Category: World News

MOSCOW – Masked security personnel conducted a search of the Moscow headquarters of Novaya Gazeta, one of Russia’s most prominent independent newspapers, the publication reported Thursday.

The newspaper announced via Telegram that it was unaware of the specific reasons behind the operation and that their legal representatives were being denied access to the premises.

According to statements from law enforcement sources cited by state news agency RIA, the search operation was connected to a probe involving the unauthorized handling of personal information. Russia has significantly strengthened its media censorship regulations and intensified its campaign against independent journalism organizations following the start of its military operation in Ukraine in 2022.

In another significant development Thursday, Russia’s Supreme Court declared Memorial, the country’s most prominent human rights organization, an extremist group. This ruling creates legal grounds for criminal charges against anyone who provides support, funding, or distributes the organization’s content.

Novaya Gazeta stands as one of Russia’s most recognized investigative journalism organizations. The publication’s editor-in-chief, Dmitry Muratov, shared the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize and honored six journalists from his newspaper who were killed while pursuing their reporting duties.

In 2023, Russian authorities labeled Muratov a “foreign agent,” a classification the government uses for individuals and organizations it considers to be engaging in activities against Russian interests with international backing.

Spanish leadership delivered sharp condemnation of Israeli military operations in Lebanon and wider Middle East hostilities on Thursday, solidifying Madrid’s position as a vocal opponent of U.S. and Israeli military actions even as Washington threatens retaliation against uncooperative NATO partners.

The Spanish government’s resistance to the Iranian conflict has deepened tensions with Washington, with members of President Donald Trump’s MAGA coalition increasingly calling for punishment against Madrid.

Speaking before parliament, Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares characterized the conflict as an assault on civilization itself, mirroring harsh words from Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez regarding Trump’s decision to target the Islamic Republic.

“We’re facing the greatest assault on the civilisation built upon the humanist ideals of reason, peace, understanding and universal law over the abuse of power, brute force and arbitrariness,” Albares stated.

“The prophets of war and violence seek to return to the values and practices of history’s darkest moments,” he continued, claiming Israel had broken international law and violated a newly negotiated two-week ceasefire following extensive airstrikes throughout Lebanon that resulted in over 250 deaths on Wednesday.

Sanchez, who has positioned himself as a prominent war opponent, has prohibited Spanish airspace access to any aircraft participating in what he calls a dangerous and unlawful confrontation.

Wednesday evening saw Sanchez renew his appeal for the European Union to abandon its association agreement with Israel, demanding an end to “impunity for (Israel’s) criminal actions”.

Through a social media post on X, Sanchez declared Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “contempt for life and international law is intolerable”.

Wednesday also witnessed Spain and Italy both calling in Israeli diplomatic representatives to object to separate incidents involving UN peacekeepers in Lebanon. Madrid reported that Israeli forces had wrongfully detained a Spanish UNIFIL participant.

Spanish-American relations suffered damage last year when Madrid refused Trump’s requirement that NATO members increase defense expenditures to 5% of gross domestic product. This position prompted Trump to threaten complete trade cessation.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham stated in March that America should withdraw from two jointly managed air bases in southern Spain and relocate “to a country that will allow us to use them”.

Earlier this week, Albares noted that Trump’s public consideration of alliance withdrawal was encouraging European nations to explore alternative security frameworks.

Within Spain, the government’s stance enjoys broad popularity, with polling data showing overwhelming public rejection of the war. Recent surveys indicate Sanchez’s Socialist Party has increased voter backing while far-right Vox, which supported the U.S. and Israel, has experienced declining support.

Though Sanchez has praised the Pakistani-mediated ceasefire, he also stated Spain would “not applaud those who set the world on fire just because they turn up with a bucket,” referencing the U.S. administration.

Albares announced Thursday morning that Spain would reopen its Tehran embassy in pursuit of regional peace.

However, his Israeli counterpart, Gideon Sa’ar, denounced the decision as “an eternal disgrace,” claiming Spain was collaborating with what he described as Iran’s terror regime.

The criminal corruption case against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will move forward again this Sunday, according to a court spokesperson who made the announcement Thursday. The resumption comes just hours after Israel ended its emergency declaration that was put in place during hostilities with Iran.

Tensions escalated when Iran launched ballistic missile and drone strikes against Israel following joint Israeli and U.S. airstrikes on Iranian targets on February 28. The allied forces cited goals of limiting Iran’s regional influence, halting its nuclear program, and supporting regime change efforts.

Israel’s emergency status, which shuttered educational institutions and businesses, was removed Wednesday night after no incoming Iranian projectiles were detected since 3 a.m. local time following a ceasefire agreement. However, Israel’s extensive military operations in Lebanon targeting Iran-supported Hezbollah forces have put the fragile truce at risk.

“With the lifting of the state of emergency and the return of the judicial system to work, hearings will resume as usual,” court officials announced, noting that sessions will occur from Sunday through Wednesday each week.

Netanyahu holds the distinction of being Israel’s first serving prime minister to face criminal charges. He maintains his innocence against accusations of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust filed in 2019 following extensive investigations. The trial started in 2020 and carries potential prison sentences, though it has faced numerous postponements due to Netanyahu’s governmental responsibilities, with no conclusion timeline established.

Former President Trump has supported Netanyahu’s appeals to Israeli President Isaac Herzog for a presidential pardon, arguing that mandatory court appearances interfere with his ability to perform his duties effectively.

Herzog’s administration stated that the justice ministry’s pardons office will collect input to present to the president’s legal counsel, who will develop a recommendation following established procedures. Presidential pardons typically are not granted while trials are ongoing.

The criminal allegations against Netanyahu, combined with Hamas’s October 2023 attacks on Israel, have weakened his political position. Israel faces elections in October where Netanyahu’s coalition government, considered the most conservative in the nation’s history, appears likely to face defeat.

EQUIHEN BEACH, France — Tragedy struck the northern French coastline Thursday as four migrants—two men and two women—lost their lives while attempting to board an inflatable vessel for the dangerous journey across the English Channel to Britain.

Regional prefect François-Xavier Lauch of the Pas-de-Calais area confirmed that rescue teams pulled 38 survivors from the waters, with one person requiring emergency medical treatment. Lauch provided the update while search and rescue efforts were still underway at Equihen Beach Thursday morning.

According to Lauch, the victims were swept away by treacherous ocean currents while trying to board what officials call a “taxi-boat”—small motorized inflatable vessels that smugglers use to collect passengers along France’s northern coastline.

The deadly incident occurred on a vast sandy shoreline bordered by sand dunes and woodland where migrants often hide for days, waiting for boats and favorable weather conditions. Despite police patrols on beach buggies and surveillance from old World War II bunker positions, authorities cannot monitor every departure along the extensive coastline.

Recent days have seen a dramatic increase in crossing attempts and fatalities. French maritime officials reported Wednesday that 102 individuals were saved in two separate rescue missions while attempting channel crossings. Just last week, two people perished in a comparable incident off the coast near Calais.

The “taxi boat” method differs from traditional crossings where migrants carry their own inflatable boats into the water. Instead, these vessels depart nearly empty from hidden coastal locations and collect passengers at predetermined beach meeting points.

An Associated Press journalist witnessed such operations Wednesday at Malo-les-Bains, close to Dunkirk.

Migrants enter the ocean waters, with adults carrying children in their arms or on their backs, then climb aboard the waiting inflatable boats positioned offshore. After loading passengers, the vessels begin their cross-channel voyage, sometimes collecting additional people during the journey.

Weather conditions, tidal patterns, and police presence often force migrants to wade deep into the water—sometimes up to their chests—to reach the boats, significantly increasing dangers of losing balance, getting caught in currents, or venturing too far from shore.

Migrant advocacy organizations have repeatedly cautioned that intensified French police efforts to stop boat departures from beaches, including using knives to slash and destroy inflatable boats, are pushing smugglers toward “taxi boat” operations that create greater drowning risks, injuries, and rescue situations.

LONDON (AP) — Forces from Britain and Norway conducted an extended surveillance mission targeting Russian submarines believed to be engaged in suspicious activities near critical undersea infrastructure in the North Atlantic, according to Thursday announcements from U.K. military officials.

British Defense Secretary John Healey revealed that naval vessels, aircraft, and hundreds of military personnel tracked one Russian attack submarine and two intelligence-gathering submarines operating close to underwater cables and pipelines located north of British territory. The Russian fleet ultimately departed the area following the surveillance effort that extended beyond four weeks.

“We see your activity over our cables and our pipelines and you should know that any attempt to damage them will not be tolerated and will have serious consequences,” Healey stated as his warning to Russian forces.

Norwegian defense ministry, foreign ministry, and military representatives had not yet provided responses to media inquiries about the operation.

U.K. leaders have worked to maintain focus on Russian activities despite global attention shifting toward Middle Eastern conflicts. Officials have highlighted connections between various international disputes, noting that Russia has provided drone components and additional support to Iran.

During a press briefing, Healey emphasized that “Putin would want us to be distracted by the Middle East,” while asserting that Russia remains the primary security challenge facing Britain and allied nations.

“We will not take our eyes off Putin,” he declared.

Earlier this year in March, British authorities announced readiness to intercept vessels believed to operate within Russia’s unofficial fleet of ships transporting oil in defiance of international penalties imposed due to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. This marked an escalation from Britain’s previous role of simply assisting French and American forces in monitoring suspicious vessels.

“We are ready to take action” against these ships, Healey confirmed.

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines launched a significant coast guard facility Thursday on a South China Sea island, establishing what officials called a “steadfast sentinel of our sovereignty” in waters contested by China.

Beijing has not yet responded to the Philippines’ establishment of its coast guard district headquarters on Thitu Island, an area controlled by Filipino military and residents for many years but also claimed by Chinese authorities.

Vessels from China’s coast guard and affiliated agencies regularly monitor the waters surrounding the island, which Vietnam and Taiwan also claim. Previous encounters between Chinese and Filipino forces in nearby waters have been tense but relatively minor.

Beijing asserts control over nearly the entire waterway, a crucial shipping corridor, despite a 2016 international arbitration decision that rejected its broad territorial claims under the 1982 U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea. China refused to participate in the arbitration process, dismissed the ruling, and continues to ignore it.

Philippine Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez, Senator Erwin Tulfo, and coast guard leader Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan traveled to Thitu for the dedication ceremony, timed to align with the nation’s Day of Valor observance.

“This is a permanent step for us to show that our coast guard is ready to defend our interest in the waters, our fishermen, their livelihood and, most importantly, our sovereignty,” Lopez stated.

A plaque inside the new coast guard facility described it as “established as the vanguard and steadfast sentinel of our sovereignty, sovereign rights and maritime jurisdiction.”

The new command will operate under a commodore with supporting staff, patrol vessels, and aircraft for law enforcement, surveillance, environmental protection, and rescue operations. Additional smaller coast guard stations will be constructed on other Philippine-controlled formations, according to officials.

The teardrop-shaped Thitu Island, encircled by white sand beaches, is known as Pag-asa — meaning hope in Tagalog — by approximately 400 Filipino residents. It represents one of nine islands, islets, and atolls under Philippine control since the 1970s.

Over ten years ago, China began converting seven contested reefs into military installations in the Spratly Islands. These included Subi Reef, now a major base featuring a military runway located roughly 24 kilometers (15 miles) southeast of Thitu.

“Everyday, our villagers see Chinese coast guard and militia ships all around the island,” stated MP Albayda, who serves as the island municipality’s vice mayor. “This new coast guard district command is a big morale booster for them.”

The Philippines considers the area its most distant offshore community, part of its western Palawan province. Decades ago, it incentivized fishing families to move there with benefits like free rice to strengthen its territorial claims.

The 37-hectare (91-acre) island now features internet and cellular service, improved electricity and water systems, a newly paved airstrip, a dock, elementary school, gymnasium, and storm shelter. Despite these improvements, Thitu remains a modest frontier community compared to China’s developed Subi installation.

LONDON – British Defense Minister John Healey disclosed Thursday that the United Kingdom sent military personnel to monitor and discourage Russian submarine activity near critical underwater infrastructure during a month-long presence in UK territorial waters earlier this year.

According to Healey, British forces worked alongside allies, including Norway, to observe and prevent harmful actions by the Russian naval vessels. The defense minister stated he was publicly revealing the military operation to ensure Russian President Vladimir Putin understood their submarines had been discovered.

The defense minister confirmed the Russian submarines have since departed British waters, moving northward, with no evidence of harm to underwater infrastructure systems.

“To President Putin, I say ‘We see you. We see your activity over our cables and our pipelines, and you should know that any attempt to damage them will not be tolerated and will have serious consequences’,” Healey declared.

“Our armed forces left them in no doubt that they were being monitored, that their movements were not covert, as President Putin planned, and that their attempted secret operation had been exposed,” he added.

The British defense minister identified the Russian naval operation as involving one Akula class attack submarine along with two specialized vessels operated by Moscow’s Main Directorate for Deep Sea Research (GUGI).

Russia’s Supreme Court on Thursday officially classified the internationally recognized human rights organization Memorial as an extremist group during a private court session, according to reports from the state-run news agency TASS.

This classification represents another step in Russia’s extensive campaign to silence opposition voices and restrict civil liberties that has been ongoing for several years. The court’s decision creates a legal framework that allows Russian officials to pursue criminal charges against individuals who provide support to the Nobel Peace Prize-winning organization or distribute its publications.

Before the court’s decision was made public, Memorial expressed certainty about the anticipated outcome of the proceedings.

“The case against Memorial is yet another attempt to intimidate all dissent in the country and force civil society into silence,” the organization stated in an official release.

MOSCOW, April 9 – Ukraine received the remains of 1,000 of its fallen soldiers from Russia in a prisoner exchange that saw 41 Russian bodies returned in the opposite direction, according to Russian parliament member Shamsail Saraliyev as reported by RBC news.

Such transfers of deceased military personnel between the warring nations have taken place on multiple occasions throughout the ongoing conflict.

Viktor Orban’s decade-and-a-half stronghold on Hungarian politics faces its most serious threat this Sunday, as polling data suggests the longtime leader could be ousted in what many consider a pivotal moment for Hungary’s position within Europe.

The current prime minister, who has maintained power since 2010 and holds the distinction of being the EU’s most tenured leader, has constructed what he terms an “illiberal democracy” by restricting press freedoms and limiting democratic institutions. His approach has garnered support from far-right European factions and former President Trump’s political movement.

Yet three years of economic decline, rising inflation, and allegations that government-connected business figures have enriched themselves have sparked widespread voter frustration. Additional controversy has emerged from media accounts suggesting the administration has worked closely with Russian officials.

Peter Magyar, a former insider within Orban’s circle, has effectively channeled public dissatisfaction through his center-right Tisza party, which currently holds commanding leads in most surveys.

Political experts warn that several factors create electoral uncertainty, including uncommitted voters, redistricted boundaries that benefit Orban’s Fidesz party, and substantial overseas Hungarian populations who typically support the incumbent government. They note outcomes could range from a Tisza supermajority capable of constitutional amendments to continued Fidesz control.

The election carries enormous implications for Hungary’s 9.6 million citizens and the broader European continent.

“This is one of the most momentous elections in Europe and for Europe in many years,” said Gregoire Roos, director of the Europe, Russia and Eurasia Programmes at Chatham House.

“In Moscow, Hungary has been seen as a precious trouble-making interlocutor within the EU — maintaining energy ties… and adopting, by far, the toughest tone vis-a-vis Ukraine than any other EU country. In the United States, Hungary has drawn attention as a laboratory of sovereigntist politics.”

The Trump administration demonstrated its backing for Orban through a visit this week by Vice President JD Vance, who criticized what he termed “disgraceful” EU meddling in the electoral process. A European Commission representative responded that voting decisions belong “the sole choice of the citizens.”

Russian officials quickly echoed similar sentiments. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated Wednesday that “many forces in Europe, many forces in Brussels, would not like Orban to win the elections again.”

Hungary has opposed EU sanctions against Moscow and continues depending heavily on Russian energy supplies. The 62-year-old Orban recently prevented an EU loan package to Ukraine that was approved in December, citing disagreements with Kyiv over a war-damaged petroleum pipeline, marking another clash with Brussels leadership.

Magyar, age 45, has committed to fighting government corruption, securing billions in withheld EU funding, implementing wealth taxes, and overhauling Hungary’s deteriorating medical system.

Speaking with Reuters, he characterized the election as determining whether Hungary will solidify its European identity and economic recovery, or continue moving toward authoritarianism.

“Just a few days and we will see a change of regime,” Magyar declared at a Wednesday campaign event in Baja, vowing to heal political rifts among Hungarians.

“This is a very last chance… to prevent our country being a Russian puppet state… Let’s not allow Fidesz… to lead Hungary out of the EU.”

Orban maintains he seeks EU reform from within rather than departure from the alliance. He has characterized this contest as a fundamental decision between “war or peace,” claiming his political rivals would involve Hungary in the ongoing Ukrainian conflict. Tisza representatives reject this characterization.

“This election is about Hungary’s future. The choice is clear: dependence and decline — or sovereignty, strength, and peace,” Orban stated Tuesday.

The far-right Our Homeland party aims to secure sufficient votes to become a potential “kingmaker,” which might enable Orban to retain power through coalition arrangements.

Should Tisza prevail, reversing the legal and structural modifications Orban enacted with constitutional authority would present significant challenges for any new administration operating with only a simple majority in the 199-member parliament, according to Mario Bikarski, Senior Europe Analyst at Verisk Maplecroft.

This scenario could create “an environment of persistent legislative blockade and policy uncertainty,” he explained.

Financial markets, however, are concentrating on potential benefits from a Tisza victory.

“An end to the Orban regime would provide a major boost to the Hungarian economy,” noted Berenberg chief economist Holger Schmieding.

“It would remove a key obstacle to closer European cooperation… and pave the way for tougher sanctions against Russia.”

While driving home from work Tuesday evening with her two young children, Zainab Haider found herself consumed with worry about President Donald Trump’s deadline for Iran to accept American demands. The question weighing on her mind was whether her family members still living in Iran would survive or face destruction.

Haider experienced a flood of intense feelings – from worry and terror to isolation – as she watched others continue their daily routines despite the potential catastrophe looming. In the end, Trump chose not to follow through on his warning that “a whole civilization will die tonight,” instead reaching a two-week ceasefire agreement in the conflict.

This represented yet another jarring shift for Haider and the hundreds of thousands of Iranian residents in America who find themselves in a perpetual state of worry about Iran’s destiny and the wellbeing of loved ones who remain in their homeland.

Many find that the recent heated rhetoric surrounding the conflict has dominated their thinking, making it difficult to complete work tasks or concentrate on other matters. While some are demonstrating against the war, others keep their views about their native country private, nervously observing developments and wondering about what lies ahead.

On Wednesday, Haider joined protesters in Austin, Texas, demanding an end to the conflict. Similar demonstrations took place in New York, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles and additional cities.

Beyond voicing opposition to the war, Haider believes that organizing will generate “the kind of pressure that makes it harder for Trump to swing back to this aggressive posturing.”

“It’s a huge country,” she said of Iran. “Trump is not going to ever be able to defeat it or wipe it out, but it is possible to do damage. It is possible to do something that affects millions of people, millions of lives.”

Haider, who works as a municipal planner and organizes with the Austin for Palestine Coalition, described Trump’s ultimatum as terrifying.

She opposes regime change, believing this should be decided by Iranian citizens rather than the United States. Despite arriving in America from Pakistan with her parents during childhood, she felt compelled to speak out. She still recalls the local bakeries and juice stands she would visit with her mother and their neighbors.

Iranian-American Sheila Amir explained that Trump’s social media messages caused her alarm on several fronts.

Her primary worry centered on her Iranian family members. She has been unable to verify their safety over the past week due to an internet shutdown affecting the entire country.

However, the North Carolina writer also expressed concern that war escalation could endanger her American relatives serving in the military. Their obligation, she noted, is to “serve and protect the United States of America,” not to harm Iranian people.

Even individuals who support American actions targeting the Iranian government directly are having difficulty accepting the recent threats against civilians.

Roya Rastegar has engaged in numerous challenging family discussions about the conflict in recent weeks. Both Rastegar and her spouse are Iranian-American. Rastegar revealed that Iranian government forces have killed family members over the decades since the Islamic Republic gained control, while most of her wife’s relatives continue living in the country.

Rastegar, who works as a filmmaker and co-established a pro-democracy organization called the Iranian Diaspora Collective, said the constant policy reversals have complicated explaining the situation to their children.

“It’s very hard to hold on to the idea that we do not know what’s going to happen,” she said.

According to Rastegar, the war has created an impossible ethical dilemma. She worries deeply that increased attacks on Iran could inflict greater harm on civilians. However, she also thinks that reducing war tensions without eliminating the Islamic Republic will create the biggest danger for Iranians living in the country, who would continue experiencing brutal and fatal oppression.

“It’s really nauseating to just think about my people as being stuck between a regime that’s still killing them and an administration — the U.S. — that is issuing these kinds of threats,” Rastegar said.

United Nations officials announced Thursday that more than one million Sudanese refugees could lose critical humanitarian assistance including food and water supplies due to a massive funding shortage exceeding $400 million.

Chad currently hosts approximately 1.3 million Sudanese refugees, with the majority having fled their homeland following the outbreak of fighting between Sudan’s military forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in April 2023. Many of these displaced individuals escaped mass violence and severe food shortages in the Darfur region.

According to a joint announcement from the World Food Programme and the UN refugee agency, both organizations lack sufficient resources to assist all refugees and anticipate additional service reductions in upcoming months without securing the necessary $428 million in funding.

“With less than half the resources we require, we cannot deliver sufficient food to the people who need it most,” stated Sarah Gordon-Gibson, WFP Chad Country Director. “This will force them into devastating coping strategies and put lives at risk.”

While the UN statement did not identify specific donors reducing contributions, the refugee agency has previously indicated that decreased American foreign aid represents a significant factor in current funding gaps. However, both Sudan and Chad remain among 17 nations scheduled to receive $2 billion in US assistance by 2026.

Additional Western donor countries have similarly reduced foreign aid allocations as they redirect resources toward defense spending.

Current conditions reveal the severity of the crisis, with UNHCR able to provide assistance to only 40% of Chad’s refugee population, leaving many without adequate housing while educational facilities struggle with more than 100 students per instructor. In Chad’s northeastern Ennedi Est province, refugees receive less than half the recommended daily water minimum.

The Norwegian Refugee Council highlighted extreme hunger conditions in Chad, referencing survey data indicating that 70% of refugee families reduced their meal frequency during the previous month.

The State Department has broadened its travel advisory for Nigeria and granted permission for non-essential U.S. embassy workers and their family members to depart from Abuja, the nation’s capital, as security conditions continue to deteriorate throughout the West African country.

Travel warnings issued by the United States frequently influence how investors, international organizations, and airline companies evaluate risks in various countries. The decision to permit embassy staff departures reflects escalating worries in Washington as kidnappings, criminal activity, and assaults on law enforcement continue, especially in Nigeria’s northern regions.

In a Wednesday evening update to its travel guidance, the State Department maintained Nigeria’s Level 3 status, which advises Americans to reconsider travel plans. However, officials added five more states to the ‘Do Not Travel’ designation: Plateau, Jigawa, Kwara, Niger, and Taraba. This expansion means 23 of Nigeria’s 36 states now carry the highest travel warning level.

American officials emphasized dangers from Islamic extremist groups operating in northeastern regions, criminal organizations in the northwest, and continued violence affecting parts of southern and southeastern Nigeria, including areas where oil production occurs.

Washington issued a warning last month about a potential terrorist threat targeting American facilities and associated educational institutions within Nigeria.

The United States conducts reviews of its travel advisories multiple times annually and has maintained Nigeria at either Level 3 or Level 4 status for most of the previous ten years due to ongoing security challenges.

American military forces currently operate several MQ-9 unmanned aircraft in Nigeria along with approximately 200 personnel who provide training and intelligence assistance to Nigerian forces combating Islamic militant groups across northern territories.

MOSCOW – Russian officials justified their country’s naval operations on Thursday following reports that a military vessel accompanied sanctioned oil tankers near British waters, with Moscow characterizing Western actions as maritime piracy.

According to Britain’s Telegraph newspaper, the Russian naval vessel Admiral Grigorovich provided escort services for two oil tankers under UK sanctions – the Russian-registered Universal and the Cameroon-registered Enigma – as they traveled through the English Channel.

When questioned about these reports, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov defended Russia’s actions, claiming Moscow has witnessed numerous instances of what he termed piracy on the high seas and would take steps to safeguard Russian maritime operations.

“Over the past few months, we have witnessed repeated incidents of piracy in international waters. These incidents of piracy have, among other things, harmed the economic interests of the Russian Federation,” Peskov stated during a press briefing.

“The Russian Federation considers itself entitled to, and will certainly take, measures to protect its interests.”

The tensions stem from recent British actions, as Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced last month that he had given military forces permission to intercept and seize Russian vessels operating in UK territorial waters. Starmer’s government claims these ships are part of a fleet helping Russia continue oil exports despite international sanctions imposed by Western nations.

President Trump has delivered a stark ultimatum to Iran, threatening to restart military operations if the nation rejects his proposed peace agreement conditions.

The President outlined specific demands for any potential peace settlement, stating that Iran must halt all nuclear enrichment activities and guarantee that the Strait of Hormuz waterway stays accessible to international shipping traffic.

These developments come as mixed signals emerge regarding the actual terms of the current ceasefire arrangement between the two nations.

The strategic Strait of Hormuz serves as a critical shipping lane for global oil transportation, making its status a key concern for international commerce and energy markets.

Trump’s latest statements add uncertainty to the fragile diplomatic situation as both sides navigate the complex negotiations surrounding a potential long-term peace framework.

DORDRECHT, Netherlands — Authorities in the Netherlands are conducting a social media outreach initiative to locate and provide assistance to teenage girls and young women across multiple countries, including the United States, who fell victim to an international online blackmail scheme involving explicit photographs.

The investigation began after receiving information from U.S. Homeland Security Investigations and has identified over 50 female victims between ages 13 and 20 spanning six nations: the United States, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Germany, Montenegro, and Canada.

The accused is 22-year-old Damian A., whose full name is withheld according to Dutch privacy laws. He was taken into custody in early 2023 and began facing trial Wednesday in Dordrecht. Court officials expect a decision within weeks, and both prosecution and defense attorneys confirm he has admitted guilt.

“We are very worried because what these girls have had to endure is so extreme and so intense, and we know that there are more girls but we don’t know who they are,” Rotterdam Police Sexual Crimes Team member Milou van der Kolk told The Associated Press. She explained that evidence recovered from the defendant’s electronic devices suggests additional unidentified victims exist.

Operating under the online identity “Turpien,” the suspect allegedly forced victims to inscribe “Owned by Turpien” on their bodies or display signs while performing progressively humiliating acts. Authorities also allege he distributed images of his victims to third parties.

Van der Kolk noted that the Dutch initiative also serves to inform victims that their alleged abuser is now incarcerated and unable to cause further harm.

“This case highlights the importance of strong international cooperation, such as between U.S. and Dutch authorities, which is essential for protecting children online and effectively investigating and prosecuting offenders across borders,” Homeland Security Investigations attache in The Hague Eben Roberts stated in an email to AP.

“HSI is committed to solidify these partnerships to bring these child predators to face justice,” Roberts added.

Roberts explained that the Netherlands campaign, which provides contact information and resources for victims seeking assistance, coordinates with a U.S. initiative called Know2Protect that addresses online child exploitation.

Prosecutors revealed in a statement that psychological evaluation of the defendant determined he suffers from “an autism spectrum disorder and a sexual sadism disorder.” They are requesting a nine-year prison sentence plus mandatory psychiatric treatment. Charges include online assault and online rape, extortion, and creating, possessing and distributing child pornography.

Law enforcement officials allege the abuse began when the suspect deceived victims into sharing explicit photographs by posing as a female peer. He subsequently threatened to distribute the images unless they provided additional material.

The situation illustrates an expanding digital danger facing young people.

“Sextortion is an increasingly significant societal problem,” prosecutors stated, highlighting that 2025 witnessed a 46% surge in online sex crimes compared to the prior year, totaling more than 3,000 incidents in the Netherlands.

Kenya’s government is challenging findings from a United Nations investigation that confirmed sexual abuse allegations against personnel in a UN-supported anti-gang operation in Haiti, which consists primarily of Kenyan police officers.

The UN released a report on February 16 stating that its Human Rights Office had confirmed four separate allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse from the previous year involving members of the international force.

Kenya’s Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi responded this week in correspondence to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, stating that Kenya’s own inquiry board had examined the accusations and determined them to be “found to be unsubstantiated.”

“Investigations conducted were impartial and shared with all relevant stakeholders, including U.N. human rights offices,” Mudavadi stated in his letter.

UN representatives in Kenya have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the dispute.

The international force, numbering approximately 1,000 personnel with Kenya providing the majority, began operations in June 2024 to fight gang organizations that have taken control of most of Haiti’s capital city.

This controversy echoes past problems with the previous UN peacekeeping mission called MINUSTAH, which operated in Haiti from 2004 through 2017. That mission faced numerous accusations of sexual abuse and exploitation, including cases involving children, though only a small number of peacekeepers faced prosecution in their home nations.

ROME, April 9 – Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni addressed parliament Thursday, calling on European Union leadership to contemplate temporarily halting budget deficit restrictions should conflicts involving the United States, Israel, and Iran intensify.

During her parliamentary address, Meloni also indicated her administration stands prepared to implement measures aimed at preventing energy price manipulation, potentially including additional windfall taxes targeting energy sector companies.

“We believe that discussing a possible temporary suspension of the Stability and Growth Pact should not be taboo. Not a waiver for individual Member States, but a general measure,” Meloni stated during her speech.

The Prime Minister’s statements arrive as Italy prepares to reduce its economic growth projections for 2026 and subsequent years later this month. These revised estimates will complicate Italy’s efforts to reduce its deficit below the European Union’s mandated 3% of GDP threshold within the current timeframe.

Between 2020 and 2023, European Union officials implemented what they termed a ‘general escape clause’ that suspended standard budget requirements, enabling member nations to address the COVID-19 pandemic’s economic impact, which resulted in widespread lockdowns, economic decline, and border closures across Europe.

However, this emergency provision can only be utilized during significant economic downturns affecting the eurozone or the entire European Union – conditions that major economic forecasters do not currently anticipate.

Italy maintains the option to invoke a national emergency clause that would permit deviation from EU-agreed budget targets during extraordinary circumstances beyond the country’s control. However, the government has dismissed this possibility while Rome remains subject to the excessive deficit procedure.

“Italy remains ready to take every possible measure to prevent potential speculative behaviour (on energy prices), including, if necessary, further action regarding the profits of energy companies,” Meloni added during her address.

Both Meloni and her predecessor Mario Draghi have previously implemented windfall taxes targeting the energy industry, resulting in legal challenges from affected corporations.

Two major terrorist organizations operating in West Africa have engaged in combat for the first time within Niger’s borders, representing a dangerous expansion of their ongoing conflict, according to security analysts.

The Islamic State in the Sahel Province (ISSP) and the al Qaeda-affiliated Jama’at Nusrat al‑Islam wal‑Muslimin (JNIM) have been battling each other since 2019, but their confrontations had previously been limited to Mali and Burkina Faso. Last week marked the first instance of their rivalry extending into Niger.

According to data from Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED), a organization that tracks global conflicts, these two groups have engaged in hundreds of battles over the past five years, leading to more than 2,100 fatalities.

In a Monday statement, ISSP claimed responsibility for attacking a JNIM stronghold in Niger’s western Tillaberi region on April 2. The group reported eliminating 35 enemy fighters and capturing weapons along with motorcycles, stating the assault was retaliation for a JNIM attack on a local village in the same area.

Human Rights Watch has previously documented ISSP’s involvement in deadly civilian attacks throughout the Tillaberi region. JNIM has not responded to the recent incident and remains unavailable for comment.

Heni Nsaibia, who serves as ACLED’s senior West Africa analyst, described ISSP’s claims as having “quite high credibility” due to the organization’s track record of providing photographic proof of eliminated rivals and captured equipment.

The expansion of inter-group violence demonstrates the minimal government authority present across much of the Sahel region, Nsaibia explained.

“This competition will likely continue to fuel recruitment, expansion, and violence, making the jihadist insurgency increasingly difficult to contain,” he said.

JNIM released its own video statement describing an April 5 operation in Nigeria’s Kebbi state, where the group claimed to have eliminated one rival fighter and captured another. The statement referred to their targets using the Arabic term “khawarij,” meaning separatists, which JNIM commonly applies to ISSP members but could indicate other groups as well.

Beverly Ochieng, a senior analyst with Control Risks consulting firm, noted that inadequate security coordination between Nigeria and Niger has created opportunities for JNIM to establish operational bases and strategic positions in southern Niger and northwestern Nigeria.

This expansion is “leading to clashes with the more well-established IS branches and affiliates,” she explained.

BUCHAREST, April 9 (Reuters) – Romania’s centrist leader Nicusor Dan selected seven new chief prosecutors and their deputies on Wednesday evening, moving forward with the appointments despite strong objections from advocacy groups and the nation’s highest judicial oversight authority. The decision has intensified worries about Romania’s weakening efforts to combat corruption.

Transparency International has consistently placed Romania among the European Union’s most corruption-plagued nations.

The European Union maintained special oversight of Romania’s judicial system following the country’s 2007 EU membership, but anti-corruption investigations have decelerated since this monitoring ended in 2023. Recent high-profile acquittals by the courts have heightened fears that the nation’s anti-corruption drive is losing steam.

Dan selected Cristina Chiriac for the role of prosecutor general, named Viorel Cerbu to head the DNA anti-corruption prosecution office, and chose Codrin Miron to lead DIICOT, the anti-organized crime prosecution unit, along with four deputy positions.

Chiriac’s selection as Prosecutor General drew the heaviest criticism, with advocacy organizations and investigative reporters alleging she concealed evidence regarding sexual abuse committed by a bishop who was subsequently found guilty. Chiriac has rejected these claims.

“The expectation I now have from the prosecuting units … is to speed up activity to meet Romanians’ expectations, because Romanians see corruption, both high-level and in their daily interaction with state authorities,” Dan stated to members of the press.

Romanian legal procedures require the president to select chief judges and prosecutors from candidates recommended by the justice minister, with review by the CSM judicial regulator, although CSM approval is not required by law.

Justice Minister Radu Marinescu, who belongs to the leftist Social Democrats – the dominant party in the coalition government – maintained his support for these candidates even after the CSM repeatedly declined to endorse them.

“The appointments … are a big mistake,” former justice minister Stelian Ion wrote on his Facebook page. “To so easily ignore CSM’s … negative opinion does not bode well.”

Dan has stood by his selections, explaining that he reached his conclusions following extensive conversations with prosecutors.

“(The appointments) are the right choice for the time we live in,” stated Dan, who secured his first five-year presidential term nearly a year ago. “If for some reason I am wrong, I will be penalised in four years.”

NAYPYITAW, Myanmar (AP) — Thursday marked the parliamentary confirmation of Myanmar’s new cabinet, which is overwhelmingly composed of ex-military generals and officials who served in the previous army-controlled administration under Min Aung Hlaing.

The cabinet formation comes after disputed elections held in December and January, yet shows minimal indication of a shift back to civilian control five years following the 2021 military coup that Hlaing orchestrated.

Friday’s ceremony will see Min Aung Hlaing take the presidential oath of office alongside two deputy presidents and the newly confirmed cabinet officials.

Aung Lin Dwe, the parliament’s speaker, announced that lawmakers unanimously endorsed all 30 ministerial appointments without any opposition.

The official roster reveals that 24 appointees are either active or retired military personnel, or legislators affiliated with the military-supported Union Solidarity and Development Party. Among these ministers, 18 previously held cabinet positions in the former military administration, while four additional appointees served as military and governmental officials during that same period.

Multiple cabinet members face international sanctions from foreign nations that have accused them of backing and participating in military rule or committing human rights violations.

Lawmakers additionally confirmed the reappointment of the constitutional tribunal’s chairman, the nation’s top prosecutor, and Supreme Court justices.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations joined other international entities in refusing to acknowledge Myanmar’s recent elections, citing the exclusion of most opposition factions and severe limitations on political dissent. Combat zones affected by Myanmar’s continuing civil conflict prevented voting in certain regions.

BEIJING, April 9 – Chinese foreign ministry officials expressed optimism that involved nations will “grasp this chance at peace and bring the region back to stability as soon as possible” following the announcement of a US-Iran ceasefire agreement that ended weeks of Middle Eastern conflict.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters during a daily briefing that China has kept open lines of communication with all involved parties and “actively sought to promote reconciliation and prevent further fighting.”

The two-week truce between the United States and Iran was announced Tuesday evening, bringing a temporary halt to hostilities that had disrupted international markets and created widespread geopolitical tensions.

Chinese officials urged the involved nations to take advantage of this peaceful moment to “resolve differences through dialogue and consultation and work towards to early restoration of peace and stability in the Gulf and the Middle East region,” according to Mao’s statement.

President Donald Trump announced plans to keep American military forces positioned in the Middle East until a permanent peace agreement with Iran can be established, while also issuing warnings about potential escalation should Iran violate ceasefire terms. Global oil markets continued to show volatility amid ongoing concerns about supply chains and potential restrictions affecting the Strait of Hormuz.

The Israeli Defense Forces announced Thursday that they successfully targeted and killed a high-ranking Hezbollah operative who was closely connected to the organization’s leadership.

According to Israeli military officials, Ali Yusuf Harshi was eliminated during an overnight operation in the Beirut region. Harshi held dual roles within the Iran-supported Lebanese militant organization, serving both as the personal secretary to Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem and as Qassem’s nephew.

“The IDF struck in the Beirut area and eliminated Ali Yusuf Harshi, the personal secretary and nephew of Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem,” military officials stated.

The operation represents another targeted action by Israeli forces against Hezbollah leadership figures in Lebanon.

CALAIS, France – A tragic incident in the English Channel has left four people dead after a vessel transporting migrants bound for Britain capsized on Thursday, according to French officials.

Authorities in Calais confirmed the deadly accident in an official statement, noting that the circumstances surrounding the incident continue to be evaluated. “A taxi-boat sinking occurred today. The situation is still being assessed and remains subject to change,” officials stated.

The term “taxi-boats” has become common terminology among authorities to describe a new trafficking method that has emerged over the past year. Criminal organizations now use motorized dinghies to travel along the coastlines of northern France and Belgium, collecting migrants at various points along the shoreline.

Migration data from the University of Oxford’s Migration Observatory reveals that approximately 2,200 people have successfully made the dangerous crossing through the Channel – one of the globe’s most congested shipping corridors – to reach Britain during the initial two months of 2026. The previous year saw roughly 41,500 individuals complete the treacherous journey.

SHANGHAI – Chinese broadcasting authorities announced Thursday they have successfully eliminated all misleading medical advertisements from national television networks by the end of March.

The National Radio and Television Administration launched a comprehensive crackdown last August targeting deceptive healthcare advertising practices, including inflated benefits and fraudulent promotional content, according to an official statement posted online.

Regulators indicated they plan to maintain ongoing oversight to prevent future violations.

FUJIYOSHIDA, Japan (AP) — It all began with one stunning photograph.

A breathtaking image showing Japan’s iconic snow-covered Mount Fuji rising behind a crimson pagoda and delicate cherry blossoms quickly spread across social media platforms, capturing the essence of Japanese spring.

Before long, visitors seeking their own version of this picture flooded the quiet mountain town. Problems quickly followed: endless traffic backups, scattered trash, rude tourists knocking on residents’ doors asking to use bathrooms, and visitors using front yards as restrooms.

The situation became so overwhelming that Fujiyoshida officials decided in February to call off this year’s cherry blossom celebration — an event originally created ten years ago to attract visitors.

Residents now describe the situation as “tourism pollution,” highlighting a growing challenge across Japan: While government leaders seek tourism revenue to help the struggling economy, local communities lack preparation for managing waves of international visitors.

“This area is primarily an ordinary residential neighborhood, where balancing (tourism) with the safety of people’s living environment has become difficult,” Masatoshi Hada, manager of the Fujiyoshida Economics and Environment Department, told The Associated Press. “We decided not to promote a festival that would invite more visitors.”

Despite canceling the festival, international tourists still flooded the area during early April when cherry blossoms peaked. Narrow roads leading to popular Arakurayama Sengen Park became packed with visitors waiting in line to capture the famous scenic views.

Daily foreign visitor numbers have topped 10,000 in recent years, which has “threatened residents’ daily lives,” according to a February city statement.

Similar overcrowding issues plague other Japanese destinations including Kyoto and Kamakura. Kyoto residents report tourists with oversized luggage jamming public buses.

This “tourism pollution” coincides with Japan welcoming growing numbers of foreign workers as the nation’s population shrinks and ages. These changes have sparked xenophobia, with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s nationalist administration proposing stricter foreign visitor regulations.

While promising to tackle overtourism problems, the government aims to increase current tourist numbers from 40 million to 60 million annual visitors by 2030.

Starting April 1, coinciding with cherry blossom season, Fujiyoshida deployed additional security personnel and banned tour buses and private vehicles from the scenic area, forcing visitors to walk to the park.

During a recent visit, security officer Hiroaki Nagayama directed pedestrians away from congested zones. He reminded tourists to dispose of cigarettes properly and assisted lost visitors.

“I’m struggling. I cannot communicate with them in Japanese. Some people buy food at stalls and leave litter behind,” Nagayama says. “I think what’s happening here is a typical example of overtourism.”

Sitting outside his home nearby, 93-year-old resident Hitoshi Mori describes having numerous visitors as “good but annoying.”

“It’s too crowded outside so I can only get groceries once a week and stock up on food,” he says.

Visitors appear thrilled with the magnificent scenery, despite numerous signs demanding better behavior. Many endure hours-long waits to reach prime viewing locations.

“It’s pretty (well) organized. When they let you come in, you have like five minutes to take as many pictures as you can, and it was amazing,” said Lisa Goerdert from Paris.

Melbourne, Australia visitor Vicky Tran, traveling with family and friends, explained they couldn’t reach the pagoda viewpoint with Mount Fuji and cherry blossoms due to crowds. Nevertheless, she appreciated the scenery and neighborhood atmosphere.

The tourist surge has created tensions between residents wanting tranquility and those launching businesses by converting yards into paid parking or opening new stores and food stands.

A nearby shopping district that previously featured numerous closed family businesses has experienced renewed activity after another viral social media image showed Mount Fuji towering over the street.

Crowds of tourists gather in the roadway photographing Mount Fuji, frequently blocking traffic while frustrated drivers honk their horns.

The visitor influx represents a dramatic shift “for people like us who are used to a quiet suburban lifestyle,” says Masami Nakamura, who operates a long-established school uniform store with her spouse. “I only hope the tourists respect our rules and manners.”

Even those benefiting from increased business find the crowds challenging.

“I once almost hit a tourist who jumped into the street without looking,” said Kyoko Funakubo, a 60-year-old employee at a local hotel and a part-time vendor selling Fuji-themed souvenirs. “This place used to be almost abandoned, with many shuttered shops. But now, with many stores reopened or new shops that have opened, I feel good seeing this area come alive again.”

BUDAPEST, Hungary — President Donald Trump’s military actions against Iran have created unexpected friction with European conservative leaders who were once considered strong allies of his America First movement.

While Vice President JD Vance made a high-profile campaign appearance this week supporting Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, such displays of solidarity have become increasingly rare among Europe’s right-wing political figures.

Several prominent conservative leaders across Europe have voiced opposition to Trump’s Iran strategy. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni blocked American forces from using a Sicilian air base for Iranian operations. Marine Le Pen, who leads France’s National Rally, characterized Trump’s military objectives as “erratic.” Meanwhile, Germany’s Alternative for Germany party leadership has demanded the withdrawal of U.S. military forces from German soil.

Despite a temporary ceasefire with Iran, Trump’s endorsement of Orbán might not benefit the Hungarian strongman, who confronts a challenging election this weekend. Orbán has long served as a model for global conservatives and American right-wing figures who admire his immigration restrictions and governmental restructuring that keeps his Fidesz party in control.

Charles Kupchan, who teaches international relations at Georgetown University and works as a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, believes Orbán’s historical relationship with Trump might shield him from some European anti-Trump sentiment, though this protection isn’t certain.

“Getting a blessing from Donald Trump is now a mixed blessing,” Kupchan stated.

The Iranian conflict backlash follows widespread European anger over Trump’s earlier threats against NATO member Denmark, demanding the country surrender Greenland to American control.

Trump connected both controversies on Wednesday, criticizing NATO’s lack of support during recent military operations.

“NATO WASN’T THERE WHEN WE NEEDED THEM, AND THEY WON’T BE THERE IF WE NEED THEM AGAIN,” Trump posted on social media. “REMEMBER GREENLAND, THAT BIG, POORLY RUN, PIECE OF ICE!!!”

Daniel Baer, who served as an ambassador and State Department official during Barack Obama’s presidency, believes this latest European tension demonstrates the limitations of Trump’s efforts to build a global nationalist movement.

“Building some sort of international coalition around national chauvinism is very difficult,” explained Baer, currently affiliated with the Carnegie Endowment for Peace. “It’s clear the majority of people in these countries, if not anti-American, have turned anti-Trump.”

Orbán has distinguished himself by refusing to join the growing European opposition to Trump.

During a recent interview with British conservative outlet GB News, Orbán suggested uncertainty about Trump’s Iran strategy, questioning “whether (Trump) has started a war or a peace.”

“It hasn’t (been) decided yet, historians will make a decision on that,” Orbán explained. “I think we need some time to understand whether we are moving to the peace by these strikes, or just the opposite. It’s too early to say.”

Orbán’s reluctance to criticize Trump extends beyond ideological alignment. The Hungarian leader has spent years convincing voters that his personal relationships with Trump and other world figures like Russian President Vladimir Putin make him uniquely qualified to advance Hungary’s global interests.

He has consistently highlighted Trump’s endorsements to his supporters and built his reelection campaign around promises that his Trump administration partnership guarantees national security and economic growth.

Orbán welcomed Vance’s visit enthusiastically this week. The vice president condemned European Union critics of Orbán for what he termed “foreign interference” in Hungarian elections while actively campaigning for the prime minister.

During a Wednesday appearance at a prestigious Hungarian university that receives significant government funding and operates under the prime minister’s political director, Vance addressed what he called a “fragile truce” in the Iran conflict.

Vance commended the institution for being “an institution that tries to build up the foundations of Western civilization.” The Trump administration has pursued similar influence over American elite universities, mirroring Orbán’s Hungarian educational policies.

Some experts question Orbán’s approach, pointing to declining American approval ratings even within Hungary.

“Vance’s visit could have the opposite effect on Orbán’s popularity than the one intended,” observed Mario Bikarsku, who analyzes European politics for risk intelligence firm Verisk Maplecroft.

Kupchan argues that most European far-right movements have developed independent political strength without American support and may lack motivation to support Trump’s policies.

“Trump’s effort to create a transnational movement of far-right populists may affect the margins, but the main reason you’re seeing Reform U.K. and AfD and National Rally and other far-right parties prosper has little to do with Trump and more to do with national factors,” he explained.

This reflects a worldwide trend against incumbent governments. While this has generally helped opposition far-right parties across Europe, it threatens Orbán’s position after 16 years in power.

“We’re living in an age,” Kupchan concluded, “where being an incumbent sucks.”

Russian security forces have taken into custody a former freelance correspondent for Radio Free Europe on Thursday, charging him with treason, according to state media reports from Moscow.

The Federal Security Service announced the arrest occurred in Chita, accusing the unidentified individual of betraying his country by working with Ukraine’s intelligence agency, the SBU. Ukrainian officials have not responded to the allegations.

According to the FSB’s statement reported by TASS, the detained journalist allegedly transmitted sensitive information to Ukrainian intelligence operatives using the encrypted Telegram messaging platform.

PARIS, April 9 – France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot declared Thursday that any ceasefire arrangement between Iran and the United States should encompass military operations in Lebanon, while also criticizing what he called “massive” Israeli military strikes from the day before.

Speaking during a radio interview with France Inter, Barrot outlined his expectations that Iran will need to make significant compromises during upcoming peace negotiations scheduled to begin in Pakistan.

“Iran must give up to have nuclear weapons and means to obtain them, must give up using its missiles and drones to threaten countries in the region and give up supporting groups like Hezbollah, Hamas and Houthis who destabilize the region,” Barrot stated during the broadcast.

The French diplomat also insisted that Iran must allow unrestricted passage through the Strait of Hormuz as part of any comprehensive agreement.

LONDON, April 9 – Britain’s Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper condemned Israeli military strikes against Lebanon on Thursday, describing the attacks as “deeply damaging” and warning they could threaten the stability of a ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran.

Speaking to Times Radio, Cooper emphasized the need to expand peace efforts to include Lebanon. “We want to see Lebanon included in the ceasefire,” Cooper stated. “We want it extended to cover Lebanon, because otherwise that will destabilise the whole region.”

Cooper specifically criticized Israeli actions from the previous day, saying “That escalation that we saw from Israel yesterday was deeply damaging, and we want to see an end to hostilities.”

The United Kingdom has come under intense scrutiny from President Donald Trump for what he sees as insufficient British support for America’s military campaign against Iran. Despite this pressure, Britain is collaborating with allied nations to help protect Gulf partners and explore options for reopening the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.

When questioned about tensions with the United States, Cooper indicated that Britain could maintain its strong relationship with Washington while pursuing its own regional strategy. However, she expressed concern about Trump’s aggressive language, particularly his threats against Iranian civilization.

“I think that the rhetoric that we’ve seen used has been completely wrong,” Cooper told Sky News. “That sort of escalatory rhetoric can have escalatory consequences.”

Intelligence researchers have identified Iranian-backed organizations utilizing artificial intelligence technology to produce sophisticated digital propaganda targeting American audiences and President Trump during recent military conflicts involving the United States and Israel.

Security experts believe these digital campaigns originate from Tehran-connected entities as part of Iran’s broader strategy to maximize impact despite limited conventional resources. This approach mirrors Iran’s tactics of threatening shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz to pressure global economic stability. While Wednesday’s ceasefire announcement offered hope for reduced tensions, numerous underlying conflicts remain unaddressed.

“This is a propaganda war for them,” said Neil Lavie-Driver, an artificial intelligence researcher at the University of Cambridge, speaking about Iran’s strategy. “Their goal is to sow enough discontent with the conflict as to eventually force the West to cave in, so it is massively important to them.”

Digital memes as warfare tools aren’t unprecedented, though AI-generated imagery represents a recent evolution. Similar artificial intelligence content flooded Ukrainian social media following Russia’s 2022 invasion. The term “AI slop” gained widespread usage last year describing the flood of imperfect digital images circulated online during Israel-Iran hostilities aimed at undermining the country’s nuclear capabilities.

Since the current conflict began February 28th with coordinated U.S.-Israel military actions, these digital campaigns have featured sophisticated animated content mocking American leadership.

The propaganda demonstrates fluency in both English language and American cultural references while mastering internet trolling techniques. Distributed across multiple social media platforms, these materials have generated millions of views, though their actual influence remains unclear.

Content has depicted President Trump as aged, disconnected, and globally isolated. References include speculation about bruising visible on Trump’s right hand that sparked health concerns, divisions within Trump’s MAGA coalition, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s contentious confirmation proceedings.

“They’re using popular culture against the No. 1 pop culture country, the United States,” explained Nancy Snow, a propaganda scholar who has authored over a dozen books on the subject.

Among the Iranian-linked content circulating online are animations mimicking “Lego” movie aesthetics. One features an Iranian military leader rapping, “You thought you ran the globe, sitting on your throne. Now we turning every base into a bed of stone,” while Trump falls into a target constructed from “Epstein files,” referencing government investigation records of the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The production quality and internet infrastructure required suggest government connections, according to Mahsa Alimardani, director of WITNESS, a human rights organization focused on AI video evidence.

“If you’re able to have the bandwidth needed to generate content like that and upload it, you are officially or unofficially cooperating with the regime,” she explained, noting Iran’s severe internet restrictions implemented during nationwide protest crackdowns earlier this year.

Iranian state media has republished several memes, including content from Akhbar Enfejari (meaning Explosive News), the account responsible for the “Lego”-style videos.

Akhbar Enfejari identifies as Iranians creating and distributing content from within Iran to challenge Western media dominance spanning decades.

“They’ve long dominated the media landscape and, through that power, imposed narratives on many nations,” the organization told The Associated Press via Telegram messaging. “But this time, something feels different. This time, we’ve disrupted the game. This time, we’re doing it better.”

Following the ceasefire announcement, Akhbar Enfejari posted: “IRAN WON! The way to crush imperialism has been shown to the world. Trump Surrendered.”

Beyond meme campaigns from pro-Iranian groups, official Iranian government social media accounts have also targeted the United States, including Wednesday’s post from Iran’s South African Embassy stating, “Say hello to the new world superpower,” accompanied by an Iranian flag image. Both nations claimed victory following ceasefire agreements.

Intelligence analysts attribute this sophisticated understanding of American politics and culture to Iran’s long-established propaganda infrastructure: decades of government programs designed to promote anti-American and anti-Israeli narratives.

“This meme war comes from institutions that are very aware what the American public is aware of and pop cultural references that can appeal to them,” Alimardani noted.

Experts indicate the United States and Israel aren’t conducting similar campaigns, and Iran’s internet restrictions would make reaching ordinary Iranian citizens extremely challenging.

Early in the conflict, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released an AI-generated video appearing to show him speaking Farsi, urging Iranians to overthrow their government. The White House maintains steady meme production, but targets American audiences using clips from domestic television shows and sporting events.

The government-operated Voice of America, which historically broadcast news to countries lacking free press traditions for decades, continues Farsi-language programming, though operating with minimal staff since Trump ordered its closure.

“This world order is really changing overnight and the U.S. is not going to end up necessarily as the state that everybody listens to,” Snow observed.

Citizens of the West African nation of Benin cast ballots Sunday in a presidential election as departing President Patrice Talon concludes his ten-year tenure, leaving behind a complex record of economic advancement alongside rising Islamic extremist threats and increased restrictions on political dissent.

Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni, 49, represents the ruling coalition and is viewed as Talon’s chosen heir. His sole challenger is opposition candidate Paul Hounkpè.

The opposition suffered a significant setback in January’s parliamentary elections, failing to reach the required 20% threshold for legislative seats. This left Talon’s two allied parties controlling all 109 National Assembly positions, strengthening their position ahead of Sunday’s presidential contest.

Opposition leader Renaud Agbodjo of The Democrats party was prevented from running after being unable to gather enough parliamentary endorsements—a requirement that critics argue was deliberately designed to exclude challengers.

With major opposition figures excluded from the race, Wadagni enjoys frontrunner status, largely due to his solid economic credentials and backing from influential leaders across traditionally competing factions, according to political analyst Fiacre Vidjingninou from the Lagos-based Béhanzin Institute.

“Ten years at the Finance Ministry have given him something rare in African politics: a quantified record — verifiable and difficult to dismantle in a serious debate,” Vidjingninou said.

The initial voting round takes place April 12. A candidate must capture at least 50% of votes for an outright win, otherwise the top two contenders will face each other in a May 10 runoff.

Close to 8 million citizens are registered to participate in the election.

Wadagni’s campaign emphasizes the nation’s economic achievements during his finance ministry leadership. The International Monetary Fund reports Benin’s economy expanded 7% in the previous year, positioning it among West Africa’s most consistent economic performers.

Throughout Talon’s presidency, the country maintained strong economic growth for almost ten years, fueled by agricultural production, commerce, and significant port development in the commercial center of Cotonou. This expansion transformed Benin into a crucial transportation hub for landlocked neighboring countries, while infrastructure development accelerated nationwide.

Despite these achievements, economic benefits have not been distributed evenly, with widespread poverty persisting in rural communities and the impoverished northern regions.

Although Benin has traditionally ranked among Africa’s most stable democratic nations, opposition politicians and human rights advocates have criticized Talon for weaponizing the judicial system against political rivals following his 2016 inauguration and subsequent electoral law modifications.

Constitutional changes approved in November lengthened presidential terms from five to seven years, created a partially presidentially-appointed senate, and imposed additional barriers preventing opposition parties from gaining parliamentary representation.

International human rights organizations Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have condemned Talon’s systematic suppression of dissent, documenting unlawful detentions, severe limitations on public gatherings, and increasing pressure on independent news organizations.

Recent years witnessed protests against increasing living costs, which government and security officials aggressively suppressed.

This past December, military officers launched an unsuccessful attempt to overthrow Talon’s administration, representing the most recent in a wave of military coup attempts across the African continent. These coups typically follow similar patterns involving contested elections, constitutional disruption, security breakdowns, and youth frustration.

The coup plotters specifically cited deteriorating security conditions in northern Benin as a primary grievance.

For several years, the country has experienced cross-border violence in its northern territory from conflicts in neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger, where governments battle the al-Qaeda-linked extremist organization Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, known as JNIM.

The three-nation border region has remained a center of extremist activity, a situation worsened by limited security coordination with Niger and Burkina Faso, both currently governed by military leadership.

Islamic militants killed 54 soldiers in an attack on military installations last year.

Vidjingninou observed that while the failed coup attempt has damaged the outgoing administration’s stability reputation, the unstable environment might actually benefit the ruling party’s candidate.

“In a context perceived as unstable, cautious voters tend to choose continuity and familiarity over the risk of the unknown,” he said.

Cotonou civil servant Roch Gbenou identified two primary concerns ahead of Sunday’s election: fair wealth distribution and restoration of democratic liberties, which “appear to have been substantially restricted” recently.

However, Gbenou expressed pessimism about the election, stating it “will ultimately only serve to legitimize a choice already made,” questioning the process’s credibility.

Retired police officer Mathias Salanon praised Talon’s performance and expressed hope that the incoming president would stabilize both economic and political conditions.

“In more than 50 years of my life I have not seen such a fierce will to develop the country as during President Patrice Talon’s 10 years,” he said.

For Cotonou resident Sofiath Akadiri, healthcare access, education, and employment opportunities represent the most critical campaign priorities.

“We also need social justice and the restoration of democratic norms,” she said.

Dozens of Russians gathered outside a government building in Moscow during a bright spring weekend, closely monitored by law enforcement as they submitted formal grievances about escalating digital restrictions.

Citizens were filing complaints regarding the government’s expanding internet controls, which have included regular cellular internet blackouts, blocked messaging applications, and restricted access to thousands of websites and online services.

The demonstration represented another indication of mounting frustration and anger over digital limitations that have disrupted Russian citizens’ everyday routines, damaged commercial operations, and attracted criticism from government allies.

Understanding that unsanctioned protests face severe punishment, advocacy groups have attempted to organize approved demonstrations, posted notices on public boards, and pursued legal action. Business executives have appealed to officials to reverse these policies.

Armenia’s leader even delivered an indirect criticism of Russia during a broadcast meeting with President Vladimir Putin on April 1. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan observed that in Armenia, “our social media, for example, is 100% free. There are no restrictions whatsoever.”

Putin responded with a stern expression and slightly elevated eyebrows as he stared at Pashinyan.

The restrictions serve not only to regulate Russians’ online access but have also created chaos in digital services, complicating ride-hailing, delivery orders, electronic payments, and personal communication.

Opposition politician and Kremlin opponent Boris Nadezhdin expressed the sentiment of many frustrated Russians during an Associated Press interview: “This infuriates a huge number of people.”

Russia has pursued complete governmental internet control for years, potentially isolating it from global networks by blocking countless websites, messaging platforms, and social media services that decline to comply with official demands.

Citizens have adapted to bypassing these limitations through virtual private networks, or VPNs, despite government efforts to block these tools as well.

However, restrictions intensified dramatically last year with comprehensive cellular internet shutdowns — and occasionally broadband interruptions — leaving only select websites and applications on government-approved “white lists.”

Authorities justified these extreme actions as necessary to prevent Ukrainian drones from using Russian cellular networks for navigation during Kyiv’s counterattacks in Moscow’s 4-year-old full-scale invasion.

Yet the shutdowns affected distant regions never targeted by Ukrainian drones, with residents and businesses condemning the measures as harmful.

The Kremlin has targeted the nation’s two leading messaging applications — WhatsApp and Telegram — while promoting a government-supported “national” application called MAX, widely regarded as a monitoring device.

Initially, voice and video communications on WhatsApp and Telegram were restricted. Subsequently, text messaging became virtually impossible without VPN access.

Last week, Digital and Communications Minister Maksut Shadayev announced his ministry received instructions to further reduce VPN usage. Unverified media reports indicated his ministry suggested numerous additional anti-VPN measures. The ministry did not respond to AP’s comment request.

Attorney Sarkis Darbinyan, co-founder of the RKS Global digital rights organization, explained to AP that authorities aim to force internet users into a “digital ghetto” of Russian, government-monitored applications and platforms.

“The internet is no longer this universal digital good,” he stated.

Recently, increasing numbers of Russian business leaders have expressed concerns about comprehensive restrictions and encouraged authorities toward more moderate policies.

Alexander Shokhin, president of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, informed Putin at a recent organizational forum that cellular internet shutdowns “made life difficult for both businesses and citizens.”

“Given the high level of mobile technology penetration in our lives, we hope that a systemic, balanced solution will be found,” stated Shokhin, a former 1990s government minister and United Russia party member since the 2000s.

Putin appeared onstage with Shokhin and spoke directly after him but avoided addressing the concern.

Similar appeals came from executives of two of Russia’s four cellular providers during a telecommunications conference last week. Beeline’s Sergei Anokhin and Megafon’s Khachatur Pombukhchan suggested that instead of cellular internet shutdowns, operators could identify suspicious users and restrict them individually, according to Russian news agency Interfax.

“This would make life significantly easier for people, for clients,” Pombukhchan stated.

Notable IT entrepreneur Natalya Kasperskaya criticized Roskomnadzor, attributing a recent banking and service outage to its intensified VPN blocking efforts.

“There’s no technical way to block VPNs without disrupting the entire internet,” she posted on Telegram. “So, comrades, take screenshots of interesting websites, withdraw as much cash as possible, and get ready to listen to radio reports about foreign enemies who have blocked our once-beloved RuNet,” — referencing the Russian internet.

Roskomnadzor denied responsibility, and Kasperskaya later issued an apology in another post, but she advocated for communication between authorities and the IT industry, emphasizing that “technical decisions sometimes cause downright shock and a desire to at least get an explanation.”

Activists from Moscow to Far East Vladivostok have attempted organizing anti-internet restriction rallies since late February.

Recognizing that unauthorized protests face harsh suppression and government opponents routinely face imprisonment, they proceeded carefully and requested authorization for gatherings according to strict demonstration regulations. Most applications were denied, and some activists faced arrest on various accusations.

However, citizens managed small demonstrations in several cities. Elsewhere, activists posted flyers and banners on walls and public boards condemning the restrictions.

Opposition politician Nadezhdin, his supporters, and other activist organizations have requested permission for rallies in dozens of cities on April 12, when Russia celebrates Cosmonautics Day, commemorating Yuri Gagarin’s 1961 flight as the first human in space.

“We’re filing for authorization (and saying) we’re marking Cosmonautics Day,” Nadezhdin says with a knowing smile. “Our slogans will be (about the fact that) cosmonautics is impossible without science, technology and progress, and progress, science and technology development is impossible without connectivity, without communication, without the internet.”

Nadezhdin says he remains committed to increasing pressure on authorities despite the crackdown. Public frustration over restrictions is “enormous,” and citizens are prepared to participate in authorized and secure protests, he added.

Moscow-based opposition politician Yulia Galyamina shared his perspective in a video recorded last weekend near the presidential administration, where she and others submitted formal complaints, describing the discontent as “truly widespread.”

“The more there is public outcry over the blocking of the internet, Telegram in particular, and depriving us of the possibility to communicate with each other, interact, express our political position, the bigger the effect will be,” she stated.

LIMA, Peru — Peru’s voters head to the polls Sunday facing an unprecedented choice among 35 presidential candidates, including a former government official, an entertainer, and the daughter of a deceased former president, as the South American nation seeks its ninth leader in just one decade.

The historic election unfolds against a backdrop of escalating violent crime and corruption scandals that have left citizens deeply frustrated with their political system. Voters express little confidence in the candidates’ honesty or readiness to lead the country. The crime crisis has prompted many hopefuls to offer dramatic solutions, from constructing massive prison facilities to limiting inmates’ meals and bringing back capital punishment for severe offenses.

Construction worker Juan Gómez, 53, expressed the despair many feel while carrying groceries to feed his family of five children. “You can’t trust anyone anymore, nothing’s going to change,” he said. “(Criminals) come on motorcycles, put a gun to your head… you look around and there’s no police officer. What are you going to do? You just let them rob you.”

Over 27 million Peruvians between ages 18 and 70 are required to participate in the mandatory voting process, with approximately 1.2 million expected to vote from overseas, primarily from the United States and Argentina.

Given the fractured political landscape and enormous candidate field, no contender is expected to secure the necessary 50% majority for an outright victory, making a June runoff election almost certain.

The crime epidemic dominates public concerns and has sparked regular demonstrations across the country. Government statistics show homicides have doubled while extortion incidents have multiplied by five during the current decade.

Retiree Raúl Zevallos, 63, described the daily fear residents experience. “You get on the bus, and you have to sit far from the driver; you don’t know if you’ll make it home alive,” he explained. “Criminals drive by on motorcycles, shoot, kill the driver, and you could die, too.”

The violence claimed the lives of more than 200 public transportation operators in Peru during 2025. A government survey conducted by the National Institute of Statistics and Informatics revealed that 84% of urban residents fear becoming crime victims within the next year.

Among the 35 contenders is conservative politician Keiko Fujimori, a former legislative member and daughter of the late President Alberto Fujimori, making her fourth bid for the presidency.

Fujimori campaigns on tough anti-crime measures while simultaneously supporting legislation that legal experts argue hampers criminal prosecutions. Her political party has backed laws in recent years that eliminated pre-trial detention in specific situations and increased requirements for confiscating criminal proceeds.

Her proposed reforms include anonymous judges for criminal proceedings and requiring prisoners to work for their meals if she wins the presidency.

Another major candidate is Rafael López Aliaga, a conservative politician who previously served as Lima’s mayor. His platform includes establishing correctional facilities in Peru’s Amazon territory, permitting judges to hide their identities, and deporting foreign nationals residing illegally in the country.

Comedian-turned-politician Carlos Álvarez seeks voter support by pledging to bring together leaders from El Salvador, Denmark, and Singapore to share their security expertise with Peru.

This election also marks Peru’s return to a two-chamber legislative system for the first time in over three decades, following recent constitutional changes that will place significant authority in the new upper house. Unlike previous arrangements, the president cannot dissolve the Senate, though senators will possess the power to remove presidents from office.

The new bicameral structure actually makes presidential impeachment simpler, requiring only 40 of 60 senators for approval. The previous single-chamber system needed 87 of 130 lawmakers to vote for removal, a power they used repeatedly and contributed to the country’s presidential instability over the past ten years.

This legislative change proceeds despite 80% of voters rejecting the bicameral system in a 2018 public referendum. Lawmakers modified the Constitution in 2024 to enable the transition.

Alejandro Boyco, who studies politics at the Institute of Peruvian Studies, explained that senators will select and oversee senior government officials, including the national Ombudsman, Constitutional Court justices, and certain Central Bank leadership positions. The upper chamber will also examine and modify legislation from the lower house.

“They’ve concentrated too much power in a 60-people chamber,” Boyco observed. “They are not going to be immune to being corrupt.”

A diplomatic team from Iran is set to arrive in Pakistan’s capital city Thursday evening for discussions aimed at resolving ongoing tensions with the United States and Israel, according to Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan.

Ambassador Reza Amiri Moghadam announced the planned diplomatic mission in a social media post Thursday, stating the delegation would engage in substantive discussions.

“Despite skepticism of Iranian public opinion due to repeated ceasefire violations by Israeli regime … Iranian delegation arrives tonight in Islamabad for serious talks based on 10 points proposed by Iran,” Moghadam wrote on the social media platform X.

The diplomatic initiative comes as regional tensions continue to escalate in the Middle East, with Iran seeking to address conflicts through negotiations in Pakistan’s capital.

NEW DELHI (AP) — Polling commenced Thursday across India’s Assam and Kerala states, along with the federal territory of Puducherry, marking the beginning of crucial regional elections that will gauge Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s political influence beyond his party’s traditional base.

These contests feature Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party and its regional partners competing against various opposition groups. Currently, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance controls Assam and Puducherry, while opposition forces govern Kerala.

Voting will extend to two additional opposition-controlled regions, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, before the month concludes. Official results across all five areas are scheduled for release on May 4.

The electoral process unfolds as citizens grapple with escalating fuel prices and reduced availability of cooking gas stemming from ongoing Middle Eastern conflicts.

These results may reveal whether Modi’s political organization can expand its influence by penetrating territories where opposition parties have historically held sway. Strong performance would strengthen his federal administration, particularly after the 2024 national elections required his party to depend on regional partnerships for government formation.

For opposition movements nationwide, these elections represent a vital opportunity to establish sustained resistance against BJP control.

In Assam, located in India’s northeast region, the BJP campaigns for re-election by promoting strict immigration policies, addressing a divisive topic in this state that shares borders with Bangladesh. The ruling party’s messaging centers on preventing illegal entry by Bengali-speaking Muslim populations.

Kerala state in southern India offers distinct challenges, where governance has historically shifted between coalitions led by the Indian National Congress and communist organizations. Modi’s party faces difficulties establishing influence there despite significant investment in regional expansion efforts.

Within Puducherry, the small federal territory, the BJP depends on partnership with local political groups to maintain its governing position.

West Bengal represents the most closely monitored and controversial upcoming contest, where the regional Trinamool Congress party has maintained control through three successive terms. Modi’s organization has never held power in West Bengal, and disputes over voter registration procedures have heightened political friction.

Opposition groups claim that election officials’ Special Intensive Revision process has prevented millions of citizens, particularly Muslim minorities, from participating in voting. India’s Election Commission has rejected these accusations, stating the review removed deceased, duplicate, and fraudulent voter registrations.

Comparable registration reviews have occurred in multiple states throughout the country.

Iranian state-affiliated media outlets released information Thursday indicating that the nation’s Revolutionary Guard forces deployed naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing hostilities, appearing to be a strategic move to apply pressure during a fragile two-week truce between Iran, Israel and the United States that precedes potential talks in Islamabad.

In a rare display of forceful criticism, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres issued an “unequivocal” condemnation of Israeli military operations in Lebanon that resulted in hundreds of casualties Wednesday following the ceasefire announcement, his spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric confirmed.

Israeli officials maintain that their ceasefire deal does not cover their ongoing conflict in Lebanon against Hezbollah, the militant organization backed by Iran, though both Iran and mediating nation Pakistan assert it should. Warning sirens echoed across northern Israel early Thursday as Hezbollah announced rocket attacks on the region.

Iran responded to Israeli military actions against Hezbollah in Lebanon by shutting down the Strait of Hormuz once again on Wednesday.

President Donald Trump posted on his Truth Social platform Thursday, declaring that American naval forces and military personnel will stay positioned near Iran “until such time as the REAL AGREEMENT reached is fully complied with.”

Trump’s social media remarks seem designed to maintain pressure on Iran while questions surround the temporary two-week halt in fighting currently in effect.

“If for any reason it is not, which is highly unlikely, then the ‘Shootin’ Starts,’ bigger, and better, and stronger than anyone has ever seen before,” Trump wrote.

The president also emphasized that Iran would be prevented from developing nuclear capabilities and declared that “the Strait of Hormuz WILL BE OPEN & SAFE.” His statement comes while maritime traffic remains halted through the strategic waterway that serves as the narrow entrance to the Persian Gulf, previously handling 20% of global oil and natural gas shipments.

A New York-based research organization has issued a warning that the temporary halt in the Iran conflict “hovers on the verge of collapse.”

The Soufan Center indicated that Wednesday’s Israeli military operations in Lebanon could cause the agreement to unravel.

“Even if Lebanon was formally outside the deal, the scale of Israel’s strikes was likely to be viewed as escalatory, nonetheless,” the organization stated in Thursday’s analysis.

“Israel’s strikes can be understood both as an effort to drive a wedge between Iran and its proxies and as a response to being allegedly sidelined in the original ceasefire discussions.”

The Al-Aqsa Mosque complex welcomed worshippers for dawn prayers Thursday after remaining shuttered throughout the Iran conflict, according to Jerusalem’s Islamic Waqf, the Jordanian religious body overseeing the site.

Jerusalem police announced Wednesday that access limitations would be removed from all religious sites in the Old City beginning Thursday morning, with hundreds of officers and volunteers deployed throughout the area.

During the now-suspended fighting, entry to Christian, Jewish and Muslim holy places was either completely banned or limited to small groups of worshippers, as Iranian missile strikes frequently forced Jerusalem residents to seek shelter.

These limitations dampened Lent, Passover and Ramadan observances for many believers at some of the most sacred locations for Christianity, Islam and Judaism.

However, the timing allows Orthodox Christians to celebrate Easter (Pascha) on Sunday, one week following Catholic and Protestant commemorations.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Iranian media outlets released navigation charts on Thursday indicating that the nation’s Revolutionary Guard forces may have deployed underwater mines in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz during recent military operations.

The information appeared in reports from ISNA, a semiofficial Iranian news service, along with Tasnim, another news agency that maintains close ties with the Revolutionary Guard organization.

According to the published chart, a large area was designated as a “danger zone” written in the Farsi language, positioned directly over the Traffic Separation Scheme — the primary shipping corridor vessels typically use when navigating through the strait. This marked area reportedly indicates where the Guard forces placed the explosive devices.

The chart recommended that maritime traffic should instead travel through northern waters closer to Iran’s coastline near Larak Island, an alternative path that maritime observers noted some vessels adopted during the conflict period.

The timeframe indicated on the navigation chart spanned from February 28 through Thursday, April 9.

Whether the Revolutionary Guard has removed the alleged mines from the shipping route remains unknown. Military analysts suggest this disclosure may represent a strategic pressure move as Iran, Israel and the United States currently maintain a fragile two-week ceasefire while preparing for potential diplomatic talks in Islamabad.

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The Australian government has committed to supporting two major fuel companies in purchasing petroleum products at elevated costs, as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese cautioned Thursday that supply shortages will persist long-term regardless of whether the Iran ceasefire remains in effect.

Albanese announced that his administration has reached agreements with the nation’s top fuel suppliers, Ampol and Viva Energy, to guarantee contracts for gasoline and diesel purchased on spot markets at rates exceeding standard commercial prices.

Under these arrangements, the government will also maintain authority over fuel distribution strategies, prioritizing rural communities and agricultural regions where service stations have experienced shortages in recent weeks, according to Albanese.

“This will have a long tail, which is why after this we will travel to Singapore,” Albanese told reporters at an Ampol refinery in Australian city of Brisbane.

“I’m looking forward to a constructive meeting with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong tomorrow,” Albanese said.

“We don’t preempt one-on-one meetings at leaders’ levels, but the fact that we’re being welcomed at relatively short notice to Singapore speaks about the strength of the relationship,” he added.

Singapore officials indicated that Albanese’s upcoming visit represents part of ongoing regional efforts to maintain fuel supply chains by enhancing Australia’s energy access, according to a government statement from Singapore.

The two nations maintain significant energy trade relationships, with Australia serving as Singapore’s second-biggest liquefied natural gas provider while Singapore ranks as Australia’s primary source of refined petroleum products.

“This visit follows Australia and Singapore’s joint commitment to keep fuel flowing between both countries and to work together to strengthen energy supply chain resilience,” Singapore said.

The Prime Minister emphasized his administration’s rapid response to boost the country’s fuel availability.

Albanese characterized this week’s announcement regarding a two-week Middle East ceasefire as a positive development.

“If the ceasefire holds, that doesn’t mean that the world global capacity comes online in a week or a month. It will take as considerable period of time. This will have a long tail. That is very, very clear,” Albanese said.

A major international commodities trading company has booked a massive oil tanker for Middle Eastern crude transport to Asia, representing what industry sources believe is the first such arrangement since the recent U.S.-Iran ceasefire agreement.

Glencore secured the Asian Lion, a massive vessel known as a very large crude carrier that can transport up to 2 million barrels of oil, according to shipping industry sources and LSEG tracking data. The supertanker is currently en route to the Middle East region.

The trading giant agreed to pay W580 using the Worldscale industry standard for calculating shipping costs, sources revealed. This represents a significant increase from the W230 rate recorded on February 27, just before the conflict began. Additionally, the daily waiting fee stands at $580,000, which covers costs if the vessel takes longer than expected to complete loading and unloading operations.

Company representatives from Glencore were not immediately available to provide comment regarding the vessel arrangement.

Despite the ceasefire announcement, shipping industry officials expressed Wednesday that they require additional clarification about the agreement’s specific terms before resuming regular passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian authorities have maintained that the strategic waterway continues to be restricted to vessels operating without proper authorization.

Iranian officials indicated they would provide secure transit coordination through their military forces, though the country’s coastguard issued stern warnings Wednesday that unauthorized vessels would face being “targeted and destroyed.”

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards naval division released navigational charts showing recommended shipping lanes within the Strait of Hormuz designed to help vessels avoid underwater explosive devices, according to reports from the semi-official Iranian news agency ISNA early Thursday.

The six-week military confrontation virtually halted maritime traffic through the strategic waterway, which serves as a critical passage for approximately 20% of worldwide oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, causing global energy costs to surge dramatically.

A federal appeals court issued a decision Wednesday reversing the criminal conviction of Juan Orlando Hernandez, the former president of Honduras, and directed a lower court to dismiss all charges against him.

The appellate court’s ruling marks a significant legal victory for Hernandez, who had been facing criminal charges in the United States justice system.

Vietnamese President To Lam is scheduled to make his inaugural international journey as the country’s leader next week, traveling to China for a four-day diplomatic mission from April 14 through 17.

China’s official news agency Xinhua confirmed the upcoming visit on Thursday, validating earlier reports about the planned trip by Vietnam’s state president and Communist Party chief to the nation’s most influential neighbor.

This marks Lam’s first foreign travel since assuming the role of state president, and sources indicate he is expected to hold discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his stay.

The visit underscores the importance of the relationship between Vietnam and China, which serves as Vietnam’s largest trading partner and carries significant weight in both economic and geopolitical matters for the Southeast Asian nation.

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez delivered a plea for patience to the nation’s workforce on Wednesday, acknowledging that current salaries fall far short of covering basic living expenses while her administration tackles the country’s struggling economy.

During a televised speech broadcast nationwide, Rodríguez announced plans for a salary boost beginning May 1. While she kept the specific amount under wraps, she emphasized the increase would be implemented carefully to prevent the surge in prices that occurred after the previous minimum wage adjustment.

“This increase, as we have indicated, will be a responsible increase,” Rodríguez said. “Likewise in the near future, as Venezuela enjoys more resources that allow for the sustainability of salary improvements and workers’ income, we will continue moving forward on this path.”

Government employees currently struggle to get by on approximately $160 monthly, while those in private companies earned an average of $237 last year. The nation’s minimum wage stands at 130 bolivars, equivalent to just $0.27, and hasn’t been adjusted since 2022. This amount falls dramatically short of the United Nations’ extreme poverty threshold of $3 daily.

According to International Monetary Fund data, Venezuela faces a crushing inflation rate of 682%, marking the highest figure among all tracked nations. The country’s central bank recently published inflation statistics for the first time since November 2024, revealing the annual rate jumped to 475% in 2025 from the previous year’s 48%.

These economic pressures have pushed food costs beyond the reach of many families.

Rodríguez’s nationwide address occurred just one day ahead of planned worker demonstrations in the capital city of Caracas, where employees plan to march demanding higher wages. She emphasized to viewers that economic recovery takes time and urged both workers and business owners across all sectors to collaborate with her administration “to begin a sustained recovery and maintain this path of growth.”

“It must be done with prudence, with awareness, with patience, but with a profound spirit of optimism about what the future holds for Venezuela,” Rodríguez said.

Two neighboring nations have pledged to pursue diplomatic solutions rather than military action following deadly border clashes that claimed hundreds of lives, according to Chinese officials who facilitated peace negotiations.

Representatives from Afghanistan and Pakistan concluded a week of discussions in Urumqi, a city in western China, where they committed to avoiding further military escalation while working toward long-term peace, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning announced during Wednesday’s briefing in Beijing.

“The three parties agreed to explore a comprehensive solution to the issues in the relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and clarified the core and priority issues that need to be addressed,” Mao stated during her daily press conference.

According to the Chinese spokesperson, all participants recognized that “terrorism is the core issue affecting the relationship” between the two countries.

The warring nations promised they won’t “take actions that would escalate or complicate the situation,” officials said.

While Pakistani authorities remained silent about the diplomatic discussions, Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi confirmed the completion of the China-hosted negotiations on Wednesday.

Writing on social media platform X, Balkhi described the sessions as taking place in a “constructive atmosphere,” covering topics including diplomatic ties, security concerns and regional peace. He expressed gratitude to Beijing for facilitating the discussions and voiced optimism that the diplomatic process would enhance trust and cooperation throughout the region.

Chinese officials initiated the peace talks last week following the outbreak of hostilities between the neighboring countries in February.

Pakistan had declared itself in “open war” with Afghanistan and conducted aerial bombardments on Afghan territory, including strikes in the capital city of Kabul.

On Tuesday, Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry characterized the negotiations as productive.

The United Nations humanitarian coordination office reported Tuesday that the military confrontation has forced 94,000 residents to flee their homes, while an additional 100,000 civilians in two Afghan border districts have been completely isolated by the fighting since February.

Despite the ongoing diplomatic efforts, Afghan officials have repeatedly accused Pakistan of conducting artillery attacks across the international boundary during the peace talks.

Pakistani authorities claim Afghanistan provides sanctuary to extremist groups responsible for deadly attacks on Pakistani soil, particularly the Pakistani Taliban organization known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP. This militant group maintains separate operations from but shares allegiances with the Afghan Taliban, which assumed control of Afghanistan in 2021 after American-led forces withdrew. Afghan leadership rejects these allegations.

A Republican U.S. Senator traveled to Taiwan this week with a clear message for the island’s government: approve the massive defense spending package that’s been stuck in legislative limbo.

Senator Jim Banks, who serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee, met with Taiwan President Lai Ching-te on Wednesday in Taipei, where he pressed for action on a $40 billion military spending proposal that has faced opposition in Taiwan’s parliament.

The defense budget was introduced by President Lai last year as Taiwan seeks to strengthen its military capabilities amid ongoing tensions with China, which considers the democratic island part of its territory.

During their meeting, Banks praised Lai’s approach to military spending, comparing it to President Donald Trump’s proposed $1.5 trillion defense budget for the United States.

“But your Legislative Yuan has to do its part and pass the special budget, and that’s one message that I want to send to your leadership,” Banks stated, referring to Taiwan’s parliament by its official name.

The Indiana senator emphasized the broader implications of Taiwan’s decision, telling Lai: “When you pass the special budget in the legislature, that is a signal to China, and to the rest of the world, that Taiwan is serious about peace through strength. I appreciate President Lai’s leadership in making that happen.”

The spending proposal remains gridlocked in Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan, where opposition parties hold a majority and continue debating the government’s plan alongside alternative, lower-cost proposals.

Banks wasn’t the first American lawmaker to deliver this message recently. Another delegation of U.S. representatives visited Taipei last week with similar appeals for the defense budget’s passage.

The political dynamics surrounding the issue are complex. Cheng Li-wun, who leads Taiwan’s main opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), is currently visiting mainland China and may meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The KMT has stated it supports military spending but won’t approve what it calls blank checks, arguing that diplomatic dialogue with Beijing is equally crucial.

Relations between Taiwan and China remain tense under President Lai’s leadership. Beijing refuses diplomatic contact with Lai, labeling him a separatist. Lai has rejected China’s claims over Taiwan, maintaining that only the Taiwanese people should determine their island’s future.

Senator Banks was among 37 lawmakers from both parties who wrote to Taiwanese political leaders in February, expressing concerns about the delayed defense spending legislation.

Workers, union representatives, and opposition members filled the streets of Dakar, Senegal on Wednesday, voicing anger over what they describe as unfulfilled government commitments and escalating living expenses amid the nation’s serious debt problems.

The demonstration was coordinated by Senegal’s primary labor organizations alongside an opposition group called the Front for the Defense of Democracy and the Republic (FDR).

According to Mody Guiro, who leads the National Confederation of Senegalese Workers – the nation’s biggest labor organization – officials had violated an agreement from the previous year that halted work stoppages in return for commitments to improve pay and workplace conditions. Government officials point to an unprecedented debt emergency left by the former administration as limiting available funds.

Demonstrators donned red scarves and union headwear while carrying signs calling for the reinstatement of dismissed government employees and reduced income taxation. Some voiced demands for Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko’s removal from office.

The current administration in this West African nation, headed by Sonko and President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, assumed control in April 2024 with pledges to implement sweeping changes, including anti-corruption efforts, youth employment initiatives, and better utilization of the country’s natural resources.

However, the PASTEF party’s transformation plans have encountered significant hurdles. A government review conducted in 2025 uncovered debt totaling $13 billion – higher than previously disclosed – left behind by the prior government. Discussions with the International Monetary Fund regarding new financial assistance have reached an impasse as the country’s budget situation deteriorates.

The nation’s debt compared to its economic output has climbed to approximately 132%, ranking among Africa’s most severe.

These financial challenges have intensified everyday hardships for citizens, particularly affecting young people who represent about 75% of the population under age 35.

In February of last year, demonstrations at the country’s premier public university regarding unpaid student assistance resulted in aggressive action by law enforcement, causing one student’s death.

“The nation has come to a halt. The government must find ways to restart Senegal’s economy rather than creating conflicts at every turn,” stated Mohamed Fall, a young activist participating in Wednesday’s demonstration.

Pape Laobe Samb, another demonstrator, represents one of over 700 Dakar port employees who lost their jobs since early 2025 as the government restructures state organizations.

“This isn’t what they told voters they would do. They claimed they would generate employment and advance the nation, but they’ve done exactly the reverse,” Samb explained to reporters after working at the port for more than twelve years before his dismissal.

The port’s administrator, selected shortly after President Faye took office, has characterized these actions as eliminating questionable contracts from the previous government. Union representatives dispute this explanation, contending that dismissed workers were primarily those connected to the former administration and that the terminations violated legal procedures.

North Korea announced Thursday that its recent weapons testing included ballistic missiles equipped with cluster bomb warheads, marking another escalation in the country’s military capabilities targeting South Korea.

The announcement from North Korean state media followed South Korea’s detection of multiple missile launches from the North’s eastern coast on Wednesday, marking the second day of weapons testing this week.

According to the Korean Central News Agency, the weapons demonstrations spanned three days beginning Monday and featured anti-aircraft systems, alleged electromagnetic warfare equipment, and carbon-fiber explosives.

South Korean military officials reported that Wednesday’s missiles traveled between 240 and 700 kilometers (150 to 434 miles) before splashing down in the ocean. They also tracked at least one projectile fired Tuesday from near Pyongyang, North Korea’s capital.

Japanese defense officials confirmed that none of Wednesday’s weapons landed in Japan’s exclusive economic waters, while U.S. military representatives stated the Tuesday and Wednesday launches presented no direct danger to America or its regional partners.

The state news agency detailed tests of cluster munition systems mounted on Hwasong-11 ballistic missiles, which mirror Russia’s Iskander design with low-altitude, evasive flight patterns to bypass defense systems. According to the report, these short-range missiles with cluster warheads “can reduce to ashes any target covering an area of 6.5-7 hectares (16 to 17.2 acres) with the highest-density power.”

South Korean military officials have not yet responded to North Korea’s weapons claims.

The missile tests highlight ongoing hostilities between the neighboring countries, dampening South Korean expectations for improved diplomatic relations.

Jang Kum Chol, a senior official at North Korea’s Foreign Ministry, declared Tuesday evening that South Korea would forever remain the North’s “most hostile enemy state” and ridiculed Seoul’s current government for attempting to restart stalled negotiations, labeling its leaders “world-startling fools.”

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has halted nearly all diplomatic engagement with Seoul and Washington following the breakdown of his nuclear negotiations with President Donald Trump in 2019. Since then, he has fast-tracked development of nuclear-armed missiles capable of reaching U.S. territories and allies across Asia.

Kim has also strengthened relationships with Russia, China, and other nations in conflict with the United States as he seeks to end international isolation and boost his regional influence. North Korean media reports that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is scheduled to arrive Thursday for a two-day visit as part of ongoing diplomatic cooperation between the two countries.

PORT-AU-PRINCE – Haiti’s electoral authority announced Wednesday that it is delaying voter registration that was scheduled to commence on April 1st, stating that new registration dates will be revealed soon for what would be the Caribbean nation’s first presidential election in ten years.

The electoral council, known as CEP, had originally set August 30th as the date for the initial round of presidential voting in the region’s most populated Caribbean country.

But ongoing security deterioration throughout the nation has displaced more than 1.4 million residents – representing approximately 12% of Haiti’s total population – raising serious questions about whether authorities can conduct a legitimate and fair electoral process.

Acting President Delcy Rodriguez of Venezuela announced Wednesday that her administration plans to implement a wage increase for workers beginning May 1, describing it as a “responsible increase” to worker compensation.

Rodriguez did not specify the exact amount of the planned wage adjustment during her announcement.

Currently, Venezuela’s minimum wage stands at 130 bolivares monthly, a rate that has remained unchanged since March 2022 and equals only a few cents in U.S. currency. However, many government workers receive additional compensation through bonuses and supplemental payments that can bring their total monthly earnings to approximately $150.

“Our immediate, medium-term and long-term goal is to steadily and gradually restore workers’ incomes through productive growth in both the hydrocarbons and mining sectors, which generate immediate revenue once production recovery takes place,” Rodriguez stated during her televised announcement on state television.

The acting president emphasized that the wage adjustment would consider potential inflationary effects and indicated that Venezuela would continue progressing in this direction as additional resources become available to the country.

During her address, Rodriguez also renewed calls for the United States to lift economic sanctions imposed on the South American nation.

Relations between the two countries have improved following the U.S. capture of President Nicolas Maduro during a raid in Caracas earlier this year. The Trump administration has since been collaborating with Rodriguez and exploring opportunities to expand American involvement in Venezuela’s petroleum and mining industries.

Rodriguez, who has backed recent legislative efforts to encourage increased private and foreign investment in both sectors, announced plans to establish a commission that will identify which assets the state considers strategically important. She warned that those hoping for the privatization of PDVSA, the state-owned oil company, would be disappointed.

The United Nations announced Wednesday that humanitarian workers worldwide are facing unprecedented dangers, with more than 1,000 killed in the last three years—a figure that represents almost three times the fatalities recorded in the prior three-year span.

Tom Fletcher, the UN’s top humanitarian official, addressed the Security Council with stark language about the crisis. “This is not an accidental escalation — it is the collapse of protection,” Fletcher stated.

The statistics Fletcher presented show that of the 1,010-plus humanitarian workers who lost their lives between 2023 and 2025, the Gaza Strip and West Bank accounted for more than 560 deaths. Sudan saw 130 fatalities, South Sudan recorded 60, while Ukraine and Congo each had 25 deaths. These numbers stand in sharp contrast to the 377 deaths documented from 2020 through 2022.

The dramatic increase in casualties coincided with the conflict that erupted between Israel and Hamas in October 2023. While a ceasefire took effect in October 2025, violence including shootings and airstrikes has continued.

Fletcher reported that 2024 marked a particularly deadly year, with 383 aid workers killed across global conflict zones as they provided essential services like food distribution, water access, shelter, and medical care. The previous year, 2023, saw at least 326 aid workers killed across 21 nations.

“They died in clearly marked convoys and on missions coordinated directly with authorities,” the undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs explained.

The Security Council convened to review a resolution passed in May 2024 that condemned attacks on humanitarian personnel and UN staff, while demanding that all fighting forces protect these workers under international law.

Fletcher posed challenging questions to the 15-member council, asking whether the killings occurred because international law “is no longer convenient” or because “it is more important to protect those designing, selling, supplying and firing lethal weapons?”

“Or is it because member states see these numbers as collateral damage, part of the fog of war? Or worse, are we now seen as legitimate targets?” he continued. “Perhaps the most chilling question: If these deaths were ‘preventable’, why then were they not prevented?”

Beyond the killings, Fletcher described how humanitarian personnel face additional challenges, being “restricted, penalized and delegitimized” while being told which areas they cannot access and which populations they cannot assist.

Fletcher cited Yemen as a stark example, where Houthi rebels are holding 73 UN staff members and numerous NGO workers in arbitrary detention.

Other restrictions include Afghanistan’s prohibition on female humanitarian workers, Israel’s limitations on UN and international organizations operating in Gaza, and drone attacks in Ukraine that have forced aid workers to retreat from frontline areas.

“These trends, alongside the collapse in funding for our lifesaving work, are a symptom of a lawless, bellicose, selfish and violent world,” Fletcher declared.

He urged the UN’s 193 member countries to honor the 2024 resolution’s requirements to safeguard humanitarian workers and hold accountable those who commit crimes against them.

French President Emmanuel Macron reached out to both Iranian and American leadership Wednesday, pressing them to extend their newly established ceasefire to encompass Lebanon and other conflict zones while Israeli bombardments persist in Beirut.

Washington and Tehran established a two-week suspension of hostilities on Tuesday, yet Israel launched its most devastating assault on Lebanon Wednesday, resulting in over 250 deaths since hostilities with Hezbollah escalated last month.

While American and Israeli officials have stated that Lebanon falls outside the scope of the Iranian ceasefire arrangement, Pakistan, which served as a crucial mediator during negotiations, indicated the pause in fighting would encompass Beirut.

Sources close to Iran’s diplomatic stance reveal that Tehran has communicated through intermediaries that any ceasefire framework with America and Israel must encompass Lebanon.

During his conversations with Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian and U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday, Macron emphasized that bringing Lebanon into the agreement represents “a necessary condition for the ceasefire to be credible and lasting.”

The French leader stressed that any comprehensive agreement between these nations must tackle issues surrounding Iran’s nuclear weapons development, ballistic missile capabilities, regional interference, and efforts to disrupt shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz.

Macron additionally contacted Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, denouncing Israel’s “indiscriminate strikes” as a danger to maintaining any sustainable ceasefire arrangement.

“I reiterated the need to preserve Lebanon’s territorial integrity and France’s determination to support the efforts of the Lebanese authorities to uphold the country’s sovereignty and implement the Hezbollah disarmament plan,” Macron stated.

A dramatic diplomatic breakthrough occurred when Pakistan successfully facilitated a two-week ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran, averting potential military action just hours before President Donald Trump’s strike deadline was set to expire. The temporary truce has opened a crucial diplomatic window following weeks of escalating tensions and concerns about a broader regional conflict.

Pakistan has swiftly positioned itself at the center of ongoing negotiations. As part of the agreement, Tehran has also consented to temporarily reopen the Strait of Hormuz, ensuring safe passage for shipping through this critical waterway that is essential to global energy markets. Pakistani leadership has framed this truce as an opportunity to transition from crisis management to substantive negotiations addressing sanctions, uranium enrichment, regional security, and future conflict resolution.

Demonstrating the high stakes of this diplomatic opening, President Trump is sending a senior delegation to Islamabad for the talks, headed by Vice President JD Vance and including special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

On Wednesday, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that the United States and Iran, along with their respective allies, had reached an agreement for an immediate ceasefire across multiple conflict zones. In an early morning social media post, Sharif welcomed this development and expressed his “deepest gratitude” to leadership in both Washington and Tehran for what he characterized as a vital step toward regional stability.

Sharif has also extended invitations to both sides to send delegations for high-level discussions in Islamabad on April 10 to secure a more comprehensive settlement. Iran has confirmed its participation. According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, Sharif conducted a 45-minute phone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday afternoon.

Pezeshkian expressed appreciation to the prime minister, commended Pakistan’s efforts in establishing a temporary ceasefire, and confirmed Iran’s participation in the upcoming Islamabad talks. Various media sources, citing Iran’s Islamic State News Agency, have reported that Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf is expected to lead Tehran’s delegation for Friday’s negotiations.

Despite the pause in fighting, Iran’s negotiating stance indicates that Tehran is pursuing much more than just a brief halt to hostilities. Presented through Pakistani intermediaries on April 6, 2026, shortly before the breakthrough, Tehran’s 10-point framework outlines the terms it seeks for a broader, more lasting settlement with the United States and Israel.

Iran’s demands encompass military, nuclear, economic, and regional issues:

1. A firm commitment from the United States and Israel not to attack Iran in the future.

2. Continued Iranian sovereignty and control over the Strait of Hormuz.

3. Recognition of Iran’s right to pursue uranium enrichment for peaceful purposes.

4. Lifting of all primary US sanctions imposed on Iran.

5. Removal of all secondary sanctions targeting foreign companies and countries doing business with Iran.

6. Termination of all United Nations Security Council resolutions against Iran.

7. Ending all International Atomic Energy Agency resolutions related to Iran’s nuclear program.

8. A halt to attacks on Iran and its regional allies, including in Iraq, Lebanon, and Yemen.

9. Compensation or reconstruction support for damage caused during the conflict.

10. Broader regional de-escalation, including safe navigation arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz, possible transit mechanisms, elements of US military withdrawal from the region, and a framework for long-term peace and security guarantees.

These demands demonstrate that the Islamabad talks extend far beyond simply maintaining the ceasefire. They will also examine whether Washington and Tehran can begin to bridge differences over sanctions relief, recognition of peaceful uranium enrichment, control over the Strait of Hormuz, and broader security guarantees.

The American president characterized the proposal as “a workable basis on which to negotiate,” helping to pave the way for the temporary ceasefire. Confirming the pause on his official social media account, President Trump wrote: “Based on conversations with Prime Minister Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the complete, immediate, and safe opening of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated in a social media post that “for a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran’s Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations.” Israel announced on Wednesday that it supports the US president’s decision to suspend airstrikes on Iran but clarified that the ceasefire does not include Lebanon.

Pakistani officials and regional diplomats have described Islamabad as the primary intermediary once direct communication between Washington and Tehran broke down. They indicated that Pakistan helped shape the agreement while collaborating with Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and other regional actors.

Egypt supported this effort through direct engagement with both sides. Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty conducted high-level calls with US special envoy Witkoff and Iranian officials. Cairo also collaborated with Ankara and Islamabad on earlier proposals, including a 45-day pause tied to Gulf security concerns and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Turkey also worked to strengthen the communication channel Pakistan was helping to maintain. Under Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Ankara conducted quiet shuttle diplomacy, utilizing its relationships with both Washington and Tehran to encourage restraint, test compromise language on sanctions and regional assurances, and preserve communication channels when direct talks failed.

China appeared more indirectly in diplomatic accounts. Diplomatic sources suggested that Beijing was involved in consultations around the ceasefire framework. During an interview with AFP, the American president indicated that China played a role in bringing Iran to the negotiating table.

Last month, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar hosted a meeting with his counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt to discuss de-escalation efforts before traveling to Beijing for further consultations. China, Iran’s largest trading partner, later called for joint efforts with Pakistan to help end the conflict.

Details of the back-channel diplomacy still depend heavily on accounts from officials and analysts. An Islamabad-based official familiar with the ceasefire process, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Media Line, “Iran’s recent attacks on Saudi Arabia had significantly worsened the situation, pushing President Trump toward insisting on taking a very tough course of action.”

The same official indicated that the Trump administration was also aware of a growing perception, especially in Saudi Arabia, that the United States had abandoned its closest ally and was failing to ensure its protection.

That official added that “a complex internal rift appeared to be behind Iran’s recent attack, with indications that elements within the Iranian Revolutionary Guard carried out the operation without the consent of the political leadership and in opposition to a ceasefire. At a time when Pakistan-Iran negotiations had entered a decisive phase, the attack dealt a serious blow to peace efforts.”

The official further argued that Pakistan was operating in a challenging environment as it tried to prevent a wider war by acting as a bridge between Iran and Saudi Arabia, despite efforts by some actors to sabotage the process.

In that context, the official said, Pakistan remains engaged in seeking middle ground through what some officials have informally called the “Islamabad Accord.”

Pakistani officials described Islamabad’s role as central to the breakthrough, with Prime Minister Sharif and Field Marshal Munir facilitating back-channel exchanges between Washington and Tehran after direct communication stalled. Both held calls with President Trump and Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi to help finalize the framework.

Saudi Arabia, which has faced major fallout from Iranian strikes in recent weeks, adopted what officials described as a restrained response.

Muhammed Alhamed, a Saudi geopolitical analyst specializing in Middle Eastern diplomacy, told The Media Line: “Riyadh understands that a wider war would not only threaten Gulf security but also put the global energy market and the broader economy at serious risk.”

He emphasized that “Saudi Arabia showed restraint under direct threat, prioritized stability, and acted with full awareness of the consequences that any broader escalation would have on the region and the world.”

Alhamed said the recent unprovoked attacks on Saudi territory clearly indicated Iran’s efforts to draw Riyadh into the conflict.

He said: “Iran’s brazen attacks on the Gulf States, combined with disruptions and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, were dangerously provocative. Nevertheless, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States responded with measured strategic patience, not from weakness, but from a profound sense of responsibility.”

Praising Pakistan’s diplomacy, Alhamed said careful dialogue, patience, and trust in Pakistan’s facilitation were essential to steer the region away from further escalation and toward a more durable outcome.

Aimen Jamil, a strategic affairs analyst based in Islamabad, told The Media Line that “Pakistan’s role in the emerging ‘Islamabad Accord’ reflects a calculated use of backchannel diplomacy rather than traditional mediation. Acting as a discreet facilitator, Islamabad positioned itself as a trusted conduit at a moment of acute escalation, enabling direct yet deniable communication between Washington and Tehran when formal diplomacy had stalled.”

She added that “Pakistan’s effectiveness stemmed from its unique strategic position, maintaining working ties with both the United States and Iran. Coordinated military and political engagement, along with quiet support from key partners such as China, helped sustain urgency, apply pressure, and reduce mistrust between the parties.”

Jamil said Pakistan’s push was driven not only by diplomacy but also by the risks of prolonged conflict, including energy disruptions, economic strain, and regional spillover.

While the ceasefire remains fragile and temporary, she said Pakistan has managed to create a viable de-escalation channel. Its longer-term significance, she argued, will depend on whether the Islamabad talks can turn a short pause into a broader and lasting agreement.

Mohsin Durrani, an Islamabad-based expert on regional security and diplomatic affairs, told The Media Line: “Pakistan’s role provided temporary stabilization, creating space for broader negotiations without ceding core leverage. While not guaranteeing a full resolution, it underscores the effectiveness of coordinated multilateral efforts. Upcoming Islamabad talks will test whether this pause can lead to lasting regional stability.”

He said: “Trump described Iran’s 10-point draft as a ‘workable basis’ for negotiation and announced a conditional two-week suspension of strikes, contingent on Iran reopening the Strait under its military oversight.”

Durrani said the arrangement allowed Washington to maintain that it had achieved its immediate military aims while shifting the focus of negotiations toward Iranian priorities.

He added that Israel, facing unanticipated operational costs, had adopted a more measured posture, though its longer-term territorial ambitions appeared deferred rather than abandoned.

Durrani also said that any enduring settlement would require Iran to address the two-state dimension in later discussions.

“It highlights Pakistan’s strategic importance in shaping regional stability and underscores the country’s diplomatic significance,” he added.

The test now is whether the Islamabad talks can move beyond the ceasefire and yield tangible progress on sanctions, uranium enrichment, regional security, and navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Israeli military officials announced Wednesday that Staff Sgt. Tuval Lipshitz, a member of the Golani Brigade, died during fighting with Hezbollah militants in southern Lebanon as military operations continue in the region.

The fatal encounter happened Tuesday afternoon when soldiers from Golani Battalion 13 were conducting reconnaissance operations in the village of a-Taybeh. During their mission to survey new territory, the troops came under attack from Hezbollah fighters who fired on them at point-blank range.

Lipshitz, who was from Beit She’an, lost his life in the firefight. Five other soldiers sustained injuries, with one critically wounded and four others suffering moderate to minor wounds. Military officials confirmed the injured personnel were transported for medical treatment and their families received notification.

Israeli troops responded with return fire during the confrontation, and the military launched aerial bombardments to secure the surrounding area. Military leaders believe several Hezbollah militants were eliminated as they sought shelter in nearby structures.

This death increases the total Israeli military fatalities in Lebanon to 12 since Operation Roaring Lion began in Iran.

The announcement comes after several recent military casualties. Earlier this week, Staff Sgt. Guy Ludar from the Maglan unit died in an accidental friendly fire incident in southern Lebanon. A unit officer was critically wounded and airlifted to Rambam Hospital in Haifa.

Monday saw four members of the Nahal Brigade reconnaissance unit killed in Lebanese combat operations: Capt. Noam Madmoni, 22, from Sderot; Staff Sgt. Ben Cohen, 21, from Lehavim; Staff Sgt. Maksim Antis, 21, from Bat Yam; and Staff Sgt. Gilad Harel, 21, from Modi’in Maccabim-Re’ut. That incident also left six soldiers wounded, with one in critical condition.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that his nation will maintain its military objectives even during a temporary ceasefire with Iran, characterizing the current pause in hostilities as preparation rather than the end of military operations.

“Now I would like to emphasize that this is not the end of the campaign. This is a preparation for the achievement of all of our goals,” Netanyahu stated, emphasizing Israel’s readiness to resume combat operations. “Either by agreeing or by restarting the war, because we are ready to return to war at any time that is needed. The finger on the trigger.”

According to Netanyahu, the two-week halt in fighting was arranged in coordination with Israel and follows a period during which Iran was weakened and compelled to reopen the Strait of Hormuz while dropping previous demands.

Netanyahu highlighted close collaboration with President Donald Trump, describing recent military actions as historically significant. “Six weeks ago, for the first time in history, we went to war shoulder to shoulder with my friend, President Trump, and our great ally, the United States,” he explained. “We went to a historic operation, the greatest operation the Middle East has ever known.”

According to Netanyahu, Israeli operations have focused on Iran’s missile and nuclear capabilities, striking production plants, centrifuges, scientific personnel, along with military targets including missile installations, command facilities, naval assets, and transportation systems.

“We destroyed Iran’s missile production plant,” Netanyahu said. “Not only did we destroy existing missiles, we destroyed the factories that produce the missiles.”

Regarding nuclear materials, Netanyahu indicated that Israel and the United States share the objective of removing Iran’s enriched uranium. “As Prime Minister Trump said on election day, the enriched material will all leave Iran. Either it will leave in agreement, or it will leave in a war renewal.”

Netanyahu emphasized that the temporary ceasefire excludes Hezbollah, stating that Israeli military actions in Lebanon will persist. “Now, I stood up for this, that the temporary ceasefire with Iran will not include Hezbollah,” he said.

Israeli military forces attacked approximately 100 Hezbollah positions within a 10-minute timeframe on Wednesday, which Netanyahu characterized as the organization’s most devastating blow during the ongoing conflict.

“We still have goals to accomplish, and we will achieve them,” he concluded.

Ukrainian authorities confirmed Wednesday that Russian drone strikes hit electrical infrastructure in the southern Odesa region, marking the latest in a sustained campaign targeting the country’s power grid.

Odesa Region Governor Oleh Kiper reported via Telegram that emergency responders remained on scene following the attack on the power facility. No casualties were documented from the Odesa strike, Kiper stated.

Major private utility company DTEK confirmed that one of its electrical substations sustained damage in the assault. Repair teams are standing by until safety clearance allows work to begin. According to DTEK, the region has faced Russian bombardment “almost round the clock.”

Ukraine’s electrical grid has endured months of systematic attacks. The strategic Black Sea port city of Odesa, crucial for Ukrainian export operations, along with surrounding areas, has repeatedly been in Moscow’s crosshairs throughout the four-year war.

In the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, Governor Ivan Fedorov confirmed that nighttime Russian glide bomb strikes claimed the life of one man in a village near the regional capital of Zaporizhzhia. The attack also left two women wounded.

Neighboring Dnipropetrovsk region saw nearly 40 separate Russian drone and artillery strikes targeting multiple communities throughout Wednesday, according to Governor Oleksandr Ganzha. At least three civilians sustained injuries in those attacks.

Additional drone strike casualties were documented in Sloviansk near the eastern front lines in Donetsk region, as well as in southern Kherson Region and northern Sumy Region along the Russian border, local officials reported.

ATHENS – Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis delivered sharp criticism Wednesday regarding Iran’s proposal to charge vessels for safe passage through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, calling such measures completely unacceptable and a threat to maritime freedom worldwide.

The ongoing conflict has jeopardized Gulf shipping operations and created significant disruptions to international commerce through the crucial waterway, which typically handles approximately 20 percent of global oil and liquefied natural gas transportation.

Greece operates one of the world’s most extensive commercial shipping fleets measured by cargo capacity.

As ceasefire negotiations continue involving the United States and Israel, Tehran has floated the idea of implementing passage fees for ships traveling safely through the strategic chokepoint it controls. President Donald Trump suggested Wednesday that America and Iran might jointly manage such toll collection, though White House officials emphasized their focus remains on fully reopening the waterway without restrictions.

Mitsotakis emphasized that unrestricted maritime passage through the strait has long been established and must remain so.

“I don’t think that the international community would be ready to accept Iran setting up a toll booth for every ship that crosses the strait,” Mitsotakis told CNN. “That seems to me to be completely unacceptable.”

The conservative leader suggested that new international agreements governing the strait might become necessary.

“But this agreement cannot, I repeat, cannot include a sort of a fee that ships will have to pay every time they cross the strait. This was not the case before the war started and it cannot be the case after the war finishes,” he said.

“We would be setting a very, very dangerous precedent, if that were to happen, for the freedom of navigation.”

President Donald Trump declared a temporary halt to military operations against Iran on Tuesday, announcing a two-week pause in what had been weeks of rising tensions between the two nations. However, the actual terms of this agreement remain heavily disputed, with Washington and Tehran presenting vastly different interpretations of what was negotiated.

The announcement came after Trump stated he decided to call off planned military strikes with less than two hours remaining before an 8 p.m. deadline. This decision followed discussions with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, with the suspension contingent upon Iran fully reopening the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz shipping corridor.

Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump explained his decision: “Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir … and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing … for a period of two weeks.” He characterized the arrangement as a “double sided CEASEFIRE.”

Trump indicated that American military forces had already accomplished their mission goals and suggested that a 10-point Iranian proposal could form the foundation for more comprehensive negotiations. Pakistan has extended invitations to both countries to continue diplomatic talks, with CNN reporting that meetings are anticipated in Islamabad. The White House is dispatching special envoy Steve Witkoff and chief adviser Jared Kushner to Pakistan’s capital for additional negotiations, with Vice President JD Vance also expected to participate.

Iran acknowledged the ceasefire but portrayed it as a strategic victory for Tehran. According to a statement from Iran’s Supreme National Security Council reported by Iranian state media and obtained by CNN, Washington had essentially accepted key elements of Iran’s proposal, including relief from sanctions, acknowledgment of Iran’s nuclear enrichment activities, and collaborative management of Strait of Hormuz shipping operations. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi indicated that secure passage would be coordinated through Iran’s military forces and that hostilities would cease if attacks on Iranian territory stopped.

Trump strongly disputed Iran’s version of events, labeling the reported statement as a “FRAUD” and criticizing CNN for spreading what he called misleading information. The White House portrayed the ceasefire as an American success, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasizing military achievements. Leavitt also dismissed Iranian assertions that ships would face toll charges for using the Strait of Hormuz, stating that the US is working to guarantee unrestricted passage. Despite Iranian threats to limit or block shipping traffic, she emphasized that American military forces are taking action to maintain the waterway’s accessibility.

In subsequent interviews, Trump told AFP the result represented a “total and complete victory” and assured that Iran’s uranium stockpile would be “perfectly taken care of.” He also informed ABC News that the US might assist in managing strait shipping through a “joint venture” arrangement with Iran.

Initial indicators of improvement remained minimal. Data from MarineTraffic revealed that only two ships had successfully passed through the Strait of Hormuz by Wednesday afternoon, while hundreds of vessels remained stranded, including more than 400 oil tankers. Reports from Tasnim indicated that Iran was preparing to implement transit charges during the ceasefire period.

Meanwhile, military actions persisted in other regions. Kuwait reported that Iranian drone attacks inflicted substantial damage to petroleum facilities, electrical infrastructure, and water systems, while the United Arab Emirates announced it had intercepted incoming missiles and drones. The Financial Times also reported that a major Saudi oil pipeline was targeted by drone strikes.

According to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, the ceasefire agreement does not apply to Lebanon, contradicting earlier suggestions from Pakistan. Israel announced it would stop attacking Iran directly but would maintain military operations against Hezbollah. Trump described the Lebanese conflict to PBS NewsHour as a “separate skirmish.”

Israeli military forces conducted significant strikes in Beirut, including a targeted operation against a Hezbollah commander, with Lebanon’s health ministry documenting substantial casualties. Israel’s foreign ministry justified these actions, claiming the Lebanese government had failed to take action against Hezbollah.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued warnings of retaliation if attacks on Lebanon continued, heightening concerns about broader regional conflict. In a statement broadcast by IRIB, the IRGC condemned Israel for conducting a “brutal massacre” in Beirut just hours after the ceasefire announcement and declared that if “aggressions” against “dear Lebanon” do not stop, it will “act upon our duty” and deliver a “regret-inducing response” to what it termed “evil aggressors in the region.”

At the Pentagon, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that any forbidden nuclear materials in Iran would be eliminated under the agreement, while Gen. Dan Caine confirmed that US forces remain prepared to restart combat operations if commanded, highlighting the uncertain nature of the ceasefire’s longevity.

TEHRAN, Iran — While conflict continues, residents of Iran’s capital city carry on with their normal activities in coffee shops, public spaces, and businesses throughout Tehran. Citizens gather with friends at local coffee establishments, engage in board games at parks, take their pets for walks, browse through marketplaces, and visit barbershops that remain operational.

The scenes captured in this photographic collection were assembled by Associated Press photography staff.

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — As part of negotiations to halt hostilities with the United States and Israel, Iran has put forward a demand to establish toll collection rights in the Strait of Hormuz before allowing the crucial oil shipping route to reopen.

However, imposing fees on vessels passing through this waterway would break a fundamental principle that has governed international maritime commerce for centuries: the freedom of peaceful navigation. This long-standing concept was formally written into the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which became binding in 1994.

Reopening this critical passage would relieve global economic pressures that have driven energy and fertilizer costs dramatically upward since hostilities commenced on February 28. However, accepting Iran’s toll collection demands would solidify the Islamic Republic’s authority over a waterway that carries 20% of global oil shipments — while financially benefiting the very military forces the conflict was launched against.

President Donald Trump has prioritized getting the strait reopened. However, the White House announced Wednesday that he rejects the toll proposal, and experts indicate Gulf oil-producing nations share this opposition.

Experts report they have observed no increase in shipping traffic through the waterway since ceasefire announcements, contrary to White House assertions.

Following the initiation of military action by the U.S. and Israel, Iran quickly used its strategic position by shutting down the strait through vessel attacks and attack threats, creating conditions too dangerous for safe passage. This blockade immediately created supply shortages in Asian nations heavily reliant on regional energy, drove up fuel costs in America and Europe, and posed risks to worldwide economic expansion.

Iran subsequently implemented a vessel screening process that shipping experts nicknamed the “tollbooth.”

Vessels received instructions to avoid the strait’s center in Iranian and Omani territorial waters, instead taking longer routes around Iran’s Larak Island. After providing comprehensive details about crew members and cargo to representatives of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, certain ships received passage approval — with at least two vessels reportedly making payments equivalent to $2 million in Chinese currency.

Iran’s comprehensive 10-point peace proposal contains language permitting Iran and Oman to impose charges on ships traveling through the Strait of Hormuz, according to a regional official who requested anonymity to discuss negotiations they personally participated in. This official indicated Iran would direct collected funds toward reconstruction efforts.

However, the Law of the Sea Treaty’s Article 17 ensures “innocent passage” rights for vessels that pose no threat to coastal nations. Therefore, permitting Iran and Oman to begin charging for strait passage would establish a concerning precedent, according to legal experts.

Maritime navigation freedom across global waters has remained a core right for centuries, based on “the idea that the sea doesn’t belong to anyone,” explained Philippe Delebecque, a professor and maritime law specialist at Paris’ Sorbonne University.

“Freedom of navigation has always been recognized, including specifically in straits,” he stated. The worry is that if the Strait of Hormuz could face closure, similar restrictions might follow at the Strait of Gibraltar between the Mediterranean and Atlantic, or the Strait of Malacca near Indonesia.

He described such a situation as “the end of an international society.”

Although 172 nations have approved the U.N. convention, both Iran and the United States remain among those that have not ratified it.

“Not having ratified the convention doesn’t give (Iran) total freedom of action in the Strait of Hormuz,” stated Julien Raynaut, who leads the French Association of Maritime Law, a professional organization. “It remains subject to international law and notably this customary right of passage.”

An Iranian toll system could prompt China to determine it could limit movement in the Taiwan Strait, Raynaut noted.

Oman and Iran may encounter diplomatic pressure to follow the convention, said Constantinos Yiallourides, a senior research fellow at the British Institute of International and Comparative Law.

Free passage “is in the interest of everyone,” he stated. “We all want to get the best products at the best prices.”

Some economists argue that from a purely financial perspective, the global economy would hardly notice additional expenses from Strait of Hormuz tolling.

As an example, a $2 million fee on a large tanker transporting 2 million barrels of oil equals a $1-per-barrel cost increase for that shipment’s oil.

“The burden does not fall on global consumers, but overwhelmingly on the Gulf states that supply the oil that transits the strait,” reported the Bruegel think tank in Brussels. It noted the world economy would immediately gain from strait reopening — returning 20% of global oil to markets and driving prices down.

Additionally, by reducing oil prices, it would remove a multibillion-dollar geopolitical advantage for Russia, whose oil has become more sought after despite sanctions.

International oil prices have risen from approximately $72 per barrel before the conflict to as much as $118 on March 31. On Monday, Brent crude, the global standard, was trading at $94.55, dropping significantly following ceasefire news.

Saudi Arabia, the largest Gulf producer, praised the ceasefire agreement between the U.S. and Iran but urged keeping the Strait of Hormuz accessible “without any restrictions.”

Gulf nations have been forced to halt approximately 12 million barrels daily of crude production because no practical alternative exists around the strait for most of their oil. The two pipelines that circumvent it lack sufficient capacity to compensate for all lost oil, and constructing new pipelines would require years.

Considering the negative aspects of the toll proposal, Gulf states would only accept it if all alternative options appeared significantly worse, Bruegel stated.

A primary Western concern is that toll revenue would likely benefit the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which oversees Iran’s ballistic missile development, suppresses domestic political opposition, and appears on terrorist organization lists maintained by the U.S. and European Union.

WASHINGTON — Digital warfare specialists are cautioning that Iran-affiliated cyber criminals intend to maintain their online assault campaigns against American and Israeli infrastructure, despite recent ceasefire agreements between the involved nations.

A prominent hacking organization called Handala announced following the truce that it would briefly halt its operations targeting the United States while maintaining strikes against Israel. The group pledged to restart its American campaigns at an opportune moment, highlighting how online warfare has become deeply embedded in modern military conflicts. The fragile two-week ceasefire already shows signs of deterioration as all parties claim triumph in the conflict.

Handala operates as a pro-Palestinian, pro-Iranian collective that functions independently from Tehran’s direct control. The organization has taken responsibility for disrupting operations at American medical device manufacturer Stryker and breaching FBI Director Kash Patel’s private email system, alongside numerous other digital intrusions. This group represents just one faction among multiple proxy hacking organizations aligned with Iranian interests.

“We did not begin this war, but we will be the ones to finish it,” Handala wrote on its X account. “And let it be clear: The cyber war did not begin with the military conflict, and it will not end with any military ceasefire.”

Federal authorities issued alerts Tuesday regarding Iran-supporting hackers who have infiltrated internet-connected systems that automate and manage technology across critical industrial infrastructure. These systems, called programmable logic controllers, operate within ports, electrical facilities, and water treatment plants — prime objectives for foreign cyber criminals seeking to disrupt American daily operations.

A collaborative warning from the FBI, National Security Agency, and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency encouraged organizations utilizing this technology to verify their protective measures remain current. CISA has not yet responded to Wednesday inquiries regarding how the ceasefire might affect cybersecurity protocols.

Digital security professionals emphasize that organizations should treat these warnings seriously, regardless of any temporary peace agreements between warring parties.

Markus Mueller, who serves as a cybersecurity executive at Nozomi Networks, expects cyberattacks against American institutions to escalate rather than diminish following the ceasefire. He explains that any pause in active hostilities would enable hackers to redirect their focus from regional conflict participants toward infiltrating U.S. organizations that supported the war effort, including data centers, technology firms, and military contractors.

Mueller also forecasts that certain Iran or Russia-based groups might attempt to bypass the truce by executing a major cyberattack against an American target designed to capture public attention.

“With a ceasefire, we will likely see an expansion of cyber activity both in scale and scope,” Mueller said. “These groups will likely try to execute a high-profile attack such as what we saw with Stryker.”

To date, attacks linked to pro-Iranian hackers have generated significant activity but minimal actual damage, serving primarily to energize Iran’s supporters while highlighting ongoing security weaknesses despite military superiority.

Handala accepted responsibility last month for infiltrating Stryker, a Michigan-based major medical equipment supplier. The group claimed this breach served as payback for military strikes that resulted in Iranian student deaths.

Federal authorities responded by confiscating four internet domains the organization used for communications. Handala subsequently released several dated photographs of Patel after claiming successful penetration of the FBI director’s personal email account.

Additional pro-Iranian cyber groups have been connected to attempts at installing malicious software on Israeli mobile devices, compromising surveillance cameras throughout Middle Eastern nations to enhance Iran’s missile accuracy, and attacking data facilities and industrial infrastructure across Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait.

DUBAI – Following almost six weeks of military conflict, Iran has positioned itself with strengthened control over the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, even as President Donald Trump declares the recent ceasefire a victory for American forces.

Middle East experts warn that despite taking significant damage, Iran has emerged from the confrontation with enhanced influence over the narrow waterway that handles approximately 20% of global oil and gas shipments.

“This war will be remembered as Trump’s grave strategic miscalculation. One whose consequences reshaped the region in unintended ways,” Middle East scholar Fawaz Gerges told Reuters.

The conflict’s aftermath has created ripple effects throughout the global economy and destabilized neighboring Gulf nations that depend on regional stability for their economic well-being.

Previously, Iran monitored the strait and occasionally harassed commercial vessels but avoided claiming direct authority over the passage. Now, Tehran operates as the primary controller of the shipping lane, determining which vessels may pass and under what conditions. Iranian officials are seeking to impose fees on ships for safe transit.

Iran has also shown remarkable endurance throughout the sustained military campaign while maintaining its ability to escalate tensions further. The nation continues projecting power across multiple regional battlegrounds and critical maritime passages, extending its influence through Lebanon and Iraq via Hezbollah and Shiite militant groups, and reaching into the Red Sea’s Bab el-Mandeb strait through its Houthi allies.

Despite widespread infrastructure damage from American and Israeli bombing campaigns and a devastated economy, Iran’s governing structure remains intact and in firm control.

“What did the U.S.–Israeli war actually achieve?” questioned Gerges. “Regime change in Tehran? No. The surrender of the Islamic Republic? No. Containment of Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium? No. An end to Tehran’s support for its regional allies? No.”

Regional analysts and Gulf government officials who spoke with Reuters indicate that Iran has weathered the military strikes while maintaining – and in some areas expanding – its fundamental sources of power.

The current situation reveals a more hardened Iranian establishment maintaining control over Hormuz, possessing unaccounted nuclear materials, continuing missile and drone manufacturing, and sustaining support for regional proxy forces.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed Trump’s victory claims Wednesday, stating that Washington achieved a decisive military triumph and effectively eliminated Iran’s missile capabilities. The State Department and White House have not yet responded to requests for additional comment.

A two-week ceasefire agreement between the United States, Israel, and Iran is now in effect, with American and Iranian representatives scheduled to begin settlement discussions Friday.

Gulf officials caution that while the ceasefire may temporarily stop hostilities, its long-term success depends on resolving the underlying regional security and energy concerns.

Any agreement that fails to comprehensively address these issues risks solidifying Iranian advantages rather than limiting them, according to these officials.

Ebtesam Al-Ketbi, who leads the Emirates Policy Center, characterized the truce as an unstable temporary halt that could institutionalize new forms of regional instability without broader agreements.

“This ceasefire is not a solution; it is a test of intentions,” Ketbi told Reuters. “If it does not evolve into a broader agreement redefining the rules of engagement – in Hormuz and across proxy theatres – it will amount to little more than a tactical pause before a more dangerous and complex escalation.”

“If Trump reaches a deal with Iran without addressing core issues – ballistic missiles, drones, proxies, nuclear concerns, and the rules governing Hormuz – then the conflict is effectively left unresolved and the region exposed,” Ketbi added.

Iran has presented Washington with demands including sanctions removal, acknowledgment of uranium enrichment rights, war damage compensation, and maintained authority over the strait – highlighting the significant gaps between the negotiating positions.

Trump has acknowledged receiving Iran’s proposal and described it as “a workable basis to negotiate.”

Saudi analyst Ali Shihabi emphasized that for Gulf nations dependent on Hormuz for oil exports, the waterway represents an absolute priority. “Any outcome that leaves the waterway effectively in Iranian hands would be a defeat for President Trump,” he said, noting potential consequences including elevated energy costs that could impact midterm elections.

However, Shihabi suggested the conflict may create opportunities for Tehran to secure a negotiated agreement that could include sanctions relief.

From the Gulf states’ perspective, the situation presents serious concerns. Regional distrust of Iran has intensified following Tehran’s attacks on energy infrastructure and commercial centers throughout the area. The transformation of Hormuz into an explicit tool of pressure and intimidation represents an even more troubling development, according to analysts.

The economic implications are equally significant. Iran’s intention to charge transit fees for vessels using Hormuz shipping lanes as part of any permanent agreement would impact far beyond the Gulf region, affecting global energy markets and the economic foundations of nations along the opposite coastline.

“If Iran can extract millions per ship, the implications are enormous – not just for the Gulf, but for the global economy,” Ketbi explained. “In that sense, the outcome is not just a regional setback, but a systemic shift with worldwide consequences.”

Experts warn this development would represent a fundamental transformation in regional dynamics – shifting from a strait governed by international standards to one controlled by a hostile nation strengthened, rather than weakened, by warfare.

The ceasefire, facilitated by Pakistan, concluded a conflict initiated February 28 by Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who stated their goals included reducing Iran’s regional influence, dismantling its nuclear program, and creating conditions for Iranians to overthrow their government.

Both sides have claimed success. Trump labeled the ceasefire a “total and complete victory,” asserting American forces accomplished their mission, while Iran’s Supreme National Security Council maintained that Trump accepted their terms.

Yet the conflict has not eliminated Iran’s stockpile of weapons-grade enriched uranium or its capacity to attack neighboring countries with missiles and drones. The leadership, which previously faced massive domestic protests, survived the superpower assault without signs of governmental collapse.

A Gulf source indicated that rebuilding trust with Tehran would require strict, written guarantees – rather than informal promises – addressing non-interference, navigation freedom, maritime corridor security including Hormuz, and Gulf states’ national security needs.

These conditions were communicated to Pakistani mediators for inclusion in a comprehensive settlement, according to the Gulf source.

An Israeli official reported that senior Trump administration officials assured Israel they would maintain previous demands, including Iran’s nuclear material removal, enrichment cessation, and ballistic missile elimination.

Pakistan’s prime minister announced that Iranian and American delegations are expected to convene in Islamabad Friday for the first official peace negotiations since the conflict began.

Armed militants on motorcycles carried out deadly raids on two Nigerian villages, resulting in at least 20 fatalities, according to local community members who spoke out Wednesday.

The violent incidents took place during the pre-dawn hours of Tuesday morning in the communities of Bagna and Erena, both situated within Niger state’s Shiroro region. This area sits approximately 155 miles from Nigeria’s capital city of Abuja, requiring about four hours of travel by road.

“They came on motorbikes and began shooting. It was a surprise attack, because it was in the early hours of the morning,” said Jibrin Isah, who lives in Erena.

While community members report at least 20 fatalities with additional people unaccounted for, local law enforcement officials provided significantly lower casualty figures. Police authorities confirmed only three deaths from the incident.

“Unfortunately, two vigilante members and a driver from the joint security team lost their lives during the attack, while some others were injured,” Niger state police spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun said in a statement.

According to village residents, the armed group maintained their assault for several hours, breaking into homes and forcing community members to escape to surrounding areas for protection.

“Those killed in the attacks were above 20,” Muhammad Tukur, a resident of Erena, told The Associated Press.

The violence reflects ongoing security challenges facing Nigeria, Africa’s most populated nation, which continues to confront widespread instability. The northern regions have been particularly affected by a decade-long militant uprising and various armed organizations that conduct kidnapping operations for financial gain.

Conflicts over territory and livestock grazing rights between predominantly Muslim Fulani cattle herders and primarily Christian agricultural communities regularly result in fatal confrontations. Criminal organizations also maintain active operations throughout these areas.

According to United Nations reports, the northeastern insurgency has resulted in significant casualties and forced population displacement across the region.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced Wednesday his support for completely shutting down internet gambling platforms throughout the South American country, where the industry generates over $4 billion annually and represents one of the world’s largest betting markets.

The 80-year-old president, seeking reelection this October, described online gambling as creating “a massive tragedy” for countless Brazilian families struggling with mounting household debt.

“If it is up to me, we close them,” Lula stated during his interview with ICL Noticias website. “I am deeply worried about the indebtedness of the Brazilian people. If these platforms cause harm, why don’t we end them? We are discussing this very seriously.”

Lula acknowledged that implementing such a prohibition would need legislative approval, noting that many lawmakers maintain connections with gambling companies.

Internet sports wagering gained legal status in Brazil during 2018 under legislation signed by former President Michel Temer. Lula’s progressive government established industry regulations in 2025 following the previous year’s blocking of multiple betting platforms.

Officials now want to increase tax rates on these companies beyond the existing 12% levy on their earnings.

Industry representatives have supported creating regulations for a more trustworthy marketplace, but warn that raising taxes could prevent domestic companies from establishing operations in Brazil while international sites continue accessing Brazilian customers without licensing fees or other obligations.

Data released in March by a Brazilian trade and services organization revealed that more than 80% of the nation’s households carry some form of debt, marking the highest percentage since 2010. Economic experts have linked portions of this debt increase to the country’s expanding online betting sector.

Numerous Brazilian faith communities and social advocacy organizations have consistently denounced gambling companies for their influence, particularly since other forms of gambling remain illegal throughout Brazil. These betting firms serve as sponsors for nearly all major soccer teams competing in the country’s top two professional leagues.

Current and former soccer stars, including Vinícius Júnior, Ronaldo Nazário and Roberto Rivellino, serve as promotional ambassadors for both domestic and international betting brands.

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Environmental advocates are voicing concerns about the declining effectiveness of Poland’s major air quality improvement program, warning that the slowdown threatens both public health and national energy independence amid ongoing global conflicts like the Iran war that disrupt fuel markets.

Poland ranks among Europe’s most heavily polluted nations, prompting the government to introduce the comprehensive “Clean Air” initiative in 2018 following repeated violations of European Union air quality regulations. This program provides financial assistance to homeowners and businesses seeking to replace coal-burning heating systems, enhance building insulation, and reduce energy usage. The initiative targets coal-based residential heating — the primary contributor to the country’s air pollution — by encouraging transitions to gas, wood pellet, or electric heating alternatives.

Environmental organizations are now expressing alarm that the program’s effectiveness is diminishing, which not only hampers smog reduction efforts but also maintains Poland’s reliance on unstable energy imports during a period of heightened geopolitical uncertainty.

According to Krzysztof Bolesta, Secretary of State at Poland’s Ministry of Climate and Environment, approximately one million households across the nation of nearly 38 million residents have participated in the “Clean Air” program since its launch. However, 2.5 million coal-powered heating units still require modernization.

Andrzej Guła from the advocacy group Polish Smog Alert highlighted the program’s achievements, noting that Krakow experienced a dramatic reduction from 150 annual heavy smog days to just 30. “It’s still 30 days too much, but there is progress,” Gula stated.

The program reached its zenith in 2024 when more than 250,000 funding applications were submitted, though participation has declined sharply since then.

Government officials implemented program modifications at the end of 2024 to prevent fund misuse and temporarily suspended application approvals. Environmental groups contend that this abrupt program suspension damaged public confidence.

During a Warsaw press conference on March 31, Polish Smog Alert representatives presented data showing application numbers had fallen to one-fifth of peak levels in 2025, with the decline persisting into 2026.

The environmental advocates expressed concerns that Poland’s advancement in air quality improvement and domestic energy reduction has stagnated.

Bolesta defended the reforms as necessary measures to ensure appropriate project funding and prevent public money waste.

“Poland has a unique situation in the European Union, as only Poland has such a high share of coal in individual heating,” Bolesta explained, emphasizing the government’s dedication to air quality enhancement. “However, I have no illusions: this will be very difficult and we will continue to lag behind other countries in the EU.”

Piotr Siergiej, another Polish Smog Alert representative, argued that the energy crisis resulting from the Iran conflict should prompt urgent government action to repair the program.

Siergiej contended that reducing energy consumption strengthens Poland’s energy security by decreasing reliance on imported gas, coal, and wood pellets — an environmentally friendlier solid fuel made from compressed wood waste.

“This program can become an epochal chance to energetically transform our buildings and homes, to make us more independent from those energy crises which we are facing now and whose future we can’t predict,” he said.

BRASILIA — The Amazon region’s most recognized Indigenous leader, Raoni Metuktire, announced Wednesday his continued endorsement of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva for the upcoming October election, even while opposing government-backed infrastructure initiatives that he and other Indigenous communities find troubling.

Metuktire’s declaration of loyalty follows his prominent appearance alongside Brazil’s leftist leader in January 2023, when he accompanied Lula as he entered the presidential palace to begin his third non-consecutive presidency.

Speaking to reporters Wednesday at the Free Land encampment — Brazil’s most significant Indigenous gathering — Raoni expressed his continued appreciation for the president’s efforts. “I like his work and am thinking about meeting him so we can address demarcation of Indigenous territories,” he stated. The demonstration has assembled approximately 7,000 Indigenous individuals representing 200 different groups, who have established camp in Brasilia for one week to advocate for their concerns.

Indigenous representatives are working to influence Lula, who has championed Indigenous rights and environmental protection throughout Latin America’s biggest country, while simultaneously advancing infrastructure developments that seem to contradict these principles.

Among these controversial initiatives is the Ferrograo railway development, designed to carry agricultural products like corn and soybeans across approximately 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) through Amazon rainforest territory. Indigenous communities have maintained long-standing opposition to this project.

Brazilian officials anticipate advancing the railway construction after the Supreme Court determines whether modifying national park boundaries for construction is legal and after congressional oversight committees give their approval.

Court proceedings were scheduled to continue Wednesday, prompting Indigenous protesters from the encampment, including Raoni, to demonstrate at the courthouse during afternoon hours.

Regarding the railway project, the Indigenous leader warned it could result in “great harm.”

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum revealed Wednesday her administration’s intention to explore domestic unconventional natural gas reserves as a strategy to decrease the nation’s dependence on imported energy during a period of global market instability caused by Middle Eastern conflicts.

Despite her background as a scientist and climate specialist, Sheinbaum deliberately steered clear of mentioning hydraulic fracturing or “fracking” — the high-pressure liquid drilling technique used to extract oil and gas from deep rock formations. She instead described the proposal as pursuing “sustainable” extraction methods while promising to minimize environmental damage wherever possible.

Environmental scientists and energy professionals continue to debate whether “sustainable fracking” can actually be achieved. Sheinbaum explained that a technical panel will conduct a two-month study examining less damaging approaches, including the use of non-drinking water and fewer chemical compounds. The committee will also evaluate the financial implications of these protective measures.

“All the gas we import comes from a type of extraction that has environmental impacts” and is “100 meters from the Mexican border,” she stated, referring to Texas fracking operations.

Mexico holds the distinction of being the largest single purchaser of American natural gas globally.

Though she acknowledged that natural gas import agreements with the United States remain solid and diplomatic ties continue strong, Sheinbaum contended that boosting energy independence represents a prudent requirement. “Is more gas needed? Yes. Can all gas be replaced? Hardly,” she stated.

After taking office in October 2024, Sheinbaum has committed to expanding clean energy sources while simultaneously supporting the government-controlled Petróleos Mexicanos oil company. She justified this approach Wednesday by maintaining that fossil fuels continue to play a crucial role in Mexico’s energy portfolio.

Sheinbaum emphasized that the goal involves decreasing foreign energy dependence during unstable periods and preventing scenarios similar to Europe’s experience with Russian gas shortages during the Ukraine conflict or current disruptions from Middle Eastern warfare.

This controversial Wednesday announcement occurs as multiple infrastructure developments advance to boost American gas imports. These projects seek to meet Mexico’s growing domestic power requirements while establishing the nation as a distribution center for gas exports to Asian and European customers.

WASHINGTON — A fragile two-week halt to hostilities between the United States and Iran has created breathing room for potential peace negotiations that could commence as early as Friday. However, the temporary truce has revealed deep disagreements between the two nations over fundamental aspects of any lasting agreement.

Key disputes center around Iran’s military oversight of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and the future of Tehran’s uranium enrichment activities.

Questions also remain about whether the cessation of hostilities applies to Israeli military operations in Lebanon, and whether Iran will seek substantial financial concessions, sanctions relief, and American military withdrawal from the Middle East as conditions for sustained peace.

The conflicting interpretations from Washington and Tehran highlight the complexity of reaching any permanent resolution.

President Donald Trump declared Tuesday evening on his social media platform that the truce required Iran to ensure the “COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz,” the critical Persian Gulf passage that handles one-fifth of global oil shipments during normal times.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Wednesday at a Pentagon briefing that the waterway had reopened. However, Iran declared hours afterward that it was shutting the strait again due to Israeli strikes in Lebanon.

Tehran maintains that even if shipping resumes, it will only occur under Iranian military supervision. This arrangement allows Iran to claim continued control over the strategic waterway, preserving significant geopolitical and economic influence while potentially collecting substantial fees from vessels, generating billions in new income.

Iran’s peace proposal includes Washington’s “acceptance of enrichment” for its nuclear activities. This directly conflicts with Trump’s stated goal of preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons capabilities.

Trump presented an alternative view Wednesday, posting that any peace deal would involve the United States working with Iran to “dig up” enriched uranium. The administration claims this material was buried following joint American-Israeli strikes in June.

However, Trump’s statement differed from Hegseth’s remarks. The Pentagon chief indicated Tehran would either “give it to us voluntarily” or face consequences similar to last summer’s strikes, when American and Israeli forces targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities.

Iran also insists that ending Israeli attacks in Lebanon, which have intensified recently, must be included in broader peace discussions.

This position aligns with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s announcement on X, where the key mediator stated the ceasefire would extend to Lebanon.

Trump contradicted this interpretation, telling PBS NewsHour Wednesday that the truce would not cover Lebanon.

This matches the position of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, which stated that the two-week suspension of Iranian strikes excludes the conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon.

When Iran initially presented a 10-point peace proposal Monday, Trump characterized it as a “very significant step” but also “not good enough.”

However, approximately 90 minutes before his Tuesday night deadline to launch extensive American attacks on Iran’s infrastructure and power systems, Trump announced the two-week pause and described Iran’s offer as a “workable basis on which to negotiate.”

“Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran,” Trump explained his decision to postpone threatened massive strikes on civilian targets.

The specific agreements remain unclear, with the White House declining to explain what developments between Monday and Tuesday evening prompted Trump’s changed stance toward the Iranian proposal.

Adding to the confusion, Iran has issued multiple versions of its 10-point framework for negotiations, with variations often appearing to depend on whether documents were prepared in English or Farsi.

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council claims “the United States has, in principle, committed to” several key demands that appear incompatible with longstanding American policies.

These alleged commitments include guaranteeing lasting peace without future attacks, maintaining Iranian control over the strait, accepting uranium enrichment activities, and removing all American economic sanctions. The council says this would encompass restrictions on international business with Iran and relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.

The council also claims American agreement to ending international monitoring of Iran’s nuclear program, providing war damage compensation, extending the ceasefire to Lebanon, and withdrawing all American combat forces from the region.

The final demand would represent a dramatic shift, considering the United States has operated military bases throughout the Persian Gulf for decades since the 1991 Gulf War with Iraq. Complete sanctions removal also appears unlikely for American acceptance.

When asked how such proposals could be considered viable, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated only that “negotiations will continue.”

“The truth is that President Trump and our powerful military got Iran to agree to reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and negotiations will continue,” Leavitt said in a statement.

Trump dismissed many of these points as “a FRAUD,” posting that the peace plan attributed to the council and covered by Iranian state media was a “false Statement was linked to a Fake News site (from Nigeria).”

Instead, the United States has presented its own 15-point peace framework. American officials have only confirmed general outlines.

“There is only one group of meaningful ‘POINTS’ that are acceptable to the United States, and we will be discussing them behind closed doors during these Negotiations,” Trump posted Wednesday.

Italian government officials called in Israel’s ambassador Wednesday following a shooting incident involving Italian peacekeepers serving with United Nations forces in Lebanon.

The incident occurred when Israeli military personnel fired warning shots at an Italian convoy operating as part of the UN peacekeeping mission known as UNIFIL, which monitors the volatile border region between Israel and Lebanon.

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told Italy’s parliament that “Israeli warning shots have damaged one of our vehicles; fortunately, no one was injured.” He later announced on social media that he had directed officials to summon the Israeli ambassador for an explanation.

Tajani emphasized that Israeli forces had “no authority to touch” Italian troops deployed in the region.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni issued a strong condemnation of the incident, stating “It is completely unacceptable that personnel operating under the U.N. flag should be put at risk by irresponsible actions such as today’s, which are in clear violation of U.N. Resolution 1701.”

According to Italy’s defense ministry, the logistics convoy was traveling from Shama to Beirut Wednesday morning when Israeli military forces opened fire with warning shots approximately two kilometers into their journey. The convoy immediately halted operations and returned to their base.

Meloni also called for an immediate end to Israeli military operations in Lebanon, which she said have caused excessive casualties and displaced numerous civilians. While acknowledging Hezbollah’s role in the conflict, she demanded that “Israel’s continued attacks in Lebanon which have already resulted in too many deaths and an unacceptable number of displaced people, must cease immediately.”

The shooting took place during what Israeli officials described as their most intensive strikes against Lebanon since fighting with Hezbollah militants escalated last month. Israeli authorities stated that a recent ceasefire agreement suspending hostilities with Iran does not extend to operations in Lebanon.

The UNIFIL peacekeeping operation currently includes approximately 7,500 personnel from various nations, with Italy serving as one of the largest contributors by deploying more than 750 soldiers to the mission.

Two French citizens who spent more than three years imprisoned in Iran have finally made it back to their homeland following intensive diplomatic negotiations between Paris and Tehran.

Cécile Kohler, 41, and Jacques Paris, 72, touched down in France on Wednesday after departing Iran by vehicle on Tuesday, just as news broke of a potential ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran aimed at ending regional hostilities that began February 28th. French officials are calling their freedom a significant diplomatic victory.

French President Emmanuel Macron, who has worked to keep France separate from Middle Eastern conflicts, greeted the pair at the presidential Elysee Palace upon their arrival.

The two were initially taken into custody on espionage allegations and were freed from their Iranian jail cells in November. But they remained stuck at French diplomatic facilities in Tehran because Iranian officials refused to grant them permission to exit the country. Macron announced they finally received authorization to begin their journey home on Tuesday.

“We understand how fortunate we are to have ‘barely made it out,’ because the situation could have been far more dire,” Kohler shared with media on Wednesday. “The past two days have been exhausting since we traveled by automobile and then aircraft. We haven’t gotten any sleep in 48 hours,” she explained.

The former prisoners made a nine-hour drive from Iran into neighboring Azerbaijan before boarding a flight to Paris, according to French officials. France’s Tehran ambassador Pierre Cochard escorted them throughout their entire journey home.

The president’s office described their release as the result of “sustained diplomatic work,” though discussions intensified recently due to pressure from the Iran conflict, which created urgency around the situation.

Macron stated last week that America couldn’t criticize allies for insufficient support after choosing to begin the Iran conflict without consulting partners. “This military action does not belong to us,” he informed reporters while visiting South Korea.

The French president became the first Western leader to have a phone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on March 8th after fighting began. The two leaders have since spoken by phone two additional times, on March 15th and March 24th.

French leadership also expressed gratitude to Oman for helping broker the release of Kohler and Paris.

Omani officials “enabled us, during the crucial final phase, to communicate key messages within Iran’s government structure,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot explained during an appearance on France 2 television.

“This past Sunday evening, which was Easter Sunday, I got a phone call from Iran’s foreign minister confirming their government had made the decision,” he stated.

Barrot indicated that specific details about the Iranian negotiations would stay “private.”

But Iran’s official news agency IRNA reported on Tuesday that Iran had struck a deal with France to free both French nationals in return for Iranian citizen Mahdieh Esfandiari.

Macron’s administration rejected claims of any prisoner exchange arrangement.

Tehran has been advocating since last year for Esfandiari’s release after she was found guilty in France of promoting terrorism based on statements she made regarding the Hamas-orchestrated October 7, 2023 attacks against Israel.

Esfandiari received a one-year prison term in February plus a three-year suspended sentence and a lifetime ban from entering France. She has challenged the verdict.

She had been living under house arrest, a restriction that was removed Tuesday afternoon, just after news emerged that the two French citizens had departed Iran, her attorney Nabil Boudi confirmed to The Associated Press.

Kohler and Paris expressed appreciation on Wednesday to everyone who assisted in their escape from Iran.

Speaking with reporters, they described Iran’s Evin prison, which houses numerous political prisoners and opposition figures, as “hell.”

“We endured daily terror,” Kohler stated.

Paris mentioned they felt “continuously threatened” during their imprisonment.

“We were forbidden from reading or writing. Each time we exited our cell, they covered our eyes,” he recalled.

“One objective was probably to destroy our spirits,” Paris continued. “They failed to break us. We will tell our story, we will speak publicly, and we will embrace life once more.”

The pair had been on vacation in Iran when authorities arrested them in May 2022.

RIO DE JANEIRO — Emergency crews rushed to contain a blaze that erupted Wednesday morning at the velodrome within Rio de Janeiro’s Olympic Park, with approximately 80 firefighters and 20 emergency vehicles responding to the scene, according to local authorities.

Officials from Rio state’s military fire department confirmed the flames were brought under control and remained mostly limited to the building’s fabric roofing material. No casualties have been documented, and the structure’s interior spaces — which house the Olympic Museum — escaped damage.

Investigators are working to determine what sparked this most recent fire, though the velodrome has experienced similar rooftop incidents before. The facility suffered two comparable fires back in 2017, with both blazes traced back to paper sky lanterns that had fallen onto the roof.

The velodrome gained international attention when it hosted track cycling competitions during Rio’s 2016 Summer Olympic Games. Today, the facility functions as the main training headquarters for Brazil’s national cycling and weightlifting squads.

TORONTO — Another Conservative member of Canada’s Parliament has switched allegiance to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal Party, bringing his government tantalizingly close to securing a parliamentary majority.

Marilyn Gladu, who represents an Ontario district, cited concerns about President Donald Trump’s economic and territorial threats against Canada as the driving force behind her party switch. Trump has floated the idea of incorporating Canada as America’s 51st state while imposing harsh tariffs on key Canadian industries.

“The past year has been like no other Canada has ever faced,” Gladu said in a statement Wednesday. “I’ve heard from constituents that you want serious leadership and a real plan to build a stronger and more independent Canadian economy.”

Gladu becomes the fifth parliamentarian to join Carney’s ranks and the fourth former Conservative to make the switch.

“She is going to be a great member of our team,” Carney said outside his office. “This all comes at a time when the country as a whole is uniting.”

The party switch moves the Liberals to 171 seats in the House of Commons, just one short of the 172 needed for majority control that would allow them to pass legislation without requiring opposition support.

Carney has scheduled special elections in three districts for Monday that could deliver the majority he seeks if his party captures just one of the seats.

The prime minister announced March 8 that voting will take place April 13 in two Toronto-area constituencies — Scarborough Southwest and University-Rosedale — both considered likely Liberal victories, plus the Montreal-area district of Terrebonne, where the outcome remains uncertain.

The three other Conservative parliamentarians who recently joined the Liberals are Chris d’Entremont, Michael Ma and Matt Jeneroux.

Jeneroux has pointed to Carney’s World Economic Forum address in Davos as influential in his decision. During that speech, Carney criticized economic bullying by powerful nations against smaller countries, earning widespread acclaim and overshadowing Trump at the international gathering.

Since replacing Justin Trudeau as prime minister in 2025 and winning national elections, Carney has steered the Liberals toward the political center.

The latest defection represents another setback for Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, who suffered defeat in last year’s national election and even lost his own parliamentary seat before later returning to the House of Commons.

Although Poilievre survived a party leadership review earlier this year, he continues to struggle with maintaining unity among his caucus members.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned Wednesday that significant challenges lie ahead in efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, despite the recent U.S.-Iran ceasefire agreement. The Prime Minister made these comments while visiting the Gulf region for discussions with area leaders.

During his trip, which had been scheduled prior to the ceasefire announcement, Starmer addressed military personnel at a Saudi Arabian base about the ongoing diplomatic efforts.

“We now … have a ceasefire, but there’s a lot of work to do, as you will appreciate, a lot of work to make sure that that ceasefire becomes permanent and brings about the peace that we all want to see,” Starmer told the assembled troops.

“But also a lot of work to do in relation to the Strait of Hormuz, which has an impact everywhere across the world,” he added.

The British leader has faced sharp criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump for not backing American and Israeli military actions against Iran. In response, Starmer has organized international conferences focused on coordinating allied efforts to restore access to the vital shipping corridor that serves as a lifeline for global energy markets.

“It’s our job to make sure that the Strait is open, that we’re able to get the energy that the world needs out and stabilise the prices back in the United Kingdom,” Starmer explained to journalists.

Meanwhile, British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper held discussions Tuesday with her American counterpart, Marco Rubio, regarding diplomatic strategies to secure the waterway’s reopening. Their conversation included details about a UK-organized summit last week that brought together more than 40 nations to address the shipping crisis.

QUITO, April 8 – Ecuador’s foreign ministry has withdrawn its ambassador from Colombia for diplomatic consultations following a public disagreement over a imprisoned former government official, marking another escalation in tensions between the two South American nations.

The diplomatic action came after Colombian President Gustavo Petro posted on social media Monday, describing former Ecuadorian Vice President Jorge Glas as a political prisoner and urging Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa to either free him or transfer him to Colombia, pointing to Glas’s Colombian citizenship.

President Noboa fired back on social media, stating that labeling Glas a political prisoner represents an assault on Ecuador’s sovereignty and breaks international non-interference rules.

“There’s a corrupt official in jail who must answer to Ecuador,” he said.

Glas held the vice presidency under Rafael Correa between 2013 and 2017 before being found guilty on multiple charges including criminal association in the Odebrecht scandal, accepting bribes related to campaign funding from 2012 to 2016, and misappropriating public resources following Ecuador’s 2016 earthquake disaster.

“We are taking steps to express, to reiterate, Ecuador’s strong protest to Colombia regarding the terms used by President Petro and the interference in decisions made by different branches of the Ecuadorean state,” Foreign Minister Gabriela Sommerfeld told a local radio.

The neighboring countries have experienced repeated clashes in recent months, with Ecuador’s conservative president Noboa maintaining close ties to Washington while Colombia operates under leftist leader Petro, who has previously criticized former President Trump. Their disagreements over border protection and anti-drug strategies have already sparked a trade dispute, with both nations imposing tariffs on each other’s goods.

Lebanese health ministry officials reported Wednesday that Israeli military operations throughout the country resulted in 89 deaths and left 700 people injured.

A ministry representative confirmed to news agencies that the casualties included “89 martyrs and wounded 700 people” from the day’s attacks.

The official also disclosed that a dozen healthcare workers were among those killed during operations in Lebanon’s southern region.

OTTAWA – Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney moved closer to securing a parliamentary majority Wednesday when a Conservative Party member switched allegiances to join his Liberal government.

Marilyn Gladu, a veteran Conservative legislator, announced her decision to join the centrist Liberals, bringing Carney’s party to 171 seats in the 343-member House of Commons – just one vote shy of majority control.

The timing proves crucial for Carney’s government, which has been operating as a minority administration since winning power in April 2025. Without a majority, the Liberals must rely on opposition party support to advance major legislation.

Carney has argued that majority control is essential for effectively responding to trade policies implemented by U.S. President Donald Trump. The prime minister praised Gladu’s decision, stating it would strengthen the government during a period of international instability.

The Liberal Party appears positioned to reach majority status through upcoming special elections scheduled for April 13, which will fill two vacant parliamentary seats.

Gladu represents the fourth Conservative member to join the Liberals since November, part of a broader trend that has also seen a New Democratic Party legislator make the same switch last month.

Achieving majority status would allow Carney to govern until October 2029, as Canadian federal elections must occur at least once every four years. Despite polling data showing the Liberals holding substantial leads over competing parties, Carney has stated he has no intention of calling early elections.

The latest party switch intensifies pressure on Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, who retained his leadership position following a January review after losing the 2025 election despite holding significant polling advantages. Conservative Party officials were not immediately available to respond to requests for comment.

MOSCOW – The Russian government accused European Union political forces Wednesday of working against Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s re-election campaign and assisting his political challengers.

Moscow’s claims emerged one day after U.S. Vice President JD Vance visited Budapest and called EU involvement in Hungary’s April 12 election “disgraceful.” Current polling data indicates Orban’s 16-year hold on power may be coming to an end.

“Many forces in Europe, many forces in Brussels, would not like Orban to win the elections again,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov during a press briefing. His comments addressed questions about a leaked conversation transcript between Orban and Russian President Vladimir Putin that Bloomberg published.

“This is well-known, it’s obvious to the naked eye, and, of course, they’re playing into the hands of those forces that politically oppose Orban and believe that publishing such materials could harm him,” Peskov explained to journalists.

The Kremlin spokesman offered no proof of EU officials’ involvement in the document leak. A European Commission representative responded by stating: “Elections are the sole choice of the citizens.”

President Donald Trump has publicly backed Orban’s campaign for another term, with Vance reinforcing that support during his Tuesday visit to Budapest. The Hungarian leader, known for his nationalist positions, has continued friendly relations with Putin throughout the Ukraine conflict, even as the EU works to isolate Russia through multiple rounds of economic penalties.

Hungary continues depending heavily on Russian energy supplies for oil and natural gas. Orban has prevented implementation of a European Union loan package for Ukraine that was approved in December, citing disagreements with Kyiv regarding a war-damaged oil pipeline.

The Bloomberg-published transcript revealed Orban telling Putin he was at his service and referencing a Hungarian tale about a mouse assisting a lion.

Peskov declined to dispute the authenticity of those statements, instead characterizing them as evidence of Orban’s practical approach to governance.

“He is indeed a very effective politician… one who is specifically defending the interests of his own country,” Peskov stated.

Emergency responders mobilized a massive firefighting effort early Wednesday morning to combat a blaze at the Olympic Velodrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil’s state military fire department announced on social media platform X.

The department dispatched approximately 60 firefighters along with 20 fire trucks to tackle the flames after receiving the emergency call at 4:17 a.m. local time. Officials confirmed that no injuries occurred during the incident.

Constructed for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, the facility operates under city government management and has earned recognition as Brazil’s premier track cycling training facility. The venue currently functions as the primary training headquarters for both the Brazilian national weightlifting and cycling squads.

This marks the third fire incident at the structure, following two separate blazes that damaged the roof in 2017, though those earlier fires resulted in only minimal structural harm.

Beyond its athletic facilities, the venue also accommodates the Olympic Museum, which showcases interactive displays and historic memorabilia from the Games, including authentic Olympic torches and medal collections.

President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that the United States plans to collaborate closely with Iran and engage in discussions about removing tariffs and sanctions, following the establishment of a two-week ceasefire agreement.

The president’s optimistic statements about Iran across three social media posts Wednesday represented a striking shift from his aggressive rhetoric just one day prior. On Tuesday, Trump had threatened to destroy Iran’s entire “civilization,” but by Wednesday he was proclaiming “A big day for World Peace!”

According to Trump’s social media statements, Iranian officials have accepted many elements of a 15-point proposal presented by the United States, though he provided no additional specifics about the agreement.

“We are, and will be, talking Tariff and Sanctions relief with Iran,” Trump stated.

While Trump’s positive remarks brought relief to Iranian citizens and global financial markets celebrating the ceasefire, fundamental disputes between Washington and Tehran persist, with both nations maintaining conflicting requirements for any lasting peace agreement.

The president agreed to the two-week pause in hostilities less than two hours before his ultimatum deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz shipping corridor or face destruction of its infrastructure and energy facilities.

Trump indicated Wednesday that America “will be helping the traffic buildup” in the strategic waterway. Experts estimate clearing the backlog of over 1,000 commercial vessels stranded in the Gulf region will likely require more than the two-week ceasefire period.

The president also warned that any nation providing weapons to Iran would immediately face 50% tariffs on exports to America, though he did not explain his legal authority for imposing such measures. The Supreme Court invalidated his previous tariff authority in February, and alternative options carry significant restrictions and implementation challenges.

China and Russia have previously assisted Iran’s military development to counter American and Israeli influence, providing missile systems, air defense technology, and other equipment designed to strengthen Iran’s deterrent capabilities. However, this support appeared limited during recent U.S.-Israeli military operations against Iran.

Both Beijing and Moscow have denied recent weapons deliveries, although accusations against Russia continue. American imports of Russian products have declined dramatically since the 2022 Ukraine invasion and subsequent sanctions.

Trump praised Iran’s new leadership Wednesday after U.S. and Israeli strikes eliminated several senior officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has been succeeded by his son, Mojtaba Khamenei.

“The United States will work closely with Iran, which we have determined has gone through what will be a very productive Regime Change!” Trump posted on Truth Social.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that face-to-face negotiations remain possible, though no final arrangements have been determined.

Vice President JD Vance, currently visiting Budapest, Hungary, said he has been working to advance diplomatic progress and described Trump as “impatient” for results.

Vance explained that the president instructed his negotiating team to engage in “good faith” discussions if Iran reciprocates. “But that’s a big if, and ultimately, it’s up to the Iranians how they negotiate. I hope they make the right decision.”

Trump, whose original justification for military action focused on preventing Iranian nuclear weapons development, also declared in his posts that there will be “no enrichment of Uranium, and the United States will, working with Iran, dig up and remove all of the deeply buried (B-2 Bombers) Nuclear ‘Dust.’”

“Nothing has been touched from the date of attack,” he added.

The military campaign conducted by America and Israel has not yet eliminated Iran’s stockpile of weapons-grade enriched uranium or disabled its capacity to strike neighboring countries with missiles and drones. Iran’s religious leadership, which survived mass protests months earlier, has endured the six-week military campaign without facing significant domestic opposition.

Nevertheless, Trump sees potential opportunities in Iran’s reconstruction efforts, promising America will be “hangin’ around” to help create a “Golden Age of the Middle East.”

“There will be lots of positive action!” Trump posted shortly after midnight Wednesday in Washington. “Big money will be made.”

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva announced Wednesday his administration plans to introduce legislation to Congress within days that would shorten the standard work week.

The upcoming bill represents a major campaign commitment Lula made during his successful October presidential run, designed to decrease work hours while keeping pay at current levels.

The president made the announcement from Sao Paulo on Wednesday, confirming the proposal would reach lawmakers before the week ends.

OIAPOQUE, Brazil — A distant Brazilian city in the northern Amapa state is witnessing dramatic changes as expectations of an oil-fueled economic expansion take hold. Thousands of job seekers have relocated to Oiapoque following Petrobras’ launch of exploratory operations off the Amazon rainforest coast, with many destroying forest areas to construct temporary shelters while hoping for future employment in oil production.

Key developments from this situation include:

The local economy in Oiapoque traditionally relies on fishing activities, unauthorized gold extraction, and commerce with visitors from nearby French Guiana. Residents report that sudden, uncontrolled population expansion is overwhelming the community’s limited infrastructure systems.

City councilman Tiago Vieira Araújo reports that seven brand-new residential areas have appeared, with some built on land that was untouched rainforest just twelve months earlier. Local residents frequently voice concerns about packed schools and the community’s sole medical facility running at maximum capacity.

Indigenous council representative Renata Lod explained that “Petrobras arrived in the city with strong political backing, promising progress as if we would go to sleep one way and wake up like Dubai.” She described the actual outcome as completely chaotic population expansion and encroachment on Indigenous territories.

Job seekers such as Reginaldo Nunes Fonseca were motivated by the prospect of new opportunities. He relocated from Maranhao, a northeastern state, after watching a January television news segment about Petrobras receiving authorization for exploratory operations.

Conservation organizations caution that petroleum accidents could destroy fishing grounds and marsh ecosystems, while Indigenous community leaders worry the development might threaten their territories and traditional lifestyle.

Government prosecutors have requested that Brazil’s environmental oversight agency cancel or halt the environmental permit, claiming Petrobras’ impact assessments are inadequate and that the corporation is hiding the complete scope of environmental consequences. No decision has been announced.

Petrobras stated it performed spill simulations to obtain licensing approval and has been using floating monitoring equipment to track ocean currents since beginning exploration activities in October.

This past January, Petrobras disclosed a drilling-fluid release that temporarily stopped operations. IBAMA, the environmental oversight agency, imposed a 2.5 million real ($470,500) penalty on the company.

During Brazil’s hosting of the yearly United Nations climate conference, COP30, last year, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Brazilian negotiators worked to promote an international strategy for eliminating fossil fuel dependence, which primarily causes global warming.

Yet the situation in communities like Oiapoque demonstrates a wider challenge facing much of the developing world. Various nations, Brazil included, have pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions such as carbon dioxide, which result from burning oil and contribute to climate change. Simultaneously, many citizens hope that fossil fuel revenues will boost their local economies.

Extending oil extraction into the Amazon territory, even through offshore projects like this one, also questions Lula’s electoral promise to safeguard the rainforest.

WASHINGTON – A senior United Nations diplomatic representative has touched down in Iran this week during a wider Middle Eastern diplomatic mission focused on achieving a comprehensive and lasting peace agreement, according to UN officials who announced the visit Wednesday.

Jean Arnault, serving as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’s personal representative, will gather Iranian viewpoints on potential paths forward while reinforcing Guterres’s dedication to supporting peaceful conflict resolution, according to a UN spokesperson’s statement.

The UN spokesperson noted that Arnault has urged all regional leaders to “choose the path of peaceful resolution and the protection of civilians.”

The experienced UN diplomat, who received his appointment as Guterres’s special representative for the conflict just last month, departed for the Middle East region on Monday. However, United Nations officials have not released details about all destinations planned for his diplomatic tour.

A comprehensive new study from the International Monetary Fund reveals that armed conflicts inflict severe and long-lasting economic damage on nations where battles occur, with economic production falling approximately 7% over five years and financial wounds persisting for more than ten years.

The research, published Wednesday, analyzed active conflicts worldwide – which have reached their highest levels since World War Two ended – and examined how dramatic increases in defense spending affect national economies. The analysis will be part of the IMF’s complete World Economic Outlook report scheduled for release next Tuesday.

The study reviewed wartime economic data dating back to 1946 and military expenditure information from 164 nations, though it does not cover recent Middle East conflicts or the two-week ceasefire announced Tuesday by President Donald Trump.

According to the most recent available data from 2024, more than 35 nations experienced armed conflict within their borders, affecting approximately 45% of the global population living in conflict-affected countries.

“Beyond their devastating human toll, wars impose large and lasting economic costs, and pose difficult macroeconomic trade-offs, especially for those countries where the fighting is taking place,” the IMF stated in an accompanying blog post.

The research found that nations fighting wars on foreign soil can avoid physical destruction at home and minimize major economic losses, though neighboring countries and important trade partners still experience significant economic shocks.

“Output losses from conflicts persist even after a decade and typically exceed those associated with financial crises or severe natural disasters,” according to the IMF analysis.

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva told Reuters Monday that the organization plans to reduce its global growth projections and increase inflation forecasts due to the Iran war. World Bank President Ajay Banga echoed these concerns Tuesday, stating the conflict would cause slower growth and higher inflation regardless of how quickly it concludes.

The study found that warfare contributes to sustained currency devaluation, depletion of financial reserves, and rising inflation as growing external imbalances worsen economic stress.

Rising global tensions and more frequent conflicts have triggered substantial increases in military spending, with approximately half of all countries boosting their defense budgets over the past five years. Additional increases are expected as NATO members work toward spending 5% of their GDP on weapons by 2035.

The IMF discovered that arms sales from the world’s largest weapons manufacturers – predominantly U.S.-based companies – have doubled in real terms over the past twenty years.

Researchers identified that major defense spending increases have become more common, particularly in emerging-market and developing nations. These spending surges typically last about 2.5 years and see military expenditures jump by roughly 2.7% of GDP.

Approximately two-thirds of these military buildups were funded through increased government deficits, which could stimulate economic activity in the medium term but also drive up inflation and create future challenges. The IMF emphasized that such buildups require careful coordination with monetary policy.

Government budget deficits typically worsen by about 2.6 percentage points of GDP, while public debt increases by approximately 7 percentage points within three years of beginning a military buildup.

About one-quarter of these buildups were funded by shifting spending priorities, often resulting in sharp cuts to government social programs, explained IMF economist Andresa Lagerborg in a recorded discussion about the research.

The study also found that economic benefits were smaller when weapons were purchased from foreign suppliers. The IMF suggested that focusing on public investment in equipment and infrastructure would expand market size, support economies of scale, and strengthen industrial capacity while reducing dependence on overseas suppliers.

IMF economist Hippolyte Balima, a key author of the research, noted that the data demonstrates peace remains fragile, with about 40% of countries returning to conflict within five years.

Balima emphasized that early steps to stabilize economies, restructure debt, secure international support, and implement domestic reforms are essential for establishing strong recoveries.

BEIRUT — Lebanese health officials report dozens killed and hundreds injured after Israeli military forces launched extensive airstrikes across central Beirut Wednesday afternoon, targeting crowded business districts and residential neighborhoods without advance notice. The bombardment came just hours following the announcement of a ceasefire agreement between the United States, Israel and Iran.

Israeli officials maintain the truce arrangement excludes their ongoing conflict with the Iran-supported militant organization Hezbollah operating in Lebanon, though Pakistani mediators assert the agreement covers all hostilities.

According to Israeli military officials, the operation represented their most extensive coordinated assault during the current conflict, with forces targeting over 100 Hezbollah positions across Beirut, southern Lebanon and the eastern Bekaa valley within a 10-minute timeframe.

Dark plumes of smoke rose above multiple sections of the Mediterranean coastal capital. The sound of explosions cut through the noise of traffic during what had been a busy afternoon under clear skies. Emergency vehicles rushed toward burning sites as apartment complexes sustained damage and rescue workers examined destroyed cars.

Multiple airstrikes targeted crowded business districts, creating widespread fear among people in the streets. Lebanon’s National News Agency documented attacks across at least five separate neighborhoods throughout central and coastal sections of Beirut.

In an Associated Press interview, Lebanon’s Minister of Social Affairs Haneed Sayed criticized Israel’s extensive bombing campaign, describing it as a “very dangerous turning point.”

“These hits are now at the heart of Beirut … Half of the sheltered (internally displaced persons) are in Beirut in this area,” she explained, noting she had recently driven through the affected zones.

Sayed indicated Lebanon’s government stands prepared to begin discussions with Israel aimed at ending the violence, reiterating an offer previously extended by the president. Israeli officials have not provided a response.

“There are calls and efforts being made as we speak,” Sayed stated.

In a public statement, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam criticized Israel for intensifying attacks precisely when Lebanese leaders were attempting to negotiate a peaceful resolution, condemning strikes on civilian locations showing “utter disregard for the principles of international law and international humanitarian law — principles it has, in any case, never respected.”

Israeli military representatives claimed they focused on missile launching sites, command headquarters and intelligence facilities while charging Hezbollah with using civilians as protective cover.

“The State of Lebanon and its civilians must refuse Hezbollah’s entrenchment in civilian areas and its weapons build-up capabilities,” military officials declared.

Local residents and municipal leaders disputed claims that targeted buildings served military purposes.

“Look at these crimes,” stated Mohammed Balouza, a Beirut municipal council member, speaking from a strike location in the central Corniche al Mazraa district, an area mixing commercial and residential properties. An apartment complex behind a well-known shop selling nuts and dried fruit had been damaged. “This is a residential area. There is nothing (military) here.”

Israeli forces had infrequently targeted central Beirut areas since the current Israel-Hezbollah conflict began March 2, typically focusing strikes on southern and eastern Lebanon along with Beirut’s southern suburbs.

Prior to the latest wave of attacks, a Hezbollah representative informed the AP that the organization was allowing mediators time to negotiate a Lebanese ceasefire, but “we have not announced our adherence to the ceasefire since the Israelis are not adhering to it.” The official requested anonymity due to lack of authorization for public statements.

The Hezbollah representative indicated the group would reject returning to pre-March 2 conditions, when Israel conducted almost daily Lebanese strikes despite a nominal ceasefire remaining from the previous major Israel-Hezbollah war that concluded in November 2024.

“We will not accept for the Israelis to continue behaving as they did before this war with regards to attacks,” he explained. “We do not want this phase to continue.”

Hezbollah had launched cross-border missiles days following U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, igniting a regional conflict. Israel responded with extensive Lebanese bombardment and ground invasion operations.

Israeli military leadership announced Wednesday they would continue to “utilize every operational opportunity” for Hezbollah strikes. Lt Gen. Eyal Zamir stated the goal involves protecting Israel’s northern residents, who have experienced heavy fire.

Israeli bombing campaigns have resulted in over 1,530 Lebanese deaths, including more than 100 women and 130 children. Israeli military officials report killing hundreds of Hezbollah fighters. More than one million Lebanese people have been displaced.

Early Wednesday, following the Iran ceasefire announcement, many displaced individuals sleeping in street tents throughout Beirut and the coastal city of Sidon began gathering belongings to prepare for home returns.

This occurred before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged continued military operations in Lebanon.

At an extensive displacement facility along Beirut’s waterfront, families confused by contradictory statements expressed bewilderment and hopelessness.

“We can’t take this anymore, sleeping in a tent, not showering, the uncertainty,” said Fadi Zaydan, 35. He and his parents had prepared to return to the southern city of Nabatieh before Netanyahu’s remarks halted their plans.

“But we’ll be targeted if we go home,” Zaydan explained. His family chose to temporarily remain in Sidon, somewhat closer to their home.

ISTANBUL — Nine individuals are now in custody following a deadly assault on law enforcement officers stationed outside the Israeli Consulate building in Istanbul, according to Turkey’s official news service reporting Wednesday.

The violent incident unfolded Tuesday in Istanbul’s commercial center, resulting in one attacker’s death while two accomplices suffered injuries during the exchange of gunfire with police. Two law enforcement officers received minor wounds in the confrontation, authorities confirmed.

The diplomatic facility was unoccupied during the assault, as Israel had previously evacuated its diplomatic personnel from Turkey due to security threats and worsening diplomatic ties following the outbreak of conflict in Gaza.

Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci revealed that one attacker was connected to an organization that he described as one that “exploits religion,” though he declined to identify the specific group. Turkey has previously experienced fatal attacks orchestrated by the Islamic State organization.

The Anadolu Agency stated that law enforcement conducted raids across Istanbul and the provinces of Konya and Kocaeli, apprehending nine suspects. These individuals are undergoing interrogation alongside the two injured attackers, though additional information was not disclosed.

According to Cifti, the perpetrators had journeyed from Izmit in Kocaeli province using a rental vehicle. The two wounded suspects are siblings, named as Onur C. and Enes C., with the former having previous drug-related convictions.

On Tuesday, Israel’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement denouncing the assault while commending Turkish officials for stopping additional bloodshed.

OIAPOQUE, Brazil — Reginaldo Nunes Fonseca sheltered from heavy rainfall on his friend’s wooden porch, cigarette in hand, gazing across what locals call Nova Conquista — New Conquest — where untouched Amazon rainforest existed just twelve months earlier.

The downpour prevented Fonseca from constructing his home or finding day labor in the settlement, but weather wasn’t his biggest obstacle. Along with thousands of newcomers flooding into Oiapoque, a remote city in Brazil’s northern Amapa state, Fonseca waits for an economic transformation that remains uncertain.

This migration wave began after Petrobras, Brazil’s government-owned petroleum company, obtained environmental approval in 2023 for ocean drilling along the Equatorial Margin near the Amazon River’s mouth, approximately 180 kilometers offshore from Amapa.

“I figured this was positive news — the community would expand and create numerous employment possibilities,” Fonseca explained, recalling how a January television news segment about the licensing prompted his relocation from northeastern Maranhao state. “I began contacting my friends and declared: ‘I’m heading there since I’m jobless here with nothing to do.’”

Amapa ranks among Brazil’s most impoverished and underdeveloped regions. Oiapoque’s local economy depends on commercial fishing, unauthorized gold extraction, and tourists from adjacent French Guiana who visit daily spending euros, which maintain stronger value than Brazil’s currency. Though potential business opportunities inspire optimism, uncontrolled population expansion strains a community already lacking basic services.

This petroleum-driven enthusiasm illustrates a complex challenge facing developing nations: balancing greenhouse gas reduction goals with dependence on fossil fuel revenues for economic advancement.

The situation also questions President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s environmental protection promises. Forest preservation became central to his administration, and Brazil hosted the 2023 United Nations climate conference COP30.

“We refuse to contaminate even one millimeter of water, yet nobody can prevent us from elevating Amapa from poverty if petroleum exists here,” Lula declared during his Amapa visit last year.

On March 10, roughly 2 miles from Fonseca’s residence, Petrobras conducted a public meeting with local officials, business leaders and community representatives to outline operational plans.

Corporate officials reported that exploratory drilling commenced in October with an expected five-month duration. Should substantial oil deposits be discovered and extraction considered, additional government approvals would be necessary — a potentially lengthy process requiring months or years.

Environmental organizations and Indigenous groups have filed lawsuits against Brazil’s government and Petrobras seeking exploration suspension, claiming inadequate consultation with traditional communities, underestimated contamination risks, and insufficient climate impact evaluation. Federal prosecutors requested IBAMA cancel or pause the environmental permit, arguing Petrobras conducted incomplete studies while concealing environmental damage scope. Courts have not yet ruled.

Meeting attendees learned Oiapoque primarily functions as a helicopter staging area for offshore personnel due to its proximity to drilling sites. Administrative oversight operates from Belem, a major city in neighboring Para state.

Despite uncertainties surrounding future extraction and Oiapoque’s minimal operational involvement, speculation has dramatically altered the community.

Census records show 27,482 residents in 2022, though recent population counts remain unavailable, making current numbers unclear.

“Over the previous 18 months, Oiapoque experienced substantial demographic increases,” stated Tiago Vieira Araújo, a city councilman who expressed concerns during the gathering. “Seven new neighborhoods have emerged, accompanied by social challenges.”

Oiapoque’s urban infrastructure remains inadequate. Under 2% of homes connect to proper sewage systems, while only 0.2% sit on paved roads, according to Brazil’s Geography and Statistics Institute.

Conditions worsen in newer settlements — termed “invasions” locally. Residents clear public forestland, establishing unofficial lots and constructing temporary shelters. Fresh tree stumps, wooden markers and crude dwellings emerge from muddy terrain, containing only essentials: cooking areas, sleeping spaces and basic restrooms.

“We understand forest clearing is inappropriate. Everyone recognizes this wrongdoing,” Fonseca acknowledged. “However, available land is scarce.”

Yuri Alesi, a 34-year-old attorney advocating for settlement land rights and former councilman, seeks the vice mayor position in April’s special election. He envisions Oiapoque becoming an “Amazonian Dubai” powered by petroleum revenues.

“Dubai sits within desert terrain, an improbable growth location,” he observed. “Oil industry development fueled its expansion.”

Brazil’s offshore Equatorial Margin, stretching from Suriname’s border to the nation’s northeast, potentially contains significant petroleum and natural gas reserves. Initial estimates suggest up to 10 billion barrels worth approximately 3.8 trillion reais ($719.7 billion). Alesi calculated royalties could generate roughly 100 million reais ($19 million) monthly for Oiapoque, matching the city’s annual economic output according to Brazil’s statistics bureau.

The Amazon forest plays a crucial role regulating global climate by storing carbon dioxide, yet faces constant pressure from agricultural deforestation, cattle operations and mining activities. Amapa experiences less intensive pressure, maintaining approximately 82% forest coverage according to MapBiomas, a land-use monitoring nonprofit.

Geographic isolation — surrounded by waterways and lacking road connections to mainland Brazil — has protected the state from southern Amazon deforestation patterns.

While some cite Dubai as Oiapoque’s development model, nearby petroleum-dependent cities offer cautionary examples.

Petrobras has conducted oil and gas exploration in Coari, another Amazon state, since the 1980s. Despite decades of activity, the city remains among Brazil’s poorest, with roughly 72% of residents experiencing extreme poverty according to recent research by Agenda Publica, a public policy nonprofit.

Other Amapa communities experienced boom-and-bust cycles linked to mining operations. Pedra Branca, located 280 miles from Oiapoque, flourished between 2007 and 2014 during iron ore expansion.

Pedra Branca’s prosperity attracted Selma Soares, 46, who relocated from Maranhao to Amapa in 2008 and established a grocery business.

A 2013 port collapse operated by Anglo American mining company killed six workers and disrupted iron ore production. India’s Zamin Ferrous later assumed mine control before suspending operations.

“Customers who shopped with us for years could barely afford food,” Soares recalled.

Recently, she heard increasing reports about Oiapoque’s growth. After visiting last year, she moved with her husband and son. The family now operates a small supermarket on the town’s outskirts. Soares noted many others have followed similar paths.

“People anticipate drilling commencement,” she explained. “They expect everything will get better.”

At the river boundary separating Oiapoque from French Guiana, a busy port bustles with boats connecting Brazil, its neighbor and surrounding communities. Green-and-yellow stickers declare: “Oil yes! Development yes!” — messaging promoted by local politicians.

Just 20 minutes away by boat, Indigenous Galibi Kali’na community members remain skeptical. Some recognize economic potential, but leaders oppose exploration, warning about environmental dangers and cultural threats.

“Petrobras arrived with powerful political support, promising advancement as though we would sleep one way and awaken like Dubai,” said Renata Lod, a representative on Oiapoque’s Indigenous council. “Instead, we’ve witnessed completely chaotic population growth and invasions of Indigenous territories.”

Lod detailed common complaints among Oiapoque residents, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, including overcrowded educational facilities and the city’s sole hospital operating beyond capacity.

Concerns about potential petroleum spills also persist.

“Most Indigenous lands consist of flooded wetlands. How would you clean wetlands? Once oil reaches rivers, removal becomes impossible,” Lod warned.

Petroleum contamination could rapidly spread pollutants to nearby coastlines and waterways, threatening ecosystems and communities dependent on fishing and mangrove resources. Petrobras stated it performed spill modeling to secure environmental permits and has deployed floating monitoring devices to track ocean currents since October exploration began.

In January, Petrobras reported a drilling-fluid leak that temporarily suspended operations. IBAMA, the environmental regulatory agency, imposed a 2.5 million reais ($470,500) fine.

During the community gathering, Petrobras representatives attempted to address concerns while defending operational safety. They highlighted everyday products, from textiles to air conditioning systems, emphasizing oil’s economic significance.

“Residents view Petrobras as an economic solution,” observed Araújo, the city councilman. “However, even remedies produce side effects. We’re already experiencing negative consequences before seeing any benefits.”

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — A temporary truce that began Wednesday has sparked optimism about ending the conflict between Iran, Israel and the United States, though significant challenges persist.

Achieving a lasting agreement will be crucial to stopping a conflict that has disrupted the Middle East and worldwide energy markets. However, substantial disagreements exist between President Donald Trump and Iran’s current leadership, while Israel maintains its own strategic objectives.

Trump has indicated there has been “regime change” in Iran following U.S. and Israeli operations that eliminated 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on the conflict’s opening day, along with numerous other senior officials and military commanders.

However, Khamenei’s successor is his son Mojtaba, who maintains close ties with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and is viewed as even more antagonistic toward America. Reports suggest he sustained injuries in the attack that killed his father and has remained out of public view since hostilities began.

The governing structure supporting Iran’s Shiite theocracy continues to function. While many Iranians express frustration with their leadership, no popular revolt has emerged since authorities suppressed widespread demonstrations in January, prior to the war’s outbreak.

Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium remains within the country, likely buried beneath enrichment facilities bombed by U.S. forces during a 12-day conflict last June. Iran has suspended enrichment activities since then but continues asserting its right to peaceful nuclear development while denying weapons ambitions.

Trump announced Wednesday that America would collaborate with Iran to “dig up and remove” the uranium, though Iranian officials have not verified this arrangement.

Both Trump and Israel have demanded Iran completely abandon its nuclear capabilities. Iran dismissed this demand in its 10-point peace framework.

Since fighting commenced February 28, Iran has deployed more than 5,000 drones, over 2,100 ballistic missiles and over 50 cruise missiles, based on data from the Washington-based Jewish Institute for National Security of America, which maintains strong connections to Israeli defense forces.

Prior to the conflict, JINSA assessed Iran’s missile inventory at 8,000 to 10,000 ballistic missiles of varying capabilities. No official estimate exists for Iran’s drone stockpile.

American and Israeli forces claim to have destroyed or buried numerous Iranian missile platforms. Israel reports significantly degrading Iran’s missile production and launch capabilities while acknowledging the threat persists, as Iran maintained its attacks throughout the conflict.

U.S. Central Command reported destroying more than 150 vessels, essentially eliminating Iran’s naval fleet. Numerous Iranian aircraft, helicopters and other equipment were destroyed, alongside military bases and weapons manufacturing facilities.

These losses did not prevent Iran from effectively blocking the Strait of Hormuz, the passage for approximately one-fifth of global oil trade, and establishing what amounts to a toll system for vessels seeking passage.

Israel severely damaged Iran’s allied militant organizations throughout the region during conflicts triggered by Hamas’ October 7, 2023, assault from Gaza.

Lebanon’s Hezbollah, the most powerful such organization, continues fighting Israel in battles that Israeli officials say will persist despite the ceasefire. Yemen’s Houthi rebels, targeted by Israeli and American airstrikes recently, launched only limited attacks against Israel during the war and avoided targeting Red Sea commerce. Hamas retains control over approximately half of Gaza and has not disarmed under a U.S.-mediated ceasefire.

Israel demands Iran cease supporting these groups, which Tehran has rejected and omitted from its peace proposal.

Previously, vessels moved freely through the Strait of Hormuz within Iranian and Omani territorial waters. Since the conflict began, Iran allegedly charges up to $2 million per ship for passage rights.

Iran and Oman are developing a proposal to share waterway fees, with Tehran insisting on maintaining military authority there, potentially creating a new revenue stream despite international sanctions.

Trump states America will be “hangin’ around” to guarantee shipping access. The U.S. and other nations will likely challenge this new arrangement, creating potential future tensions.

Persian Gulf Arab states cannot be pleased with the war’s outcome.

Iranian strikes caused extensive damage to petroleum facilities, airports and other infrastructure, undermining their carefully built reputation as secure business and tourism destinations. Qatar, among the world’s leading natural gas exporters, estimates years will be needed to restore production levels.

Gulf nations’ suspicion of Iran has reached new depths while their confidence in American protection has been undermined. U.S. military installations across the region sustained direct hits, though no signs indicate American withdrawal as Iran has requested.

Israel faced repeated Iranian attacks but its sophisticated air defense systems and extensive shelter networks provided substantial protection.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claims Israel dealt serious damage to Iran, but America and Israel failed to eliminate its nuclear or missile capabilities. His anticipated popular uprising to overthrow the Islamic Republic has not occurred.

Israel reports receiving American assurances that Iran’s nuclear and missile programs will be addressed through negotiations. However, many Israelis may feel disappointed by another inconclusive conflict, which could impact Netanyahu’s prospects in upcoming elections.

A temporary two-week ceasefire between the United States, Iran, and Israel has been brokered through Pakistani diplomatic efforts, with American and Iranian representatives scheduled to meet Friday for discussions about a permanent peace agreement.

Despite the agreement to hold talks, significant differences exist between Iran’s 10-point negotiation framework and the 15-point plan previously presented by Washington. President Trump described Iran’s proposal as providing “a workable basis” for discussions, though major disagreements remain unresolved.

Iran’s negotiation points include demands for uranium enrichment capabilities, which the United States has previously rejected. Additionally, Iran’s framework does not address its missile programs, which both America and Israel insist must be significantly reduced.

Pakistani Mediation Efforts

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the ceasefire agreement on social media platform X, stating both nations committed to an immediate halt to hostilities across all regions, including Lebanon where Israeli military operations had been conducted.

Sharif’s announcement did not reference either nation’s negotiation proposals and made no specific mention of any Israeli agreements. A Pakistani regional official indicated Iran might achieve many of its objectives, particularly regarding reconstruction assistance, compensation payments, and sanctions removal, but uranium enrichment approval remains unlikely.

American Position and Previous Proposals

President Trump announced on Truth Social that U.S. military operations against Iran would be suspended for two weeks, contingent upon Iran ensuring “the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz.”

Trump stated the parties were “very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East.” While acknowledging Iran’s 10-point framework offered “a workable basis” for negotiations, he did not detail specific points and claimed resolution of previously contentious issues.

Israeli sources revealed Trump’s earlier 15-point proposal, transmitted to Iran through Pakistani channels, demanded elimination of Iran’s highly enriched uranium stockpiles, cessation of enrichment activities, restrictions on ballistic missile development, and termination of funding for regional proxy groups.

Iranian Demands and Conditions

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi announced Iran’s agreement to suspend what it characterized as “defensive operations” contingent upon cessation of attacks against Iran, based on American requests for negotiations using Washington’s 15-point framework and Trump’s acceptance of Iran’s 10-point plan as a negotiation foundation.

Araqchi stated safe maritime passage through the Strait of Hormuz would be permitted for two weeks “via coordination with Iran’s Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations.”

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council declared Washington had accepted Iran’s 10-point framework and “the United States has, in principle, committed to”: non-aggression policies; continued Iranian authority over the Strait of Hormuz; acceptance of enrichment activities; elimination of all primary and secondary sanctions; termination of all United Nations Security Council and International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors resolutions; withdrawal of American combat forces from the region; and cessation of military actions on all fronts, including against Islamic resistance forces in Lebanon.

Prior to the ceasefire agreement, a senior Iranian official had indicated Iran would impose transit fees for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, which is recognized as an international waterway.

Israeli Response

Israel confirmed its participation in the ceasefire with Iran but specified the agreement does not include suspension of military operations in Lebanon.

An Israeli official stated the United States coordinated the temporary ceasefire with Israel beforehand, noting Iran had agreed to open the Strait of Hormuz without commitments to permanent war termination, compensation payments, sanctions relief, or other concessions.

The official also indicated the Trump administration informed Israel that during the two-week negotiation period with Iran, the United States would demand removal of nuclear materials, cessation of enrichment activities, elimination of ballistic missile threats, and resolution of additional issues.

ANKARA – Turkey’s spy agency served as a crucial diplomatic intermediary in negotiations that resulted in a two-week halt to hostilities between the United States and Iran, according to reports from Turkish news outlets citing security officials.

The temporary truce, which Washington accepted late Tuesday evening, was officially facilitated through Pakistani mediation efforts. The broader conflict has extended throughout the Middle Eastern region and caused significant disruptions to worldwide energy markets.

According to Turkey’s state broadcaster TRT, the country’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT) maintained unique positioning as one of the limited entities capable of sustaining direct communications with both Western nations and neighboring Iran, including contact with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

The intelligence service worked to preserve diplomatic communication pathways, avoid potential miscommunications, transmit messages focused on reducing tensions, offered suggestions to prevent additional escalation, and collaborated with various international intelligence agencies, the report indicated.

MIT officials could not be reached immediately to provide commentary on these claims.

Although Pakistan spearheaded the mediation process, Iranian officials have acknowledged Turkey’s involvement after the country initially attempted to facilitate direct negotiations between the U.S. and Iran before hostilities commenced in late February. A diplomatic source stationed in Turkey confirmed separately that Ankara provided assistance during recent negotiation periods.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, leading a nation that serves as both a NATO partner to the United States and shares a geographical boundary with Iran, expressed approval for the ceasefire agreement on Wednesday. He urged complete adherence to the truce terms and cautioned against any provocative actions or attempts at undermining the agreement.

Two French citizens arrived back in Paris Wednesday morning after being released from more than three years of detention in Iran, with President Emmanuel Macron greeting them at the presidential palace and describing their freedom as “the end of a terrible ordeal.”

Cecile Kohler, 41, and Jacques Paris, 72, had been staying at France’s embassy in Tehran since November following their imprisonment since 2022 at Iran’s infamous Evin prison. Iranian authorities had charged them with espionage, allegations that French officials consistently rejected as baseless.

Their unexpected departure from Iran occurred Tuesday as France has been working to maintain distance from Middle Eastern conflicts. The duo touched down in the French capital Wednesday morning.

Following their reunion in the Elysee palace gardens, Macron posted on social media: “We are delighted to welcome back Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris to France after three and a half years of hardship in Iran. It is a huge relief for all of us.”

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have imprisoned numerous foreign and dual citizens in recent years, typically on charges related to espionage. Human rights organizations and Western nations claim Tehran uses foreign prisoners as leverage in negotiations, an accusation Iran rejects.

Speaking to French defense and security personnel earlier Wednesday, Macron expressed gratitude to Omani officials for their assistance in facilitating the release.

During a brief media appearance after their presidential meeting, both individuals appeared weary but optimistic as they shared details of their imprisonment.

“We were under constant threat. We had no right to read, no right to write. As soon as we left our cell, we were blindfolded,” Paris told reporters. “Obviously, one of the objectives was undoubtedly to break us. For us, it is a new beginning. We are not broken. We will speak up and we will enjoy life.”

OSLO – The Norwegian Nobel Committee issued a sharp rebuke Wednesday against Moscow’s efforts to brand Memorial, the Russian human rights organization that won the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize, as an extremist group.

Committee officials revealed they have been informed that Russia’s Justice Ministry has petitioned the nation’s Supreme Court seeking this controversial classification. “If the claim is upheld, all activities of Memorial will be criminalised,” the Nobel organization stated in their official response.

When Reuters reached out to the Russian embassy in Oslo for a response, officials had not provided any immediate comment via email.

Memorial was honored with the prestigious peace award alongside Ukrainian Center for Civil Liberties and Belarusian human rights advocate Ales Bialiatski. Many observers viewed the joint recognition as the Nobel Committee’s way of denouncing Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine that began in 2022.

Italian officials announced Wednesday they will refuse to deploy naval vessels for patrol duties in the Strait of Hormuz region following a ceasefire between America and Iran, unless the United Nations provides authorization for such operations.

Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, who also serves as infrastructure minister in Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s conservative administration, addressed reporters about the matter.

“It is not on the agenda. We have already said that we will not send ships unless there is a United Nations initiative,” Salvini stated.

The ongoing conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran has created a significant energy crisis affecting the worldwide economy. Tehran’s decision to block the Strait of Hormuz to most maritime traffic has trapped substantial amounts of oil and gas in the Gulf region, creating particularly severe impacts for European nations including Italy.

The energy supply disruption has prompted some officials, including members of Salvini’s far-right League party, to suggest Europe should consider reestablishing energy trade relationships with Russia, which were terminated following Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Salvini later reversed course on that suggestion, acknowledging such arrangements would be impossible while the Ukrainian conflict continues.

“I hope that a time will soon come when it will be possible to speak about reconstruction and cooperation, including partnerships and energy, once the conflict with Russia has ended,” he addressed the Foreign Press Association in Italy.

Similar to other NATO member nations hesitant to support President Donald Trump’s military strikes against Iran, Italy recently refused to grant landing rights for American military aircraft at the Sigonella air base in Sicily while en route to Middle Eastern operations.

When asked about potential tensions between Washington and European capitals that could result in American military withdrawal from Europe, Salvini downplayed such concerns.

“I don’t believe there is any imminent issue regarding NATO troop withdrawals from Europe,” he commented.

Israeli forces conducted their most extensive military operations against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon since the ongoing conflict commenced, according to military officials who spoke Wednesday.

The strikes focused on dismantling the militant organization’s infrastructure positioned throughout populated civilian neighborhoods across Lebanon, marking a significant escalation in the current war between the two sides.

Russian state internet company VK announced Wednesday that it’s drawing inspiration from Chinese tech giant Tencent’s messaging platforms to improve its domestic Max app, which has struggled to gain user adoption.

Vladimir Kiriyenko, who leads VK, revealed that his company is studying both WeChat and Douyin (TikTok’s Chinese counterpart) to enhance Max’s capabilities and attract more users away from the currently dominant Telegram platform.

Moscow has been actively encouraging citizens to switch from Telegram to Max, but faces significant pushback from users who find Max’s features inadequate compared to its competitor.

Over time, Telegram has evolved beyond simple messaging into a comprehensive platform offering business tools, revenue opportunities for content creators, and cryptocurrency features – despite facing periodic government pressure.

Russian leadership views this “platform economy” approach, where online services connect businesses with customers through e-commerce and banking partnerships, as essential for stimulating the nation’s sluggish economic expansion.

According to Kiriyenko, Max plans to follow WeChat’s strategy by opening its platform to external chatbot developers, enabling new business applications. He noted that half a million companies have already signed up for Max services.

“The Asian model, WeChat is often cited as an example, became successful thanks to its open system,” Kiriyenko stated during a Moscow conference, emphasizing that collaborative partnerships drive success.

Recent developments show Tencent introducing ClawBot technology in March, which connects WeChat with OpenClaw artificial intelligence software capable of handling file transfers and email tasks automatically.

Kiriyenko, son of former prime minister Sergei Kiriyenko who currently holds a senior Kremlin administrative position, assumed his VK leadership role in 2021.

He explained that his team is also examining how Douyin successfully built e-commerce operations around short-form video content.

“As people consume content, they also follow creators who promote specific products and services in areas like beauty, health, and fashion. So now I’m working on developing it into a more collaborative format,” he explained.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — A Syrian asylum seeker facing charges of crimes against humanity rejected multiple allegations of torture and sexual violence as his trial commenced Wednesday at a Dutch court.

The 58-year-old defendant, known only as Rafiq al Q. under Dutch privacy laws, declared his innocence and dismissed claims that he supported former Syrian President Bashar Assad. Government prosecutors told The Hague District Court that the man served with the pro-Assad National Defence Force, functioning as the group’s primary interrogator throughout Syria’s ongoing conflict.

The accused man challenged the credibility of nine victims, witnesses, and Dutch law enforcement officials in his case. Speaking through a translator, he stated: “All of them are conspiring against me.”

When questioned by the court, he maintained that his employment was as a government worker in Salamiyah, a central Syrian city, and rejected any connection to torture activities.

In an unusual courtroom moment, the defendant tried to present evidence by displaying a document to the judge. His defense attorney, André Seebregts, acknowledged uncertainty about the nature of this evidence, prompting his client to respond: “I don’t tell my lawyer everything.”

This prosecution operates under universal jurisdiction principles, enabling countries to pursue legal action against individuals for international crimes like war crimes, regardless of where those offenses occurred.

The man requested asylum status in the Netherlands during 2021 and was residing in Druten, a small eastern Dutch community, before his 2023 arrest.

Dutch courts have handled multiple Syrian war crimes cases related to the nation’s conflict. A 2024 conviction involved a former senior militia member found guilty of unlawful imprisonment and torture involvement. Additionally, another Syrian received a 2021 war crimes conviction for participating in a prisoner’s summary execution.

Syria’s upheaval began with non-violent demonstrations opposing Assad’s administration in March 2011, eventually escalating into an extended civil war spanning nearly 14 years following the government’s harsh response to demonstrators.

Last year, rebel forces under current interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s Hayat Tahrir al-Sham organization advanced to Damascus and overthrew Assad’s government. Al-Sharaa, previously affiliated with al-Qaida’s Syrian operations, has since strengthened ties with Western nations and made history as the first Syrian leader to visit Washington since the country’s 1946 independence.

The Netherlands and Canada have jointly filed a separate action against Syria at the United Nations’ highest court, alleging Damascus conducted an extended torture campaign against its citizens. The International Court of Justice directed the Syrian government in 2023 to “take all measures within its powers” to halt torture practices.

Court proceedings will extend for two additional weeks, with a final ruling scheduled for June 9th.

ANKARA – Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan expressed his approval Wednesday for a ceasefire announcement regarding the Iran conflict, calling for complete adherence to the agreement while cautioning against provocative actions or sabotage attempts.

The Turkish leader expressed optimism that the truce would remain in effect, allowing the region to achieve stability following months of turmoil and unrest that began in late February. Erdogan emphasized that Turkey remains committed to backing initiatives aimed at establishing long-term peace in the area.

Vice President JD Vance revealed Wednesday that President Donald Trump is pushing hard for diplomatic breakthroughs to resolve the ongoing Iran conflict, describing the commander-in-chief as eager to see results.

During remarks at an event in Budapest while visiting Hungary, Vance characterized the current situation between the two nations as a “fragile truce” and emphasized that any lasting agreement hinges on Iran’s commitment to honest negotiations.

“The President of the United States has told me, and he’s told the entire negotiating team, secretary of state, the special envoy Steve Witkoff, he said, go and work in good faith to come to an agreement,” Vance explained to the audience.

The vice president went on to detail Trump’s urgency regarding the diplomatic efforts, stating: “He’s impatient. He’s impatient to make progress. He has told us to negotiate in good faith, and I think if they negotiate in good faith, we will be able to find a deal. But that’s a big if, and ultimately, it’s up to the Iranians how they negotiate. I hope they make the right decision.”

Vance noted that while certain elements within Iran’s government appear willing to engage constructively in peace talks, other factions remain resistant to the diplomatic process.

The comments come as the United States and Iran have entered into a two-week cessation of hostilities, facilitated through Pakistani mediation efforts. This temporary pause aims to halt a six-week conflict that has resulted in thousands of casualties, expanded throughout the Middle East region, and created severe disruptions to global energy markets.

President Trump revealed the ceasefire arrangement Tuesday evening, announcing the agreement just two hours before his ultimatum deadline requiring Iran to reopen the blocked Strait of Hormuz or risk devastating military consequences against what he termed their “whole civilisation.”

LIMA, April 8 – Citizens of Peru will cast ballots on April 12 to select their next president and congressional representatives, concluding a period marked by significant political instability, impeachment proceedings, and corruption investigations that have resulted in eight different presidents holding office since 2018.

An unprecedented number of candidates are vying for the presidency in the initial voting round. Should no candidate secure the required 50% majority for an outright victory, the top two vote-getters will proceed to a runoff election set for June 7. Polling data suggests a second round is probable, with approximately five of the 35 presidential candidates having realistic opportunities to secure one of the final two positions.

The following represents an overview of the primary candidates:

KEIKO FUJIMORI

The 50-year-old conservative politician is pursuing the presidency for the fourth time, having advanced to runoff elections in each of her three prior attempts — a track record that demonstrates both her persistence and her divisive influence on Peru’s political landscape.

The former congressional representative heads the conservative People’s Force party and serves as the oldest child of the late ex-President Alberto Fujimori, who governed from 1990 to 2000 before imprisonment for human rights violations.

Her party maintains significant influence in Congress, serving as the foundation of a right-wing coalition and providing her with benefits in a divided political environment. Polling consistently ranks her among the top candidates.

She previously confronted allegations regarding unlawful campaign funding, though Peru’s constitutional court rejected the charges last year due to procedural issues.

Having received her education in the United States, Fujimori has established herself as pro-American, promoting foreign investment through improved institutional frameworks and presenting herself as a more dependable ally for Washington compared to opponents she characterizes as having closer ties to Beijing.

Her campaign emphasizes law-and-order themes, reflecting the military-focused security approaches linked to her father’s 1990s administration.

RAFAEL LOPEZ ALIAGA, ‘PORKY’

The 65-year-old ultraconservative entrepreneur from the Popular Renewal party and former Lima mayor ranks among the most recognizable candidates, although recent polling indicates declining support. Previously employed as a Citibank corporate banker, he accumulated wealth through hotel and railway ventures and has spent considerable time developing a hardline political image.

Known by the nickname “Porky” referencing the animated character Porky Pig, Lopez Aliaga actively opposes abortion rights, same-sex marriage, and what he terms “gender ideology.” A past member of the Catholic organization Opus Dei, he remains unmarried and has stated he has maintained celibacy since age 19.

His business interests include connections to Peru’s mining industry, with his railway investments benefiting from mineral transportation including copper from the Las Bambas copper mine, which operates under Chinese ownership.

CARLOS ALVAREZ

At 62, Alvarez has achieved recognition throughout Peru as a popular entertainer who has criticized the political establishment and seeks to capitalize on voter dissatisfaction with current leadership. Representing the center-right Country for All party with a populist, anti-crime agenda, he has drawn comparisons between himself and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, highlighting his own movement from entertainment into politics. Recent surveys indicate growing voter support.

His policy proposals include supporting death penalty implementation for specific offenses and expanded military involvement in addressing rising security concerns. Regarding international relations, Alvarez has expressed approval for U.S. President Donald Trump’s increased attention to Latin America while recognizing the economic significance of Chinese investment in Peru.

Opponents have raised questions about the comprehensiveness of his policy proposals and the capabilities of his advisory team should he achieve governmental position.

ALFONSO LOPEZ CHAU

The 75-year-old economist and academic represents the left-of-center Now Nation party. A former central bank board participant, he has partnered with a Marxist running mate who has advocated for changes to Peru’s market-based economic structure.

Lopez Chau has suggested establishing a sovereign wealth fund for infrastructure project financing, though specific details remain unclear, and has supported demands for constitutional revision. He faces investigation by Peru’s prosecutor’s office regarding alleged embezzlement during his service as National University of Engineering president from 2021 to 2025. He disputes these allegations.

JORGE NIETO

The 74-year-old former defense and culture minister under ex-president Pedro Pablo Kuczynski represents a centrist candidate with limited polling support who has presented himself as a unifying leader with institutional background.

He stepped down in opposition when Kuczynski granted clemency to Alberto Fujimori.

As founder of the centrist Party of Good Government, Nieto has advocated for civil rights reforms including same-sex marriage recognition and loosening restrictive abortion regulations. He has provided minimal commentary on foreign policy matters.

CESAR ACUNA

The 71-year-old leader of the right-wing Alliance for Progress party built his career in education through university campus development. The two-time presidential candidate has encountered numerous corruption allegations during his political tenure, which encompasses roles as congressman, governor of the gold-mining region of La Libertad, and mayor of its capital city, Trujillo. He has consistently rejected wrongdoing accusations and maintains no criminal convictions.

He has committed to prioritizing education reform and reducing government expenditures by decreasing the number of government ministries from 18 to 10.

ROBERTO SANCHEZ

A congressional representative campaigning for the left-leaning Together for Peru party, Sanchez has gained notice as a potential surprise factor in the fragmented competition. He advocates for constitutional revision to create a “plurinational” state providing enhanced representation for Indigenous communities, addressing longstanding complaints from regions feeling excluded from national governance.

Sanchez’s campaign closely connects to his ministerial service under former leftist president Pedro Castillo, who faces imprisonment on rebellion and conspiracy charges following his unsuccessful attempt to dissolve Congress in December 2022. From prison, Castillo has publicly supported Sanchez as his chosen successor.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte arrived at the White House Wednesday for talks with President Donald Trump as ongoing conflict with Iran creates unprecedented strain within the military alliance.

The meeting comes after Trump has harshly criticized European NATO members for failing to adequately back the U.S.-Israeli military operations against Iran. The president has even suggested pulling America out of the 32-nation defense pact entirely. Trump announced Tuesday that bombing operations would temporarily halt following agreement on a two-week ceasefire.

European nations remain reluctant to participate in missions aimed at clearing mines from shipping lanes or other efforts to restore navigation through the Strait of Hormuz while fighting continues, diplomatic sources indicate. Iran has pledged to block the crucial waterway with mines until hostilities cease.

Rutte, nicknamed a “Trump whisperer” by European colleagues, has maintained positive relations with the president despite mounting tensions. The NATO chief previously described Trump as a “daddy” managing disputes between Israel and Iran, with diplomats characterizing Rutte’s strategy as respectful yet productive.

“This is a dangerous point for the transatlantic alliance,” warned Oana Lungescu, former NATO spokesperson now with the Royal United Services Institute think tank.

During their discussions, Rutte plans to emphasize shared goals of reopening normal shipping routes after the conflict drove energy costs higher worldwide, according to diplomatic sources. He will likely try to discourage Trump from publicly attacking the alliance while highlighting European efforts to boost military spending.

A NATO representative said Rutte would focus on expanding defense industry partnerships and addressing both the Iran and Ukraine situations.

However, NATO’s potential involvement in Middle Eastern operations remains uncertain, given the alliance’s traditional focus on defending North America and Europe. European leaders have not authorized Rutte to commit forces to Strait of Hormuz operations during his White House visit.

“I expect he will keep up the dialogue on Ukraine and burden-shifting within NATO,” said a senior European diplomat, noting Rutte has suggested alliance members “should lean into opening Hormuz” following any ceasefire.

Trump’s Oval Office sessions with international leaders often become public displays where both compliments and complaints are aired before news cameras. The White House hasn’t announced whether media will have access to the Trump-Rutte meeting.

NATO was established in 1949 as protection against Soviet threats and has served as the foundation of Western security for decades. Recently, Trump has repeatedly labeled NATO a “paper tiger” that fails to help when needed. When asked about leaving NATO, Trump responded: “Wouldn’t you if you were me?”

The president’s Middle East focus has also raised concerns about diverting American weapons from Ukraine, which European NATO members consider a top priority. Trump’s Ukraine criticism, Russian outreach, and threats regarding Greenland have further worried European allies.

“He has been disappointed by NATO and other allies’ unwillingness to be helpful throughout Operation Epic Fury, even though his effort to destroy the threat posed by Iran is to their benefit,” stated White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly. “As he said, the United States will remember.”

ISLAMABAD – Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has agreed to take part in diplomatic discussions with the United States scheduled to occur in Pakistan’s capital, according to an announcement from Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s office on Wednesday.

The upcoming negotiations in Islamabad are designed to address and potentially resolve ongoing tensions between Iran and the United States, the statement indicated.

The confirmation of Iran’s participation marks a significant diplomatic development in efforts to facilitate dialogue between the two nations that have experienced strained relations.