, adding military concerns to the existing challenges of trade disputes and Taiwan tensions between the world’s largest economies.

This delay interrupts efforts to reshape bilateral relationships just after both nations finished important trade discussions in Paris on Monday, which were meant to prepare for Trump’s Beijing visit originally planned for late March.

These talks occurred following Washington’s launch of new probes into “unfair trade practices” designed to increase trade pressure on nations worldwide, including China, after the Supreme Court overturned Trump’s global tariff policies last month.

“The situation is not in jeopardy, and Beijing still wants to organise the summit, but the U.S.-Iran conflict and the Supreme Court ruling on tariff policies have complicated these efforts,” stated Zhao Minghao, an international relations specialist from Shanghai’s prestigious Fudan University. “It makes U.S.-China interactions this year more difficult because of Trump’s ‘war of choice’ in Iran.”

Zhao noted that the delay could also provide opportunity for additional trade measures.

“The White House says it will continue its tariff policy, but without a doubt, we could see new uncertainties in this regard that impact Beijing’s calculations on dealing with the U.S.,” he explained.

A person with knowledge of the Paris discussions told Reuters before the second day of negotiations that China demonstrated willingness to potentially increase purchases of American agricultural products, including poultry, beef, and crops other than soybeans.

Both countries also addressed the supply of rare earth minerals primarily controlled by China and explored new methods for managing trade and investment relations.

Government-controlled China Daily characterized the discussions in a Tuesday editorial as “constructive,” while cautioning Trump that Beijing’s “openness should not be mistaken for acquiescence.”

“The U.S. side should refrain from taking any further actions that could disrupt or undermine a stable China-U.S. economic relationship. Actions that inject uncertainty — whether tariffs, restrictive measures or unilateral investigations — do just that,” the editorial stated.

American officials have provided conflicting explanations for the postponement. On Sunday, Trump informed Britain’s Financial Times he might delay the meeting unless China assisted in reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

However, on Monday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated Trump may need to postpone due to war coordination responsibilities, not because of requests for China’s help with the strait or trade disagreements.

Nevertheless, analysts say both nations prioritize maintaining stable relations and continuing preparations for an eventual successful visit. They emphasized that for China’s export-dependent economy, managing increasing global economic uncertainty remains the top concern.

“Trump is preoccupied with a war in Iran that has not been resolved as quickly as predicted, so he is keen to ensure that the military and economic fallout from that is contained within the next couple of weeks or so … which means planning a successful visit to Beijing is next to impossible,” explained Neil Thomas, a Chinese politics fellow at the Asia Society.

“From China’s perspective, there’s been a lot of concern in Beijing about the lack of preparations from the American side for the summit so Chinese policymakers wouldn’t mind an extra few weeks to prepare for a more substantive visit.”

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian reflected this position on Monday when questioned about Trump’s weekend comments. “Diplomacy between heads of state plays an irreplaceable role in providing strategic guidance to China-U.S. relations,” Lin stated, noting that both sides were discussing the trip arrangements.

Nigerian authorities are investigating a series of deadly explosions that claimed the lives of at least 23 people and left more than 100 others injured Monday evening in Maiduguri, located in the country’s northeastern region. Officials believe suicide bombers were responsible for what has become one of the most devastating attacks the conflict-torn city has witnessed in recent years.

The blasts occurred in heavily populated areas throughout Maiduguri, which serves as the capital of Borno state. Emergency responders and local residents reported that three separate explosions rocked the city, with detonations occurring at a busy marketplace and near the main entrance to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.

“Regrettably, a total of 23 persons lost their lives, while 108 others sustained varying degrees of injuries,” Borno police spokesperson Nahum Kenneth Daso said in a statement that blamed the attacks on suspected suicide bombers.

While no organization has stepped forward to take credit for the coordinated assault, authorities and residents immediately pointed to the Boko Haram extremist organization as the likely perpetrator. The militant group began its violent campaign in northeastern Nigeria back in 2009, seeking to impose their extreme version of Islamic law across the region.

Over the years, Boko Haram has expanded its operations and now includes thousands of militants operating under various factions, including the Islamic State West Africa Province, which receives support from the broader Islamic State organization.

Despite being the epicenter of years of violent conflict, Maiduguri had recently enjoyed a period of relative calm, even as surrounding rural areas continued to face regular attacks from extremist forces.

Local residents described the panic and confusion that erupted following the explosions. Mohammed Hassan, who volunteers with a civilian group that supports security forces in their fight against extremists, characterized the scale of the violence. “This attack’s been one of the deadliest in Maiduguri in years,” Hassan explained. “We’re in dire need of blood,” he added while describing the urgent medical situation hours after the bombings occurred.

Security officials note that extremist groups have recently escalated their offensive operations against Nigerian military installations, resulting in the deaths of multiple high-ranking officers and soldiers while also allowing militants to seize significant quantities of weapons and ammunition from overrun bases.

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Emergency workers continued pulling victims from the wreckage of a drug treatment center in Afghanistan’s capital Tuesday, following what Afghan authorities described as a devastating Pakistani airstrike that claimed at least 400 lives at the medical facility.

Pakistani officials have rejected Afghanistan’s claims that they deliberately struck a hospital, asserting that their military operations conducted Monday in eastern Afghanistan avoided all civilian locations.

Monday evening’s attacks represent a significant intensification of hostilities that erupted between the neighboring countries in late February, featuring repeated border skirmishes and aerial bombardments within Afghan territory. Efforts by the international community to broker a ceasefire have been unsuccessful.

Afghanistan’s deputy government spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat announced on X late Monday that the bombing struck the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital, which houses 2,000 beds in Kabul, around 9 p.m. local time. He reported that substantial portions of the complex were leveled, with casualties reaching 400 deaths “so far” and approximately 250 wounded. No updated casualty figures were available early Tuesday.

Video footage shared by local news outlets on X depicted security personnel using flashlights to evacuate victims while firefighters battled blazes throughout the destroyed structure’s remains.

The hospital bombing occurred following earlier border exchanges that Afghan officials said killed four people in Afghanistan, as the most severe fighting between these nations in years continued into its third week.

Afghan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid denounced the attack on X, charging Pakistan with “targeting hospitals and civilian sites to perpetrate horrors.” He described the victims as “innocent civilians and addicts.”

“We strongly condemn this crime and consider such an act to be against all accepted principles and a crime against humanity,” he stated in another X post.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s spokesperson, Mosharraf Zaidi, rejected these accusations as unfounded, maintaining that no medical facility was attacked in Kabul.

Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar wrote on X early Tuesday that Pakistani forces had “carried out precision airstrikes” against military targets in Kabul and Nangarhar province in the east. He claimed that “technical support infrastructure and ammunition storage facilities” at two Kabul locations were eliminated.

“All targeting has been done with precision only at those infrastructures which are being used by Afghan Taliban regime to support its multiple terror proxies,” he posted.

Pakistan’s Information Ministry earlier labeled Mujahid’s accusations as “false and misleading,” designed to inflame public opinion and conceal what it called “illegitimate support for cross-border terrorism.” The ministry insisted Pakistan’s operations were “precise and carefully undertaken to ensure no collateral damage is inflicted.”

The bombing followed a unanimous U.N. Security Council resolution calling on Afghanistan’s Taliban government to intensify counterterrorism efforts immediately. Pakistan maintains that Kabul provides sanctuary to militant organizations, especially the Pakistani Taliban, which allegedly conducts attacks within Pakistani borders.

While the Security Council resolution didn’t specifically mention attacks in Pakistan, it condemned “in the strongest terms all terrorist activity including terrorist attacks.”

Pakistan’s administration alleges that Afghanistan shelters the Pakistani Taliban, designated as a terrorist group by the United States, along with banned Baloch separatist organizations and other militants who regularly attack Pakistani military and civilian targets nationwide. Afghanistan disputes these allegations.

The current violence — the most intense between these neighbors — started in late February when Afghanistan launched cross-border operations responding to Pakistani airstrikes within Afghanistan that Kabul claimed killed civilians. The fighting shattered a Qatar-mediated ceasefire from October that followed earlier battles killing dozens of soldiers, civilians and suspected militants.

Pakistan has announced it is engaged in “open war” with Afghanistan. The escalation has concerned the international community, especially given the region’s continued presence of other militant groups, including al-Qaida and the Islamic State, which have been attempting to reestablish themselves.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari declared Saturday that Afghanistan’s Taliban leadership crossed a “red line” by deploying drones that wounded several Pakistani civilians last week.

A Hiroshima atomic bomb survivor who gained worldwide recognition when former President Barack Obama embraced him during a groundbreaking 2016 visit has passed away at age 88, according to Japanese media reports.

Shigeaki Mori died March 14 at a Hiroshima hospital, Jiji Press announced Tuesday. The emotional moment when Obama held the tearful survivor at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park became an iconic image from the first-ever presidential visit to the site by a sitting U.S. leader.

Mori was just eight years old on August 6, 1945, when American forces detonated the atomic bomb over Hiroshima, devastating the entire city and rendering him unconscious from the explosion’s tremendous force.

Three decades after surviving the attack, Mori dedicated himself to a lengthy mission to locate victims who had been cremated at his school’s playground. Through his tireless research efforts, he also discovered the identities of 12 Americans who lost their lives in the bombing.

Survivors of the nuclear attacks, called “hibakusha” in Japanese, continue working to preserve the memories of Hiroshima and Nagasaki despite their aging population and decreasing numbers. These remain the only two cities in history to experience nuclear warfare. Officials estimate approximately 550,000 people have died from the attacks, including those who succumbed to radiation-related illnesses in subsequent years.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to London Tuesday for high-level discussions with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, focusing on strengthening defense cooperation between their nations, according to the British government.

The meeting centers on finalizing an enhanced partnership agreement for collaborative development and manufacturing of unmanned aircraft and additional military equipment, Downing Street announced.

Officials indicated that both Ukraine and Britain will explore possibilities for expanding defense technology partnerships with additional allied nations.

NATO’s top official, Secretary General Mark Rutte, is scheduled to join the London discussions with Starmer and Zelenskyy, addressing European security concerns and strategies for achieving sustainable peace in Ukraine, British officials confirmed.

“Drones, electronic warfare and rapid battlefield innovation are now central to national and economic security, and that has only been further magnified by the conflict in the Middle East,” Starmer said in the statement.

A survivor of Monday night’s devastating airstrike in Kabul has described watching helplessly as flames consumed his fellow patients at a drug rehabilitation facility, calling the horrific scene “doomsday.”

Ahmad, a 50-year-old patient who also worked as a volunteer security guard at the hospital, was the lone survivor among 26 men sharing his dormitory when Pakistani forces launched their attack. The men had just finished evening prayers and gathered in their shared living space when the strikes began.

“The whole place caught fire. It was like doomsday,” Ahmad said, identifying himself by only his first name.

According to Afghanistan’s Taliban government, the Monday evening assault claimed at least 400 lives and wounded 250 others. However, Pakistani officials dispute targeting the medical complex, stating their military operations focused on armed installations and “terrorist support infrastructure.”

The deadly attack represents the most recent escalation in mounting tensions between the neighboring Islamic countries during the sacred period of Ramadan.

Mohammad Mian, an employee in the hospital’s radiology unit, explained that numerous young patients receiving treatment resided in large shipping containers throughout the facility grounds. He said very few of these residents survived the bombardment.

“It was extremely terrifying,” Mian recalled. “Those who survived were the ones whose rooms were not destroyed and were fortunate. But the places where the bombs were dropped, everyone there was killed.”

Reuters journalists who visited the devastated site Tuesday morning found charred walls on single-story buildings that still showed signs of the intense fires from hours earlier.

Other areas of the complex had been completely flattened into heaps of brick, twisted metal, and splintered wood. Personal items belonging to patients – including pillows, shoes, and clothing – were strewn throughout the wreckage.

In Ahmad’s former dormitory, some bunk beds remained standing against walls, their bedding still neatly arranged, while the destroyed ceiling left the room exposed to open sky above.

Dr. Ahmad Wali Yousafzai, a medical officer at the facility that housed approximately 2,000 patients when the attack occurred, remembered hearing three separate explosions. The force of the blasts threw several of his coworkers from wall to wall, he said.

When fires broke out immediately afterward, screams and pleas for assistance came “from all directions,” according to Yousafzai.

“We were too few in number to save all of them,” the doctor added.

Haji Fahim, who drives ambulances, spent five hours transporting at least eight bodies to the nearby Afghan-Japan hospital following the attack.

“Now we have come again … there are still bodies under the rubble,” Fahim said Tuesday as recovery efforts continued.

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Accompanied by horn blasts, bell chimes, and the whoosh of pneumatic brakes, a distinctive rail car emerges from a Budapest maintenance facility to continue its century-long service to Hungary’s capital transit network.

These specialized freight vehicles, called mukis, draw power from overhead electrical lines while navigating Budapest’s extensive tram system — among the world’s most active. However, unlike the hundreds of recognizable yellow passenger cars throughout the fleet, these workhorses don’t transport riders.

The city purchased these wooden-bodied vehicles in 1926 out of urgent need: They hauled cargo and materials to Budapest’s industrial sites after World War I had devastated much of the region’s freight transportation infrastructure.

“Transportation engineers of that era created an electric propulsion system primarily using components salvaged from war-damaged vehicles, along with parts taken from cars already marked for disposal,” explained Ádám Zadravecz, who oversees tram vehicle development and technology at BKV, Budapest’s public transportation authority.

“While freight hauling was their original mission, following World War II, these same vehicles helped clear away wartime debris,” Zadravecz noted.

As Hungary rebuilt, the mukis adapted to new roles. During the 1960s, several of the initial 40-vehicle fleet received snowplow attachments, allowing them to keep tram routes clear during winter months — a duty they continue performing today.

The vehicles also conduct overnight maintenance operations and tow disabled passenger trams back to repair facilities.

Through the decades, various components were swapped out, creating vehicles with mixed parts from different eras. By 2018, the mukis needed major renovation work.

“When originally constructed in the 1920s, these were remarkably basic, no-frills machines,” said Nándor Meixner, who heads vehicle maintenance at Budapest’s Ferencváros facility. “During our restoration project, we focused on improving working conditions for our staff. For instance, we installed an operator’s seat so drivers could finally sit while working.”

The renovation also included adding cabin heating systems.

Even after a full century of modifications, Zadravecz emphasized that the trams’ fundamental character hasn’t changed.

“Operating expenses are practically nothing because these vehicles are incredibly easy to service. Unlike today’s sophisticated electronic systems, there’s very little that can malfunction,” he explained. “Folks joke that you can fix them using just a hammer and file, and they’re absolutely right.”

Operating these vintage vehicles does require specialized instruction, plus what Meixner described as developing an intuitive connection with the machinery.

“Simply knowing how to drive and understanding signals isn’t sufficient — you must truly understand the vehicle’s personality. We always told operators they needed to feel the tram through their entire body,” he said.

From the original 40-vehicle mukis fleet, just six have survived Budapest’s century of changes, with three still actively working.

“These vehicles’ worth comes exactly from their straightforward design and the remarkable fact that they continue existing and serving our needs,” Zadravecz concluded.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — People living in Dubai and Doha, Qatar, were awakened by the sound of explosions on Tuesday morning as military defense systems worked to shoot down fresh waves of Iranian missiles and drones, while Israeli forces conducted new bombing operations against Iran and Lebanon in an escalating Middle Eastern conflict.

Dubai’s international airport temporarily closed its airspace after military officials announced they were “responding to incoming missile and drone threats” targeting the major travel hub.

Israeli defense forces announced early Tuesday they had initiated a “wide-scale wave of strikes” throughout Iran’s capital city while simultaneously intensifying attacks against Iran-supported Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon. Israeli officials also confirmed two separate Iranian missile barrages launched before sunrise toward Tel Aviv and other locations, plus additional Hezbollah rockets aimed at northern Israel.

Tehran continued targeting energy facilities belonging to Gulf Arab nations, striking an oil installation in Fujairah, a UAE emirate located on the nation’s eastern coastline along the Gulf of Oman that has faced repeated attacks. Government-controlled WAM news agency confirmed no casualties resulted from the drone assault.

In Abu Dhabi, one person died from falling debris after the capital’s air defense systems destroyed an incoming missile, marking the eighth fatality in the UAE since hostilities began, according to official sources.

Tehran’s assault on Gulf states and its control over the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway carrying one-fifth of global oil shipments, has sparked growing fears of a worldwide energy shortage. Early Tuesday morning, Iranian forces struck a tanker positioned near Fujairah’s coast, adding to approximately 20 vessels attacked since Israel and the United States initiated military action against Iran on February 28.

As Washington faces mounting pressure regarding climbing oil costs, Brent crude prices stayed above $100 per barrel, representing a more than 40% increase since fighting commenced.

President Donald Trump announced he had requested roughly half a dozen nations to deploy naval vessels to maintain Strait of Hormuz navigation. However, his requests received no immediate commitments, with many countries expressing reluctance to join a conflict lacking a clear conclusion strategy and doubting their ability to exceed U.S. Navy capabilities.

The UAE temporarily closed its airspace early Tuesday after military leaders reported they were “responding to missile and drone threats from Iran.” Officials quickly reopened the airspace, followed shortly by explosion sounds as forces intercepted incoming attacks.

The sudden airspace closure highlighted the difficult situation facing Emirati officials attempting to maintain operations for their major airlines, Emirates and Etihad, while Iranian strikes continue threatening the country.

Saudi Arabia’s Defense Ministry confirmed intercepting twelve drones Tuesday morning above the kingdom’s expansive Eastern Province, which houses critical oil infrastructure.

In Qatar, explosion sounds echoed across the capital during early morning hours as defensive systems worked to stop incoming fire. Qatar’s Defense Ministry later announced successfully preventing a missile attack on the city, though a fire erupted in an industrial zone from debris of a destroyed projectile.

Attacks from Iranian-affiliated groups persisted in Iraq, with the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad receiving shrapnel damage from intercepted drones.

Embassy air defense systems successfully destroyed all four drones targeting the compound, according to two Iraqi security officials who requested anonymity when discussing intelligence information.

A separate attack hit a residence within Baghdad’s heavily secured Presidential Compound in the al-Jadriya neighborhood, the officials reported. The perpetrators of both attacks remained unclear, though Iranian-allied militias have consistently targeted American installations throughout Iraq since the conflict started.

Israeli military forces announced early Tuesday they had launched fresh attacks across Tehran alongside strikes in Lebanon’s capital targeting Hezbollah militants.

Over 1,300 people have died in Iran since fighting began, according to the Iranian Red Crescent.

Israeli operations have also forced more than 1 million Lebanese residents to flee their homes — approximately 20% of the nation’s population — according to Lebanese government figures, which report roughly 850 deaths.

Some Israeli ground forces have advanced into southern Lebanon, raising concerns about preparations for a large-scale invasion.

Military chief of staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir stated Monday during a northern border visit that Israel’s army is “determined to deepen the operation until all of our objectives are achieved” and confirmed additional soldiers are reinforcing the military’s Northern Command.

Israel confirmed two Iranian missile volleys fired early Tuesday toward Tel Aviv and an area south of the Sea of Galilee. Additional launches from Lebanon were also documented.

In Israel, 12 people have been killed by Iranian missile strikes. At least 13 U.S. military personnel have died.

The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz is disturbing global economic stability, pushing up energy costs, threatening food supplies in developing nations, destabilizing vulnerable countries and complicating central bank efforts to reduce consumer prices.

A small number of vessels have managed passage, mainly Iranian but also from countries including India and Turkey, with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stating: “from our perspective it is open” — excluding the United States, Israel and their allies.

Highlighting the risks of approaching the strait, a tanker anchored off the United Arab Emirates’ eastern shore was struck by a projectile early Tuesday morning.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center, operated by British military forces, confirmed the attack, noting the vessel was positioned in the Gulf of Oman near Fujairah. Officials reported the tanker suffered “minor structural damage” with no injuries.

On Monday, Trump claimed “numerous countries” had told him “they’re on the way” to assist with Strait of Hormuz security, but no evidence of such deployment emerged.

European nations have criticized the U.S. and Israel for not clearly defining their war objectives and have indicated preference for diplomatic solutions rather than military involvement in the conflict.

Japan and Australia confirmed Monday they had not received requests to help protect the strait and currently have no plans to do so, while Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said his nation supports strengthening anti-piracy and defensive operations in the Red Sea but opposes expanding activities in the Strait of Hormuz.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer indicated his country might deploy mine-hunting drones already stationed in the region but “will not be drawn into the wider war.”

HAVANA, Cuba — The entire nation of Cuba lost electrical service on Monday, marking another chapter in the country’s ongoing energy emergency that has left its electrical infrastructure in shambles. This widespread power failure represents the third significant outage to hit the island in just four months.

The latest electrical disruption comes barely a week after another major power failure knocked out service across western portions of the island, leaving millions of residents in darkness.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel disclosed on Friday that the nation has been without petroleum deliveries for more than three months, forcing the country to depend on alternative energy sources including solar panels, natural gas, and deteriorating thermal power facilities. Cuban leadership has attributed the ongoing electrical emergency to what they describe as a U.S. energy embargo, while U.S. President Donald Trump issued warnings in January about potential tariffs against any nation that provides petroleum products to Cuba.

The International Monetary Fund is expressing worry that Ukraine could lose access to a critical $8.1 billion aid package due to legislative delays in the country’s parliament, according to a Bloomberg News report released Tuesday citing an IMF official with knowledge of the situation.

Ukraine’s lawmakers face a deadline at the end of March to approve legislative changes that would increase taxes on both businesses and households, a requirement under the four-year loan agreement that received approval in February, the report indicated.

The IMF previously provided $1.5 billion to Ukraine in February to support government operations as the nation continues its defense against Russia’s invasion, now entering its fifth year.

Reuters was unable to independently confirm the Bloomberg report, and the IMF has not yet responded to requests for comment on the matter.

According to the anonymous source cited by Bloomberg, IMF staff members under the leadership of mission chief Gavin Gray are scheduled to begin meetings with Ukrainian legislators starting March 18. The source requested anonymity due to the confidential nature of the discussions.

NEWPORT, Wales – Britain’s political landscape could be heading for dramatic transformation as Reform UK leader Nigel Farage positions his populist movement to challenge the country’s established order.

Speaking to Reuters during his party’s policy rollout in Newport, Wales on March 5, the 61-year-old political maverick outlined an ambitious agenda that includes implementing large-scale deportations, abandoning international human rights agreements, and dramatically reducing foreign aid spending.

“The world is changing,” Farage stated, describing his vision for dismantling what he characterizes as a liberal establishment promoting “a progressive, woke ideology” that has caused British citizens to feel embarrassed about their nation.

Reform UK has surged ahead in British opinion surveys, establishing a commanding lead over Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government. This momentum has strengthened Farage’s argument that his five-year-old party could capture control in the next general election scheduled by 2029.

The former Brexit champion drew parallels between himself and other global figures he considers agents of change, including his ally Donald Trump, Hungary’s Viktor Orban, and Argentina’s Javier Milei, describing them as leaders bringing “very, very big changes” worldwide.

Farage noted a shifting reception during his recent appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, contrasting current interest with previous hostility. “I would say a third of the delegates I met there were genuinely interested in who I was, what I was, what I was trying to do,” he explained. “And next year it will be 50%.”

The Reform leader criticized conventional politicians as outdated, specifically targeting the current prime minister. “Keir Starmer is stuck in a mindset that is 15 years out of date,” Farage declared.

However, the party faces significant obstacles in convincing voters of their governing readiness, holding just eight seats in Britain’s 650-member parliament and lacking substantial government experience. Controversial statements about migrant “invasions” and racism allegations that resulted in member expulsions have alienated some potential supporters concerned about increased social tensions.

Adding to these challenges, a former Reform Wales leader received a prison sentence in November for accepting bribes to deliver pro-Russian speeches, actions the party condemned as “reprehensible, treasonous and unforgivable.”

Tim Bale, a politics professor at Queen Mary University London, highlighted this paradox: “Reform’s biggest strength is also its biggest weakness – namely, Nigel Farage. He’s adored by those who are absolutely determined to vote Reform but hated by those determined to vote against it – and disliked and distrusted by far too many who might otherwise be tempted to move in its direction.”

Reform’s expanding policy framework, gathered through Reuters interviews with Farage and ten current and former advisors, encompasses eliminating diversity programs and climate targets, maximizing domestic oil and gas extraction, drastically reducing Britain’s civil service, and establishing the country as a cryptocurrency center.

Critics have characterized this agenda as merely copying Trump administration policies, a comparison Farage disputes. He describes Reform’s approach as grounded in “simple values” centered on “family, community, country.”

Labour officials have questioned the party’s policy coherence, with one stating: “Reform don’t have a proper policy platform. Their ideas don’t make sense.”

Farage’s advisors frequently discuss sweeping away liberal elites who maintain the “rules-based international order.” Alan Mendoza, Reform’s global affairs chief advisor, emphasized this transformation: “You need to be asking: What is your new destination? Because the old, the old world, has gone. It’s over.”

James Orr, the party’s new policy director and Cambridge University philosophy professor who maintains friendship with U.S. Vice-President J.D. Vance, offered insight into Farage’s appeal. “I’m hesitant to use the word philosophy about Nigel,” the 47-year-old explained during an interview at a London private club. “He has instincts, not ideology.”

Orr’s skepticism toward elites developed during the 2016 Brexit referendum period, when he described being the “only out-of-the-closet Brexiteer” among Oxford University academics while finding support from “the porters, the butlers, the maintenance department and the gardeners and the groundsmen.”

Farage’s political influences include figures he encountered in Brussels: Italian comedian Beppe Grillo, who co-founded the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement, and social media strategist Roberto Casaleggio. A longtime advisor noted Farage’s understanding of digital communication: “Grillo weaponised social media and Nigel gets it. For a man who has never really turned on a computer in his life, he really gets it.”

Both major opposition parties dismiss Reform’s policy development capabilities. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch told a party gathering on March 7: “Reform are not serious people and they are not going to solve any of your problems. Reform have absolutely no idea what they want Britain to look like in the 2030s.”

Reform officials emphasize their American connections as potential governing assets. “With this administration, I happen to know most of the members of cabinet on a personal basis and have for many, many years,” Farage told Reuters.

He expressed alignment with Trump on major issues including global security, recognizing “Iran is the bad actor in the Middle East” and understanding “China wants to take over and dominate our lives,” along with shared positions on border control and domestic energy production.

However, Farage rejected suggestions that he copies Trump’s MAGA movement. “To some extent they copy what we were doing back in the run-up to the referendum,” he countered. “I have always gone for bells and whistles and fireworks and fun, and whilst we believe in what we’re doing, we have a good time as well.”

According to sources familiar with Reform operations, party officials regularly travel to Washington seeking financial support and business backing, particularly targeting British businesses and entrepreneurs who have relocated abroad due to UK tax policies. These efforts helped Reform raise 5.5 million pounds in the fourth quarter of last year, contributing to total 2025 donations of 18 million pounds, with Electoral Commission data showing at least two-thirds coming from overseas donors.

Mendoza argued that Britain must demonstrate value to Washington through substantial defense investment and expanded global engagement to maintain meaningful security partnerships, countering Trump administration perceptions of Britain as “a weak and feeble country.”

Nigel Farage’s Reform UK political movement continues to dominate British polling data ahead of upcoming local elections in May and the next national election scheduled by 2029, surpassing both the ruling Labour government and Conservative opposition with a controversial policy agenda.

The populist party has unveiled a comprehensive platform centered around strict border enforcement, economic restructuring, and cultural nationalism.

BORDER ENFORCEMENT AND MASS REMOVALS

Under the leadership of former Goldman Sachs executive Zia Yusuf, who oversees domestic policy, Reform UK proposes launching a comprehensive five-year initiative called “Operation Restoring Justice” designed to locate, detain and remove undocumented immigrants while discouraging future arrivals through rapid enforcement.

The party intends to establish Secure Immigration Removal Centres within 18 months, creating capacity to remove up to 24,000 undocumented individuals monthly. Reform UK estimates it could remove as many as 600,000 asylum seekers, including families with children, during its first term in office.

Reform UK also plans to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights, claiming the Strasbourg-based tribunal prevents Britain from conducting removals. The party would eliminate the Human Rights Act 1998, which incorporates ECHR protections into British law, replacing it with domestic legislation.

The party, which frequently characterizes unauthorized immigration as an “invasion,” proposes establishing a new Deportation Command modeled after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Simultaneously, Reform UK would attract wealthy foreign investors through a “Britannia investor visa” program, offering 10-year residency permits for £250,000 ($334,000) with exemptions from UK taxation on international earnings.

FISCAL RESTRUCTURING AND JOB CUTS

Former Conservative minister Robert Jenrick leads Reform UK’s economic policy development, proposing a restructured financial framework governed by “strict fiscal rules” to control mounting national debt through targeted spending reductions.

The party would terminate benefit payments to foreign nationals, increase immigration health charges, and limit foreign aid expenditures.

Additional savings would come from eliminating 68,500 government positions, reducing welfare distributions, and shifting new public employees from guaranteed pension benefits to contribution-based retirement plans.

While respecting Bank of England autonomy, Reform UK would seek greater business representation on monetary policy committees. The party would delay tax reductions until achieving “fiscal headroom necessary” but promises cuts when financially feasible.

ENERGY EXPANSION AND CLIMATE POLICY REVERSAL

Richard Tice, a former property developer directing business, trade and energy policy, advocates maximizing domestic oil and gas production while rapidly expanding nuclear power generation.

Reform UK would eliminate net-zero carbon targets and zero-emission vehicle requirements. The party supports “buying British” policies for government procurement and would impose “tight quotas and significant tariffs” to prevent Chinese electric vehicle market dominance.

Reform UK opposes Labour’s 2025 Employment Rights Bill, arguing the legislation destroys youth employment by increasing business costs through expanded sick pay, parental leave, and restrictions on dismissal practices.

HOSPITALITY SECTOR SUPPORT

Under the slogan “save our pubs,” Reform UK proposes reducing hospitality VAT to 10% and eliminating employer National Insurance increases. The party would cut beer duty by 10% and gradually eliminate business rates for all public houses.

EDUCATIONAL NATIONALISM AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING

Former Conservative Home Secretary Suella Braverman oversees education policy, advocating for a “patriotic, balanced curriculum” to foster British pride while opposing “woke ideology.” The party supports stricter school discipline and prohibiting social and gender transitioning for students.

At the university level, Braverman wants to redirect young people away from “Mickey Mouse courses” by establishing a target for 50% of youth to enter trades, addressing shortages in nursing, construction and caregiving. She has not identified which academic programs Reform UK considers inadequate.

As equalities policy director, Braverman would eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion requirements, claiming they promote left-wing ideology, and would repeal the Equality Act of 2010, which strengthened anti-discrimination protections. The party would also abolish the government equalities minister position.

CRYPTOCURRENCY ADVANCEMENT

Reform UK proposes introducing a Cryptoassets and Digital Finance Bill to encourage cryptocurrency adoption, including reduced capital gains taxation on digital assets and establishing a bitcoin reserve fund at the Bank of England.

ROME (AP) — Decomposing bodies continue appearing on shorelines. Family members cannot reach loved ones by phone. Migration camps sit empty after overnight departures.

People attempting to reach Europe are disappearing in massive numbers through what experts call “invisible shipwrecks,” while nations responsible for maritime rescue operations are restricting access to crucial information.

The early months of 2026 represent the most lethal period on record for Mediterranean crossings — with 682 confirmed deaths through March 16 — according to data from the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration. However, the actual number of fatalities is likely far greater.

Advocacy organizations face growing challenges in documenting casualties as Italy, Tunisia and Malta have quietly limited access to information regarding migrant rescue operations and maritime disasters along the world’s most dangerous migration corridor. These stories rarely reach major news outlets, partly because the lack of openness makes it difficult for reporters to substantiate claims.

“It’s a strategy of silence,” stated Matteo Villa, a migration and data specialist at the Italian Institute for International Political Studies think tank.

The group Refugees in Libya along with other advocacy organizations have raised urgent concerns since late January, documenting over 1,000 missing persons following Cyclone Harry’s impact on the area. Government officials have neither confirmed nor disputed these figures.

Following the storm, more than 20 decomposed remains appeared on beaches in Italy and Libya, while additional human remains were observed floating at sea.

For relatives of missing migrants, the uncertainty creates unbearable anguish.

“Europe should know that these people who got drowned in the sea have family members, have dreams, have passions,” Josephus Thomas, a Sierra Leone migrant and community organizer in Tunisia’s coastal community of El Amra, explained to AP.

Even the U.N.’s migration division struggles increasingly to confirm reports of deaths in these “invisible shipwrecks” due to diminishing information availability.

During the previous year, at least 1,500 individuals were documented as missing whose circumstances IOM could not substantiate, according to Julia Black, who oversees the organization’s Missing Migrants Project. This problem continues into 2026.

“We started a new secondary data set of what we are calling unverifiable cases because it’s just become so many,” Black explained. This year alone, they have documented over 400 missing cases they cannot confirm.

Numerous humanitarian groups that previously helped bridge information gaps can no longer perform this function due to widespread funding reductions and government-imposed limitations throughout the region.

“We’ve seen the restriction of access for humanitarian actors, which is not right. And now we’re seeing even the restriction of information,” Black noted.

The Associated Press made repeated inquiries to officials in Tunisia, Italy and Malta regarding their policies on sharing migrant rescue information at sea. None provided responses.

Mediterranean authorities have progressively limited migrant-related information over time. However, their silence became particularly notable in late January following Cyclone Harry, which brought intense rainfall, 100 kph (62 mph) winds, and 9-meter-tall (30 feet) waves.

Hundreds of individuals had left Tunisia’s Sfax coastal area and vanished, based on data collected by Refugees in Libya from migrants in Tunisia and their overseas relatives.

The organization admitted difficulty in providing exact numbers “because there is no central system recording departures, losses, or recoveries,” while warning the death count was probably even higher.

“We are looking at boats that never counted how many kids are inside,” David Yambio, founder of Refugees in Libya, told AP.

AP submitted five email requests to Italian coast guard officials seeking details about missing vessels and search operations but received no replies. A phone representative stated the coast guard lacked “any further verified and confirmed information regarding the circumstances.” AP also submitted a Freedom of Information request, which remains pending.

Coast guard officials also refused to discuss a January 24 alert asking ships traveling between Italy’s Lampedusa island and Tunisia to watch for eight distressed small boats carrying approximately 380 people. Italian journalist Sergio Scandura made this alert public.

Only one confirmed survivor exists from boats reported missing during Cyclone Harry. A merchant ship rescued him from the water on January 22. The man informed crew members he had traveled with 50 others, some of whose bodies were visible in rescue footage. His account allowed their deaths to be counted in IOM’s official records.

The ship’s captain reported the survivor was taken to Malta. Maltese Armed Forces did not respond to numerous inquiries about their role or reports they recovered the man and bodies.

Tunisia’s Foreign Ministry and National Guard have not answered multiple information requests via email and telephone.

Frontex, a European Union border surveillance agency, informed AP it identified eight boats with roughly 160 migrants between January 14 and 24 during the cyclone. Six boats were rescued by Italian forces, but the remaining two boats’ fate stays unknown.

On February 8, migrants held prayers and wept during a memorial service in olive groves near Sfax, assuming their relatives could not survive after weeks without contact.

“All of us here are in deep trauma, are in deep agony,” Dr. Ibrahim Fofana, a migrant in Tunisia whose family members disappeared in late January, said in footage shared by Refugees in Libya. He urged authorities to identify bodies that appeared on Italian shores.

Through mid-2024, Tunisian officials routinely published migrant interception numbers at sea, demonstrating to European partners their compliance with a 2023 agreement to reduce migration in return for financial assistance. However, this deal also preceded harsh enforcement actions against migrants on land, resulting in thousands being detained or abandoned in desert areas.

Organizations like the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights, known by its French initials FTDES, which previously compiled and distributed migrant interception data, were also affected by the crackdown.

In June 2024, Tunisia’s Interior Ministry ceased releasing migrant information, claiming security concerns, said Romdhane Ben Amor, FTDES spokesperson. However, he believes the reasons were political. The statistics contradicted Tunisia’s position that it was not serving as Europe’s border patrol, he explained.

Italy’s information restrictions on migrant rescues predate Tunisia’s policies. Italian coast guard previously published comprehensive monthly migrant rescue data. Monthly reports became quarterly before ending entirely in 2020, Villa noted. In 2022, earlier reports were also deleted from the coast guard’s website.

This year, Italian coast guard has not issued any migration-related press statements despite nearly 5,000 migrants arriving on Italian coasts, according to Italy’s Interior Ministry data.

“It is very clearly a political strategy to repress as much information as possible from the public,” Villa concluded.

The United Arab Emirates temporarily shut down its airspace Tuesday following what military officials described as missile and drone threats originating from Iran, according to the state-run WAM news agency.

The airspace closure coincided with a drone strike that ignited a blaze at an oil storage facility in Fujairah, an eastern emirate along the Gulf of Oman that has faced repeated attacks. Officials reported no casualties from the incident.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces conducted fresh military operations targeting both Tehran and Beirut on Tuesday, with strikes in the Lebanese capital aimed at Hezbollah fighters, according to Israeli military statements.

The escalating conflict has also reached Qatar, where a fire erupted in an industrial zone Tuesday morning after defense systems intercepted an incoming missile, the interior ministry announced. An Associated Press reporter in the area documented explosions as air defense systems near Doha engaged Iranian projectiles.

Dubai residents in the UAE received missile warning alerts around the same timeframe as the Qatar incident.

On Monday, President Donald Trump indicated that multiple nations have committed to assisting with security operations in the Strait of Hormuz, though he criticized some countries for what he characterized as insufficient cooperation in mutual defense arrangements with the United States.

The ongoing warfare has resulted in significant casualties across the region, with at least 1,300 fatalities reported in Iran, 850 in Lebanon, and 12 in Israel, based on official counts from each nation. U.S. military officials report 13 American service members killed and approximately 200 injured.