Author: Admin

European law enforcement agencies announced Friday they have identified 22 individuals connected to a coordinated campaign of explosive package attacks throughout Europe last year, with investigators pointing to Russia’s military intelligence service as the orchestrating force.

The incidents involved detonations at shipping facilities across Britain, Germany, and Poland, with security experts believing these attacks served as rehearsals for a broader Russian scheme targeting cargo aircraft headed to the United States.

Russian officials have consistently rejected any involvement in these operations or broader allegations of conducting sabotage campaigns, including arson incidents, designed to undermine nations supporting Ukraine.

Eurojust, which coordinates criminal investigations across European Union member states, revealed that investigators from Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Britain, and Lithuania worked together to identify the suspects located in Lithuania and Poland, all allegedly operating under direction from Russia’s GRU intelligence service.

“The suspected perpetrators were recruited from Russia, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania and Ukraine and were often in a vulnerable socio-economic situation,” the Eurojust statement said.

“It is suspected that the acts carried out by these suspects were executed on behalf of the military-intelligence service of the Russian Federation.”

Russia’s defense ministry, which oversees military intelligence operations, has not yet responded to requests for comment. Moscow routinely dismisses such accusations as anti-Russian sentiment.

Lithuania’s Deputy General Prosecutor Arturas Urbelis announced during a news briefing that five individuals holding Russian, Ukrainian, and Lithuanian citizenship will face terrorism charges in Lithuanian courts, with potential sentences reaching 10 years imprisonment upon conviction.

Lithuanian authorities reported that four packages containing “self-made, explosive-incendiary charges” were dispatched from Vilnius on July 19, 2024.

One package being handled by DHL ignited at Leipzig airport in eastern Germany just before workers planned to load it onto a Britain-bound aircraft, according to Lithuanian officials.

A second explosive device detonated aboard a DPD delivery truck traveling through Poland, while a third package exploded inside a DHL storage facility in Birmingham, England.

The fourth package, also transported by DPD truck in Poland, failed to activate due to technical problems, investigators reported. None of these incidents resulted in injuries.

Eurojust investigators also discovered evidence of two ‘test packages’ sent to destinations in the United States and Canada, along with two additional parcels intercepted in Amsterdam that were destined for North American locations.

British law enforcement confirmed that counter-terrorism specialists continue investigating the Birmingham explosion. Last year, authorities arrested a Romanian citizen on charges of assisting foreign intelligence services before releasing him pending further investigation.

“The strength of cooperation in this case has led us to collectively identify what we believe to be Russian military intelligence involvement in a series of incidents across Europe,” said Vicki Evans, Britain’s Senior National Coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing.

A deadly assault on a military installation in northern Benin has left 15 soldiers dead and five others wounded, according to military officials who confirmed the attack on Friday.

The violence occurred Wednesday in the northern village of Kofouno, where extremist fighters targeted a military camp in the latest escalation of regional conflict. Militant organizations with ties to al Qaeda and ISIS have been expanding their operations across border areas connecting Niger, Benin and Nigeria, transforming remote travel routes into dangerous battlegrounds.

Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an organization affiliated with al Qaeda, has taken credit for orchestrating the deadly assault.

“The attack resulted in the loss of 15 of our personnel and five wounded, whose lives are not in danger,” stated Colonel James Johnson, who serves as spokesperson for Benin’s armed forces.

Johnson reported that military forces managed to eliminate at least four of the “terrorists” and destroyed multiple motorcycles as the attackers fled the scene. He also disputed JNIM’s assertion that the group had gained control of the Kofouno military facility.

The West African nation seldom makes public statements regarding extremist violence in its northern territories, though officials acknowledged last April that a JNIM operation had resulted in 54 military deaths.

Security challenges in northern Benin contributed to an unsuccessful military coup attempt in December, when dissatisfied soldiers tried to remove President Patrice Talon from power. The conspirators cited worsening security conditions in the north “coupled with the disregard and neglect of our fallen brothers-in-arms” as justification for their actions.

Assistance from neighboring nations, including Nigeria, helped prevent the coup from succeeding.

Benin is preparing for a presidential election scheduled for next month, which will conclude Talon’s time in office.

Moscow is sharing sensitive intelligence with Tehran that reveals the whereabouts of American naval vessels and aircraft operating throughout the Middle East, according to a Friday report from the Washington Post citing three sources with knowledge of the intelligence.

The Washington Post indicated that while the full scope of Moscow’s assistance to Tehran remains unclear, Iran’s capacity to track American forces has been compromised following strikes conducted by the United States and Israel against Tehran in recent days.

The regional conflict has intensified dramatically, sparking a cycle of retaliatory attacks by Iran while drawing in neighboring countries as Tehran attempts to inflict significant costs on America, Israel, and their regional partners.

American military officials have confirmed that six reserve personnel were killed in Kuwait after a drone attack struck a US military installation at Port Shuaiba. Trump and other high-ranking officials have cautioned that the ongoing conflict will likely lead to additional American military casualties.

When asked about the reported Russian assistance to Iran, a White House representative chose not to address the allegations directly.

“The Iranian regime is being absolutely crushed. Their ballistic missile retaliation is decreasing every day, their navy is being wiped out, their production capacity is being demolished, and proxies are hardly putting up a fight,” stated White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly in response to Reuters’ inquiries.

The Kremlin acknowledged Friday that Russia maintains communication with Iranian leadership representatives but refused to elaborate when reporters questioned whether Moscow was providing assistance to Tehran.

For Russia, the Middle East conflict has delivered unexpected economic benefits, with substantially increased demand for Russian oil and natural gas, helping to revive exports that had suffered under sanctions imposed due to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. During Ukraine’s conflict with Russia, Washington has provided Kiev with intelligence support.

Neither the Russian Embassy in Washington nor Russia’s United Nations mission in New York provided immediate responses to requests for comment.

Danish officials announced Friday that military conflicts across the Middle East could delay overseas ballots from reaching Denmark ahead of the nation’s upcoming general election on March 24.

The Iranian war has created widespread aviation disruptions throughout the region, forcing the shutdown of major transportation centers in Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi. This has left both travelers and mail shipments without reliable routing options.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs can’t under these circumstances guarantee that postal votes cast in countries affected by the current situation will arrive in time for the general election,” the ministry said in a statement.

According to ministry officials, the delivery concerns affect ballots submitted from Middle Eastern nations, as well as potentially from Asian countries where mail routing typically travels through Middle Eastern transit points before reaching Europe.

The ministry has not released estimates regarding the number of Danish citizens living abroad who planned to participate in the election through overseas voting.

IRBIL, Iraq — Leaders of an armed Kurdish opposition group operating from northern Iraq have clarified to The Associated Press that while they’re not preparing immediate strikes against Iran, they would participate in any U.S.-led ground invasion of their homeland.

These statements seem designed to calm Iraqi Kurdish authorities, who have expressed concerns about attacks being launched from their region against Iran, worried about being drawn deeper into the Middle Eastern conflict that has escalated following American and Israeli military actions against Iran.

Speaking to the AP on Thursday, Khalil Nadiri from the Kurdistan Freedom Party PAK explained that in case of American ground operations, “then we would enter alongside the coalition forces.” However, he emphasized that “The Kurds must not place themselves as the spearhead of the attack.”

Nadiri revealed that his organization maintains armed members already operating within Iran’s borders and wouldn’t necessarily need cross-border assistance to launch an internal uprising.

According to Nadiri, the Kurdish organizations have maintained communication with both American and Israeli officials, though he rejected claims that they’ve received material support from either nation.

These clarifications follow earlier reports this week from Kurdish officials indicating that Iranian Kurdish opposition groups in northern Iraq were preparing for possible cross-border military actions, with the U.S. allegedly requesting Iraqi Kurdish support for such operations.

PAK military commander Rebaz Sharifi described potential U.S. and allied weapons support for Kurdish groups as “a very positive development,” while also confirming they haven’t received such assistance to date.

Sharifi expressed expectations that President Donald Trump “might want the peshmerga forces of Eastern Kurdistan to participate in the conflict during a ground invasion,” adding that “if it reaches that point, we, for our part, would be pleased with it.”

Both officials worked to address Iraqi Kurdish leaders’ concerns about using Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish territory as a staging area for attacks.

Kurdistan Regional Government spokesperson Peshawa Hawramani stated earlier this week that “allegations claiming that we are part of a plan to arm and send Kurdish opposition parties into Iranian territory are completely unfounded,” emphasizing that Iraqi Kurdish parties don’t want to “expand the war and tensions in the region.”

Iranian forces and affiliated Iraqi militias have already conducted numerous missile and drone strikes targeting northern Iraq, hitting American military installations and the consulate in Irbil, along with Iranian Kurdish opposition group facilities.

Sharifi reported that PAK locations have endured two ballistic missile strikes and four drone attacks since the conflict began, resulting in one fighter’s death and three wounded personnel.

Nadiri explained that “since the (Iraqi) Kurdistan region has adopted a policy of not becoming a part of this conflict and because we do not want to disrupt the stability and security here and we respect the laws of this region, consequently, the environment has not yet been established for us to move our forces back into Eastern Kurdistan.”

The term “Eastern Kurdistan” refers to Iran’s Kurdish-populated regions, according to these groups.

The prospect of Kurdish military participation has created friction with other Iranian opposition factions, particularly those aligned with former shah’s son Reza Pahlavi, who has criticized the Kurds as separatists seeking to divide Iran.

Sharifi stated that his organization’s “ultimate goal is the statehood of the Kurds in all four regions and the reunification of Kurdistan,” referencing Kurdish populations spread across Iran, Iraq, Turkey and Syria.

Nadiri suggested that a confederal arrangement might serve as a “viable solution,” allowing Kurdish areas to remain within Iran while preserving their “own sovereignty, identity, and unique characteristics.”

ABUJA, Nigeria — Extremist fighters launched a devastating assault on a northeastern Nigerian community Friday, seizing more than 300 civilians including women and children, according to local authorities.

The mass abduction occurred in Ngoshe, a town located in Borno state, regional official Bulama Sawa confirmed. Speaking to The Associated Press, Sawa indicated the assault appeared to be revenge for a recent military strike that eliminated three leaders from the extremist organization Boko Haram.

No organization has stepped forward to take credit for Friday’s mass kidnapping. Nigeria continues struggling with widespread security challenges involving multiple armed factions. The United States has deployed military personnel to the West African country to provide guidance to local forces combating the ongoing violence.

Additional assaults occurred this week targeting the settlements of Konduga, Marte, Jakana, and Mainok from Wednesday through early Friday morning, a military representative confirmed.

Military spokesman Uba Sani reported that forces successfully defended against the attacks on Konduga, Marte, Jakana and Mainok communities, though “a number of brave soldiers paid the supreme price in the line of duty,” including a senior officer. Sani declined to provide specific casualty figures.

Sani characterized the operations as “failed attacks” that demonstrated the “increasing desperation of terrorist elements under sustained operational pressure” from government forces.

Security analyst Ulf Laessing from the Konrad Adenauer Foundation explained that Friday’s Ngoshe assault exploited the Nigerian military’s struggle to maintain control across vast territories where extremist organizations operate. These groups have also gained strength through enhanced coordination across borders and deploying drones for reconnaissance before launching strikes.

“The army is fighting a ghost — fighters descending with motorbikes on villages and disappearing into the bush before the army can respond in time,” Laessing observed.

The most significant extremist organizations include Boko Haram and a splinter group aligned with the Islamic State known as Islamic State West Africa Province. Additional threats come from the IS-connected Lakurawa organization and various criminal gangs focused on kidnapping for profit and illegal resource extraction.

The security situation has deteriorated further with the involvement of additional militants from nearby Sahel countries, including Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, which conducted its inaugural attack on Nigerian territory last year.

United Nations statistics indicate several thousand Nigerians have lost their lives in the ongoing violence. Security experts argue the government’s efforts to safeguard civilians remain inadequate.

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has freed 18 additional prisoners as he continues working to rebuild diplomatic relationships with the United States.

Thursday’s presidential decree released 18 individuals, with 15 of them previously convicted on extremism charges that Belarus commonly uses in cases with political motivations. Officials reported that 11 of those granted clemency were women.

The prisoner releases represent the most recent development in a series encouraged by President Donald Trump’s administration. Lukashenko, who has faced Western isolation following his contested 2020 reelection that sparked widespread demonstrations and harsh government responses, has been working to repair relations with Washington through these releases.

Following a phone conversation between the two presidents in August, Lukashenko has freed 123 individuals, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Ales Bialiatski and notable opposition leaders Maria Kolesnikova and Viktar Babaryka. The United States responded by removing sanctions from Belarus’ potash fertilizer industry and national carrier Belavia.

This week’s pardons push the total beyond 140 releases. U.S. special envoy for Belarus John Coale praised the action on X Thursday, calling it “another notable step in the relationship between the U.S. and Belarus as President Trump has tasked me with getting all the political prisoners out.”

However, the Belarusian human rights organization Viasna reports that 1,140 political prisoners still remain incarcerated.

Human rights advocates continue warning that government oppression persists alongside the releases, with new arrests and convictions ongoing.

This week alone, well-known Belarusian musician and poet Aleh Khamenka received a three-year prison sentence plus substantial fines for extremist activities related to his work with a prohibited radio station. Khamenka was arrested in June following a home search and has been imprisoned for over six months.

Additionally, Belarusian officials this week classified the PEN Belarus writers’ association, which includes more than 100 members, as an extremist group.

PEN Belarus leader Tatsyana Nyadbay told The Associated Press in a phone interview that the designation was “horrendous” because it “puts the writers who remain in Belarus at risk.”

The organization’s membership includes 2015 Nobel Literature Prize recipient Svetlana Alexievich and 2022 Nobel Peace Prize winner Bialiatski. Alexievich departed Belarus after the 2020 demonstrations, while Bialiatski served more than five years in prison on charges widely considered politically driven.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney finalized a comprehensive strategic partnership Friday, establishing enhanced cooperation across defense, economic, and energy sectors amid rising concerns over global oil supplies due to Middle Eastern conflicts.

The two leaders emphasized the critical nature of energy security during these times of “geopolitical uncertainty,” as outlined in an official statement from Japan’s Foreign Ministry.

Meeting in Tokyo, Takaichi and Carney committed to collaborative efforts in diversifying energy sources and expanding trade relationships to strengthen energy supply networks, according to the ministry’s published roadmap.

“The world is at a turning point. We see the manifestations in the Middle East. We see it everywhere,” Carney stated during their joint press briefing.

This marked Carney’s inaugural visit to Japan since assuming office last year, occurring as Middle Eastern warfare raises alarm over petroleum shipments passing through Iran’s Strait of Hormuz. During his Australia trip earlier this week, Carney advocated for reducing tensions in the Iranian conflict.

The leaders also established plans for bilateral discussions on economic security and cybersecurity policies, addressing China’s increasing assertiveness in commercial and military spheres throughout the Indo-Pacific region.

Tokyo and Ottawa will begin negotiations toward a defense agreement designed to streamline military visit procedures, joint training exercises, and other collaborative operations.

Both nations plan to enhance cooperation between their defense industries as Japan works to expand its limited defense export sector, supporting Takaichi’s initiative to strengthen Japan’s military capabilities and arms manufacturing to improve partnerships with allied countries.

On Friday morning, Takaichi’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party and coalition partner Japan Innovation Party presented a proposal to eliminate restrictions on lethal weapons exports, marking another departure from Japan’s post-war pacifist policies. Government officials expect formal approval of this proposal within the coming months.

Travel blogger Alyssa Ramos endured a grueling 48-hour escape from Kuwait that spanned four continents, but she says federal officials provided no assistance during her ordeal.

“They keep going on the news and saying they’re doing everything they can to get Americans out,” Ramos stated upon reaching Miami Thursday. “I know for a fact they’re not.”

According to Ramos, her multiple attempts to contact the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait led her to the consular section, where staff members told her they were unable to assist with departure arrangements and advised her to register for the government’s smart traveler program while remaining sheltered.

Ramos represents numerous American nationals and foreign citizens who fled Middle Eastern countries or remained trapped there Friday, nearly seven days after Israeli-American strikes against Iran quickly drew more than a dozen neighboring nations into the conflict. U.S. travelers expressed mounting anxiety and irritation as they faced shuttered airports, grounded flights, and concerning federal advisories, while nations like Poland, Australia, and France rapidly deployed military aircraft or hired commercial planes to retrieve their citizens.

“Having the State Department or whoever tell us, you need to get out immediately, well, but there’s no help. So you’re on your own to get your own travel plans. That was the most stressful thing,” Chicago resident Susan Daley remarked after touching down Thursday on the initial commercial flight from Dubai to San Francisco since Iran hostilities commenced February 28. Daley had been conducting business in the United Arab Emirates.

The Trump administration has rejected accusations that the federal response was inadequate.

State Department officials announced that the first government-arranged evacuation flight returned from the Middle East Thursday, with additional flights expected each day. Officials did not immediately specify passenger counts or departure locations. The agency reports that through Thursday, it has “directly assisted” 10,000 citizens throughout the region who sought help or information.

A social media update from the assistant secretary of state for public affairs featured a photograph of Americans boarding a chartered aircraft displaying the New England Patriots NFL team logo. This plane appears to be at least the second such flight to arrive at Dulles International Airport near Washington.

Through Thursday, approximately 20,000 Americans had returned safely to the United States since warfare began, according to State Department figures. Regional U.S. embassies continued advising Americans to depend on commercial aviation for departure, despite widespread closures or severe restrictions across Gulf airspace.

Without guidance from Washington or consular offices, some travelers reported using WhatsApp group conversations and social media crowdsourcing for commercial flight information and alternate departure routes from the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and neighboring countries. Several established GoFundMe fundraising campaigns to cover hotel costs and other expenses accumulated during extended stays in Dubai and additional Gulf cities.

Ramos established WhatsApp group discussions Monday to assist individuals who contacted her through her social media presence, “My Life’s a Travel Movie,” seeking evacuation guidance following her challenging departure.

Within three days, over 2,200 people joined conversations focused on leaving Dubai, Doha, Qatar, and Kuwait. Participants coordinated shared transportation to functioning airports, exchanged trusted driver recommendations, and shared pricing information including accepted payment methods.

Thursday brought a message from one member explaining that her spouse and two children had attempted leaving Dubai but experienced two flight cancellations, with their diabetic 2-year-old’s medication supply dwindling. Fellow members immediately provided suggestions and assistance.

Jason Altmire, a former three-term Democratic congressman from Pennsylvania, successfully departed Dubai after the UAE partially restored airspace access and Emirates airline restarted limited service.

“We never heard anything from the State Department other than the general email advising us to find our own way out,” Altmire explained in an email interview. “I found this, along with the ‘you’re on your own’ State Department voicemail, to be infuriating.”

Congressional Democrats wrote Secretary of State Marco Rubio Tuesday, stating that “the lack of clear preparation, planning, and communication to Americans abroad is unacceptable and a violation of the State Department’s basic mission to provide consular assistance and the protection of U.S. citizens overseas.”

Rubio acknowledged Tuesday that the U.S. had arranged recovery flights but faced obstacles from airspace restrictions.

“We know that we’re going to be able to help them,” he stated, while noting that “it’s going to take a little time because we don’t control the airspace closures.”

American Cory McKane, trapped in Dubai, secured departure from the region Wednesday following an exhausting, sleepless, and costly journey to Muscat, Oman.

Rather than risk complications at Dubai’s congested airport, McKane and companions rented a vehicle and drove to the Oman border. There, he reported, taxi operators demanded up to $650 to transport stranded travelers to Muscat’s airport, where flights continued operating.

McKane credited knowledgeable local contacts and a WhatsApp group created by stranded travelers for sharing resources and guidance.

“Everyone’s been sending each other resources because, quite frankly, the U.S. has not done a single thing in any capacity. That’s been really disappointing,” McKane stated.

Commercial flight availability has remained restricted since conflict began. Aviation analytics company Cirium reported that more than 29,000 of roughly 51,000 scheduled Middle East airport flights were canceled through Friday.

Oman, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan have become crucial departure points for evacuation flights due to continued flight operations in those nations. However, airspace over Iran, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Syria remained closed, according to flight-tracking service Flightradar24.

Azerbaijan shuttered its southern airspace Thursday after accusing Iran of a drone strike on its territory that wounded four civilians and damaged airport infrastructure.

Trenten Higgins, who traveled by taxi from Israel to Jordan, managed to fly from its capital to New York Thursday. He described the State Department as unhelpful.

“Every alert that they gave and all the advice they gave was a day at least too late,” he explained. “Even when it wasn’t too late, it was impossible to act upon and then they would just hang up.”

America sided with Russia, China, and Niger on Thursday when voting against a United Nations nuclear agency resolution that criticized strikes on Ukraine’s electrical systems, according to diplomatic sources.

The International Atomic Energy Agency’s 35-member Board of Governors approved the measure, marking the seventh Ukraine-focused resolution since Russia’s invasion of its neighbor four years ago. However, this represents the first instance of American opposition to such a resolution.

“While we continue supporting the IAEA’s work in-country, we do not support the Board’s current consideration of an unnecessary resolution that does not help achieve peace between Ukraine and Russia,” the United States said in its statement to the board before the vote.

President Donald Trump has recently pushed Ukraine toward accepting a rapid peace agreement that might require surrendering territory to Russia. Ukrainian leadership has rejected any territorial concessions.

Diplomats present at the private session reported the resolution succeeded with 20 supporting votes from nations including France, Britain, Australia, Canada, South Africa and Argentina, while facing 10 abstentions and four opposing votes. Countries abstaining included Brazil, Egypt, Morocco and Saudi Arabia.

According to the text reviewed by Reuters, the current resolution used less forceful language than earlier versions. The document stated the board “reemphasizes that attacks targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure for the off-site power supply of nuclear power plants, including at the ZNPP (Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant), represent a direct threat to nuclear safety and security.”

This action comes after America abstained during a UN General Assembly vote in February marking the invasion anniversary, when members approved a resolution supporting Ukraine’s territorial integrity and expressing alarm over escalating Russian strikes against civilians and essential energy systems.

That General Assembly measure succeeded with 107 nations supporting, 12 opposing, and 51 abstaining.

American officials explained their General Assembly abstention by stating the resolution contained provisions that might interfere with ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict.

Israeli authorities announced Thursday that over 20,000 citizens have successfully returned to their homeland following the closure of the country’s airspace during weekend military operations involving Iran, according to the Transportation Ministry.

Officials began gradually reopening Israeli airspace Thursday, permitting limited flights to touch down at Ben Gurion International Airport outside Tel Aviv.

The country shut down its airspace Saturday when U.S.-Israeli military operations against Iran commenced, leading to retaliatory missile attacks from Iran that left tens of thousands of travelers stranded in foreign countries.

Transportation Ministry data indicates approximately 120,000 Israeli citizens currently overseas are requesting assistance to return home, with officials estimating the complete repatriation process will require seven to 10 days to complete.

According to Israel’s Population and Immigration Authority, nearly 300,000 Israelis traveled internationally over the past three months, while airlines report tens of thousands of customers are now seeking return passage.

The Transportation Ministry stated it is working to increase travel options through air, land, and sea entry points for both arrivals and departures.

The majority of returning Israelis have entered the country through land border crossings into Eilat, the southern Red Sea resort destination.

Israeli carriers have conducted evacuation flights from European destinations to Taba, Egypt and Aqaba, Jordan — both cities neighboring Eilat.

While these alternative route flights continue, Israel’s four national airlines — flag carrier El Al, Israir, Arkia and Air Haifa — have resumed service to Tel Aviv. Despite the gradual airspace reopening, only arriving aircraft are currently permitted, limited to one landing hourly due to ongoing Iranian missile threats.

“We are doing everything to return every Israeli home safely,” stated Transportation Minister Miri Regev, a former military Brigadier General.

“With the opening of airspace, the return of Israelis to Israel began, and we continue to work around the clock together with all parties to expand the options for returning and leaving the country in accordance with security restrictions,” she added.

The initial aircraft to reach Ben Gurion included Israir and Arkia flights arriving from Rome, plus an El Al flight from Athens. Additional flights from European cities, the United States, and Asia are scheduled.

Ben Gurion Airport announced outbound flights will restart Sunday, though initially restricted to 50 passengers per departure.

Israeli airlines have suspended ticket sales from March 15 through March 21 to prioritize rebooking customers whose previous flights were canceled when airspace restrictions were implemented.

Iceland’s Cabinet has greenlit a proposal for a summer referendum asking voters whether the nation should restart negotiations to join the European Union, according to national broadcaster RUV.

The government approved the resolution Friday, scheduling the vote for August 29. However, Iceland’s parliament, known as the Althingi, must first give its approval before citizens can head to the polls.

This Arctic island nation of 400,000 residents is reconsidering its relationship with the EU as geopolitical tensions mount and economic pressures intensify.

The center-left coalition led by Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadottir, which took office in 2024, originally planned to conduct this referendum by 2027. However, recent statements by U.S. President Donald Trump about acquiring Greenland prompted officials to accelerate their timeline.

During heated international discussions about his territorial ambitions, Trump repeatedly confused Greenland with Iceland in his public remarks.

Multiple factors have heightened Iceland’s security anxieties, including inflation concerns, the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and strained relationships across the Atlantic. Without its own military forces, Iceland depends on NATO protection and a defense partnership with the United States.

Iceland has historically resisted EU membership due to fears of losing control over its valuable fishing territories in the North Atlantic to vessels from other European countries.

The nation initially sought EU membership in 2009 following the devastating collapse of its banking industry during the worldwide financial meltdown. However, negotiations were put on hold in 2013 when conservatives took power, and talks officially concluded in 2015.

Currently, Iceland maintains access to EU markets through the European Economic Area agreement and participates in the Schengen zone, which allows unrestricted travel between member countries.

The EU is presently conducting membership discussions with ten nations, including Albania, Moldova, Montenegro, and Ukraine leading the queue.

EU membership involves an extensive, multi-year evaluation process overseen by the European Commission, examining 35 different areas ranging from government transparency and financial systems to fishing rights, transportation infrastructure, farming policies, and fundamental freedoms including expression and worship.

Every existing EU member must vote unanimously to accept new applicants. Hungary has indicated it may block Ukraine’s potential membership.

BEIRUT, March 5 – Israeli military officials directed civilians to evacuate Hezbollah-controlled neighborhoods in southern Beirut on Thursday, creating widespread panic as thousands fled the densely populated areas during the fourth day of intense fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group.

Through a social media post, an Israeli military representative instructed people living in the southern districts to move toward the east and north, sharing a detailed map of four large neighborhoods that must be cleared. Some of these areas sit close to Beirut’s main airport.

“Save your lives, evacuate your homes immediately,” wrote Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee in his warning message, adding that traveling southward could put residents in grave danger.

Television broadcasts captured scenes of congested roadways as civilians escaped both in vehicles and on foot from the targeted neighborhoods. Warning shots echoed through the southern districts, alerting remaining residents to leave immediately.

The conflict expanded to include Lebanon this Monday after Hezbollah launched attacks, prompting Israel to respond with concentrated air campaigns targeting the southern suburbs of Beirut, along with areas in southern and eastern Lebanon.

A day earlier on Wednesday, Israeli forces had instructed residents across roughly 8% of southern Lebanon’s territory to abandon their homes.

The combination of Israeli strikes and evacuation directives has displaced tens of thousands of Lebanese citizens from both the southern suburbs and southern regions this week. Lebanese health officials report 77 deaths so far.

No Israeli casualties have been documented from Hezbollah’s attacks during this period.

The southern suburbs of Beirut house predominantly Shi’ite Muslim communities and rank among the capital’s most crowded residential zones. These same neighborhoods suffered extensive damage from Israeli bombardment during conflicts with Hezbollah in both 2024 and 2006.

Two crew members died and four others sustained injuries when an Algerian military transport plane went down Thursday moments after departing from the Boufarik air base, according to reports from Ennahar TV citing the country’s defense ministry.

The small military aircraft experienced the fatal incident shortly following its departure from the base on March 5th. The defense ministry confirmed the casualty figures through the television network’s reporting.

Cross-border warfare between Pakistan and Afghanistan intensified on Friday as military forces from both countries conducted fresh attacks against each other, with each nation asserting they eliminated numerous enemy combatants in what represents the most severe hostilities between these neighboring countries to date.

International pleas for de-escalation have gone unheeded as the violence, now stretching into its ninth consecutive day, shows no signs of diminishing in what Pakistani officials have characterized as an “open war.”

Afghanistan’s Taliban-controlled Defense Ministry reported that their military units “destroyed numerous Pakistani military posts” across border areas in Nangarhar, Kandahar, Kunar, Paktia, and Khost provinces, resulting in the deaths of multiple Pakistani soldiers.

Pakistani government media outlets reported their nation’s aerial and ground forces delivered devastating blows in recent operations against Afghan military targets and members of the Pakistani Taliban, a militant organization called Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP.

Pakistani authorities stated the combat remains active and their armed forces “inflicted heavy losses” on Afghanistan, though they provided no additional specifics.

Pakistan has consistently blamed Afghanistan’s Taliban leadership in Kabul for providing sanctuary to the TTP, an allegation Afghan officials reject. Following the Afghan Taliban’s return to control in Afghanistan during August 2021, TTP attacks inside Pakistan have increased significantly.

Pakistani officials say their military campaign, which began last week, will persist until Afghanistan implements concrete measures to control the TTP and other militant groups operating within Afghan borders.

The United Nations mission in Afghanistan has called for an immediate end to hostilities, warning the fighting is exacerbating Afghanistan’s already critical humanitarian crisis. On Friday, the UN mission, known as UNAMA, posted on social media platform X that 56 civilians have died inside Afghanistan so far.

Multiple individuals sustained injuries Friday after Afghan mortar rounds struck a village in Mohmand, located in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to local official Mohammad Asif.

Death toll reports have differed dramatically between the two sides. Earlier this week, Afghanistan claimed their forces eliminated 150 Pakistani soldiers since combat began, while losing 28 Afghan troops.

On Friday, Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar posted on X that Pakistani military forces have killed 527 Afghan soldiers.

The frontier area, where extremist groups including al-Qaida and the Islamic State maintain operations, remains largely off-limits to journalists, and The Associated Press cannot independently confirm the competing casualty figures.

Whether diplomatic initiatives by other Muslim countries will bring Kabul and Pakistani leadership to peace talks in the near future remains uncertain.

On Wednesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan proposed mediating a fresh ceasefire during a phone conversation with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The following day, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim held discussions with Afghanistan’s Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hasan Akhund, as confirmed by Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid.

The current hostilities brought an end to a previous ceasefire negotiated by Qatar and Turkey in October, when the two countries had previously approached the brink of war. That agreement, finalized in Qatar, led to six days of discussions in Istanbul, producing a deal to maintain the truce and conduct additional negotiations in November.

Hungarian officials announced Friday they had arrested seven Ukrainian nationals suspected of money laundering while transporting approximately $82 million in cash and gold, as Ukraine condemned the action as hostage-taking during an ongoing disagreement over oil deliveries.

The Hungarian Tax Authority deployed counter-terrorism units to intercept two Ukrainian armored vehicles carrying the money to Ukraine, marking a significant escalation in tensions that have already led Budapest to block billions of euros in European Union assistance for Kyiv.

Footage shared on the Hungarian government’s Facebook page depicted armed counter-terrorism officers exiting a van as the Ukrainian vehicles stopped at a service station, aiming weapons at windshields before handcuffing occupants and forcing them to the ground.

“The National Tax and Customs Administration (NAV) is pursuing criminal proceedings on suspicion of money laundering,” the authority said in a statement.

“On March 5, 2026, it detained seven Ukrainian citizens, including a former Ukrainian intelligence service general, and two armoured cash-in-transit vehicles, which were transporting a total of $40 million, 35 million euros and nine kilograms of gold from Austria to Ukraine.”

The tax officials reported collaborating with counter-terrorism units. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto demanded Kiev provide explanations about cash movements through Hungary.

Government spokesperson Zoltan Kovacs announced later that the seven detainees would face expulsion from Hungary. Officials did not immediately clarify what would happen to the transported funds.

Ukraine’s ambassador to Hungary, Sandor Fegyir, traveled to the Budapest Counter-Terrorism Centre headquarters attempting to meet the detained Ukrainians, according to two Reuters witnesses.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha identified the detained individuals as Oschadbank employees.

“In fact, we are talking about Hungary taking hostages and stealing money,” Sybiha wrote on X. “This is state terrorism and racketeering.”

He demanded immediate release of Ukrainian citizens and said Ukraine would request the EU to “provide a clear qualification of Hungary’s unlawful actions.”

Ukraine also issued travel warnings for its citizens regarding Hungary, stating it could not ensure their safety given what it termed “arbitrary actions” by Hungarian authorities.

Hungary and Slovakia claim Ukraine is intentionally postponing oil flow restoration through the damaged Druzhba pipeline for political purposes. Kiev rejects these accusations, explaining it requires time to fix damage from Russian drone attacks on energy infrastructure from January 27.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, confronting a significant challenge to his 16-year leadership in April 12 elections, has centered his campaign around the Ukraine war, claiming opposition parties would involve Hungary in the conflict.

He has blocked new EU sanctions against Moscow and a substantial Ukrainian loan due to the oil disagreement.

Sybiha posted on X that Kiev demanded “Hungary stop dragging Ukraine into its domestic politics and electoral campaign.”

During a state radio appearance, Orban again accused Kiev of blackmail and pledged Hungary would employ all available methods until oil deliveries restart. He did not reference the Ukrainian detentions.

Ukraine’s Oschadbank described its employees’ activities as standard operations.

“Since the start of the full-scale invasion, foreign currency and bank metals have been transported exclusively by land,” it said in a statement. “Similar trips are carried out by Oschadbank’s cash collection vehicles on a weekly basis.”

Lithuanian intelligence officials issued a stark warning Friday about Russia’s military buildup along NATO’s borders, suggesting Moscow is positioning forces that could serve as staging areas for future conflicts with the Western alliance.

According to Lithuania’s annual security threat assessment released Friday, Russia could be prepared for a “wide-scale military conflict” with NATO within six years if international sanctions are removed.

“Russia would likely create not only a 30-50 percent larger army than it had before the war but also a relatively modern one. Strategic reserves of weapons and ammunition would be fully restored. Russia would be ready for a conventional military conflict with NATO,” the Lithuanian intelligence report said.

The assessment indicates that Moscow’s primary objectives include shifting Europe’s power balance in its favor and achieving complete control over Ukraine. Lithuanian officials noted that Russian forces are gaining combat experience in Ukraine while simultaneously strengthening border positions.

Russia’s defense ministry has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the intelligence findings.

The report highlights how Russian military production has accelerated with Chinese assistance, allowing Moscow to decrease its dependence on Western technology. Intelligence officials warn that Russia’s excess weapons stockpiles following the conflict could create “consequences for global security.”

Lithuania, which shares borders with both Russia and its ally Belarus, has emerged as one of Ukraine’s strongest supporters and most vocal critics of Russian actions since joining NATO and the European Union.

The intelligence assessment referenced mysterious package explosions that occurred in 2024, which Lithuanian authorities attributed to Russian military intelligence operations that could potentially be expanded to cause casualties.

However, the report concluded that various gas pipeline disruptions, power cable failures, and telecommunications outages affecting the Baltic Sea region since 2023 were accidental, despite involving vessels departing from Russian ports. Officials did not explain their methodology for reaching this determination.

Baltic nations have maintained heightened security measures following these underwater infrastructure incidents since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. NATO leadership has announced plans to increase its regional military presence in response.

Finland retrieved an anchor in 2023 that authorities believe came from a Chinese cargo ship suspected of damaging the Estonia-Finland gas pipeline and multiple fiber-optic connections. That investigation continues, with Finnish officials declining to specify whether they consider the incident intentional or accidental.

When questioned about the pipeline and cable damage, Mindaugas Mazonas, Lithuania’s military intelligence chief, told reporters: “The investigation was not undertaken by our intelligence… but we have the answer that this was a non-intentional incident.”

Healthcare facilities in Gaza are facing a dire shortage of medical supplies, according to a Friday announcement from the World Health Organization, even after Israel allowed a major border crossing to reopen earlier this week.

WHO’s regional director Hanan Balkhy reported that certain critical items including gauze and needles have been completely exhausted, based on data provided by Gaza’s Health Ministry. The territory has been severely impacted by two years of conflict between Israel and Hamas.

“Stocks of essential medicines, trauma supplies and surgical consumables are critically low, and fuel shortages continue to limit hospital operations,” Balkhy stated.

“The situation is difficult, and we will be running out of whatever is remaining,” she added.

Earlier this week on Tuesday, Israeli military authorities announced the reopening of the Kerem Shalom border crossing “for the gradual entry of humanitarian aid.” The crossing had been previously shuttered due to concerns about missile attacks from Iran during heightened tensions following Israeli and U.S. military strikes against Iran last Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Rafah crossing connecting to Egypt – which serves as the primary evacuation route for Gaza residents – continues to remain closed, halting medical evacuations according to WHO officials.

The United Nations agency reports that approximately 18,000 individuals, including wounded children and patients with chronic conditions, are currently waiting for medical evacuation from the territory.

Balkhy confirmed that her organization managed to bring in some medical equipment and fuel supplies on Tuesday and Wednesday, though several transport trucks remain waiting in the Egyptian city of al-Arish.

“We’re talking about … maximum 200 out of 600 daily trucks that need to go in are going in so that is really not enough to support the needs in Gaza,” she explained.

The WHO official emphasized the urgent need for additional fuel shipments to keep medical facilities operational.

Following the conclusion of the Israel-Hamas conflict with an unstable ceasefire last October, 18 of Gaza’s 36 hospitals remain closed. The facilities that continue operating are having difficulty maintaining essential medical services including surgical procedures, dialysis treatment, and intensive care units, Balkhy reported.

Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds, accumulated over decades from oil and gas revenues, face their biggest test as regional conflicts threaten to drain the $5 trillion emergency reserves these nations have carefully built.

Iranian strikes targeting Gulf infrastructure have created potential financial pressures not seen in years. While crude prices jumped 20% since last Friday, the attacks have disrupted critical oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz and forced shutdowns at major facilities, including Saudi Aramco’s largest domestic refinery and Qatar’s natural gas operations.

Extended military confrontations could compel treasury officials in Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Kuwait to access their sovereign reserves, financial experts warn. These governments now face mounting defense expenditures, supply chain disruptions affecting everything from food to medical supplies, and potential economic downturns.

“SWFs (sovereign wealth funds) give countries like the UAE strong financial buffers, and regional governments will rely on their deep pools of sovereign wealth if and as needed,” said Paris-based Robert Mogielnicki, who runs an investment and geopolitical advisory firm and is a non-resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute.

The Strait of Hormuz, which carries roughly one-fifth of global oil consumption, remains critical for energy giants Saudi Aramco and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC). Both companies have historically moved most crude exports through this waterway. Alternative shipping routes exist but lack sufficient capacity to handle typical Gulf volumes.

“The impact of the current Iran-related crisis depends on how energy flows and prices evolve,” Global SWF, a research group, said in a report on Wednesday.

Gulf nations have worked to reduce dependence on natural resources, yet hydrocarbon revenues still anchor public budgets with varying degrees of stability. The UAE expects fiscal surpluses approaching 5% of GDP through 2025 and 2026, while Saudi Arabia recorded a 276 billion riyal ($73.54 billion) budget shortfall last year, with additional deficits projected ahead.

JPMorgan analysts have already reduced growth projections for non-oil sectors across Gulf Cooperation Council members – Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar. They anticipate a 1.2 percentage-point decline from earlier estimates, with the UAE facing the steepest downward revision of 2.3 percentage points. Hydrocarbon sectors might rebound later this year depending on conflict duration, JPMorgan noted.

The investment bank warned that non-hydrocarbon industries would suffer lasting damage, with heightened risks to diversification goals including domestic investment, foreign capital attraction and talent recruitment.

International borrowing costs could also increase for these nations. Saudi Arabia approved a 217 billion riyal ($57.86 billion) borrowing authorization in January. The kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), alongside Aramco, banks and other entities, has raised approximately $27 billion since early this year, representing one of their most aggressive fundraising periods, JPMorgan reported February 2.

“PIF may face more (financial and operational) constraints (than purely portfolio-oriented peers) since it is not only a global investor but is also the main funding force for Vision 2030,” said Ana Nacvalovaite, an Oxford academic specialising in sovereign wealth funds.

PIF was already redirecting focus domestically as the kingdom seeks to attract investment amid growing fiscal strain and the need to finance Vision 2030. This ambitious plan requires hundreds of billions in government spending across tourism and other sectors to reduce hydrocarbon dependence.

Following the 2008 global financial crisis, regional funds became crucial lifelines for international investors, supporting institutions from Barclays to Credit Suisse. Not every investment succeeded, leading funds to adopt more strategic approaches in recent years.

These entities have committed massive resources to technology and artificial intelligence, making these sectors central to economic diversification efforts away from oil dependency.

PIF has allocated tens of billions toward domestic and international technology ventures, including stakes in SoftBank’s Vision Fund. Mubadala has invested heavily in robotics and AI infrastructure, while Abu Dhabi’s MGX, launched last year with Mubadala as a founding partner, has collaborated with BlackRock on a $30 billion AI infrastructure initiative.

High-profile investments in media, entertainment and sports reflect efforts to project influence and capture growth in consumer industries. PIF acquired majority control in Electronic Arts and invested billions in professional golf through LIV Golf, boxing and e-sports.

Last December, the Saudi fund, Abu Dhabi’s L’imad and Qatar Investment Authority combined forces to support Paramount Skydance’s $108 billion offer for Warner Bros Discovery. This unusual three-way partnership demonstrated Gulf states’ appetite for entertainment assets and growing influence in global dealmaking.

However, continued military escalation and increased domestic needs could pause investment activities, according to Nacvalovaite.

“Priority is security of the citizens and the supply chains e.g. food security and drinking water,” she said.

The $1 trillion Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA), established in 1953 as the world’s first sovereign wealth fund, provides historical context for these institutions’ emergency role. When Iraqi forces invaded in 1990, KIA’s London operations effectively functioned as the country’s finance ministry, coordinating transfers to the government in exile.

Since then, every major Gulf fund has maintained similar emergency preparedness: accumulating during prosperous periods and deploying during crises, despite operating under different mandates and strategies. While PIF serves as a domestic investment vehicle for Saudi Vision 2030, KIA and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority focus exclusively on international investments.

Not all sovereign capital could be quickly mobilized during deeper crises. Funds like Mubadala, with greater emphasis on private equity, infrastructure assets, and illiquid alternatives, might face more challenging divestment processes.

U.S. Treasury bonds and publicly traded stocks may offer the first and easiest liquidation options. Abu Dhabi’s ADIA was among investors that sold a large block of shares in U.S. company Medline this week.

“Public markets are the easiest source of liquidity, but they’re also the most visible and can be costly to exit during volatility,” said Sam Bourgi, finance analyst at InvestorsObserver.

“The base case is that Gulf SWFs are not forced sellers.”

Some investment activity continues currently. Mubadala joined a group committing approximately $4 billion to life insurance company Athora Holding, according to Friday’s announcement, while ADIA and a QIA subsidiary appeared this week among cornerstone investors for Japanese payment firm PayPay’s U.S. initial public offering.

Reduced outbound investing and quiet portfolio adjustments rather than emergency asset sales represents a more probable scenario, Bourgi explained.

Qatar’s QIA chose to deploy sovereign resources domestically during the 2008 financial crisis to stabilize its banking system, purchasing assets from local bank portfolios to restore market confidence.

Peter Jädersten, CEO of fundraising advisory firm Jade Advisors, said efforts would focus on quickly restoring confidence, though he cautioned the process may require time.

“I think the SWFs’ portfolios will have a short-term reset, but so will other long term investors across the globe like endowments and pension funds. I don’t think it will make a dent in the long-term portfolios of the region’s SWFs,” he said.

A Dubai-based entrepreneur who launched a pet travel service last Saturday found himself overwhelmed with evacuation requests instead of the animal transport inquiries he expected, as Middle East tensions drive desperate residents to seek private jet escapes.

Samuel Lait’s company PetX Jets was designed to ferry pets and their owners between Dubai and the United Kingdom, but regional conflict has transformed his business model overnight. His inbox now overflows with requests from travelers of all ages – young couples, expectant parents, and seniors – all seeking passage out of the United Arab Emirates.

The ongoing U.S.-Israeli military operations against Iran reached their seventh day Friday, with the crisis threatening to spread beyond Middle Eastern borders and prompting mass exodus attempts from the region.

“The original idea was to transport pets and their owners between the UK and Dubai primarily. And that’s very much changed since Saturday,” Lait explained.

“We’re trying to sort of move with what’s happening,” he added, noting his company may accelerate launch plans originally scheduled for June.

Major UAE airports, typically ranking among the globe’s busiest aviation hubs, are operating at severely reduced capacity despite gradual flight resumptions. This limitation has pushed many residents and visitors to seek escape routes through neighboring Oman and Saudi Arabia, often utilizing private aircraft services.

Altay Kula, who heads France-based private jet brokerage Jet-VIP with Middle East operations, described the overwhelming demand surge since regional tensions escalated.

“Since the escalation of tensions in the region, we have seen a significant increase in bookings … every 10 minutes we have requests, every 20 minutes. I mean, the request is very important at the moment,” Kula stated.

According to Kula, current airspace restrictions have complicated departure logistics, driving clients to “seek solutions to leave the Middle East, particularly Dubai and Qatar,” often through Riyadh and Muscat airports.

Despite the business opportunity, both operators face significant obstacles, particularly skyrocketing charter costs that have priced out many potential customers.

Jet-VIP’s standard Dubai-to-Istanbul routes previously cost $50,000 for six-passenger light jets and $110,000 for larger aircraft accommodating 15 travelers. These rates have now doubled to $100,000 and $200,000 respectively.

“A lot of the flights that we were offered initially were out of Oman. So the prices there were still astronomical because the demand has obviously gone through the roof,” Lait observed, expressing frustration with aircraft costs as his startup attempts to begin operations.

Kula identified another challenge: limited airport slots as traffic surges at Muscat and Riyadh facilities.

“Sometimes it can take up to 24 hours just to have the authorisation to go to Oman and to pick up the passengers,” he explained, adding that his company prefers Dubai operations but faces slot availability issues due to airspace restrictions.

For now, Lait’s PetX Jets remains in holding pattern, waiting for conditions to improve.

“Our aim is to really try and hold out until the Dubai airspace opens and those aircraft become more in line with the prices that we’ve seen in the weeks and months leading up to Saturday,” Lait concluded.

NICOSIA, Cyprus – Political leaders in Cyprus are weighing whether to challenge Britain’s decades-long military presence on their island following a drone attack that heightened fears of being pulled into regional conflict with Iran.

The debate over Britain’s two military installations – Akrotiri and Dhekelia – has simmered since Cyprus achieved independence in 1960, but tensions escalated after Monday’s drone strike on Akrotiri base. Security sources believe the Iranian-made drone was launched by Hezbollah, Iran’s regional partner.

While no injuries occurred in the attack, the incident prompted emergency evacuations of nearby residents and placed the island on heightened security alert.

When questioned about potentially reassessing the British military installations, Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides told media Friday: “There is nothing I can rule out.”

Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos, formerly a law professor, responded cautiously when asked about the bases’ future status: “I no longer have the luxury in life of just expressing my legal opinion about things. Any decision on issues of this importance are not taken in the heat of the moment or during a crisis.”

However, local media took a stronger stance. Columnist Costas Venizelos wrote in the pro-government newspaper Phileleftheros: “The bases should take a hike. They are endangering our safety.”

The military facilities span approximately 99 square miles along Cyprus’s southern and eastern shorelines, housing roughly 7,000 British military members and their families, plus about 12,000 Cypriots living in surrounding areas.

Cypriot leadership expressed anger over weekend comments by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who failed to clearly deny potential use of the Cyprus facilities in U.S. and Israeli operations targeting Iran. Britain later issued clarifying statements and sent Defense Minister John Healey to Cyprus for diplomatic discussions.

“Yes, there was irritation” regarding Starmer’s remarks, President Christodoulides acknowledged during a Thursday interview with Greek television network Skai TV.

On Friday, Christodoulides also conducted meetings with MI6 intelligence chief Blaise Metreweli, though discussion details remain undisclosed.

Legal scholars in Cyprus argue the military arrangements warrant fresh examination under current international standards, describing the bases as colonial remnants incompatible with United Nations principles.

Britain’s Defense Ministry maintains the installations comply with international regulations, with a spokesperson stating: “Our Sovereign Base Areas are fully legal under international law.”

Cyprus experts point to Britain’s 2025 agreement transferring Chagos Islands sovereignty to Mauritius following international court rulings against colonial-era territorial separation as a potential model.

“That implies something similar can and should be implemented in the case of Cyprus – that the bases be placed on a new footing fully compliant with international law,” stated Costas Clerides, former Cypriot attorney-general and Supreme Court justice.

The controversy appears likely to persist, though Cypriot officials privately acknowledge reluctance to escalate tensions while their own Greek-Turkish territorial dispute remains unresolved.

“It’s not that simple,” one government official noted.

The British military presence represents one of the UK’s most strategically important overseas positions, supporting Middle Eastern operations for decades and serving as a key Mediterranean foothold.

NAIROBI, Kenya — A United Nations investigation has determined that Uganda provided military assistance for South Sudan’s aerial bombardments that resulted in civilian deaths and severe injuries from burns approximately one year ago.

According to findings from the U.N. Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan, coordinated air attacks conducted by both nations “targeted civilian-populated areas predominantly affecting Nuer communities in opposition-affiliated areas.” The Nuer people represent South Sudan’s second-largest ethnic community.

Uganda has military personnel stationed in South Sudan supporting President Salva Kiir’s administration against forces aligned with opposition leader Riek Machar, who lost his vice presidential position in September following criminal allegations. Uganda’s military leadership states their troops operate in South Sudan through government invitation under a mutual security pact.

As Machar currently faces trial on charges including treason, combat has escalated in regions considered his power base, where government forces work to scatter rebel fighters.

The U.N. investigation noted that the bombardments extensively employed “improvised incendiary devices.”

Uganda deployed forces to South Sudan in March 2025, bringing military equipment including tanks and armored vehicles. This deployment occurred after militia forces captured a military installation near the Ethiopian frontier.

Several weeks following this incident, authorities placed Machar under house detention for his suspected involvement in coordinating the assault, accusations he refutes. The government has subsequently depended on air-based attacks to establish dominance in expanding conflicts with Machar’s supporters and additional armed factions.

Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni previously deployed his military to intervene in South Sudan’s civil war from 2013-2018 on several occasions supporting Kiir’s side, contributing to shifting the conflict in his direction. Current hostilities jeopardize a peace agreement established in 2018.

During a March 2025 assault in Wunaliet, located 15 kilometers (9 miles) from Juba, the capital, residences were consumed by flames after aircraft released “barrels of liquid that ignited,” according to witness accounts provided to the U.N. commission. Those who survived reported observing “civilians set alight, including a boy burnt beyond recognition.” Military quarters housing opposition troops also sustained damage.

Following the attack by one day, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who is Museveni’s son and serves as chief military commander, published on X that Uganda had struck opposition forces.

“Our air offensive will not stop until Riek Machar makes peace with my uncle Afande Salva,” he wrote. Though Kiir is not Kainerugaba’s actual uncle, this language demonstrates the tight relationship between both governments.

The social media post, which was subsequently removed, included video footage that appeared to display explosive fires recorded from inside an aircraft.

Aircraft tracking information indicates that a turboprop aircraft that flew circular patterns over the bombing location had departed from Uganda earlier that day and was under Ugandan military operation, according to the U.N. findings.

The investigation stops short of definitively establishing Uganda’s participation level in operations or their precise role, noting only evidence of “high degrees of planning, operational integration and command-level authorization.”

In November, Uganda rejected claims of participating in South Sudan combat missions. The country has also disputed using “chemical weapons and barrel bombs” and maintains it does not target civilians.

Previously, Amnesty International concluded that Uganda had breached a 2018 U.N. weapons embargo prohibiting member nations from supplying most military aid to South Sudan, including arms and personnel. A U.N. expert panel reached similar conclusions in November.

BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union leaders announced Friday they are blocking visa-free travel privileges for Georgian government officials and diplomats for a minimum of one year, citing the country’s deteriorating democracy and violent response to peaceful demonstrators.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas issued a strong statement condemning the Georgian government’s actions: “If a government attacks its own people, silences journalists, and curtails freedom, there are consequences.”

The nation has been gripped by widespread demonstrations and civil unrest ever since Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream party announced in November 2024 it was stopping efforts to pursue EU membership — a constitutional objective supported by many Georgian citizens.

This decision sparked massive street protests that authorities have responded to with widespread detentions and aggressive police tactics. The controversy intensified following a disputed parliamentary election where the governing party claimed victory amid opposition allegations of electoral fraud.

According to the European Commission, officials made the decision to halt official travel privileges “in response to Georgia’s deliberate and persisting violation of the commitments taken under its visa-free regime in key areas of democracy and fundamental rights.”

The violations specifically include a “crackdown on protesters, opposition politicians, and independent media,” which have “resulted in breaches of several fundamental rights and international legal standards.”

The EU’s executive body stated the travel suspension will remain in effect until March 6, 2027, with the possibility of a two-year extension if Georgian leadership fails to resolve the democratic governance and rule of law concerns.

European governments have also been instructed to increase scrutiny of all Georgian citizens entering EU territory. Officials warned that diplomats and government representatives attempting to use personal passports instead of official diplomatic documents could face complete entry bans.

Kallas emphasized the EU’s position on supporting Georgian citizens while rejecting their government’s actions: “The people of Georgia have our full support but there is no place for those representing repression in our union.”

LONDON, March 5 – British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced Thursday the deployment of four more Typhoon fighter aircraft to Qatar as tensions continue to rise across the Middle East region.

The decision comes as Britain faces scrutiny over its measured approach to the Iran crisis and following a drone strike on a crucial military installation in Cyprus, which has raised questions among allies about the nation’s military capabilities.

President Donald Trump has also taken aim at Starmer, accusing the British leader of not offering adequate backing for U.S. military actions against Iran.

During a Thursday press briefing, Starmer defended Britain’s strategy, stating the country had been positioning military assets throughout the region even before hostilities began.

“My focus is providing calm, level headed leadership in the national interest,” Starmer stated.

“That means deploying our military and diplomatic strength to protect our people, and it means having the strength to stand firm by our values and our principles, no matter the pressure to do otherwise,” he added.

The Prime Minister explained that the four additional Typhoon aircraft will reinforce the existing squadron stationed in Qatar to bolster defensive capabilities both there and across the broader region.

“We have the right plan for defence,” he declared.

Turkish intelligence officials reached out to Britain’s MI6 spy agency last month seeking expanded assistance in safeguarding Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa amid growing threats from Islamic State operatives, according to five sources with knowledge of the situation.

The appeal underscores international efforts to stabilize a nation still experiencing intermittent violence more than a year after Bashar al-Assad’s government fell, as broader regional tensions from the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran add to the uncertainty.

International partners view Sharaa as essential to avoiding a return to religious warfare or renewed civil conflict, following 14 years of internal strife that forced millions to flee the country and enabled Islamic State to seize large portions of Syrian territory.

The extremist organization has intensified assaults on Syrian military and security forces in recent weeks, branding Sharaa, who previously led rebel forces, as their “number one foe.”

The exact nature of Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization’s request to MI6 remains unclear, as does any expanded role the British agency may have assumed.

Turkey, Britain, and the United States endorsed Sharaa’s leadership last year in efforts to help unify and reconstruct the nation of 26 million people. Both London and Washington have eliminated most economic sanctions targeting Syria and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the Islamic organization Sharaa previously commanded.

Sources speaking to reporters demanded anonymity due to the delicate nature of the intelligence matters.

Turkish intelligence, the Turkish foreign ministry, Britain’s foreign office, and Syria’s defense and interior ministries declined to provide statements when contacted.

The sources, including Syrian government officials and foreign representatives, all pointed to mounting concerns over multiple reported Islamic State schemes to eliminate Sharaa.

A Turkish official revealed that the National Intelligence Organization, which has been instrumental in helping Syria’s new administration establish control, reached out to MI6 for additional support following a recent incident. A high-ranking Syrian security official described the request as coming after a “high-risk assassination plot,” noting that Turkish, British, and Syrian intelligence services maintain constant information sharing.

Specific details about the assassination scheme were not disclosed.

Another Western intelligence source familiar with the matter suggested Turkey may want to establish a Western intelligence presence in Damascus to create separation between Turkish and Israeli agencies, which are currently in disagreement.

According to the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, Islamic State targeted Sharaa and two top cabinet officials in five unsuccessful assassination attempts last year. Syrian authorities successfully prevented two of these plots, as reported in November.

Calling Sharaa a “watchdog” of the international anti-Islamic State alliance, the terrorist group carried out six strikes against Syrian government forces last month as part of what they termed a “new phase.”

Syrian officials publicly confirmed for the first time Thursday that they work closely with Turkish intelligence, announcing their joint success in preventing an Islamic State attack in the capital.

Turkish security officials said their intelligence service identified a three-person team planning remote explosive attacks, allowing Syrian partners to stop an “imminent assault.”

A U.S. diplomatic source briefed on the developments said the Turkish request to MI6 stemmed from the Islamic State’s renewed activity.

The Western intelligence source indicated the two agencies might increase collaborative planning and technical operations, though no final decision has been reached regarding deploying British personnel to Damascus.

A Syrian security official characterized a physical British presence as “highly risky.” They noted that MI6 cooperation was discussed during a February 26 meeting in Damascus between a delegation led by Britain’s Syria special envoy Ann Snow and Syria’s deputy interior minister, Major General Abdulqader Tahan.

Before breaking away from Al Qaeda’s Syrian branch in 2016, Sharaa served as a commander in the Nusra Front. He later headed a coalition of Islamic rebel groups that successfully overthrew Assad’s government in late 2024.

LONDON — Authorities in London announced Friday the detention of four individuals accused of conducting surveillance operations targeting the Jewish community while working for Iranian intelligence.

The Metropolitan Police revealed in their announcement that the detained suspects consist of one Iranian citizen and three individuals holding both British and Iranian citizenship. Officers took them into custody on charges of providing assistance to a foreign intelligence operation. Law enforcement apprehended the men at various locations throughout north London just after 1 a.m., alleging they conducted surveillance on specific sites and people.

According to police officials, the detained men range in age from 22 to 55 years old, and investigators continue searching the arrest locations along with additional nearby properties.

Authorities also detained six additional men on charges of providing assistance to the primary suspects, according to the police force.

“We understand the public may be concerned, in particular the Jewish community, and as always, I would ask them to remain vigilant and if they see or hear anything that concerns them, then to contact us,” said Commander Helen Flanagan, who is in charge of counterterrorism policing in London.

These detentions occur amid ongoing military exchanges between Iran and both the United States and Israel, with Iran launching retaliatory attacks against Israeli targets, American military installations, and other regional locations. While Britain does not participate in offensive military actions, the country provides support for regional defensive operations.

The Campaign Against Antisemitism expressed appreciation to law enforcement “for foiling this alleged plot” while criticizing the British government for inadequately addressing Iranian threats.

“The U.K. may not be acting against Iran but Iran is acting against us,” it said in a statement.

“The government’s failure to keep its promise to proscribe the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps — the main instrument that the Islamic Republic uses to foment antisemitic violence worldwide — has sent the message that support for the brutal Iranian regime and its Jew-hating and West-hating ideology is perfectly acceptable in Britain,” it added.

British security officials express growing alarm over Iranian espionage activities within the United Kingdom.

Ken McCallum, director of Britain’s MI5 domestic intelligence agency, revealed in October that authorities had prevented more than 20 “potentially lethal Iran-backed plots” during the preceding year.

McCallum claimed that Iran and Russia increasingly employ “ugly methods,” including “surveillance, sabotage, arson or physical violence.” British officials have accused Iran of utilizing criminal networks to execute attacks throughout Europe.

According to intelligence reports, Iranian-supported schemes primarily focus on opposition Persian-language news organizations and Jewish communities.

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Shiite Muslim communities across Pakistan organized demonstrations Friday to condemn what they described as joint US-Israeli military operations that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, prompting American diplomatic officials to warn citizens about potential security threats.

Under heavy police supervision, approximately 300 demonstrators conducted a peaceful sit-in within Pakistan’s capital city, displaying images of Khamenei while shouting anti-American and anti-Israeli slogans. Law enforcement positioned shipping containers along routes to the US Embassy in Islamabad as a precautionary measure against possible escalation.

Officials confirmed that demonstration organizers had committed to avoiding any march toward the diplomatic facility, which sits roughly 3 kilometers away from the protest site. The sit-in was scheduled to conclude Friday evening.

The Iranian leader, who maintained power since 1989, served as an influential religious and political symbol for Shiite communities globally, including those in Pakistan. News of his death during the joint military operation that initiated conflict last week has triggered widespread anger among Shiite populations.

Enhanced security measures were implemented in Karachi, the major port city where hundreds of Shiite demonstrators had attacked the US Consulate earlier this week, breaking windows and attempting arson. Law enforcement responded with batons, tear gas and live ammunition to control the crowds. The Karachi violence resulted in 10 protester deaths, while an additional 13 people died during unrest in northern cities such as Skardu and Gilgit.

Friday’s Karachi protesters maintained a distance of approximately 4 kilometers from the consulate building.

Sunni Muslim groups also organized separate, smaller demonstrations in both Islamabad and Karachi Friday, expressing opposition to the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran. These gatherings occurred away from American diplomatic properties and proceeded without violent incidents.

Prior to Friday’s demonstrations, US Embassy officials in Islamabad advised American citizens to restrict outdoor activities. An updated travel advisory also discouraged visits to Pakistan’s Balochistan province in the southwest, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the northwest, and the contested Kashmir region due to elevated risks of terrorist attacks and kidnapping.

Shiite Muslims represent approximately 15 percent of Pakistan’s 250 million residents, while the majority practice Sunni Islam.

A significant military conflict in the Middle East is creating massive disruptions across global energy markets and supply chains, with impacts that financial experts say could rival those seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The crisis began last Saturday when joint U.S.-Israeli military operations targeted Iran, resulting in the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran responded with widespread retaliatory strikes throughout the region, escalating tensions dramatically.

Energy markets are experiencing their most dramatic price swings since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Brent crude oil has surged past $87 per barrel while West Texas Intermediate has climbed above $84, marking weekly increases exceeding 20% and 25% respectively. Year-to-date, both benchmarks have spiked more than 40%.

The scale of energy disruption is unprecedented. The strategically crucial Strait of Hormuz has been effectively shut down, stranding hundreds of oil tankers. Qatar has halted its liquefied natural gas operations, Saudi Arabia suspended production at a major refinery, and Iraq has completely stopped crude oil production.

Asian markets are bearing the brunt of the crisis, with refineries in the region dependent on Middle Eastern sources for nearly 60% of their crude supply now scrambling for alternatives. Several facilities have already scaled back operations, and Asian jet fuel prices skyrocketed more than 70% on Wednesday alone, reaching record highs. European natural gas prices have also surged.

President Donald Trump addressed the energy situation Thursday, saying regarding rising gasoline costs, “They’ll drop very rapidly when this is over, and if they rise, they rise.”

The administration is taking some measures to address the crisis. The U.S. has temporarily relaxed restrictions on Indian purchases of Russian oil to help ease pressure on India’s refineries. While the Treasury Department considered intervening in oil futures markets to control prices, officials have reportedly decided against that approach for now.

Earlier this week, Trump announced the U.S. would provide insurance coverage and naval escorts to help reopen the blocked Strait of Hormuz, though analysts suggest this initiative may be insufficient given the current situation.

Stock markets worldwide are showing mixed reactions to the crisis. Asian equity markets, particularly those in countries heavily dependent on Middle Eastern energy imports, have suffered significant losses. South Korea’s Kospi index, which had been among the top performers in early 2024, is heading toward its worst weekly decline in six years at approximately 10.5%.

European stock markets have also weakened since the conflict began, though less severely than their Asian counterparts. U.S. equities have performed relatively better, benefiting from America’s position as the world’s largest energy producer and a rebound in technology stocks.

The U.S. dollar has emerged as one of the major beneficiaries during the conflict, rising roughly 1.5% this week, though this may not be solely due to safe-haven demand. Treasury yields have increased as concerns about potential inflation from the energy crisis have outweighed investors’ typical flight to safety.

Interestingly, gold prices, despite being up Friday, are actually down for the week overall. This could indicate investors are selling the precious metal to cover losses elsewhere, or it might reflect the speculative nature that has driven gold’s massive gains over the past year.

Financial markets may briefly shift attention today with the release of February U.S. employment data, amid ongoing concerns about artificial intelligence’s impact on jobs. However, focus is expected to return quickly to Middle Eastern developments.

Regardless of how or when this conflict concludes, experts believe it has the potential to fundamentally alter global perspectives on defense strategy, energy security, and resource nationalism. This shift comes at a particularly critical time when the artificial intelligence revolution is driving unprecedented demand for energy, metals, and minerals.

The crisis highlights the vulnerability of global supply chains and the interconnected nature of modern energy markets, with effects rippling far beyond the immediate region of conflict.

Courts in Indonesia have delivered severe punishments to two Thai citizens involved in transporting an enormous quantity of methamphetamine, marking one of the nation’s most significant narcotics seizures in recent memory.

On Friday, judicial authorities in Batam imposed a life sentence on Weerapat Phongwan for his role in coordinating and supervising the drug distribution network, according to court officials. His co-defendant, Teerapong Lekpradub, received a 17-year prison term after being convicted of serving as a middleman in the narcotics transaction.

The arrests took place last May when Indonesian law enforcement intercepted a fishing vessel carrying 67 containers filled with methamphetamine totaling nearly 2 tons in weight. Court records reveal the drugs had been concealed inside tea bag packaging, as demonstrated in police footage from the investigation.

Authorities apprehended the suspects in maritime territory off Karimun in the Riau Islands province, located close to Singapore. Along with the two Thai nationals, four Indonesian citizens were also taken into custody during the operation.

The legal proceedings continued Thursday when the same court sentenced another defendant, Fandi Ramadhan, to five years behind bars. Verdicts for the remaining three accused individuals are expected to be announced next week.

The case gained widespread attention on social media platforms after Ramadhan’s relatives appealed to President Prabowo Subianto, requesting presidential intervention to secure his release.

According to local news sources, the narcotics originated from Phuket, Thailand, and investigators believe they were supplied by an international criminal organization with operations spanning Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos.

Indonesia maintains extremely harsh penalties for drug-related offenses. The country demonstrated its tough stance in 2015 when it executed two Australian citizens connected to the notorious Bali Nine smuggling ring for attempting to transport heroin from the popular tourist destination.

Iceland’s government announced Friday it will hold a public vote on August 29 to decide whether the country should restart negotiations for European Union membership, accelerating a commitment to conduct the referendum by 2027 amid growing global tensions.

The Nordic island nation walked away from EU membership discussions in 2013 after four years of negotiations. However, recent polling indicates renewed public interest in joining the European bloc, driven by increasing living expenses and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

The urgency surrounding EU membership has intensified following repeated statements from U.S. President Donald Trump about potentially annexing Greenland, which sits between Iceland and the United States. This has heightened concerns for the North Atlantic nation of nearly 400,000 residents.

According to public broadcaster RUV, Foreign Minister Katrin Gunnarsdottir announced at a news conference that the government reached a unanimous decision on the referendum proposal.

Should voters approve restarting membership talks, any final agreement reached with the European Union would then face a separate public vote on actual membership in the bloc.

BEIRUT – Nearly 100,000 Lebanese residents have sought refuge in emergency shelters following extensive Israeli military evacuation orders that a top United Nations official described as unprecedented in their scope, according to a Friday report.

The Israeli military issued evacuation directives on Thursday targeting residents of southern Beirut neighborhoods, including areas under control of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah organization, along with sections of the eastern Bekaa Valley. These orders came one day after similar warnings were issued for large areas of southern Lebanon, as fighting continues between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants.

Imran Riza, who serves as the U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon, described the situation to Reuters as extraordinary in its magnitude.

“What we saw in the last couple of days is, I would say … unprecedented in terms of the scale here in Lebanon of the warnings, the displacement orders, and the reaction, the panic also, that this has all created,” Riza explained.

According to Riza’s Friday morning assessment, the displaced population has filled 477 emergency shelters across the country, with only 57 facilities still having available space.

“At the moment, there are about 100,000 people that are, as of this morning, in some 477 collective shelters. There are some 57 shelters that still have some space, but basically the capacity is being reached very, very quickly,” he stated.

The evacuation orders have triggered chaos and traffic jams as residents scramble to find safe locations, Riza observed.

“We had people moving all over the place and not knowing where to go to. So yes, I think we’re going to have an increased number quite quickly,” he said.

Riza referenced the 2024 conflict between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, which displaced over one million Lebanese residents, with 75-80% finding accommodation outside official shelter facilities.

“This time again, the majority will not be in shelters probably,” he predicted.

KYIV – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Friday that his country successfully secured the release of 300 military personnel and two civilians from Russian custody during the second consecutive day of prisoner exchanges between the two nations.

The freed Ukrainian troops included soldiers of various ranks – from enlisted personnel to non-commissioned officers and commissioned officers – who had been stationed at multiple battlefront locations spanning from the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk to the southern area of Kherson, according to Zelenskyy’s statement.

The Ukrainian president shared images on social media showing the returning servicemen stepping off transportation vehicles, embracing one another and sharing cigarettes in what appeared to be emotional reunion scenes.