Author: Admin

While military tensions escalate in the Middle East with ongoing missile exchanges, Americans across the region are voicing their opinions about recent U.S. military strikes targeting Iran.

Citizens in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania shared their perspectives on the unfolding international crisis and what they think about America’s military response to the situation.

The developing story continues to draw attention as the conflict between the two nations intensifies, prompting discussions among local communities about the implications of the military action.

KATHMANDU, March 3 – Last September 8th, 23-year-old student Rashik Khatiwada joined hundreds of demonstrators outside Nepal’s parliament, protesting government corruption and joblessness with a sign declaring “FUCK THE SYSTEM!”

Two hours later, he was fatally shot.

Khatiwada became one of 77 casualties during two days of deadly demonstrations that ultimately toppled Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli’s government and transformed Nepal’s political landscape ahead of Thursday’s national elections.

The youth-driven protests have intensified calls for political reform throughout Nepal, particularly among families who lost relatives during the violence.

“What have past leaders done for this country over the last three decades? They accumulated wealth for themselves and placed their own people in positions of power to benefit from it,” Rashik’s mother, Rachana Khatiwada, questioned. “What did they truly do for the nation?”

This widespread frustration with established politicians has opened doors for newcomers like 35-year-old former rapper Balendra Shah, now a leading candidate for prime minister. Khatiwada has thrown her support behind his campaign.

The 46-year-old homemaker joined the Rastriya Swatantra Party as a proportional representation candidate after Shah became a member in January, despite having little previous political involvement.

Khatiwada explained her political engagement stems from wanting justice for her son and other protest victims’ families.

“We demanded accountability for those responsible for the deaths of so many children, and the interim government failed to deliver,” she stated.

A government-appointed investigative commission examining the protests, including authorities’ use of live rounds against young protesters, has received three deadline extensions. The commission’s conclusions won’t be published until after the election.

ARTIST WHO NEVER RETURNED

On September 8th morning, 34-year-old Binod Maharjan completed his usual routine of feeding pigeons on his family’s rooftop before suddenly departing, abandoning his breakfast of rice and lentils.

“My son said he would return home and eat the meal he had left behind,” recalled his 75-year-old mother, Lata Maya Maharjan. “He never came back.”

The family learned of Binod’s protest participation only after his older brother got a call from a childhood friend and rushed to Kathmandu’s Everest Hospital.

“My mind went completely silent,” Kaji Ratna Maharjan remembered, describing the bullet wound near his brother’s mouth and exit wound behind his head. “I still cannot put into words what I felt when I saw his lifeless body.”

Though Binod left school early, he devoted himself to artistic pursuits. His painted murals decorate virtually every surface of the family’s three-story brick home.

His bedroom featured a hand-drawn Nepal map and artwork depicting Shiva, his favored Hindu god, while he slept on yak hide with horns positioned near his pillow.

In his mother’s bedroom, Binod created a self-portrait showing his characteristic long dreadlocks and cigarette, surrounded by his nieces and nephews.

“We do not understand politics, but those who do and are actively involved in it must focus on ending corruption and creating jobs in this country,” said Kaji Ratna Maharjan, who plans to vote Thursday alongside his mother. “Only then can we prevent another protest like the September uprising in Nepal.”

WIDOW CAMPAIGNS FOR CHANGE

Each day before sunrise, Parbati Subedi begins work as a house cleaner before reporting to her primary job in a major Nepali corporation’s sanitation department.

Though exhausting, this demanding routine provides the 28-year-old widow with 30,000 Nepalese rupees ($206) monthly to support herself and her daughter following her husband’s death during September’s uprising.

Security officer Dev Kumar Subedi, 29, suffered a fatal stomach gunshot wound on September 9th while participating in the second day of anti-government demonstrations.

“I believe this protest happened because people wanted change in Nepal and change in our leaders,” Subedi said. “Those in power forgot about families like ours, for whom putting two meals on the table is a daily struggle.”

Subedi received 1.5 million rupees compensation from the interim government that replaced Oli’s administration, payment made to families of 42 among the 77 killed who were designated as martyrs.

However, additional commitments including job opportunities for relatives, ongoing medical assistance, and pension benefits remain unfulfilled, according to multiple families of the deceased, including Subedi.

Following her late husband’s political preferences, Subedi supports the RSP and Shah based on his mayoral performance in Kathmandu, even creating social media content encouraging voters to back their campaign.

“I believe they will genuinely work towards improving the country,” she said. “But if it’s any of the other parties, I have little hope that things will change.”

($1 = 145.5 Nepalese rupees)

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — The largest labor union organization in Argentina took legal action Monday to stop major workplace reforms championed by President Javier Milei that would dramatically reshape employment laws across the South American nation.

Congress gave final approval to the legislation on Friday, which provides business owners with increased authority over employment decisions, terminations, compensation packages and union negotiations while reducing the traditional influence labor organizations have wielded.

“This law represents a serious infringement of collective and individual rights that expressly violate constitutional principles,” the General Confederation of Labor, known as CGT, declared in their official statement following the court filing in Buenos Aires.

The legal challenge questions whether the reforms comply with Argentina’s constitution, claiming they breach the “principle of progressivity” that protects existing worker benefits from being rolled back, as well as the “protective principle” designed to prevent workplace exploitation and maintain fair employer-employee relationships.

“The damages are not collateral effects of an isolated decision, but are consistent with the national government’s economic and social program,” CGT officials stated, pointing to more than 300,000 job losses that have occurred since Milei assumed the presidency in late 2023 with promises of fiscal discipline and major economic changes.

Following the legislation’s passage on Friday, Milei described the overhaul as “historic” and declared, “We have a labor modernization.”

The path to approval was marked by significant conflict between Milei’s administration and opposition lawmakers. Tensions reached a peak last month as the bill moved through the lower chamber, with CGT organizing a day-long national work stoppage while protesters from multiple left-wing organizations fought with law enforcement officers near the congressional building.

Milei views these modifications to Argentina’s five-decade-old employment laws as essential for attracting international investment, enhancing worker productivity and generating new employment opportunities in a nation where approximately 40 percent of the workforce operates without official documentation.

Labor representatives contend the legislation will undermine worker safeguards that have been fundamental to Argentina since Peronism, the nation’s influential populist movement, emerged in the 1940s.

The judicial system will now determine whether to accept or reject the CGT’s legal challenge, a ruling that might lead to a temporary halt of the reforms while judges deliberate on a final decision.

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump defended his military strategy against Iran on Monday as criticism grows over his administration’s handling of the expanding Middle East conflict.

The backlash isn’t limited to political opponents — some of Trump’s own supporters are questioning the war effort as fighting spreads across the region, energy costs climb, and casualties mount in what officials say could be just the beginning of a prolonged campaign.

Speaking to the New York Post on Monday, Trump declined to rule out deploying American ground forces to the conflict zone. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth later told reporters the administration wouldn’t engage in what he called the “foolish” practice of revealing military plans in advance.

“I don’t have the yips with respect to boots on the ground — like every president says, ‘There will be no boots on the ground.’ I don’t say it,” Trump stated. “I say ‘probably don’t need them,’ (or) ‘if they were necessary.’”

The president and his senior staff worked to justify their approach as Iran launched retaliatory drone and missile attacks against Israel, U.S. military installations throughout the region, and Persian Gulf allies. Monday also saw Israel and Hezbollah, Iran’s proxy force in Lebanon, exchange fire, creating another battlefield in the widening conflict.

Trump returned to the White House promoting an “America First” agenda focused on avoiding the extended military engagements that characterized previous administrations. His foreign policy platform has consistently emphasized rejecting “the failed policy of nation building and regime change.”

During a Saudi Arabia visit last year, he reiterated this position, stating that “so-called ‘nation-builders’ wrecked far more nations than they built — and the interventionists were intervening in complex societies that they did not even understand themselves.”

However, Trump now faces a military engagement of his own making that has raised concerns about another lengthy Middle Eastern entanglement for America.

“I’m not happy about the whole thing. I don’t think this was in America’s interests,” said Erik Prince, a Trump supporter and private security executive, during Sunday’s appearance on former Trump advisor Steve Bannon’s “War Room” podcast. “It’s gonna uncork a significant can of worms and chaos, and destruction in Iran now.”

Prince continued, “I don’t see how this is in keeping with the president’s MAGA commitment. I am disappointed.”

Additional Trump supporters expressing doubts about the Iran strike include YouTube personality Benny Johnson, social media influencer Andrew Tate, and media figure Tucker Carlson.

Nevertheless, numerous Trump loyalists continue supporting the president’s choice, dismissing suggestions of internal division within their political movement.

“No, ma’am, I think Iran, they’re bad actors,” said Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., when asked about the disagreement. “They’ve killed Americans. In Iraq, they supply armaments. Hezbollah is part of their pact and they’ve supplied them with armaments and funds. And they do business with Chinese, so absolutely not. I think we’re good.”

During a White House appearance Monday, Trump described the combined American-Israeli military campaign as “substantially ahead of schedule” and projected four to five weeks to achieve administration goals, though he acknowledged the timeline could extend further.

“We have capability to go far longer than that,” Trump declared.

Hegseth provided less specific timing estimates.

“President Trump has all the latitude in the world to talk about how long it may or may not take. Four weeks, two weeks, six weeks,” Hegseth explained. “It could move up. It could move back.”

Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine warned reporters that additional American military casualties are anticipated as operations continue. By Monday, six U.S. personnel had died in combat with others seriously wounded during Iran’s widespread retaliatory attacks across the region.

The administration hasn’t specified who should assume leadership of Iran after eliminating Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and numerous other senior officials in the conflict’s initial strikes.

When announcing major combat operations, Trump urged the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps to surrender their weapons. However, military experts note that airstrikes alone rarely achieve the type of government overthrow Trump seeks in Iran.

The president also hasn’t promised support for Iranian opposition groups he’s encouraged to revolt against the Islamic government following the bombing campaign’s conclusion.

Trita Parsi, executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, a Washington policy organization, suggested Trump might accept “regime collapse” or “regime implosion” instead.

“That is very different (than regime change), not only because potentially it could be achieved, but it’s also something that enables the Trump administration to wash their hands of the consequences of this,” Parsi explained.

Meanwhile, Israel is urging Trump to maintain extended operations that could definitively end Iran’s religious government.

“I think the Israelis’ biggest concern may be that President Trump would take … sort of the early offering, declaring victory,” said Daniel Shapiro, former U.S. ambassador to Israel under Obama and current Atlantic Council distinguished fellow. “I think they’d like to see this go longer, with the president’s support.”

Administration officials briefed congressional staff privately Sunday that American intelligence hadn’t detected Iranian preparations for preemptive strikes against the U.S. Instead, officials acknowledged broader regional threats from Iran’s missile capabilities and allied forces.

Nevertheless, Trump reiterated Monday his position that action was required due to concerns over Iran developing ballistic missiles capable of reaching American territory.

Iran hasn’t confirmed pursuing intercontinental ballistic missile development. The U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency stated in an unclassified report last year that Iran could create a functional intercontinental ballistic missile by 2035 “should Tehran decide to pursue the capability.”

The president also restated claims that Iran was rebuilding its nuclear capabilities despite U.S. strikes last June during the 12-day Israel-Iran conflict that he said “obliterated” three major nuclear installations.

International Atomic Energy Agency Director Rafael Grossi confirmed Monday that Iran maintains an “ambitious” nuclear program but currently lacks weapons development efforts. Iran has blocked IAEA inspectors from examining its damaged nuclear facilities.

Kelsey Davenport, nonproliferation policy director at the Arms Control Association, argued that “regime change is not a viable nonproliferation strategy.”

“Iran’s nuclear program cannot be bombed away. Iran’s nuclear knowledge cannot be bombed away,” she stated. “Even if there’s regime change, Iran’s program will still pose a proliferation risk.”

Brazil’s administration plans to generate more than $48 billion in environmentally-focused investments throughout President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s four-year presidency, according to a departing government official.

Tatiana Rosito, who stepped down Monday from her role as international affairs secretary at Brazil’s Finance Ministry, stated the government anticipates mobilizing over 250 billion reais during this timeframe. She emphasized that 2026 will focus on strengthening programs already in motion.

Rosito, who will transition to serve as the World Bank’s regional director for China, Korea and Mongolia beginning in July, explained that Brazil has developed an extensive collection of financing mechanisms highlighted during the country’s leadership roles in the G20, BRICS and COP30.

She noted that the current emphasis involves producing tangible outcomes and securing investment capital instead of developing additional financial tools.

Brazil’s recent policy initiatives have helped reestablish the nation as a significant international participant, with other countries recognizing Latin America’s largest economy as moving beyond promises toward actual implementation, Rosito explained.

Among the major initiatives are establishing national guidelines for ecological transformation, releasing sovereign sustainable bonds in international markets, and introducing EcoInvest, which leverages government funding to draw private sector investment into environmental projects.

Rosito highlighted the Brazil Investment Platform for Climate and Ecological Transformation (BIP), a system that catalogs sustainable projects seeking financial backing.

Following Brazil’s introduction of this platform during its 2024 G20 leadership, the country assisted in creating a network of comparable programs under its COP presidency to encourage collaboration on sustainable and climate financing among developing nations.

Over 15 countries, including Colombia, Nigeria and South Africa, have subsequently revealed plans to establish their own platforms, according to Rosito.

“I don’t see many people viewing this as an ecosystem, but it is,” she stated, characterizing Brazil’s sustainable finance initiative as an innovative framework developed primarily from the ground up that facilitates real investments and supports strategic emerging industries.

Rosito observed that sustainable development discussions have been “all but erased” from certain international forums, especially the G20 under this year’s U.S. leadership, and maintained that Brazil and its allies must continue advocating to keep these issues prominent.

Mathias Alencastro, formerly an adviser to Finance Minister Fernando Haddad, will replace Rosito at the Finance Ministry, as Reuters initially reported Friday.

Iranian military commanders issued their strongest warning yet regarding the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, declaring the waterway completely off-limits to shipping traffic on Monday.

A high-ranking Revolutionary Guards official announced that Tehran would use military force against any vessels attempting to navigate through the passage, which handles roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil transportation.

“The strait (of Hormuz) is closed. If anyone tries to pass, the heroes of the Revolutionary Guards and the regular navy will set those ships ablaze,” stated Ebrahim Jabari, a senior adviser to the Guards commander-in-chief, according to Iranian state media reports.

The waterway serves as the planet’s most critical petroleum export channel, linking major Gulf oil-producing nations including Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates to the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea.

Tehran’s decision to shut down the passage stems from recent military actions by the United States and Israel on February 28, which targeted Iranian leadership. President Donald Trump has publicly encouraged Iranian citizens to remove their current government officials.

Iran responded by launching multiple missile strikes against neighboring Gulf states that house American military installations, including Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain. Iranian forces also targeted the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Oman with missile attacks.

This blockade represents the fulfillment of longstanding Iranian promises to seal off the narrow shipping channel if the country faced military aggression.

The strait measures approximately 21 miles across at its most constricted section, yet facilitates the passage of about 20% of daily global oil consumption.

Energy markets have remained focused on escalating tensions between Iran and its longtime adversaries, the United States and Israel, with concerns that expanded conflict could severely impact oil supplies and destabilize the broader region.

The closure compounds existing shipping challenges caused by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi forces, who have conducted drone and missile attacks against vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since the Gaza conflict began in 2023.

On Monday, diplomatic leaders from Central Asia gathered to address the growing crisis in Iran and surrounding Middle East territories, according to an announcement from Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry.

The diplomatic gathering was notable for bringing together representatives from nearly all regional nations simultaneously, with participants advocating for peaceful resolution to the current turmoil affecting Iran and neighboring areas.

According to the ministry’s official statement, the foreign ministers emphasized “the importance of de-escalating tensions, adhering to international law, and combining efforts in the interest of maintaining regional security, peace, and stability.”

Kazakhstan’s top diplomat Yermek Kosherbayev conducted meetings with his counterparts representing Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Azerbaijan during the diplomatic session.

Kosherbayev acknowledged the assistance provided by Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan in helping evacuate people from Iran, noting that the participating nations were ready to work together on additional evacuations and related matters.

The diplomatic discussions occurred as military actions intensified throughout the region on Monday, with U.S. and Israeli forces expanding air operations against Iran. Meanwhile, Israel launched strikes against Lebanon following Hezbollah attacks, and Tehran continued launching missiles and drone strikes targeting Gulf nations.

ATHENS – Authorities in Greece have taken a 36-year-old man into custody at Athens airport following allegations that he conducted surveillance activities at a critical naval installation on Crete, according to police sources who spoke Monday.

The arrest occurred based on intelligence provided by Greece’s national security service. The facility in question, Souda Bay, serves as a vital strategic location for Greek, American, and NATO military operations in the eastern Mediterranean region.

The naval base recently hosted the U.S. aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford during a resupply mission, highlighting its importance to American military operations in the area.

Investigators have opened a formal inquiry into the allegations and are currently analyzing digital materials, including photographic evidence that was allegedly collected by the suspect, police officials confirmed.

Records show the accused individual was registered at a hotel in close proximity to Souda last month. As of now, he has not provided any response to the charges against him, according to one law enforcement official.

This incident follows a similar case from June, when Greek police apprehended an Azerbaijani citizen also suspected of espionage activities. That individual had similarly taken up residence at a hotel near the same naval and air force installation in western Crete for several days.

Security measures at the facility have been enhanced following recent military strikes conducted by Israel and the United States against Iran over the weekend.

Cuban authorities have taken 10 Panamanian nationals into custody, accusing them of producing anti-government propaganda materials on Saturday, according to the country’s Interior Ministry.

Officials claim the detainees were hired by unidentified sponsors who promised payment in exchange for traveling to Cuba to create what authorities describe as subversive messaging.

The detentions come just days after Cuban officials reported another alleged infiltration attempt, where armed Cuban exiles attempted to enter the country via speedboat. That incident resulted in a deadly confrontation at sea, leaving four attackers dead and six others wounded and in Cuban custody.

These incidents unfold as Cuba faces significant economic and energy challenges, with U.S. sanctions creating what officials describe as an oil embargo that has worsened fuel shortages and power outages across the island nation.

According to the Interior Ministry’s statement, the Panamanian citizens face charges for “acts of propaganda against the Cuban constitutional order.” Cuban law imposes sentences of three to eight years for “inciting against social order, international solidarity, or the socialist state,” and prohibits creating, distributing, or possessing such materials in any form.

Ministry officials say the detained individuals confessed they had been “instructed to enter Cuba to create signs with subversive content.”

“Once this objective was achieved, they were to leave the country and, upon their return to Panama, would receive a sum of money that, according to their initial statements, ranged between $1,000 and $1,500 each,” the Interior Ministry said.

Panama’s embassy in Havana has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the arrests.

These restrictions on free expression have long been cited by Cuban exiles as justification for maintaining U.S. economic sanctions against Cuba’s Communist leadership.

BRUSSELS – The head of the European Council expressed strong support Monday for Lebanon’s commitment to halt Hezbollah’s armed operations and hold accountable those who launched attacks against Israel.

Antonio Costa, the European Council President, praised the Lebanese government’s stance following a conversation with Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun. Costa emphasized the critical need for renewed security cooperation between Israel and Lebanon.

“It is now important for Israel and Lebanon to resume security coordination, so the Lebanese Armed Forces can disarm Hezbollah and ensure the security of all Lebanese people,” Costa wrote on the social media platform X.

During separate diplomatic communications, Costa reached out to Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides to offer European Union solidarity after an Iranian-made Shahed drone struck a British military installation on the Mediterranean island. Intelligence suggests the drone attack was likely carried out by Hezbollah, which receives backing from Iran.

Costa also thanked Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, expressing “appreciation” for Greece’s military assistance provided to Cyprus in response to the incident.

A powerful Sicilian organized crime leader who spent more than three decades behind bars has passed away at age 87, according to two sources familiar with the situation who spoke Monday.

Benedetto “Nitto” Santapaola died while incarcerated at a maximum-security facility in Milan, where he was serving multiple life sentences for homicide and additional criminal charges following his 1993 arrest, one source confirmed.

Italy’s justice ministry has not yet provided a statement regarding the death.

Santapaola earned the fearsome nicknames “il cacciatore” (the hunter) and “il licantropo” (the werewolf) during his reign as the head of organized crime operations in Catania, a major city in eastern Sicily, spanning from the late 1970s through the early 1990s.

The deceased crime boss was prosecuted and found guilty as one of the masterminds behind the 1992 assassinations of Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino, two of Italy’s most renowned prosecutors dedicated to fighting organized crime.

Fighter jets struck two facilities belonging to Iran’s state broadcasting network in Tehran on Sunday evening, resulting in casualties among staff members and temporarily knocking transmissions off the air.

The attacks targeted complexes operated by the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), with explosions visible across Tehran. Broadcasting resumed within minutes from backup studios, though programming remained limited and some radio services experienced significant interruptions.

An IRIB presenter, reporting from an alternate studio in Tehran’s Jame Jam area, confirmed that the network had suffered attacks from US and Israeli forces before announcing the return to regular programming.

The current broadcasting setup stems from damage sustained during a 12-day conflict in June, when missiles from Israeli aircraft completely destroyed IRIB’s primary facility known as the Glass Building in northern Tehran. Since that time, the News Network has operated from multiple locations, including backup studios and repurposed facilities.

Financial constraints have hampered efforts to establish a permanent replacement site. According to sources within IRIB, the broadcaster’s Political Department had sought emergency funding for a new studio outside the main complex, but the request was denied and postponed to the following budget year. Economic difficulties have reduced commercial advertising income, forcing the organization to scatter operations across various buildings, some outside protected areas.

In the hours following the physical attacks, hackers compromised Iranian television satellite transmissions, inserting content featuring Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and portions of a speech by President Donald Trump directed at Iranian citizens, along with footage related to the recent strikes.

Around midnight Tehran time, Tasnim News Agency, which has ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, confirmed that multiple state radio employees were killed or wounded during Sunday’s assault on Iran’s primary radio facility in southern Tehran near the city center.

The Israeli airstrikes occurred in multiple phases and also damaged Police Station 113 near Tehran’s Grand Bazaar and several military and security installations in the vicinity. Local sources reported uncertainty about whether the main radio building at Arg Square was deliberately targeted or suffered collateral damage from nearby strikes.

Additionally, Noor News, a Telegram channel with connections to Iranian security agencies, reported that Channel 2 of state television, situated outside the primary IRIB compound, also came under attack.

Prior to the commencement of US and Israeli operations, sources indicated that IRIB had activated emergency protocols starting at midnight Saturday, implementing wartime staffing schedules and preparing for potential cyber attacks and threats to live broadcasting capabilities. Another source revealed that news regarding the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had reached IRIB executives and the Political Department by Saturday afternoon, with broadcast managers developing plans to announce the development in the early morning hours.

Two Palestinian brothers died Monday after Israeli settlers opened fire in their village in the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry, as violent incidents by settlers continue to increase throughout the territory during ongoing regional conflicts.

The Palestinian Health Ministry named the victims as Mohammad and Faheem Mo’mar in an official statement. Mohammad, age 52, suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head while Faheem, 48, was struck in the pelvis. Both men died in Qaryout, their home village located in the northern West Bank.

This deadly incident raises the total number of Palestinians killed in settler attacks this year to three, following the February 19 shooting death of Nasrallah Abu Siyam, a 19-year-old Palestinian American.

Video footage distributed by Palestinian news outlets and Breaking the Silence, an organization of former Israeli military personnel, captured approximately 10 settlers positioned near a Palestinian residence in Qaryout. The footage shows one settler aiming a rifle at the home’s upper level. Additional video shows Palestinians hurriedly carrying an injured, bleeding man toward medical assistance.

The Palestinian Red Crescent reported that at least three additional people sustained injuries during the shooting.

Israeli military officials have not yet provided a response to requests for comment.

Medical personnel transported the wounded to a hospital in Nablus, a city in the central West Bank, where Associated Press reporters observed family members mourning over one brother’s body. Village residents assisted medical staff in moving bloodied victims onto surgical tables and covering both the deceased and injured with blankets.

Adham Johary, a village resident, explained to the AP that settlers had been spotted operating a bulldozer at the town’s perimeter before fleeing when young Palestinian men approached.

“Less than 10 minutes later, more than 10 settlers attacked nearby houses. The young residents attempted to defend the area, and random gunfire was directed at the young men and the entire area,” Johary stated.

Human rights organizations and Palestinians maintain that Israeli officials consistently fail to pursue legal action against settlers or ensure accountability for violent acts. The United Nations humanitarian office documented that 2023 saw the highest daily average of settler attacks resulting in deaths, injuries or property destruction — five incidents per day — since tracking began in 2006.

COGAT, the military authority overseeing the territory, announced closures of West Bank and Gaza crossings citing security concerns. West Bank Palestinians report that travel limitations have severely restricted access to essential services, preventing some villages from reaching urban centers with medical facilities and commercial establishments.

HAVANA — During a Monday session with his Council of Ministers, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel announced that his administration must take immediate action to overhaul the nation’s economic and social framework as oil supplies continue to diminish across the Caribbean island.

Díaz-Canel’s announcement comes as Cuba grapples with mounting pressure from a recent oil embargo and suspended petroleum deliveries from Venezuela following U.S. actions against the South American nation in January.

“We must focus, immediately, on implementing the urgent, most necessary transformations that must be made to the economic and social model,” Díaz-Canel stated, according to reports from state-controlled media outlets.

According to government media sources, the president outlined that Cuba’s economic and social restructuring efforts would involve expanding business and local government independence, along with downsizing state bureaucracy and governmental institutions.

Díaz-Canel urged local governments to take charge of various initiatives, including attracting foreign investment, creating partnerships between government and private enterprises, and developing investment opportunities with Cuban expatriates, state media reported.

Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz emphasized that the nation’s immediate priorities center on boosting food production and overhauling the electrical infrastructure as the country continues to experience widespread blackouts and fuel shortages.

Energy and Mines Minister Vicente de la O Levy told state media that local governments are moving too slowly in creating transition plans, despite efforts to distribute solar panels to medical professionals, educators, and students. He stressed that municipalities must develop self-reliant sustainability plans using local resources.

In recent weeks, Cuba has enacted strict fuel conservation policies, including suspending certain public transit services and shifting educational instruction to online platforms.

While the U.S. Treasury Department provided some relief last week by relaxing certain restrictions on Venezuelan oil sales to Cuba, experts predict the island’s energy and economic challenges will continue.

Beyond energy concerns, Cuba faces mounting difficulties from intensified U.S. sanctions, which government data shows have eliminated approximately $8 billion in revenue between March 2024 and February 2025 — representing a nearly 50% increase in losses compared to the previous year.

NEW YORK (TV Delmarva) — First Lady Melania Trump is set to make history Monday when she chairs a United Nations Security Council session focused on children caught in war zones, marking the first time a world leader’s spouse has led the UN’s most influential body.

The historic session will address “Children, Technology, and Education in Conflict,” with Trump’s office stating the discussion will “emphasize education’s role in advancing tolerance and world peace.” The meeting was planned before weekend hostilities erupted between the US, Israel, and Iran.

As the United States holds the Security Council’s rotating monthly presidency for March, Trump was granted the opportunity to lead the 15-member body that typically sees presidents, prime ministers, and foreign ministers at the helm.

The timing proves particularly significant as the administration faces scrutiny over military actions affecting civilian populations. Iranian state media reported that airstrikes on Saturday struck a girls’ school in southern Iran, resulting in at least 165 deaths and numerous injuries. Israeli military officials stated they had no knowledge of operations in that region, while US military representatives said they were investigating the reports.

All eyes will be on the First Lady’s remarks, particularly whether she addresses how current military operations impact children in conflict zones.

Saturday’s emergency Security Council session grew heated as Secretary-General António Guterres criticized both US and Israeli airstrikes as violations of international law and the UN Charter. He equally condemned Iran’s retaliatory strikes for breaching Middle Eastern nations’ sovereignty and territorial boundaries.

Trump has previously engaged in diplomatic efforts regarding children in conflict situations. Last summer, she wrote directly to Russian President Vladimir Putin before his meeting with President Trump, which her office credited with helping reunite displaced children from the Russia-Ukraine conflict with their families.

Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine resulted in Ukrainian children being removed from their homeland to be raised as Russians, prompting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to seek international assistance in family reunification efforts.

The appearance comes amid strained US-UN relations, as President Trump has withdrawn America from key UN organizations including the World Health Organization and UNESCO, while reducing funding to numerous others. The US has also fallen behind on mandatory contributions, owing the United Nations billions of dollars.

This financial shortfall has created a crisis at the UN, with Guterres warning in late January of “imminent financial collapse” unless payment structures are reformed or all 193 member countries fulfill their financial obligations.

When asked whether the First Lady’s participation signals improved US-UN cooperation, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric described it as demonstrating “the importance that the United States feels towards the Security Council and the subject.”

Military analysts are closely monitoring a joint American-Israeli aerial campaign against Iran that has reached a pivotal moment, with experts identifying two potential outcomes that could reshape Middle East dynamics for years to come.

According to Brigadier General (retired) Eran Ortal, who spoke with The Media Line, “There is no precedent for regime change through an air campaign.” However, the current military operations are testing whether sustained pressure and leadership elimination can trigger Iran’s internal collapse.

The coordinated strikes, which began February 28 under US Operation Epic Fury and Israeli Operation Roaring Lion, have evolved beyond typical military degradation campaigns. Experts say the key question is whether communication breakdowns, leadership losses, and mounting pressure can fracture Tehran’s control enough to spark revolution from within.

Professor Danny Orbach, a military historian at Hebrew University of Jerusalem, explained the strategy to The Media Line: “The goal is not for the regime to fall, but to create conditions that will enable the Iranian people to topple it. If the Iranians don’t take advantage of the opportunity, the war might end with less ambitious goals achieved—the destruction of the Iranian navy, its missile arsenal, and the remnants of its nuclear program.”

CENTCOM characterized the initial assault as one of the most intensive American firepower deployments in the region in decades, utilizing cruise missiles and advanced fighter jets launched from air, land, and sea platforms.

The conflict entered a new phase after social media footage showed Iranian citizens celebrating in streets following confirmation that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in an airstrike. This development has pushed the confrontation beyond conventional capability degradation into uncertain political territory.

Both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump have urged Iranian citizens to capitalize on this moment and overthrow their government, though success remains far from guaranteed.

“The duration of the operation depends on its goal,” Ortal noted. “This goal could change as the success of the operation becomes apparent.”

Israeli sources report that initial strike phases involved hundreds of targets and over 1,200 munitions, suggesting a potentially extended campaign ahead.

Ortal outlined two possible scenarios emerging from current operations. The first involves leadership elimination and communication failures combining with public pressure to create governmental rupture—though he emphasized that airpower alone has never historically achieved regime change.

“Seeing Iranians celebrating the attack in the streets increases the optimism that this scenario could materialize,” Ortal said. “This could create a domino effect that cannot be foreseen in which the disappearance of senior leadership, major communications disruption, and extreme public pressure destabilize the leadership, who then abandons their positions.”

Should internal collapse fail to materialize, the alternative outcome would leave Iran’s government politically intact but strategically crippled. “This will leave the regime without military capabilities, weak and neutralized and fully subordinate to American whims and future coercion,” Ortal explained.

Orbach emphasized the strategic importance of targeting Iran’s naval capabilities, particularly regarding the Strait of Hormuz. “The navy is more important than what most people think,” he said. “The navy is the ability to project power, especially through the threat of blocking the Hormuz Strait. Its destruction will humiliate them and turn them into a country that cannot project power.”

The Hormuz Strait carries approximately one-fifth of global oil trade, making any disruption capable of affecting worldwide energy markets, shipping schedules, and commercial insurance costs. Eliminating Tehran’s maritime leverage would significantly reduce its ability to threaten neighbors or the global economy during future crises.

The strikes target the foundation of Iran’s decades-long regional strategy: proxy networks combined with missile and drone capabilities designed to deter direct attacks and impose escalation costs. Dismantling these tools fundamentally alters Iran’s negotiating position and battlefield options.

“Iran’s ability to influence the Middle East is tied to two abilities—its proxies and its missiles,” Ortal said. “Iran no longer has air defense systems, and its missile launchers are gradually depleting. Iran has no ability to face this, leaving the regime subdued to American pressure it will not be able to withstand.”

Iran’s nuclear program provides crucial context for current hostilities. The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action temporarily limited Tehran’s enrichment activities in exchange for sanctions relief, but following US withdrawal in 2018, Iran expanded enrichment and reduced international oversight, escalating tensions that led to today’s confrontation.

Orbach argued that achieving complete regime collapse would require expanding targets beyond military assets to include internal enforcement mechanisms used for protest suppression and population control.

“The way to increase the odds of toppling the regime is to eliminate its leader and his heirs, in several rounds, rendering them weak and scared,” Orbach said, estimating slim survival chances for the current government. “In addition, the oppression mechanisms of the regime also need to be hit. The question is how long Israel and the US will persist in this effort.”

Iran’s domestic conditions may prove as significant as strike intensity. Years of sanctions, corruption, and heavy security expenditures have damaged the economy, while inflation, infrastructure deterioration, power shortages, and water crises have intensified public dissatisfaction—factors that could amplify political consequences if leadership and control systems continue deteriorating.

“Iran’s economy is in a catastrophic state and deteriorating further,” Orbach observed. “This will only worsen after the war, including raging inflation and the water crisis. Add to this a succession struggle and popular unrest, and it is hard to see the regime surviving in the long run.”

Even if political objectives become more modest over time, Ortal believes the military impact alone could transform regional dynamics for years. “Even if the goals of the operation will be downgraded, still Iran will be rendered extremely weak and subdued for a substantial number of years,” he said.

Analysts identify four key indicators that will reveal the campaign’s direction: whether strikes expand beyond military targets to internal enforcement apparatus; whether Iran’s naval influence around Hormuz Strait gets neutralized; whether domestic unrest grows from scattered incidents into sustained pressure; and whether Washington and Jerusalem begin describing success in narrower terms focused on long-term military degradation.

The central uncertainty remains what Ortal highlighted: while airpower can eliminate leaders, disrupt communications, and destroy capabilities, it cannot vote, demonstrate, or govern. Coming days will determine whether these strikes merely dismantle Iran’s security infrastructure—or create opportunities for Iranians themselves to dismantle the system controlling it, potentially defying historical patterns that Ortal says have defined previous air campaigns.

Officials in the United Arab Emirates reported Monday that a drone strike ignited a blaze at the Musaffah fuel storage facility, though the attack did not disrupt normal operations at the critical energy hub.

The Abu Dhabi media office confirmed authorities quickly managed the emergency situation. “Abu Dhabi authorities have responded today to a fire resulting from the targeting of a Musaffah fuel tank terminal by a drone. The situation was promptly contained,” the office said.

Officials confirmed no one was hurt in the incident.

The targeted facility serves as a key distribution point operated by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, where fuel products are loaded onto trucks for delivery. The site connects to an extensive pipeline system spanning 1,600 kilometers that supplies petroleum products throughout the Abu Dhabi emirate.

This marks another attack on the Musaffah facility, which previously came under fire from Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in 2022 during their ongoing conflict with the Saudi-led military coalition.

The strike occurred as regional tensions intensify following a series of attacks across the area. Earlier Monday, Saudi Arabia’s national oil company Aramco was forced to close its Ras Tanura refinery after a drone strike, marking what appears to be an escalation on the third consecutive day of regional attacks launched by Tehran following a U.S.-Israeli operation against Iran.

Meanwhile, QatarEnergy suspended production of liquefied natural gas and related products after attacks targeted facilities at Ras Laffan, according to an informed source speaking to Reuters.

SOFIA – Former Bulgarian President Rumen Radev announced Monday that he has formed a new three-party coalition named Progressive Bulgaria to compete in the nation’s parliamentary elections scheduled for April 19.

The move marks the country’s eighth electoral contest in just seven years, highlighting Bulgaria’s ongoing political turmoil. Radev, who resigned from his largely ceremonial presidential position in January, remains widely favored among Bulgarian voters, with polling data indicating his new alliance could secure over 30 percent of voter support.

During his presidency, Radev exercised significant unofficial political influence throughout a turbulent period that culminated in the most recent government’s downfall on December 11. He stepped down from office nearly twelve months ahead of schedule.

The administration collapsed after sustained public demonstrations against increased taxes and what protesters viewed as inadequate efforts to combat corruption within the government.

Taking to Facebook, Radev declared: “‘Progressive Bulgaria’ is the answer to the expectations of Bulgarians for dismantling the oligarchic corruption model. In order to succeed, we will fight for a decisive victory and it depends on the voice of all Bulgarians.”

The new coalition unites three left-oriented political groups: Our People Movement, Social Democratic Party, and the Socialdemocrats movement.

Since becoming a eurozone member on January 1, Bulgaria has struggled with persistent governmental instability. Political parties have been unable to establish lasting governing partnerships since 2021 due to a divided parliament.

LONDON, March 2 – British Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned lawmakers Monday that Iran has intensified its military attacks on regional targets following the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, describing the nation’s current tactics as increasingly dangerous.

Speaking before Parliament, Starmer cautioned that Khamenei’s death has not deterred Iran from conducting strikes against military and economic infrastructure across the region.

“The death of Khamenei will not stop Iran from launching these strikes,” Starmer addressed Parliament members. “In fact, their approach is becoming even more reckless and more dangerous to civilians.”

The Prime Minister’s comments highlight growing international concerns about Iran’s military activities in the aftermath of their longtime leader’s passing.

COPENHAGEN – Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced Monday that her country has formed a strategic nuclear defense partnership with France, marking a significant shift in European security cooperation.

The announcement came as French President Emmanuel Macron revealed plans to expand France’s nuclear capabilities and enhance deterrent measures through unprecedented collaboration with European allies, describing it as a fundamental shift in nuclear policy.

“Enhanced cooperation will help bolster Europe’s deterrent strength. Regrettably, this has become essential as we anticipate Russia’s military threat will grow in the years ahead,” Frederiksen explained to reporters.

The Danish leader emphasized that this new European partnership would work alongside existing security frameworks. “We want to make clear today that this strategic cooperation will supplement, not substitute for, our deterrent collaboration within NATO,” she stated.

Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen clarified that the strategic partnership will not involve placing nuclear weapons within Denmark’s borders.

BOGOTA, Colombia — One-time guerrilla fighters who previously dominated Colombia’s countryside now face an uphill battle to maintain their existence as a legitimate political organization during this Sunday’s crucial congressional elections.

The former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia members, operating under the political banner Comunes (Commoners), face steep odds in securing sufficient votes to keep their legislative positions or even preserve their official party recognition.

During the previous two legislative terms, the organization held 10 assured congressional positions — a benefit provided through their 2016 peace agreement with Colombia’s government.

However, those guaranteed positions have now expired according to the peace accord’s provisions, forcing Comunes to compete alongside all other political organizations without special advantages.

Political analysts anticipate the former insurgents will struggle to maintain their legislative presence amid fierce competition from over a dozen parties vying for Senate and House positions.

“They have not really gained the support of the people,” stated Yan Basset, who teaches political science at Bogota’s Rosario University.

The ex-rebels conducted kidnappings affecting thousands of citizens and carried out bombing attacks on numerous rural communities throughout their 50-year war against Colombia’s government.

According to Basset, the conflict’s negative legacy persists, “and obviously for many Colombians it is difficult to forgive.”

Despite having secured legislative seats, Comunes demonstrated poor electoral performance in past voting cycles.

The organization captured 89,300 votes across Colombia during 2018’s congressional races. This figure dropped to 50,100 by 2022.

This downward trend poses serious consequences since Colombian election regulations mandate parties secure at least 3% of total votes to maintain official recognition for candidate nominations and government funding eligibility. The previous election required 509,000 votes to achieve that essential 3% threshold.

To boost their electoral prospects this cycle, Comunes has partnered with Fuerza Ciudadana, an organization established two decades ago by progressive activists and scholars that recently secured mayoral victories and a gubernatorial win in northern Colombia.

The former guerrillas also seem to be downplaying their brand identity to make their candidates more appealing to ordinary voters. Campaign materials including flyers, banners and stickers prominently display Fuerza Ciudadana’s branding, while Comunes’ red rose emblem is notably missing from most promotional content.

Comunes additionally registered their coalition under the Fuerza Ciudadana name with election officials, guaranteeing the partner organization’s orange symbol, not their own, will be visible on Sunday’s voting forms.

“Politics in Colombia is very complex,” remarked Carlos Carreño Marín, a former FARC military leader.

Marín participated in FARC’s negotiating team for the 2016 peace agreement and has served as a Comunes congressional representative since 2018.

The 48-year-old is now working to retain his Bogota legislative position while recognizing the difficulty ahead.

“We are in an intense struggle against parties that have been doing this for two centuries,” he explained.

Nearly 300 congressional positions will be decided during Sunday’s voting.

The election results could significantly impact President Gustavo Petro’s constitutional reform agenda. Petro has criticized judicial officials and lawmakers for obstructing his initiatives to nationalize Colombia’s healthcare infrastructure and overhaul the retirement system.

Energy markets experienced significant volatility Monday as escalating conflict involving Iran led to major disruptions in shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, underscoring the critical importance of this waterway to global oil distribution.

This narrow channel serves as the gateway from the Persian Gulf, facilitating the transport of approximately 20% of worldwide oil supplies. Vessels navigating these waters, which border Iran to the north, transport petroleum and natural gas from major producers including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE and Iran itself. The majority of these energy exports are destined for Asian markets.

Any interruption to shipping through this strategic waterway creates significant ripple effects throughout global energy markets.

“The scale of what is at stake cannot be overstated,” said Hakan Kaya, senior portfolio manager at investment management firm Neuberger Berman. He explained that while oil companies could manage a partial slowdown lasting one to two weeks, a complete or near-complete blockage extending a month or longer would drive crude oil prices, currently trading around $70 on Monday, “well into triple digits” and push European natural gas prices “toward or above the crisis levels seen in 2022.”

The Strait of Hormuz forms a curved waterway measuring approximately 33 kilometers (21 miles) across at its most constricted point. It links the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman, providing ships access to international waters and global destinations. Although Iran and Oman maintain territorial claims within the strait, international maritime law recognizes it as open waters accessible to all vessels. The United Arab Emirates, known for Dubai’s iconic skyline, is also positioned adjacent to this vital shipping lane.

Throughout history, the Strait of Hormuz has served as a crucial trade corridor, with ceramics, ivory, silk and textiles flowing from China through the region. In contemporary times, it accommodates massive oil tankers transporting petroleum and gas from regional producers. Most of these shipments reach Asian destinations, including China, which remains Iran’s sole remaining oil purchaser.

Although Saudi Arabia and the UAE operate pipelines that can bypass the strait, the U.S. Energy Information Administration notes that “most volumes that transit the strait have no alternative means of exiting the region.”

Previous threats to this shipping route have triggered global energy price increases, including during the Israel-Iran conflict in June.

While the strait remains officially open, vessel traffic has declined dramatically due to disrupted satellite navigation systems, according to data analytics company Kpler in a Sunday statement on X. The U.K. Maritime Trade Operations Center documented attacks on multiple ships in waters surrounding the strait and issued warnings about increased electronic interference affecting vessel tracking systems.

A drone boat loaded with explosives attacked a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman, the eastern approach to the strait, resulting in one crew member’s death, Omani officials confirmed.

Iran has been issuing threats to vessels approaching the Strait of Hormuz and is suspected of conducting several attacks.

In mid-February, Iran temporarily blocked portions of the strait, claiming the action was part of military exercises. Oil prices surged approximately 6% in subsequent days.

This closure represented a rare, possibly unprecedented shutdown of the waterway.

During previous periods of regional tension and warfare, Iran has periodically interfered with shipping through the narrow passage. During the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s, both nations targeted tankers and other vessels, deploying naval mines that completely halted traffic at various times. However, Iran has not followed through on repeated threats to completely close the waterway since the 1980s, even during last year’s 12-day conflict when Israel and the United States conducted strikes on Iran’s nuclear and military facilities.

WASHINGTON — Hours after expressing frustration with stalled nuclear negotiations, President Donald Trump authorized a large-scale military operation against Iran that eliminated key leadership figures and disrupted global markets.

The sequence of events began Friday afternoon when Trump spoke to media outside the White House before departing for Texas, stating his dissatisfaction with ongoing indirect discussions with Iran.

“I’m not happy with the way they’re going,” Trump told reporters at 12:25 p.m. EST regarding the nuclear negotiations. When questioned about his next steps, he responded, “No, I haven’t,” regarding whether he had reached a final decision.

While traveling on Air Force One to Texas events at 3:38 p.m. EST, Trump authorized the military action dubbed “Operation Epic Fury.”

“The president directed, and I quote, ‘Operation Epic Fury approved … Good luck,’” General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, revealed during a Monday press conference.

According to Caine, this authorization triggered final preparations across all joint U.S. military branches, with air defense systems positioning themselves and flight crews conducting last-minute rehearsals of their attack plans. Simultaneously, aircraft began receiving final armaments while two U.S. carrier strike groups moved toward launch positions.

During his continued flight to Texas, Trump made multiple Truth Social posts, including one nine minutes after approving the strike that ordered the government to cease using Anthropic artificial intelligence technology following a public disagreement between the company and Pentagon regarding AI safety measures.

Upon arriving in Texas at 4:03 p.m. EST, Trump addressed reporters at the Port of Corpus Christi about the negotiations, reiterating his displeasure without revealing the approved operation. When asked about his proximity to deciding on strikes, he declined to answer.

“I’d rather not tell you,” Trump responded. “You would have had the greatest scoop in history, right? Yeah.”

The actual military action commenced at 1:15 a.m. EST, based on Caine’s Monday timeline presentation.

“Across every domain — land, air, sea, cyber,” American forces “delivered synchronized and layered effects designed to disrupt, degrade, deny and destroy Iran’s ability to conduct and sustain combat operations on the U.S. side,” Caine explained.

During the Pentagon briefing, Caine described the operation as involving “thousands of service members from all branches, hundreds of advanced fourth- and fifth-generation fighters, dozens of refueling tankers, the Lincoln and Ford carrier strike group and their embarked air wings.”

He emphasized that ammunition and fuel supplies maintained continuous flow with support from an extensive network including intelligence and surveillance operations, while additional forces continued deploying to the region.

The military action followed months of CIA efforts to monitor senior Iranian leadership movements, particularly Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. This intelligence was shared with Israel, leading to adjustments in Saturday’s strike timing, according to an anonymous source familiar with the operation.

In Tehran, explosions were audible as Israel’s defense minister announced a state of emergency.

Three coordinated strikes at separate locations occurred within sixty seconds, eliminating Khamenei and approximately 40 senior officials, including the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard commander and Iran’s defense minister, an Israeli military official confirmed.

At 4:37 p.m. EST, Trump used his Truth Social platform to announce Khamenei’s death, stating the supreme leader was “unable to avoid our Intelligence and Highly Sophisticated Tracking Systems.”

On Sunday at 12:21 p.m. EST, Trump posted on Truth Social that American forces had “destroyed and sunk 9 Iranian Naval Ships,” would be “going after the rest” and “largely destroyed their Naval Headquarters.”

Later Sunday at 4:06 p.m. EST, the Republican president released a video message stating that U.S. military and allies struck hundreds of Iranian targets, including Revolutionary Guard installations and air defense systems “all in a matter of literally minutes.”

Trump indicated the strikes would persist until “all of our objectives are achieved” without specifying those goals.

Also Sunday, Trump administration officials informed congressional staff during private briefings that U.S. intelligence had not indicated Iran was planning a preemptive attack against America, according to three briefing participants.

Instead, administration officials acknowledged a broader regional threat from Iran’s missile capabilities and proxy forces, two sources reported.

A senior White House official also stated Sunday that Iran’s “new potential leadership” had expressed openness to discussions with the United States.

In a Sunday New York Times interview, Trump suggested the assault could continue for “four to five weeks.”

Monday at 8 a.m. EST, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth clarified during a Pentagon briefing that the U.S. was not pursuing nation-building in Iran and that continued strikes would not lead to prolonged conflict.

“This is not Iraq. This is not endless,” he stated. “This is not a so-called regime change war, but the regime sure did change, and the world is better off for it.”

During Monday trading, oil prices surged as tanker disruptions near the Strait of Hormuz sparked concerns about Persian Gulf supply shortages. U.S. oil reached approximately $71.97 per barrel. MarineTraffic.com reported that strait transit had decreased 70% since Saturday.

The strikes also unsettled global markets, with U.S. futures following European and Asian markets downward. Both S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average futures dropped roughly 1%.

Recent escalations in Middle East tensions have exposed just how dependent worldwide aviation has become on a select few major airport hubs, with Dubai’s international airport – the globe’s busiest – at the center of widespread travel disruptions.

The Gulf region’s commercial powerhouse has built an impressive aviation empire over four decades, growing from Emirates’ humble beginnings with just two leased aircraft and a pair of flight routes to today’s massive operation connecting 110 countries through 454,000 annual flights.

“That we’ve got such a well-spread geographic business model and are well spread between visitors and those in transit suggests it’s very robust and will continue to survive any geopolitical tension that exists, wherever it may be,” Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths told Reuters in a recent interview.

However, Saturday’s U.S. and Israeli military actions against Iran brought these regional conflicts directly to Dubai’s front door, including a direct assault on the airport facility itself.

Now Dubai confronts the enormous challenge of managing tens of thousands of stranded travelers while rebuilding its flight network and protecting incoming traffic that makes up half of its operations.

Industry experts generally believe the Gulf aviation hubs will bounce back from this setback, provided regional warfare doesn’t drag on indefinitely. However, the simultaneous closure of all three primary Gulf hubs – Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha – comes at a time when competitors from Turkey, Saudi Arabia and India are expanding their own operations.

“There’s no doubt at all this is temporary. They have seen major incidents before and recovered very quickly due to their importance as global hubs,” said UK-based travel consultant Paul Charles. “They will recover quickly, even if there is substantial uncertainty in the short term.”

Some analysts express more skepticism about the recovery timeline. While the aviation sector rebounded from pandemic losses due to demand exceeding available flights, this situation threatens passenger demand itself.

“Travellers are likely to consider more direct flights rather than stop over in Dubai or Doha. All this hub traffic is likely to take a hit,” said independent aviation adviser Bertrand Grabowski.

Despite these concerns, geography and economics continue working in the Gulf hubs’ favor.

“One third of the world’s population is within four hours’ flying time and two thirds within eight hours,” said Dubai Airports’ Griffiths.

“We’ve seen the incredible aggregation power that a hub delivers.”

Nevertheless, challenges to the Gulf’s aviation dominance are emerging. Turkish Airlines stands to gain significantly through its major hub positioned outside the conflict area, according to independent aviation analyst John Strickland.

Saudi Arabia is also expanding its aviation presence, with India following suit as Asian carriers capture more passengers.

Technical improvements in aircraft manufacturing, which previously benefited Gulf carriers, are now working against their hub model. Airbus recently started construction on a second ultra-long-range A350 aircraft to support Qantas plans for direct Sydney-to-London service.

Emirates launched operations during the height of the Iran-Iraq conflict in 1985. Its explosive expansion contributed to Gulf Air’s breakup – the airline that previously served Qatar, Bahrain, Abu Dhabi and Oman – as Qatar and Abu Dhabi established independent carriers, creating today’s three competing Gulf aviation hubs.

With Dubai’s reputation for stability now questioned following Iranian attacks and defensive missile debris, analysts say the biggest uncertainty surrounds future passenger traffic to Dubai itself.

The timing has also raised concerns about the already-postponed development of a massive new airport facility outside the city.

Dubai destination traffic “will doubtless recover, but there is likely to be some lasting damage”, Grabowski said.

For Emirates and its partner airline flydubai, recovery may require leveraging their market influence to restore normal operations.

“People have short memories and they might be incentivised by some bargain deals to bring people back, but I don’t think that would need to be there for long,” said Eddy Pieniazek, head of advisory at aviation and leasing consultancy Ishka.

WASHINGTON – The Biden administration announced Monday it has levied financial penalties against Rwanda’s military forces and high-ranking defense officials, the Treasury Department confirmed on its website, following ongoing combat operations across multiple areas in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

The African nations had previously agreed to a ceasefire arrangement in Washington this past December, which was part of former President Trump’s initiative to establish stability in the area and encourage substantial Western financial investment totaling billions of dollars.

However, military conflicts have persisted since that agreement, undermining the previous administration’s peace-building efforts in the region.

The Treasury Department’s website shows that Monday’s penalties include Vincent Nyakarundi, who serves as Rwanda’s army chief of staff, along with the nation’s chief defense staff and two additional Rwandan officials.

Rwandan government representatives have not yet provided a response to requests for comment on the sanctions.

GENEVA – Swiss officials confirmed Monday that diplomatic communications between Washington and Tehran continue flowing through Switzerland’s neutral channels, even as military operations between U.S.-Israeli forces and Iran entered their third day.

The Swiss foreign ministry told Reuters via email that the diplomatic pathway “is available to both parties and operates in both directions,” though ministry officials declined to elaborate on specific details of the communications.

Switzerland has served as a diplomatic intermediary between America and Iran for more than four decades, taking on the role of neutral “protecting power” to represent American diplomatic interests in Iran after the two nations severed official relations following Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Swiss diplomatic officials also reported that all of their regional embassies continue normal operations and are providing assistance to Swiss citizens in the area who require support during the ongoing conflict.

ANKARA – Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan condemned recent strikes against Iran carried out by the United States and Israel, calling them a “clear violation” of international law during remarks made Monday.

The Turkish leader made his comments while addressing attendees at a Ramadan iftar dinner in the capital city of Ankara, where he also expressed that Turkey stands with the Iranian people during this difficult time.

Erdogan announced that Turkey plans to increase diplomatic engagement across all levels of government to help broker a ceasefire and restore stability to the region. He warned that allowing the current conflict to persist poses significant dangers that extend beyond the immediate area and could create global consequences that no nation is equipped to manage.

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump confirmed Monday that he has authorized U.S. military forces to conduct strikes against Iran with the goal of stopping Tehran’s nuclear weapons development and rapidly expanding ballistic missile capabilities.

Speaking from the White House East Room, Trump revealed that military operations he initiated on Friday are moving faster than anticipated. The president had initially estimated the campaign would run four to five weeks, though he acknowledged it might extend longer than planned.

The president stated that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons serves as a primary motivation for the military action, despite Tehran’s denials of pursuing such capabilities. Trump also cited the need to disrupt Iran’s long-range ballistic missile development as a key objective.

During his White House appearance, Trump provided his most detailed public remarks about the conflict, following earlier video statements and brief media interviews over the weekend that sometimes presented conflicting goals for the military engagement.

The president reported that U.S. forces had successfully destroyed 10 Iranian naval vessels and conveyed optimism about the campaign’s progress thus far.

Pakistan’s leader stood by his nation’s military operations against Afghanistan during remarks to lawmakers Monday, asserting that diplomatic solutions were exhausted before launching strikes against militant groups operating from Afghan soil.

The Pakistani government previously declared it was engaged in “open war” with Afghanistan, raising concerns among international observers. The disputed border region serves as a base for extremist organizations such as al-Qaida and ISIS.

“(The Afghan Taliban) must choose to dismantle the terror groups that survive on conflict and its war economy,” President Asif Ali Zardari told parliament members, emphasizing that “no state accepts serial attacks on its soil.”

Following Pakistani air operations last Sunday, Afghanistan responded with counter-attacks on Thursday. Pakistan has since conducted multiple border operations, with Information Minister Attaullah Tarar asserting that 435 Afghan military personnel were eliminated and 31 Afghan positions seized.

Afghan officials dispute these assertions.

Afghanistan’s deputy government spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat reported that Pakistani military forces launched mortar attacks on a displaced persons camp in Kunar province’s eastern region, resulting in three children’s deaths and three additional injuries.

Afghan defense officials stated their forces targeted a Pakistani military installation near Paktia province, inflicting “substantial losses and heavy casualties.”

Pakistani military officials declined to comment but have maintained they exclusively target Afghan military sites to prevent civilian harm.

Pakistan has experienced increased violence recently, attributing the attacks to the banned Pakistani Taliban organization, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which operates within Pakistan and from Afghan territory.

Pakistani officials claim Afghanistan’s Taliban leadership provides sanctuary for TTP fighters, an allegation Kabul rejects.

The current border hostilities terminated a truce negotiated by Qatar and Turkey last October, after Istanbul peace talks failed to produce a lasting resolution.

Zardari emphasized Pakistan’s willingness to negotiate, stating, “We have never walked away from dialogue.”

The Pakistani president renewed accusations that Afghanistan serves as India’s proxy by harboring militant organizations. “Stop being used by another country as a battlefield for their ambitions,” he declared.

Zardari referenced a recent United Nations Security Council monitoring team assessment that characterized militant presence in Afghanistan as a threat extending beyond the region.

The United States is encountering significant roadblocks in its mission to secure critical minerals from the Democratic Republic of Congo, despite establishing a partnership agreement just months ago, according to diplomatic and industry sources.

Congo holds the world’s most extensive cobalt reserves along with substantial copper and lithium deposits, making it a cornerstone of America’s strategy to reduce Western dependence on China for essential minerals.

Following the December signing of a minerals agreement between the US and Congo, officials in Kinshasa provided Washington with a list of 44 potential projects last month covering copper, cobalt, lithium, tin, gold, and energy resources, as Reuters previously reported.

This US-Congo collaboration aims to attract investment and support a peace agreement that Washington helped negotiate between Congo and Rwanda. The Congolese government has alleged that Rwanda backs M23 rebel forces currently battling government troops in eastern regions.

However, many of the proposed mining sites are located in politically unstable areas or face licensing complications, making rapid and dependable mining agreements difficult to achieve, according to sources including Congolese government and mining sector officials who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of ongoing discussions.

One American diplomat suggested that Kinshasa may be intentionally delaying new agreements to pressure Washington into taking stronger action against M23 before moving forward. Reuters was unable to independently confirm this assertion.

The Congolese government did not provide immediate responses to comment requests. Speaking on background, a senior government official dismissed the allegations as “speculation.”

“The agreement has its own rhythm: a period for receiving offers, a period for negotiation,” the official explained. Rwanda, which denies supporting M23, also did not respond immediately to requests for comment.

The US State Department informed Reuters that America remains “deeply concerned” about violence in eastern Congo and continues pressing regional partners to strengthen the ceasefire, calling on Rwanda to cease M23 support and withdraw according to December’s peace agreement.

The department expressed Washington’s desire to see rapid advancement on major deals, including a proposal for Glencore to transfer copper and cobalt operations to the US-supported Orion consortium, US-based Virtus Minerals’ attempt to acquire Congo-focused Chemaf, and expansion of the Lobito Corridor railway.

According to Joshua Walker from NYU’s Congo Research Group, Kinshasa’s decision to include the Rubaya mine on the shortlist indicates Congo’s desire for stronger US action against M23. The mine produces approximately 15% of global coltan and currently operates under M23/AFC control.

Walker noted that investment remains unlikely while the group maintains territorial control.

American security influence has already impacted some mining operations. Alphamin Resources resumed operations at its Bisie tin mine only after US diplomatic intervention helped reduce fighting in surrounding areas, though the company warns that renewed violence could threaten access and operations.

Michael Bahati, chief analyst at advisory firm Ascendance Strategies, identified Congo’s licensing bottlenecks as a fundamental obstacle to new US investment. Additionally, some assets on Kinshasa’s list face disputes, incomplete ownership documentation, and delayed transparency reporting.

At Manono, a world-class lithium site, US-backed KoBold is working to resolve a dispute with Australia’s AVZ, while China’s Zijin in the same region prepares for June shipments.

High-quality copper-cobalt properties, including Chemaf and Gecamines’ holdings, encounter political disputes and permitting histories that discourage Western financial institutions. Chemaf’s proposed sale to US-backed Virtus has stalled after owners indicated that the approximately $30 million offer fails to address the company’s substantial debts.

Even for simpler opportunities like tailings reprocessing or proposed cobalt refineries, Kinshasa has indicated that success depends on governance improvements and security assurances that only Washington can help provide.

These obstacles highlight a disconnect between US strategic goals and its capacity to deploy capital quickly, according to Geraud-Christian Neema, an analyst specializing in African natural resource geopolitics.

Washington continues focusing on “ready-to-produce” properties. A longer-term transformation would require US companies willing to accept Congo-level risks and wait years for profits, a commitment “not many US firms are prepared to make,” he explained.

Congolese officials admit they want American companies to accelerate their pace but say they cannot bypass compliance requirements.

While US and other Western companies must satisfy obligations including anti-corruption screenings, establishing clear ownership chains, and documenting community impact assessments, Chinese firms operate under different regulatory frameworks.

At Manono, Zijin’s early progress in developing roads, power systems, and port connections is already influencing the project. KoBold’s Congo representative said the company plans to utilize that infrastructure once ownership disputes are settled, reflecting the compliance challenges facing US-backed enterprises.

The difference is evident throughout Congo’s mining industry – Chinese operators can manage uncertainty that Western companies cannot, enabling Beijing-linked firms to advance projects while American companies remain caught in extended due-diligence processes.

Currently, Kinshasa has successfully drawn Washington deeper into its critical-minerals sphere, gambling that US engagement will yield security and political benefits, NYU’s Walker observed.

“What that engagement will ultimately look like, however, remains uncertain.”

With Chinese companies already controlling more than 70% of Congo’s copper-cobalt and other rare mineral assets, nothing yet indicates Washington can substantially weaken Beijing’s dominance.

Two major European allies announced Monday they will deepen their collaboration on nuclear defense matters, creating a new coordination team to align their strategic approaches and military training exercises.

The partnership between France and Germany emerges as European nations grow increasingly worried about potential changes to America’s nuclear protection promises during Donald Trump’s presidency.

According to Monday’s joint announcement, the European collaboration seeks to boost the continent’s capabilities in managing conflicts before they reach nuclear levels, with particular focus on early detection systems, aerial defense networks, and long-range precision weaponry.

Both nations committed to launching concrete measures within the current year, including allowing German military personnel to participate in France’s nuclear training programs and conducting shared visits to critical defense installations.

The two countries emphasized that their enhanced cooperation would work alongside NATO’s existing nuclear deterrent framework rather than replacing it, while reaffirming their ongoing dependence on American deterrence capabilities and the independent nuclear arsenals maintained by France and Britain.