Category: World News

BRUSSELS, March 30 – The head of the European Council spoke with Pakistan’s leader on Friday about the ongoing conflict involving Iran, describing their conversation as productive.

Antonio Costa, who serves as European Council President, reached out to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to discuss the situation. Costa shared details of their discussion on social media platform X.

“Good call today with the Prime Minister of Pakistan @CMShehbaz Sharif to hear his assessment on the Iran war, as well as the outcome of the recent consultations between the Foreign Ministers of Egypt, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey held in Islamabad,” Costa wrote in his post.

The European official expressed serious concerns about the ongoing nature of the conflict and its worldwide implications.

“The EU is gravely concerned over the prolongation of the war and its increasing global impact,” Costa stated.

Meanwhile, Pakistani officials announced over the weekend that they are making preparations to facilitate diplomatic discussions designed to bring an end to the Iranian conflict. These negotiations are expected to take place within the next several days.

Iran announced Monday that its diplomatic representative to Lebanon will stay in Beirut, openly defying Lebanese officials who ordered him to depart the country.

The diplomatic crisis has become a flashpoint in the broader conflict engulfing Lebanon, where Iranian-supported Hezbollah forces are battling Israeli troops. Lebanon’s government has sharply criticized Hezbollah for dragging the nation into the regional conflict on Iran’s behalf and has called for negotiations with Israel.

Lebanon’s Foreign Ministry withdrew diplomatic recognition from ambassador-designate Mohammad Reza Shibani last week, setting a March 29 deadline for his departure. Officials cited violations of diplomatic protocol, saying Shibani had inappropriately commented on Lebanon’s domestic political affairs.

However, influential Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a prominent Shiite leader allied with Hezbollah, has opposed the ministry’s action and urged Shibani to stay, according to sources close to Berri.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei announced at a press briefing that Shibani would continue his diplomatic duties in Beirut.

“Considering the discussions raised by the relevant Lebanese parties and the conclusions reached, the Iranian ambassador will continue his work as ambassador in Beirut and is still present there,” Baghaei said.

Lebanon’s Foreign Ministry has not issued any public response since the departure deadline expired and did not immediately answer requests for comment.

The Middle Eastern nation became embroiled in warfare on March 2 when Hezbollah launched attacks supporting Iran, prompting Israeli military operations that have resulted in more than 1,200 Lebanese deaths and forced over one million people from their homes.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, whose government had sought to peacefully disarm Hezbollah, condemned the group’s decision to attack Israel as ignoring the wishes of most Lebanese citizens and has prohibited its military operations.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, who had commended Lebanon’s expulsion order last week, observed Monday that the deadline had passed while the Iranian diplomat remained in place.

“Lebanon is a virtual state that is, in practice, occupied by Iran,” Saar wrote on X, adding that the Iranian ambassador “is sipping his coffee in Beirut, mocking the host ‘country’.”

President Trump is evaluating potential military actions against Iran’s crucial oil infrastructure, specifically targeting Kharg Island’s petroleum export facility.

The commander-in-chief indicated that America could “take the oil in Iran” and revealed he is contemplating deploying American military forces to capture the strategic oil terminal located on Kharg Island.

This consideration comes amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East, with the president exploring various strategic options regarding Iran’s energy sector operations.

Beijing announced Monday it is imposing sanctions on a Japanese politician who serves as an ally to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, citing his ongoing diplomatic connections with Taiwan as the reason for the punitive measures.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry revealed that Keiji Furuya will be prohibited from entering China, Hong Kong, and Macao, while also being barred from conducting any business with Chinese organizations or individuals. These restrictions take effect immediately.

Furuya serves as the leader of a cross-party Japanese legislative group focused on Taiwan relations and has made numerous trips to the island. His most recent diplomatic mission occurred in mid-March when he traveled to Taipei for discussions with Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te.

The sanctioned lawmaker played a significant role as Takaichi’s campaign strategist, directing election efforts for their ruling Liberal Democratic Party before its February electoral success.

Chinese officials accused Furuya of making repeated Taiwan visits despite Beijing’s strong objections and charged him with “colluding with Taiwan independence separatist forces.”

According to the ministry, Furuya’s diplomatic activities breach the one-China doctrine — Beijing’s position that Taiwan belongs to China — and “grossly interfere in China’s internal affairs and seriously undermine China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

Speaking to reporters after learning of the sanctions through Japan’s Foreign Ministry, Furuya stood by his actions. He stated that “it is only natural” for legislative groups to foster relationships between “countries” that share similar democratic principles.

Furuya downplayed the sanctions’ potential effects, noting he hasn’t traveled to China in decades and maintains no financial interests there. “So I don’t think there is any impact” from the restrictions, he said.

This diplomatic friction represents the most recent escalation in Beijing-Tokyo relations since Takaichi angered Chinese leadership last November. She declared that any hypothetical Chinese military assault on Taiwan would create a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan, potentially warranting Japanese military involvement.

Her statement departed from Japan’s traditionally ambiguous position regarding potential military responses to Chinese aggression against Taiwan.

Beijing considers Taiwan matters to be domestic Chinese affairs and rejects any international interference regarding the island, responding to Takaichi’s comments with various diplomatic and economic countermeasures.

Last year, China also sanctioned Seki Hei, a naturalized Japanese opposition politician born in China, for allegedly “spreading fallacies” about Taiwan and other territorial disputes.

PARIS — French officials are examining potential connections to Iran following the disruption of a planned bombing targeting a Bank of America facility in Paris this past weekend, according to Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez who spoke publicly Monday.

The investigation centers on possible Iranian involvement due to striking resemblances with other recent European attack attempts that were later claimed by an Iran-supporting organization, Nuñez explained.

Paris law enforcement officers observed two individuals carrying a shopping bag near the Bank of America location in the city’s 8th district on Saturday morning. Since then, three people have been taken into custody while France’s national anti-terrorism prosecutor has launched a formal terrorism investigation.

Officials are establishing a “direct link” with Iran because the “modus operandi is in every respect similar to actions that have been carried out in the Netherlands and in Belgium,” Nuñez stated during a Monday morning interview on RTL radio.

Those previous incidents involved claims from a pro-Iranian organization that “linked them to the conflict” in the Middle East, he noted.

The organization, which operates on Telegram under the designation Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, meaning the Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right, also took responsibility for a recent London attack where four ambulances owned by a Jewish charity were burned.

“Typically, intelligence services of this country (Iran) operate in this way: they use proxies, a series of subcontractors, often common criminals, to carry out highly targeted actions aimed at U.S. interests, the interests of the Jewish community, or Iranian opposition figures,” Nuñez explained.

According to Nuñez, French security agencies have enhanced protection measures for important individuals and locations since the United States and Israel began their military action against Iran on February 28, including increased personal security for certain Iranian opposition leaders.

Myanmar’s Parliament launched the presidential selection process on Monday, signaling what many see as a superficial shift back to civilian leadership following five years of army control.

The legislative proceedings coincided with Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing’s announcement that he was stepping down from his role as the military’s top commander. This resignation clears a constitutional requirement that prevents anyone from simultaneously serving as both president and commander-in-chief.

Min Aung Hlaing stands among three contenders vying for the presidency and appears virtually guaranteed to secure the position, given that military-supported legislators and appointed military representatives control a decisive parliamentary majority.

The selection process involves three groups each putting forward candidates: the Lower House has nominated two individuals including Min Aung Hlaing, the Upper House presented two lesser-known contenders, and the military bloc has yet to reveal their pick. Each faction must ultimately settle on one nominee before the 586-member legislature casts votes, with the winner becoming president and the runners-up serving as vice presidents.

The parliamentary vote could occur as soon as Thursday, though officials haven’t confirmed the exact schedule.

These lawmakers gained their positions through elections conducted in December and January, though military opponents denounced the voting as rigged to provide legitimacy to army rule following the February 2021 overthrow of Aung San Suu Kyi’s democratically elected administration.

Myanmar experienced military governance from 1962 through 2016, when Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy assumed control after winning decisively in 2015. The party secured an even stronger victory in 2020, but the army intervened before the new legislature could begin work.

Military forces violently suppressed peaceful demonstrations against the coup, prompting democracy supporters to take up arms alongside ethnic minority groups that have long sought greater self-rule.

The nation now finds itself engulfed in devastating civil conflict, with security issues preventing voting in 67 of Myanmar’s 330 townships during recent elections.

Min Aung Hlaing has commanded Myanmar’s armed forces since 2011, wielding significant political influence under the military-authored 2008 constitution. He gained international notoriety following a 2017 crackdown on Rohingya Muslims that forced hundreds of thousands to flee to Bangladesh amid reports of widespread abuses.

State television MRTV reported that the 69-year-old Min Aung Hlaing formally handed military leadership to his trusted deputy, Gen. Ye Win Oo, during a Monday ceremony in the capital city of Naypyitaw.

Ye Win Oo, age 60, previously held leadership roles in the ruling State Administration Council and the State Security and Peace Commission, both established following the military takeover.

Leading opposition groups, including Suu Kyi’s former National League for Democracy, either faced exclusion from recent elections or chose not to participate under conditions they considered illegitimate.

Suu Kyi, the 80-year-old former leader, is currently imprisoned serving a 27-year sentence on charges widely regarded as fabricated and politically driven. Authorities forced her party to disband in 2023 after it refused to comply with new military registration requirements.

Armed assailants stormed a university community in Nigeria’s Plateau state Sunday evening, opening fire and killing at least 13 people, according to local residents and government officials. The deadly assault marks another tragic incident in a region that has experienced ongoing violence between different groups.

The attackers targeted the Gari Ya Waye community within the Angwan Rukuba district, where they fired weapons at civilians without discrimination, witnesses reported. State authorities have identified the perpetrators as unknown gunmen and responded by establishing a 48-hour curfew across the affected district.

The violence has disrupted academic activities, with the University of Jos announcing the postponement of examinations that were scheduled to begin Monday morning. The institution cited security concerns following the overnight attack.

“People were here in the evening and unfortunately, wicked terrorists came and attacked our people. We have counted scores of people who are now dead and then so many others are also in the hospital receiving treatment,” said Paul Mancha, a local resident who serves as chairperson of the youth council in Plateau.

The central Nigerian region, commonly referred to as the Middle Belt, has been experiencing persistent deadly confrontations. While these conflicts are sometimes characterized as religious tensions between Muslim Fulani herders and Christian farming communities, analysts and political leaders point to environmental factors as underlying causes. Climate change and agricultural expansion have intensified competition for land resources, creating disputes that transcend religious and ethnic boundaries.

The violence in Nigeria has drawn international attention, with former U.S. President Donald Trump designating the country “a country of particular concern” last November. Trump cited targeting of Christians and alleged government failures to provide adequate protection, claims that Nigerian officials have disputed.

Kosovo’s leadership announced Monday their commitment to deploy military personnel to Gaza as part of an international peacekeeping operation supported by the United States, following last year’s ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.

The Balkan nation joins several other countries, including Indonesia, Morocco, Kazakhstan, and Albania, in contributing forces to what’s being called the International Stabilization Force. This peacekeeping mission aims to maintain stability and support a transitional government in Gaza under President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace” initiative.

During a televised government meeting on Monday, Kosovo’s defense ministry confirmed the deployment decision after receiving an invitation from Washington in December.

“We are ready to participate and help the people of Gaza, because we ourselves have been and are beneficiaries of international forces since 1999,” Prime Minister Albin Kurti stated during the session.

Officials did not disclose the specific number of troops Kosovo plans to send to the region.

Despite the ceasefire that took effect in November, tensions remain high in Gaza. Local health authorities report that Israeli forces have killed more than 680 Palestinians since the truce began. The broader conflict, which started in October 2023, has resulted in over 72,000 deaths according to local officials.

Kosovo, home to 1.6 million people in the Balkans, maintains strong ties with the United States, which supported the country’s declaration of independence from Serbia in 2008.

HALABJA, Iraq (AP) — Yaser Fattahi depends on elaborate phone relays to hear his mother’s voice across the Iran-Iraq border, waiting anxiously for his cousin to make dangerous trips near the frontier where cell signals can briefly connect the separated family.

The trained nurse escaped to Iraq last December after Iranian authorities began targeting him for treating wounded anti-government demonstrators in private homes, helping them avoid surveillance at government-controlled medical facilities.

With regional warfare escalating, Fattahi now lives in constant anxiety about his mother’s wellbeing as U.S. and Israeli strikes continue.

The ongoing conflict has severed telecommunications networks and prompted Iran to mass troops along the border, effectively cutting off both communication channels and commercial activity across the region.

Fattahi’s cousin orchestrates their calls by carrying two devices to the border area – one connected to Iraq’s cellular network to reach Fattahi, while using the second phone to contact his mother through Iran’s system via WhatsApp.

“The calls last a minute or two,” Fattahi explained from his location in Sulaymaniyah, situated in Iraq’s Kurdish territory near the Iranian frontier. “She tells me to take care of myself, and that they are okay.”

Four days have elapsed since their most recent conversation. Fattahi continuously checks his device. “I thought he would call today but he hasn’t,” he noted.

The frontier separating Iran from northern Iraq’s Kurdish areas has historically remained fluid, sustained by family connections, commercial exchange, and illicit trafficking. Currently, households find themselves isolated from relatives, while merchants and even contraband runners avoid crossing. Iranian military units have expanded their deployment to block infiltration attempts by Iranian Kurdish resistance organizations.

Individuals who venture toward the boundary seeking Iraqi cellular coverage face potential shooting, according to advocacy groups. Alternative communication methods include illegally obtained Starlink access, though at considerable expense.

Within the mountainous Iraqi region of Byara, family members previously made routine border crossings for celebrations and religious observances.

The warfare has disrupted these established customs.

Nyan Fayaq, a 25-year-old legal studies student, supervised large cooking vessels while helping prepare an iftar meal during Ramadan’s concluding week as numerous family members assembled in traditional Kurdish attire among verdant hills populated with livestock.

Her concerns centered on relatives in Iran’s Saqqez city, whom she hasn’t contacted for over thirty days.

Born in Iran, Fayaq relocated to Iraq with her mother following her parents’ separation when she was two years old, returning to her mother’s native country. She reconnected with her Iranian uncles eighteen years later and maintained regular contact.

“They have electricity, gas and water, but everything has become very expensive because of America,” she stated.

An Iranian Kurdish worker employed in Iraq returned to his native Merivan two weeks prior to retrieve his spouse, bringing her to Iraq due to safety concerns. He requested anonymity, worried that identification might prevent future returns.

Since that time, his family communications have been extremely limited. He reported that relatives informed him Iranian law enforcement and security personnel operate outside their usual facilities because airstrikes have destroyed many installations. The Associated Press cannot verify these claims independently.

According to his sources, security forces have occupied educational institutions and recreational facilities despite local opposition.

The conflict has completely halted cross-border smuggling activities.

These carriers, called kolbars, transport merchandise including tobacco products, electronic devices, and apparel throughout Iran’s western regions. They function within legal ambiguity while risking death from border security, severe climate conditions, and dangerous mountain passages.

Occasionally, kolbars also facilitate human smuggling across the frontier. Many clients are Iranian Kurds lacking travel documents due to incomplete military obligations, while others seek asylum hoping to reach Europe. Kurdish militant organizations utilize identical mountain paths for moving personnel and supplies into Iran for operations.

Twenty-five-year-old Bilal Osman has known only kolbar work, inheriting the profession from previous generations.

He remembers Iranian forces firing on a twelve-mule convoy transporting merchandise through mountain terrain last year. “One bullet even hit a man’s leg,” he recalled.

“Sometimes a lot of soldiers are stationed along the border. If they see us, they shoot, beat us, or throw stones. Our life is hard, but this is how we make money to feed our families,” he explained.

At the base of mountains bordering Iran near Halabja, he cares for his animals while awaiting communication from Iranian kolbars across the boundary. Since warfare commenced, no contact has occurred.

“The kolbars simply can’t cross. We are always ready, but the borders are tightly controlled,” Osman stated.

Iranian authorities have “brought cameras for each spot, increased soldiers from five to at eac30 h location, and now even place soldiers between checkpoints,” he reported. “We speak to people on the Iranian side every day, and they tell us they can’t come because the border is too heavily guarded.”

An Iranian kolbar, speaking anonymously for security reasons, confirmed to The Associated Press that operations have virtually ceased since hostilities began due to enhanced security measures.

Shiwa Hassanpour, representing the Hengaw Organization human rights monitoring group based in Iraqi Kurdistan, reported that individuals approaching the border face shooting because Iranian forces suspect espionage activities.

Gathering intelligence from within Iran has become progressively challenging, she noted. Residents depend on expensive virtual private networks to report incidents and transmit footage, causing delayed news emergence. Hassanpour herself hasn’t reached her family for over twenty days.

She indicated that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard has positioned substantial troop numbers throughout Kurdish regional cities. These actions intensified following Iranian Kurdish opposition groups’ coalition announcement.

Subsequently, Hengaw has recorded significant increases in temporary checkpoints, vehicle inspections, and civilian violence.

VPN services to circumvent internet limitations cost approximately $25. Family communication with overseas relatives requires up to $50, beyond most households’ financial capacity, she explained. Residents also pay premium rates for smuggled Starlink connectivity.

To block Iranians from accessing Iraqi networks for calls, Iran attacked cellular infrastructure operated by Iraqi companies Asiacell and Korek near the frontier, then instructed security forces to shoot anyone approaching those areas, according to Hassanpour.

Officials have also detained anyone discovered with VPN applications, accusing them of espionage for Israel or the United States, she added.

Fattahi continues awaiting word from his mother. Their conversations often suffer from interference and ambient noise because his cousin employs two devices – one contacting Fattahi while the other reaches his mother.

“It’s hard to hear her,” he said. “But it’s enough.”

Medical officials reported Monday that Israeli military actions resulted in four Palestinian deaths across Gaza and the West Bank, marking continued violence despite a ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States over five months ago.

According to local healthcare authorities, three Palestinians died and two sustained injuries when Israeli aircraft launched a missile strike targeting a group near Gaza City’s Zeitoun neighborhood. Israeli officials have not yet provided a response to the incident.

The conflict, which began in October 2023, has resulted in more than 72,000 fatalities. Israel is currently engaged in military operations against Iran with U.S. support, while also conducting a fresh offensive against Hezbollah that includes Israeli ground forces operating in southern Lebanon.

Despite the ceasefire agreement, hostilities in Gaza have continued alongside Israel’s conflict with Iran. Medical authorities in the territory report that Israeli forces have killed at least 50 Palestinians since the Iran confrontation started one month ago.

In the Israeli-controlled West Bank, healthcare officials confirmed that Israeli troops fatally shot a 22-year-old man in the vicinity of Hebron, with soldiers subsequently removing the victim’s body.

Palestinian security officials named the deceased as Ramzi Awawada and alleged that Israeli forces allowed him to die from blood loss while blocking emergency responders from providing aid.

Israeli military representatives stated that their personnel shot and killed a Palestinian individual who approached them while carrying a knife.

Human rights organizations and medical personnel report that Israeli settlers are exploiting movement restrictions implemented during the Iran conflict to launch attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank, with military checkpoints hindering ambulances from quickly reaching those injured.

According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, settlers have been responsible for at least five Palestinian deaths in the West Bank since the current conflict commenced on February 28.

Taiwanese officials announced Monday they are conducting investigations into 11 Chinese companies suspected of unlawfully recruiting semiconductor engineers and other technology professionals from Taiwan, as the island nation intensifies efforts to prevent technology transfers amid escalating tensions with China.

The Investigation Bureau of Taiwan reported that over 185 agents conducted searches at 49 different sites and interviewed 90 individuals during this month’s coordinated operation targeting Chinese businesses allegedly hiring Taiwanese engineers without proper authorization.

According to the bureau, the Chinese corporations being investigated concealed their true ownership by creating Taiwanese operations using foreign-funded shell companies as fronts, or by establishing unauthorized offices to illegally recruit workers and conduct business activities on the island.

China maintains claims over Taiwan, which governs itself democratically, asserting it as Chinese territory while refusing to rule out military action to gain control of the island. Taiwan rejects these territorial claims and maintains that only its citizens have the right to determine the island’s future.

Taiwan’s legal framework bans Chinese investment in certain semiconductor industry sectors, particularly chip design, while requiring government approval for other areas like chip packaging. These restrictions make it challenging for Chinese semiconductor companies to establish legitimate operations in Taiwan.

The investigation targets several major companies, including electronics manufacturer Huaqin Technology, mobile power device producer Anker Innovations, semiconductor and circuit board equipment maker Circuit Fabology Microelectronics Equipment, power semiconductor company Yangzhou Yangjie Electronic Technology Co Ltd, and chip design firm SG Micro.

None of these companies provided immediate responses when contacted for comment by Reuters.

Beijing’s pursuit of semiconductor expertise and skilled workers has grown more aggressive as Chinese leadership prioritizes achieving independence in advanced chip technology, driven by intensifying technological competition with the United States.

A specialized task force established in late 2020 has processed over 100 comparable cases involving suspected unauthorized recruitment efforts and illegal business operations conducted by Chinese companies, according to bureau officials.

MADRID, March 30 – Spanish authorities have prohibited United States military aircraft participating in operations against Iran from entering the country’s airspace, according to a report published Monday by the Spanish daily El Pais, which cited defense sources.

The airspace restriction requires American military aircraft to find alternative flight paths around the NATO ally as they travel toward Middle Eastern targets, though emergency situations would be exempt from the ban, El Pais reported.

Spanish defense officials have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the reported policy change.

When asked whether the airspace closure might damage diplomatic ties with Washington, Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo explained the rationale during a radio interview with Cadena Ser. “This decision is part of the decision already made by the Spanish government not to participate in or contribute to a war which was initiated unilaterally and against international law,” Cuerpo stated.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has emerged as one of the strongest critics of American and Israeli military actions against Iran, characterizing the operations as both reckless and illegal.

In response to Spain’s refusal to provide access to its military facilities for the conflict, President Donald Trump has warned of potential trade restrictions against Madrid.

International trade discussions concluded without success early Monday morning following four days of negotiations in Yaounde, Cameroon, as countries failed to reach consensus on key digital commerce policies and broader trade reforms.

The ministerial conference ended with Brazil preventing the United States and other nations from securing an extension of current policies that prevent tariffs on digital transactions such as online downloads and streaming services.

While expectations were modest going into the talks, many hoped the existing digital commerce agreement would at least be renewed. However, disagreements between Brazil and other member countries made even this limited goal unattainable, according to diplomatic sources.

Brazil was only willing to support a two-year extension, far short of what the United States wanted, and trade representatives couldn’t find middle ground that satisfied both sides.

American officials and business organizations voiced disappointment with the stalemate. Britain’s Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle characterized the inability to reach consensus as a “major setback for global trade.”

These discussions were viewed as a crucial test for the World Trade Organization’s continued importance following a turbulent year of trade disputes and recent disruptions from the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran.

Securing agreement on digital commerce policies was considered essential for maintaining U.S. support of the WTO, particularly as President Donald Trump has moved away from international multilateral organizations while implementing his “America First” strategy.

WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala expressed hope that the digital commerce agreement could still be restored, noting that Brazil and the United States continue working toward a compromise.

The organization reported some advancement on reform plans before time expired, with further discussions on making subsidy regulations more transparent and streamlining decision-making processes scheduled for Geneva in May.

Both the United States and European Union contend that China has particularly benefited from existing regulations to their disadvantage.

Negotiators spent Sunday attempting to bridge the divide between Brazil’s initial two-year proposal and America’s preference for permanent extension by creating a four-year plan with additional provisions extending through 2031.

Brazil subsequently offered a four-year extension including a midpoint review, but this compromise failed to gain sufficient backing.

Nations in the developing world have resisted lengthy extensions, claiming the current moratorium costs them valuable tax income.

A U.S. representative stated Brazil had rejected a “near-consensus document,” explaining “it’s not U.S. vs Brazil. It’s Brazil and Turkey v 164 members.” A Brazilian negotiator responded that “the U.S. wanted the sky,” arguing that pursuing longer extensions wasn’t wise given rapid changes occurring in digital commerce.

Another diplomat who attended the meetings said U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer made participants “uncomfortable” when he implied there “would be consequences” if America didn’t obtain a long-term moratorium extension.

Keith Rockwell, a trade expert with the Hinrich Foundation and former WTO director, explained that Brazil’s attempt to use digital commerce negotiations to gain agricultural concessions failed because America is less committed to the WTO than previously.

“In the old days because they felt responsibility for the system the Americans would have swallowed hard and taken a hit,” he stated. “But now they won’t do that anymore.”

Rockwell predicted the deadlock would strengthen alternative trade frameworks like the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, which includes 12 nations such as Japan, Britain, Canada, Mexico, Australia and Malaysia, but excludes the United States.

“Now what you’re going to see is a lot more energy and momentum into things like the CPTPP. They could immediately just agree on the framework (on e-commerce),” Rockwell explained.

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s legislative body is preparing to cast ballots on proposed legislation that would establish capital punishment as the standard sentence for West Bank Palestinians found guilty of killing Israelis.

Parliamentary discussions commenced Monday, just prior to the spring legislative break. If approved, the measure would represent the successful conclusion of a multi-year campaign by Israel’s extreme right wing to intensify penalties for Palestinians found guilty of nationalist crimes against Israelis — delivering a political win for Israel’s controversial national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, whose religious political party sponsored the proposed law.

Those opposing the proposed legislation describe it as discriminatory, harsh, and ineffective at preventing attacks by Palestinian militants. The proposed law stipulates that capital punishment would take effect within a month, although advocacy organizations are anticipated to challenge it before Israel’s highest court.

Leading up to the legislative vote, Ben-Gvir has promoted the proposal by wearing a miniature noose on his jacket lapel — a clear symbol referencing the bill’s preferred method of execution.

“With God’s help, we will fully implement this law and kill our enemies,” he stated following the bill’s advancement to a final vote, describing it as “the most important law” approved by parliament in recent years.

Ben-Gvir’s political party plays a vital role in the governing coalition led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Opposition comes from both Israelis and Palestinians, along with international human rights organizations and the United Nations. They argue the legislation creates different standards within Israel’s judicial system that would limit death sentences to Palestinians convicted of murdering Jewish Israeli citizens.

The proposed law directs military tribunals to impose death sentences on those found guilty of killing an Israeli “as an act of terror.” These military courts handle cases only for West Bank Palestinians, who lack Israeli citizenship. The legislation allows military courts to substitute life imprisonment under “special circumstances.”

Israeli civilian courts, which handle cases for Israeli citizens including Palestinian citizens of Israel, may select between life imprisonment or capital punishment for murders intended to harm Israeli citizens and residents or “with the intent of rejecting the existence of the state of Israel.”

Amichai Cohen, a senior researcher at the Israel Democracy Institute’s Center for Democratic Values and Institutions, described this difference as discriminatory.

“It will apply in territories with military courts, which are Palestinian courts. It will apply in Israeli courts, but only to terrorist activities that are motivated by the wish to undermine the existence of Israel. That means Jews will not be indicted under this law,” he explained.

Cohen noted that according to international law, Israel’s parliament lacks authority to create legislation for the West Bank, which remains outside Israeli sovereignty. Many members of Netanyahu’s far-right coalition support annexing the West Bank to Israel.

The legal counsel for parliament’s National Security Committee identified multiple issues during previous discussions, pointing out the law’s lack of clemency provisions, which conflicts with international agreements. The proposed legislation mandates executions occur within three months of sentencing.

While Israel maintains capital punishment as a potential sentence for genocide, wartime espionage, and specific terrorist crimes, the nation has not executed anyone since Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann in 1962.

The proposed law would not apply retroactively to militants Israel currently detains who participated in the October 7, 2023 attack. A separate piece of legislation under review addresses punishment for those attackers.

Some opposition legislators express concern the bill might damage future prisoner exchange negotiations. Israel traded approximately 250 hostages captured during the October 2023 assault for thousands of Palestinian detainees.

The Public Committee against Torture in Israel, a domestic advocacy organization, notes the state has repeatedly supported abolishing capital punishment at the United Nations. Israel’s Shin Bet security service had — until recently — opposed the practice, fearing it might trigger additional revenge attacks by Palestinian militants.

TEL AVIV, Israel — During a lengthy overnight legislative session on Monday, Israel’s parliament approved the nation’s annual budget, enabling Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration to serve out its complete term through the autumn months.

The country faced a critical April 1 deadline to approve budget legislation or automatically trigger snap elections. While Netanyahu retains the option to call for earlier voting if he chooses, the budget approval removes that immediate threat.

Critics from opposition parties harshly condemned the spending plan, arguing it inappropriately increases allocations to ultra-Orthodox religious communities while Israel grapples with enormous expenses from its ongoing conflicts with Iran and the extended Gaza war.

“The greatest theft in the state’s history,” declared opposition leader Yair Lapid regarding the budget.

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, anticipated to run against Netanyahu in future elections, posted on X: “The government of gluttony and evasion carried out a nocturnal heist.”

Opposition lawmakers expressed particular outrage over a final-hour amendment allocating an extra $250 million to ultra-Orthodox educational institutions. Public frustration has grown toward the ultra-Orthodox population due to their resistance to military conscription while Israel’s armed forces face severe manpower shortages and desperately need additional troops. Most Jewish citizens must complete mandatory military service.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, representing the far-right, defended the budget as “taking care of all Israeli citizens, without exception.”

Netanyahu’s administration enters its final months of a four-year mandate, with elections required no later than October’s end. Israeli governments typically don’t complete full terms, but the budget’s approval suggests Netanyahu, whose approval ratings have plummeted since Hamas’s October 7, 2023 assault, will likely finish his current term.

The legislation passed by a 62-55 margin. Parliamentary proceedings were interrupted three times by air raid sirens alerting of Iranian missile attacks targeting Jerusalem, according to the legislature’s spokesperson. Lawmakers met in the building’s auditorium instead of the main chamber due to its proximity to protective shelters.

The $270 billion spending plan represents Israel’s largest budget ever, featuring a 20% boost for the Defense Ministry due to the continuing Iranian conflict. Defense spending has expanded to $45 billion, necessitating reductions across other government departments.

Current polling data shows that while Israelis broadly support the military campaign, Netanyahu and his governing coalition aren’t gaining political advantage.

Iran maintains daily missile attacks against Israel, disrupting daily life for millions of stressed and weary citizens. Israel’s conflict with Hezbollah forces in Lebanon is also escalating, while Persian Gulf oil supply disruptions have destabilized the worldwide economy.

Delaying elections until autumn might help Netanyahu capitalize on wartime momentum once nightly air raid warnings become distant memories for Israelis. However, the voting would occur near the anniversary of the October 7 attack, Israel’s most devastating in history.

Israeli military officials recently extended civilian wartime restrictions for another week, maintaining prohibitions on large gatherings and requirements to remain near bomb shelters. These measures will now cover at least the initial portion of the week-long Passover celebration beginning Wednesday.

Officials in South Korea are evaluating whether to implement widespread driving limitations for all citizens as global crude oil costs continue climbing due to Middle East conflicts involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran.

Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol announced Sunday that the government might broaden current vehicle usage restrictions beyond government agencies if oil prices reach approximately $120-130 per barrel, compared to today’s $100-110 range.

Such widespread restrictions would represent the nation’s first comprehensive driving limitations since 1991’s Gulf War, when officials implemented a 10-day vehicle rotation program to preserve energy resources.

“If the Middle East situation worsens, the crisis alert would have to move up to the ‘warning’ stage, and around that point we would need to curb consumption,” Koo stated during a local television appearance, describing a potential escalation to the third level of the nation’s four-tier resource security warning system.

The finance minister also indicated officials might pursue additional fuel tax reductions to help households manage rising costs.

Monday’s statement from the finance ministry clarified that mandatory vehicle restrictions for private citizens haven’t been finalized, noting that officials will evaluate energy supply situations and economic conditions before making decisions.

The nation relies on Middle East imports for approximately 70% of its crude oil supply, creating significant vulnerability to regional supply interruptions and price fluctuations from area conflicts.

Last week, officials implemented mandatory five-day vehicle rotation requirements for government agencies, limiting vehicle usage according to license plate numbers.

Energy Minister Kim Sung-whan stated Thursday that officials are examining stricter demand control policies if warning levels increase further, potentially expanding driving restriction enforcement while encouraging voluntary corporate and financial sector participation.

Large corporations including Samsung Electronics and SK Group have supported these initiatives, encouraging workers to reduce personal vehicle usage and implement fuel conservation practices.

Political leaders and legislators have utilized social media platforms to demonstrate public transportation and bicycle usage, encouraging citizens to participate in energy conservation initiatives.

JAKARTA – Indonesia has announced plans to send a pair of endangered Komodo dragons to Japan’s Shizuoka prefecture as part of an international wildlife conservation exchange program, according to officials who spoke Monday.

The Indonesian Forestry Ministry explained that this animal exchange will enhance “contributions from both parties toward wildlife protection and conservation, as well as raising public awareness of biodiversity.” Ministry officials emphasized the program’s goal of breeding these critically threatened reptiles, which are listed as endangered by the IUCN Red List.

Conservation official Ahmad Munawir from the ministry confirmed to Reuters that both a male and female Komodo dragon will be transported to a Shizuoka zoo. As part of the reciprocal arrangement, Japan’s Shizuoka prefecture will provide Indonesia with multiple animals, including red pandas and giraffes, Ahmad explained.

Officials finalized the exchange agreement last week, timing it before President Prabowo Subianto’s upcoming diplomatic visit to Japan, where he is scheduled to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

Government statistics show Indonesia houses more than 3,000 Komodo dragons within its borders. These massive reptiles hold the distinction of being Earth’s largest lizard species, capable of reaching lengths of approximately 3 meters or 10 feet. The creatures are distinguished by their distinctive yellow forked tongues and deadly venomous bites.

According to reports from Japan’s TV Shizuoka, the two dragons could arrive as soon as June to begin the breeding program. Ahmad noted that the actual transfer will occur following the completion of a business agreement between the participating zoos in both countries.

Iranian authorities acknowledged Monday that Revolutionary Guards Navy Commander Alireza Tangsiri has died from critical injuries, according to reports from Iranian media citing an official statement from the guards.

Several days earlier on March 26, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz had announced the military action, stating: “In a precise and lethal operation, the IDF eliminated the commander of the IRGC Navy, Tangsiri, along with senior naval command officials.”

The confirmation from Tehran comes after the Israeli official’s public declaration of the targeted strike that killed the high-ranking Iranian military leader and other naval commanders.

Economic analysts anticipate that Chinese manufacturing activity rebounded in March, ending a two-month period of decline, as the country’s export sector continues to show strength despite growing international concerns.

According to a survey of 28 economic experts conducted by Reuters, China’s official manufacturing purchasing managers’ index is expected to climb to 50.1 from February’s reading of 49.0. This would mark the first time since January that the index has crossed above the critical 50-point threshold that indicates growth rather than contraction.

The official statistics, compiled through the National Bureau of Statistics’ survey of businesses nationwide, are scheduled for release on Tuesday.

Manufacturing activity had remained below the expansion level throughout most of 2025 and the opening months of 2026, as domestic consumer weakness led to destructive price competition that eroded company profits. Additionally, strained relationships with international trade partners undermined business confidence.

Despite challenges from American tariff policies, China’s export sector demonstrated remarkable strength in 2025 and surged during the first two months of 2026, providing crucial support for economic growth.

Even a modest improvement in manufacturing indicators would provide encouragement to government officials working to maintain stable economic progress while navigating increasing global uncertainties.

The Middle Eastern conflict that began in late February, featuring U.S.-Israeli military action against Iran, has disrupted worldwide supply networks and created an energy shortage as Iran has limited shipping through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. These complications may pressure Chinese manufacturers’ profit margins as transportation and raw material expenses increase.

Economic researchers surveyed by Reuters predict the private RatingDog Manufacturing PMI, scheduled for Wednesday release, will register 51.6, representing a decrease from February’s 52.1 reading.

Senior economist Xu Tianchen from the Economist Intelligence Unit noted that the manufacturing index faces pressure from oil market disruptions, particularly affecting refinery and petrochemical sectors. “The PMI will be constrained by the oil shock, which has hit industries such as refineries and petrochemicals,” Xu said.

Xu suggested that government intervention could help businesses weather these challenges. “To cushion the impact on businesses, the government can help small and medium-sized companies reduce operating costs through cheaper credit and lighter social security inspection,” he explained.

Chinese leadership established a more modest economic growth goal of 4.5%-5% for the current year in early March, following 2025’s 5% expansion rate. This adjustment provides additional flexibility to tackle persistent imbalances between domestic production capacity and consumer demand.

Officials have committed to expanding investment in essential infrastructure and public services, while allocating additional government resources to stimulate consumer spending and private sector investment through a dedicated 100 billion yuan ($14.47 billion) fiscal coordination program.

A delegation of American senators traveled to Taiwan’s capital this week, pressing the island nation’s leaders to move forward with a massive $40 billion defense spending package that has been stuck in legislative gridlock.

The lawmakers cautioned that continued delays in approving President Lai Ching-te’s military budget proposal could weaken Taiwan’s capacity to defend itself against mounting Chinese military threats, even as the United States speeds up weapons deliveries and security assistance to the region.

Taiwan relies heavily on American military support and diplomatic backing, making the U.S. its primary international ally despite the absence of official diplomatic relations. Beijing maintains its claim over Taiwan, which the island continues to reject.

The proposed defense spending increase remains blocked in Taiwan’s legislature, where opposition parties hold majority control.

Republican Senator John Curtis led the four-member congressional delegation that arrived Monday, continuing his longstanding support for Taiwan. The visit occurs amid escalating Chinese military and political campaigns aimed at forcing the democratic island to submit to Beijing’s control.

Speaking to media at Taiwan’s presidential office following his meeting with President Lai, Curtis emphasized American solidarity with the island nation.

“We’re here to enforce that message and demonstrate to the people here in Taiwan that we are together a very important part of the safety and the unity around this world,” Curtis stated.

The senator directly advocated for the defense budget’s passage, telling reporters: “I’d like to personally endorse the special defence budget and tell you back in Washington, D.C., that my colleagues are watching, that this is important. We want to make sure that as we invest in this part of the world, that you are also investing and that we’re in this together.”

While Taiwan’s opposition-led parliament continues debating the spending proposal, lawmakers have already given approval for the government to finalize American weapons deals totaling approximately $9 billion across four separate arms packages, even before the broader budget receives final approval.

The meeting included Raymond Greene, America’s top diplomatic representative in Taiwan, and Joseph Wu, Taiwan’s National Security Council Secretary-General. Washington has thrown its weight behind Lai’s military modernization efforts as part of broader American policy encouraging allies to increase their defense investments.

Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen, who serves as the ranking member on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, expressed alarm over Beijing’s increasingly aggressive posture toward Taiwan.

“We are concerned by the increased pressure from Beijing, including military activity around Taiwan that raises the risk of miscalculation,” Shaheen said.

Chinese military and political pressure campaigns against Taiwan have intensified significantly, including conducting military exercises near the island. The most recent war games occurred in December, shortly after Washington greenlit an $11 billion weapons sale to Taiwan.

According to previous Reuters reporting, American officials are currently preparing another substantial arms package for Taiwan valued at approximately $14 billion.

PRISTINA, Kosovo — Manager Kushtrim Ajvazi takes pride in working for a thriving enterprise in a nation ranked among Europe’s most economically disadvantaged. His company manufactures potato chips and snack foods distributed throughout Kosovo’s retail outlets and shipped internationally.

However, Ajvazi’s firm now confronts unexpected obstacles due to soaring fuel costs triggered by Iran’s ongoing conflict, with economic shockwaves reaching this small southeastern European nation.

The Pestova corporation operates nearly 100 acres of potato cultivation in Kosovo’s eastern region, supplying raw materials for their Vipa-branded chips. According to Ajvazi, both the company and its distribution channels suffered when fuel wholesale rates climbed from 1.10 euros ($1.27) to as much as 1.7 euros ($1.96) per liter.

Since Kosovo lacks domestic fuel production capabilities, diesel and gasoline pricing depends on importers operating under a 12% profit margin ceiling.

With spring potato planting season approaching, Ajvazi appealed to government officials for relief assistance.

The company requires substantial fuel quantities, making expenses “extremely high,” he explained. Fertilizer costs have also increased, though the company maintained stockpiles.

“We are analyzing and calculating every additional cost, and if we see that this process of rising costs continues, we will be forced to adjust our prices,” Ajvazi stated.

Unlike neighboring Balkan nations that have implemented farmer relief measures, Kosovo’s administration has yet to respond. Government officials did not answer inquiries.

Romania, Hungary and Serbia have established special agricultural diesel pricing or reduced state tax burdens.

Kosovo’s economic analysts cautioned that officials must urgently address potential further price increases to prevent broader economic harm.

“There is not one sector that is not affected by the price increase,” economist Safet Gerxhaliu observed.

Ajvazi noted his company encounters additional difficulties since approximately 40% of production goes to export markets under predetermined, fixed contracts requiring 90-day advance notice for price modifications. He emphasized the challenge of planning without price stability.

“We call on the government to ease this phase for us,” he said. “We are a company that exports to more than 23 different countries, including those in Europe.”

Rising costs have also impacted regular citizens. IT worker Bardh Mehmeti from Pristina now spends 100 euros ($115) to fill his vehicle’s tank, compared to 80 euros ($92) before the crisis began. Mehmeti is now “seriously considering” purchasing an electric vehicle.

Kosovo’s economy has faced ongoing challenges since declaring independence from Serbia in 2008 after armed conflict. Serbia refuses to acknowledge the separation, and this unresolved dispute has hindered both nations’ European Union membership aspirations.

A lengthy political crisis that left Kosovo without full government functionality for most of last year has further complicated the economic landscape. Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s current administration remains deadlocked over presidential election failures.

The primary opposition Democratic Party has denounced perceived government inactivity and advocated for temporary tax reductions to support citizens and businesses.

JUBA, South Sudan (AP) — According to legend, a South Sudanese spiritual leader brandished a mystical wooden staff during tribal warfare in 1878, calling forth lightning that killed enemy warriors.

This ceremonial object, called Ngundeng Bong’s dang, continues to hold legendary status as a supernatural weapon and now influences the ongoing bloodshed in the world’s newest country.

The wooden staff has become a disputed artifact in the conflict between South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir and opposition figure Riek Machar, who has possessed the relic for years. Machar’s supporters view him as the gap-toothed, left-handed leader prophesied by Ngundeng to eventually rule the nation.

This belief fuels Machar’s political campaign while simultaneously making him a target for adversaries. The two leaders represent different tribal communities — Kiir belongs to the Dinka, the nation’s dominant ethnic group, while Machar shares the Nuer heritage of the prophet Ngundeng.

Ethnic warfare erupted when the two politicians clashed in 2013. Kiir accused Machar of orchestrating a government overthrow attempt. Machar subsequently started an armed uprising that developed into a devastating civil conflict claiming approximately 400,000 lives. Following a 2018 ceasefire agreement that has since failed, Machar briefly returned as Kiir’s second-in-command.

Current hostilities have intensified to the point where officials are commanding citizens to flee rebel-controlled areas. This occurs despite Machar being confined to his residence and facing treason charges. Military footage recently showed a South Sudanese commander instructing government forces to “spare no lives.”

Various rebel groups, including the militia called the White Army, believe their fight serves to realize Ngundeng’s predictions and place Machar in the presidency.

Douglas H. Johnson, the British-American scholar who returned the staff to South Sudan, likens the relic’s significance to a parliamentary mace required for conducting official proceedings.

According to Johnson and other sources who discussed the matter with The Associated Press, Machar treats the staff as a spiritual artifact while using it to build political alliances.

“Much of this conflict connects to spiritual beliefs,” explained Mawal Marko, an independent researcher in Juba. “Many fighters, particularly eastern Nuer people, are battling in Ngundeng’s name.”

South Sudanese folklore contains numerous tales of brutality, and the Kiir-Machar rivalry represents the latest chapter in the tribal animosity that Ngundeng witnessed and attempted to end: Dinka fighting Nuer, Nuer fighting Dinka.

Ngundeng communicated his predictions through songs that people still listen to online today, seeking insights about their nation’s destiny. Interpretations of Ngundeng’s messages often vary.

“When examining prophecies over time, uncertainty always exists,” noted Christopher Tounsel, a historian specializing in greater Sudan at the University of Washington, discussing Ngundeng’s predictions.

“The most influential factor is people’s beliefs and emotions. That creates the greatest impact — not objective reality, but public perception.”

Ngundeng, who passed away in 1906, allegedly foretold his nation’s eventual independence. He envisioned future violence. Legend claims he prophesied about a messianic Nuer ruler for South Sudan who would lack traditional tribal facial scarification, be left-handed and gap-toothed, and have relationships with white women. Machar reportedly fits this description.

“We understand it possesses influence,” said Alex Miskin from the Rift Valley Institute research organization, referring to Ngundeng’s staff. “Whether Machar can channel authority through that object remains unknown to me.”

“Machar’s possession of the staff and its associated legend might intimidate some people,” Miskin observed.

The staff was carved from tamarind tree roots and adorned with copper wire. It measures approximately 110 centimeters (three and a half feet) in length. One section broke during the 1878 battle that the Nuer won. Subsequently, Ngundeng declared the staff damaged; no records exist of him wielding it successfully again.

Ngundeng’s son inherited the staff but was killed attempting to use it against colonial forces. Reports describe him weeping when he lifted the object and nothing occurred.

Taken as war spoils, the staff was thought permanently lost until Johnson, a respected South Sudan expert, found it in Bournemouth, England. He purchased the artifact and worked to return it to South Sudan, which lacked a proper museum.

In 2009, Machar received the staff in Juba, South Sudan’s capital, as the senior Nuer official in a government approaching independence from Sudan. A ceremonial white ox sacrifice accompanied the handover, with Machar photographed raising the staff overhead.

The staff’s homecoming was treated as a significant national occasion. Kiir acknowledged its arrival in an official statement cautioning against using the staff for warfare.

While serving as vice president, Machar stored the staff at his residence and displayed it to visiting Nuer dignitaries, Johnson reported. “He essentially used this as a cultural symbol, something meaningful to the Nuer rather than all of South Sudan, to recruit others into his political alliance,” he explained.

Johnson remembered the staff appearing unremarkable in an umbrella holder when he first encountered it. However, if Machar controls the staff, Kiir’s concern about it being “outside government oversight” would be understandable, he noted.

The Associated Press could not contact Machar for his perspective. His representative, Puok Both Baluang, stated that releasing Machar would be “equivalent to bringing peace.”

Despite his confinement, the 73-year-old Machar remains a powerful rival to Kiir, who has ruled without voter approval for 15 years. Officials promise elections in December. However, a vote excluding Machar that reinstalls Kiir would be viewed as denying Nuer people representation.

Their military competition started in the wilderness during the 1990s, when Machar commanded a splinter group that faced betrayal accusations during the extended independence war. During this division, Machar’s forces conducted a massacre targeting Dinka people, enraging Kiir and others.

Internal southern fighting temporarily weakened their independence movement and created permanent mistrust between Machar and Kiir. Machar maintained influence through Nuer fighter loyalty.

Kiir removed Machar from his deputy position in September after accusations that Machar remotely participated in an assault on government troops. Machar regularly appears in a courtroom cage during what he calls a politically motivated trial. Whether Ngundeng’s staff remains at his home is uncertain.

The staff “represents South Sudan’s heritage,” despite not being housed at Juba’s national archives building, said archivist Peter Tako.

“We understand it’s with Riek Machar,” Tako said about the staff. “I avoid discussing it.”

He described the staff as a sacred object “infused” with political power that made him feel unqualified to comment on it.

MELBOURNE, Australia — A seven-month manhunt in Australia has ended with police fatally shooting a man they believe killed two officers and critically injured another in a remote forest area.

The suspect, identified as 56-year-old Dezi Freeman, had evaded capture since allegedly firing on law enforcement officers who arrived to execute a warrant at his residence near Porepunkah in Victoria state on August 26 of last year, according to Victoria’s Chief Commissioner of Police Mike Bush.

Authorities located and killed a man they believe to be Freeman on Monday in an isolated area close to Thologolong, approximately two hours by car north of where the original shooting occurred.

“We believe it is Freeman, but we have to go through a formal identification process,” Bush explained to media representatives in Melbourne. He noted that confirming the identity could require up to 48 hours using methods such as fingerprint analysis.

Elite tactical officers from the Special Operations Group engaged in a three-hour confrontation before the fatal shooting occurred. The individual had taken refuge in a structure resembling a shipping container and declined police attempts to negotiate his surrender, Bush reported.

“This was all about bringing this to a conclusion as safely as possible. Our ultimate goal was to arrest the person there … as peacefully as possible,” Bush stated.

The police commissioner expressed his strong conviction that the suspect possessed weapons, though he could not confirm whether the man fired upon officers during the final encounter.

Media reports indicated that Freeman held sovereign citizen ideologies and harbored animosity toward law enforcement. His wilderness survival expertise raised concerns among police that he could remain at large indefinitely in the outdoors.

The attack on three officers triggered an extensive search operation throughout Victoria’s densely wooded mountain territory. Recent months saw police considering the possibility that Freeman had committed suicide.

“We have to follow every avenue of inquiry and there was a lot to suggest that Freedman had taken his own life,” Bush noted.

The commissioner declined to reveal whether a tip from the public led to Monday’s discovery. Law enforcement had posted a reward of 1 million Australian dollars ($678,000) for information leading to Freeman’s capture.

Investigators continue examining whether additional individuals assisted the fugitive in avoiding apprehension.

President Donald Trump floated the possibility of U.S. military forces capturing Iran’s Kharg Island, the nation’s primary oil export facility located in the Persian Gulf.

During a Monday interview with the Financial Times, Trump stated, “Maybe we take Kharg Island, maybe we don’t. We have a lot of options.” He acknowledged that such an operation “would also mean we had to be there (on Kharg Island) for a while.”

The comments come as tensions escalate in the region, with Iran warning it would plant mines throughout the Persian Gulf if its territory faces invasion. Despite ongoing ceasefire discussions showing some promise, both American and Israeli forces continued their military operations against the Islamic Republic on Monday. Meanwhile, Iran launched an attack on a critical utilities facility in Kuwait as part of its broader offensive against Gulf Arab nations.

Trump also revealed that Iran had committed to permitting 20 oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz beginning Monday morning and continuing for several days “out of a sign of respect.”

“I would only say that we’re doing extremely well in that negotiation but you never know with Iran because we negotiate with them and then we always have to blow them up,” Trump remarked.

The ongoing conflict has created significant disruptions to worldwide energy markets, caused shortages in fertilizer supplies, and interfered with international aviation. Iran’s control over the crucial Strait of Hormuz shipping lane has created volatility in both commodity markets and pricing.

Additional developments include:

Iranian official Alaeddin Boroujerdi’s comments to state media followed longstanding calls from hardliners in Tehran for such action.

“Why should we accept the restrictions?” Boroujerdi questioned. “We are not seeking a nuclear weapon anyway. But it’s not like that we are supposed to observe the rules of the game and they bomb us.”

The Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty represents a crucial international agreement designed to prevent nuclear weapons proliferation. Signatory nations commit to avoiding nuclear weapons development or acquisition while permitting International Atomic Energy Agency inspections to verify program compliance. Iran has limited IAEA access for years and blocked inspectors from visiting three uranium enrichment facilities targeted by U.S. strikes in June.

— Israeli forces announced Monday morning strikes against ‘military infrastructure’ throughout Tehran.

— Bahrain activated its missile warning systems twice during Monday.

— Early Monday, Israel’s military reported Iranian missile launches targeting the country, marking the day’s first such attack from Iran. Warning sirens activated near Israel’s primary nuclear research facility, an area repeatedly targeted in recent days.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — While diplomatic negotiations show potential progress, President Donald Trump has publicly considered capturing Iran’s Kharg Island oil facility in the Persian Gulf, even as military confrontations between the United States, Israel, and Iran continued Monday across the region. Iran responded by striking a critical utilities facility in Kuwait, continuing its campaign against Gulf Arab nations.

Despite Pakistan facilitating diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, Trump indicated Iran had agreed to permit 20 oil tankers passage through the Strait of Hormuz beginning Monday as “a sign of respect.” However, with 2,500 U.S. Marines currently deployed to the area and additional forces en route, the president floated the possibility of seizing Iran’s Kharg Island facility.

“Maybe we take Kharg Island, maybe we don’t,” Trump stated in a Financial Times interview released Monday morning. “We have a lot of options.”

Dawn brought air raid warnings near Israel’s primary nuclear research facility, an area facing repeated targeting in recent days. Israeli defense forces reported destroying two drones launched from Yemen, where Iranian-supported Houthi rebels joined the conflict Saturday with their initial missile strike.

Iran maintained its assault on neighboring Gulf Arab states, with Saudi Arabia intercepting five missiles aimed at its oil-producing Eastern Province, Bahrain activating missile warnings, and Dubai’s defense systems creating a fireball while destroying an incoming projectile.

Kuwait suffered casualties when an Iranian strike damaged a power and water treatment facility, resulting in one civilian death and 10 military personnel injuries, according to the state-run KUNA news agency.

Water treatment facilities remain vital for Gulf Arab nations’ water security, with Iran having previously damaged a similar facility in Bahrain during the ongoing conflict. These plants typically operate alongside power generation facilities due to the substantial energy requirements for converting seawater into drinking water.

Israeli forces conducted fresh strikes against Iran, targeting what they described as “military infrastructure” throughout Tehran. Iranian outlets reported damage to a Tabriz Petrochemical facility in the country’s northern region, though officials stated no dangerous materials were released.

In Lebanon, where Israeli ground operations are underway, an Indonesian peacekeeper died and three others sustained injuries when a projectile detonated near a southern village.

During the weekend, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans to expand military operations, extending the “existing security strip” in southern Lebanon while pursuing the Iran-affiliated Hezbollah organization.

Iran’s assault on regional energy facilities and its control over the Strait of Hormuz, which handles one-fifth of global oil shipments during peacetime, has caused oil prices to surge and sparked fears of a worldwide energy shortage.

During early Monday trading, Brent crude oil prices reached approximately $115, representing nearly a 60% increase since U.S. and Israeli forces initiated the conflict with February 28 attacks on Iran.

With mounting pressure on Trump to resolve the crisis, American officials have presented Iran with a 15-point proposal requiring Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz for commercial shipping. Iran has countered with its own five-point framework, insisting on maintaining control over the strategic waterway.

Pakistan announced Sunday its intention to facilitate upcoming U.S.-Iran discussions, though neither Washington nor Tehran immediately confirmed the arrangement, and the format of potential talks regarding the month-long war remained unclear.

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stated the negotiations would occur “in the coming days.”

Speaking to reporters on Air Force One Sunday evening, Trump confirmed the U.S. was engaging “directly and indirectly” with Iran, despite Iranian denials of any Washington communications.

“We’re doing extremely well in that negotiation but you never know with Iran because we negotiate with them and then we always have to blow them up,” Trump commented.

Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, rejected the Pakistani talks as a diversion while additional U.S. forces deploy to the region. He declared Iranian forces were “waiting for the arrival of American troops on the ground to set them on fire and punish their regional partners forever,” state media reported.

In his Financial Times discussion, Trump acknowledged that capturing Kharg Island could require an extended American presence, noting “it would mean we had to be there for a while.”

“I don’t think they have any defense,” he continued. “We could take it very easily.”

U.S. forces have already conducted airstrikes targeting military positions on the island. Iran has warned it would launch ground invasions of Gulf Arab countries and deploy mines throughout the Persian Gulf if American troops land on Iranian soil.

Any amphibious assault on Kharg would require passage through the Strait of Hormuz and most of the Persian Gulf. Military analysts note that maintaining control of the island would present significant challenges, as Iran’s missiles, drones, and artillery from the mainland could easily reach the facility.

Lebanese officials report over 1,200 deaths and more than 1 million displaced residents. Five Israeli soldiers have also perished.

Iranian authorities report more than 1,900 casualties, while Israel has confirmed 19 deaths.

In Iraq, where Iranian-supported militias have joined the fighting, 80 security force members have died.

Gulf states have reported 20 fatalities. Four deaths have occurred in the occupied West Bank.

Thirteen U.S. service members have lost their lives in the conflict.

Border warfare has resumed between Afghanistan and Pakistan, with both nations confirming intense military exchanges occurred over the weekend, just days following their agreement to temporarily halt combat operations.

The renewed hostilities took place on Sunday as Pakistan was simultaneously hosting regional leaders to discuss reducing tensions in Middle Eastern conflicts, with announcements that the country may facilitate upcoming diplomatic meetings between American and Iranian officials.

Military officials reported that both countries deployed artillery and heavy armaments, striking targets across Afghanistan’s Kunar province and Pakistan’s adjacent Bajur district.

According to Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesperson for the Taliban government in Kabul, Pakistani bombardment resulted in one fatality and wounded 16 additional people, with women and children comprising the majority of casualties.

Pakistani security sources, speaking anonymously due to lack of authorization for media statements, maintained their forces only retaliated against intense Afghan shelling and avoided targeting civilian areas. Pakistan’s military command did not provide official comment when contacted.

The neighboring countries experienced their most severe military confrontation in years during the previous month, resulting in substantial casualties for both sides.

Taliban officials claimed Pakistani airstrikes against a drug treatment facility in Afghanistan’s capital killed over 400 individuals earlier this month, prior to the suspension of fighting.

Pakistani authorities disputed the Taliban’s account of the airstrike, stating they had “precisely targeted military installations and terrorist support infrastructure.”

A temporary halt to combat operations had been declared during the Islamic celebration of Eid al-Fitr, following requests from Turkey, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, which Pakistan concluded the previous week.

Kabul has not yet provided official confirmation regarding whether they continue to observe the ceasefire arrangement.

Pakistan maintains that Afghanistan’s Taliban government provides sanctuary and assistance to Islamic extremist groups conducting attacks within Pakistani territory. The Taliban administration rejects these allegations, asserting that militant activity represents Pakistan’s internal security challenge.

SYDNEY – Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed concerns Monday about the lack of clear direction from President Donald Trump regarding the current military conflict with Iran.

“I want to see more certainty in what the objectives of the war are and I want to see a de-escalation,” Albanese stated when asked about his assessment of Trump’s approach to the conflict.

The conflict began after an Israeli military operation on February 28 resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, leading to his son Mojtaba taking over the leadership role.

The military action has expanded throughout the Middle East region, resulting in thousands of casualties and creating unprecedented disruptions to global energy markets, significantly impacting the worldwide economy.

Australia has contributed military aircraft to support defensive operations in the United Arab Emirates following a formal request from that nation, though Australian officials have declined to deploy naval vessels to help restore access through the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian judicial authorities have carried out the executions of two individuals who were found guilty of maintaining ties to the People’s Mojahedin Organisation of Iran opposition movement, according to reports from the country’s judiciary news service on Monday.

The two men were also convicted of planning armed assaults in Tehran utilizing makeshift launching equipment, the judicial outlet reported.

Officials did not release information regarding the timing of the men’s arrests or other details surrounding their cases.

Beijing announced sanctions Monday against Keiji Furuya, a Japanese legislator who serves as a key advisor to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, citing his connections to Taiwan independence movements.

The Chinese foreign ministry declared that Furuya will be prohibited from entering China and any property or financial holdings he maintains in the country will be frozen with immediate effect.

As chairman of a bipartisan Japanese-Taiwanese legislative alliance, Furuya has made numerous trips to Taiwan while accompanying Japanese government officials. His most recent visit occurred earlier in March when he met with Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te in the capital city of Taipei.

Beijing’s foreign ministry criticized Furuya for working with what they termed “separatist forces” in Taiwan, claiming he continued making these visits “in defiance of China’s strong opposition.”

China considers Taiwan, which operates as a democratic government, to be part of Chinese territory and opposes diplomatic visits by international officials to the island, viewing such actions as violations of the “One China” policy and challenges to Beijing’s territorial claims.

Taiwan’s leadership disputes Beijing’s assertions of sovereignty over the island.

The ministry declared that Furuya’s activities “constitute gross interference in China’s internal affairs, and seriously undermine China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

When questioned by journalists at Japan’s legislative building, Furuya defended his Taiwan visits as routine responsibilities of the parliamentary organization he chairs. He noted that he has not traveled to mainland China in many years and maintains no financial interests there, according to Kyodo news service.

Furuya played a significant role as a trusted advisor to Prime Minister Takaichi, backing her campaign for leadership of the governing Liberal Democratic Party in the previous year.

Relations between Tokyo and Beijing have grown increasingly strained since Takaichi stated in November that Japan might respond militarily if China were to attack Taiwan.

Beijing previously imposed sanctions on another Japanese legislator, Seki Hei, who was born in China, for his public statements regarding Taiwan and related matters.

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Young volunteers in their mid-twenties knocked on doors throughout a Hungarian town last week, backing a political movement that could potentially topple Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s decade-and-a-half hold on leadership.

These volunteers from Hungary’s Lake Balaton area were working for the center-right Tisza party and its candidate, Péter Magyar, as they sought to advance beyond what they called Orbán’s failing governance.

“Our entire lives have been spent under this administration, and we’re curious to experience what lies beyond it,” explained Florián Végh, a 25-year-old university student. “Speaking for my classmates and peers, I can confidently say this administration is completely broken.”

An expanding age-based political divide shows Hungary’s younger generation strongly demanding an end to Orbán’s authoritarian leadership, while elderly voters continue supporting the prime minister — a division that may prove crucial in the April 12 elections.

The 62-year-old Orbán currently lags in polling behind Magyar, a 45-year-old attorney who departed from Orbán’s nationalist-populist Fidesz party following a political controversy in 2024. Magyar has guided Tisza through remarkable political growth, energizing voters who had stayed away from politics for roughly twenty years.

Fidesz’s weakening support amid economic slowdown and various political and corruption controversies has expanded the age-related political gap. Recent polling from 21 Research Center revealed that 65% of voters under 30 favor Tisza, compared to just 14% supporting Orbán.

Levente Koltai, a 24-year-old student volunteering for Tisza, noted that Fidesz originally stood for “Alliance of Young Democrats” in Hungarian. However, he argues the party has abandoned those founding principles.

“Fidesz has abandoned its claims to being young, democratic and unified,” he explained to The Associated Press. “It has transformed from youthful to aged, from democratic to authoritarian-leaning, and from a coalition to an inner circle of loyalists.”

Andrea Szabó, a senior researcher at Eötvös Loránd University’s Institute for Political Science in Budapest, described an emerging leadership transition in Hungary, where “a fresh, engaged political generation is starting to emerge.”

While Orbán’s political cohort was shaped by opposition to Hungary’s Soviet-era communist government during the 1980s and 1990s, “we’ve now arrived at a moment where, after 25 years, there exists a new political generation opposed to the Orbán administration,” Szabó explained.

Orbán’s administration characterizes itself as both Christian-national and “illiberal,” and has moved away from European Union partnerships while strengthening ties with Russia and China.

Critics have long alleged that Orbán has captured Hungary’s institutions, restricted media independence and overseen widespread political corruption — allegations he rejects — and he has emerged as a prominent figure in the international far-right movement.

Supporters praise his stance against immigration and restrictions on LGBTQ+ rights, and celebrate benefits for young families including tax exemptions for mothers with multiple children and government-supported loans for first-time home purchasers.

These policies, along with additional pension benefits for seniors, attract many older voters. Fidesz maintains a 50% to 19% advantage over Tisza among retirement-age Hungarians, according to 21 Research Center polling.

Zsuzsanna Prépos, a retiree attending one of Orbán’s recent campaign events, expressed satisfaction with the government’s pension programs, stating she supports Fidesz because it “assists young people.”

“During my youth… I received nothing. Today’s young people receive substantial assistance,” she stated.

However, these programs haven’t generated youth support for Orbán. In multiple recent addresses, he has both criticized young people for their anti-government positions and appealed for their reconsideration.

“Young people, wake up!” he declared at a rally last week. “These are not times for taking risks, experimenting or trying new things… Believe me, today only Fidesz and my humble self can provide this country with security.”

Szabó, the researcher, noted that while many young people appreciate Orbán’s family assistance programs, their “very strong sense of justice” conflicts with “the authoritarian exercise of power, the corruption, the fact that they feel vulnerable and that there is insecurity in the country.”

“Their lives essentially took place entirely within the Orbán regime, so they know nothing other than this kind of functioning of power,” she explained.

Recent developments in Hungary have turned significant numbers of young people against the governing party.

Hungary experienced major controversy in February 2024 when reports emerged that the president, a close Orbán supporter, had pardoned someone involved in a child sexual abuse case. This revelation stunned the nation, leading to resignations by both the president and justice minister.

Shortly afterward, several prominent social media influencers organized a protest calling for political change. Drawing tens of thousands of participants, it represented a pivotal moment that “opened the door to politicization for a lot of young people,” Szabó stated.

Following the pardon controversy, Magyar left Fidesz and established Tisza. Three months later, the party captured 30% of votes in European Parliament elections.

Magyar has centered his campaign on pledges to reverse Orbán’s alignment with Russia and restore Hungary’s Western partnerships, and to revitalize the struggling economy by recovering billions in EU funding currently withheld due to rule-of-law and corruption issues.

This economic platform has connected with young voters. Végh, the Tisza volunteer, explained that his internet-connected generation can easily access diverse information sources and travel to neighboring countries where governments effectively utilize public resources.

“In Austria, you observe a much more tranquil, peaceful, educated society with superior infrastructure and healthcare,” he noted. “You cross the border and realize you’ve entered a developed European nation.”

Despite Tisza’s polling advantage, victory remains uncertain. Orbán maintains support among older voters and throughout much of rural Hungary.

At a recent Budapest rally attracting over 100,000 attendees, Tisza supporter Dorina Csobán described how the electoral contest had become “pretty divisive in my family for the older people, because we younger people are saying clearly that there must be change.”

BEIJING — For the first time in six years, China’s national airline has reestablished direct air service to North Korea, with flights now operating between Beijing and Pyongyang as of Monday.

Chinese Ambassador Wang Yajun and other diplomatic officials were on hand to mark the return of Air China service to the North Korean capital, state media reported.

The airline resumption comes shortly after rail connections between the two nations returned to operation on March 12.

Both air and rail passenger services had been halted since 2020 when the COVID-19 outbreak began, cutting off most international travel to the isolated nation.

North Korea’s own airline, Air Koryo, had already restarted flights between the two capitals in 2023.

During the health crisis, North Korea implemented a complete prohibition on foreign tourism, though recent months have seen a gradual relaxation of these policies. A Russian tourist delegation was permitted entry in 2024.

Before the travel restrictions took effect, visitors from China represented approximately 90 percent of all tourism to North Korea, making the extended delay in Chinese tour resumption unexpected to many analysts.

Beijing serves as Pyongyang’s most significant economic partner and political supporter, though Chinese officials have periodically criticized North Korea’s missile testing programs that could potentially threaten South Korea and the United States.

In a notable diplomatic gesture last September, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made the trip to Beijing to observe a large-scale military parade, representing the first attendance by a North Korean leader at such a Chinese event in many years.

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — A 33-year-old Brazilian woman named Emily de Souza jumped at the chance to participate in an unusual program that would cut four days from her prison term simply by reading a book, allowing her to revive a beloved pastime.

Alongside thousands of other prisoners nationwide — including former President Jair Bolsonaro — she enrolled in a sentence reduction initiative that motivates incarcerated individuals to dive into literature in return for trimming up to 48 days annually from their prison terms.

The prospect of reuniting sooner with her 9-year-old autistic child, currently cared for by her mother and aunt, intensified her desire to join the program.

“One day is an eternity because it feels like it’s never going to end,” de Souza explained from the Djanira Dolores de Oliveira Women’s Prison in Rio de Janeiro, which holds roughly 820 female prisoners.

She described reading as “a kind of escape, to get out of this environment for a bit, to think about other things: other stories, other people, not just me.”

De Souza, like many of her fellow prisoners, was convicted on drug trafficking charges. She received a five-year sentence for distributing cannabis-infused Brazilian chocolate confections called “brigadeiro.” After arriving last November, she anticipates advancing to Brazil’s semi-open prison system by August, which would permit daytime release for employment.

Brazil, home to one of Latin America’s highest incarceration rates per capita, distinguishes itself by operating one of the world’s most structured and widespread sentence reduction programs through reading. This expanding initiative, initially regulated in 2012 and standardized nationally in 2021, gained fresh attention this year when the Supreme Court permitted Bolsonaro — currently serving 27 years for coup attempt charges — to participate.

Andréia Oliveira, who oversees female prisons and LGBTIQ+ programs in Rio state facilities, emphasized that providing reading opportunities and education benefits both former inmates and the broader community. “When we encourage education, ludic activities, knowledge, we return to society someone who can reconnect, respect rules,” she explained.

Literature professor Paulo Roberto Tonani has facilitated prison workshops since 2022, enabling Rio detainees to access this program.

The process begins with participants selecting or receiving a book during an introductory session. During subsequent meetings, they discuss their reading material and ultimately create either a written review or artwork demonstrating their understanding.

Prisoners have engaged with works including “Captain of the Sands” by celebrated Brazilian novelist Jorge Amado, “Crime and Punishment” by Fyodor Dostoevsky, and “The Color Purple” by Alice Walker.

According to Tonani, participants particularly embrace the illustrated story “Father Francisco” by Marina Miyazaki Araujo, which portrays an imprisoned father through his child’s viewpoint. Many Brazilian inmates come from impoverished backgrounds and lack completed elementary education.

During a late March workshop at the Djanira Dolores de Oliveira facility, several participants were studying “Unsubmissive Tears of Women” by Brazilian author Conceição Evaristo — including Celina Maria de Conceição, a 50-year-old woman from Pernambuco state.

De Conceição, who participated in previous workshops and re-enrolled, credited the program with fostering her appreciation for reading.

“It helps us a lot because we’re locked up and it gets very stressful, very noisy,” she noted. “We get to go to somewhere else, interact with other people and talk about good things, like the book we’re studying.”

However, she abandoned Evaristo’s book, which examines violence’s effects on Black women’s experiences, after finding it emotionally disturbing.

“It wasn’t good for me, because it stirs up our emotions, and we’re in a place where the environment is already truly heavy,” she said.

Brazilian correctional facilities are notorious for overcrowding and brutal conditions. In 2023, the Supreme Court acknowledged widespread human rights violations within the prison system and mandated federal action to address these issues. The resulting “Just Punishment” plan, launched in 2025, aims to broaden educational and employment opportunities among other objectives.

Despite improvements, access to sentence reduction through reading varies significantly across Brazil, according to Rodrigo Dias, who leads education, culture and sports initiatives for the National Secretariat of Penal Policies.

While northeastern Alagoas state provided some inmates with Kindles containing 300 literary works, other more traditional states maintain heavy administrative barriers that restrict access, Dias observed.

A 2023 government assessment revealed that approximately 30% of Brazilian prison facilities lack libraries or suitable reading areas. Nevertheless, Dias highlighted secretariat data showing a sevenfold increase in reading-based remission applications since 2021.

Similar to de Conceição, many participants seek to continue once they begin. “The book gives them the possibility to dream, and often to ‘talk’ with other people — not those who are imprisoned or working in the facility, but with the characters in the stories,” Dias said.

While Elionaldo Fernandes Julião, co-author of “Sentence Remission Through Reading in Brazil: The Right to Education in Contest” and professor at Fluminense Federal University, recognizes the value of prison book access, he contends that reading-based sentence reduction often substitutes for developing educational access, which requires significantly more resources.

Julião also noted that program and book availability frequently relies on local initiatives. “Unfortunately, these are very easy to eliminate or shut down as quickly as possible,” he warned.

During the recent workshop, de Souza read aloud poetry by formerly incarcerated Argentine writer Liliana Cabrera. One verse declares the narrator is “Also something more / than the letters in black / of a court case.”

De Souza found deep meaning in these words.

“Someone knew how to explain with beautiful terms (…) that I’m a lot more than a court case, a lot more than the mistake I made, that I’m a human with my story,” she reflected.

A parliamentary member has put forward Myanmar’s military chief Min Aung Hlaing as a candidate for the nation’s presidency on Monday, setting up a legislative vote to choose the next leader of the conflict-stricken Southeast Asian country.

The nomination comes as Myanmar continues to face ongoing internal strife following the military takeover of the government.

President Trump expressed optimism about potential negotiations with Iran’s new leadership Sunday, describing the country’s replacement officials as ‘very reasonable’ while Pakistan announced its willingness to facilitate peace discussions between the two nations.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One Sunday evening, Trump revealed that Washington and Tehran have been engaging through both direct and indirect channels since the conflict began last month.

‘I think we’ll make a deal with them, I’m pretty sure, but it’s possible we won’t,’ Trump stated during his flight back to the capital.

The President indicated that Washington had achieved its goal of changing Iran’s government structure through military action that eliminated the nation’s supreme leader and other senior officials, though he emphasized twice that their successors appeared ‘reasonable.’

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in an Israeli attack on February 28, with his son Mojtaba taking over leadership responsibilities.

The ongoing conflict has expanded throughout the Middle East, resulting in thousands of casualties, unprecedented disruption to global energy markets, and significant economic consequences worldwide.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced following Sunday discussions among regional diplomats that his country stands ready to facilitate negotiations aimed at resolving the crisis.

‘Pakistan will be honoured to host and facilitate meaningful talks between the two sides in coming days, for a comprehensive and lasting settlement of the ongoing conflict,’ Dar declared. Officials have not confirmed whether both Washington and Tehran have committed to participating in the proposed discussions.

Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf responded skeptically to potential negotiations, claiming the United States was simultaneously preparing for a ground invasion while discussing diplomacy. He warned that Iran would respond if American forces were deployed.

‘As long as the Americans seek Iran’s surrender, our response is that we will never accept humiliation,’ Qalibaf said in his message to the Iranian people.

The Pentagon has deployed thousands of additional troops to the Middle East, providing Trump with options for potential ground operations if diplomatic efforts fail.

Israeli officials indicated they have no plans to reduce their military operations against Iran ahead of any possible Washington-Tehran negotiations, stating they would continue targeting what they characterize as military installations.

Israel’s military reported conducting more than 140 airstrikes across central and western Iran, including the capital Tehran, during the 24-hour period ending Sunday evening. The strikes targeted ballistic missile facilities and storage sites among other objectives.

Iranian state media confirmed attacks hit Mehrabad airport and a petrochemical facility in Tabriz in the country’s north.

A chemical facility near Beersheba in southern Israel was struck by Iranian missiles or debris, prompting authorities to warn residents to avoid the area due to dangerous materials.

Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of global oil and gas shipments pass, has driven energy prices higher and created economic difficulties worldwide.

Asian markets declined Monday as investors prepared for an extended Gulf region conflict, with oil prices approaching record monthly increases that threaten to trigger inflation and potential recession globally. Japan’s Nikkei index dropped 4.7%.

Oil markets continued their upward trajectory, with Brent crude futures rising $3.09 or 2.74% to $115.66 per barrel by late Sunday, following Friday’s 4.2% gain.

The New York Times reported Sunday that several hundred special operations personnel have arrived in the region, adding to thousands of Marines who deployed Friday aboard an amphibious assault vessel as part of the first of two planned contingents.

Reuters has reported that Pentagon officials are evaluating military options including ground forces, though Trump has not approved any such plans according to multiple media outlets.

In a Financial Times interview published Sunday, Trump expressed interest in ‘taking the oil in Iran’ and potentially seizing Kharg Island, the country’s primary export facility. Controlling Kharg, which handles 90% of Iran’s oil exports, would require ground troops but could severely damage Tehran’s energy trade and economic stability.

Most Americans oppose the war and further military escalation, which could hurt Trump’s approval ratings ahead of November’s congressional midterm elections.

Yemen’s Iran-supported Houthis entered the conflict Saturday with their first attacks on Israel, raising concerns they could block the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, another crucial shipping route. Israeli authorities reported intercepting two drones launched from Yemen on Sunday.

The head of Taiwan’s primary opposition party will make a diplomatic journey to China next month following a personal invitation from Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to announcements from both sides.

Cheng Li-wun, who chairs the Kuomintang (KMT) party after winning election to the position in October, will travel to the mainland from April 7 through April 12. Her itinerary includes stops in Beijing, Shanghai, and Jiangsu province in eastern China.

The KMT released a statement Monday indicating that Cheng welcomed the invitation and accepted it with enthusiasm. According to the party, Cheng “expressed hope that the two parties (the KMT and China’s Communist Party) would work together to promote the peaceful development of cross-strait relations, strengthen cross-strait exchanges and cooperation, secure peace in the Taiwan Strait, and enhance the well-being of the people.”

This diplomatic outreach represents a shift toward warmer relations with Beijing compared to Cheng’s predecessor Eric Chu, who led the party starting in 2021 but never made the trip across the Taiwan Strait during his tenure.

Beijing considers democratic Taiwan part of its territory and maintains a policy of not engaging with President Lai Ching-te’s administration, labeling him a “separatist.” However, Chinese officials regularly host senior KMT representatives, and Cheng had previously indicated her intention to visit.

The timing of this visit coincides with ongoing political battles in Taiwan’s legislature, where President Lai’s administration is seeking approval for an additional $40 billion in military spending from the opposition-controlled Parliament. While the KMT has expressed support for bolstering Taiwan’s defense capabilities, party leaders have stated they won’t approve “blank cheques” without receiving more detailed information from the government.

This diplomatic activity occurs ahead of a planned meeting between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leadership scheduled for mid-May, though Beijing has not yet officially confirmed those arrangements. The Trump meeting was originally planned for early April but was delayed due to the U.S. and Israeli conflict with Iran.

The historical context of cross-strait relations dates back to 1949, when the Republic of China government, then controlled by the KMT, retreated to Taiwan following their defeat in a civil war against Mao Zedong’s communist forces. No formal peace agreement or armistice was ever established, and neither government officially recognizes the other’s legitimacy.

A significant precedent for such high-level meetings was set in late 2015, when then-Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou, also a KMT member, conducted a historic summit with Xi in Singapore.

Both Chinese state media and the KMT referred to Xi using his Communist Party title of general secretary rather than his role as China’s head of state in their announcements about the upcoming visit.

A Russian oil tanker loaded with hundreds of thousands of barrels of crude has reached Cuban territorial waters, delivering critical fuel supplies as President Donald Trump signals a shift away from his previous oil embargo against the island nation.

The vessel Anatoly Kolodkin, flying under Russian colors, was positioned near Cuba’s eastern coastline on Sunday and scheduled to dock at Matanzas port on Monday, according to Cuban state media outlet Cubadebate.

Speaking with reporters while traveling on Air Force One, President Trump demonstrated newfound flexibility regarding oil deliveries to Cuba, stating: “If a country wants to send some oil into Cuba, right now, I have no problem whether it’s Russia or not.”

This represents a significant departure from Trump’s previous policy, which had successfully blocked virtually all petroleum shipments to Cuba in an effort to apply economic pressure on the Havana government, accompanied by harsh rhetoric directed at Cuban leadership.

According to The New York Times, citing an informed U.S. official, the Coast Guard permitted the sanctioned tanker to proceed toward Cuba, though the reasoning behind this decision remains unclear. However, attempting to forcibly stop the vessel could have heightened tensions with Russia during an already volatile period in international relations.

Cuban media characterized the Russian delivery as a direct confrontation to America’s oil embargo, noting that Russian naval forces provided escort protection for the sanctioned ship as it traveled through the English Channel en route to the Caribbean.

The fuel delivery comes at a crucial time for Cuba, which has implemented severe gasoline rationing measures due to the U.S. oil restrictions and has endured widespread electrical blackouts throughout the Communist nation.

Ship monitoring information from LSEG indicates the Anatoly Kolodkin departed from Russia’s Primorsk terminal with approximately 650,000 barrels of crude oil, though alternative sources suggest the cargo may contain as much as 730,000 barrels.

In earlier March developments, the United States temporarily relaxed certain Russian sanctions to facilitate improved global oil distribution, which had been constrained by the ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran.

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (AP) — The Mongolian People’s Party has chosen a replacement candidate for prime minister following the departure of Zandanshatar Gombojav, who stepped down after serving less than a year in the position.

Party officials nominated Uchral Nyam-Osor during a Sunday gathering, as reported by the state-run Montsame news agency. Currently serving as both party chairman and parliamentary speaker, Uchral became a party member in 2009 and represents a middle-ground choice between competing party wings.

Gombojav’s departure followed corruption accusations against one of his top cabinet officials. The former prime minister also dealt with opposition from the Democratic Party, whose members have staged a parliamentary walkout since early this month over concerns that too much authority has been consolidated within the governing party.

This political upheaval threatens to further undermine public confidence in Mongolia’s government institutions. The nation made its democratic transition from single-party Communist rule in 1990, but despite regular elections, citizens continue to voice frustrations about widespread corruption and a political structure that appears to serve wealthy elites.

International business interests have grown increasingly concerned about Mongolia’s unstable political climate and the brief terms served by consecutive administrations.

With a population of 3.4 million, Mongolia relies heavily on mineral exports to China and continues to grapple with inconsistent regulatory policies and ongoing corruption issues.

Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf delivered a stark warning to the United States Monday, declaring that Iranian forces “are waiting for the arrival of American troops on the ground to set them on fire and punish their regional partners forever.”

Qalibaf continued with defiant remarks: “Our firing continues. Our missiles are in place. Our determination and faith have increased.”

These threatening statements emerged as regional leaders convened in Pakistan seeking solutions to end the Middle Eastern conflicts, coinciding with approximately 2,500 U.S. Marines deploying to the area and Iranian-supported Houthi rebels joining the monthlong conflict.

The ongoing warfare has created widespread economic disruption, threatening worldwide oil and natural gas supplies while causing fertilizer shortages and interrupting air transportation. Iran’s control over the crucial Strait of Hormuz has created market instability and price fluctuations.

The Houthis’ involvement raises concerns about additional damage to international shipping, particularly if they resume attacking vessels in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait near the Red Sea, a waterway that handles approximately 12% of global trade.

UN Peacekeeper Fatality in Southern Lebanon

Early Monday, UNIFIL reported that one United Nations peacekeeper died and another sustained critical injuries when an explosive projectile hit their position close to a southern Lebanese village.

Officials stated that the “origin of the projectile” remained undetermined.

The mountainous border region where UNIFIL forces conduct patrols has experienced decades of cross-border conflicts.

Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah militants engaged in comprehensive warfare in 2024 and are currently fighting again after Hezbollah aligned with Iran in launching attacks against Israel in the present conflict. Israel has deployed thousands of soldiers across the Lebanese border.

Israel Reports Preventing West Bank Attacks

Israeli military forces shot two individuals they determined posed threats during separate overnight incidents in the occupied West Bank, resulting in one death and “neutralizing” the other, according to early Monday military statements.

Military reports indicate one knife-wielding man charged toward soldiers near Dura in the southern West Bank and was fatally shot. Another individual accelerated his vehicle toward troops near a village north of Jerusalem, prompting soldiers to open fire.

Holy Sepulchre Receives Limited Prayer Authorization

Israeli police announced approval of a “limited prayer framework” allowing worship at Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre as the sacred Holy Week period begins.

Jerusalem’s Old City religious sites important to Christians, Jews and Muslims have remained shuttered throughout the Iran conflict due to security concerns. Earlier this month, debris from intercepting an Iranian missile landed on a rooftop near the church, which Christians consider the crucifixion site of Jesus.

Police officials said they collaborated with a representative of Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch who had been previously denied entry, and promised additional details about permitted activities would follow.

Israeli Forces Intercept Yemeni Drones

Israel’s military confirmed its air force successfully intercepted two unmanned aircraft launched from Yemen during early Monday morning hours.

The Iranian-supported Houthi rebels took credit for their initial attack in the current conflict — a missile launched at Israel that was also intercepted — early Saturday morning.

Northern Iran Petrochemical Plant Hit

Iranian news outlets reported early Monday that a Tabriz Petrochemical facility in the country’s northern region was struck. Officials confirmed no dangerous materials were released.

The company processes oil and natural gas into chemical products used for manufacturing everyday items including plastics and various chemicals.

SAN BARTOLO MORELOS, Mexico (AP) — Cruz Monroy has spent over three decades navigating the streets of a small community near Mexico’s capital city, balancing towering structures of tiny cages containing colorful birds.

The songs of crimson cardinals, emerald and sapphire parakeets, and vibrant finches provide the soundtrack for “pajareros” — street vendors who sell birds like Monroy.

The practice of marketing birds in towering cage formations, often reaching heights that dwarf the vendors themselves, spans multiple generations. These sellers have remained a constant presence in Mexican marketplaces and represent part of the 1.5 million street vendors operating throughout Mexico.

“Hearing their songs, it brings people joy,” Monroy said, the sounds of dozens of birdsongs echoing over him from his home in his small town outside Mexico’s capital, where he cares for and raises the birds. “This is our tradition, my father was also a bird-seller.”

Each Palm Sunday during the Catholic celebration, hundreds of bird vendors from throughout the nation gather in Mexico City, creating elaborate 10-foot cage displays decorated with vibrant flowers, shimmering tinsel, and pictures of the Virgin of Guadalupe, the country’s beloved patron saint.

These vendors journey for miles on foot through the capital’s streets alongside their families and feathered companions, making their way to the city’s famous basilica.

However, the number of pajareros working the streets has steadily declined in recent times due to increasing government regulations and harsh opposition from animal welfare organizations, who label the practice as cruelty and illegal wildlife trade.

Monroy and fellow vendors maintain they avoid capturing prohibited species like parrots and other birds banned by Mexican officials — who classify tropical varieties as “wild birds, not pets” — and instead often raise their own birds while providing proper care. Nevertheless, Monroy acknowledges that within his own family, this time-honored practice is fading away.

Facing pressure from officials and growing opposition, he hopes his children will pursue more reliable employment opportunities.

“Because of the restrictions, harassment by certain authorities, many friends have left selling birds behind,” Monroy said. “For my children, it’s not stable work anymore. We have to look for other alternatives.”

SYDNEY – A seven-month manhunt in Australia came to an end Monday when authorities fatally shot a fugitive accused of murdering two police officers, according to Australian media reports.

Dezi Freeman, formerly known as Desmond Filby, had evaded capture since August following a deadly confrontation that claimed the lives of two officers and wounded another in Victoria state. Law enforcement had placed a substantial A$1 million ($684,700) bounty on information that would lead to his arrest.

The deadly incident occurred when Freeman allegedly attacked a 10-member police squad, which included officers from the sexual offences and child investigation unit, as they attempted to serve a search warrant at a residence in Porepunkah. The location sits approximately 300 kilometers (186 miles) northeast of Melbourne.

After the attack, Freeman escaped into the wilderness of Mount Buffalo National Park. Authorities described him as having extensive survival expertise and access to high-powered weapons. Local news outlets characterized the 56-year-old as a “sovereign citizen” who rejected government authority.

The fatal shooting occurred around 8:30 a.m. Monday (2130 GMT Sunday), according to the Australian Broadcasting Corp.

Victoria Police confirmed in an official statement that officers killed a man during an operation targeting Freeman at a property in northeastern Victoria, though they did not confirm the individual’s identity.

“No police officers were injured during the incident,” the statement said, adding that further details would be released later on Monday.

Israel’s Knesset voted to approve the nation’s 2026 budget early Monday morning, according to a parliamentary spokesperson, preventing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration from facing potential snap elections while the country remains engaged in military conflicts with Iran and operations in Lebanon.

The defense-focused spending plan totals 699 billion shekels and was passed one month into Israel’s ongoing military operations, which include fighting against Hezbollah forces in Lebanon. The economic impact of these conflicts has reached approximately $1.6 billion per week.

Had lawmakers rejected the budget proposal, Israel would have faced mandatory early elections within 90 days – a scenario that polling data suggests Netanyahu would likely lose.

While regular elections are scheduled for late October, no specific date has been confirmed. Netanyahu has indicated the vote could potentially occur in September.

The budget’s approval at the final hour eliminates significant uncertainty for Israel’s financial markets and economic outlook, which had been functioning on an extended 2025 budget since January.

Defense spending received an additional 32 billion shekels under the new budget, pushing the deficit target to approximately 5% of the nation’s gross domestic product.

Economic analysts warn this increased spending could trigger inflationary pressures, potentially delaying the return to sound fiscal management and limiting opportunities for future interest rate cuts.

A United Nations peacekeeper died and another sustained critical injuries when an explosive projectile struck their position close to the southern Lebanese village of Adchit al-Qusayr on Sunday, according to the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon.

The UN mission, known as UNIFIL, announced the casualties in a statement released early Monday morning.

“We do not know the origin of the projectile. We have launched an investigation to determine all of the circumstances,” UNIFIL stated.

The peacekeeping force operates in southern Lebanon to oversee tensions along the border with Israel, a region that has become a flashpoint for fighting between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants backed by Iran.

The peacekeeping operation, scheduled to conclude at the end of 2026, has repeatedly found itself caught between Israeli and Hezbollah forces during recent conflicts.

Earlier this month on March 6, Ghana’s military reported that missile strikes targeted the headquarters of its UN peacekeeping unit in Lebanon, critically wounding two soldiers.

Israeli military officials later confirmed their tank artillery had struck a UN facility in southern Lebanon on that date, injuring the Ghanaian peacekeepers.

The Israeli military stated its forces had retaliated against anti-tank missile attacks from Hezbollah that moderately injured two Israeli soldiers.

“Once again, we call on all actors to uphold their obligations under international law and to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel and property at all times, including by refraining from actions that may put peacekeepers in danger,” UNIFIL said.

Lebanon became involved in the broader Middle Eastern conflict when Hezbollah launched rocket attacks against Israel on March 2 in support of Tehran, following Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iran two days earlier. This Hezbollah assault triggered a fresh Israeli military campaign against the organization.

A vessel flying the Russian flag and loaded with crude oil moved into Cuban territorial waters on Sunday, marking what appears to be the Caribbean island’s first petroleum shipment in over two months, according to maritime tracking information.

The vessel Anatoly Kolodkin, which set sail from the Russian port of Primorsk with approximately 650,000 barrels of Urals crude oil aboard, appears destined for Cuba’s Matanzas port based on its current trajectory, maritime tracking services Marine Traffic and LSEG report.

The shipment represents a significant development for Cuba, which has experienced an extended period without oil imports stretching back more than eight weeks.

One person died and eight others sustained injuries when Ukrainian drones struck the Russian port city of Taganrog on Sunday, according to local authorities.

The attack sparked multiple fires and caused extensive damage to residential neighborhoods and industrial facilities, forcing officials to evacuate affected areas where drone wreckage had fallen.

Rostov region Governor Yuri Slyusar reported on Telegram that rescue teams were deployed to locations where debris had crashed. “Emergency crews are working at the site of the incident, where the debris fell,” Slyusar stated. “Fires and damage have occurred. People have been evacuated.”

Mayor Svetlana Kambulova detailed the scope of destruction across the city in her own Telegram message, revealing that emergency responders handled 49 separate incidents related to the drone assault.

“Due to falling drone debris, several residential houses, social sites, and industrial enterprises were damaged,” Kambulova reported.

Defense systems continued operating in the area following the attack. Taganrog sits along the Sea of Azov’s eastern shore, positioned as a strategic port city near Ukraine’s border.

Britain’s top financial official plans to caution fellow G7 nations Monday against implementing independent trade restrictions while conflict with Iran persists, warning such actions could worsen energy security concerns.

Finance Minister Rachel Reeves will address G7 finance ministers, energy officials and central bank leaders, emphasizing the group “should act together, not in ways that shift pressure onto partners or weaken collective resilience,” according to a ministry statement.

The Group of Seven encompasses wealthy nations including the United States, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the European Union.

Reeves plans to argue that protectionist policies and additional trade restrictions risk disrupting supply networks and increasing costs, emphasizing that collaborative efforts remain essential for maintaining energy and goods movement while reducing expenses long-term.

The conflict with Iran, initiated by U.S. and Israeli forces on February 28, has expanded throughout the Middle East region, resulting in thousands of casualties and creating unprecedented disruptions to worldwide energy markets that have significantly impacted the global economy.

Iranian-Americans assembled in the nation’s capital this week as conflicts across the Middle East continue to intensify. The demonstration brought together members of the Iranian diaspora living throughout the United States.

During the rally, participants voiced their support for American and Israeli positions in the ongoing regional tensions. The demonstrators also called for political transformation within Iran’s current government structure.

The gathering reflects the complex political views held by many Iranian expatriates residing in America, particularly as military actions expand throughout the Middle Eastern region.

Twenty-one demonstrators were taken into custody by Israeli authorities during Saturday evening anti-war rallies that spread across four major cities, even as officials maintained restrictions on large public gatherings.

The demonstrations unfolded in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa and Beersheba, drawing hundreds of participants to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem while approximately 100 gathered in Haifa. This represented the highest attendance since the weekly protest movement started. Law enforcement officials confirmed that 13 individuals were detained in Tel Aviv while eight more were arrested in Haifa.

According to police statements, the assemblies lacked proper authorization under Home Front Command rules that prohibit gatherings exceeding 50 individuals. Officials noted that attendance surged after opposition organizations urged citizens to demonstrate regardless of the existing limitations.

“During a situation assessment that took place at the scene with a Home Front Command representative … it was clarified that there was a real risk to human life and accordingly, Yarkon [precinct] police commander Tzachi Sharabi ordered the gathering to be dispersed,” police said.

Ayman Odeh, who chairs Hadash-Ta’al and participated in the protests as an Arab parliament member, condemned the law enforcement actions. He labeled officers as fascists “in the service of the government” and stated they feared “the heroic citizens who went out, despite everything, to make their voice heard.”

These protests occur while recent polling from the Israel Democracy Institute in March 2026 revealed widespread yet divided backing among Jewish Israelis for Operation Roaring Lion. The survey showed strongest approval among right-wing voters at 87 percent, compared to roughly half among left-leaning respondents.

The research also indicated that both Jewish and Arab survey participants generally concurred that Iran’s resistance capabilities exceeded initial expectations. The majority of Jewish participants believed Israeli society could maintain the military operation for up to one month, while 28 percent expressed confidence it could continue indefinitely. Arab respondents showed greater skepticism about public endurance for prolonged conflict.

Most Jewish survey participants attributed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s military decision to security concerns, whereas the majority of Arab respondents characterized it as politically motivated.

A deadly battle between a notorious gang and local vigilante forces transformed a central Haitian community into a scene of devastation Sunday morning, according to regional authorities who spoke with The Associated Press.

The Gran Grif gang launched a violent assault in the Jean-Denis neighborhood of Petite-Rivière de l’Artibonite, leaving multiple victims dead in the streets and torching residential buildings, according to video evidence of the attack.

Officials have not yet released an exact death toll from the assault. This latest tragedy adds to Haiti’s mounting crisis of gang violence that has plagued the Caribbean nation for five years since President Jovenel Moïse was killed in 2021.

Citizen vigilante organizations started forming around 2023 as communities fought back against criminal groups that have devastated daily life across Haiti. These self-appointed security forces have added another layer of complexity to the country’s violence, even as international peacekeeping efforts attempt to restore order.

These vigilante organizations frequently barricade communities and carry out extreme punishments against suspected gang members, including dismemberment, beheadings, and burning victims alive.

The Gran Grif organization has maintained its reign of terror throughout the Artibonite region, where Sunday’s attack occurred. Last year, the Trump administration officially classified Gran Grif among several Haitian criminal organizations as foreign terrorist groups.

United Nations officials identify Gran Grif as the region’s most dominant criminal organization, linking it to 80% of civilian fatalities in the area. The group has committed mass killings, sexual assaults including attacks on children, displaced thousands of residents, and carried out brutal dismemberments, according to UN reports.

Pakistan’s foreign ministry announced Sunday that the nation stands ready to facilitate diplomatic discussions aimed at resolving the ongoing Middle Eastern conflict, despite Iran’s accusations that Washington is simultaneously planning military ground operations.

Following discussions among regional foreign ministers, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar revealed they explored various approaches to achieve an early and lasting resolution to the regional warfare, including potential US-Iran diplomatic meetings in Islamabad.

“Pakistan will be honoured to host and facilitate meaningful talks between the two sides in coming days, for a comprehensive and lasting settlement of the ongoing conflict,” Dar stated. Whether both the United States and Iran have committed to participating remains uncertain.

Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts face significant challenges due to the rigid stances maintained by the United States, Israel, and Iran regarding conditions for ending the hostilities.

Earlier, Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf criticized the US for discussing potential negotiations while simultaneously preparing to deploy ground forces, warning that Tehran would respond if American troops were sent to the region.

“As long as the Americans seek Iran’s surrender, our response is that we will never accept humiliation,” Qalibaf declared in his national address.

Preliminary conversations involving Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt centered on strategies to restore shipping access through the Strait of Hormuz, according to sources with knowledge of the discussions.

Iran’s blockade of oil and gas transport through the strategic waterway, implemented since US and Israeli attacks began on February 28, continues to create worldwide economic disruption.

As the conflict moves into its second month, military activities show no signs of decreasing. Israeli forces reported conducting more than 140 aerial attacks across central and western Iran, including Tehran, within a 24-hour period ending Sunday evening, targeting ballistic missile facilities and storage locations.

The World Health Organization director reported that Israel’s expanding military actions in southern Lebanon resulted in another healthcare worker’s death, bringing the total to 51 killed. Israeli officials claim Iran-supported Hezbollah fighters use medical facilities for protection, which the organization disputes.

A chemical facility in southern Israel near Beer Sheva was struck by a missile or debris as Israel defended against multiple Iranian attacks, prompting authorities to warn civilians about “hazardous materials” in the area.

Another projectile struck open terrain near residential areas in Beer Sheva, close to several military installations, wounding 11 individuals.

The warfare has claimed thousands of lives and affected nations throughout the Middle East, with major aluminum production facilities in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates suffering damage from weekend airstrikes.

The UAE is demanding compensation from Iran for attacks on civilian populations and critical infrastructure, plus assurances to prevent future incidents, according to a presidential adviser.

Yemen’s Iran-allied Houthis entered the conflict Saturday by launching their initial strikes against Israel, raising concerns they might target and potentially close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, another crucial shipping route. Experts warn renewed attacks there would increase pressure on the global economy.

Washington has deployed thousands of Marines to the Middle East, with the first group arriving Friday via amphibious assault vessel, according to US military officials.

The Washington Post cited US officials indicating the Pentagon is preparing for extended ground operations in Iran, though it remains unclear whether President Donald Trump would authorize such plans.

Reuters previously reported that Pentagon officials have evaluated military options potentially involving ground forces.

Trump confronts a difficult decision between pursuing a negotiated resolution or military escalation that could lead to an extended crisis and likely impact his already declining approval ratings.

“President Trump has poor options all around to end the war,” commented Jonathan Panikoff, former US deputy national intelligence officer for the Middle East.

“Part of the challenge is the lack of clarity related to what a satisfactory outcome would be,” Panikoff explained.

Washington announced last week it had proposed a 15-point ceasefire framework, including provisions to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and limit Iran’s nuclear activities, but Tehran rejected the proposal and presented its own alternatives.

An Israeli official confirmed Israel would maintain strikes against Iranian military installations, stating there were no plans to reduce the campaign before any potential Washington-Tehran negotiations.

A structure housing Qatar’s Al-Araby TV in Tehran was hit Sunday, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported, with footage showing damaged walls and blown-out windows in the multi-story building.

“The missile hit. The ceiling and everything fell on our heads. Unfortunately, we couldn’t continue to work. It was a real miracle we survived,” Al-Araby camera operator Mohammadreza Shademan said. “There was no military target here.”

With US midterm elections approaching in November, the increasingly unpopular conflict has negatively affected Trump’s Republican Party. Protesters demonstrated in American cities Saturday, opposing the ongoing hostilities.

A European diplomat cautioned that additional military escalation could complicate efforts to bring both sides to the negotiating table, potentially postponing diplomatic opportunities for weeks or longer.

Iranian threats against vessels have prevented most oil tankers from attempting passage through the waterway. Iran has permitted an additional 20 Pakistani-flagged ships to transit the strait, Dar announced, describing it as a “harbinger of peace.”

CAIRO (AP) — Egypt has implemented mandatory early closure times for businesses across the nation as officials scramble to reduce electricity consumption while oil prices surge due to the ongoing U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran, fundamentally altering Cairo’s reputation as a sleepless metropolis.

Beginning Saturday, authorities mandated that all retail establishments, dining venues and coffee houses must close their doors earlier than usual, disrupting operations during their most profitable periods.

“It’s ruinous,” declared Youssef Salah, who operates a coffee house in Cairo. “It deprives us from our peak time.”

This mandate represents just one element of multiple strategies officials have implemented recently to address consequences from the U.S. and Israeli military campaign against Iran, which has destabilized both Middle Eastern stability and worldwide economic systems. While Egypt remains uninvolved in this expanding conflict, the nation with the largest Arab population faces severe impacts from the war’s extensive effects, particularly elevated petroleum costs and interrupted maritime commerce.

These mandated early shutdowns will severely affect hundreds of thousands of small enterprises located throughout virtually every street and neighborhood nationwide. Many establishments — particularly restaurants, beverage vendors and coffee houses — typically maintain continuous operations.

Salah, whose establishment serves Cairo’s middle-income Sayeda Zeinab district, revealed he eliminated 40% of his 35 employees due to these restrictions.

The 46-year-old father of three previously maintained round-the-clock operations, with maximum customer activity occurring from evening through early morning hours. Those overnight periods have been eliminated entirely, he explained.

“It’s painful,” Salah stated while securing his establishment at 9 p.m. (19:00 GMT) Saturday.

However, within two days of implementation, some Egyptians found ways to circumvent official requirements. Certain coffee houses secured their main entrances while customers remained inside enjoying water pipes or engaging in chess, dominoes or card games.

Others utilized social media platforms to mockingly condemn the policy for eliminating Cairo’s evening entertainment options.

“The Butterfly effect,” wrote Mahmoud Elmamlouk, a local publication editor, on social media following coffee shop closures Saturday evening. “The closure of Strait of Hormuz has deprived us from smoking shisha.”

Ayman Harbi, employed at a downtown Cairo store, requested officials extend operating hours until at least midnight, describing the 9 p.m. requirement as “extremely difficult” for enterprises like his.

“Our work in the summer usually starts after 8 p.m. (18:00 GMT),” he explained. “Forcing me to close at 9 p.m. (19:00 GMT) makes the workday pointless.”

Magdy al-Deeb, another business proprietor, pressed authorities to withdraw this policy to maintain employment opportunities, particularly for coffee houses and small enterprises.

“Where will all those people (workers) go,” he questioned regarding potential job losses. While enjoying a water pipe at a Cairo café, he emphasized that society “must protect people’s livelihoods.”

This early closure requirement has also transformed daily routines for Egyptians accustomed to purchasing virtually any item at any hour, particularly in major urban centers like Cairo and Alexandria.

Weekend evening observations throughout Cairo revealed the city’s typically bustling streets had become unusually silent.

Commercial establishments, dining venues, shopping centers and coffee houses nationwide must now close at 9 p.m. (19:00 GMT) for one month.

These policies — characterized by officials as “exceptional” — also include reducing street lighting intensity and roadside advertisements. Government administrative offices in the New Administrative Capital, located east of Cairo, received orders to close by 6 p.m. (16:00 GMT). Public employees were also instructed to work remotely one day weekly during April.

Officials exempted tourist destination areas from these energy conservation measures, recognizing tourism as a vital foreign currency source for the financially struggling nation. Excluded locations include Red Sea resort destinations Hurghada, Sharm el-Sheikh, Marsa Alam, plus the historically significant southern cities Aswan and Luxor.

Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly explained these measures target petroleum consumption reduction.

“The alternative would be to resort again to further price increases,” he cautioned.

Authorities already increased fuel and cooking gas costs earlier this month as worldwide energy prices climbed following the virtual blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital passage for approximately one-fifth of global oil transportation.

International energy costs have risen dramatically since hostilities began February 28, when the U.S. and Israel initiated extensive air campaigns against Iran, which responded by attacking oil and gas facilities throughout the Persian Gulf region and restricting Strait of Hormuz traffic.

These increases particularly impact Egypt given that its population exceeding 108 million people consumes $20 billion worth of petroleum products yearly, including fuel for electrical generation facilities.

Egypt imports 28% of its gasoline and 45% of its diesel supplies, with Madbouly reporting the nation’s oil expenses more than doubled from January to $2.5 billion.

KABUL, Afghanistan — Afghan government officials are pointing fingers at Pakistan’s armed forces following a deadly artillery bombardment on Sunday that targeted civilian areas near an eastern Afghan city, leaving one person dead and more than a dozen injured in the ongoing border conflict between the two nations.

The current wave of hostilities, which began in late February, represents the most intense military confrontation between Afghanistan and Pakistan in several decades.

Pakistan maintains that Afghanistan is sheltering extremist fighters who launch attacks on Pakistani soil, particularly members of the Pakistani Taliban. This militant organization operates independently from but maintains close ties with the Afghan Taliban, which took control of Afghanistan in 2021 as U.S.-led coalition forces withdrew. Afghan authorities reject these accusations.

Afghan deputy government spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat reported that “mortars and other heavy weaponry” struck countryside locations and residential buildings on Sunday afternoon around Asadabad in Kunar Province.

Fitrat shared on X, along with images showing injured children, that initial reports confirmed one fatality and 16 wounded individuals, primarily women and children. Pakistani officials have not yet responded to these allegations.

The military confrontation between the two countries has included repeated border skirmishes and aerial bombardments within Afghan territory, with several strikes reaching Afghanistan’s capital city of Kabul.

This month, Afghan authorities reported that a Pakistani air assault targeted a drug rehabilitation facility in Kabul, resulting in over 400 deaths. The United Nations humanitarian office continues working to confirm the exact casualty count. Pakistan has challenged this account and rejected claims of deliberately attacking civilians, stating their target was a weapons storage facility.

The February violence began after Afghanistan conducted a cross-border military operation into Pakistan, claiming it was responding to fatal Pakistani air raids on Afghan border communities that allegedly killed only non-combatants. Pakistani officials maintained those strikes aimed at militant targets.

Pakistan announced last month it was engaged in “open war” with Afghanistan. This escalation has concerned the global community, especially given the region’s presence of other extremist groups, including al-Qaida and the Islamic State organization, which continue attempting to reestablish themselves.

Both nations agreed to a temporary ceasefire last week before the Muslim celebration of Eid al-Fitr, following diplomatic intervention by Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar. That truce ended earlier this week, with fighting resuming Wednesday when Afghan authorities reported at least two civilian deaths in eastern Afghanistan.

Relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan have remained strained for months. The recent combat has disrupted a Qatar-brokered ceasefire from October that had stopped earlier confrontations between the countries, which had resulted in dozens of deaths among civilians, security personnel and militants. The two governments provide conflicting casualty statistics.

Diplomatic negotiations conducted in Istanbul during November were unsuccessful in achieving a lasting resolution.

Emergency medical teams in Beersheba treated 11 people for wounds caused by debris and blast effects after a missile from Iran landed in an undeveloped area of the city.

Medical officials reported that victims suffered harm from projectiles created by the explosion, with the force of the blast spreading across a radius of 15 meters or greater from where the weapon landed.

The emergency medical service Magen David Adom provided care to an additional 20 people experiencing panic reactions after the attack. Medical personnel transported a total of 31 individuals to Soroka hospital for treatment.

Video captured at the location revealed a massive column of dark smoke billowing upward from the missile’s impact zone.

News outlet N12 reported that the wider assault affected 20 different locations, with Turner Stadium among the damaged structures.

First responders provided initial medical care at the impact site before moving patients to the medical facility.

Israel’s Environmental Protection Ministry announced that citizens face no health hazards following an incident where missile debris hit a chemical manufacturing plant in the Neot Hovav industrial area of the Negev desert, causing a blaze.

The targeted plant belongs to ADAMA, a subsidiary of the Syngenta Group owned by Chinese interests, which manufactures farming chemicals such as pest control products, weed killers and anti-fungal treatments.

Officials performed environmental monitoring and safety assessments at the location, and based on their findings, authorities gave approval to reopen transportation routes and return to standard activities.

The United Nations has documented a devastating toll from violent clashes that rocked Syria’s As-Suwayda province last year, with an 85-page investigation revealing that over 1,700 people lost their lives during one week of intense fighting in July 2025.

According to findings from the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, the casualty count includes primarily civilians from the Druze religious minority community, along with Bedouin residents and at least 225 Syrian government military personnel. The violence also forced nearly 155,000 residents from their homes, with many still unable to return despite a fragile truce.

The southern Syrian province of As-Suwayda is home mainly to members of the Druze faith, while nomadic Bedouin communities traverse the territory. Tensions had been building between these groups over disputes involving water access and livestock grazing rights, with local residents demanding stronger government security measures and oversight.

The deadly confrontation began when Bedouin communities tried to move into Druze-controlled areas where Syrian government security forces maintained only a minimal presence. This sparked fierce fighting that eventually required government military intervention to establish control and broker a ceasefire.

These clashes represent one of Syria’s bloodiest episodes since major combat operations wound down around 2020, underscoring continued risks from ethnic and tribal disputes over territory and governance that could further destabilize the war-torn nation.

A separate Syrian government investigation released on March 17, 2026, through the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) put the death toll at 1,760 with 2,188 wounded across all sides. The Damascus-appointed committee documented what it called “serious human rights violations” by “multiple parties, including local armed groups and elements linked to ISIS [Islamic State], in addition to members of government and security forces.”

Syrian officials said military and security forces tried to block tribal groups from entering As-Suwayda territory, but were overwhelmed by large numbers and hampered by some personnel failures. Some accounts indicated security forces did manage to turn away certain groups and escort them from the province after they had already entered.

The UN investigation determined that all sides violated international humanitarian and human rights standards through killings, torture, unlawful detention, and attacks on civilian facilities. Commission investigators concluded some of these actions could qualify as war crimes and potentially crimes against humanity.

United Nations officials cautioned that failing to hold perpetrators accountable increases the likelihood of renewed local violence, urging Syrian leadership and all involved parties to launch thorough, unbiased investigations that include high-ranking officials and military commanders.

The report stressed that achieving justice and meaningful reconciliation remains crucial for addressing the aftermath of As-Suwayda’s violence and preventing Syria from sliding back into broader conflict as it continues grappling with the lasting effects of its prolonged civil war.

Twenty-one demonstrators were taken into custody by Israeli authorities Saturday evening as anti-war rallies opposing the Iran conflict spread across several major cities, despite existing limitations on public assemblies.

The demonstrations unfolded in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa and Beersheba, drawing hundreds of participants to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem while approximately 100 gathered in Haifa. This represented the highest attendance figures since the weekly protest movement commenced. Law enforcement officials reported that 13 arrests occurred in Tel Aviv while eight took place in Haifa.

Authorities explained that the gatherings lacked official authorization due to Home Front Command restrictions prohibiting assemblies exceeding 50 individuals. Officials indicated that attendance surged following appeals from government opposition organizations urging people to demonstrate regardless of the limitations.

“During a situation assessment that took place at the scene with a Home Front Command representative … it was clarified that there was a real risk to human life and accordingly, Yarkon [precinct] police commander Tzachi Sharabi ordered the gathering to be dispersed,” police said.

Ayman Odeh, chairman of Hadash-Ta’al and an Arab parliamentary member participating in the demonstrations, condemned the law enforcement response. He labeled officers as fascists “in the service of the government” and stated they feared “the heroic citizens who went out, despite everything, to make their voice heard.”

These protests occur amid findings from a March 2026 Israel Democracy Institute poll revealing widespread yet divided backing among Jewish Israelis for Operation Roaring Lion. Right-wing respondents showed the highest approval at 87 percent, while left-wing support reached approximately 50 percent.

The polling data also indicated that both Jewish and Arab participants largely concurred that Iran’s resistance capabilities exceeded initial expectations. Most Jewish survey participants believed Israeli society could maintain the military campaign for up to 30 days, though 28 percent expressed confidence it could continue indefinitely. Arab respondents showed greater pessimism regarding public endurance for prolonged conflict.

A majority of Jewish poll participants characterized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision as motivated by security concerns, whereas most Arab respondents interpreted it as politically driven.

A young Israeli Defense Forces sergeant who previously lived in Connecticut lost his life Friday during military operations in southern Lebanon, according to official reports.

The fallen soldier has been identified as Sgt. Moshe Yitzchak Hacohen Katz, age 22, who served with the 890th Battalion of the Paratroopers Brigade. Before joining the Israeli military, Katz resided in New Haven, Connecticut and was affiliated with the Chabad Hasidic community.

Friday’s violence also left two additional officers wounded when militants launched anti-tank missiles during the confrontation. One officer sustained serious injuries while another suffered moderate wounds in the attack.

The heartbreaking news was shared publicly by the soldier’s father, Mendy Katz, through a Facebook announcement. “With unspeakable tragedy I regret to inform you that my 22-year-old son Moshe Yitzchak, a sergeant in the IDF, fell in battle in Lebanon,” he wrote in the emotional post.

In his tribute, the grieving father remembered his eldest child fondly, stating: “My oldest son, with a zest for life and jokes. Burial is tomorrow in Israel. Maybe we only share good news.”

Mendy Katz expressed his profound grief in an additional message, writing: “My heart is shattered and the wound is real,” while adding “May he be a malitz yosher (advocate for merit) for only good things.”

This latest casualty raises the death toll from Hezbollah attacks since hostilities began to eight fatalities, which includes five military personnel and three civilians.

A critical diplomatic summit will take place in Islamabad later this month as Pakistan brings together top foreign policy officials from three major regional powers to address growing concerns over US-Iran relations.

The two-day conference, scheduled for March 29-30, will feature Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar leading discussions with his counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt. According to Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dar has extended formal invitations to Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Turkey’s Hakan Fidan, and Egypt’s Badr Abdelatty.

Officials characterize the gathering as an organized diplomatic initiative designed to help calm rising tensions between Washington and Tehran. The timing comes as Middle Eastern stability faces increasing threats, with concerns that any misstep between Iran and the United States could spark a broader regional conflict.

According to the Pakistani foreign ministry, the international visitors will engage in comprehensive discussions covering various regional matters, with particular emphasis on strategies to reduce current tensions. Diplomatic sources suggest the conversations will explore opportunities for reducing conflict through private diplomatic channels and unified messaging.

Pakistan appears to be leveraging its relationships with both Iran and Gulf state allies to serve as an intermediary in situations where official diplomatic communications have become difficult. The involvement of Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt demonstrates a wider coalition of regional nations working to avoid additional instability.

Although significant immediate progress seems unlikely, the Islamabad conference represents a gradual approach to restart diplomatic conversations during this crucial period.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently spoke by telephone with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday, updating him on current diplomatic initiatives. The Prime Minister’s Office reported that their conversation, which extended beyond an hour, included exchanges about regional tensions and peace-building efforts.

The official statement revealed that Sharif briefed the Iranian leader on diplomatic outreach conducted by himself, the deputy prime minister, and Field Marshal Asim Munir, designed to engage the United States along with Gulf and Islamic nations in creating favorable conditions for negotiations.

In a related development, Pezeshkian posted on his X social media account: “We have said many times that Iran doesn’t carry out pre-emptive attacks, but we will retaliate strongly if our infrastructure or economic centers are targeted. To the countries of the region: ‘If you want development and security, don’t let our enemies run the war from your lands.’”

Americans with ties to Israel are facing unprecedented disruptions to their holiday travel plans as ongoing warfare forces flight cancellations and dangerous detours through neighboring countries. The conflict has left families separated during Passover, forced the cancellation of milestone celebrations, and created a travel nightmare for thousands trying to reach loved ones.

Lily Feinstein, a 20-year-old student from Dallas studying at Reichman University in Herzliya, described her harrowing journey home through Egypt after multiple flight cancellations. “My biggest fear throughout the whole war was getting stuck outside of the country rather than in the country,” she explained upon arriving at a New York airport. “There was never a moment where I felt scared or something was going to happen to me. But rather, if I had to leave, what was going to happen then?”

Feinstein had originally booked flights with El Al, but repeated cancellations forced her to make an alternative choice. “I had a couple of flights booked with El Al. My flights kept getting canceled,” she said. Despite flights still operating from Ben-Gurion Airport, options were severely limited. “I just didn’t want to risk booking another flight and maybe getting stuck again. I just made the decision to go through Egypt.”

Her experience at Cairo’s airport highlighted the chaos now surrounding Israel-related travel. “It was an experience for sure. I definitely wouldn’t recommend it,” Feinstein noted. “It’s not a good feeling when you don’t have the IDF behind you, and you’re alone.”

She described overwhelming conditions at the Egyptian terminal. “There was nobody else in the airport there. It was literally just Jews. There was not even one Egyptian person in the airport other than the staff and security, but it was chaos. Lines at the door. Their airport’s not equipped to handle what they’re doing.”

Meanwhile, Tziril Yurman, who grew up in Israel and now works in New York City’s Upper East Side in nursing home admissions and marketing, faced her own disappointment when her March 25 El Al flight to visit elderly parents in Jerusalem was canceled at 6 pm.

“Complete and utter devastation,” Yurman said about her reaction. “I felt like I could not get home. I grew up there. But besides that, it’s home for every Jew, and I still feel stranded.” Having traveled without issues during COVID and after October 7, this situation felt different. “This is the first time where an Israeli, a Jew, who’s holding an Israeli passport, cannot get home.”

Instead of Jerusalem, Yurman will join her sister at a large Passover program in Cancun, Mexico, hosting over 1,500 attendees. Security concerns weigh heavily as tourist destinations “are definitely being looked at,” with organizers increasing escorts and patrols.

In California, attorney and mother Melissa Cohen watched more than a year of planning for her daughter Alexa’s bat mitzvah celebration in Israel crumble. “We actually hadn’t, I hadn’t been to Israel in over 30 years before last year for our spring break,” she said. After visiting Israel following October 7 events, the family felt compelled to return.

With Israel “being vilified for everything” in media coverage and Gaza war headlines dominating news, Cohen and her husband wanted to show their daughters the country firsthand. “We wanted to take our family for the first time last year, so that we could see for ourselves, so that we could be there, so that we could support Israel, and give our tourism dollars to Israel, and give our children a sense of connection,” she explained. The spring break trip succeeded: “All of my girls, 16, 12, and 10, fell in love with the country, and felt so connected.”

They departed Israel already planning the bat mitzvah return. “Before we touched down on American soil, we sent a note to all of our friends saying next year in Jerusalem,” Cohen remembered. The planned celebration included Tel Aviv beaches, desert excursions, Bedouin tent experiences, and a Western Wall bat mitzvah ceremony. “This was really going to be the trip of a lifetime, in a way,” she said. “Being there with all of these people together, our family and friends traveling together, having one experience together, might not ever happen again.”

However, escalating conflict with Iran changed everything. As Israel’s military campaign intensified and missiles flew, government authorities imposed strict Ben-Gurion airport limitations: only one hourly departure to limited destinations like Athens and New York, with just 50 passengers permitted on each Tel Aviv departure.

“The vast majority of future bookings, both incoming and outgoing, has ground to a halt,” said Mark Feldman, CEO of Ziontours Jerusalem, describing a tourism sector “paralyzed by uncertainty.” Tens of thousands of Israelis remain stranded overseas, primarily in North America and the Far East, while organized tours have virtually disappeared.

Cohen monitored these developments with increasing anxiety. “Starting with the moment we attacked Iran,” she said, “I thought, OK, well, this will be just like the 12-day war last year. They’re even weaker than they were then, and this should be over soon, and this is good news, because this gives us time … and we’re good to go.” However, each day diminished that hope. She and approximately 40 relatives and friends from Houston, California, New York and Boston experienced “whiplash”—alternating between thinking “maybe this is going to happen” and “there’s not a chance.”

Ultimately, airlines made the decision for them. As international carriers suspended Israel routes and remaining seats disappeared, Cohen watched her carefully orchestrated celebration fall apart. “They canceled flights, and then it just became very clear, I would say, seven, maybe 10 days ago, it became very clear that this was not going to happen,” she said. Passover and Easter travel plans like hers, typically booked a year in advance, “have crumbled,” Feldman observed, either due to airline suspensions or because travelers “have chosen not to be in Israel during a war.”

Despite the disruption, Yurman echoes Cohen’s commitment to supporting Israel. “Support the Jewish economy, the Jewish Israeli economy,” she urged. “Support any Israeli thing, anything you can, if it’s something online.” She orders flowers and gifts for family there, encouraging visitors to purchase local items—falafel, ice cream, or larger purchases—to help stores and tourism recover.

Financial consequences have varied. Cohen’s tour guide confirmed hotel reservations were refundable, providing some relief. However, her decision to save on airfare through a third-party ticket agency backfired. “That is not refundable,” she said. Rather than a simple airline credit, the company imposed “a $400 processing fee, plus a $300 commission fee on each ticket that they’re going to take.” Reflecting on the experience, she acknowledged, “In retrospect, I probably should have just gone directly through United. … I was overly confident that nothing was going to happen.”

Cohen’s miscalculation reflects broader assumptions that Israel’s skies had cleared. “Since the war last year in the summer, everything has been great,” she said. Tourism had rebounded, hotels required seven-night minimum stays over Passover, and prices rose sharply as if the crisis had ended. It seemed the country had recovered and tourists were no longer afraid to visit.

Currently, much of the travel infrastructure has stalled. Feldman reports the government has provided no direct assistance, while the “one flight an hour” restriction leaves countless travelers with “no ability” to return home. Arkia, an Israeli domestic carrier, now operates solely from JFK to Larnaca, Cyprus, due to landing slot shortages. The US Embassy transports American citizens by bus to Amman’s airport in Jordan. “Short of a death certificate or a high-level El Al frequent flier number, just getting out this week is almost a miracle,” Feldman said.

Feldman identified price gouging amid the chaos: El Al’s $999 NYC economy tickets sell out immediately, with “finding space more than one or two days in advance … not possible,” while Amman’s Royal Jordanian charges $2,900 one-way to JFK, “way more than their normal fare.” Oil price increases from the war haven’t impacted costs yet, but “will affect future ticket prices, when the system reboots,” he added.

Alternative routes through Egypt, Jordan, and Cyprus that Feinstein and others used have become essential lifelines. International journalists enter Israel via land crossings, and Feldman reported “zero reports of any problems (other than a request for tips).” Yet these paths are hardly comfortable. Feinstein said she “definitely felt safer in Israel” than in an Egyptian airport crowded with anxious passengers. Now heading to Florida to meet her family, she’s already concerned about the return trip. “I don’t want to have to go through Egypt or Jordan again,” she said. “I’m hoping I don’t have to do that again.”

Yurman plans to return immediately after Passover, regardless of obstacles. “Without a question,” she said.

Cancellations have altered sacred family celebrations. Rather than celebrating in Jerusalem at the Kotel, Cohen will now hold her daughter’s bat mitzvah at home. “I’ve spent the past week to two weeks planning a new bat mitzvah for April 11, the same day it was supposed to be,” she said. The location has shifted from Jerusalem’s Old City to the family’s Bay Area backyard.

“Our whole family that was coming to Israel is coming here,” Cohen explained. “Everyone had tickets, they took the time off, they were planning to be away. And we’re going do it here,” she said. “…It’s going to be a very different experience. But I think it will be special, nonetheless.”

Cohen acknowledges that increasing antisemitic incidents and anti-Israel sentiment have heightened concerns about Jewish community gatherings. She notes “a lot of concern” about attacks on Jews, but maintains, “I don’t think it’s going to change how I live my life. That’s just not how I operate daily.” Some friends are “very worried, very concerned,” and “don’t like going to synagogues now for bar mitzvahs” or attending events with Jewish speakers. “I just can’t live that way,” she said. Yurman shared similar concerns but remained determined.

The women say the war itself remains difficult for Americans to understand. As a communications student, Feinstein believes many in the US only see missiles and violence. “They think that Israel is a scary place, with missiles all the time, and there’s no fun,” she said. Most “don’t even know you can study in English in Israel,” or that young people like her can lead normal lives between sirens. She uses her Instagram platform to “showcase Israel in a positive light and all the fun and everything that you can do in Israel,” hoping to make it feel “not so far away and foreign.”

Yurman said the public misses the constant reality of sirens and shelter runs. “Just turn on the alarm on your phone, … just feel it with them,” she said. “You don’t have to run to a shelter, but just think that that many times people with children, old people, young people, babies have to run into shelters.”

Feinstein views the Iran conflict in broad terms. “Without being too political, I would say that Iran has been given too much military power,” she said. In her opinion, Israel is “fighting a war on behalf of the whole world and protecting the whole world,” including Americans who may not realize they’re being defended. “Iran having any sort of nuclear weapon is terrifying for the world,” she added. “Even right now, in this exact moment, it sucks that we have to deal with the consequences of war and fighting and all that. But in the long term, being able to fight this war now will protect the Jews, and honestly, everybody around the world, hopefully for forever.”

Yurman agreed the war is “definitely necessary” and overdue, calling Iran a global threat that could lead to another 9/11. “I definitely think it’s doing what it should,” she said. “It’s a legit threat, not only to Israel, but to the world.”

Cohen expresses skepticism about Washington’s messaging. “I don’t think Americans understand it. I don’t think anyone understands it,” she said regarding the Iran war. “The messaging that is coming out of our administration is inaccurate, and untruthful, and bombastic. And so, I think it’s hard to know what’s real and what’s not.” Nevertheless, she believes the stakes could justify the campaign. “This could create a Middle East that is safer, not just for Israel and Jews, but safer for the world,” she said, while adding, “as to whether or not that is actually going to come to fruition, I don’t think anyone knows.”

Back in Israel, the impact of grounded aircraft and empty tour buses will persist long after the holidays. Feldman predicts outbound travel will recover within “one or two months” after a ceasefire, but inbound tourism will require “a solid six months” to rebound. Hotels and guides will suffer longest, as many abandon the industry “for stability, just as before.” Nothing will normalize “until the war has ended in Iran and missiles stop being fired from Lebanon,” he said. Yurman urged supporters to help accelerate recovery: “When you end up taking a trip to Israel, you end up buying things in Israel. … Just support them.”

Feinstein is already looking beyond this Passover, balancing her activism and studies with her desire to remain rooted in Israel. After October 7, she co-founded Mini Mitzvahs, a nonprofit that has “fed 60,000 soldiers on the front lines and visited injured soldiers in the hospital.” She and her friends have fulfilled “about 500 to 600 personal wish list requests” for wounded troops from Gaza and Lebanon and organized three barbecues on an air force base, feeding “over 100 pilots and 400 F-16 plane technicians.”

For now, her focus is more immediate: spend Passover with her family in Florida, then somehow return to school without another difficult detour. “I think anyone who wanted to get out was able to get out,” she said, noting that most students leaving Israel now are doing so for spring break, not from fear. “They’re not running away. They’re not fleeing. They just want to be with their families for this time.”

After Passover concludes, Feinstein will face her greatest concern: repeating the exhausting journey back to Israel. “I definitely felt safer in Israel” than traveling, she said. The challenge now isn’t the desire to be there—but finding a way to return without another “experience” she hopes never to repeat.

Uganda’s top military commander has sparked international attention with a series of social media declarations promising to deploy troops alongside Israel in its conflict with Iran.

General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who leads Uganda’s armed forces and is the son of President Yoweri Museveni, made the bold statements across multiple posts this past week, calling for Middle East peace while simultaneously threatening military intervention.

“We want the war in the Middle East to end now. The world is tired of it. But any talk of destroying or defeating Israel will bring us into the war. On the side of Israel!” Kainerugaba declared in his posts.

The general justified his position through religious conviction, stating in follow-up messages: “We stand with Israel because we are Christians,” and “Uganda is the David that was forgotten and neglected by the world. We will defeat the giant, Goliath.”

Kainerugaba went further by encouraging Israel to conduct a ground offensive against Iran, suggesting Ugandan military personnel could participate in such operations.

When faced with backlash over his comments, the general defended his stance by pointing to historical cooperation between the nations. “Israel stood with us when we were nobodies in the 1980s and 1990s. Why wouldn’t we defend her now that our GDP is $100 billion? One of the largest in Africa,” he responded.

The relationship between Uganda and Israel has deep military and intelligence connections, with Israeli forces having provided training to Ugandan personnel, including Kainerugaba himself.

However, ties between the countries haven’t always been positive. Under the brutal dictatorship of Idi Amin, Uganda became the location of a dramatic 1976 hijacking incident involving Air France Flight 139, which had originated in Tel Aviv bound for France before being redirected to Entebbe Airport.

Israeli commandos executed a daring long-distance rescue operation on July 3, 1976, successfully liberating 106 hostages, most of whom were Israeli citizens.

The mission’s sole fatality was Yonatan “Yoni” Netanyahu, the brother of current Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who received posthumous recognition for his heroism during the operation.

Kainerugaba also posted an image of a memorial statue honoring Yoni Netanyahu, accompanied by the message: “This is a sneak peek of the ‘Yoni’ statue that will soon be unveiled at Entebbe International Airport. Godbless Uganda and Israel.”

Demonstrators filled the streets of Al-Suqaylabiyah, a Christian-majority city in Syria’s Hama province, on Saturday March 28, calling for justice following security incidents that disrupted the community the previous evening. Citizens demanded official investigations into Friday’s events and stricter weapon regulations to prevent future disturbances.

According to The Media Line’s Syria correspondent, the unrest began when a dispute between young men quickly grew into larger confrontations before internal security forces stepped in to restore order. The incident has raised broader concerns about community safety, weapon availability, and authorities’ capacity to prevent similar occurrences.

During Saturday’s demonstration, participants chanted slogans rejecting religious divisions while emphasizing citizenship values and national unity. Their specific demands included removing weapons from the city, providing compensation to victims, conducting transparent investigations, and prosecuting those who damaged public and private property. These calls highlight community concerns that isolated events could develop into wider social and religious conflicts.

Friday’s troubles started when a group attacked a General Security officer from Qalaat al-Madiq, causing severe head trauma. Tensions escalated when residents from the officer’s hometown became involved, leading to weapon use and vandalism of several businesses. Authorities subsequently detained multiple suspects connected to the incident.

Local officials responded by organizing emergency meetings with community leaders, religious representatives, and security personnel to analyze the situation’s causes and develop response strategies. They announced plans to establish a committee for damage assessment and case monitoring from both legal and social angles, promising comprehensive solutions to prevent recurrence.

The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East released a significant statement condemning the Al-Suqaylabiyah events. The religious authority argued the incident couldn’t be dismissed as merely isolated, citing accompanying violence, threats, and gunfire that affected religious symbols and property. The Patriarchate demanded official investigations, accountability for perpetrators, victim compensation, and guarantees against future attacks.

This response demonstrates the incident’s impact beyond local boundaries, reaching religious and social organizations, particularly given the city’s sensitive position in Hama’s countryside. The widespread mobilization reflects growing recognition that security breaches can rapidly escalate into major crises without firm, fair, and transparent handling.

The Al-Suqaylabiyah protests represent more than reactions to a fight that became a security matter – they express deeper concerns about local security management, weapon control, and civil peace protection. While officials promise accountability and de-escalation, focus remains on investigation outcomes and concrete ground-level actions, which will truly test authorities’ ability to restore confidence and prevent renewed tensions.

A violent assault by paramilitary fighters and their rebel allies claimed the lives of at least 14 civilians in Sudan’s central Kordofan region, medical officials reported Sunday, marking another tragic chapter in the nation’s devastating civil conflict.

The Rapid Support Forces, working alongside Sudan People’s Liberation Movement–North fighters, launched a massive assault Saturday targeting Dilling, which serves as the capital of South Kordofan province. Among the victims were five children and two women, according to reports. Military forces, who had recently ended a prolonged blockade of the city, successfully repelled the offensive.

Medical professionals with the Sudan Doctors Network, an organization monitoring the conflict, reported that paramilitary forces bombarded civilian neighborhoods during the extended battle. The prolonged assault left at least 23 additional people wounded, with seven more children among the injured beyond those who died.

The city of Dilling had endured severe food shortages resembling famine conditions following more than two years under paramilitary siege, during which fighters blocked essential supplies and regularly conducted bombing campaigns. Government forces successfully ended the blockade earlier this year.

Medical officials expressed concern about a potential “catastrophic scenario” similar to what occurred in el-Fasher, a city in the Darfur region. Paramilitary forces invaded that area in October during an offensive that United Nations experts described as showing “hallmarks of genocide.”

The el-Fasher assault resulted in over 6,000 deaths across three days when paramilitary forces unleashed what the U.N. Human Rights Office characterized as “a wave of intense violence … shocking in its scale and brutality.”

Sudan descended into widespread turmoil in April 2023 following a power dispute between government military forces and the Rapid Support Forces that erupted into active combat in the capital city of Khartoum.

United Nations statistics indicate the conflict has claimed more than 40,000 lives, though humanitarian organizations believe the actual death toll could be significantly higher.

Recent combat has concentrated in the Darfur and Kordofan regions, where fatal attacks, primarily involving drone strikes, occur on a daily basis. The U.N. Human Rights Office reported that drone attacks alone killed more than 500 civilians through mid-March of this year.

The conflict has been characterized by widespread atrocities including mass executions, sexual violence, and other serious crimes currently under investigation by the International Criminal Court as potential war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Authorities in Derby, England have taken a 36-year-old local resident into custody on attempted murder charges following a vehicle incident that sent seven pedestrians to area hospitals Saturday evening.

The collision happened around 9:30 p.m. on Friar Gate, a bustling entertainment district in Derby’s downtown core. The city, home to approximately 275,000 residents, sits northeast of Birmingham.

Officers apprehended the suspect within a short distance of where the incident occurred, and he continues to be held by Derbyshire Police.

During a Sunday press briefing, Chief Superintendent Emma Aldred of the Derbyshire Constabulary confirmed that counterterrorism specialists are working alongside local investigators, which she noted follows standard protocol for such events.

“I would like to clarify that this does not mean the incident is currently being treated as terrorism,” Aldred stated. She emphasized that investigators are “keeping an open mind” regarding what may have motivated the attack.

CAIRO (AP) — Foreign ministers from across the Arab world selected seasoned Egyptian diplomat Nabil Fahmy on Sunday to serve as secretary-general of the 22-nation Arab League, during a period of escalating regional tensions involving Iran.

The veteran diplomat secured backing from Arab foreign ministers during an online conference, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry confirmed.

Beginning in July, Fahmy will serve a five-year tenure, replacing Ahmed Aboul Gheit, who has led the Arab League since taking office in 2016.

The selection occurs while Middle Eastern nations face ongoing threats from Iran and allied groups, following extensive military operations conducted by American and Israeli forces starting February 28.

No other candidates competed for the position, following established tradition where Egypt, as the Arab League’s host nation, nominates the organization’s leader since its founding in 1945. The sole exception occurred in 1979 when Tunisian official al-Shazly al-Qalibi assumed the role after Egypt’s membership was temporarily revoked due to its peace agreement with Israel.

Following Egypt’s return to the organization in 1989, the Arab League’s main offices moved back to Cairo, and an Egyptian secretary-general was installed in 1990.

The 75-year-old Fahmy previously held Egypt’s foreign minister position from July 2013 through June 2014, during a period of domestic upheaval after military forces removed an elected Islamist leader whose controversial presidency had divided the nation. From 1999 to 2008, he represented Egypt as ambassador to the United States.

Fahmy established and currently serves as dean emeritus of the School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at The American University in Cairo.

His father, Ismail Fahmy, held Egypt’s foreign minister role from 1973 to 1977. The senior Fahmy stepped down in opposition to President Anwar Sadat’s groundbreaking Jerusalem visit, which led to Egypt becoming the first Arab nation to forge diplomatic relations with Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Sunday that he has directed military commanders to widen an existing security buffer zone along the Lebanese border, declaring his intent to dramatically alter the security landscape in the region.

Speaking in a video message from the Northern Command, Netanyahu stated: “I have just instructed to further expand the existing security buffer zone. We are determined to fundamentally change the situation in the north.”

The prime minister indicated that this directive is designed to bolster Israel’s defensive capabilities along its northern boundary, as escalating cross-border conflicts continue to fuel concerns about the potential for wider regional conflict.

The announcement comes as tensions remain high along Israel’s northern frontier, where recent hostilities have intensified fears of a broader military escalation spreading throughout the region.

BERLIN (AP) — A fire at a nightclub in southwestern Germany forced 750 patrons to evacuate during the early morning hours on Sunday.

Emergency officials confirmed that no injuries occurred during the evacuation at the venue in Kehl, a community located close to the French border.

Authorities reported that three individuals received on-site medical attention for shock-related symptoms.

Local media identified the establishment as K Club Kehl, known as a favored destination for hip-hop music enthusiasts.

Officials are currently examining what sparked the blaze.

According to the German news agency dpa, more than 80 emergency responders including firefighters, law enforcement officers, and paramedics responded to the scene.

The incident brings to mind a deadly nightclub fire that occurred on New Year’s Eve at a Swiss ski resort in Crans-Montana, where investigators determined that champagne bottle sparklers caused a blaze that claimed dozens of lives.

BASRA, Iraq — Recent photographs capture how residents of this southern Iraqi city continue their everyday activities while ongoing conflict with Iran disrupts regional commerce and daily life.

The images reveal workers continuing to handle freight at Umm Qasr Port, though operations have been affected by the regional tensions. Meanwhile, activity at the neighboring Zubair oil facility has experienced reduced operations due to the continuing hostilities.

At the Shalamcheh border checkpoint, the photographs show primarily Iranian citizens crossing into Iraqi territory under enhanced security measures, providing insight into conditions along the international boundary during wartime.

The photo collection was assembled by Associated Press photography staff to document life in the border region during the conflict.

KABUL, Afghanistan — Devastating weather conditions across Afghanistan have resulted in 17 fatalities and 26 injuries within a single 24-hour period, with forecasters warning of additional dangerous storms approaching, officials announced Sunday. This marks the most recent tragedy in what has been a particularly deadly weather season for the war-torn nation.

According to Yousuf Hammad, spokesperson for Afghanistan’s National Disaster Management Authority, the death toll may climb higher as emergency response teams continue assessing damage across impacted regions. The catastrophic weather struck 13 of the country’s 34 provinces, primarily affecting western, central, and northwestern territories.

“The severe weather also left 147 homes either completely or partially destroyed, wiped out 80 kilometers (about 50 miles) of roads and destroyed agricultural land and irrigation canals and businesses,” Hammad said. He reported that 530 families have been impacted by the destruction.

Weather forecasters predict additional heavy rainfall will strike eastern and central regions Monday, prompting Hammad to caution about potential flooding in these areas. Emergency management officials have issued warnings for residents to stay away from riverbanks and flood-prone zones, while directing local authorities to prepare immediate assistance.

Afghanistan experienced similar deadly weather events earlier this year when heavy snowfall and flash flooding resulted in multiple fatalities nationwide.

The mountainous country faces extreme vulnerability to severe weather patterns, including snow and torrential rains that create deadly flash floods, frequently claiming dozens or hundreds of lives. Spring flooding alone killed more than 300 people in 2024.

Years of warfare, combined with inadequate infrastructure, economic hardship, widespread deforestation, and worsening climate change impacts have made such disasters increasingly catastrophic, especially in isolated communities where mud-brick homes provide little defense against sudden flooding or heavy snow.

LONDON – Authorities in Derby, England have taken a 36-year-old man into custody following a vehicle attack that left seven pedestrians injured Saturday evening, with counter-terrorism specialists now supporting the investigation.

The collision happened around 9:30 p.m. local time on Friar Gate, a typically crowded downtown thoroughfare. Emergency responders treated seven victims at the scene for severe injuries before transporting them to area hospitals. Officials report none of the injuries are considered life-threatening.

Law enforcement officers apprehended the suspect and his black Suzuki Swift within seven minutes of the incident. The driver, an Indian national who has resided in Britain for several years, faces multiple charges including attempted murder, dangerous driving, and intentionally causing grievous bodily harm.

Derbyshire Constabulary officials stated they are “keeping an open mind” regarding the suspect’s motivations. While counter-terrorism experts have joined the probe, investigators are not currently classifying the incident as a terrorist act.

Police emphasized that involving counter-terrorism specialists represents “common practice for an incident of this nature.”

“Although we know this will be alarming, we would like to reassure people that we do not believe there is an ongoing risk to the public,” authorities announced, describing the incident as isolated with no continuing public threat.

Regional diplomats gathered in Islamabad on Sunday as Pakistan worked to mediate discussions aimed at resolving the ongoing Iran conflict, with particular attention given to plans for reopening the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz shipping lane, according to sources with knowledge of the negotiations.

Top diplomats from Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia arrived in Pakistan’s capital for the diplomatic session, occurring as Iran issued warnings against potential U.S. ground operations and global energy prices continued climbing due to persistent military actions involving Iran, the United States and Israel.

The nations convening in Pakistan have presented various proposals to Washington regarding maritime commerce and restoring access through the Strait of Hormuz, five informed sources told Reuters, as part of broader initiatives to stabilize international shipping routes.

Before the current crisis, the Strait of Hormuz served as a critical passage for approximately 20 percent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, but Iran has essentially blocked maritime traffic through the waterway following U.S. and Israeli aerial bombardments that commenced one month ago.

Pakistan has utilized its diplomatic relationships with both Tehran and Washington to become a central mediating force in the dispute, while Turkey and Egypt have also contributed to peace efforts, given Pakistan’s shared border with Iran similar to Turkey’s position.

One Pakistani source revealed that various proposals, including suggestions from Egypt, had been transmitted to the White House through Pakistani channels prior to Sunday’s gathering, incorporating fee arrangements similar to those used for the Suez Canal.

Additional Pakistani sources indicated that Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia were considering establishing a joint consortium to oversee petroleum transit through the strategic waterway, and had requested Pakistan’s participation in such an arrangement.

The consortium concept had been presented to both American and Iranian officials, according to the sources. The initial Pakistani source noted that the nation’s military leader Asim Munir had maintained ongoing communications with U.S. Vice President JD Vance.

Neither Egypt’s nor Pakistan’s foreign ministry offices provided responses to requests for statements. Saudi government representatives and White House officials also did not immediately reply to comment requests.

A Turkish diplomatic official stated that Ankara’s main objective remained achieving a cessation of hostilities.

“Ensuring the safe passage of ships could serve as an important confidence-building measure in this regard,” the person said, requesting anonymity.

Earlier Sunday, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar conducted individual bilateral discussions with his counterparts from Turkey and Egypt, emphasizing the importance of continued diplomatic dialogue and engagement, the foreign office reported.

In a separate development, Dar announced through a social media post that Iran had consented to permit 20 additional Pakistani-registered vessels to transit through the Strait of Hormuz.

CAIRO – Foreign ministers from across the Arab world reached a unanimous decision Sunday to select Egyptian diplomat Nabil Fahmy as the next leader of the Arab League, according to reports from Egyptian government media sources.

The ministers made their choice during a virtual meeting, selecting Fahmy to replace current Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit when his second term concludes in June 2026.

According to the Arab League’s governing charter, selecting a secretary-general requires support from at least two-thirds of member nations. Though the charter doesn’t specify which country the leader must come from, Egypt has traditionally filled the role, with the notable exception of Tunisia’s Chedli Klibi, who led the organization from 1979 through 1990. This pattern reflects Egypt’s position as home to the League’s main offices.

Fahmy brings significant diplomatic experience to the position, having served as Egypt’s top diplomat from June 2013 through July 2014. His international experience includes nearly a decade as Egypt’s representative to the United States from 1999 to 2008, and he also served as ambassador to Japan from 1997 to 1999.

The incoming secretary-general comes from a family with deep diplomatic roots – his father, Ismail Fahmy, held Egypt’s foreign minister position under President Anwar Sadat from 1973 to 1977, ultimately stepping down in protest of Sadat’s historic trip to Jerusalem.

Established in 1945, the Arab League serves as a coordinating body for 22 member nations, working to align their political, economic, and cultural initiatives throughout the region.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy touched down in Jordan on Sunday, continuing his diplomatic mission across Middle Eastern nations as he works to build stronger defense relationships in the region during heightened tensions involving Iran.

The Ukrainian leader is actively pursuing military support from Gulf nations as his country’s war with Russia continues, particularly as Western assistance becomes more uncertain and Ukraine faces challenges funding its defense budget and domestic weapons manufacturing.

“Today in Jordan. Security is the top priority, and it is important that all partners make the necessary efforts toward it,” Zelenskyy posted on social media platform X. “Ukraine is doing its part. Important meetings ahead.”

During his regional tour, Zelenskyy successfully secured defense cooperation agreements with both the United Arab Emirates and Qatar on Saturday, following his earlier visit to Saudi Arabia last week.

Ukraine has been promoting its specialized air-defense knowledge and unmanned aircraft technology to regional partners who are looking for ways to defend against Iran’s drone offensive capabilities.

ZURICH – An overwhelming majority of Swiss citizens are calling for enhanced safeguards to shield young people from harmful content on social media platforms, according to polling data released Sunday. The findings emerge as lawmakers and legal systems around the globe increase pressure on major technology companies regarding their effects on youth.

Earlier this week, a jury in Los Angeles determined that Meta and Google’s parent company Alphabet acted negligently by creating social media platforms that cause harm to young users. This landmark ruling is expected to influence many similar legal proceedings currently underway.

The research, conducted by GfS Bern polling organization for the Mercator Foundation, revealed that 94% of those surveyed believe young people require enhanced protection from social media’s negative impacts. Additionally, 78% of respondents expressed concern that major tech corporations wield excessive power over public discourse.

Elisabeth Baume-Schneider, Switzerland’s Interior Minister, has indicated receptiveness to potentially prohibiting social media access for minors. The Swiss government is currently developing new regulations targeting major online platforms with goals of increasing transparency requirements.

These poll results, featured in SonntagsZeitung newspaper, come just days after neighboring Austria announced Friday its intention to implement a social media prohibition for children younger than 14.

The GfS Bern research surveyed approximately 1,000 Swiss citizens ages 16 and older during the period from December 1 through 12. The study carries a margin of error of plus or minus 3.2 percentage points, according to the publication.

BERLIN — Marine biologists are growing increasingly concerned about a humpback whale that remains trapped in Germany’s Baltic Sea, as the massive creature displays troubling signs of declining health following unsuccessful rescue operations this week.

German officials established a 500-meter safety zone around the distressed whale near the coastal community of Wismar on Sunday, hoping the marine mammal might recover enough strength to free itself from its predicament.

“He would be able to do so if he regains his strength, and that is why we decided to leave him alone, allowing him to actually set off and then successfully leave this area,” said Till Backhaus, the environment minister of the state of Mecklenburg-Pomerania, where Wismar is located.

However, Backhaus acknowledged the grim reality facing the creature. “But we also have to assume that he is weakened. And he is also sick,” he explained, noting the humpback whale may have sustained injuries from entanglement with fishing equipment.

Earlier rescue operations involving heavy machinery and watercraft attempted to create powerful waves that might help the 39-to-49-foot whale escape from shallow waters at Timmendorfer Strand beach and Wismar Bay. These dramatic efforts captured nationwide attention in Germany, with news outlets providing continuous coverage and live video feeds of the unfolding situation.

The whale’s plight became a widespread topic of discussion throughout the country, with citizens sharing updates about the rescue mission via text messages and social media.

Unfortunately, optimism for the whale’s survival continues to diminish as experts observe its deteriorating condition and question whether it possesses sufficient energy to navigate back to the Atlantic Ocean through German and Danish waterways.

“It is very noticeable that the animal is showing significantly less activity,” said Stefanie Groß from the Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research at the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover. “Its respiratory rate has dropped considerably. The animal is not moving. It did not react even when we drove closer.”

Scientists remain uncertain about what led the whale into Baltic waters initially. Some researchers theorize the animal may have become disoriented while pursuing a school of herring or during its natural migration pattern, particularly since it appears to be male.

The Baltic Sea environment poses serious threats to the whale’s survival due to insufficient salt levels in the water. The creature has already developed skin complications, and while whales can survive weeks without eating, it cannot locate appropriate food sources in these waters.

For any chance of survival, the whale must successfully return to Atlantic Ocean waters by way of the North Sea.

“When you consider how narrow the straits are and that there are still about 500 kilometers (310 miles) to go, you realize that it’s a real bottleneck you have to navigate, and naturally, the chances of success are relatively slim,” said Burkard Baschek, the director of the German Maritime Museum in Stralsund.

Marine observers first documented the whale swimming in Baltic waters on March 3, though reports of it becoming stranded only emerged last week.

Defense experts are closely examining the changing military tactics employed by the United States and Iran following four weeks of active conflict in the region.

NPR’s Don Gonyea conducted an interview with Kelly Grieco, a defense analyst from the Stimson Center, to discuss the tactical adjustments both nations have implemented during the ongoing hostilities.

The analysis comes as military strategists on both sides appear to be adapting their approaches based on battlefield experiences from the past month of fighting that began with coordinated strikes by American and Israeli forces targeting Iranian positions.

Grieco’s insights shed light on how prolonged military engagement is forcing both the U.S. and Iranian forces to modify their operational strategies in real time.

French law enforcement officials have taken two additional suspects into custody in connection with a prevented bombing attack targeting Bank of America’s Paris location, according to the nation’s anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office on Sunday.

“Two further individuals were taken into police custody last night as part of the investigation launched on March 28, 2026 into the offences committed against Bank of America,” the prosecutor’s office said in a statement to Reuters. Officials also confirmed that the initial suspect, a juvenile apprehended on Saturday, remains in extended custody.

French terrorism laws permit authorities to detain suspects for up to 96 hours, with potential extensions available through court approval.

On Saturday, the anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office initiated an investigation focusing on attempted destruction by fire or other dangerous means, as well as the manufacture, possession and transport of an explosive or incendiary device.

When questioned about potential foreign involvement, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez suggested Iranian connections while emphasizing that no definitive conclusions have been drawn.

“In this type of conflict, you have a number of Iranian services that are likely to carry out actions such as these through proxies… There is a significant suspicion, but it is for the investigation to determine,” he said.

The Iranian embassy in France chose not to respond to Nunez’s statements.

The investigation has been handed over to the Paris police judicial unit and France’s domestic intelligence agency.

According to Nunez, law enforcement officers responded during the early morning hours Saturday in Paris’ 8th arrondissement after a security patrol monitoring sensitive locations observed two people positioning and attempting to detonate a homemade explosive device near the bank.

Security forces intervened and captured one suspect on location while the other escaped, Nunez informed BFM TV late Saturday.

“One individual was trying to light an improvised explosive device made with a container likely containing hydrocarbons and a crude ignition system, while another was filming,” Nunez said.

The minister noted that despite its basic construction, the device posed a deadly threat, and officers successfully prevented its detonation.

Nunez characterized the suspects as “common-law” criminals working as hired intermediaries, describing this as a familiar pattern involving proxy agents recruited for such operations.

He reported that investigators have found connections to similar incidents across multiple European nations, including the Netherlands, Belgium, Britain and Norway, where makeshift devices have targeted locations associated with U.S. interests.

HELSINKI – Defense officials in Finland announced Sunday that unmanned aircraft may have illegally crossed into the country’s airspace in its southeastern region.

The Nordic nation’s defense ministry issued a statement regarding the potential airspace breach by the unidentified drones.

No additional details were immediately available about the suspected incursion or the origin of the unmanned vehicles.

BEIJING – Chinese forces launched coordinated naval, air and coast guard operations around Scarborough Shoal on Sunday, according to statements from Beijing’s military and maritime authorities.

The contested shoal sits within Philippine territorial waters, though Beijing maintains its own sovereignty claims over the area.

Sunday’s military activity followed the resumption of high-level diplomatic discussions between China and the Philippines last week, focusing on the disputed maritime region and potential energy development partnerships.

According to the Philippine foreign ministry on Saturday, these negotiations marked the first comprehensive bilateral dialogue since March 2023, designed to build mutual trust and reduce tensions.

Maritime clashes have escalated friction between the two nations recently, with Philippine officials condemning Beijing for what they call “dangerous manoeuvres” and water cannon attacks against Filipino supply operations in disputed zones.

China’s Southern Theater Command defended the military presence in a Sunday statement, saying “Such patrols serve as an effective countermeasure to cope with all sorts of rights-violation and provocative acts.”

Philippine diplomatic representatives in Beijing have not yet responded to requests for comment on the latest patrol operations.

BEIJING – A high-ranking Chinese diplomat in Hong Kong confronted the top US official in the territory this week over America’s public warning regarding Hong Kong’s updated security enforcement measures, according to Beijing’s Foreign Ministry.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry’s Hong Kong office announced late Saturday that Commissioner Cui Jianchun held a meeting with US Consul General Julie Eadeh on March 27. During the discussion, Cui conveyed Beijing’s “strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition” and demanded that the United States cease meddling in Hong Kong matters and China’s domestic issues “in any form.”

The diplomatic tension arose after Hong Kong recently modified its national security enforcement procedures earlier this month. Under the revised regulations, individuals involved in national security cases now face criminal charges if they decline to surrender passwords or refuse to help authorities decrypt electronic devices.

Following these regulatory changes, the US Consulate General in Hong Kong released a security advisory on March 26. The alert instructed American citizens to reach out to the Consulate if they face arrest or detention under the new security enforcement measures.

The US Consulate General has not yet provided a response to requests for comment regarding the diplomatic meeting.

The ancient streets of Jerusalem echo with an unusual quiet as the holy city prepares for Easter and Passover celebrations unlike any in recent memory. Five weeks into the conflict with Iran, the normally bustling religious center faces its most somber spring season, with sacred sites closed and families weary from constant alerts.

The Old City’s characteristic energy has vanished, replaced by shuttered storefronts and empty stone walkways where pilgrims and tourists typically crowd during the spring religious season. The contrast is striking compared to previous years when these holy days brought throngs of visitors and joyful family reunions.

While Jerusalem has historically been spared from direct attacks in past conflicts, this war has brought unprecedented danger to the sacred city. Since joint Israeli and American military operations against Iran began on February 28, Jerusalem has faced repeated missile strikes.

The most sobering reminder came when an Iranian missile, shot down by defense systems, scattered debris across the rooftop of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate. The damage occurred mere steps from the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Christianity’s most revered site marking the location where many believe Jesus was crucified, buried, and rose again. The historic church now sits empty, closed under military restrictions that prohibit gatherings exceeding 50 people.

Additional missile fragments struck near the Western Wall, Judaism’s holiest prayer site, underlining how the conflict has reached the heart of the city’s spiritual center.

Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, whose office provides a view of the Western Wall plaza, now sees only vacant stones where thousands usually gather. “The heart aches greatly, it bleeds, seeing the Western Wall as it looks now,” he said.

The traditional massive priestly blessing ceremony for Passover, which typically attracts tens of thousands of worshippers, will proceed with just 50 participants, Rabinowitz explained. This represents the maximum number permitted in the Western Wall’s enclosed prayer area under current wartime safety protocols, reminiscent of restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic.

Christian communities face similar disruptions. The Latin Patriarchate has called off Sunday’s Palm Sunday procession, which commemorates Jesus’ celebrated arrival in Jerusalem. In typical years, tens of thousands of Christians from across the globe would march through the narrow, sloping streets toward the Old City, carrying palm branches and singing hymns.

Father Rami Asakrieh, who serves Jerusalem’s Catholic community, acknowledged the deep disappointment over losing the procession, describing it as an emotionally and spiritually significant tradition. However, he emphasized that the cancellation serves as a reminder that true faith originates from within rather than external ceremonies.

“We are celebrating resurrection, resurrection is from death and winning the pain and the war,” he said. “It will not come by having fear, but by having faith.”

Asakrieh noted that a local Catholic high school, currently empty due to class cancellations, was also damaged by debris from an intercepted Iranian missile. Despite the restrictions, he continues conducting Mass for up to 50 congregants at the Saint Savoir monastery’s spacious marble hall, located near the Magnificat Institute music school. The school operates from what was formerly the convent’s basement, now approved by military officials as an adequate shelter.

Smaller houses of worship throughout Jerusalem – synagogues, mosques, and churches – remain open for groups of 50 or fewer, provided they sit near designated shelters or safe areas.

The Al Aqsa Mosque compound, Islam’s third-holiest location adjacent to the Western Wall, has remained vacant since the war’s onset. This closure eliminated prayers during most of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month that concluded ten days ago.

Fayez Dakkak, whose family has operated a shop serving Christian pilgrims since 1942, expressed heartbreak over Al Aqsa’s closure during the Islamic holy period. “It’s like there was no Ramadan for us,” Dakkak said. While he attended prayers at a neighborhood mosque, he explained that the experience cannot match worshipping at Al Aqsa.

Police directives have forced the closure of his business along with all non-essential stores in the Old City, part of comprehensive safety measures during the conflict. Dakkak revealed that declining pilgrim and tourist numbers in recent years had already made survival difficult. Still, he longed to open his shop for some normalcy and conversation with fellow merchants.

Israeli citizens have grown exhausted after nearly a month of daily air raid sirens, with 16 civilian fatalities and dozens of serious injuries reported.

Jewish families are scaling back their seder plans, organizing smaller, simpler ceremonial Passover meals that honor the Jewish departure from Egypt. This marks a significant change from previous celebrations featuring large family gatherings that often included relatives visiting from overseas. Ben Gurion airport has maintained severely limited operations throughout the war. Many note the irony that as Passover approaches, Israelis are departing the country through the land border with Egypt to reach the Sinai desert, while the holiday celebrates ancient Israelites’ journey from Egypt through Sinai to reach Israel.

Religious Jewish families are rushing to complete Passover preparations, removing all traces of leavening from their homes, which requires “turning the house upside-down in between running for the shelter,” explained Jamie Geller, a cookbook author working in Jerusalem’s Old City.

From her workplace at Aish, a Jewish educational organization headquartered near the Western Wall plaza, Geller can observe where shrapnel damaged and destroyed rooftops, streets, and parking areas in the vicinity.

“It’s shocking,” she said. “The Old City has always been a bit off limits for international terror and war, but not this time.”

Trade negotiations between Switzerland and the United States will extend past their original March deadline, Swiss President Guy Parmelin announced this weekend.

The Alpine nation faced Europe’s steepest U.S. tariffs after former President Donald Trump implemented a 39% duty on Swiss imports last August. Switzerland successfully negotiated a preliminary agreement in November that reduced those tariffs to 15%.

Washington had pushed for finalizing this preliminary arrangement by March’s end, but recent developments have complicated the timeline. The U.S. Supreme Court overturned Trump’s global tariff system in February, leading to new 10% worldwide duties.

Additional uncertainty emerged in March when the United States initiated fresh trade investigations targeting key trading partners, including Switzerland.

Speaking to state broadcaster RSI over the weekend, Parmelin, who serves dual roles as Swiss president and economy minister, stated the March deadline was “de facto” no longer viable and negotiations would proceed beyond that timeframe.

Sources close to the discussions indicate the next phase of Swiss-American trade talks will likely occur in April.

BRUSSELS — The European Union has begun implementing stricter migration enforcement measures that closely resemble policies previously used by the Trump administration, drawing criticism from human rights organizations across the 27-member bloc.

Following electoral gains by right-wing political parties in several countries during 2024, the EU has moved to strengthen its migration control policies. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, representing the center-right European People’s Party coalition, has defended these new measures as necessary to avoid repeating the 2015 migration crisis triggered by Syria’s civil war, which brought approximately one million asylum seekers to Europe.

“We have learnt the lessons of the past. And today, we are better equipped,” von der Leyen stated. The comprehensive policy changes, called the Pact on Migration and Asylum, will take effect June 12.

Far-right European political movements have openly endorsed President Donald Trump’s deportation strategies and advocated for the EU to implement comparable approaches. Human rights organizations caution that border authorities are already conducting illegal migrant pushbacks at EU frontiers while undermining existing legal safeguards.

The EU currently invests substantial funds to discourage migration before individuals reach European borders and has facilitated the return of tens of thousands of Africans to their home countries, both voluntarily and through forced deportation.

The current expansion builds upon Italy’s model under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s hardline immigration policies. Italy operates two migrant detention facilities for asylum seekers whose applications have been rejected in Albania. According to lawmaker Rachele Scarpa, who recently visited one facility housing at least 90 migrants, she encountered individuals who appeared bewildered and frightened.

Additionally, Meloni’s administration has enacted anti-immigration legislation permitting the navy to detain vessels in international waters for up to six months if considered threats to public safety, return intercepted migrants to their origin countries or third nations, and accelerate deportation procedures for foreign nationals with criminal convictions.

According to Bernd Parusel, a researcher with the Swedish Institute for European Policy Studies, an unofficial coalition of EU countries including Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Denmark and Greece are pursuing agreements for deportation centers.

Dutch European Parliament member Tineke Strik indicated that Kenya is among the nations being approached for such arrangements. She noted that whether intentional or not, these plans mirror Trump’s agreements with countries like El Salvador to accept deported migrants.

Additional nations are considering similar approaches. Sweden’s migration minister has indicated the conservative governing coalition supports establishing processing hubs outside Europe, particularly for Afghan and Syrian asylum seekers.

During Italy’s Winter Olympics, demonstrations occurred regarding the deployment of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents for U.S. delegation security. However, other European voices have commended ICE operations and advocated for creating specialized deportation police units.

The EU border agency Frontex started deploying officers to accompany Belgian police on raids targeting migrants for detention and deportation in 2024. It remains unclear whether similar operations are occurring in other member states.

The European Commission has refused to comment on U.S. federal immigration policies when requested.

In Britain, which departed the EU several years ago, the center-left Labour Party administration has prioritized reducing unauthorized immigration.

The Home Office reported in February that nearly 60,000 individuals had been deported since the government took office in July 2024. Officials said 9,000 arrests were made for unauthorized employment in 2025, representing an increase of more than 50 percent from the previous year.

The principle of non-refoulement under EU and international law prohibits returning individuals to countries where they would face persecution.

However, European immigration enforcement includes pushback operations, where people attempting to enter the EU are forcibly returned across borders without access to asylum processes.

European authorities conduct an average of 221 pushbacks daily, according to a February report from humanitarian organizations. The report documented more than 80,000 pushbacks in 2025, primarily in Italy, Poland, Bulgaria and Latvia.

“Men, women and children — including individuals in critical medical condition — are routinely subjected to beatings, attacks by police dogs, forced stripping, forced river crossings and theft of personal belongings,” the report stated.

Flor Didden, migration policy specialist with Belgian human rights organization 11.11.11, said European agents are brutalizing migrants similar to practices in the U.S., with some agents in Greece even wearing masks.

“The images are shocking and the outrage is justified,” he said regarding the U.S. situation. “But where is that same moral clarity when European border authorities abuse, rob and let people die?”

The organizations have also documented increased use of surveillance technology including drones, thermal cameras and satellites to track migrant movements.

Additional human rights groups warn of deteriorating legal protections.

The EU’s updated migration rules permit expanded police raids in private residences and public areas, along with increased surveillance and racial profiling, according to a February letter to EU institutions from 88 nonprofit organizations, including the Brussels-based Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants.

“We cannot be outraged by ICE in the United States while also supporting these practices in Europe,” said Michele LeVoy, the platform’s director.

Olivia Sundberg Diez, EU migration advocate for Amnesty International, explained that Europe maintains stronger protections for vulnerable migrants compared to the United States but shares similar political momentum toward stricter policies.

“There’s a level of institutions’ and courts’ independence and human rights compliance in Europe that you can’t disregard,” she said. “But the fundamental political impulse is the same, and I worry that the human consequences will be the same.”

A Ukrainian drone strike ignited a fire at Russia’s Ust-Luga petroleum facility on Sunday, causing damage to one of Moscow’s most significant oil export terminals, according to regional leadership.

Leningrad region Governor Alexander Drozdenko announced via Telegram that the facility sustained damage during the aerial assault, which also resulted in a blaze at the strategic location.

Defense forces intercepted 36 unmanned aircraft over the area during the attack, Drozdenko reported.

The Ust-Luga terminal, which operates under Russian pipeline giant Transneft, processes approximately 700,000 barrels of oil exports daily. Industry data indicates the facility moved 32.9 million metric tons of petroleum products in 2025.

The strike represents part of Ukraine’s ongoing campaign targeting Russian energy infrastructure and refineries in an effort to weaken Moscow’s wartime economic foundation.

Oman’s foreign ministry announced Sunday that officials are investigating recent attacks within the country’s borders, with no organization stepping forward to claim responsibility for the incidents.

Government officials stated they are examining the “sources and motives” behind the attacks but declined to provide additional details or identify specific incidents under investigation.

On Saturday, a drone strike at Oman’s Salalah port left one worker injured, prompting Danish shipping giant Maersk to temporarily suspend its operations at the facility following the attack.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards reported Saturday that they had targeted an American support vessel at a “considerable” distance from the Salalah port, according to Iranian media outlets.

“As we have previously stated, the national sovereignty of our brotherly and friendly country Oman is respected by the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Iranian officials stated.

This follows an earlier incident on March 11, when drone attacks hit oil storage facilities at the same Salalah port. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian assured Oman’s sultan during a telephone conversation that the March incident would be thoroughly investigated.

International trade negotiations in Cameroon reached a critical juncture Sunday as diplomats struggled to resolve a standoff between the United States and India over digital commerce policies, according to sources familiar with the discussions.

The World Trade Organization meeting entered its final day without progress on extending a moratorium that prevents countries from imposing customs duties on digital downloads and electronic transmissions. The current ban expires this month.

Three diplomatic sources told reporters that trade ministers are attempting to bridge the divide between Washington and New Delhi on this crucial issue. The outcome is being viewed as a measure of the WTO’s continued importance after a turbulent year marked by trade conflicts and disruptions from Middle Eastern tensions.

According to diplomatic sources, India has signaled willingness to accept a two-year extension of the digital commerce moratorium. However, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer has stated that America seeks only a permanent ban, rejecting any temporary measures.

Corporate executives emphasize that continuing the moratorium is essential for maintaining market stability, warning that without it, new tariffs could be implemented on digital services.

One Western diplomat suggested the United States might consider what’s being called a “pathway to permanence” involving a decade-long extension. Another source indicated discussions around a five to ten-year timeframe, though a third diplomat expressed doubt that all WTO members would support anything beyond two years.

A draft proposal reviewed Saturday evening includes provisions for supporting developing nations along with review mechanisms.

U.S. Ambassador to the WTO Joseph Barloon previously stated that making the moratorium permanent would ensure America remains “fully engaged” with the international trade organization.

“If the moratorium does not get extended, the U.S. will use it as an excuse to beat the WTO on the head,” warned a senior diplomatic source.

The digital commerce debate occurs alongside broader efforts to overhaul WTO regulations, including making subsidy practices more transparent, streamlining decision-making processes, and potentially revising the Most-Favoured-Nation principle that requires equal treatment of all trading partners.

American and European officials argue that China has exploited existing regulations to gain unfair advantages.

The organization’s consensus-based approach has frequently been hampered by individual nations blocking proposals.

Several countries are resisting a comprehensive reform agenda that most members support, according to two senior diplomatic sources.

“We are frustrated that we are spending a lot of time talking about process, when we want to get on with the real work, reforming the WTO,” commented a Western diplomat.

India continues to block efforts to incorporate an investment agreement for developing countries into WTO rules, arguing that such regional deals undermine the organization’s core principles.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi militants joined the ongoing Middle East conflict on Saturday by launching two missile strikes toward Israel, as approximately 2,500 U.S. Marines deployed to the region. Pakistan announced that regional leaders will convene Sunday to discuss ending the hostilities.

The conflict has disrupted global oil and natural gas supplies, created fertilizer shortages, and interfered with international air travel. Iran’s control over the critical Strait of Hormuz has rattled markets and driven up prices. The United States and Israel have continued striking Iranian targets, while Iran has retaliated with attacks on Israel and neighboring Gulf nations. The death toll has exceeded 3,000 people.

The Houthis’ participation threatens to further damage international shipping if they resume targeting vessels in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait near the Red Sea, a waterway that handles approximately 12% of global commerce.

Some relief may come after Iran agreed Friday to permit humanitarian aid and agricultural shipments through the strait following United Nations appeals. President Donald Trump has set an April 6 deadline for Iran to reopen the strait.

Residents in Tehran reported intense bombardment late Saturday. Israel’s military previously announced it was targeting Iran’s naval weapons manufacturing facilities and stated it would complete attacks on crucial weapons production sites within “a few days.” The U.S. reported striking over 11,000 Iranian targets during the conflict.

Iran launched missiles at Israel, while air defense systems intercepted missiles and drones across Gulf nations early Sunday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy toured Gulf states Saturday as his nation offers drone defense assistance.

Houthi Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree announced on the group’s Al-Masirah satellite network that they fired missiles at “sensitive Israeli military sites” in southern Israel.

Should the Houthis escalate attacks on commercial vessels, as they have previously, it would drive oil prices higher and threaten “all of maritime security,” according to Ahmed Nagi, a senior Yemen analyst at the International Crisis Group. “The impact would not be limited to the energy market.”

The Bab el-Mandeb strait, located at the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula, serves as a vital passage for ships traveling to the Suez Canal via the Red Sea. Saudi Arabia has been transporting millions of barrels of crude oil daily through this route due to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Between November 2023 and January 2025, Houthi fighters targeted over 100 commercial ships with missiles and drones, sinking two vessels. The organization claimed it was acting in support of Palestinians in Gaza during the Israel-Hamas conflict.

The Houthis’ recent entry complicates plans for the USS Gerald R. Ford, the aircraft carrier that docked in Croatia Saturday for maintenance. Deploying the vessel to the Red Sea could provoke attacks similar to those experienced by the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in 2024 and the USS Harry S. Truman in 2025.

The Houthis have controlled Yemen’s capital city, Sanaa, since 2014. Saudi Arabia initiated military action against the Houthis in 2015 on behalf of Yemen’s government in exile, and the parties now maintain an unstable ceasefire.

Pakistan announced that senior diplomats from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt will travel to Islamabad for discussions aimed at ending the war, arriving Sunday for a two-day conference. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian conducted “extensive discussions” about regional conflicts.

However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi expressed skepticism about recent diplomatic initiatives during a phone conversation with his Turkish counterpart. Iranian state media reported that Araghchi criticized the U.S. for making “unreasonable demands” and showing “contradictory actions.”

Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar subsequently spoke with Araghchi and called for “an end to all attacks and hostilities.”

Trump envoy Steve Witkoff revealed that Washington presented a 15-point “action list” to Iran for a potential ceasefire, including proposals to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and limit Iran’s nuclear program, which remains central to tensions with the U.S. and Israel.

Tehran rejected the proposal and offered a five-point counterproposal that included reparations and acknowledgment of its control over the waterway.

U.S. vessels carrying approximately 2,500 Marines trained in amphibious operations have arrived, joining what represents the largest American military presence in the region in over two decades. At least 1,000 paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division, specialized in hostile territory landings to secure strategic positions and airfields, have been ordered to the Middle East.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Washington “can achieve all of our objectives without ground troops.”

More than two dozen American troops sustained injuries in Iranian strikes on Saudi Arabia’s Prince Sultan Air Base during the past week, according to two sources briefed on the situation who requested anonymity because they lacked authorization for public comment.

Iran launched six ballistic missiles and 29 drones at the facility Friday, wounding at least 15 troops, with five suffering serious injuries. The base, located approximately 96 kilometers (60 miles) from Saudi capital Riyadh, endured two previous attacks this week, including one that injured 14 U.S. personnel, according to the briefed sources.

Over 300 U.S. service members have been wounded in the conflict. At least 13 deaths have been confirmed.

Iranian officials report more than 1,900 fatalities in the Islamic Republic, while 19 deaths have been confirmed in Israel.

In Lebanon, where Israel has begun a southern invasion while targeting the Hezbollah militant organization, authorities report over 1,100 deaths since the conflict began.

In Iraq, where Iranian-supported militia groups have joined the fighting, 80 security force members have died.

Gulf states have recorded 20 fatalities. Four deaths have occurred in the occupied West Bank.

Key Middle Eastern nations are scheduled to convene Sunday in Pakistan’s capital for diplomatic discussions aimed at halting the ongoing regional conflict, as approximately 2,500 American Marines deploy to the area and Iranian-backed Houthi forces join the monthlong warfare.

According to Pakistani officials, senior diplomats from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt will participate in the Islamabad discussions. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif revealed he conducted “extensive discussions” with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian regarding the regional conflicts.

The ongoing conflict has created significant disruptions to worldwide oil and natural gas supplies, caused fertilizer shortages, and interfered with international air travel. Iran’s control over the critical Strait of Hormuz has caused market volatility and price fluctuations.

American and Israeli forces continue launching strikes against Iran, while Iranian counterattacks have hit Israel and surrounding Gulf Arab nations. The death toll has exceeded 3,000 people.

The Houthis’ involvement in the conflict could create additional problems for international shipping if they resume targeting ships in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait near the Red Sea, a waterway that handles approximately 12% of global trade.

Throughout Saturday night, residents in Irbil, the capital of Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region, heard continuous interceptions and drone activity for several hours, including drones that were destroyed while attempting to strike the U.S. consulate and nearby military installations.

Associated Press reporters in the region documented constant loud explosions and witnessed at least one drone flying toward American facilities, marking one of the most severe attack periods since the conflict started.

Iranian-allied militias operating in Iraq have intensified their repeated drone and missile strikes against U.S. military bases, including facilities in Irbil.

On Saturday, U.S. officials issued a statement condemning what they described as “despicable terrorist attacks” carried out by Iranian militant organizations, characterizing the strikes on Kurdish regional President Nechirvan Barzani’s residence in Irbil as “a direct assault on Iraq’s sovereignty, stability and unity.” The attack resulted in property damage but no injuries, as the residence was unoccupied during the incident.

Lebanese health officials reported that a Saturday evening strike on Hanniyeh town in Tyre province resulted in the deaths of six Syrian nationals and one Lebanese citizen, with nine additional people wounded.

In Nabatiyeh province, an attack on Deir al-Zahrani left seven people dead and eight injured, while another strike on Kfartabnit killed three individuals and wounded four others, according to health ministry reports.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The continuing conflict between U.S. and Israeli forces against Iran has triggered massive price increases, darkened global economic forecasts, caused worldwide stock market turmoil and forced developing nations to implement fuel rationing and energy subsidies to shield their most vulnerable citizens.

Continued military strikes targeting Persian Gulf energy infrastructure including refineries, pipelines, natural gas facilities and shipping terminals threaten to extend worldwide economic hardship for months or potentially years ahead.

“A week ago or certainly two weeks ago, I would have said: If the war stopped that day, the long-term implications would be pretty small,” said Christopher Knittel, an energy economist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. “But what we’re seeing is infrastructure actually being destroyed, which means the ramifications of this war are going to be long-lived.”

Iranian forces targeted Qatar’s Ras Laffan liquefied natural gas facility, which handles 20% of global LNG production. The March 18 attack eliminated 17% of Qatar’s natural gas export capabilities, with state-owned QatarEnergy estimating repairs could require up to five years.

Energy markets faced immediate disruption when the conflict began. Following U.S. and Israeli military action on Feb. 28, Iran retaliated by essentially blocking the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route for one-fifth of global oil supplies, by threatening vessels attempting passage.

Regional oil producers including Kuwait and Iraq reduced output because their petroleum had no viable export route without strait access. The elimination of 20 million daily oil barrels created what the International Energy Agency describes as the “largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market.”

Brent crude oil prices increased 3.4% Friday, closing at $105.32 per barrel, up from approximately $70 before hostilities commenced. U.S. benchmark crude jumped 5.5% to close at $99.64 per barrel.

“Historically, oil price shocks like this have led to global recessions,” Knittel said.

The conflict has also revived concerning economic parallels to the 1970s oil crises and stagflation.

“You’re raising the risk of higher inflation and lower growth,” said the Harvard Kennedy School’s Carmen Reinhart, a former World Bank chief economist.

Gita Gopinath, former chief economist at the International Monetary Fund, recently wrote that global economic growth, expected before the war to register 3.3% this year, would be 0.3 to 0.4 percentage points lower if oil prices averaged $85 a barrel in 2026.

The Persian Gulf region exports significant quantities of two essential fertilizers, accounting for one-third of global urea and one-quarter of ammonia production. Regional manufacturers benefit from convenient access to inexpensive natural gas, the primary component for nitrogen-based fertilizers.

As much as 40% of worldwide nitrogen fertilizer exports travel through the Strait of Hormuz.

With the waterway now inaccessible, urea costs have risen 50% since fighting began, while ammonia prices increased 20%. Major agricultural nation Brazil faces particular vulnerability since it imports 85% of its fertilizer needs, Alpine Macro commodity strategist Kelly Xu wrote in a commentary. Egypt, despite being a significant fertilizer manufacturer, requires natural gas for production and struggles when supplies become inadequate.

Eventually, elevated fertilizer costs will likely increase food prices and reduce availability as farmers use less and achieve lower crop yields. Food supply constraints will impact families in poorer nations most severely.

The war has also disrupted global helium supplies, a natural gas byproduct essential for semiconductor manufacturing, rocket production and medical imaging equipment. Qatar produces helium at the Ras Laffan complex and supplies one-third of world helium needs.

“No country will be immune to the effects of this crisis if it continues to go in this direction,” International Energy Agency head Fatih Birol said on March 23.

Developing countries will suffer the most severe impacts and face the greatest energy shortages “because they will be outbid when competing for the remaining oil and natural gas,” said Lutz Kilian, director of the Center for Energy and the Economy at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.

Asian nations face particular exposure since more than 80% of oil and LNG transiting the Strait of Hormuz reaches that region.

In the Philippines, government facilities now operate only four days weekly, with officials required to limit air conditioning to temperatures no lower than 75°F (24°C). Thai public employees have been instructed to use stairs rather than elevators.

India ranks as the world’s second-largest liquefied petroleum gas importer for cooking purposes. The Indian government prioritizes household allocation over commercial use while absorbing most price increases to maintain affordability for low-income families.

However, LPG shortages have compelled some restaurants to reduce operating hours, temporarily close or eliminate energy-intensive menu items like curries and fried foods.

South Korea, heavily reliant on energy imports, has restricted government employee vehicle use and reinstated fuel price controls abandoned during the 1990s.

The United States, as the world’s largest economy, enjoys some protection from these impacts.

As an oil exporter, American energy companies benefit from elevated prices. Additionally, domestic LNG costs remain lower than international markets because U.S. export facilities operate at full capacity. Since America cannot increase LNG exports beyond current levels, natural gas remains domestically available, maintaining stable supplies and prices.

Nevertheless, rising gasoline costs burden American consumers already dealing with high living expenses. AAA reports average gasoline prices have climbed to nearly $4 per gallon from $2.98 one month earlier.

“Nothing weighs more heavily on consumers’ collective psyche than having to pay more at the pump,” Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, and his colleagues wrote in a commentary.

The U.S. economy already showed weakness, growing at just 0.7% annually from October through December, down from a robust 4.4% from July through September. Employers unexpectedly eliminated 92,000 positions in February and added only 9,700 monthly in 2025, representing the weakest hiring outside recession since 2002.

Gregory Daco, chief economist at EY-Parthenon, has increased U.S. recession probability over the next year to 40%. Normal-times risk stands at just 15%.

The global economy has demonstrated resilience against repeated challenges including the pandemic, Russia’s Ukraine invasion, renewed inflation and the elevated interest rates required to control it.

Initial optimism suggested the world could overcome Iran war damage as well. However, those expectations diminish as threats to Gulf energy infrastructure persist.

“Some of the damage to LNG facilities in Qatar done will likely take years to repair,” said the Dallas Fed’s Kilian, who also noted necessary repairs to refineries in countries like Kuwait and tankers in the Gulf that must be re-provisioned and stocked up with marine fuel. “The process of recovery will be slow even under the best circumstances.”

“There is no economic upside to the conflict with Iran,” Zandi and his colleagues wrote. “At this point, the questions are how much longer the hostilities will continue and how much economic damage they will cause.”

WASHINGTON — During recent Iranian missile attacks, Israeli civilians fleeing for safety received deceptive text messages on their Android devices promising real-time bomb shelter locations. However, clicking the link installed malicious software that granted hackers complete access to phone cameras, location data, and personal information.

Cybersecurity researchers have linked this sophisticated operation to Iranian forces, marking an unprecedented level of coordination between physical military strikes and digital espionage efforts. The incident highlights how cyber warfare has become deeply embedded in modern conflicts involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.

According to Gil Messing, chief of staff at Check Point Research, a cybersecurity company operating in both Israel and America, the timing of these fraudulent messages represented a groundbreaking fusion of digital and conventional attacks.

“This was sent to people while they were running to shelters to defend themselves,” Messing said. “The fact it’s synced and at the same minute … is a first.”

Security analysts predict these digital battles will continue regardless of any potential ceasefire agreements, as cyber operations cost significantly less than traditional military campaigns while serving different objectives focused on surveillance, data theft, and psychological intimidation rather than territorial conquest.

Although the majority of cyber incidents connected to the ongoing conflict have caused relatively limited damage to critical infrastructure or defense networks, they have forced numerous American and Israeli businesses into defensive positions, requiring rapid security updates to address vulnerabilities.

DigiCert, a Utah-based cybersecurity company, has documented approximately 5,800 digital attacks launched by nearly 50 Iranian-affiliated organizations. While most targets were American or Israeli entities, researchers also discovered strikes against networks in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and additional regional nations.

Most attacks can be easily prevented with current cybersecurity measures, but they can cause significant harm to organizations using outdated protection systems and create resource burdens even when unsuccessful.

The psychological effects on companies conducting military-related business add another layer of concern.

“There are a lot more attacks happening that aren’t being reported,” said Michael Smith, DigiCert’s field chief technology officer.

Last Friday, a pro-Iranian hacking collective claimed they had breached FBI Director Kash Patel’s account, publishing what appeared to be dated photographs along with his professional resume and personal documents. Most of these materials seemed to be over ten years old.

This incident mirrors many cyberattacks attributed to Iran-supporting hackers: flashy operations designed to energize supporters while undermining opponent confidence, but with minimal impact on actual military objectives.

Smith described these high-frequency, low-damage attacks as “a way of telling people in other countries that you can still reach out and touch them even though they’re on a different continent. That makes them more of an intimidation tactic.”

Iran appears focused on exploiting America’s most vulnerable cybersecurity points: supply chains supporting economic and military operations, plus critical infrastructure including ports, railway systems, water treatment facilities, and medical centers.

Iranian forces are also targeting data storage facilities with both cyber and conventional weapons, demonstrating these centers’ growing importance to economic operations, communications, and military information security.

Earlier this month, Iranian-supporting hackers claimed responsibility for infiltrating Stryker, a Michigan-based medical technology corporation. The group calling itself Handala stated the attack was retaliation for alleged American strikes that killed Iranian students.

Cybersecurity researchers at Halcyon recently released findings about another recent cyberattack against a healthcare organization. While Halcyon kept the company’s identity confidential, they reported hackers used tools that American authorities have connected to Iran for installing destructive ransomware that locked the company out of its own systems.

The attackers never requested payment, indicating their motivation centered on causing destruction and disorder rather than financial gain.

Combined with the Stryker incident, “this suggests a deliberate focus on the medical sector rather than targets of opportunity,” said Cynthia Kaiser, senior vice president at Halcyon. “As this conflict continues, we should expect that targeting to intensify.”

Artificial intelligence technology enables hackers to increase both the frequency and speed of cyberattacks while automating much of the process.

However, disinformation campaigns represent where AI has shown its most damaging impact on public confidence. Supporters from all sides have circulated false images depicting fabricated atrocities or fictional military victories. One manipulated image showing sunken American warships has accumulated over 100 million views.

Iranian officials have restricted internet access while working to influence how Iranian citizens perceive the conflict through propaganda and false information. Iranian government media has begun labeling genuine war footage as fabricated, sometimes replacing it with their own altered images, according to research from NewsGuard, an American company monitoring disinformation.

Growing concerns about risks from AI and hacking led the State Department to establish a Bureau of Emerging Threats last year, concentrating on new technologies and their potential use against America. This effort joins existing programs at agencies including the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the National Security Agency.

AI also supports defense against cyberattacks by automating and accelerating protective measures, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard recently informed Congress.

The technology, she explained, “will increasingly shape cyber operations with both cyber operators and defenders using these tools to improve their speed and effectiveness,” Gabbard said.

While Russia and China are considered more significant cyber threats, Iran has still conducted multiple operations targeting Americans. In recent years, Tehran-affiliated groups have penetrated President Donald Trump’s campaign email systems, targeted American water treatment plants, and attempted to breach military and defense contractor networks. They have also impersonated American activists online to secretly promote anti-Israel demonstrations.

Activists in Mexico City staged an unusual demonstration Saturday, converting a busy highway into an improvised soccer field to voice opposition to World Cup preparations they believe are neglecting the city’s fundamental needs.

The demonstration occurred on the painted asphalt of a major ring road, where participants donned Mexico national team uniforms and jerseys from clubs including Pumas, Chivas, and Italy’s Juventus. An event coordinator delivered live play-by-play commentary through a sound system as the games unfolded.

Organizers labeled their action a protest against what they called the “World Cup of Dispossession,” highlighting shortages in housing, water supply, public transportation, and electrical services throughout the capital.

The Mexico City government has been contacted for their response to the demonstration.

The highway takeover happened just hours before Mexico’s scheduled World Cup preparation game against Portugal, prompting authorities to deploy more than 4,000 emergency response workers for public safety.

Demonstrators conducted an informal match, known locally as a “cascarita,” down the highway’s center lane, creating significant traffic congestion that lessened when participants relocated to an outer lane for their second game.

The second match included a political element featuring a soccer ball decorated with U.S. President Donald Trump’s image, though the meaning behind this choice remained unclear. Additional political symbols appeared throughout the protest, including Ukrainian flags and chants supporting Palestine.

“The unity this sport creates among people – when a ball appears, everyone wants to play, you set aside your disagreements and simply enjoy the game and the experience,” said Roman, a demonstrator who provided only his first name to Reuters.

“Soccer represents community; it’s about much more than financial gain,” Roman explained, emphasizing that urgent needs exist while officials concentrate on tournament preparations. “We’re seeking attention. We need reliable transportation. We need water access. We need electrical power. We need safe passage home. We need street lighting.”

The players, surrounded by law enforcement officers, maintained their focus on the competition while expressing their political message. When the ball rolled toward traffic, they paused their play and waited for its retrieval while some passing motorists honked their horns in solidarity.

Protest banners displayed during the event included one stating “Global event, local eviction,” expressing participants’ concerns that World Cup-related construction projects are causing widespread displacement throughout the metropolitan area.

“There’s a contradiction here, specifically because I’m a huge soccer fan. I follow the sport closely, but that doesn’t mean I endorse this approach. I don’t believe Mexico is managing this properly,” said Julian, another demonstrator wearing a “Lucha Libre” wrestling mask, speaking to Reuters.

Mexico will serve as a co-host for the World Cup along with the United States and Canada. The tournament is scheduled to run from June 11 through July 19, with games planned for Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un personally witnessed testing of an upgraded solid-fuel rocket engine and praised it as a major advancement for the nation’s strategic defense capabilities, according to state-controlled media reports released Sunday.

The demonstration suggests Kim remains focused on expanding and improving a missile arsenal with the range to strike American territory.

Sunday’s announcement from Korean Central News Agency followed Kim’s recent address to North Korea’s Parliament, where he vowed to permanently establish his nation as a nuclear power and criticized the United States for what he called worldwide “state terrorism and aggression,” seemingly referencing Middle Eastern conflicts.

Kim observed the ground-based testing of the newly enhanced engine, which incorporates composite carbon fiber materials, KCNA stated. The engine’s peak thrust capacity reached 2,500 kilotons, representing an increase from approximately 1,971 kilotons recorded during comparable solid-fuel engine testing in September.

Efforts to boost engine capabilities likely connect to plans for installing multiple nuclear warheads on individual missiles, which would improve odds of penetrating American defense systems, according to military analysts.

KCNA’s report did not specify the exact timing or location of the testing.

The demonstration occurred within North Korea’s five-year military expansion initiative. This strategy aims to enhance “strategic strike means,” KCNA stated.

Military experts interpret this language as referring to nuclear-armed intercontinental ballistic missiles designed to target the continental United States.

Kim described the recent engine testing as having “great significance in putting the country’s strategic military muscle on the highest level,” according to KCNA.

Over recent years, North Korea has launched various ICBMs showing potential range to reach American territory, including missiles using solid fuel that make pre-launch detection more challenging. The nation’s earlier liquid-fuel missiles require fueling before launch and have limited operational duration.

Certain international analysts believe North Korea continues facing technical challenges before achieving a fully operational ICBM, including guaranteeing warhead survival during atmospheric reentry. However, other experts question this view considering the extensive time the country has devoted to nuclear and missile development.

North Korea has aggressively pursued nuclear arsenal expansion following the breakdown of Kim’s diplomatic negotiations with former U.S. President Donald Trump in 2019. During a Workers’ Party meeting in February, Kim indicated openness to renewed discussions with Trump while calling on Washington to abandon demands for North Korean nuclear disarmament as a prerequisite for negotiations.

BEIJING – A devastating blaze swept through a structure in northern China’s Shanxi province on Sunday, claiming three lives and leaving 23 people injured, with nine victims in critical condition, according to China’s official Xinhua news agency.

The deadly incident occurred in the northern region of the country, though specific details about the cause of the blaze or the type of building involved have not yet been released by authorities.

Emergency responders worked to contain the fire and treat the injured victims, with the most seriously hurt individuals receiving urgent medical care.

SYDNEY – More than a week after Storm Narelle battered Australia’s northwest coast, energy production facilities continue struggling to resume normal operations while thousands of residents remain in the dark, according to Sunday reports.

The weather system, which was downgraded from tropical cyclone status on Saturday, has caused significant interruptions at major liquefied natural gas facilities operated by energy giants Chevron and Woodside. These disruptions are adding pressure to an already tight global energy market strained by supply shortages linked to the ongoing Iran conflict that began a month ago.

Following damage from Iranian attacks that forced Qatar to suspend its LNG operations, Australia has stepped up as the world’s second-largest exporter of liquefied natural gas.

Woodside Australia reported Sunday that conditions at their operations remained unchanged. Storm Narelle continued affecting output at the company’s Karratha gas processing plant on Saturday, which handles production for the North West Shelf project. However, the company’s Macedon and Pluto operations were running normally.

Chevron had not provided updated information by Sunday. The company stated Saturday that crews were working to bring their Gorgon and Wheatstone gas plants back online after Narelle forced production shutdowns.

The Gorgon facility stands as Australia’s biggest LNG export operation, featuring three processing units that generate 15.6 million metric tons annually. Meanwhile, Wheatstone operates two processing units with an annual capacity of 8.9 million tons.

Electrical service remained cut off late Saturday in Exmouth, a community of 2,800 residents located approximately 1,100 kilometers north of Perth, Western Australia’s capital city, emergency services officials confirmed.

Horizon Power, the government-owned utility company, announced that additional repair teams were heading to Exmouth “to support local crews to restore power to affected properties as soon as it is safe to do so.”

The town of Exmouth, which serves as an access point to the UNESCO World Heritage-designated Ningaloo Reef, sustained considerable damage during the cyclone, though no injuries were reported, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Storm Narelle first reached land as a severe tropical cyclone in Queensland on March 20, then moved across the Northern Territory before striking Western Australia.

U.S. military officials are developing strategies for potential ground operations in Iran that could last several weeks, according to a Saturday report from the Washington Post citing government sources.

The proposed military strategies would include missions conducted by both Special Operations forces and regular infantry units, the newspaper reported. However, it remains unclear whether President Donald Trump would give his approval for any such operations, the Post noted.

The current administration has already sent U.S. Marines to the Middle East region as the Iranian conflict enters its fifth week of fighting, and military leaders are also making arrangements to deploy thousands of soldiers from the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne division to the area.

Medical officials in Gaza report that Israeli aircraft targeted two Hamas police checkpoints in the southern city of Khan Younis, resulting in the deaths of six Palestinians, including a young girl.

According to local health authorities, the attacks claimed the lives of three police officers and three civilians, with four additional people sustaining injuries. The strikes occurred on Friday despite an ongoing U.S.-mediated ceasefire agreement that has been in effect for more than five months.

Israeli military officials have not yet provided a response regarding these latest attacks. Local health officials report that Israeli forces have killed more than 680 Palestinians in Gaza since the November ceasefire agreement with Hamas took effect.

The death toll since fighting began in October 2023 has exceeded 72,000 people. Israel is currently engaged in military operations against Iran with U.S. support, while also conducting a separate campaign against Hezbollah that includes ground operations in southern Lebanon.

Fighting continues in Gaza despite the ceasefire arrangement and Israel’s ongoing conflict with Iran. Palestinian health authorities report that Israeli forces have killed at least 50 Palestinians since the Iran conflict started one month ago.

Middle East tensions intensified Saturday when Yemen’s Houthi militants carried out their inaugural strikes against Israel since regional hostilities commenced, coinciding with the arrival of additional American military forces in the area.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated before the assault that the United States anticipated wrapping up combat activities in the coming weeks, though thousands of U.S. Marines began deploying to the region. Houthi leaders declared they would persist with operations until what they termed “aggression” across all battlefronts ceased.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian conducted discussions with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose administration will host diplomatic talks Sunday featuring Turkish and Saudi foreign ministers aimed at reducing regional hostilities.

However, immediate diplomatic progress remains elusive as the conflict, which began with American and Israeli operations against Iran on February 28, has expanded throughout the Middle East, claiming thousands of lives and creating unprecedented disruptions to global energy markets.

The Pentagon confirmed Saturday that the initial wave of Marines reached the region Friday aboard an amphibious assault vessel, representing the first of two major troop contingents being sent to the area.

While Rubio suggested Friday that American objectives could be met without ground forces, he acknowledged deploying personnel to provide President Trump with “maximum” strategic flexibility. Military officials also expect deployment of thousands of soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division.

MEDIA WORKERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS TARGETED

Israeli forces conducted extensive operations against Tehran Saturday, striking what military officials described as Iranian government infrastructure facilities.

Concurrent attacks in Lebanon resumed hostilities against Iran-supported Hezbollah, resulting in the deaths of three Lebanese media personnel when their vehicle was hit, according to Lebanon’s Al Manar TV, along with one Lebanese soldier. A subsequent strike targeting rescue personnel responding to assist the victims also produced casualties.

Israeli military officials stated they had specifically targeted one journalist, labeling him a “terrorist” and alleging his involvement with Hezbollah intelligence operations, claiming he had disclosed Israeli troop positions.

Iranian forces maintained their offensive against Israel and multiple Gulf nations following Friday’s assault on a Saudi Arabian air installation that injured 12 American military personnel, with two suffering serious wounds in one of the most significant breaches of U.S. air defenses to date.

Early Sunday, defense systems intercepted an unmanned aircraft near the home of Iraqi Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani in Erbil, according to security officials. Saturday reports indicated drone strikes had targeted the residence of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region president.

YEMEN-BASED GROUP DEMONSTRATES LONG-RANGE CAPABILITIES

Israeli authorities, who previously experienced regular Houthi missile attacks before the current war, confirmed a projectile had been launched from Yemen. No injuries or property damage were reported.

The assault highlighted potential new risks to international maritime traffic, already impacted by the effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which handles approximately one-fifth of global petroleum and liquefied natural gas shipments.

Houthi military representative Yahya Saree subsequently announced the organization had executed a second Israeli attack within 24 hours and promised additional strikes.

The militants have demonstrated capabilities to hit distant targets and disrupt shipping corridors around the Arabian Peninsula and Red Sea, as they previously did supporting Hamas during Gaza fighting.

FINANCIAL MARKETS REACT TO EXTENDED CONFLICT PROSPECTS

With U.S. midterm elections scheduled for November, the increasingly unpopular conflict has impacted President Donald Trump’s Republican Party, leading him to appear eager for swift resolution while simultaneously threatening escalation.

Anti-Trump protesters gathered in American cities Saturday during rallies organizers characterized as opposition to Iranian military action.

Financial markets have responded negatively to indications the war may continue indefinitely. Brent crude oil prices have surged over 50% since hostilities began.

Trump has warned of potential strikes against Iranian electrical facilities and energy infrastructure unless Iran reopens the Strait of Hormuz. However, he extended his original deadline for this week, providing Iran an additional 10-day response period.

Iranian warnings about attacking vessels in the waterway have deterred most oil tankers from attempting passage. Several ships have successfully navigated the strait, including Pakistani and Indian-flagged vessels, following Iranian guarantees of safe transit.

Iran has approved 20 additional Pakistani-flagged ships for strait passage, permitting two daily transits, according to Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.

Israeli operations have focused on Iranian nuclear facilities, prompting concerns from Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom leadership, which evacuated personnel from the Bushehr coastal nuclear facility, citing threats to atomic safety.

Pezeshkian warned Iran would “retaliate strongly if our infrastructure or economic centers are targeted.”

Iranian attacks occurred across multiple Gulf locations, including Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Oman.

An Iranian air assault struck the Israeli community of Eshtaol near Jerusalem. Israel’s emergency medical services reported seven hospitalizations.

Within Iran, media outlets reported at least five fatalities from U.S.-Israeli strikes on residential areas in northwestern Zanjan city and Tehran, where Iran University of Science and Technology sustained damage.

Iran’s leadership has distributed new military orders preparing for a possible United States ground invasion, according to exclusive information obtained by The Media Line.

A well-informed source revealed that Iranian authorities have issued fresh instructions to military and security forces across the country, particularly focusing on southern and northwestern regions. The orders aim to counter potential American ground operations and disruptive activities in Tehran and other major cities.

The instructions come from Iran’s General Staff of the Armed Forces, working under direction from the Commander-in-Chief and key defense councils. Military and security units nationwide have received these orders to maintain readiness, protect sensitive locations, and prepare for possible “intervention of hostile field elements across different regions.”

Most significantly, the directive gives these units permission to act on their own initiative without waiting for orders from higher command – what Iranian officials call “fire at will” authority. This approach resembles “Operation Valkyrie” from Nazi Germany and suggests Iran expects major conflict escalation, including possible U.S. ground forces entering Iranian territory or seizing strategic islands.

The orders also indicate Iranian leaders are preparing for scenarios where central command structures or communication networks could be severely damaged, requiring individual units to operate independently.

Iranian military commanders view armed groups in Tehran, other major cities, and Iranian Kurdistan as serious threats. Additionally, tribal populations in western and southwestern Iran often possess firearms, primarily hunting weapons, while armed Baloch groups remain active in eastern regions.

Concerns have grown due to propaganda from the Mojahedin-e Khalq organization regarding their “Liberation Army” and “Rebel Units,” along with rumors about an “Immortal Guard” connected to monarchist supporters recently mentioned by Reza Pahlavi before Chaharshanbe Suri celebrations.

Recent American military movements, including Marine and airborne unit deployments to the region, plus repeated statements by Donald Trump and other U.S. officials about possible ground operations, have increased fears within Iran’s leadership. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has publicly warned the United States against any ground attack on Iranian islands, despite having no formal military authority.

Farzin Nadimi, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute who analyzes Iranian military affairs, told The Media Line that temporary U.S. control of certain islands or coastal positions overlooking the Strait of Hormuz seems realistic.

“What appears more likely in the near term is not a full-scale ground invasion, but rather limited, selective, and complementary ground operations—such as special forces missions and efforts to temporarily control certain islands or strategic coastal positions overlooking the Strait of Hormuz,” he said.

“Such a scenario differs fundamentally from an all-out ground war, yet remains costly and high-risk. Entering mainland Iran for occupation or deep advances would require a large force, substantial logistical support, and sustained political will—factors that could quickly turn the conflict into a prolonged and attritional war,” he added.

Despite such developments potentially weakening Iran’s position, Nadimi explained that the war’s ultimate outcome would still depend on continued air campaigns and their ability to decisively destabilize the Islamic Republic.

The Media Line previously published audio recordings attributed to a Basij commander in Tehran, where he explicitly instructed forces to “clear the area” during drone attacks, retreat to surrounding alleys, and position themselves “so that if any hostile armed force activated, they can engage.”

Iranian armed forces believe the conflict’s next phase could involve ground warfare and urban combat. On Thursday, the state-affiliated Tehran Times, citing “an Iranian security analyst,” reported that Iran would seize UAE and Bahrain coastlines if the U.S. launched a ground attack.

With reports suggesting U.S. military preparation for a “final strike,” Iranian authorities apparently consider scenarios including military invasion, seizure of Kharg Island or other strategic islands, and even parts of southern Iran near the Strait of Hormuz as entirely possible.

The new directive suggests that with Mojtaba Khamenei—the nominal leader who has largely disappeared from public view—absent, Iran’s leadership is preparing for war escalation and direct ground combat possibilities.

VERACRUZ, Mexico — The bustling fish markets of Veracruz typically see overwhelming crowds of shoppers preparing for Holy Week celebrations each year. This season tells a starkly different story, with vendors calling out to virtually no customers in nearly deserted marketplaces.

A massive petroleum spill covering more than 373 miles across Gulf waters has contaminated seven protected natural areas, delivering a devastating financial hit to Mexico’s fishing communities during what should be their most profitable period of the year.

The coastal states of Veracruz, Tabasco and Tamaulipas have all seen dramatic decreases in fishing activity since the environmental disaster began. Market stalls that would normally be packed with buyers stood largely abandoned Friday, as desperate sellers shouted promotions trying to draw in the few remaining customers.

“This is our livelihood,” expressed Miguel López Rojas, who operates a seafood stand in one of the area’s popular markets.

Government officials report the contamination stems from a ship moored near the port city of Coatzacoalcos in Veracruz state, combined with two naturally occurring oil seeps from the ocean floor.

Cleanup crews have recovered approximately 430 tons of petroleum products from shorelines across the three affected states, according to official estimates. While authorities maintain the spill hasn’t caused major environmental harm, local news outlets have documented dead sea turtles, eels and fish washing ashore and floating in coastal waters.

López Rojas explained the crisis extends beyond reduced fish availability, noting that customer purchases have plummeted as people actively avoid seafood products out of safety concerns.

Federal health officials have dismissed reports of any illnesses connected to eating potentially contaminated fish or shellfish, but public anxiety continues to spread nationwide.

“You have to be careful with the pollution because we still don’t know what this spill could lead to,” said Susana Gutiérrez, a 67-year-old seamstress shopping at a Mexico City market.

While government agencies at both federal and state levels work to control the spill and restore affected beaches, fishing crews face severe financial hardship after being forced to suspend nearly all operations to protect their boat motors and equipment from oil contamination, eliminating their primary income source.

“This year has been very disastrous for us, because in all my years of life we had never experienced something of this magnitude,” said Norma González Pérez, who fishes from the town of Salinas in southwestern Veracruz.

Veracruz ranks among Mexico’s leading seafood-producing regions. Official data shows the eastern state contributed roughly 2.76% of the nation’s total fish, oyster and seafood output in 2024. Seafood forms a cornerstone of many traditional regional dishes throughout the state.

Officials have not yet released figures on how many fishing workers the spill has impacted, though advocacy groups estimate several hundred people may be affected. González Pérez said the situation has become so dire that some fishermen have turned to bank loans to survive financially.

Holy Week traditionally represents a celebratory time for fishing communities, marked by abundant catches due to seasonal fish migrations through Gulf waters. This year carries a much darker mood, she noted.

“This year there will be no celebration or anything,” González Pérez said. “This year we will basically have nothing.”

Weekend attacks from Iran resulted in casualties across multiple Israeli cities, with warning sirens sounding throughout Friday night and Saturday as missiles and drones struck populated areas.

Security guard Viacheslav Vidment lost his life during an Iranian cluster bomb attack in Ashdod while completing his work shift at a building previously damaged during the ongoing conflict.

At the scene, Tel Aviv District Police Commander Superintendent Haim Sargrof addressed the incident, stating: “The deceased is someone who works here in the area. He did not enter a protected space. I remind everyone, you must follow instructions and reach protected areas.”

Another Iranian cluster missile attack targeted Tel Aviv directly, activating emergency warning systems throughout central Israel.

The city of Beit Shemesh sustained damage to multiple residences and a synagogue from Iranian missile impacts. Medical service Magen David Adom confirmed 19 individuals suffered shrapnel wounds, while additional victims received treatment for anxiety and psychological trauma.

Near Israel’s southern border, defense forces successfully intercepted an unmanned aircraft detected over Eilat. The drone originated from Yemen’s Iran-supported Houthi faction, which had previously launched multiple rocket attacks against Israel during the Hamas conflict before stopping operations following last October’s ceasefire agreement.

Houthi representative Yahya Saree claimed responsibility for the assault in a social media statement, declaring: “The Yemeni Armed Forces … have carried out the first military operation using a barrage of ballistic missiles targeting sensitive Israeli military sites.”

Military analysts suggest this renewed Houthi involvement could signal the emergence of an additional battlefront in the broader regional conflict involving the United States and Israel against Iran, particularly following Hezbollah’s entry into combat in early March after the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Yemen’s Houthi militants announced they executed another strike against Israel using both missiles and unmanned aircraft, marking their second assault within a 24-hour period, according to the group’s military spokesman Yahya Saree during a broadcast statement.

The Iranian-backed rebel group pledged to maintain their military campaigns in the days ahead, intensifying concerns about widening regional conflict. Their involvement in the broader Middle East crisis heightens tensions due to their demonstrated capability to hit distant targets and interfere with maritime commerce throughout the Red Sea and Arabian Peninsula waters, similar to their previous actions supporting Hamas following the October 7, 2023 attacks on Gaza.

Iranian forces launched missiles and drones against Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, wounding a dozen American service members with two sustaining serious injuries, military officials announced Friday. The assault marks one of the most substantial compromises of U.S. air defense systems since the month-long conflict with Iran began.

The Iranian strike was part of Tehran’s wider offensive targeting American military personnel throughout the Middle East region. Two defense officials, who requested anonymity as they lacked authorization for public statements, verified the casualty figures and reported that no fewer than two KC-135 refueling aircraft suffered extensive damage.

Tehran has repeatedly fired volleys of ballistic missiles and unmanned aircraft at U.S. military installations throughout the ongoing hostilities, seeking to strike back against American attacks and hamper operational activities.

U.S. Central Command reported Friday that 303 American military personnel have sustained injuries since U.S. and Israeli operations against Iran commenced. Navy Captain Tim Hawkins, serving as spokesperson, indicated that most wounds were not severe, with 273 service members already back on active duty. Through Saturday, 13 U.S. military personnel have lost their lives while participating in Operation Epic Fury.

According to The Wall Street Journal, a high-ranking defense official revealed that Pentagon leadership is considering the deployment of an additional 10,000 troops to the Middle East region to support the continuing Operation Epic Fury against Iran, supplementing the 1,500 personnel already activated from the 82nd Airborne Division.

The son of Iran’s former shah delivered a stark warning to American conservatives on Saturday, arguing that any peace negotiations with Tehran’s current government would merely postpone security threats rather than eliminate them.

Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Grapevine, Texas, Reza Pahlavi received an enthusiastic welcome from Republican activists and lawmakers attending the annual political gathering. The exiled opposition leader earned a standing ovation upon taking the stage and drew repeated applause from both conservative attendees and Iranian Americans present.

Pahlavi referenced President Donald Trump’s recent statements about pursuing military action against Iran to avoid facing recurring security challenges from the nation every few years. The opposition figure cautioned that diplomatic engagement with Iran’s existing leadership would create precisely that scenario.

“The only thing that the remnants of this regime can be relied on to do is to buy time, to cheat and to steal. They will never be honest or true partners for peace,” Pahlavi declared.

“It will buy time, it will pretend to negotiate, and then it will return to its old jihadist ways of threatening America, its security and its interests,” he added.

The 65-year-old has positioned himself as the leading candidate to head a transitional government and has expressed willingness to return to his homeland immediately, ending nearly five decades of exile from Iran.

However, Iran’s opposition movement remains divided across competing groups and ideological differences. Trump has also voiced doubts about Pahlavi’s leadership potential, suggesting that an internal Iranian figure might prove more effective.

As global energy costs climb and approval ratings decline, Trump faces difficult decisions following a month of conflict with Iran: pursue a potentially unstable agreement and withdraw, or increase military pressure while risking an extended war.

Pahlavi worked to connect his movement with American security and economic interests. He generated loud cheers when he asked attendees to envision Iran transitioning from “Death to America” chants to “God bless America,” and promised that a liberated Iran would create significant economic opportunities for the United States.

Throughout his remarks, Iranian Americans in attendance repeatedly chanted “long live the king.”

Pahlavi, who previously urged widespread demonstrations across Iran in January, indicated that “when the right moment arrives” he would “call on them to rise up again” in an effort to “reclaim their homeland, their dignity and their future.”