Category: World News

Newly released satellite imagery shows Ukrainian drone strikes have destroyed nearly half of the storage infrastructure at Primorsk, a critical Russian oil export facility on the Baltic Sea, according to data analyzed Thursday.

The attacks represent an escalation in Ukraine’s campaign targeting Russian energy infrastructure, with the heaviest bombardments hitting Baltic Sea ports since the conflict began over four years ago.

Commercial satellite data from U.S. intelligence firm Vantor revealed extensive damage to Primorsk’s storage capabilities by late March. At least eight massive storage tanks, each holding 50,000 cubic meters, sustained significant damage in the strikes.

Industry analysts indicate the destruction represents roughly 40% of the facility’s total storage capacity, potentially forcing major reductions in export operations. The damaged infrastructure plays a crucial role in the port’s logistics operations and directly affects oil shipment capabilities.

Primorsk normally processes approximately 1 million barrels daily, representing nearly 1% of worldwide oil supply. Russian pipeline operator Transneft data shows the main depot houses 14 crude oil storage tanks and four diesel storage facilities.

Industry sources report that two of the eight severely damaged tanks were specifically used for diesel fuel operations. Transneft, which oversees port operations, has not responded to requests for comment.

The nearby Ust-Luga port also faced repeated bombardments throughout March, forcing multiple suspensions of loading operations. Russian regional officials confirmed strikes occurred on March 22, 25, 27, 29, and 31.

Satellite analysis indicates eight petroleum storage tanks at Ust-Luga Oil terminal, each with 30,000 cubic meter capacity, were damaged by fires. This represents approximately 25% of that facility’s total storage infrastructure.

The imagery also revealed damage to several dock facilities at the ports.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has denounced the bombardments as “terrorist attacks,” stating Russia is implementing measures to safeguard critical infrastructure facilities.

At one point during March, approximately 40% of Russia’s oil export operations were offline due to the attacks, pipeline closures in Ukraine, and seizure of Russian-affiliated tanker vessels.

MOSCOW – Russian officials announced Thursday they will formally request the United States and Israel guarantee a temporary halt to hostilities while Moscow withdraws additional personnel from Iran’s Bushehr nuclear facility, according to RIA news agency reports.

Alexei Likhachev, who leads Russia’s state nuclear energy corporation Rosatom, stated that Moscow will coordinate evacuation routes with both Israeli and American authorities. “The travel routes will be communicated to the relevant authorities in Israel and the United States, and we will use all channels to request strict adherence to the ceasefire during the convoy’s movement,” Likhachev told RIA.

The Russian nuclear chief indicated that what he described as a “final wave of evacuation” is provisionally set for the coming week and would involve roughly 200 individuals. Russia originally constructed the Iranian nuclear facility at Bushehr, and Rosatom personnel have remained on-site to continue work on additional reactor units under development.

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — A damning new investigation reveals that military forces in Burkina Faso have slaughtered more than double the number of civilians compared to extremist jihadist organizations during a two-year span, as documented by Human Rights Watch in a report that labels actions by both parties as war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The comprehensive study found that among 1,837 civilian deaths recorded in Burkina Faso from January 2023 through August 2025, government troops were responsible for more than 1,200 fatalities. The United Nations estimates that over 2 million residents have been forced from their homes since fighting erupted.

“Most likely a gross undercount because most instances go unreported,” Ilaria Allegrozzi, Human Rights Watch’s senior Sahel researcher, explained to The Associated Press regarding the documented casualties.

Officials from Burkina Faso’s government have not provided responses to requests seeking their perspective.

The human rights organization states that under the leadership of President Ibrahim Traoré, Burkina Faso’s military leadership has implemented “a broad crackdown” targeting political opponents, peaceful protesters and independent journalists, “fostering an atmosphere of terror and severely restricting the flow of information about the conflict and its toll.”

This West African nation of 23 million residents has become emblematic of the security breakdown plaguing the Sahel area below the Sahara Desert in recent years. The country has endured attacks from radical organizations affiliated with Al-Qaeda and ISIS, along with military responses from various governments. The Global Terrorism Index identifies the Sahel as the planet’s most dangerous region for extremist activity.

Both Burkina Faso’s military units and fighters from Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) — an Al-Qaeda-affiliated militant organization active throughout the region — have committed acts constituting war crimes and crimes against humanity, according to Human Rights Watch findings.

“These atrocities, including the government’s ethnic cleansing of Fulani civilians, amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity for which senior leaders on all sides may be liable,” states the 316-page investigation.

The report describes one incident where government troops allegedly murdered 223 civilians, including no fewer than 56 children, after accusing them of working with JNIM in northern Yatenga province during early 2024. In another assault that same year, JNIM reportedly murdered at least 133 civilians, including numerous children, in the country’s central region.

Attacks against civilians, especially members of the Fulani ethnic community, seem to represent official Burkina Faso government strategy, the rights organization concluded, with revenge strikes against communities suspected of supporting JNIM occurring regularly due to assumptions about the group’s allegiance to militant organizations.

“The highest levels of government appear supportive of military action against Fulani people based on these attitudes,” the investigation notes, explaining that obtaining accurate information about conditions within the country remains impossible since military leaders have established effective censorship. Citizens who speak publicly face risks of kidnapping, imprisonment or forced military service.

The military government, which seized control in 2022, has not delivered the promised stability. Conservative projections indicate that more than 60% of national territory now lies beyond government authority, over 2.1 million people have been displaced from their residences, and nearly 6.5 million require emergency assistance for survival.

Armed Conflict Location & Event Data, a conflict monitoring organization, calculates that no fewer than 10,600 civilians have died since 2016.

KYIV, Ukraine — Two civilians lost their lives and at least three others sustained injuries in Russian airstrikes targeting civilian locations throughout Ukraine on Thursday, according to Ukrainian officials. The attacks occurred as both nations continue discussions about conducting a prisoner exchange during the Easter holiday period.

These prisoner swaps have represented one of the rare constructive developments to emerge from extensive U.S.-mediated talks between Moscow and Kyiv that have otherwise yielded little progress. The negotiations have failed to address fundamental obstacles to ending Russia’s military campaign against Ukraine, which has now entered its fifth year.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has proposed implementing a ceasefire during Easter, though Kremlin representative Dmitry Peskov indicated earlier this week that Moscow seeks a comprehensive peace agreement rather than a short-term halt to hostilities.

Last Easter, President Vladimir Putin announced a unilateral 30-hour cessation of fighting, though both nations later claimed the other had violated the temporary truce.

Russia’s human rights representative Tatyana Moskalkova confirmed Thursday that negotiations for prisoner exchanges are underway. “Ahead of Easter, a lot of work is being done today to prepare prisoner exchanges,” Moskalkova told reporters.

Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, expressed hope last week for a “major exchange” of prisoners during this Easter period. Orthodox Easter is scheduled for April 12.

In Thursday’s violence, a Russian attack on Synelnykove in the Dnipropetrovsk region claimed one life and wounded both a woman and a 12-year-old boy, regional military administration chief Oleksandr Hazha reported.

An assault on Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, ignited a fire in a residential building and injured a 61-year-old woman, according to regional head Oleh Syniehubov.

A ballistic missile attack on the northern city of Chernihiv resulted in one death and wounded a 17-year-old girl, city military administration head Dmytro Bryzhynskyi stated.

Authorities also reported another strike targeting the Odesa region, as Russia launched 172 attack drones against Ukraine. Ukrainian air defense systems successfully intercepted 147 of these drones, the country’s air force announced.

Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam delivered a stark warning Thursday that the devastating conflict gripping his nation appears far from over, with more than one million residents already forced to abandon their homes during the past month of fighting.

The country has now entered its second month of warfare between Israeli forces and the Iran-supported militant organization Hezbollah, with Israeli leaders declaring their intention to control large portions of southern Lebanon to establish what they call a protective buffer zone for their northern communities.

“Lebanon has become a victim of a war – one whose outcomes and end date no one can predict,” Salam declared during a press conference following his cabinet’s Thursday session.

The prime minister expressed grave concerns about Israel’s long-term objectives, stating: “The positions of Israeli officials, and the practices of their army, reveal far-reaching goals, including a significant expansion in the occupation of Lebanese territories, dangerous talk about establishing buffer zones or security belts, and the displacement of more than one million Lebanese.”

Israeli declarations about maintaining military control over southern Lebanon have sparked widespread anxiety about a prolonged occupation, reminiscent of Israel’s two-decade presence in the region that concluded in 2000.

Salam announced his administration’s commitment to intensifying diplomatic and political initiatives to bring the hostilities to a close. Meanwhile, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun’s proposal for direct negotiations with Israel has yet to receive any acknowledgment.

The current escalation began after a brief ceasefire from 2024 collapsed, with Israeli forces maintaining positions at five elevated locations throughout southern Lebanon while continuing aerial bombardments.

The full-scale military campaign commenced following Hezbollah’s March 2 rocket attacks into Israeli territory, launched in support of Iran amid growing tensions between Tehran and the U.S.-Israel alliance.

Without directly mentioning Hezbollah by name, Salam criticized the coordinated military actions conducted alongside Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.

The human toll has been severe, with Israeli airstrikes claiming more than 1,300 lives while displacing approximately 20 percent of Lebanon’s entire population. Israeli evacuation directives now cover roughly 15 percent of Lebanese territory.

“I want to direct the biggest salute to our people who are staying in their hometowns and villages in the south, and want to reiterate that we stand by them,” the prime minister emphasized.

Despite the advancing military operations, tens of thousands of Lebanese citizens have chosen to remain in their southern communities, even as Lebanese military units retreat to avoid direct confrontations with Israeli troops. Among those staying are approximately 9,000 Lebanese Christians residing in border communities who have expressed their determination to remain despite the escalating danger.

The prime minister also highlighted the importance of maintaining domestic unity as the ongoing conflict puts pressure on Lebanon’s delicate sectarian political structure. Some communities have shown reluctance to welcome displaced families, prompting the government to explore long-term housing solutions as the war continues.

Mohammad al-Badran, a Syrian resident of Beirut’s southern suburbs for many years, described being rejected when his family sought shelter in mountainous areas outside the capital. Now living in a temporary tent settlement with his wife and four children – including a newborn born just two weeks before fighting began – Badran represents thousands facing similar hardships.

His 10-year-old daughter Nour can hear the explosions from nearby Israeli strikes. “The sound is loud, the children are crying, and I feel like the missiles are flying above us,” she explained.

Ali al-Aziz, another resident who fled the southern suburbs, called for Israeli withdrawal to enable peace and his return home. “We want the war to end once and for all. Not for a war to happen every year or every ten years,” he said.

CAIRO — Libyan officials announced Thursday that severe weather has derailed attempts to safely tow a crippled Russian gas tanker that has been floating adrift in Mediterranean waters since sustaining damage months ago.

The vessel, known as the Arctic Metagaz, belongs to Russia’s unofficial fleet of ships that transport oil and gas products despite international restrictions imposed over the conflict in Ukraine. The tanker suffered damage in what officials believe was a sea drone assault back in March.

According to Libya’s coast guard, crews had been working to pull the liquefied natural gas carrier toward a secure area near Zuwara, a town along Libya’s western shoreline.

But Libya’s Ports and Maritime Transport Authority reported that the rescue mission collapsed at 4 a.m. local time Thursday when brutal weather and powerful winds sent the vessel spinning beyond anyone’s control.

“The tanker is unable to return to redo the towing operation under these dangerous weather conditions,” officials stated, warning all maritime traffic to stay at least 10 nautical miles away from the wayward ship.

Malta Today newspaper indicated the tanker had been pulled to the edge of Malta’s maritime rescue territory.

Libyan port authorities are asking nearby ships to immediately report any changes to the tanker’s condition, particularly if they spot any leaks or smoke coming from the vessel.

Back in March, maritime officials said the Arctic Metagaz had suffered “sudden explosions, followed by a massive fire” roughly 240 kilometers (150 miles) from Libya’s coastal city of Sirte.

The World Wide Fund for Nature, an international environmental group, confirmed the ship stayed afloat after the incident and began floating toward Libya’s coastline.

Libya’s National Oil Corp. revealed last month it had partnered with Italian energy firm Eni to safely guide the compromised tanker to shore and prevent a potential environmental disaster.

MOSCOW, April 2 – Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty is scheduled to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday for high-level diplomatic discussions, according to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.

The meeting agenda will center on the ongoing conflict involving Iran and broader regional tensions throughout the Middle East, Peskov announced. The two officials will also address bilateral diplomatic relations between Russia and Egypt during their talks.

The scheduled diplomatic session comes amid continued instability across the Middle East region, highlighting Russia’s ongoing involvement in regional affairs.

Ukrainian drone strikes targeting Russian oil infrastructure are forcing the country toward inevitable production cuts, according to three industry insiders who spoke Thursday on condition of anonymity.

The coordinated attacks have damaged Russia’s export capabilities by approximately 1 million barrels daily, representing about 20% of the nation’s total capacity, the sources revealed. This disruption comes as global oil markets already face strain from ongoing Middle East conflicts.

Over the past month, Ukraine has escalated its assault on Russia’s oil export facilities, launching some of the most intensive drone operations of the four-year conflict. The strikes have particularly focused on the Baltic Sea ports of Ust-Luga and Primorsk as part of Ukraine’s strategy to weaken Russia’s economic foundation.

The damaged infrastructure represents a significant portion of Russia’s export system, which peaked at 40% disruption in March before improving to the current 20% level. Despite this improvement, the sources indicate the damage remains severe enough to impact production from the world’s third-largest oil producer, trailing only the United States and Saudi Arabia.

Russia’s critical Ust-Luga Baltic port halted oil shipments one week ago following extensive drone bombardment and subsequent fires. The combination of export facility damage and domestic refinery attacks has created severe congestion throughout Russia’s pipeline network, with storage facilities rapidly approaching capacity limits.

This backup is compelling some oil fields to consider reducing output to prevent system overflow, industry sources explained.

While Russia has benefited from rising oil prices since late February conflicts began involving U.S.-Israeli actions against Iran, any production cuts would still inflict economic damage given that energy sales comprise 25% of the state’s budget revenue.

Russia’s export challenges existed even before the recent Baltic port attacks. The Druzhba pipeline, which delivers oil to Hungary and Slovakia, has remained suspended since January, further constraining export options.

State-controlled Transneft operates more than 80% of Russia’s oil pipeline infrastructure. Neither Transneft nor Russia’s energy ministry responded to requests for comment.

According to the sources, Transneft has informed exporters that Ust-Luga cannot accommodate oil loading according to original schedules due to recent damage. The company also indicated it cannot accept full oil volumes from producers that were designated for Ust-Luga exports.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries reported Russian oil production at 9.184 million barrels daily in February. The sources could not specify potential cut amounts.

Loading schedules from Ust-Luga for early April are not expected to be fulfilled, though allocations for the month’s second half remain tentatively scheduled pending further developments.

Despite Western sanctions and Ukrainian refinery attacks, Russian oil output declined only 0.8% to 10.28 million barrels per day last year, maintaining roughly 10% of global production according to Russian statistics.

The Ust-Luga bottleneck affects not only Russian exports but also Kazakhstan, which ships between 200,000 and 400,000 metric tons of KEBCO oil through the facility monthly.

Seasonal refinery maintenance compounds the surplus oil problem within Transneft’s system, sources noted. As refineries process reduced volumes during maintenance periods, excess crude accumulates more rapidly.

While Russia typically increases crude exports during March and April maintenance seasons, this year’s refinery shutdowns may instead force additional oil into storage facilities.

Official storage capacity figures remain unavailable, though one source estimated current reserves could last weeks rather than months.

ATHENS – Violent weather conditions across Greece have claimed one life and caused extensive flooding damage to residential areas, with emergency responders working around the clock to address the destruction left in the storm’s wake.

Fire department officials confirmed Thursday that rescue teams recovered the body of a victim in Nea Makri, a coastal resort community located approximately 21.75 miles northeast of Athens. According to local news reports, the individual was swept away by rushing floodwaters and became pinned beneath a vehicle while trying to navigate a waterlogged roadway.

Emergency services reported fielding hundreds of distress calls as the weather system known as Erminio pounded Athens and multiple Aegean Sea islands on Wednesday. Rescue teams worked to extract residents from rising waters and clear roadways blocked by toppled trees throughout the affected regions.

Recovery efforts continued into Thursday morning as work crews focused on debris removal, water extraction from inundated structures, and infrastructure repairs in areas east of the Greek capital. Transportation officials also suspended ferry operations from Piraeus harbor near Athens to various Greek islands as a safety precaution.

The Mediterranean island of Crete experienced unusual atmospheric conditions Wednesday when powerful winds reaching force 9 intensity transported sand particles from North Africa, creating an otherworldly orange sky and causing flight disruptions.

Located at the southern edge of Europe, Greece has experienced increasingly severe flooding and wildfire events in recent years, which climate experts link to accelerating global temperature increases.

LONDON (AP) — President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have launched sharp attacks on Britain’s naval strength, delivering criticism that has resonated painfully in a nation known for its storied maritime legacy, though experts say their comments contain elements of truth.

Britain has become a primary target of Trump’s criticism following the Iran conflict that began February 28, after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer initially denied U.S. forces access to British military installations.

While that stance has been partially modified to allow American use of British facilities, including the Diego Garcia base in the Indian Ocean, for what officials term defensive operations, Trump remains convinced he was betrayed. The president has consistently attacked Starmer and dismissed the Royal Navy’s aircraft carriers as mere playthings.

“You don’t even have a navy,” Trump stated to Britain’s Daily Telegraph in remarks released Wednesday. “You’re too old and had aircraft carriers that didn’t work.”

Hegseth added his own mocking commentary, suggesting sarcastically that the “big, bad Royal Navy” should step up to help secure the Strait of Hormuz for merchant vessels.

While the Royal Navy no longer commands the seas as it did during Britain’s imperial peak, it remains more capable than Trump and Hegseth suggest, with strength comparable to France’s naval forces.

“There’s validity to the criticism, as the Royal Navy has shrunk to its smallest size in centuries,” explained Professor Kevin Rowlands, who edits the Royal United Services Institute Journal. “However, the navy would point out it’s experiencing its first expansion since World War II, with more vessels planned for construction than we’ve seen in decades.”

Britain once assembled an impressive armada of 127 vessels, including two aircraft carriers, for the journey to the South Atlantic following Argentina’s seizure of the Falkland Islands. That 1982 operation, which received tepid support from then-President Ronald Reagan, represented the last demonstration of Britain’s naval supremacy.

Today’s Royal Navy could never mount such an operation. Since World War II, Britain’s battle-ready fleet has shrunk dramatically, driven by evolving military technology, strategic shifts, and the dissolution of the British Empire.

Analysis of Ministry of Defense and House of Commons Library data by The Associated Press shows combat vessels in the Royal Navy fleet, encompassing aircraft carriers, destroyers and frigates, have dropped by two-thirds from 466 ships in 1975 to just 66 in 2025.

While Britain operates two aircraft carriers currently, the nation went seven years in the 2010s without any. Destroyer numbers have been cut in half to six vessels, while the frigate fleet has plummeted from 60 ships to merely 11.

The Royal Navy drew criticism for the lengthy deployment time of HMS Dragon destroyer to the Middle East after the Iran war erupted. Despite round-the-clock efforts by naval personnel to prepare the ship for an unexpected mission change, many viewed the delay as evidence of how severely Britain’s military capabilities have been reduced since the Berlin Wall fell in 1989.

Throughout much of the Cold War era, Britain allocated between 4% and 8% of its national income to military spending. Following the Cold War’s conclusion, this percentage steadily declined to just 1.9% of GDP by 2018, providing ammunition for Trump’s criticisms.

Similar to other nations, Britain, particularly under Labour Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, attempted to capitalize on the “peace dividend” after the Soviet Union’s collapse by redirecting defense funds to other areas like healthcare and education.

Budget cuts implemented by Conservative-led administrations following the 2008-9 financial crisis prevented any increase in defense spending, despite clear evidence of Russia’s growing aggression, particularly after Moscow’s seizure of Crimea and portions of eastern Ukraine.

After Russia’s comprehensive invasion of Ukraine in 2022, combined with ongoing Middle East conflicts, there’s growing bipartisan recognition that military cuts have been excessive.

The Conservative government began reversing military spending reductions following the Ukraine invasion. Since Labour regained power in 2024, Starmer has worked to increase British defense expenditures, partially by reducing the country’s historically significant foreign aid budget.

Starmer has committed to increasing U.K. defense spending to 2.5% of gross domestic product by 2027, with an updated target of 3.5% of GDP by 2035, fulfilling a NATO agreement championed by Trump. This translates to tens of billions of additional pounds in military equipment and capabilities.

Government officials face pressure to accelerate this timeline. However, with public finances already strained by the Iran war’s economic impact, finding additional funding sources remains unclear.

The criticism will likely continue despite being unfair and inaccurate, according to RUSI’s Rowlands, a former Royal Navy captain.

“We are dealing with an administration that doesn’t do nuance,” he observed.

Pakistani officials confirmed Thursday that diplomatic representatives are engaged in peace negotiations with Afghanistan’s Taliban leadership in China, where Beijing is working to facilitate a lasting ceasefire following weeks of deadly border conflicts that have claimed hundreds of lives and severely impacted regional commerce and cross-border movement.

The acknowledgment of these renewed diplomatic efforts came one day after sources from both nations informed The Associated Press that delegations had traveled to Urumqi in northern China for initial discussions.

The specific identities of those representing Pakistan and Afghanistan in these latest Chinese-hosted negotiations remain undisclosed.

During a news conference in Islamabad, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi confirmed the ongoing nature of the discussions. “Yes, Pakistan has sent a delegation to Urumqi, in line with its consistent position and longstanding practice of supporting a credible process that can help find a durable solution to cross-border terrorism from Afghanistan,” he stated.

Andrabi emphasized that the responsibility for meaningful progress rests primarily with Kabul.

“The burden of a real process lies with Afghanistan, which must demonstrate visible and verifiable action against terrorist groups using Afghan soil against Pakistan,” he declared.

The spokesperson stressed Pakistan’s commitment to diplomatic solutions while outlining specific demands. “We remain engaged with the Chinese leadership on this issue and other relevant international partners,” Andrabi noted, while insisting that Pakistan requires written guarantees from Kabul preventing the use of Afghan territory for attacks against Pakistan.

Afghan officials have not yet responded to requests for comment.

While China has not formally acknowledged hosting the talks, the Chinese Foreign Ministry stated Thursday that President Xi Jinping’s administration has been “actively mediating and facilitating the resolution of conflicts between Afghanistan and Pakistan.” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning emphasized that China has “always supported both sides in resolving their differences through dialogue and negotiation.”

Andrabi indicated that Pakistan’s military operations targeting the Pakistani Taliban and other militant organizations along the Afghan border will persist despite the diplomatic discussions.

On Wednesday, Farid Dehqan, a police spokesperson for Afghanistan’s eastern Kunar province, reported that Pakistani forces had launched mortar attacks into Afghan territory late Wednesday, resulting in two civilian deaths and six injuries, including four children. He noted the bombardment continued for over two hours.

Andrabi rejected these allegations, asserting that Pakistan conducts anti-militant operations with careful consideration to prevent civilian casualties.

Pakistan frequently alleges that Afghanistan provides sanctuary to militants conducting attacks within Pakistani territory, particularly the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP. This organization operates separately from but maintains ties with the Afghan Taliban, which assumed control of Afghanistan in 2021 after the turbulent departure of U.S.-led forces. Kabul consistently denies these allegations.

The current violence represents the most severe fighting since February, when Afghanistan’s Taliban government reported Pakistani strikes in Kabul and other locations, primarily causing civilian casualties. Pakistan maintained it targeted TTP strongholds.

Pakistani officials have declared the country is in “open war” with Afghanistan.

Tensions escalated significantly last month when Afghanistan claimed a Pakistani airstrike on a drug treatment facility in Kabul killed over 400 people. This death toll remains unverified independently, and Pakistan disputes the claim. Pakistani officials denied targeting civilians, stating they struck an ammunition storage facility in Kabul.

These current Chinese-mediated discussions follow previous negotiation rounds in Qatar and Turkey, where both parties reached ceasefire agreements that remained largely effective until Pakistan conducted strikes in Kabul and other Afghan locations in late February, sparking border conflicts that have recently diminished.

Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban maintain a history of strained relations, but the current violence has concerned the international community, particularly given the regional presence of various militant groups including the outlawed TTP, al-Qaida, and the Islamic State group, which continue efforts to reorganize.

PARIS – French authorities have placed one adult and three minors in pre-trial custody following their arrests in connection with a thwarted bombing attempt targeting Bank of America’s Paris headquarters last month, officials announced.

According to anti-terrorism prosecutors, the explosive device discovered was the most potent ever found on French soil and “could have generated … a powerful fireball several metres in diameter and spread a fire,” prosecutors stated Wednesday evening.

The suspects – one adult and three teenagers ages 16 and 17 – face formal charges including creating, transporting and handling explosive materials, along with attempting to destroy property while operating as part of a terrorist organization, prosecutors said.

All four individuals have denied any terrorist motivations, according to the official statement. The adult suspect claimed he was approached through social media by someone claiming to be a middleman who then provided him with the explosive device.

The teenage suspects admitted they understood their target was not a residential structure, authorities noted. Legal representatives for the suspects have not yet issued public statements.

Under French law, formal investigation status does not indicate guilt but signals that judges believe sufficient evidence exists to continue the inquiry. Such investigations may continue for years before proceeding to trial or being dismissed.

French officials believe the pro-Iranian organization HAYI may have orchestrated the failed March 28 attack, though this connection has not been definitively proven, prosecutors revealed earlier this week.

HAYI had published a social media video on March 23 that specifically identified Bank of America’s Paris headquarters as a target.

Through surveillance video analysis, cellular phone records and police questioning, investigators determined the adult suspect had enlisted the three teenagers during the nights of March 26-27, compensating them between 500 and 1,000 euros ($580-$1,160) to position the device, ignite it and record the incident, the prosecutor’s office reported.

The three minors had clean criminal records while the adult had a prior drug-related conviction in 2025, according to authorities. A fifth individual was taken into custody and questioned by police but was subsequently released due to insufficient evidence.

PARIS, April 2 – Major financial institutions Goldman Sachs and Citigroup have authorized their Paris employees to work from home this Thursday after French authorities prevented a terrorist bombing targeting Bank of America’s Paris location last Saturday, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.

French law enforcement has detained four individuals suspected of orchestrating the attack plot, which authorities believe may have connections to Iran.

Neither the Paris police department nor the prosecutor’s office provided immediate responses when contacted for additional information.

Citigroup described their remote work policy as a safety precaution in a statement provided to Reuters via email. The bank’s Frankfurt location is also operating under similar remote work arrangements.

French counterterrorism officials announced Wednesday evening that the four detained suspects – three minors between ages 16 and 17, plus one adult – now face formal charges related to creating, moving, and possessing explosive materials, as well as attempting property destruction while operating within a terrorist organization.

According to the counterterrorism prosecutor’s office, the explosive device consisted of a five-liter gasoline container attached to a substantial pyrotechnic charge containing 650 grams of active explosive material. Officials described it as the most potent device of its type ever discovered in France, capable of creating “a powerful fireball several meters in diameter.”

Investigation findings reveal the adult suspect hired the three teenagers, compensating them between 500 and 1,000 euros ($580-$1,160) to position and record video of the device. All four suspects have rejected claims of terrorist motivations.

French intelligence agencies suspect connections to HAYI, a pro-Iranian organization that released a video on March 23 specifically targeting Bank of America’s Paris headquarters, although prosecutors note this connection remains under investigation and has not been definitively confirmed.

Iranian military forces launched fresh ballistic missile and drone attacks targeting Gulf region countries on Thursday, defying previous warnings from the United States about escalating regional tensions.

The renewed offensive prompted the American Embassy in Baghdad to release a security advisory cautioning about possible attacks from militia groups backed by Iran.

The strikes come amid heightened tensions in the Persian Gulf region, with Iran demonstrating its willingness to continue military operations despite diplomatic pressure from Washington.

Thursday’s attacks mark the latest escalation in the ongoing conflict, raising concerns about broader regional stability and the safety of American personnel and interests in the area.

BELGRADE, Serbia — Global media watchdog organizations have sounded the alarm alongside Serbian reporters about deteriorating conditions for press freedom in the Balkan nation, citing unprecedented levels of physical assaults, digital harassment campaigns, and death threats targeting journalists.

Media freedom advocacy groups partnered with the Council of Europe’s Platform for the Safety of Journalists and the Media Freedom Rapid Response coalition issued a warning this week stating that “the past year had seen a continued deterioration, leaving the country in a prolonged and worsening press freedom crisis.”

The organizations cautioned that “chances of further escalation in the severity of attacks against journalists remain dangerously high.”

Representatives from these groups conducted a fact-finding mission in Serbia from March 26-27, meeting with both news media professionals and government officials.

“The mission came at a time of unprecedented physical attacks on journalists and rampant online smear campaigns, led or amplified by influential members of the ruling party,” the coalition stated. “The delegation is fearful that journalists are caught in a spiral of violence with few protections in place.”

Serbia’s information ministry did not immediately respond when contacted by The Associated Press for comment.

On Wednesday, dozens of Serbian reporters staged a traffic-blocking demonstration outside populist President Aleksandar Vucic’s office, protesting a recent wave of assaults documented during Sunday’s violence-plagued municipal elections.

According to the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia, 20 news workers faced attacks during Sunday’s voting, contributing to approximately 100 documented incidents targeting media personnel this year alone.

International election monitors who observed the polling reported witnessing both violent incidents and voting irregularities. The elections took place across 10 Serbian municipalities and were viewed as a crucial test for Vucic following more than a year of youth-driven protests that began after a November 2024 train station disaster that claimed 16 lives.

Despite officially pursuing European Union membership for Serbia, the increasingly authoritarian Vucic administration faces accusations from human rights organizations of undermining democratic institutions, particularly press freedoms.

The international media coalition noted in their statement that harassment and violence against news workers have intensified since the Novi Sad station collapse and the emergence of student-led mass protests. They highlighted “alarming levels of impunity” with virtually no accountability for those responsible for attacks.

“Clear political will is needed to break the downward spiral and ensure all attacks on the media are properly sanctioned under the law,” the statement concluded.

Iranian authorities executed a protester Thursday who was convicted of attacking a military installation during the country’s January anti-government demonstrations, according to the judiciary’s news agency Mizan.

Amirhossein Hatami was put to death after Iran’s Supreme Court rejected his appeal and confirmed his death sentence. Officials said he was found guilty of breaking into a restricted military installation in Tehran, setting fires that damaged the facility, and trying to steal weapons and ammunition. According to Mizan, Hatami confessed to these actions while being questioned.

Last month, Hamzeh Khalili, the judiciary’s first deputy chief, announced that legal proceedings related to January’s protests had concluded and punishments were being carried out. The January demonstrations represented a nationwide anti-government uprising that Iranian officials suppressed in what they called the most severe crackdown since the Islamic Republic was established.

Human rights organization Amnesty International had previously identified Hatami as one of 11 individuals facing imminent execution risk. The group stated these men had been “subjected to torture and other ill-treatment in detention, before being convicted in grossly unfair trials that relied on forced confessions.”

Iran previously executed three other men in March who were convicted of killing two police officers during the January protests. This has prompted concern from human rights organizations like Hengaw, who worry that Tehran is escalating executions of political prisoners and demonstrators as the country faces increased military and international pressure.

Azerbaijan’s highest court has denied an appeal from a veteran opposition figure currently serving a lengthy prison term, according to his legal representative.

The Supreme Court on Thursday turned down the appeal filed by Tofig Yagublu, a 65-year-old member of the Musavat opposition party who is serving nine years behind bars, his attorney confirmed to Reuters.

Over the past three decades, Yagublu has faced multiple imprisonments for demonstrating against the government in the South Caucasus nation. Authorities took him into custody in December 2023, and he received his conviction in March of last year on charges including fraud and falsifying documents.

While his backers argue the prosecution is driven by political motives, government officials insist the conviction was justified based on legitimate criminal conduct.

Defense attorney Nemat Karimli stated that significant procedural errors plagued the initial proceedings, and the legal team intends to take their case to the European Court of Human Rights.

The oil-rich nation has faced mounting Western criticism regarding its treatment of human rights, particularly following a wave of detentions targeting independent media professionals and political dissidents in recent years.

Azerbaijan’s leadership dismisses such criticism and characterizes Western diplomatic calls for prisoner releases as improper meddling in the country’s justice system.

Universities throughout Russia are enticing college students with substantial monetary rewards to enlist in unmanned aircraft units operating in Ukraine, according to official documents reviewed by Reuters.

The targeted recruitment campaign unfolds as Russian military operations continue advancing in Ukraine during the conflict’s fifth year, with Moscow seeking to expand its drone capabilities through a specialized military branch established in late 2023 under President Vladimir Putin’s directive.

Russian officials maintain this represents standard volunteer recruitment rather than widespread mobilization. Dmitry Medvedev, who serves as deputy chairman of the Security Council, announced Friday that more than 400,000 individuals enlisted last year, with an additional 80,000 joining so far this year through the country’s ongoing volunteer system.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov acknowledged the student recruitment efforts when questioned by reporters Thursday, stating: “This (recruitment) offer exists; it is, as they say, on the market, and it applies equally to everyone: to workers, to students, to the unemployed, and so on and so forth. This is a completely open offer, an offer to join a new type of unit.”

The Far Eastern Federal University in Vladivostok presents students with comprehensive packages including guaranteed academic leave for one year minimum, complete tuition exemption upon return, complimentary housing, educational grants, and coverage for all required military gear.

Financial compensation reaches impressive levels by regional standards: initial yearly wages starting at 5.5 million rubles (approximately $68,433), plus a 2.5 million ruble signing bonus following training completion, monthly stipends of 240,000 rubles, and an additional 200,000 ruble payment directly from the university.

“This is not only an opportunity to prove yourself, but also a unique platform for social and career advancement, backed by unprecedented support measures,” the university declared in documentation released March 19.

Similar attractive offers emerge from Moscow State University of Civil Engineering, which promotes opportunities for students to become drone operators, engineers, or technical specialists through announcements on its official website.

The Russian State Hydrometeorological University in St. Petersburg also actively encourages student participation, advertising drone operator positions with annual compensation reaching 7 million rubles (roughly $87,000).

This academic recruitment strategy coincides with new advertising campaigns featuring billboard imagery of young drone operators wearing high-tech eyewear under the slogan “the new indispensables,” specifically targeting students in technical fields such as engineering and aeronautics.

Separately, Pavel Malkov, governor of the Ryazan region housing over one million residents, has mandated recruitment quotas for both private and public companies. His official decree requires businesses with up to 300 employees to provide two military recruits, companies with 500 workers to supply three recruits, and larger enterprises with over 500 staff members to contribute five recruits.

The quota system operates from April through September, with Malkov personally monitoring compliance, though the decree does not specify penalties for companies failing to meet requirements.

These recruitment efforts highlight Moscow’s emphasis on strengthening drone capabilities, as unmanned aircraft operations have become increasingly crucial in the prolonged conflict. Drone operators typically work away from front-line positions but face significant risks as high-priority targets when their locations become known to opposing forces.

A coalition of eight Muslim-majority nations has issued a joint declaration criticizing Israel’s recent legislation that establishes execution by hanging as the standard punishment for Palestinians convicted of fatal attacks in military tribunals, according to a statement released Thursday by Pakistan.

The countries participating in the joint declaration – Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates – expressed their opposition to the new law and called for restraint from actions that could worsen regional tensions. The nations emphasized the “urgent need to refrain from measures” that risk further inflaming tensions on the ground.

The statement was issued from Islamabad on Thursday, marking a coordinated diplomatic response to Israel’s controversial new death penalty legislation targeting Palestinians convicted in military court proceedings.

Officials in Lithuania are planning to formally request assistance from the United States as they continue investigating suspected human trafficking activities connected to the late Jeffrey Epstein, according to the Baltic nation’s top prosecutor.

Prosecutor General Vita Grunskiene announced Thursday that her office is working on submitting an official request for legal assistance from American authorities. “We are preparing to send a request for legal aid to the U.S.,” Grunskiene stated during an interview with Lithuania’s Ziniu radio station.

The investigation has involved questioning approximately 20 individuals so far, though no criminal charges have been filed against anyone at this time, Grunskiene explained. She also made a public appeal encouraging any potential victims of the alleged trafficking operations to contact law enforcement officials.

Iran’s top military commander has issued orders for the nation’s armed forces to closely watch adversary activities and prepare for potential hostile actions, according to reports from Iranian state media on Thursday.

Army Commander-in-Chief Amir Hatami instructed military operational centers to observe “enemy movements with utmost pessimism and accuracy” while maintaining readiness to defend against any form of assault, state outlets reported.

The directive comes as tensions continue in the region, with President Donald Trump recently stating that the Iran conflict is “nearing completion” and could conclude in the coming weeks. However, the deployment of additional American forces to the Gulf area has sparked speculation about possible ground military action.

“No enemy troops should survive if adversaries attempt a ground operation,” Hatami was quoted as saying by state media.

Iranian state television broadcast silent video showing Hatami meeting with three fellow army commanders in person while conducting a video conference with approximately twelve other military officials. Reuters was unable to immediately confirm when the recording was made.

Military officials in Moscow announced Thursday that Russian strategic nuclear forces completed training exercises in Siberia featuring Yars intercontinental ballistic missiles designed to carry nuclear warheads.

According to Russia’s Defense Ministry, military personnel practiced various tactical maneuvers, including concealing and disguising the movement of land-based missile systems during field operations.

The training also included exercises simulating responses to enemy attacks and defending against aerial assault weapons. Defense officials noted that no actual missile launches occurred during these drills.

These military exercises are part of Russia’s routine testing of its strategic nuclear capabilities, designed to evaluate combat readiness while sending messages to Western nations amid ongoing tensions with NATO allies regarding the conflict in Ukraine.

A frustrated mother in Athens has exhausted every strategy she can think of to reduce her teenage son’s obsession with social media platforms. Georgia Efstathiou, 43, has attempted intimate conversations, designated screen-free periods, and even taking away her 14-year-old’s device entirely, but battles continue to erupt over his attachment to online videos and messaging.

Relief may soon arrive for Efstathiou and countless other struggling parents. Greece’s government is preparing to implement a social media prohibition for youth under 15, adding the country to a growing list of nations attempting to protect children from digital dependency and online harm.

“Ban them, shut them down. We’ve reached our limits… We parents need help,” Efstathiou stated while clutching her son’s device in her Athens home.

The overwhelmed mother represents a widespread sentiment across Greece. A February survey conducted by ALCO revealed approximately 80% of respondents supported such restrictions. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ administration has previously prohibited mobile devices in educational settings and established parental oversight systems to restrict adolescent screen exposure.

Government officials have refused to discuss specifics about the proposed ban or reveal implementation details and timing.

Reuters initially covered the proposal in February, with sources indicating an official announcement remains forthcoming. Mitsotakis recently informed a Greek-Australian publication that Greece would proceed “in a similar direction to that of Australia,” referencing December legislation requiring social media corporations to exclude users under 16 or face financial penalties.

Greece confronts the same challenges with platforms like Meta’s Instagram, TikTok, and gaming websites that nations worldwide are grappling with.

The EU-supported Greek Safer Internet Centre in Athens has documented alarming trends. George Kormas, who operates their support hotline for young cyberbullying victims, reported that calls more than doubled from 2024 to 2025. Additional concerns include minor exploitation, false information distribution, and hostile online communication.

Center statistics show 75% of Greek children accessing social media are elementary school age.

“This undoubtedly worries us, because they cannot handle social media or protect themselves,” Kormas explained.

Athanasios Theocharis, director of the National Organization for the Prevention and Treatment of Addictions, noted that roughly 48% of teenagers have experienced harmful effects from social media usage.

“Clearly (the ban) has the potential to provide a significant degree of protection,” Theocharis stated.

However, parents interviewed by Reuters expressed mixed feelings about losing oversight of their children’s online activities and worry that youth will circumvent restrictions. Some oppose any government involvement entirely.

“I’d prefer a different approach, limiting mobile phone use within the family,” explained Dimitris, 44. “But where that’s not possible, perhaps a ban would work as the extreme remedy.”

His 14-year-old daughter Catherine represents a generation that has never experienced life without digital connectivity.

“It is the way we learned since we were born,” she shared while playing basketball near the Acropolis with her father.

“I can control it — but then again I usually get carried away.”

In the small Hungarian village of Malyinka, 72-year-old Sandor Toth operates a local pub where he’s served customers for over four decades, watching his country transform from communist rule through multiple election cycles that have consistently favored Viktor Orban’s Fidesz party.

Toth’s establishment recently benefited from Orban’s village pub initiative, receiving 3 million forints (approximately $9,000) in government funding that enabled him to upgrade with new windows and air conditioning systems. This program distributed grants to hundreds of rural pubs under the government’s philosophy that these establishments represent “the soul of the villages.”

Rural communities like Malyinka have formed the backbone of support for Fidesz, the ruling nationalist and socially conservative party, largely through community development programs funded by party-controlled local governments. In many regions, the distinction between Fidesz and government services has become blurred, with the party serving as the primary source of employment and financial assistance.

Media landscape considerations also play a role, as Fidesz supporters control significant portions of Hungary’s private news outlets, while state media functions primarily as a government communications tool. Officials reject claims that press freedom has been compromised.

Orban’s messaging emphasizing “Hungarian interests” in opposition to European Union policies and his stance against providing aid to war-affected Ukraine has found particular resonance among older, more traditional voters in countryside areas.

The upcoming April 12 election presents Orban with his most challenging re-election campaign in over a decade and a half. Rural constituencies hold decisive importance, comprising 88 of 106 total districts, with these constituency races determining 106 of parliament’s 199 seats.

While serving sour cherry beer at 800 forints ($2.38) per pint—roughly half the cost found in Budapest—Toth expressed confidence that most residents in his village of 450 would continue supporting Orban.

“I believe generally here people vote for Fidesz as they help pensioners and also young people,” he explained, noting that “not all parties” would have provided the financial assistance his pub received.

Toth’s establishment, called Sanyi pub and decorated with 1980s memorabilia and featuring a 1990s jukebox, has evolved into Malyinka’s social hub, strategically positioned beside the soccer field and licensed for tobacco sales.

“The village, our direct connection to nature, the land … these are essential parts of human life that must be preserved,” Orban stated during a January campaign appearance.

In the electoral district encompassing Malyinka and 81 additional villages, Fidesz representative Zoltan Demeter secured victory in 2022 with more than 54% of votes cast. However, this election cycle presents increased competition.

Orban now faces opposition from the center-right Tisza party, established in 2024 under Peter Magyar’s leadership. Magyar, who previously admired Orban, now seeks to remove him from the prime minister’s office.

Current polling data indicates Tisza holds a national advantage, though significant numbers of voters remain uncommitted. Research conducted by the 21 Research Institute in early March showed Tisza leading among all voter demographics under age 50, while Fidesz maintained clear support among those over 65.

Tisza has intensified rural campaigning efforts, attempting to address a 16-year pattern of opposition parties struggling to present viable alternatives to Fidesz in countryside areas.

Magyar has spent two years traveling to towns and villages, pledging employment opportunities, infrastructure improvements, and enhanced healthcare access. Leading up to election day, his campaign schedule includes events in 5-6 different locations daily across the nation.

The 21 Research Institute survey indicated Fidesz maintained a 37% to 33% advantage over Tisza in village areas.

“The mood in small rural towns and villages is different from earlier elections, when the public quickly lost interest at events. Now they turn up and listen to what Magyar has to say,” noted Eurasia Group analysts, suggesting Magyar was gaining ground in rural districts.

Tisza’s local representative and campaign workers conduct door-to-door outreach throughout villages in Toth’s constituency, attempting to attract voters by proposing support for road repairs and improvements to healthcare facilities and educational institutions.

“This is key, I think this was missing badly from previous campaigns, that we must go to each street,” stated Tisza candidate Csaba Hatala-Orosz.

“We can promise to support local small- and medium-sized businesses, rebuild roads … I’ve been doing field work here for almost two years, and I got to know these 82 villages, and I have really put my heart into this.”

Military forces in two West African nations have caused more civilian casualties than the terrorist groups they’re fighting, according to new research from Human Rights Watch released Thursday.

Data compiled by the human rights organization reveals that since 2023, government troops and their allies in Burkina Faso have been responsible for more than double the civilian deaths caused by Islamic extremist groups.

Similar patterns emerge in neighboring Mali, where Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED) statistics show government forces and their partners have killed three to four times more civilians than jihadist fighters over the past two years.

Both countries are currently under military rule following recent coups, and both have experienced escalating violence from terrorist organizations since 2021, transforming the Sahel region into a major global terrorism concern.

Experts warn that extensive civilian killings by government troops may strengthen terrorist groups politically and help them recruit new members. These developments could also hinder U.S. efforts to rebuild relationships with Sahel governments that removed French and other Western military forces after their coups.

Ilaria Allegrozzi, Human Rights Watch’s senior Sahel researcher, stated that Burkina Faso’s security forces and allied militias “appear to be more brutal and violent” than extremist organizations like the regional al Qaeda branch, Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM).

She explained that the behavior of Burkinabe forces reflects a broader regional trend that raises serious questions about military discipline and its impact on anti-insurgency operations.

Neither Mali nor Burkina Faso government representatives immediately responded to requests for comment. Both nations have previously rejected accusations of unlawful killings, claiming their forces have eliminated “terrorists.”

The Human Rights Watch investigation examined the timeframe from January 2023 through August 2025, recording 57 incidents that resulted in at least 1,837 civilian fatalities. Government forces and their allies carried out 33 of these incidents, causing 1,255 civilian deaths.

ACLED figures show that in 2025 alone, Burkina Faso’s military and the pro-government Homeland Defence Volunteers militia killed 523 civilians, while JNIM and Islamic State Sahel Province killed 339.

In Mali during 2025, the military working alongside Russian paramilitary units Wagner and Africa Corps killed 918 civilians, compared to 232 killed by JNIM and Islamic State Sahel Province.

Russia’s defense ministry, which oversees Wagner and Africa Corps, did not respond to comment requests. JNIM representatives could not be contacted.

ACLED gathers information from social media, news reports, and official statements from governments, armed groups, and non-governmental organizations. The organization acknowledges its fatality counts are conservative estimates. Human Rights Watch based its findings on 450 interviews and verified social media content and satellite images, noting their documented incidents don’t represent the complete picture.

Allegrozzi explained that because JNIM controls extensive territory, security forces often escort humanitarian and supply convoys through rural areas, but frequently kill civilians they encounter during these operations.

An eastern Burkina Faso resident, speaking anonymously due to safety concerns, described witnessing such an incident while traveling in a civilian convoy with military protection in July 2024. Many villages they passed appeared deserted until they reached Sakoani village, located 30 kilometers west of Kantchari town.

“When the army arrived in this village and saw that it was populated, they surrounded the entire village and they exterminated everything – every living being,” the witness told Reuters. “People tried to flee, but if you run, they shoot at you.”

The witness estimated seeing at least 100 bodies.

Mali has increasingly relied on drone attacks for many civilian killings, according to ACLED data. Drone operations expanded dramatically after the government started buying Turkish-manufactured drones in 2022. Civilian casualties from Mali’s drone or air attacks increased from four incidents in 2022 to 66 incidents in 2025, killing 155 people.

Government drone strikes in July 2024 killed at least 50 civilians at the Inatiyara artisanal gold mining location in northern Mali, ACLED reported. Three eyewitnesses provided accounts to Reuters.

A 30-year-old gold miner from Niger who worked at Inatiyara and requested anonymity said, “We were surprised by the strikes, we were so scared.”

“It was pure panic… I’m still reeling from the shock,” he added.

Human Rights Watch and ACLED also documented serious crimes by JNIM, including the deaths of at least 133 civilians in Barsalogho, Burkina Faso, during August 2024 and 19 civilians in Diallassagou, Mali, in May 2024.

Despite these actions, the group has successfully presented itself as a protector of marginalized communities like the Fulani, a nomadic herding group whose members are frequently suspected of JNIM connections, according to analysts.

Heni Nsaibia, ACLED’s senior West Africa analyst, noted, “As state responses increasingly rely on retaliation and collective punishment, more civilians find themselves trapped in areas under jihadist control, where JNIM is consolidating its influence through coercion and strategic engagement with local populations.”

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Tehran launched fresh missile strikes against Israel and Gulf Arab nations Thursday as President Donald Trump delivered remarks about concluding the Middle East conflict, demonstrating Iran’s rejection of Washington’s ceasefire overtures while continuing to control the Strait of Hormuz.

British officials scheduled a Thursday conference call with nearly three dozen nations to address reopening the strategic waterway, which handles 20% of global oil and natural gas shipments during normal operations. The 35 participating countries, encompassing all G7 developed nations except America, plus the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, endorsed a declaration last month calling on Iran to stop obstructing the strait. Thursday’s discussion will focus on “diplomatic and political measures” to restore maritime traffic after hostilities end.

While Washington demands Iran permit unrestricted vessel passage through the strait, Trump recently stated America shouldn’t be responsible for forcing compliance, urging nations dependent on Hormuz oil shipments to “build some delayed courage” and “take it.”

During his remarks, Trump declared the U.S. would strike Iran “extremely hard over the next two to three weeks,” while claiming American “core strategic objectives are nearing completion.”

Iranian military officials responded defiantly Thursday, asserting their weapons facilities remain concealed and beyond reach of Israeli or American strikes.

“The centers you think you have targeted are insignificant,” declared Lt. Col. Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam Al-Anbiya Central Headquarters.

Explosions echoed through Dubai just before Trump’s nearly 20-minute Wednesday address as air defense systems engaged incoming Iranian missiles. Within 30 minutes of the president’s conclusion, Israel reported intercepting additional incoming projectiles.

Warning sirens activated in Bahrain, headquarters of the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet, immediately following the speech.

British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper hosted Thursday’s virtual meeting among the 35 signatories who issued a March joint statement condemning Iranian attacks on civilian commercial ships and demanding Tehran “cease immediately its threats, laying of mines, drone and missile attacks and other attempts to block the strait.”

Despite most Strait of Hormuz oil and gas typically serving Asian markets, only Japan and South Korea from that region participated in the discussions.

“Trump’s message was that the United States can sustain its own economic and energy ecosystem, while countries dependent on regional exports will either have to buy from the United States or manage the Strait themselves,” analyzed the New York-based Soufan Center think tank following the address.

“While Trump explicitly thanked U.S. allies in the Persian Gulf for their cooperation and allyship, an expedited U.S. withdrawal without securing the strait will leave many of these countries, whose economies are dependent on energy exports, in the lurch.”

No nation appears prepared to forcibly reopen the strait during ongoing warfare. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the coalition “will assess all viable diplomatic and political measures we can take to restore freedom of navigation, guarantee the safety of trapped ships and seafarers and to resume the movement of vital commodities.”

Bahrain, currently holding the UN Security Council presidency, has worked to bring the crisis before the international body.

While Iran permits limited vessel transit through the strait, the passage remains mostly blocked. Tehran continues targeting Gulf Arab energy infrastructure, driving oil prices higher and creating widespread economic disruption.

After Trump’s address, Brent crude prices climbed to $108 in early trading, representing a nearly 50% increase since February 28 when Israel and America initiated military action against Iran.

Rising energy costs and market volatility have intensified domestic pressure on Trump, who used his address to defend the military campaign while suggesting its conclusion approaches.

Acknowledging fallen American service members, he stated: “We are going to finish the job, and we’re going to finish it very fast. We’re getting very close.”

Washington has presented Tehran with a 15-point ceasefire proposal, though Trump made no mention of diplomatic efforts or his April 6 deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face severe American retaliation.

Combat casualties include more than 1,900 Iranian deaths and 19 Israeli fatalities. Over two dozen people have perished in Gulf states and the occupied West Bank, with 13 U.S. service members killed.

Lebanese authorities report more than 1,200 deaths and over one million displaced residents, while ten Israeli soldiers have died in that country.

Pakistan has undergone a stunning diplomatic reversal, transforming from an isolated nation just twelve months ago into a key regional power broker mediating between the United States and Iran in efforts to resolve Middle East conflicts. This dramatic shift has been orchestrated primarily by the country’s influential military leader, Field Marshal Asim Munir.

Munir has established close relationships with President Donald Trump, including an extraordinary private lunch meeting at the White House. Additionally, Pakistani authorities captured and transferred to U.S. custody an Islamic State operative responsible for attacks on American military personnel.

The Islamic republic has launched an extensive diplomatic campaign, with officials reaching out to global leaders while simultaneously strengthening bonds with key ally China.

“Pakistan’s civil-military leadership has been on a charm offensive primarily balancing relations between the U.S. and China as it seeks to employ a diversified foreign policy,” explained Arsla Jawaid, a global risk analyst at Control Risks, in comments to Reuters.

“All these efforts are beginning to show some signs of success.”

Relations between Pakistan and Western nations had deteriorated significantly after U.S. Navy SEALs eliminated Osama bin Laden on Pakistani soil in 2011. The situation worsened with the imprisonment of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and Washington’s allegations that Pakistan secretly aided the Taliban throughout the two-decade Afghanistan conflict.

Economically, the country teetered on the brink of defaulting on its debts until securing a new International Monetary Fund agreement following difficult negotiations approximately 18 months ago.

Government officials and experts point to two pivotal moments that helped Pakistan regain Washington’s confidence.

The initial breakthrough occurred in March of the previous year when Pakistan assisted in apprehending an individual connected to the 2021 Kabul airport attack that claimed the lives of 170 Afghan civilians and 13 American service members. This cooperation earned public recognition from Trump and restored intelligence cooperation between the nations.

Former Pakistani ambassador to the United States Maleeha Lodhi described this collaboration as “critical” in overcoming decades of mutual suspicion.

The second turning point came in May during a confrontation with longtime rival India.

Foreign ministry spokesman Tahir Andrabi noted that the 90-hour military engagement significantly enhanced Pakistan’s international standing because the nation’s “military leadership showed tremendous restraint after successfully downing Indian fighter jets.”

Pakistan promptly involved the United States in diplomatic efforts to resolve the dispute between the nuclear-armed neighbors. Subsequently, both Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif put forward Trump’s name for Nobel Peace Prize consideration.

Throughout Pakistan’s history, military leaders have wielded significant influence even during civilian rule, making Munir’s support crucial for any governmental policy decisions.

The unprecedented White House meeting between Trump and Pakistan’s military commander, conducted without civilian officials present, demonstrated Trump’s understanding of Pakistan’s actual power dynamics.

Pakistani military officials declined to provide comments for this report. Government representatives attribute the country’s diplomatic renaissance to effective cooperation between civilian and military leadership and skillful management of relationships spanning Gulf nations, the United States, and China.

“If there is one factor above all that has fuelled the widening of diplomatic opportunity for Pakistan, it is the trust and symbiosis between the field marshal and prime minister,” stated Mosharraf Zaidi, Sharif’s spokesperson, in remarks to Reuters.

Both Zaidi and Andrabi emphasized their offices’ diplomatic initiatives, including numerous meetings and near-daily communications with international leaders.

This past Sunday, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar welcomed his counterparts from Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt for discussions centered on ending the Iranian conflict.

“Because of Mr. Dar’s frequent interactions with these foreign ministers, they can share intimate comments as well as a solemn moment,” Andrabi observed.

Washington’s relationship with Pakistan has strengthened through regular engagement between Pakistani civilian and military officials and the White House.

Munir and Sharif have conducted discussions with U.S. officials covering investment possibilities, cryptocurrency agreements involving Trump family-associated enterprises, and Middle Eastern security matters, establishing Pakistan’s diplomatic comeback through a combination of commercial partnerships and strategic alliances.

Trump has referred to Munir as his “favourite field marshal,” and the Pakistani leader was the sole active military commander attending this year’s World Economic Forum in Davos. Sources indicate he conducted additional meetings with Trump at the event and has maintained regular contact with Vice President JD Vance since the Iranian conflict commenced.

As recently as Tuesday, Vance communicated through Pakistani intermediaries regarding the Iranian situation, with a source familiar with the discussions confirming Trump’s openness to a ceasefire under specific conditions.

Prime Minister Sharif has maintained ongoing dialogue with Trump, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Pakistan formalized a mutual defense agreement with Saudi Arabia in the previous year.

Pakistan’s growing international prominence has created concerns in India, which traditionally maintained superior diplomatic standing between the two adversaries. Indian opposition politicians have criticized their government’s passive stance regarding the Middle East crisis, while analysts suggest Pakistan’s emergence threatens to marginalize New Delhi in regional diplomatic efforts.

“I have been calling for almost three weeks now for India to take a leading stand, leveraging its good relations with both sides into a peace initiative,” stated opposition legislator Shashi Tharoor. “Now, apparently, Pakistan, Egypt and Turkey have done it. Good luck to them…but India gets no credit while Pakistan is holding the peace talks.”

Despite diplomatic gains, Pakistan’s economy continues struggling, and experts warn the nation risks military involvement due to its defense treaty with Saudi Arabia, potentially triggering domestic unrest among Pakistan’s Shiite population, the world’s second-largest after Iran.

Pakistan also faces ongoing tensions with neighboring Afghanistan, which intensified shortly before U.S. and Israeli military actions against Tehran.

“Pakistan has to continue to look inwards to bolster its own pillars of national power, especially its economy,” advised Uzair Yunus from strategic consulting firm The Asia Group.

“It also needs to build an integrated defence industrial complex in partnership with Saudi Arabia and Turkey.”

Pakistan requires a comprehensive long-term approach to manage relationships with Iran, its defense partnership with Saudi Arabia, and ties with Washington during an uncertain and potentially extended conflict, according to Control Risks analyst Jawaid.

“The civil-military leadership will need to be very careful of the role and extent of Pakistan’s involvement. Overplaying the mediator card could prove to be more damaging if not managed astutely.”

TULKARM, West Bank – The Ghanem family huddles in a makeshift shelter with only thin metal sheeting overhead as Iranian missiles streak across the sky above them, a stark reminder of their vulnerability since being forced from their longtime home in a Palestinian refugee camp.

This family represents thousands among approximately 32,000 residents whom Israeli forces removed from their homes across three established refugee settlements in the occupied West Bank during the past year.

Their dangerous circumstances intensified following the February 28 strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran, which left the West Bank exposed to falling wreckage from Iranian missiles destroyed by Israeli defense systems.

“The children were terrified by the sound of the rockets,” explained Madleen Ghanem, who shares a single-room shelter with her four youngest children ages three, eight, 11 and 14, while her older offspring live in separate locations.

Palestinian Civil Defence rescue services report that more than 270 fragments of missile wreckage have crashed into the West Bank since hostilities began.

The contrast with Israel is stark – while bomb shelters are commonplace there, the West Bank offers virtually no protective facilities, leaving families like the Ghanems with nowhere to seek safety.

Although Iran has not been documented as intentionally striking Palestinian areas, four Palestinian women died last month when an Iranian missile struck the West Bank city of Hebron.

“We don’t have shelters, the space where we stay is the same space we hide in. There are no shelters and no place to run to,” Madleen stated.

Israeli military officials did not provide immediate responses to requests for comment.

During early 2025, as a temporary ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza took effect, Israeli forces initiated demolition operations targeting homes and infrastructure in the Tulkarm camp, the adjacent Nur Shams camp, and the Jenin refugee camp throughout the northern West Bank.

Israeli officials justified these operations as necessary to eliminate civilian infrastructure that could potentially be used by militant groups. Human Rights Watch condemned these forced relocations as war crimes and crimes against humanity in a displacement report released last year.

Several members of Israel’s governing coalition have repeatedly advocated for annexing the West Bank, a territory spanning roughly 100 kilometers that Palestinians envision as central to their future sovereign state, alongside Gaza.

Israel points to historical and biblical connections to the West Bank territory, which it occupied during the 1967 conflict.

Before their displacement, the Ghanems occupied a three-story residence within the densely populated Tulkarm camp, where the family’s women had cultivated trees, flowers and climbing vines that adorned their porches for decades.

Areej Ghanem, Madleen’s sister-in-law, recalls Israeli troops forcing entry into their family residence without advance notice during nighttime hours last year.

“We didn’t take clothes, nothing at all. They made us leave. Our father can’t get up or down…He’s an old man, he can’t walk. We left, dragging him,” Areej recounted.

Israeli military representatives did not respond to inquiries regarding the Ghanem family’s specific situation.

Following the destruction of their home along with numerous others in the camp, Areej relocated with her sister, niece and their 89-year-old father Mahmoud Ghanem to a cramped rented room in nearby Tulkarm town.

As the sole income earner working as a domestic worker, Areej supports the family in their small quarters that lack kitchen facilities, forcing her to wash dishes in the bathroom. Financial constraints have prevented them from purchasing meat for over a year.

“Honestly I have no hope for the future. We can’t even provide basic food,” Areej shared.

Separately, Madleen relocated with her husband Ibrahim – Areej’s brother – and their children to another section of Tulkarm, where they had purchased a small parcel of land in 2023, shortly before the Gaza conflict erupted.

Ibrahim previously worked in construction, joining thousands of Palestinians authorized to enter Israel for employment. However, following the Hamas-led attacks in 2023 that triggered the Gaza war, Israel revoked work permits for most Palestinians, leaving Ibrahim without employment since then.

Ibrahim explains that he and his wife sometimes cannot afford cooking gas, instead preparing meals over outdoor fires.

Despite living approximately an hour’s walk from each other, the family attempts weekly gatherings to maintain some sense of normalcy.

During a recent Friday afternoon at a dusty roadside playground, Areej and Madleen laid out a picnic blanket over worn synthetic grass while their children played nearby.

Madleen expressed her dream of completing the house construction they began and hopes the family can eventually reunite in a single home. Areej emphasized that staying together remains the priority.

“Either we die together or we live joyfully together,” she concluded.

BASRA, Iraq — What were once bustling Iraqi oil facilities filled with workers have become nearly empty landscapes. Shipping terminals that formerly hummed with commercial activity now sit quiet, with only the gentle sound of water lapping against empty docks.

Four weeks into the Iranian conflict, employees at petroleum facilities and shipping terminals throughout Basra province—which handles nearly all of Iraq’s crude oil production and shipments—have become familiar with missiles flying overhead toward American military installations and other strategic targets.

The conflict, which started with strikes by U.S. and Israeli forces, is severely damaging Iraq’s financial foundation. The nation depends on petroleum income for approximately 90% of its government funding, and the majority of its crude oil moves through the Strait of Hormuz, the crucial Persian Gulf passage where Iran has essentially blocked commercial shipping during the fighting. The conflict has also dramatically reduced imported merchandise arriving at Iraq’s southern shipping facilities, while military strikes have shut down movement along the Iranian border.

Iraq finds itself in a unique position among Middle Eastern nations affected by the war, hosting both deeply embedded pro-Iranian forces and substantial American interests, making it vulnerable to strikes from either side. Since hostilities began, petroleum output in Iraq’s southern region has plummeted more than 70%, while imported goods reaching the nation’s ports have been reduced by half. Unmanned aircraft and rocket strikes have hit American corporations and military installations. Iranian-backed Iraqi militias have also attacked petroleum facilities and energy infrastructure. Numerous international workers have evacuated.

Financial experts believe the Iraqi government has sufficient reserves to operate until mid-May without fresh oil income, but will need to seek loans after that point.

“After that, the government would resort to issuing bonds,” said Ahmed Tabaqchali, an expert in Iraq’s economy. “But not without consequences.”

Throughout southern Iraq, the Strait of Hormuz blockade has forced petroleum facilities to reduce output and prioritize domestic requirements, while global oil costs have increased. The Zubair oil field near Basra, previously generating approximately 400,000 barrels daily, has experienced production falling to about 250,000, according to officials.

Iran has provided guarantees that Iraqi petroleum can move safely through the strait, according to Bassem Abdul Karim, who leads the government-operated Basra Oil Company overseeing provincial production. Nevertheless, since Iraq doesn’t own its shipping vessels and relies on leased tankers, deliveries depend entirely on whether ship operators will accept the increased dangers of the voyage. Most refuse.

At a processing facility in Zubair where crude oil is refined, operations have also slowed significantly. “It’s quiet now because of the reductions,” said chief engineer Ammar Hashim. “Of course we are worried.”

The slowdown at Zubair mirrors a widespread decline throughout Basra. Production has fallen from 3.1 million barrels daily to approximately 900,000 across the entire province, Abdul Karim reported.

“Exports are currently completely halted. At the moment, we are considering alternative loading areas, but none are fully operational,” he told The Associated Press.

That same day, an unmanned aircraft crashed at the Majnoon oil field north of Basra without exploding. A security official described this as an increasingly frequent event, noting the drone was probably targeting American bases in Kuwait. Operations at the facility have been suspended because of how often these incidents occur. The official requested anonymity since he wasn’t authorized to speak with reporters.

Hundreds of workers from American, British, Italian, French and other international petroleum companies have departed Iraq because of the war. The exodus intensified following a March 6 drone attack on the Burjisiya complex in Basra, a vital logistics center for Iraq’s oil sector used by multiple companies. The assault targeted American oil services firm KBR, hitting its chemical storage area.

Another drone hit the British Petroleum-managed Rumaila oil field, causing some foreign personnel to evacuate, Abdul Karim said. The facility continues operating, he noted. On Wednesday, several drones struck a fuel storage facility connected to BP in northern Iraq.

Attempts to redirect Iraq’s oil face significant obstacles: The nation lacks capacity to increase shipments through its northern pipeline, and truck transport through Jordan and Syria is expensive and ineffective, Abdul Karim explained.

Umm Qasr, Iraq’s main deep-water shipping facility, was previously so loud with cargo operations that it could cause headaches, workers recalled.

Currently, with the Strait of Hormuz blocked, large cargo vessels bringing supplies to Iraq cannot reach the port. Instead, they dock in the United Arab Emirates, where merchandise is transported by trucks and smaller vessels to reach Umm Qasr—an expensive alternative.

The facility’s loading areas are operating far below previous levels, with cargo volumes cut in half by the war, according to port director Mohammed Tahir Fadhil.

During the AP’s visit, only one cargo vessel from the U.A.E. was docked.

The danger to shipping routes increased after Iran sank two tankers on March 11 in Iraqi waters—the Marshall Islands-registered Safesea Vishnu and the Malta-registered Zefyros.

“Today, our only gateway for goods is the United Arab Emirates,” said Farhan Fartousi, director of the Iraqi Ports Company.

Sunday morning found Haidar Abdul-Samad, assistant director of Basra’s Shalamcha border crossing with Iran, speaking by phone with an Iranian official, protesting power outages that had stopped trade and requesting immediate repairs. The electrical failures followed an airstrike that damaged the Iranian side of the crossing.

Local officials say such interruptions have become commonplace.

Before the conflict, the crossing experienced continuous activity, reflecting strong family and business connections between Iranians and Iraqis in the region. It also serves as an important route for merchants and religious pilgrims traveling to Shiite sacred sites in central Iraq.

That morning, trucks were lined up for miles.

“Priority is given to food supplies to prevent price increases,” Abdul-Samad said. “Passenger movement is not at the same level as before; activity has declined due to the war in Iran.”

After power was restored, 30-year-old Iranian merchant Atefa Al-Fatlawi arrived with her husband and young son. She purchases merchandise at reduced prices in Basra to sell back home.

“We are scared because of the bombings,” she said. “Shalamcha was targeted. Today, there were no transport vehicles at the garage because of the attack.”

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Marine archaeologists working in Copenhagen Harbor have located the remains of a Danish warship that went down more than two centuries ago during a fierce battle with Admiral Horatio Nelson’s British naval forces.

Divers are racing against time to excavate the wreckage of the Dannebroge, working through thick mud and near-zero visibility conditions 49 feet below the surface. The excavation site will soon become part of a massive housing development project along Denmark’s coastline.

Denmark’s Viking Ship Museum, overseeing the extensive underwater dig, revealed their discovery on Thursday – marking exactly 225 years since the 1801 Battle of Copenhagen took place.

“It’s a big part of the Danish national feeling,” said Morten Johansen, the museum’s head of maritime archaeology.

While much has been documented about the historic confrontation “by very enthusiastic spectators, but we actually don’t know how it was to be onboard a ship being shot to pieces by English warships and some of that story we can probably learn from seeing the wreck,” Johansen explained.

During the Battle of Copenhagen, Nelson’s British forces launched an assault on Denmark’s naval defenses that had formed a protective barrier around the harbor entrance.

The devastating maritime confrontation lasted several hours and resulted in thousands of casualties, earning recognition as one of Nelson’s most significant victories. Britain’s goal was to break up Denmark’s participation in a coalition that included Russia, Prussia and Sweden.

The Danish flagship Dannebroge, under the command of Commodore Olfert Fischer, found itself at the heart of the intense fighting.

Nelson’s forces concentrated their attack on the 157-foot vessel. Artillery bombardment devastated the ship’s upper sections before explosive rounds ignited fires throughout the vessel.

“(It was) a nightmare to be on board one of these ships,” Johansen noted. “When a cannonball hits a ship, it’s not the cannonball that does the most damage to the crew, it’s wooden splinters flying everywhere, very much like grenade debris.”

The confrontation reportedly gave rise to the expression “to turn a blind eye.” Nelson, who had lost vision in his right eye, allegedly stated after choosing to disregard orders from a commanding officer: “I have only one eye, I have a right to be blind sometimes.”

Nelson ultimately proposed a temporary halt to fighting, and Denmark’s Crown Prince Frederik later agreed to end hostilities.

The badly damaged Dannebroge floated northward before a massive explosion destroyed what remained. Historical accounts describe the blast as creating thunderous noise that echoed throughout Copenhagen.

Underwater excavation teams have recovered two artillery pieces, military clothing, rank insignia, footwear, glass containers and even a portion of a sailor’s jawbone – possibly belonging to one of 19 crew members still listed as missing from that fateful day.

The archaeological site will eventually be covered by construction activities for Lynetteholm, an ambitious development plan to create a new residential area within Copenhagen Harbor, with completion scheduled for 2070.

Maritime archaeology teams started surveying the location in late 2023, focusing on an area believed to correspond with historical records of the flagship’s final resting place.

Researchers confirm that recovered timber dimensions align with historical ship blueprints. Tree ring analysis of the wood samples corresponds to the vessel’s original construction date. The excavation area contains numerous cannonballs, creating additional challenges for divers working through murky water filled with disturbed sediment.

“Sometimes you can’t see anything, and then you really have to just feel your way, look with your fingers instead of with your eyes,” explained diver and maritime archaeologist Marie Jonsson.

The 1801 naval engagement has become a cornerstone of Danish historical identity, documented extensively in literature and artwork.

Research teams believe their findings could provide fresh perspectives on this pivotal moment in Scandinavian history while revealing intimate details about the individuals who participated in the battle two and a quarter centuries ago.

“There are bottles, there are ceramics, and even pieces of basketry,” Jonsson observed. “You get closer to the people onboard.”

KAJIADO, Kenya — During her school break, 19-year-old Valerie Wairimu doesn’t have a moment to spare. She quickly grabs something to eat before heading to the on-campus nursery that sets Kenya’s Greenland Girls School apart from any other educational institution in the country.

At the nursery, a group of caregivers hand over her baby son Kayden, allowing Wairimu to nurse him before returning to her afternoon classes.

Greenland Girls School stands as Kenya’s sole educational facility specifically designed for teenage mothers, providing care for their children while the young women pursue their studies. The institution serves 310 students and more than 80 children ranging from newborns to toddlers, offering these families an opportunity to continue their education in an environment free from judgment — something education specialists view as an exemplary approach to bringing young mothers back into the classroom.

“When I found that I was pregnant, I didn’t have anywhere else to go,” said Wairimu, who has placed near the top of her class in exams at Greenland and hopes to become a doctor.

Established in 2015 as a residential facility, the institution has successfully guided hundreds of young women through their secondary education while providing support for their children. Many graduates have advanced to prominent careers in fields such as government service and healthcare.

The nonprofit organization Shining Hope for Communities operates the facility, with numerous students receiving financial assistance through scholarship programs.

Most enrolled students originate from Kajiado County, located south of Nairobi, where the school maintains a team of community outreach workers who identify and refer expectant mothers to the program.

The institution has also established connections with social service agencies and educators throughout Kenya, including remote western regions like Wairimu’s hometown. Coming from a household led by a single father with a younger sibling, she lacked the resources to support a newborn. Her grandmother learned about the school and arranged for Wairimu’s enrollment.

A significant portion of the student body comes from challenging circumstances, with some pregnancies resulting from sexual violence or arranged marriages.

According to Paul Mukilya, the school’s administrative manager, families frequently withhold support, leaving outreach staff to negotiate with local community leaders for permission to enroll students.

“Some of the challenges which the students encounter are the family and the community. Most of them have failed to accept them the way they are,” Mukilya said. “When they come here, we take them through psychological counseling and mentorship.”

Kenyan law prohibits sexual activity involving anyone under 18, though the legal framework only holds males criminally responsible. Underage pregnancies frequently result in court proceedings, and Greenland assists its students while coordinating with law enforcement, particularly in situations involving child marriage.

During classroom hours, the school’s staff assumes responsibility for childcare while providing guidance and support to the young mothers.

“Some of the mothers view their children as a burden,” said Caroline Mumbai, a caregiver at Greenland who has two children of her own. “So we also teach them how to mother.”

Ensuring educational access for teenage mothers presents a significant challenge in Kenya, particularly as the nation grapples with a rapidly expanding youth demographic. Government statistics indicate that more than 125,000 babies born in 2024 were delivered by mothers under 19 years old.

Research conducted by the Population Council, a health and development organization, revealed in 2015 that two-thirds of teenage mothers identified pregnancy as their primary reason for leaving school. More recent 2022 findings by research group IDinsight showed that unplanned pregnancy ranked as the second-leading factor preventing girls from returning to education, surpassed only by financial constraints.

To address growing demand from Kenya’s coastal areas, Greenland Girls School plans to launch a second location in Kilifi County.

“Every girl who gets pregnant and drops out during their school time must be allowed reentry,” said Dr. Githinji Gitahi, chief executive of development agency Amref Health Africa. “Special schools are important in supplementing the general scalable policy framework. We should focus on these schools that are helping to close the equity gap.”

Students at Greenland express gratitude for an atmosphere that eliminates social stigma and promotes academic achievement.

“People used to judge me because I got pregnant,” said Mary Wanjiku, 20, whose son is almost 18 months old. She now hopes to become a lawyer.

“The moment I came here, I was received with love,” she said.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — A defense and security agreement signed Thursday between New Zealand and Cook Islands has resolved more than a year of diplomatic friction stemming from the smaller nation’s growing relationship with China.

The diplomatic dispute that led Wellington to temporarily halt millions in aid funding to Avarua may have involved nations of vastly different sizes — New Zealand’s 5 million residents versus Cook Islands’ 15,000 — but Pacific region watchers closely followed the standoff as it highlighted the challenging position facing small island nations. These countries must navigate between longstanding Western partnerships with nations like New Zealand and Australia while considering new opportunities from Beijing.

Under the newly signed declaration, Cook Islands committed to making New Zealand its “partner of choice regarding defense and security matters,” effectively eliminating Wellington’s concerns about China potentially filling that role. New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters stated the agreement addressed “ambiguity” in the two nations’ existing relationship.

The tensions began in February 2025 when Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown signed a comprehensive strategic partnership with China during a Beijing visit, causing concern in Wellington after Brown declined to share the agreement’s details beforehand. New Zealand officials worried this refusal could create security risks. Cook Islands operates as a self-governing territory under a 60-year free association arrangement with New Zealand, meaning New Zealand provides military protection while Cook Islands citizens can freely live and work in New Zealand.

This relationship requires Cook Islands leadership to consult Wellington on international agreements that might impact New Zealand’s interests. Brown justified his decision to keep the China deal private, arguing disclosure wasn’t required under existing agreements with Wellington.

New Zealand, serving as Cook Islands’ primary financial supporter, suspended millions in aid during the dispute, though this represented only a portion of total Wellington funding. Peters announced during his Thursday visit to Cook Islands that this assistance would resume following the signing of the new accord.

“This declaration seeks to remove previous ambiguity about the nature of the relationship between New Zealand and the Cook Islands, especially as it pertains to defense and security,” Peters stated.

Cook Islands, consisting of 15 islands scattered across the South Pacific, represents one of numerous small regional nations receiving attention from Beijing through aid offers, loans, and development deals designed to expand Chinese influence. The sparsely inhabited South Pacific holds strategic significance, and many countries there, including Cook Islands, control extensive and valuable exclusive economic zones where Brown is investigating deep-sea mineral extraction possibilities.

“The strategic environment we face is more complex and contested today than at any other point since New Zealand and the Cook Islands formed our free association relationship in 1965,” Peters said Thursday.

The China agreements particularly troubled Wellington because Cook Islanders carry New Zealand passports, raising security concerns. In October 2024, Brown suggested creating separate Cook Islands passports, though he later abandoned this idea after stating New Zealand had “bared its teeth” over the proposal.

“It’s no secret that our two governments have had a series of serious disagreements since late 2024,” Peters acknowledged Thursday.

When questioned about how the New Zealand-Cook Islands declaration affects the earlier Beijing agreement — which addressed deep-sea mining, infrastructure development, and educational scholarships without explicit security components — both leaders deflected. Brown told reporters the New Zealand agreement wouldn’t impact his country’s other international partnerships.

However, New Zealand would serve as “our first port of call on anything to do with defense and security,” Brown confirmed.

Eastern Libya’s military commander Khalifa Haftar has obtained what experts identify as Chinese and Turkish combat drones, violating a United Nations weapons embargo that has been in effect since 2011, according to new Reuters reporting.

Satellite imagery reveals at least three unmanned aircraft stationed at Al Khadim airbase, positioned approximately 62 miles east of Benghazi in the desert. The drones appeared at the facility between late April and December, marking the first time their presence has been disclosed publicly.

Three weapons specialists who examined the satellite photographs confirmed that ground control equipment for operating the aircraft remained visible into this year.

During Libya’s civil conflict from 2014 to 2020, drone warfare became a defining feature as Haftar’s Libyan National Army attempted to remove the UN-backed government in Tripoli. Haftar justified his campaign by claiming the western administration was sheltering armed militias and extremist groups, allegations the government rejected.

The conflict drew international involvement, with UAE, Egypt and Russia backing Haftar’s forces while Turkey supported the Tripoli administration, according to UN investigators. China maintained neutrality during the fighting.

Although the opposing sides reached a ceasefire agreement in 2020, Libya continues to operate under divided rule, with Haftar controlling the east and Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah’s government governing from Tripoli in the west.

Anas El Gomati, director of the Sadeq Institute, a Libyan research organization, described the new drone acquisitions as potentially “a huge symbolic win” for Haftar. The weapons would strengthen his control over eastern Libya and significant southern oil facilities while enhancing his position in talks aimed at establishing a unified national government.

El Gomati suggested the drones could also protect supply routes to Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces militia, though Haftar has rejected claims of supporting that group.

A critical question remains unanswered, according to Gomati, who noted that Haftar’s forces lack the technical knowledge to operate such advanced equipment. “The question remains: who’s operating them?” he told Reuters.

Weapons experts who analyzed the satellite images identified one drone as likely being a Chinese-manufactured Feilong-1, an advanced surveillance and attack aircraft. The remaining two appear to be less powerful Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 drones, though experts acknowledged other models couldn’t be completely ruled out.

Reuters was unable to determine the source of the drones or their delivery timeline. The Libyan National Army, Chinese and Turkish governments, and the manufacturers – Xi’an-based Zhongtian Feilong and Istanbul-based Baykar – did not respond to detailed inquiries. The Tripoli government also declined to comment.

The news organization could not confirm whether China, Turkey or other UN member nations requested exemptions to supply drones to eastern Libya. The Security Council committee responsible for handling such requests did not answer questions about the aircraft.

The UN peacekeeping department referenced a Security Council resolution from last year expressing serious concerns about ongoing embargo violations. The embargo requires UN approval for all weapons transfers to Libya.

The arms restrictions were implemented in 2011 following a NATO-supported uprising that removed longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi. However, sophisticated military equipment continued flowing into the country during subsequent fighting, with UN monitors noting that Libya became Africa’s first major battlefield for drone warfare.

While current tensions have decreased, evidence suggests both sides are working to strengthen their air capabilities, according to five Libya analysts, weapons experts and UN investigators.

In December, the LNA signed a $4 billion military equipment agreement with Pakistan, including JF-17 fighter aircraft developed in partnership with China, as Reuters previously reported.

Pakistani officials maintained the agreement didn’t violate the embargo, though UN sanctions officials and Pakistan’s foreign and defense ministries haven’t responded to questions about these claims.

The new Chinese and Turkish drones would significantly enhance LNA capabilities following the 2020 removal of Chinese-made Wing Loong II drones that had been stationed at Al Khadim, as documented by UN investigators.

The UAE, viewing Haftar as protection against Islamist organizations, assisted in building LNA air power, including supplying and “most probably” operating the Wing Loong aircraft, according to a 2017 UN panel report.

Abu Dhabi has consistently denied providing military assistance to the LNA. The UAE foreign ministry didn’t respond to questions regarding the new drones.

Turkey provided the UN-recognized government with TB2 drones and air defense systems that helped repel Haftar’s 2020 Tripoli offensive, creating a stalemate that largely continues today.

The air power balance shifted further toward Tripoli in October 2022 when the western government agreed to acquire more advanced Turkish Bayraktar Akinci drones, capable of carrying nearly triple the payload and reaching higher altitudes than Wing Loong II aircraft.

However, Turkish-Haftar relations have recently improved as Ankara seeks to protect economic and energy interests in Libya and secure eastern parliament approval of a controversial 2019 maritime boundaries agreement with western authorities.

Ibrahim Kalin, Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization chief, met with Haftar and his son Saddam in Benghazi last August to explore enhanced cooperation on intelligence and security issues, according to an LNA statement.

Saddam, serving as LNA deputy commander, visited Ankara three times last year for meetings with senior officials including Defense Minister Yasar Guler. Turkey’s defense ministry characterized its LNA engagement as progress toward a “unified Libya.”

Reuters couldn’t establish whether these discussions included drone provisions.

Satellite imagery shows a previously unseen drone type appeared at Al Khadim between late April and July last year, parked outside a hangar on the northern section. The same aircraft also appeared on the runway in a May 3 image from Vantor, a U.S. satellite company, suggesting active use, according to Wim Zwijnenburg, a military technology expert with Dutch peace organization PAX.

While the aircraft’s dimensions and shape resemble a Wing Loong II, the wing configuration suggests it’s more likely a Feilong-1, Zwijnenburg explained. Jeremy Binnie from defense intelligence firm Janes and Joseph Dempsey from London’s International Institute for Strategic Studies agreed with this assessment.

Limited available photographs and lack of previous satellite imagery make definitive identification challenging.

A new protective shelter was constructed in November over the drone’s parking location, which Binnie suggested might explain its absence from later imagery. A truck carrying satellite equipment, likely used for aircraft control, remained near the area as recently as January 12.

Justyna Gudzowska, executive director of watchdog organization The Sentry, said Haftar has apparently sought Chinese military drones for years, citing international law enforcement operations targeting sanctions violations.

Chinese drones were connected to two alleged attempts to smuggle unauthorized military equipment into eastern Libya since 2019, according to U.S., Canadian and Italian investigators.

In June 2024, Italian authorities acting on U.S. intelligence seized drone components traveling from China to Benghazi. UN experts who examined the parts determined they matched components from two Feilong-1 drones, concluding the model falls under embargo restrictions, according to a draft 2025 panel report reviewed by Reuters.

China has disputed the parts’ military classification, previously informing the UN panel they appeared to come from a discontinued model used for emergency rescue and disaster response operations.

Two smaller drones appeared on the same Al Khadim section in a December 17 Vantor image. Their length, wingspan and twin-boom tail configuration match Turkish TB2 drones, said Dempsey, who brought the image to Reuters’ attention.

The model gained recognition when Ukraine deployed them against Russian invasion forces and has been exported to numerous countries, including the UAE.

Defense manufacturers in China, UAE and Belarus have also produced similar-appearing models. However, two ground control units with distinctive double-antenna configurations, visible in satellite imagery between July and March, strongly indicate TB2 operations in the area, all three experts agreed.

California-based Planet Labs satellite images show Al Khadim has undergone extensive renovations since early last year, including addition of at least three new hangars in the area where drones were observed.

Another structure under construction in the analyzed images is likely designed for “stationing and launching of Turkish Bayraktar UAVs,” according to the UN panel’s draft report.

Russian forces, who use Libya as a base for operations across West and Central Africa, maintain a presence at Al Khadim. However, experts who spoke with Reuters don’t believe they’re operating the drones in the imagery.

Baykar CEO Haluk Bayraktar told CNN in a 2022 interview that his company would never provide drones to Russia because “we support Ukraine, support its sovereignty.”

While Moscow is known to use some Chinese-made surveillance drones and components, there’s no record of it deploying fully assembled Chinese combat drones, military expert Zwijnenburg noted.

Russia’s defense and foreign ministries didn’t respond to comment requests.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung called on lawmakers Thursday to swiftly approve an emergency spending package worth 26.2 trillion won, equivalent to $17.3 billion, as the nation faces what he described as an unprecedented energy security crisis stemming from Middle East conflicts.

Speaking to parliament in a nationally broadcast address, Lee warned that energy supply disruptions will persist long after current hostilities end. “Even if the war ends tomorrow, it will take a considerable period of time for the destroyed energy infrastructure facilities in the Middle East to be restored and supplies to run as smoothly as before,” the president stated.

Legislative leaders anticipate the emergency budget will receive parliamentary approval by April 10th. Once lawmakers give their backing, government officials plan to begin implementing the economic support measures immediately.

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — In the early morning hours within the cramped pathways of Mathare, a sprawling settlement in Kenya’s capital city, Agnes Mbesa switches on a lone light bulb suspended from her metal ceiling. The mother of three previously depended on smoky kerosene lamps for years. Today, electrical power illuminates her dwelling and operates the modest retail business she operates from her front porch.

“Before the power came, we closed early because it was too dark,” Mbesa said. “Now people come even at night, and I can earn something.”

Several hundred kilometers away in the western Kenyan village of Sori, fisherman Samuel Oketch shares a comparable account. When a solar mini-grid system arrived in his community, he purchased a freezer to preserve his daily catch. Fish that previously required immediate sale at reduced prices can now be kept fresh and transported to neighboring markets.

“These small changes mean a lot,” Oketch said. “Electricity gives us options. My wife can now sell (fish) without being taken advantage of by brokers who had the freezers.”

These stories of electrification supported by charitable organizations and government funding demonstrate how expanding energy access can revolutionize daily life and enhance economic opportunities. Over 730 million individuals globally remain without electrical power, with approximately 600 million residing in Africa. Insufficient access limits healthcare delivery, educational advancement, digital connections and employment opportunities.

Fresh financial commitments seek to speed up advancement. In March, the European Investment Bank committed over $1.15 billion toward renewable energy developments throughout sub-Saharan Africa, encompassing hydroelectric, solar, wind and electrical grid expansion projects.

“This funding is Europe’s commitment to provide cleaner, more affordable, and reliable energy for hundreds of millions of people in Africa,” said European Investment Bank President Nadia Calviño.

The Rockefeller Foundation also revealed in March during the Africa Energy Indaba conference in Cape Town, South Africa, its plan to contribute an additional $10 million supporting electrification efforts in no fewer than 15 African nations. These funds will be distributed through the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet to bolster national programs and assist government policy changes.

“African governments are choosing to transform their energy sectors by committing to national energy compacts and investing in African-led solutions,” said William Asiko, senior vice president at the Rockefeller Foundation.

These investments back the Mission 300 program spearheaded by the World Bank and African Development Bank, targeting electrical connections for 300 million sub-Saharan African residents by 2030 using grid extensions and decentralized approaches like mini-grids and independent solar systems. Throughout much of Africa, where national power grids frequently prove unreliable, mini-grids have become a crucial alternative. These compact, community-based networks, usually solar or hybrid-powered, produce and deliver electricity within local areas.

Independent systems, in contrast, function autonomously at individual household levels. These encompass standalone solar packages that supply direct power access, helping close electricity shortfalls in distant and underserved regions.

The program provides governments in Malawi and Liberia with technical guidance to advance national energy strategies, extend transmission infrastructure and enhance distribution system reliability and effectiveness. Work in Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, and Senegal incorporates local currency funding and collective purchasing assistance.

Andrew Herscowitz, CEO of the Mission 300 Accelerator at RF Catalytic Capital, emphasized that expanding access requires ongoing funding and enhanced implementation capabilities, including better monitoring and more coordinated support to speed connections.

“Energy access is key to unlocking human potential and economic development,” Herscowitz said.

Kenya has obtained funding since 2017 from the World Bank, African Development Bank and partners through Mission 300 to advance its Last Mile Connectivity initiative, which focuses on households near existing electrical equipment, especially in countryside areas and informal communities, while working toward complete electricity coverage by 2030. Countryside access increased to roughly 68% in 2023 from slightly under 7% in 2010.

Throughout eastern and southern Africa, where only approximately 48% of residents and 26% in rural regions have electrical access, World Bank initiatives plan to expand coverage in up to 20 nations over the coming seven years through renewable energy developments.

Mbesa, the Mathare shop owner, received electrical service in 2021 through the Last Mile Connectivity Project. The program offered no-cost connections to households and small enterprises situated near transformers, with sponsors covering the typical $115 connection charge. In more isolated locations like Oketch’s village, the project included independent solutions, such as mini-grids and solar installations, to serve communities outside the national grid.

For Mbesa, the transformation is unmistakable. The single light fixture over her shop has lengthened her business day and enabled her children to complete homework after dark.

“Electricity changes everything,” she said. “Once you have it, life starts moving forward.”

Myanmar’s legislative chambers will convene on Friday for a combined parliamentary session to select the country’s next president, according to an announcement made Thursday by house speaker Aung Lin Dwe.

Among the candidates vying for the nation’s highest office is Min Aung Hlaing, the Southeast Asian country’s former top military commander who previously served as the leader of Myanmar’s ruling junta.

The announcement comes as Myanmar continues to navigate its complex political landscape following years of military rule and ongoing internal conflicts.

Authorities in Singapore have filed fraud charges against an additional suspect in connection with an alleged scheme to deceive U.S. technology company Dell Technologies about artificial intelligence servers.

Prosecutors charged Jenny Lim on Thursday with participating in fraudulent activities alongside Alan Wei Zhaolun and Aaron Woon Guo Jie, who faced similar charges in February of last year. According to police documentation, the three individuals allegedly worked together in 2024 to deceive Dell by falsely claiming that Aperia International would be the final recipient of servers purchased from the company.

Singapore’s Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam revealed in March of last year that investigators determined the servers in question likely contained Nvidia computer chips. These servers were originally provided by Dell and artificial intelligence server manufacturer Super Micro Computer to Singapore-based businesses before being forwarded to Malaysia, though officials remain uncertain whether Malaysia was their ultimate destination.

The charges come amid ongoing tensions over technology exports, as the United States implemented restrictions on exporting advanced Nvidia chips to China in 2022 due to concerns about potential military applications. Earlier this year in January, the U.S. government gave conditional approval for sales of Nvidia’s H200 chips, which rank as the company’s second-most powerful processors.

According to Nvidia’s February 2025 financial disclosure, Singapore represented the chip manufacturer’s second-largest market during 2024, generating 18% of total revenue behind only the United States. However, Singapore officials stated last year that merely 1% of Nvidia’s chips actually arrived in Singapore for use in local data centers.

Nvidia’s revenue classification system is based on the headquarters locations of their customers rather than where products are physically delivered. The company’s 2026 financial year filing shows that sales to customers in the United States, Taiwan, and China comprised 98% of total revenue.

In a related development, U.S. authorities filed charges in March against three individuals connected to Super Micro, including one of the company’s co-founders, alleging they facilitated the illegal export of at least $2.5 billion worth of American AI technology to China in violation of export regulations.

LONDON (AP) — Nearly three dozen nations will convene Thursday in a diplomatic push to restore access to the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial maritime corridor that Iranian aggression has effectively closed amid the ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that the virtual summit, led by Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, “will assess all viable diplomatic and political measures we can take to restore freedom of navigation, guarantee the safety of trapped ships and seafarers and to resume the movement of vital commodities.”

Commercial vessel traffic through the strategic waterway linking the Persian Gulf to international waters has ground to a near-complete halt following Iranian strikes on merchant ships and continued threats of additional attacks. The blockade has severed a crucial artery for global oil transport, causing petroleum costs to spike worldwide.

Notably absent from Thursday’s gathering will be the United States. President Trump has declared that protecting the shipping lane falls outside American responsibilities and advised U.S. partners to “go get your own oil.”

With active hostilities continuing and Iran’s capability to deploy anti-ship missiles, unmanned drones, naval vessels and sea mines, no nation appears prepared to attempt a military solution to force the strait open. However, Starmer revealed Wednesday that defense officials from several unnamed countries will convene separately to develop security protocols for merchant shipping “after the fighting has stopped.”

Meanwhile, 35 nations—including Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, Japan and the United Arab Emirates—have endorsed a declaration calling on Iran to cease its blockade efforts while committing to “contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage” through the vital channel.

Officials describe Thursday’s virtual conference as an initial step, with follow-up “working-level meetings” planned to develop specific implementation strategies.

Starmer acknowledged that restoring commercial navigation “will not be easy,” requiring “a united front of military strength and diplomatic activity” combined with collaboration from the shipping industry.

The multinational initiative mirrors the international “coalition of the willing” spearheaded by Britain and France to support Ukraine’s long-term security following any future ceasefire in that conflict. The coalition partly serves to demonstrate to the Trump administration that European allies are taking greater responsibility for regional security matters.

The importance of enhanced continental defense capabilities has gained added significance following Trump’s repeated suggestions that America might withdraw from NATO.

During his first televised address to the nation since military operations against Iran commenced, President Donald Trump announced that American forces will continue launching intensive strikes against the country over the coming weeks, promising to send Iran “back to the Stone Ages.”

In his primetime speech, Trump declared that Washington has achieved or surpassed all its military goals while warning of sustained attacks ahead.

“We are going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks,” Trump said. “We’re going to bring them back to the Stone Ages, where they belong.”

The president made no mention of potential diplomatic talks with Iran or his previously established April 6 deadline for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a vital passage for global energy shipments. Trump had earlier threatened strikes on Iran’s energy facilities if the waterway remained closed.

Trump’s address provided no concrete strategy for ending supply chain disruptions that have caused energy costs to skyrocket. He also avoided discussing the potential deployment of American ground forces or involvement from NATO allies, despite his past criticism of the alliance for not assisting with securing the strategic waterway.

Financial markets reacted swiftly to the president’s comments, with oil prices climbing more than 4% and Asian stock markets declining. Brent crude, the global benchmark, surged 4.9% to reach $106.16 per barrel, while U.S. crude increased 4% to $104.15 per barrel.

American gasoline prices exceeded an average of $4 per gallon on Tuesday for the first time since 2022, as the ongoing conflict continues driving fuel costs upward globally. Economic experts warn these elevated fuel expenses will impact grocery prices as companies face higher transportation and packaging expenses.

Congressional Democrats have sharply criticized Trump’s national address, with multiple lawmakers issuing statements Wednesday calling the speech “incoherent” and inadequate in addressing fundamental concerns from the American public.

Virginia Senator Mark Warner stated that Trump failed to provide sufficient explanations for a conflict that has inflated gasoline costs “alongside rising prices for diesel, fertilizer, aluminum, and other essentials, with consequences that will continue to ripple through the economy for a long time to come.”

Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy released his own statement describing the address as being “grounded in a reality that only exists in Donald Trump’s mind.”

Murphy added that “no one in America, after listening to that speech, knows whether we are escalating or deescalating.”

Asian financial markets opened Thursday with significant losses following Trump’s remarks. Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 dropped 1.4% to 53,004.81, while South Korea’s Kospi fell 3.4% to 5,292.36. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng declined 0.8% to 25,082.59.

U.S. stock futures also showed declines of more than 0.7%. Oil prices continued their upward trajectory, with Brent crude jumping 5% to $106.22 per barrel and U.S. crude rising 4.2% to $104.36 per barrel.

Trump indicated during his address that the United States would “finish the job” in Iran and suggested military operations could conclude in the near future.

JAKARTA, April 2 – Twelve people sustained injuries when flames erupted at a propane gas facility located close to homes in Bekasi regency, situated east of Indonesia’s capital city Jakarta, according to reports from the state news service Antara on Thursday.

The intense blaze occurred Wednesday evening, creating an orange glow that illuminated the nighttime sky, as reported by local television stations.

Idham Kholid, an official with Bekasi’s disaster mitigation agency, confirmed to Antara that while no fatalities occurred during the incident, a dozen individuals were hurt in the fire. According to Idham, the flames also caused damage to residential properties and motor vehicles in the surrounding area.

Authorities have not yet determined what sparked the fire at the liquefied petroleum gas station.

Taiwan’s defense officials are raising alarm bells over legislative gridlock that could derail billions in critical military spending, according to statements made Thursday in Taipei.

Yen Ming-teh, who oversees the defense ministry’s budget operations, warned that parliamentary delays threaten to block T$78 billion ($2.44 billion) in essential weapons purchases, equipment maintenance, and military training programs.

The budget standoff means defense officials cannot move forward with 21% of this year’s planned military expenditures according to their original timeline, Yen explained during a press briefing.

President Lai Ching-te’s government had proposed boosting defense spending by 22.9% to reach T$949.5 billion in 2026. This would mark the first time since 2009 that Taiwan’s military budget would exceed 3% of the nation’s economic output, hitting 3.32% of gross domestic product.

Officials justify the increased spending as necessary to counter Beijing’s growing military aggression. China maintains territorial claims over Taiwan and has intensified pressure through military exercises and other displays of force. Washington has expressed support for Taiwan’s defense budget expansion.

However, opposition lawmakers controlling parliament have blocked both the main budget and an additional $40 billion military spending package. While opposition members say they back stronger defense capabilities, they refuse to approve what they call “blank cheques.”

The spending freeze directly impacts several major weapons programs, including the acquisition of U.S.-manufactured HIMARS rocket systems and Javelin missile purchases and restocking, according to Yen’s briefing.

Additional training for pilots flying Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter aircraft will also face delays due to the budget impasse, he noted.

“In response to the enemy threat, strengthening national defence capabilities cannot be delayed,” Yen stated. “Any delay in timing will cause irreversible negative effects.”

The budget dispute comes as President Trump has repeatedly urged international partners to increase their defense investments – a position Taiwan’s current leadership has embraced.

Meanwhile, Taiwan is preparing for its yearly Han Kuang military exercises, with planning sessions scheduled from April 11-24 and field exercises expected in July.

Tung Chi-hsing, who heads joint operations planning for the defense ministry, said the upcoming exercises will draw lessons from “recent international military operations as important references.”

These include studying U.S. and Israeli military actions against Iran, as well as the recent U.S. operation that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in January, Tung explained.

Taiwan’s military is focusing on improving early warning systems, rapid response protocols, drone countermeasures, multi-layered air defense networks, and anti-infiltration tactics based on these international examples, Tung added.

Beijing has never ruled out using military force to bring Taiwan under Chinese control, while Taiwan’s democratically chosen government maintains that only the island’s residents can determine their political future.

Financial markets worldwide experienced dramatic shifts following President Donald Trump’s national television address Wednesday evening, where he declared the United States would continue aggressive military action against Iran.

During his first televised speech since military operations began, Trump stated the U.S. would “finish the job” in Iran as “core strategic objectives are nearing completion,” suggesting the conflict could conclude in the near future.

The president’s remarks immediately impacted global energy markets, with oil prices climbing sharply. International benchmark Brent crude surged 5% to reach $106.22 per barrel, while domestic crude prices increased 4.2% to $104.36 per barrel.

Asian financial markets opened Thursday with significant losses across major indices. Japan’s Nikkei 225 dropped 1.4% to 53,004.81, while South Korea’s Kospi experienced a steeper decline of 3.4% to 5,292.36. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index fell 0.8% to 25,082.59.

American market futures also pointed to continued volatility, with contracts down more than 0.9% ahead of Thursday’s opening bell.

Notably absent from Trump’s address was any reference to his previous ultimatum regarding Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the vital shipping channel for global energy transport. The president also did not outline specific measures to address ongoing supply chain disruptions that have contributed to rising energy costs.

Gold prices moved in the opposite direction, falling 2% to $4,718.90 per ounce as investors adjusted their portfolios.

Wednesday’s domestic trading session had shown positive momentum before Trump’s evening remarks, with renewed speculation about a potential conflict resolution. The S&P 500 gained 0.7% to close at 6,575.32, the Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 0.5% to 46,565.74, and the technology-heavy Nasdaq composite rose 1.2% to 21,840.95.

This optimism followed Trump’s Tuesday comments suggesting military operations could conclude within two to three weeks.

SYDNEY – Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced sweeping new restrictions on gambling promotions Thursday, marking what he described as the world’s most comprehensive betting reform initiative.

The Prime Minister characterized the upcoming changes as “the most significant reform on gambling that has ever been implemented” for a country that leads globally in both gambling participation and individual betting losses.

“The government is taking decisive action to tackle the community and public health concerns associated with gambling,” Albanese stated during the announcement.

Starting in 2027, the new regulations will specifically target protecting minors from what Albanese termed the “deluge of advertisements” currently reaching young people.

Under the updated framework, television gambling commercials will be limited to three per hour during the timeframe of 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., with complete prohibition during live sporting events within those hours.

Radio gambling promotions will be forbidden during morning and afternoon school transportation periods, while digital advertisements will only reach logged-in users who have verified they are 18 or older and can choose to disable such content.

The legislation will completely eliminate celebrity and athlete participation in gambling marketing campaigns, while also removing betting company branding from sporting facilities and all team uniforms worn by players and referees.

Major international gambling corporations are expected to feel the impact, including London-based Flutter Entertainment PLC, which operates Australia’s leading betting application Sportsbet, and Entain PLC, which runs the third-largest platform Ladbrokes.

Market reactions were immediate, with Tabcorp Holdings, Australia’s second-largest gambling company, experiencing a 2.4% stock decline during afternoon trading, significantly outpacing the broader ASX200 index drop of 0.8%.

The United Nations announced Wednesday that Garry Conille, who formerly held the position of Prime Minister in Haiti, has been selected by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to serve as the organization’s resident coordinator in Kenya.

According to the UN announcement, Conille began his new duties immediately upon the Wednesday appointment. The move comes as international security arrangements continue to evolve in the region.

WASHINGTON — During his inaugural national television address since military operations commenced more than a month ago, President Donald Trump declared Wednesday evening that American forces would complete their mission in Iran within the coming weeks, stating that “core strategic objectives are nearing completion.”

The prime-time speech provided Trump with a platform to clarify war objectives after weeks of shifting goals and conflicting statements about whether military operations would wind down or escalate — all while Iran continued launching attacks against Israel and Persian Gulf nations amid ongoing airstrikes on Tehran.

However, much of the president’s remarks echoed previous statements from recent weeks, while indicating the United States was approaching completion of its primary military goals within an estimated two to three week timeframe. He vowed American forces would maintain intense pressure on Iran.

“For years, everyone has said that Iran cannot have nuclear weapons. But in the end, those are just words if you’re not willing to take action when the time comes,” Trump said.

The commander-in-chief stated, “In these past four weeks our armed forces have delivered swift, decisive, overwhelming victories on the battlefield” and criticized decades of previous U.S. foreign policy, declaring that former presidents “made mistakes and I am correcting them.”

“The situation has been going on for 47 years and should’ve been handled long before I arrived in office,” he said.

Trump also recognized increasing oil costs and unstable financial markets, but maintained these effects would be short-lived.

Current polling indicates many Americans believe U.S. military actions in Iran have exceeded appropriate limits — despite additional American troops deploying to the region for a potential ground campaign. Trump chose not to deliver such remarks closer to when the U.S. and Israel initially launched their offensive, raising questions about whether his message can now effectively reach the public.

Iranian missiles struck Dubai in the United Arab Emirates and Israel shortly before Trump’s televised remarks.

During an Easter lunch Wednesday afternoon, the president commented about Iran: “We could just take their oil. But you know, I’m not sure that the people in our country have the patience to do that, which is unfortunate.”

“Yeah, they want to see it end. If we stayed there, I prefer just to take the oil,” Trump said. “We could do it so easily. I would prefer that. But people in the country sort of say: ‘Just win. You’re winning so big. Just win. Come home.’ And I’m OK with that, too, because we have a lot of oil between Venezuela and our oil.”

Media representatives were barred from observing the president’s lunch remarks, though the White House initially posted video footage online before removing it. White House officials did not respond to Associated Press inquiries about the video or its removal.

In a Wednesday social media message, Trump maintained an aggressive stance, demanding Iran cease blocking the Strait of Hormuz — a crucial waterway for global oil transport — or face U.S. bombing that would send the Islamic Republic “back to the Stone Ages.” The president has also stated the U.S. “will not have anything to do with” protecting ships navigating Hormuz, seemingly retreating from earlier threats to attack Iran’s electrical infrastructure if the strait remained closed past April 6.

During the same Easter gathering, the president repeated criticisms of NATO partners for their hesitation to help secure the Strait of Hormuz while suggesting China, Japan and South Korea could assist in reopening the waterway.

“Let South Korea, you know, we only have 45,000 soldiers in harm’s way over there, right next to a nuclear force — let South Korea do it,” Trump said regarding efforts to reopen the strait. “Let Japan do it. They get 90% of their oil from the strait. Let China do it.”

In another morning social media post, Trump claimed that “Iran’s New Regime President” sought a ceasefire. The reference remained unclear since Iran maintains the same president. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmail Baghaei, denounced Trump’s assertion as “false and baseless,” according to Iranian state television reports.

Speaking to Al Jazeera earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi indicated Tehran’s determination to continue fighting. “You cannot speak to the people of Iran in the language of threats and deadlines,” he said. “We do not set any deadline for defending ourselves.”

Prior to Trump’s address, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian published an extensive English-language letter on his X account, appealing directly to American citizens and emphasizing that his nation had pursued diplomatic negotiations before the U.S. abandoned that approach. “Exactly which of the American people’s interests are truly being served by this war?” he wrote.

Since operations began February 28, Trump has presented varying objectives and repeatedly suggested the conflict could end quickly while simultaneously threatening to expand it. Thousands of additional U.S. military personnel are currently en route to the Middle East, generating widespread speculation about their purpose.

Trump has also threatened strikes against Iran’s Kharg Island oil export facility. Additionally, the U.S. might deploy military forces to secure Iran’s uranium reserves — a complicated and dangerous mission involving radiation and chemical hazards, according to experts and former government officials.

Further complicating matters is uncertainty about Israel’s role — which has conducted bombing campaigns alongside the U.S. — in any of these potential scenarios.

Trump faces mounting pressure to conclude the war that has driven up gasoline, food and other commodity prices. Brent crude oil, the international benchmark, has increased more than 40% since hostilities began.

The United States has presented Iran with a 15-point ceasefire proposal, including demands to reopen the strait and scale back its nuclear activities.

Iran maintains its nuclear program serves peaceful purposes. Last week, Iranian state television’s English-language service quoted an unnamed official stating Iran had its own conditions for ending hostilities, including maintaining sovereignty over the strait.

In the Al Jazeera interview, Araghchi confirmed receiving direct communications from U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. However, he emphasized no direct negotiations were occurring and expressed zero confidence that discussions with the U.S. could produce results, stating “the trust level is at zero.”

He cautioned against any U.S. ground invasion attempt, declaring “we are waiting for them.”

In an apparent diplomatic gesture, U.S. officials have provided “clear assurances” that Araghchi and Iran’s Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf would not be targeted, according to three officials speaking anonymously because they lack authorization to discuss the matter publicly.

JAKARTA – A powerful magnitude 7.6 earthquake rocked Indonesia’s Northern Molucca Sea on Thursday, claiming one life and causing structural damage while generating tsunami waves across the region, according to officials and eyewitness accounts.

Indonesia’s weather monitoring service BMKG reported tsunami waves at five different locations, with the tallest measuring 0.75 meters (2.46 feet) in North Minahasa in North Sulawesi. The agency tracked 11 aftershocks following the initial quake, with the strongest registering magnitude 5.5, and advised residents to remain vigilant.

During a news briefing, BMKG director Teuku Faisal Fathani explained that their computer models suggested tsunami waves could reach heights between 0.5 and 3 meters (1.6 to 9.8 feet).

American tsunami monitoring centers initially warned of dangerous tsunami conditions along coastlines in Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia within 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) of the earthquake’s center, though they subsequently canceled the alert.

The lone fatality occurred in the Manado region when debris from a collapsing sports authority building struck a victim, North Sulawesi police deputy chief Awi Setiyono reported to media outlets.

The Southeast Asian nation sits along the “Pacific Ring of Fire,” an extremely active seismic region where multiple tectonic plates converge, generating frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity among the country’s more than 130 active volcanoes.

The earthquake’s epicenter was located approximately 580 kilometers (360 miles) south of Philippine shores and 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) from Malaysia’s Sabah region.

“Although relatively small, this situation still requires vigilance due to the potential for aftershocks,” Indonesia’s national disaster agency stated, noting preliminary reports showed minor to moderate damage to residential homes and a church, with comprehensive damage assessments ongoing.

The agency reported that initial tremors lasted 10 to 20 seconds in Bitung City and Ternate City, with follow-up aftershocks occurring offshore. Officials urged citizens to stay calm and follow official guidance until safety could be confirmed.

Indonesian Metro TV broadcast footage showing damaged structures, while a Manado resident speaking to Reuters described people fleeing their homes in fear. Though her neighborhood showed no obvious damage, household items had fallen and electricity was disrupted, the resident noted.

Philippine seismic monitoring agency Phivolcs determined there was “no destructive tsunami threat” to their nation based on current information, while Malaysia’s weather service found no immediate tsunami danger but continued monitoring the situation.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center cautioned about possible waves under 0.3 meters (1 foot) above normal tide levels affecting Guam, Japan, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and Taiwan.

Japanese authorities predicted waves reaching 0.2 meters (8 inches) but anticipated no damage, though the Japan Meteorological Agency warned Pacific tsunami activity remained possible.

JAKARTA, Indonesia — A powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck Indonesian waters early Thursday, generating small tsunami waves and claiming at least one life while damaging buildings across multiple coastal areas, according to government officials.

The U.S. Geological Survey reported the tremor originated in the Molucca Sea at a depth of 35 kilometers (22 miles).

Within 30 minutes of the earthquake, tsunami waves reached several coastal monitoring points, with Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency documenting wave heights of 20 centimeters (8 inches) in Bitung and 30 centimeters (a foot) in West Halmahera.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Honolulu detected 5-centimeter (2-inch) waves reaching Davao in the southern Philippines, though officials determined there was no danger to more distant coastal regions approximately three hours following the initial tremor.

Residents in Bitung, a coastal community in North Sulawesi province, experienced intense shaking for 10 to 20 seconds, with similar tremors felt in surrounding areas and Ternate city in neighboring North Maluku province, Indonesia’s Disaster Management Agency reported.

Early damage reports from Ternate revealed light to moderate destruction, with local emergency officials noting one church in the Batang Dua Island district was impacted and two residential structures sustained damage in South Ternate. Damage evaluation efforts continued in Bitung, the agency stated.

Indonesia’s Search and Rescue Agency confirmed a 70-year-old woman perished in North Sulawesi’s Minahasa district, with another person sustaining injuries.

“At this stage, caution is still required, particularly for communities living along the coast,” said Disaster Management Agency spokesperson Abdul Muhari in an official statement. He advised coastal residents to avoid returning to beaches or shoreline areas until authorities provide an official safety clearance.

Officials recorded at least two aftershocks following the primary earthquake, both occurring offshore. Authorities determined neither secondary tremor posed tsunami risks, though residents in impacted areas felt the ground movement.

“We had just woken up and suddenly the earthquake hit… we all ran out of the house,” said Bitung resident Marten Mandagi. “The shaking was very strong.”

Mandagi reported no visible damage in his immediate vicinity. “We’re still checking whether there is damage or not. But here we are safe, there are no casualties or destruction,” he explained.

Indonesia, a sprawling island nation home to over 280 million people, lies along major geological fault lines and regularly experiences seismic activity and volcanic events.

A Sydney court has rejected an attempt by a man charged in one of Australia’s deadliest mass shootings to keep his family members’ identities out of the news.

Naveed Akram, 24, faces charges for allegedly shooting and killing 15 people during a Jewish Hanukkah gathering at Sydney’s Bondi Beach in December. Police say the attack was motivated by Islamic State ideology.

Akram had requested a four-decade-long media ban that would have prohibited news organizations from publishing his mother’s, brother’s and sister’s names or photographs. The proposed order also would have blocked reporting of their home address and workplace or school locations, citing safety concerns.

Multiple Australian news organizations fought against the restriction, arguing it would interfere with comprehensive coverage of a case that has drawn massive public attention both domestically and internationally.

Judge Hugh Donnelly sided with the media outlets, emphasizing that transparent justice proceedings are essential and that publication bans “should only be made in exceptional circumstances.”

“This case has caused unprecedented public interest, anger, outrage and grief,” Donnelly stated.

The court learned that Akram’s driver’s license containing his address had already spread widely across the internet, and his mother had spoken with a local newspaper shortly after the shooting occurred.

Donnelly noted that since social media and international publications would not be bound by an Australian court order, restricting only domestic media would serve little purpose.

“This case is exceptional by virtue of the sheer magnitude and intensity of commentary on social media,” the judge explained.

During the hearing, Akram participated through a video connection from the maximum-security facility where he is detained. He waved at the camera when sitting down and only spoke to confirm he could hear the proceedings clearly.

Following discussions with his legal representatives, Akram’s attorney Richard Wilson informed the court they would not pursue an appeal of the ruling.

The shooting shocked Australia, a country recognized for having stringent firearm regulations, and sparked fresh demands for enhanced gun control measures and stronger efforts to address antisemitism.

Australian officials have initiated a government-supported investigation into antisemitism and social unity, with results expected by December. Authorities have already implemented stricter gun regulations and enacted new hate speech laws.

Global energy markets saw substantial declines Thursday morning as investors anticipated a potential shift in U.S. military strategy regarding Iran, with both major oil benchmarks dropping more than $1 per barrel.

Brent crude futures declined $1.16, representing a 1.15% decrease to reach $100 per barrel by 1204 GMT. Meanwhile, U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures dropped $1.41, or 1.41%, settling at $98.71 per barrel. Both oil benchmarks had already closed lower during the previous trading session.

The market movement came ahead of President Donald Trump’s scheduled national address, with the president indicating to Reuters on Wednesday that the United States would conclude its military operations in Iran “fairly soon.” The speech was set for 9 p.m. EDT.

Market analyst Tony Sycamore from IG explained the trading activity in a research note, stating: “The overnight sell-off gathered pace on mounting hopes that the Iran conflict could finally be winding down.”

Sycamore added: “The market is widely expecting a decidedly dovish tone.”

Despite optimism about potential U.S. withdrawal, Sycamore warned that American departure wouldn’t automatically ensure the reopening of the crucial Strait of Hormuz shipping lane.

“If the U.S. leaves without a formal ceasefire agreement locking in free passage and leaving its regional allies and their energy assets highly exposed to Iranian strikes, a persistent risk premium is likely to linger in the oil price,” he explained.

Regional maritime security concerns continue escalating as military actions spread throughout the area. On Wednesday, Qatar’s defense ministry reported that an Iranian cruise missile struck an oil tanker chartered by QatarEnergy while operating in Qatari territorial waters.

The International Energy Agency’s director warned Wednesday that supply chain disruptions would begin affecting European economic activity starting in April. Until now, the continent had been protected by oil shipments secured through contracts signed before hostilities began.

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum announced Wednesday that Roberto Velasco will take over as the nation’s foreign minister during a particularly tense period in U.S.-Mexico diplomatic relations.

Velasco, who currently serves as the foreign ministry’s North America subsecretary and is recognized as a leading authority on bilateral U.S. relations, will replace Juan Ramón de la Fuente. The outgoing minister, a 74-year-old psychiatrist and key advisor to Sheinbaum, asked to resign due to health concerns, according to a statement posted on social platform X by the president’s office.

The incoming foreign minister is a 38-year-old attorney who holds a master’s degree in Public Policy from the University of Chicago. Over the past six years, he has been deeply involved in Mexico’s diplomatic efforts with both the United States and Canada, initially serving as North America general director before advancing to his current subsecretary position. He temporarily filled in for De la Fuente following the minister’s surgery last year. The Senate must confirm his appointment.

Diplomatic observers view Velasco as among the most knowledgeable officials regarding the complex details of cross-border relations, having worked through the conclusion of President Trump’s initial presidency and now into his second term. He has spearheaded multiple bilateral and trilateral discussions covering security issues, immigration policy, economic matters, border management, and shared water resources.

Following Trump’s return to office, Velasco became De la Fuente’s primary deputy during increasingly strained relations between the neighboring countries, which have reached one of their most challenging phases. Questions remain about whether the younger official possesses sufficient political influence to navigate these difficult circumstances.

The new foreign minister will oversee Mexican diplomatic efforts during upcoming discussions to modify the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Free Trade Agreement, while managing Trump’s ongoing pressure regarding cartel operations. This comes as the U.S. president has demonstrated readiness to consider military action against nations he views as adversaries, including Cuba, which maintains close ties with Mexico.

Earlier in his career, Velasco worked as a spokesman for Marcelo Ebrard, who now serves as economy secretary, during Ebrard’s tenure as foreign minister in the initial years of former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s term.

De la Fuente, who held the foreign minister position since October 2024, earned recognition for his diplomatic approach and negotiation abilities. He supported Sheinbaum during the presidential transition, met with representatives from then-President Joe Biden’s administration, and oversaw preparations across the U.S. consular system for the deportation policies Trump announced.

After the Republican president took office in January 2025, De la Fuente emerged as a central figure in discussions with the new administration, consistently maintaining a reserved public presence while staying closely aligned with Sheinbaum’s careful response strategy to Trump’s frequent social media statements. Last September, he welcomed U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Mexico City for official talks.

Arturo Sarukhan, who previously served as Mexico’s ambassador to the United States, commented that “the reshuffle in the foreign ministry was long overdue” but declined to offer specific remarks about Velasco, saying he wished him success in the role.

Authorities issued tsunami warnings across Southeast Asia on Thursday following a powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake that rocked the Northern Molucca Sea near Indonesia’s coast, according to the United States Geological Survey.

The seismic event occurred at a relatively shallow depth of 10 kilometers (6.21 miles) beneath the ocean floor, which can amplify the potential for dangerous waves.

Officials with the U.S. Tsunami Warning System cautioned that dangerous tsunami waves could reach coastlines within 1,000 kilometers of where the earthquake originated, potentially affecting Indonesia, the Philippines, and Malaysia.

The earthquake’s center was located approximately 120 kilometers away from Ternate, a city in Indonesia’s North Maluku province that is home to more than 205,000 residents, USGS data shows.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is pushing for deeper technological cooperation with France, emphasizing the need to move beyond standard diplomatic relationships toward strategic collaboration in cutting-edge fields.

According to remarks Lee made to French newspaper Le Figaro that were made public Thursday, the South Korean leader wants the two countries to work together on artificial intelligence and nuclear energy initiatives, which he views as essential for technological advancement.

Lee’s comments come as French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Seoul Thursday for a two-day diplomatic visit to South Korea.

WELLINGTON – New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced Thursday that Chris Penk will take over as the nation’s defense minister as part of a broader cabinet reorganization, placing a former military serviceman in charge of the country’s armed forces.

In the ministerial shake-up, Penk will join the Cabinet and assume control of multiple security-related departments, including Defense, the Government Communications Security Bureau, the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service, and Space operations.

“Chris’ time in the NZDF (New Zealand Defence Force) leaves him well-placed to lead the work our Government has done in raising the status and capability of our armed forces,” Luxon said in a statement.

The appointment occurs during a period when New Zealand is placing increased emphasis on military investment and defense capabilities. Last year, the government announced an ambitious plan to boost defense expenditures beyond 2% of the nation’s GDP over the next eight years, backed by NZ$9 billion ($5.2 billion) in additional funding.

Penk will succeed outgoing Defense Minister Judith Collins, who is stepping down from Parliament. The prime minister also revealed adjustments to various other ministerial roles, affecting the energy, public service, and Pacific peoples portfolios.

The head of NATO will travel to the nation’s capital next week as tensions escalate between President Donald Trump and European partners within the military alliance.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has scheduled what officials describe as a previously arranged visit to Washington, according to alliance spokesperson Allison Hart. The White House has also verified the upcoming meeting.

“I can confirm that the Secretary General will be in DC next week for a long-planned visit,” Hart stated. Officials have not released additional information about the visit’s agenda.

The meeting occurs as Trump has expressed consideration of withdrawing the United States from the Western defense partnership, citing European nations’ unwillingness to deploy naval vessels to help clear the Strait of Hormuz.

During Wednesday’s Easter gathering at the White House with allied representatives, Trump delivered sharp criticism of France, the United Kingdom, and other partner nations, referring to them as a “paper tiger.”

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was established in 1949 as a defense against potential Soviet aggression and has served as the foundation of Western security arrangements for more than seven decades. The alliance encompasses European nations alongside the United States and Canada.

“We’ve had some very bad allies in NATO,” Trump stated. “Hopefully, we’re never going to need them. I don’t think we will need them.”

WASHINGTON — The United States removed economic sanctions against Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodríguez on Wednesday, as confirmed by a Treasury Department listing on the Office of Foreign Assets Control website.

This sanctions removal sends a clear message that Washington acknowledges Rodríguez as Venezuela’s rightful leader following the January 3rd capture of former President Nicolás Maduro and his spouse by American military forces in Caracas, the Venezuelan capital.

Both Maduro and his wife were transported to New York where they now face drug trafficking accusations, with both entering not guilty pleas.

Venezuelan officials have not yet provided a response to requests for comment regarding the sanctions relief.

The Treasury Department originally imposed sanctions on Rodríguez and her brother Jorge Rodríguez during the first Trump presidency for their alleged roles in weakening Venezuela’s democratic institutions.

The brother and sister duo, alongside other close Maduro associates, were placed on Treasury’s sanctions list in September 2018, following Maduro’s re-election victory in what international observers deemed fraudulent due to the exclusion of opposition candidates and political parties.

“Maduro has given Delcy Eloina Rodríguez Gomez and Jorge Jesus Rodríguez Gomez senior positions within the Venezuelan government to help him maintain power and solidify his authoritarian rule,” Treasury said in a statement at the time.

Since Maduro’s removal just months ago, Rodríguez has spearheaded Venezuela’s collaborative efforts with the Trump administration, promoting her petroleum-wealthy country to global investors while embracing private investment, international arbitration processes, and external oversight.

From a legal standpoint, Maduro remains Venezuela’s official president.

Following the January 3rd military operation, Venezuela’s government-aligned supreme court ruled his absence as “temporary,” which avoided the requirement for immediate elections while maintaining his presidential protections under international law. The court authorized Rodríguez to serve for up to 90 days, with potential extension to six months pending approval from the National Assembly, which remains under ruling party control and is led by her brother.

The 90-day authorization period concludes this Friday.

MOSCOW — During high-level discussions in the Russian capital Wednesday, President Vladimir Putin delivered a clear ultimatum to Armenia regarding its future economic partnerships, stating the nation cannot simultaneously participate in European Union membership and Moscow’s economic alliance.

Armenia has been actively pursuing stronger relationships with both the United States and European Union since signing a peace agreement with Azerbaijan last year that ended long-standing conflicts. Armenian leader Nikol Pashinyan has publicly announced his country’s intention to seek EU membership and has halted Armenia’s involvement in Russia’s military alliance known as the Collective Security Treaty Organization.

During the opening of discussions with Pashinyan in Moscow, Putin expressed that Russia remains “absolutely calm” regarding Armenia’s European outreach efforts, though he emphasized that “it’s impossible to be in a customs union with the EU and the Eurasian Economic Union.”

The Eurasian Economic Union, established in 2015 with Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan as members alongside Russia, operates as a unified marketplace enabling unrestricted movement of products, investment capital and workers.

Putin’s remarks seemed designed as a cautionary message, particularly given that Armenia’s path to EU membership remains uncertain with no concrete discussions about potential trade agreements currently underway.

The Russian president pointed out significant differences in market regulations between the two economic systems across various product categories, suggesting alignment between them appears unlikely in the near future. While acknowledging Armenia’s right to choose its direction, Putin highlighted that his country currently provides natural gas to Armenia at substantially reduced rates compared to European market prices.

Pashinyan acknowledged the impossibility of simultaneous membership in both organizations but indicated Armenia could maintain its current Eurasian Economic Union status while expanding European cooperation. “Ties with Russia are very deep and important for us,” he stated.

The relationship between Armenia and its historical patron Russia has deteriorated significantly since Azerbaijan regained complete control of the Karabakh territory in 2023, ending decades of ethnic Armenian separatist control in the region.

Armenian leadership criticized Russian peacekeeping forces stationed in the area for failing to prevent Azerbaijan’s military campaign. Moscow, focused on its Ukrainian conflict, dismissed these criticisms and argued its troops lacked authority to intervene in the situation.

Putin contended Wednesday that Pashinyan’s 2022 decision to acknowledge Karabakh as Azerbaijani territory prevented Moscow from taking action. He referenced the American-mediated peace agreement signed last year between the two nations and a potential transportation corridor supported by President Donald Trump as creating new opportunities for regional collaboration.

Putin also expressed expectations that pro-Russian political forces would have fair access to compete in Armenia’s upcoming June parliamentary elections, noting that some of their representatives have faced detention — likely referencing Russian-Armenian businessman Samvel Karapetyan, a Pashinyan opponent arrested last year after demanding government change.

Pashinyan, who has led Armenia since 2018, responded by explaining that Armenian law prohibits Russian passport holders from participating in electoral processes.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Military personnel from the African nation of Chad have touched down in Haiti’s capital city, marking the beginning of a new United Nations-supported mission designed to combat rampant gang violence, officials announced Wednesday.

The Chadian military team has arrived in Port-au-Prince alongside Jack Christofides, who serves as the mission’s special representative. Both were sent following a formal request from Haiti’s government, according to an official announcement shared on the force’s social media platform.

Officials did not release additional specifics about the deployment, and representatives for the mission have not responded to requests for more information.

The arrival of the Chadian personnel follows discussions between United Nations officials and Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé regarding collaboration with the U.N. Support Office in Haiti. This office will supply the new mission with essential resources including housing, workspace, medical services, food supplies, water, electricity, fuel, transportation, aircraft support and other vital assistance.

In late September, the U.N. Security Council gave approval for a 5,550-member mission designed to replace a Kenya-led international force that struggled with insufficient personnel and funding during its deployment. The previous operation only managed to deploy roughly 1,000 troops instead of the planned 2,500.

Unlike its predecessor, the new gang-suppression mission will possess authority to detain suspected gang members, a capability the earlier force lacked.

Criminal organizations currently maintain control over approximately 90% of Haiti’s capital city and significant portions of the nation’s central territories.

According to the most recent United Nations data, more than 5,500 individuals lost their lives throughout Haiti and over 2,600 sustained injuries between March 1, 2025 and January 15, 2026. The ongoing gang warfare has also forced more than 1.4 million residents to flee their homes in the country of nearly 12 million people.

MEXICO CITY – Mexico’s top diplomat Juan Ramon de la Fuente is stepping away from his role as Foreign Minister due to medical concerns, according to Wednesday reports from Mexican news outlets.

Roberto Velasco, who currently leads the North America division within the foreign ministry, is expected to assume the position, according to the reports.

De la Fuente took medical leave last November to undergo surgery. Reuters could not immediately verify the Mexican media reports or confirm whether his departure from the ministry will be permanent.

Officials from New Zealand and the Cook Islands finalized a Defense and Security Declaration on Thursday in Rarotonga, according to announcements from New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown.

The agreement establishes crucial political commitments between the two nations, with Peters explaining in a statement that the declaration “outlines a set of important political commitments the Cook Islands and New Zealand have made to one another that provide clarity on key aspects of our special constitutional relationship.”

This formal agreement follows a period of strained relations between the constitutionally connected nations, triggered by the Cook Islands’ growing diplomatic and economic connections with China, as well as discussions about establishing an independent Cook Islands passport separate from New Zealand.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – Military personnel from Chad touched down in Haiti on Wednesday, becoming the first soldiers deployed as part of a United Nations-supported Gang Suppression Force (GSF), according to an announcement made by the force on social media platforms.

Accompanying the military deployment, Jack Christofides, a United Nations official, also landed in Haiti to serve as the GSF’s special representative. This new force represents an expanded version of the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support mission, though meaningful troop deployments have been absent since the mission received authorization in September of last year.

Bahrain encountered significant resistance Wednesday in its push for United Nations backing to safeguard merchant vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz, highlighting international disagreements on addressing Iran’s effective blockade of the critical waterway that has triggered an unprecedented energy supply crisis.

As the nation holding April’s rotating leadership of the 15-member UN Security Council, Bahrain distributed an updated draft proposal that eliminated earlier language about mandatory enforcement actions, attempting to address concerns from other countries, especially Russia and China.

However, according to a UN diplomatic source, China, Russia and France presented objections to the revised draft before it could advance to final consideration at Wednesday’s noon deadline through the silence procedure – a process where resolutions pass unless a member nation raises opposition. Bahrain’s UN representative Jamal Fares Alrowaiei informed media that the proposal still needed “a lot of work.”

Leading Gulf nations and Western powers remain without a concrete strategy to restore access to the waterway, which has been essentially blocked since hostilities commenced one month ago, driving energy costs dramatically higher. Approximately 20 percent of global oil and natural gas typically moves through this vital shipping channel.

“There are ongoing communications and discussions with the Council members to bring a convergence of views and find a draft that can garner consensus, so that it can be adopted soon,” Alrowaiei stated.

At the conflict’s outset, US President Donald Trump promised to deploy naval vessels to accompany commercial ships through the strait and urged other nations to assist in securing the passage. Recently, however, he has indicated America should not participate in such efforts, arguing that other countries, particularly European NATO members, should handle reopening the strait.

Maritime traffic ceased using the waterway after Iran attacked vessels in response to strikes launched by the United States and Israel that initiated the conflict on February 28.

Bahrain’s original proposal, obtained by Reuters and supported by fellow Gulf Arab nations and Washington, had specifically referenced Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which permits the Security Council to approve actions from economic sanctions to military intervention.

Diplomatic sources indicated such a resolution would likely have failed, as Iran’s allies Russia and China were prepared to block it if needed.

The modified version reviewed by Reuters eliminated the Chapter VII language but maintained forceful wording essentially approving military action in the Strait of Hormuz, Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman to guarantee passage and prevent disruption of international shipping, including within or near territorial waters.

The UN representatives for Russia, France and China did not provide immediate responses when questioned about their concerns with Bahrain’s proposal.

Security Council resolutions need a minimum of nine supporting votes and cannot face vetoes from the five permanent members: the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France.

According to diplomatic sources, France has proposed an alternative resolution seeking UN authorization after conditions stabilize.

Trump intensified his criticism of NATO Wednesday, warning of potential withdrawal from the long-standing alliance due to other nations’ absence from the Iran conflict.

France responded to Trump’s warnings Wednesday, asserting the military alliance exists to maintain Euro-Atlantic regional security rather than conduct offensive operations in the Strait of Hormuz.

French naval commander Admiral Nicolas Vaujour addressed a Paris security conference Wednesday, explaining France’s efforts to gather multiple nations for discussions on establishing lasting conditions for strait reopening.

Vaujour noted that China must eventually become more directly involved in restoring oil transportation through the strait, given China’s position as the world’s top oil importer via this route.

WASHINGTON, April 1 – The Treasury Department announced Wednesday that economic sanctions have been lifted against Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodriguez, marking a significant shift in U.S.-Venezuela relations just under three months since American forces apprehended former President Nicolas Maduro during an operation in the Venezuelan capital.

The Trump administration has been working closely with Rodriguez’s interim government, which took power after Maduro’s capture. This cooperation includes negotiations for American purchases of Venezuelan oil and the issuance of sanctions exemptions designed to promote U.S. business investment in the South American nation.

American forces took Maduro into custody on January 3 following an extended period of escalating diplomatic tensions between Washington and Caracas. His arrest triggered a series of political transformations throughout Venezuela. Maduro, along with his spouse Cilia Flores, currently faces drug trafficking allegations in a New York courtroom.

Officials from Venezuela’s communications ministry, which manages all media inquiries for the government, have not yet provided a response to requests for comment regarding the sanctions removal.

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian reached out directly to Americans through a written message, declaring that his nation does not hold hostility toward everyday US citizens, according to Wednesday reports from Press TV.

In his correspondence to the American public, Pezeshkian challenged depictions of Iran as a dangerous nation, stating that such characterizations are “neither consistent with historical reality nor with present-day observable facts.”

BOGOTA, Colombia — Two people died and 19 others were wounded Wednesday morning in a devastating multi-vehicle collision at a toll plaza in central Colombia, according to local officials. People who witnessed the crash reported hearing multiple explosions as video footage revealed vehicles completely consumed by fire.

The deadly incident occurred when a milk truck experienced brake failure and slammed into six other vehicles and one motorcycle that were stopped at the toll facility in the Cundinamarca region, located approximately 50 kilometers (31 miles) north of Bogota, according to Governor Emilio Rey, who posted details on X.

Rey confirmed that those wounded in the crash are receiving medical care at area hospitals, though he did not release information about the severity of their injuries.

Video footage aired by Colombian news outlets captured people weeping as they worked to help or rescue those who became trapped, while vehicles burned and lay destroyed around the toll area.

“I saw when the truck went through the toll booth, then there was an explosion, it overturned, and there were strong explosions and vehicles burning,” witness Hollman Osma told local news station Noticias Caracol. “There was absolutely nothing that could be done.”

Emergency responders dispatched no fewer than 11 ambulances along with firefighting crews and police officers to the crash site, Rey informed Noticias Caracol. The highway continues to remain shut down.

Three of the world’s most influential financial institutions announced Wednesday they will work together to address the widespread economic consequences stemming from the current Middle East conflict.

Leaders from the International Monetary Fund, International Energy Agency, and World Bank revealed plans to establish a joint coordination team aimed at maximizing their collective response to the crisis’s far-reaching economic and energy effects.

According to their collaborative announcement, the ongoing conflict has created massive regional disruptions and sparked what they describe as among the most severe energy supply shortfalls in global market history.

“At these times of high uncertainty, it is paramount that our institutions join forces to monitor developments, align analysis, and coordinate support to policymakers to navigate this crisis,” the leadership of all three organizations stated.

The newly formed coordination team plans to evaluate how severely different nations are being affected, develop coordinated response strategies, and rally stakeholders to provide assistance where it’s most needed.

Their response framework may encompass specialized policy guidance, evaluation of financing requirements, and provision of financial assistance through low-interest or zero-interest loans, along with additional risk management tools yet to be specified.

The conflict, which erupted when the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28, has resulted in thousands of casualties throughout the Middle East. Iran subsequently retaliated with attacks on Israeli territory, American military installations, and Gulf region nations, while simultaneously opening another battlefront in Lebanon.

Now entering its second month, the warfare has expanded throughout the region, creating energy supply disruptions and raising concerns about potential global economic instability.

“The impact is substantial, global, and highly asymmetric, disproportionately affecting energy importers, in particular low-income countries,” the three international organizations emphasized.

The institutions highlighted that the conflict has already driven up costs for oil, natural gas, and fertilizers, while raising alarm about food price increases and affecting worldwide supply networks for helium, phosphate, aluminum, and various other materials. The tourism industry has also suffered significant damage.

“The resulting market volatility, weakening of currencies in emerging economies, and concerns about inflation expectations raise the prospect of tighter monetary stances and weaker growth,” the organizations explained.

“We are committed to working together to safeguard global economic and financial stability, strengthen energy security, and support affected countries and people on their path to sustained recovery, growth, and job creation through reforms,” they concluded.

Canada’s central bank has announced it will place greater emphasis on discretionary decision-making when setting interest rates, departing from its typical data-driven approach due to rising global instability, according to meeting minutes made public Wednesday.

The financial institution maintained its key interest rate at 2.25% during its March 18 meeting, with Governor Tiff Macklem indicating that policymakers would overlook temporary inflation spikes caused by the Iran conflict but would take action if price increases became entrenched.

The ongoing war in Iran has driven crude oil costs higher and raised fears about broader inflationary pressures across the economy.

Canada’s seven-member rate-setting committee determined it was premature to assess the conflict’s lasting economic consequences.

“They acknowledged that they would need to rely on judgment more heavily than usual and take a risk management approach to monetary policy,” the bank’s deliberation summary stated.

“They agreed to keep options open while closely monitoring the unfolding conflict in the Middle East, US trade policy and incoming data,” the document added.

Since October, the central bank has maintained its policy rate within the lower portion of what it considers a neutral range—neither boosting nor restraining economic activity. For nearly twelve months, inflation has remained near the center of the bank’s 1% to 3% target zone.

Policymakers noted that with inflationary forces appearing subdued, they possessed some leeway regarding rate adjustments and “could therefore take some time to see how the war in Iran evolved and what it meant for the outlook.”

Canada’s economic expansion and employment situation have weakened recently due to trade-related uncertainty and an upcoming evaluation of the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement.

Committee members concurred that the energy price surge resulting from the Iranian conflict would drive inflation higher in the short term, though the broader economic implications remain unclear at this early juncture.

Financial markets are anticipating two rate increases during the latter half of the year following President Donald Trump’s suggestion that the conflict might conclude within two to three weeks.

PARIS, April 1 – A top French naval official stated Wednesday that China must take a more active stance in resolving the ongoing crisis affecting oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, as current measures appear inadequate to handle vessel traffic demands.

Speaking at the War & Peace security conference in Paris, Admiral Nicolas Vaujour explained that while Beijing has maintained diplomatic communications with Iranian officials to allow some ships passage, these efforts fall short of what’s needed.

“We have not seen China’s navy step in to reopen the strait. On the other hand, there is direct political dialogue between Chinese and Iranian authorities to ensure that a certain number of vessels can pass. Will that be enough to restore normal traffic flows? I don’t believe so,” Vaujour stated.

The French admiral added: “As a result, China will probably have to engage more directly in the debate and show its impatience with the fact that the strait remains closed.”

According to Vaujour, France is currently coordinating efforts to convene multiple nations for high-level political discussions aimed at establishing sustainable conditions for reopening the strategic waterway.

Military forces will eventually be required to oversee any reopening operations, with officials examining the framework used by the previous European Union-led Agenor mission that previously operated in the strait.

Naval authorities are also investigating potential mine deployment in the area that would require clearing operations.

“This is obviously not a question for France alone. It concerns all partner countries, Gulf states, the United States and other European countries as well. But it is clearly an issue we are working on, should mining be confirmed, which, as of today, has not been established,” Vaujour explained.

An environmental activist ship intentionally rammed into a commercial fishing vessel in Antarctic waters this week, sparking accusations of reckless endangerment in one of Earth’s most remote and ecologically fragile regions.

The Tuesday incident involved the M/V Bandero, operated by the Captain Paul Watson Foundation, which deliberately approached and struck the Norwegian-flagged Antarctic Sea while it was harvesting krill. Video footage lasting two minutes, obtained by The Associated Press from Aker QRILL Co., captures the Bandero slowly approaching the fishing vessel’s rear section before making contact with its port side.

The confrontation highlights escalating tensions in Southern Ocean waters over Antarctic krill harvesting. These tiny shrimp-like creatures serve as essential food for whales and play a crucial role in combating climate change, while also being sought after for health supplements, fish feed, and various commercial products.

According to Aker’s Wednesday statement, the activist vessel came dangerously close to hitting a fuel tank aboard the Antarctic Sea, potentially threatening an ecosystem populated by numerous whale species, seals, and seabirds that depend on the region’s delicate krill populations.

The Norwegian company reported that its international crew experienced no injuries but was badly shaken by the encounter. Officials announced plans to pursue all possible legal remedies.

“Our crew were put at risk in some of the most remote waters on Earth, and only luck avoided potential environmental damage,” stated Aker CEO Webjørn Barstad.

The Captain Paul Watson Foundation declined to respond to AP inquiries regarding Aker’s claims. However, the organization issued its own statement describing their tactics as “aggressive nonviolence.” The group reported that their crew, under the leadership of French activist Lamya Essemlali, successfully halted all krill fishing activities during a five-hour “direct intervention” targeting two Aker-owned ships. The foundation also released photographs showing crew members deploying large metal devices designed to destroy fishing nets.

Watson, the organization’s founder, was not aboard the vessel, which left Australia last month as part of the foundation’s “Operation Krill Wars” campaign.

“Throughout the encounter, the crew witnessed Antarctic wildlife in the surrounding waters, including penguins, seals, and even a whale, underscoring what was at stake as a small ship challenged a powerful industrial krill operation in a stark David-and-Goliath scenario,” the foundation declared.

Watson established the worldwide Sea Shepherd conservation organization during the 1970s and spent decades building a notorious reputation through vessel ramming and other confrontational maritime tactics that frequently resulted in his imprisonment. His most recent detention occurred in Greenland during 2024, where he spent five months on a Japanese arrest warrant that Denmark ultimately dismissed. Japanese authorities had sought his capture following a 2010 incident where he allegedly directed a ship captain to hurl explosives at what Japan classified as a research whaling vessel.

The Canadian-American activist previously enjoyed backing from Hollywood personalities, but his extreme methods have created divisions within the movement he established. While affiliates in France and Brazil continue supporting his recently formed foundation, Sea Shepherd Global and 20 national branches have shifted focus toward maritime surveillance patrols, policy advocacy, and assisting law enforcement in developing nations where illegal fishing flourishes.

Antarctic krill fishing reached unprecedented levels last season, prompting the first-ever early shutdown of harvesting operations.

Aker operates as the globe’s dominant krill harvester, accounting for more than half of worldwide catches.

The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources oversees this distant fishery. This international body includes 27 countries plus the European Union.

Any formal investigation, including potential criminal charges, will likely begin when the Mongolia-flagged Bandero reaches its next port destination. International maritime regulations require overtaking vessels to maintain safe distances from ships they are passing.

The Bandero takes its name from the tequila business owned by John Paul DeJoria, an American billionaire who created Paul Mitchell hair products and has long supported Watson’s environmental campaigns.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky participated in virtual discussions Wednesday with American negotiators, according to a source with knowledge of the conversations, as Ukraine works to maintain the Trump administration’s attention on its conflict with Russia during the Iran war.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte participated in the discussions alongside U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, and Senator Lindley Graham, the source informed Reuters.

Ukraine intends to propose a potential Easter ceasefire, Zelensky announced to media on Tuesday, and will request that negotiators relay this proposal to Russian officials.

Through a Telegram message, Zelensky revealed he also conducted a conversation with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Wednesday, updating him on his ceasefire plan.

“I informed Keir about the situation on the frontline: our positions are now much stronger,” Zelensky said.

Ukraine has intensified attacks on Russian petroleum facilities in recent weeks. Approximately 40% of Russia’s oil export operations have been disrupted, based on Reuters analysis from last week.

Zelensky has indicated Ukraine would be willing to halt these attacks if Russia agrees to end strikes on Ukrainian energy facilities.

Russian foreign ministry officials dismissed the ceasefire proposal on Wednesday, labeling it a “PR stunt.” The Kremlin restated its position that Ukrainian forces should have withdrawn from Donbas territory – which Russia has been unable to completely capture during four years of warfare – “yesterday.”

Ukraine views halting combat at current battle lines as a reasonable compromise and refuses Russia’s demands to retreat from territories it continues to hold in the Donetsk region, which is part of Donbas.

Zelensky has consistently advocated for a meeting involving Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating that territorial matters can only be resolved through direct leader-to-leader negotiations.

After recent diplomatic tensions between American and European representatives, Finnish President Alexander Stubb announced on X Wednesday that he had spoken with Trump: “Constructive discussion and exchange of ideas on NATO, Ukraine and Iran.”

BAGHDAD — A 49-year-old American freelance journalist who disappeared Wednesday in Baghdad was recognized for her bold approach to reporting, frequently venturing into dangerous territories across the Middle East with minimal financial resources.

Shelly Kittleson, originally from Wisconsin, had established herself as a respected correspondent throughout the region after years of living overseas, including time based in Rome. Security footage captured the moment she was abducted by two individuals who forced her into a vehicle at a crowded Baghdad street corner on Wednesday.

Patrizio Nissirio, who previously worked as an editor at Italian news agency ANSA and has known Kittleson since 2011 when she served as a translator, praised her dedication. “She is a great reporter and always wants to go to areas where no one wants to go,” Nissirio explained.

He recalled advising her about safer reporting options: “I said to her, ‘You don’t need to be in a war zone to do good journalism,’ and she told me, ‘I think my work is worth something when I am in those areas,’” Nissirio said.

Colleagues and friends characterize Kittleson as a fearless and persistent journalist who dedicated more than ten years to covering Iraq, Syria, and the broader Middle East region for various publications, including Al-Monitor, a specialized regional news website.

Known for her inquisitive nature and self-reliance, she frequently immersed herself within local populations, sometimes choosing to stay with host families instead of commercial accommodations.

Her freelance status meant she typically operated solo, covering vast distances while carrying all her possessions, without the security resources that larger news organizations might provide their staff.

Friends describe the Wisconsin-born journalist as compassionate and spiritually minded, having converted to Islam during her time in the region.

She maintained a vegetarian diet, which Iraqi acquaintances noted was challenging in the meat-centric cuisine of Middle Eastern nations. She was often good-naturedly mocked for her heavy bags, which she refused to leave unattended at the basic Baghdad hotel where she resided.

Three Iraqi associates agreed to discuss Kittleson only without revealing their identities, concerned about potential retaliation from militant organizations if connected to her publicly.

During her last communications before the kidnapping, she inquired with contacts about transportation options between various cities while continuing her efforts to secure story access.

Just hours before her abduction, Kittleson met with an acquaintance in Baghdad’s Karrada district and revealed she had been warned that U.S. officials informed her of a militia group’s plan to target her. However, she dismissed the threat as lacking credibility.

Iraqi colleagues mentioned that security personnel and militia members had detained Kittleson at checkpoints previously, but she had consistently secured her freedom. “They will not hurt me,” she assured her friend that afternoon prior to her capture.

Rather than security concerns, she expressed worry about her financial difficulties, mentioning she lacked any work assignments during her Baghdad stay. Financial hardship had been a persistent challenge throughout her career of modest living.

Working independently, she frequently depended on assistance from Iraqi journalism professionals.

On March 9, Kittleson attempted to enter Iraq from Syria through the al-Qaim border crossing. While border authorities issued her a visa, Iraqi intelligence personnel subsequently blocked her entry, referencing kidnapping risks, according to three separate accounts from individuals she contacted that day.

She then traveled to Jordan and successfully entered Iraq through that route without complications.

“She always complained of the treatment of freelance journalists, saying they are not paid enough. She was always trying to make ends meet and said she would sleep on any couch she could find, unlike the big foreign correspondents that sleep in fancy hotels,” Nissirio explained.

“Her job has always been difficult, but she had a burning passion for it that I respect and appreciate.”

Kittleson’s most recent publication appeared in Il Foglio on Monday, March 31, examining how the Iran conflict has impacted Iraq’s Kurdish territories.

Italian maritime rescue teams pulled 58 people to safety and recovered 19 bodies from a migrant vessel that encountered trouble roughly 80 nautical miles from Lampedusa on Tuesday evening.

Coast guard officials conducted the rescue operation in Libya’s search and rescue zone during dangerous weather conditions, according to a spokesperson who briefed reporters Wednesday.

“We were the only one able to intervene, as there were no other ships or rescue teams in the area. Sea conditions were pretty extreme, with waves of more than 6-7 meters (20-23 feet),” said coast guard spokesman Roberto D’Arrigo.

According to D’Arrigo, the migrants most likely began their journey from Libya, and authorities believe the fatalities resulted from hypothermia, though official confirmation of the deaths’ causes is still pending.

Following a 10-hour voyage, the rescued individuals were transported to Lampedusa, where local medical personnel are now providing care, coast guard officials reported.

The small Mediterranean island serves as Europe’s primary gateway for people fleeing North Africa across dangerous waters, with thousands perishing during these treacherous crossings.

The majority of fatalities occur when overcrowded vessels depart from Tunisian and Libyan shores.

Last August marked the most recent fatal incident near Lampedusa, when an overcrowded vessel carrying approximately 100 migrants overturned in international waters, resulting in at least 26 deaths.

BISHKEK – Law enforcement officials in Kyrgyzstan have taken into custody the brother of a former high-ranking security official who lost his position in February, according to a Wednesday announcement from the country’s interior ministry.

Kamchybek Tashiev, the dismissed security chief, had been considered the nation’s second-most influential figure behind President Sadyr Japarov before his sudden removal from office. Following his termination, Tashiev faced corruption allegations as part of an expanding crackdown on his political network in the Central Asian nation of 7 million residents.

The interior ministry’s announcement detailed that the charges against Shairbek Tashiev, Kamchybek’s brother and a former member of parliament, center on suspected corrupt activities involving oil reselling operations.

Government officials have calculated initial losses to the state treasury at 4.1 billion soms, equivalent to approximately $47 million, and are demanding reimbursement from Shairbek Tashiev, who is now being held at a detention center in Bishkek. Both he and additional family members had faced repeated questioning during the ongoing investigation.

Since the former security chief’s removal from power, numerous government officials considered part of his political circle have either been terminated or stepped down voluntarily, including cabinet ministers, city leaders, and parliamentary members.

The Russia-aligned nation has recently faced increased attention from Western governments, who claim Kyrgyzstan has helped Moscow circumvent international sanctions. Several of the country’s financial institutions and digital currency companies have been targeted with sanctions as a result. Kyrgyzstan has objected to these actions, describing them as “one-sided.”

Emergency crews in Kuwait successfully contained a blaze at fuel storage facilities at the nation’s primary airport on Wednesday after Iranian drones targeted the location, according to government officials.

The fire began earlier in the day at the airport’s fuel tank area following the drone assault, but firefighting teams were able to bring the flames under control.

Government representatives confirmed that no individuals were harmed during the incident, with authorities reporting that damages were confined to property and infrastructure only.

An Iranian attack has caused damage to Amazon’s cloud computing facility in Bahrain, the Financial Times reported Wednesday, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.

Earlier that day, Bahrain’s Interior Ministry confirmed that civil defense crews were working to put out a blaze at a corporate facility following what officials called an Iranian assault.

The ministry has not yet released information about which company was affected, whether anyone was injured, or how severe the damage was.

The incident occurred just one day after Iran’s Revolutionary Guards issued threats against major U.S. technology firms operating in the Middle East, specifically naming Microsoft, Google and Apple as potential targets in response to recent attacks on Iranian interests.

Amazon has not yet provided a response to requests for comment regarding the Financial Times report.

Just last week, the retail and technology giant announced that its Amazon Web Services operations in Bahrain had experienced “disruptions” due to the ongoing Middle East conflict. This marks the second time in recent weeks that the company’s regional operations have been impacted by the warfare.

Amazon Web Services serves as the company’s cloud computing division and plays a vital role in keeping numerous popular websites and government systems running. The unit also represents Amazon’s primary source of profits.

Ukrainian armed forces launched an attack on a facility manufacturing missile components located in Russia’s Bryansk region, according to an announcement from Ukraine’s General Staff on Wednesday.

The strike represents part of a broader pattern of Ukrainian military operations extending beyond their borders, with forces increasingly targeting Russian weapons manufacturing facilities along with energy infrastructure and oil industry sites.

The operation was confirmed by Ukrainian military leadership as part of their ongoing efforts to disrupt Russian military supply chains and production capabilities.

Moscow’s military announced Wednesday that its forces have seized complete control of Ukraine’s Luhansk region, though Ukrainian officials are disputing this assertion as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy prepares for discussions with American diplomatic representatives working to broker an end to the conflict.

The Russian Defense Ministry declared that “Units of the Group of Forces West have completed the liberation of the Luhansk People’s Republic.”

Ukrainian Joint Forces spokesperson Viktor Trehubov contradicted Moscow’s announcement, stating no territorial changes had occurred in the area.

“Unfortunately, we only hold small patches there (in Luhansk), but those positions have been held by 3rd brigade for a long time,” Trehubov explained during a phone conversation with The Associated Press.

Moscow’s battlefield declarations have previously contained inaccuracies. The Kremlin-appointed Luhansk administrator declared complete territorial control last June.

Ukrainian leadership has previously stated that Russia fabricates military progress reports to convince American negotiators that Moscow’s victory is certain.

American diplomatic initiatives over the past year aimed at ending the conflict, now entering its fifth year, have failed to resolve fundamental disagreements, while Washington’s attention has shifted toward the Iran war.

Zelenskyy announced he would conduct a video conference Wednesday with President Donald Trump’s representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to explore additional three-party negotiations.

Moscow unlawfully claimed four Ukrainian territories — Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia — in September 2022, though it has never maintained complete territorial dominance over these areas.

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated last October that Ukrainian military units still occupied 0.13% of Luhansk. Putin has insisted that Ukrainian forces must evacuate all four territories as a fundamental peace agreement requirement. Ukraine has refused this demand.

Zelenskyy stated Wednesday that frontline fighting remains intense during Russia’s spring military campaign, while asserting that Ukrainian defenders are maintaining their positions.

“The situation on the frontline is currently quite tense — the Russian army is trying to step up its assault activity,” he posted on X.

Independent confirmation of battlefield reports from either nation remains impossible.

The Institute for the Study of War indicated that Ukrainian military strategies are likely hampering advancement efforts by Russia’s larger military force.

The Washington-based research organization also reported Tuesday evening that Ukrainian forces have achieved “their most significant gains on the battlefield” in recent months since penetrating Russia’s Kursk region in August 2024 and conducting a 2023 counteroffensive.

Russia’s military campaign has devastated Ukrainian civilian populations, with United Nations figures showing over 15,000 deaths during the conflict.

A Russian unmanned aircraft attack claimed four lives Wednesday in Ukraine’s central Cherkasy region, according to regional governor Ihor Taburets. The assault targeted an open area in Zolotonosha, approximately 150 kilometers (90 miles) southeast of the capital.

Russian unmanned aircraft also struck locations in western Ukraine near the Polish border early Wednesday, including an industrial complex in Lutsk, roughly 400 kilometers (250 miles) west of Kyiv.

Mayor Ihor Polishchuk reported damage to a postal sorting facility and food distribution center, while falling drone wreckage ignited a residential structure. Emergency responders found no casualties.

Ukraine’s air defense forces reported destroying 298 drones — primarily Iranian-designed Shahed models and less expensive variations — during overnight assaults launched from multiple western Russian locations and Crimea, while 20 drones struck 11 locations across the country.

Ukraine has created advanced unmanned aircraft technology to counter Russian bombardments and is proposing assistance to Gulf nations in blocking Iranian drone assaults.

Zelenskyy announced Wednesday on X that Ukraine maintains “substantive cooperation” with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar during the Middle East crisis.

Officials are conducting discussions with Jordan and maintaining communication with Bahrain, Kuwait, and Iraq, he added.

TOKYO — During his diplomatic mission to Japan on Wednesday, French President Emmanuel Macron urged for an end to hostilities in the Middle East while meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

Following their discussions, Macron emphasized their shared commitment to global legal frameworks and democratic principles, stating: “This is why … we both advocate for a return to peace, a ceasefire, calm, and free passage through the Strait of Hormuz.”

Prime Minister Takaichi confirmed both nations support rapid conflict de-escalation and ensuring security for the crucial shipping lane along with steady commercial flow.

“With the international environment increasingly severe, I believe it is especially meaningful for the Japanese and French leaders to deepen our friendship and cooperation,” Takaichi remarked during their joint press briefing at Tokyo’s Akasaka Palace.

The diplomatic partners announced expanded collaboration across multiple sectors including defense initiatives, rare earth mineral projects, nuclear technology, space exploration, and additional strategic areas.

Both nations have strengthened their Indo-Pacific security partnership in recent years, as France maintains military personnel, citizens, and assets throughout the region while working with democratic allies concerned about China’s expanding regional influence.

On Tuesday, Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and French Defense Minister Catherine Vautrin formalized a defense cooperation framework emphasizing joint military exercises and enhanced Indo-Pacific coordination.

Additionally, trade officials from both countries finalized an agreement for collaborative rare earth mineral development.

China dominates global rare earth production, essential for manufacturing high-performance magnets used in defense systems and electric vehicle technology.

The leaders announced joint efforts in advanced reactor development and nuclear fuel recycling programs, areas where Japan has faced technical challenges.

Macron’s Tokyo visit occurred as U.S. President Donald Trump declared that nations dependent on the Strait of Hormuz should bear responsibility for keeping it operational, specifically mentioning “That’s not for us. That’ll be for France” and “whoever’s using the strait.”

Trump has expressed frustration with European support levels regarding the U.S.-Israeli conflict, criticizing France as “very unhelpful.”

Macron avoided addressing Trump’s remarks during the press conference, which did not include a question-and-answer session with reporters.

Thursday’s schedule includes visits to a space debris removal technology company, demonstrating bilateral space cooperation, followed by Macron’s audience with Emperor Naruhito and a palace luncheon before departing for South Korea.

Israeli naval forces have eliminated a high-ranking Hezbollah leader in what military officials describe as the most devastating strike against the militant organization since renewed hostilities began in early March.

Military spokesman Avichay Adraee announced Wednesday that Israeli navy units successfully targeted and killed Haj Youssef Ismail Hashem, who oversaw Hezbollah’s southern operations. The Iran-backed group later acknowledged his death, describing him as a “beacon of the Islamic Resistance.”

The elimination represents the most severe loss for Hezbollah since the death of chief of staff Haytham Ali Tabtabai in November 2025. Hashem had assumed his leadership role after Ali Karaki was killed alongside former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah during an Israeli operation in September 2024.

“He is a tier-one commander and this is the harshest blow we have been subject to since the assassination of Tabtabai,” a senior Hezbollah official told Reuters.

Tabtabai had been named chief of staff after Hezbollah’s 2024 conflict with Israel ended. His death occurred near Beirut during Israeli operations that continued even after a ceasefire agreement had been reached.

That temporary halt in fighting didn’t last long. Israeli forces maintained their targeting of Hezbollah leadership and operatives throughout Lebanon during the ceasefire period. Combat resumed in early March when Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel, triggering Israeli retaliation that escalated into full-scale warfare.

The renewed conflict has forced over 1.2 million Lebanese civilians from their homes, while Lebanese officials report more than 1,260 deaths from Israeli strikes. Two sources with knowledge of Hezbollah’s internal records say the group has lost over 400 fighters since March 2nd. Israeli military reports indicate ten of their soldiers have died in southern Lebanon operations during the same timeframe.

Lebanese authorities confirm that Wednesday’s strike on Hashem resulted in seven deaths and 26 injuries total.

According to the Hezbollah official, Hashem was conducting a meeting with other senior commanders when the fatal strike occurred. “A team was monitoring the sky for drones or war (planes) and the strike came from warships, and that had not been accounted for,” the source explained. “A group of second-tier and third-tier commanders and some escorts were killed alongside him.”

Talal Atrissi, who teaches sociology at Lebanese University and maintains close ties to Hezbollah, believes the commander’s death won’t significantly impact the group’s military operations. “It is of course a loss for Hezbollah and the resistance, but of course as we have seen, they have a number two and a number three that they can replace him with,” Atrissi stated.

Bulgaria’s interim Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov declared that the nation’s upcoming elections will represent some of the most transparent voting in recent memory, following his administration’s campaign against corruption and electoral fraud.

Gyurov, who assumed leadership in February after the prior government stepped down amid public demonstrations last year, believes the April 19 elections could restore citizens’ faith in democratic institutions.

Law enforcement has detained numerous individuals in recent weeks connected to suspected vote-buying schemes as Gyurov works to address Bulgaria’s long-standing election integrity issues. The nation ranks among Europe’s most corruption-plagued countries, and officials report finding suspects with money and voter lists.

“We think that this will be one of the fairest elections that we have seen in recent years,” Gyurov stated during his recent trip to Kyiv, noting that corruption reports to authorities have increased dramatically as citizens witness government action against wrongdoing.

While previous Bulgarian elections saw poor participation due to voter cynicism, Gyurov anticipates significantly higher turnout this time.

“I think this will have a multiplier effect on the confidence that people have in the institutions of the country,” he added.

The December resignation of the former government followed sustained public demonstrations against economic policies and perceived inaction on corruption. This snap election marks the eighth time Bulgarians will vote in just five years, reflecting the EU and NATO member’s deep political instability.

With polling suggesting no party will secure a majority, Gyurov – formerly a deputy governor at Bulgaria’s central bank – called on political leaders to form stable governing coalitions.

Current surveys show the Progressive Bulgaria center-left alliance, led by former President Rumen Radev, ahead with approximately 30% support. Radev left the presidency in January to pursue the election.

He has committed to fighting corruption in a nation where prosecutors claim hundreds of millions in European Union funding has been illegally diverted to business leaders and government officials through rigged contracts.

A new report from the Civil Liberties Union for Europe, a Berlin-based rights organization, identified Bulgaria among five European nations weakening legal institutions.

Gyurov acknowledged corruption’s widespread impact on society, including press freedom, and emphasized the need for judicial system reforms by future administrations.

“There should not be people, oligarchs, that are able to influence the political processes in the country,” he stated, specifically naming businessman and politician Delyan Peevski, who faces U.S. and UK sanctions for corruption.

“What we have shown as a government in recent weeks and months is that…the influence of such people can be fully isolated from the public political process,” Gyurov concluded.

Iranian officials are pushing back against recent comments made by President Donald Trump, with the country’s foreign ministry calling his assertions about Iran seeking a ceasefire completely without merit.

A spokesperson for Iran’s foreign ministry dismissed Trump’s claims as unfounded and untrue, according to a Wednesday report from Iranian state television.

The denial comes as tensions continue between the United States and Iran over various regional and international issues.

President Donald Trump declared Wednesday that Iran’s leader is seeking a ceasefire before he delivers remarks to the American public. The president shared this assertion through his Truth Social platform, though Iranian officials have not yet responded to his statement.

Military reinforcements continue flowing into the Middle East as the USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier prepares for deployment to the region alongside three destroyer vessels, according to two U.S. officials. This carrier strike group includes over 6,000 naval personnel. Additionally, thousands of troops from the 82nd Airborne Division have started arriving in the Middle East, two other U.S. officials confirmed.

The ongoing conflict with Iran has driven American gasoline prices above $4 per gallon on Tuesday, marking the first time since 2022 that the national average reached this threshold. Energy experts predict these elevated fuel costs will impact grocery prices as businesses face increased transportation and packaging expenses.

Food Aid Shipments Face Major Delays Due to Conflict

Beyond petroleum products trapped in the Persian Gulf, critical food assistance bound for Sudan and Afghanistan is experiencing significant shipping delays, according to the World Food Program, the United Nations’ emergency hunger relief agency.

“Think of special nutritious foods required for Sudan,” WFP supply chain director Corinne Fleischer explained to the Associated Press. “Mothers and children are malnourished and they need this vitamin and mineral enriched food. We produced this in Pakistan as one of the countries. That is now stuck there.”

Fleischer noted that shipping companies must now navigate around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope to reach West African destinations due to attack risks in the southern Red Sea area.

Presidential Claims Met With Iranian Defiance

In his Wednesday Truth Social post, Trump stated Iran’s president desires a ceasefire ahead of his planned address to Americans, though he incorrectly referred to “Iran’s New Regime President” despite no change in Iranian leadership.

Trump specified that any ceasefire would require the Strait of Hormuz to remain “open, free, clear.”

“Until then, we are blasting Iran into oblivion or, as they say, back to the Stone Ages!!!” he posted.

Iranian officials have not issued an immediate response to Trump’s social media claims. However, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi demonstrated Tehran’s resolve during a Tuesday evening Al Jazeera interview.

“You cannot speak to the people of Iran in the language of threats and deadlines,” Araghchi stated. “We do not set any deadline for defending ourselves.”

Pakistan Secures Oil Deliveries Through Strategic Arrangement

Oil shipments reached Pakistan’s Karachi port Wednesday after successfully passing through the Strait of Hormuz, while another vessel arrived via an alternative shipping route, confirmed Karachi Port Trust spokesperson Shariq Farooqi.

Farooqi indicated that additional Pakistani-flagged vessels are scheduled to deliver essential oil supplies from Gulf nations this month.

This development follows Pakistan’s foreign minister announcing that Iran had approved passage for 20 more Pakistani-flagged ships through the Strait of Hormuz, calling it a “constructive gesture” designed to reduce regional tensions.

Pakistan continues working to mediate between the United States and Iran, urging both nations to resume diplomatic negotiations. The Strait of Hormuz serves as a vital pathway for global oil transportation.

LONDON — Tensions between the United States and its European allies have reached a breaking point as President Donald Trump threatens to withdraw America from NATO over disagreements regarding the ongoing conflict with Iran.

In an interview with Britain’s Telegraph newspaper published Wednesday, Trump delivered some of his harshest criticism yet of the military alliance, suggesting he’s seriously considering ending U.S. membership entirely.

When asked if he would reconsider American participation in NATO following the conclusion of the Iran conflict, Trump responded: “Oh yes, I would say (it’s) beyond reconsideration.”

The remarks represent Trump’s most definitive statements to date about potentially abandoning the alliance, indicating the relationship may have deteriorated beyond repair.

NATO officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer defended the organization when questioned about Trump’s comments, stating Britain remained “fully committed to NATO” and describing it as “the single most effective military alliance the world has ever seen.”

European governments have faced significant domestic opposition to the Middle East conflict, which has driven oil prices higher after Iran effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping lane that handles roughly 20 percent of global oil transport.

“Whatever the pressure on me and others, whatever the noise, I am going to act in the British national interest in all the decisions I make,” Starmer declared Wednesday.

The current crisis has reignited longstanding disagreements within the alliance. With energy costs climbing, Trump has urgently sought naval support from partner nations to address the Strait of Hormuz situation. He has labeled NATO members “cowards” and employed increasingly harsh rhetoric to pressure allies into assisting with a conflict they never agreed to join.

Trump has consistently criticized European partners for years, demanding they take greater responsibility for regional security and increase defense spending. He maintains that America has contributed more to the partnership than it has received in return.

An American withdrawal would effectively destroy NATO, which has operated successfully under U.S. leadership for decades.

Through his Truth Social platform Tuesday, Trump attacked nations “like the United Kingdom, which refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran,” and recommended they purchase American oil or travel to the Strait of Hormuz independently to “just take it.”

Trump also expects allies to assist with reconstruction efforts following a war they played no role in initiating.

Britain is developing proposals that might help address Trump’s concerns.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will lead a virtual conference Thursday with 35 nations committed to providing shipping security in the Strait following the conflict’s end. Starmer indicated military officials are also preparing post-war security arrangements for the waterway.

NATO’s foundation rests on Article 5 of its charter, which guarantees that an attack against any member nation will trigger a collective response from all others.

As the Iranian conflict has expanded, missiles and drones have targeted NATO member Turkey and a British military installation in Cyprus, raising questions about what circumstances might activate the alliance’s mutual defense provisions.

The organization has not intervened or indicated any intention to do so. Secretary-General Mark Rutte, who has expressed support for Trump and America’s alliance role, has concentrated primarily on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which shares borders with four NATO countries.

NATO functions through unanimous agreement. All 32 member states must consent before the organization can act, making political considerations crucial. Even Article 5 activation requires allied consensus, meaning Turkey or Britain cannot invoke it independently.

Regarding the Middle East situation, Trump has expressed frustration with universal rejection from European allies, other partners, and even rival China to help secure the Strait of Hormuz.

Many European Union and NATO leadership figures have remained angry since the conflict began February 28, as they received no advance warning, breaking established diplomatic protocol.

Trump defended the lack of consultation by citing the need for tactical surprise, though he had publicly discussed potential military action and visibly increased American forces in the region before the war commenced.

European officials have demanded an end to hostilities and urged both the United States and Iran to resume nuclear program negotiations, as America and Israel view Tehran’s atomic ambitions as threatening.

European opposition to Trump’s Iranian campaign has evolved from criticism into concrete action.

Spain, Europe’s most outspoken critic, announced Monday it had closed its airspace to American aircraft participating in the Iran operation.

France reached an agreement last month allowing U.S. Air Force use of a southern French base after receiving “full guarantee” from Washington that only non-combat aircraft would utilize the facility.

Additional countries have voiced disapproval: German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier recently characterized the Iranian aggression as a “dangerous mistake” violating international law.

American-European relations had already deteriorated in recent months following Trump’s proposal that Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory, should join the United States, prompting widespread EU support for Denmark.

French anti-terrorism officials announced Wednesday that four individuals face charges of “terrorist criminal conspiracy” following the prevention of a bombing attack targeting a Bank of America facility in Paris, with investigators believing the plot has connections to Iran.

Authorities apprehended one suspect near the financial institution during the early morning hours on Saturday, discovering an improvised explosive device consisting of a gasoline container attached to a high-powered firework. Forensic investigators determined the weapon held 650 grams of explosive material – approximately 23 ounces – representing an extraordinarily large amount not seen before in France. Experts concluded the device had the potential to create a massive fireball and trigger extensive fires.

The prosecution has requested that all four defendants, which includes three juveniles, remain in custody while awaiting trial as officials have launched a formal criminal investigation into the incident, part of a pattern of similar activities throughout Europe.

A promotional video distributed on social media platforms on March 23, shortly before the intended assault, explicitly identified the American bank’s Paris location as a target. The video was linked to an Iranian-affiliated organization called Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, meaning the Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right.

The conspiracy was exposed early Saturday when surveillance officers monitoring the bank noticed two people approaching the building’s entrance. Law enforcement detained a 17-year-old at the location.

Subsequently, investigators arrested two additional 16-year-old suspects and one adult with a previous drug trafficking conviction. A fifth individual was released without facing charges.

According to the prosecutor’s office, the three minors, who have clean criminal backgrounds, have rejected any accusations of terrorist involvement.

Officials opened the formal investigation on preliminary charges including terrorist criminal conspiracy, manufacturing, possessing and transporting explosive materials, and attempted destruction as part of an organized criminal group connected to terrorist activities.

Prosecutors revealed that examination of security camera recordings, the suspects’ electronic devices and cellular phone records, along with their police statements, demonstrated that the adult recruited the three teenagers the previous week to position and detonate the device at the designated location and record the incident in return for payments between 500 to 1,000 euros (approximately $530 to $1,160).

The Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia organization has taken credit for additional operations throughout Europe, including incidents in Belgium and the Netherlands, as well as an attack in London last week where four ambulances owned by a Jewish charitable organization were destroyed by fire.

London counterterrorism investigators announced three more arrests Wednesday related to the ambulance incident. Two men had previously been released on bail after being detained in that investigation.

The prosecutor’s office stated that the prevented Paris attack appears “likely linked” to the organization “although this has not yet been formally established at this stage of the proceedings.”

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez stated this week that Iran’s intelligence agencies regularly employ “proxies,” meaning a network of subcontractors, to conduct operations overseas that target American interests, Jewish communities and Iranian opposition activists.

French security forces have increased protection around important individuals and locations since the U.S. and Israel began their conflict with Iran on February 28, including personal security for certain Iranian opposition members.

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Authorities in Cambodia have transferred a businessman to China where he faces allegations connected to an enormous international online fraud scheme worth billions of dollars, according to government officials.

Li Xiong, who holds dual Chinese-Cambodian citizenship and previously served as Huione Group’s chairman, was taken into custody in Cambodia by a combined law enforcement team after a months-long investigation, the Interior Ministry confirmed.

Chinese authorities suspect Li of participating in multiple criminal activities including running illegal gambling operations, conducting fraudulent schemes, operating unlawful businesses and hiding criminal proceeds, China’s official Xinhua news agency reported, referencing Beijing’s Ministry of Public Security.

Investigators believe Li held a senior position within a crime organization headed by Chen Zhi, who established the Prince Holding Group business and banking empire and stands accused of orchestrating the online fraud network. Chen was transferred to China in January. Both individuals lost their Cambodian citizenship before being sent to China. The companies they legitimately owned have rejected any allegations of criminal activity.

Federal prosecutors in the United States filed conspiracy charges against Chen in October, claiming he directed an international fraud network while using his other business ventures to clean the illegal profits. According to the U.S. criminal charges, Chen boasted of earning $30 million daily from the fraudulent schemes.

Online criminal activity has expanded rapidly across Southeast Asia in recent years, especially in Cambodia and Myanmar, with illegal operations generating enormous profits from victims across the globe, according to United Nations specialists and other experts.

The criminal enterprise is deeply connected to human trafficking, with foreign workers forced to operate romance and digital currency scams, frequently after being lured with fake employment opportunities and then compelled to work under slave-like conditions.

The U.S. Treasury Department has accused Huione Group of cleaning billions of dollars for international criminal groups, including North Korean computer hackers and Southeast Asian fraud networks. Treasury officials labeled Huione a “primary money-laundering concern,” limiting any ties to the U.S. financial system and barring American financial institutions from conducting business with the company.

Cambodia’s National Bank canceled the license of the organization’s digital payment division, Huione Pay, because of violations and its participation in an “illicit online marketplace” that enabled billions in criminal transactions.

Cambodian legislators approved new laws on Monday targeting online fraud operations with penalties up to life imprisonment after the government promised to eliminate such operations by April’s end.

Diplomatic relations between America and its NATO partners have reached a new low after President Donald Trump announced he is contemplating withdrawing the United States from the decades-old military alliance.

The president’s consideration stems from European nations’ refusal to deploy naval vessels to help clear the Strait of Hormuz, according to statements he made to Britain’s Daily Telegraph on Wednesday.

NATO was established in 1949 as a defense partnership against Soviet threats and has served as the foundation of Western security policy for over seven decades. The alliance encompasses European nations, the United States, and Canada.

Trump’s comments followed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s refusal to confirm America’s dedication to NATO’s mutual defense principle during a Tuesday briefing.

“I was never swayed by NATO. I always knew they were a paper tiger, and (Russian President Vladimir) Putin knows that too, by the way,” Trump stated in the Telegraph interview, adding that he had moved “beyond reconsideration” of U.S. membership.

Defense analysts have consistently cautioned that questioning American commitment to NATO obligations could embolden Russia to challenge member nations’ willingness to uphold Article 5, which declares that an assault on any member constitutes an attack on the entire alliance.

France became one of the first European NATO countries to respond, though officials avoided directly addressing Trump’s withdrawal threat.

“Let me recall what NATO is,” said French junior army minister Alice Rufo. “It is a military alliance concerned with the security of territories in the Euro-Atlantic area. It is not intended to carry out an operation in the Strait of Hormuz, which is not in accordance with international law.”

Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz urged restraint in response to the escalating situation.

“I hope that amid the emotions surrounding the President of the United States today, a moment of calm will come,” he stated. “And why? Because there is no NATO without the United States, and it is in our interest that this calm comes. But there is also no American power without NATO.”

NATO leadership has not yet issued an official response to Trump’s remarks.

A German government representative reaffirmed Berlin’s commitment to the alliance when questioned about Trump’s statements. “This isn’t the first time he’s done this, and since it’s a recurring phenomenon, you can probably judge the consequences for yourself,” the spokesperson said during a routine press briefing.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer indicated he would prioritize his nation’s interests regardless of political “noise.” He suggested that instability from the Iran conflict should prompt Britain to strengthen economic and defense partnerships with Europe.

The ongoing Iran conflict has intensified existing friction between America and Europe that has grown since Trump began his second presidential term. Disputes have emerged over trade policies and Trump’s territorial claims regarding Greenland, which belongs to NATO member Denmark.

European leaders are also monitoring Trump’s diplomatic efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with some senior officials worried that any agreement might favor Moscow’s interests.

When questioned Tuesday about America’s continued support for NATO’s collective defense principle, Hegseth responded: “As far as NATO is concerned, that’s a decision that will be left to the president. But I’ll just say a lot has been laid bare.”

“You don’t have much of an alliance if you have countries that are not willing to stand with you when you need them,” Hegseth added.

According to Reuters sources, France has blocked Israel from using its airspace for resupply missions carrying American weapons in the Iran conflict, while Italy has denied landing rights for U.S. military aircraft at Sicily’s Sigonella base before Middle East deployments. Both nations maintain these represent standard policies with no recent changes.

Spain has publicly announced a complete closure of its airspace to American aircraft participating in Iran operations.

Trump has also repeatedly criticized Britain for declining to join the United States in launching military action.

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump announced Wednesday through his Truth Social platform that Iran’s leadership has reached out to the United States requesting a ceasefire.

In his social media statement, Trump outlined conditions for any potential consideration of the request. “We will consider when Hormuz Strait is open, free, and clear. Until then, we are blasting Iran into oblivion,” Trump wrote in his Wednesday post.

The announcement marks a significant development in ongoing tensions between the two nations, with Trump linking any ceasefire discussions to the strategic waterway that serves as a crucial shipping route for global oil transport.

Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson announced Wednesday that his center-right political party would welcome a controversial group with far-right origins into a future government coalition if this year’s elections deliver a right-wing majority, marking a significant shift toward bringing the party into mainstream politics.

Kristersson has led Sweden since 2022 through a three-party center-right alliance that depends on the Sweden Democrats for parliamentary support while keeping them out of cabinet positions.

The Sweden Democrats originated in the 1980s, established by individuals with backgrounds in extremist right-wing organizations, including neo-Nazi groups. Under Jimmie Åkesson’s leadership since 2005, the party moderated its messaging and removed openly racist members from its ranks.

Åkesson transformed the organization from a fringe movement into Sweden’s second-largest political force, capturing 20.5% of votes in the 2022 election and surpassing all other right-wing parties, including Kristersson’s conservative Moderate Party. While the party has shifted toward mainstream politics, it maintains strict anti-immigration positions, reflecting similar populist right-wing movements across Europe.

With parliamentary elections scheduled for September 13, center-right parties have begun reconsidering their previous hesitation to include the Sweden Democrats in direct governance. The Liberals, a smaller government coalition member, indicated last month they would accept the party in a future cabinet.

During a joint press conference Wednesday, Kristersson referenced that “courageous decision” as transformative, with Swedish news agency TT reporting the announcement that his Moderates would permit Sweden Democrats participation in future government leadership.

Under the arrangement, Kristersson would remain the prime ministerial candidate even if the Sweden Democrats emerge as the dominant party, while the Sweden Democrats would assume major responsibilities for immigration policy.

“In the most difficult situation since World War II, Sweden cannot do without an effective government,” Kristersson stated, seemingly referencing current crises including conflicts in Iran and Russia’s war against Ukraine.

BERLIN — Wildlife rescue teams in Germany announced Wednesday they no longer believe a humpback whale can be saved after it became trapped for a third time in the shallow waters of the Baltic Sea.

The massive marine mammal swam into shallow waters near Poel island, close to Wismar port, on Tuesday where it became stuck once again. The whale had previously been freed from even more shallow waters at Timmendorfer Strand resort town about 50 kilometers away last week, requiring heavy machinery to assist in the rescue, but quickly found itself in danger again.

Recent rescue attempts focused on allowing the exhausted whale to rest quietly, hoping it would regain enough energy to swim to deeper waters on its own. Teams occasionally used boats to try encouraging the animal to move toward open water.

Burkard Baschek, who serves as scientific director at Ocean Museum Germany and coordinates the rescue mission, reported the whale showed highly irregular breathing patterns Wednesday. Aerial drone footage revealed minimal movement in the sediment beneath the 39-49 foot long creature, and it showed little response when rescue teams approached.

Though the whale displayed slightly more movement after rescuers departed, Baschek explained during a televised press briefing that this activity provided no reason for optimism. “We firmly believe that the animal will die there,” he stated.

Unlike two earlier incidents where the whale managed to free itself after resting, the animal now appears significantly weaker and must contend with dropping water levels. “The prospects that it will free itself are very small,” Baschek explained. “The approach of maximum rest and respect for nature demands at some point that we let it go.”

The whale’s struggle has captured widespread attention throughout Germany, with news outlets providing regular updates on its condition. The animal earned the nickname “Timmy” during its journey along the coast.

Marine biologists first observed the whale in the area on March 3. Experts remain uncertain why the creature entered the Baltic Sea, which lies far from its natural environment and provides unsuitable conditions. Some specialists theorize the whale may have become disoriented while following a school of herring or during seasonal migration.

Even under the best circumstances, the animal faced enormous challenges reaching the North Sea, requiring a journey of several hundred kilometers, before continuing to the Atlantic Ocean.

LONDON — London police have taken three more individuals into custody Wednesday in connection with the deliberate burning of ambulances belonging to a Jewish charitable organization, authorities announced.

The Metropolitan Police Service reported that officers arrested two British citizens, aged 20 and 19, along with a 17-year-old who holds both British and Pakistani citizenship. All three face charges related to conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life.

The incident is being examined by counterterrorism investigators as a hate crime targeting the Jewish community. Officials are looking into claims that a group potentially connected to Iran took responsibility for the attack, though they have not classified it as terrorism.

Earlier arrests in the case involved two men, ages 45 and 47, who have since been released on bail while facing similar arson charges.

The fire occurred on March 23 in Golders Green, an area of north London home to many Jewish residents. Four emergency vehicles belonging to Hatzola Northwest, a volunteer medical service serving the local community, were completely destroyed. The blaze caused oxygen tanks inside the ambulances to detonate, shattering windows in a nearby residential building.

Cmdr. Helen Flanagan, who leads counterterror operations, addressed the investigation’s progress. “Since this appalling attack last week, we have been working continuously to investigate and identify those responsible,” Flanagan said. “We know concern among the Jewish community remains high, but I hope these arrests show that we are doing everything we can to bring those responsible to justice.”

ISLAMABAD — Diplomatic efforts to end more than a month of intense fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan have resumed, with both nations sending delegations to China for mediation talks, according to two Pakistani officials who spoke Wednesday.

The negotiations are taking place in Urumqi, located in northern China, the officials confirmed to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity since they lacked authorization to speak with media.

Chinese authorities have not issued any statements regarding the talks. Pakistan’s Foreign Affairs Ministry has neither confirmed nor denied these latest diplomatic developments.

An Afghan source revealed that Afghanistan’s five-person delegation traveling to Urumqi includes two representatives from their foreign ministry, along with single officials from defense, interior, and intelligence agencies. This official also requested anonymity due to lack of authorization to share details publicly.

Pakistani sources described the Urumqi negotiations as potentially bringing relief to millions across both Pakistan and Afghanistan, noting the discussions could continue for several days and represent just the initial phase of a broader peace initiative.

These renewed diplomatic efforts follow both nations’ acceptance of China’s mediation proposal, with talks scheduled to continue Thursday aimed at ending hostilities. Beijing has been pushing for renewed dialogue since late February, with Chinese special envoy Yue Xiaoyong meeting Pakistani counterpart Mohammad Sadiq last month following a visit to Kabul.

The core dispute centers on Pakistan’s allegations that Afghanistan provides sanctuary for militants conducting attacks on Pakistani soil, particularly the Pakistani Taliban. This group operates separately from but maintains ties with Afghanistan’s Taliban, which assumed control of Afghanistan in 2021 after U.S.-led forces withdrew. Afghan officials reject these accusations.

Asif Durrani, Pakistan’s former special envoy for Afghanistan, expressed optimism about the potential talks if officially verified.

“If both sides reach an agreement as a result of reported talks, the critical issue will be a verification mechanism to ensure Afghan territory is not used for attacks against Pakistan,” Durrani said.

The conflict that began in late February represents the most serious fighting between these neighboring countries in decades. Pakistan declared itself in “open war” with Afghanistan shortly after hostilities commenced. The violence has included repeated border skirmishes and airstrikes within Afghanistan, including several targeting the capital Kabul.

Afghanistan reported last month that a Pakistani airstrike struck a drug rehabilitation facility in Kabul, resulting in over 400 deaths. This casualty count remains unverified independently. Pakistan has challenged this claim and denied civilian targeting, maintaining they hit a weapons storage facility.

Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar explained to the AP during that period that Pakistan had “only targeted terrorist infrastructure” in Kabul, not medical facilities, stating: “We have just gone after the Afghan Taliban regime, their military setups, their terrorist infrastructure, and all the setups which are supporting or promoting terrorists.”

While both sides implemented a temporary ceasefire during the Muslim celebration of Eid al-Fitr, fighting later resumed at reduced intensity compared to the heavy combat witnessed in February and March, when Pakistan’s air force repeatedly struck what it identified as Pakistani Taliban positions and Afghan military installations. Afghanistan maintains these airstrikes hit civilian neighborhoods.

These nations share a history of strained relations, but the recent violence has concerned the international community, especially given the continued presence of militant organizations like al-Qaida and the Islamic State group seeking to rebuild in the region.

The current fighting also destroyed a Qatar-brokered ceasefire established in October, which had stopped earlier clashes that killed dozens of civilians, security forces, and militants. Both sides provide conflicting casualty numbers. Recent negotiations in Saudi Arabia failed to reach conclusions.

Earlier peace discussions held in Istanbul during November did not achieve a permanent settlement.

Officials have not disclosed who is representing Pakistan and Afghanistan in these latest Chinese-hosted negotiations.

BAGHDAD — A freelance American journalist abducted in Baghdad had received multiple warnings about threats against her life, including one as recent as the evening before her kidnapping, according to U.S. and Iraqi authorities.

Shelly Renee Kittleson, who has reported extensively from Iraq and Syria for several years, was taken from a Baghdad street on Tuesday and has not been located, officials confirmed Wednesday.

According to Hussein Alawi, an adviser to Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, Kittleson had attempted to enter Iraq from Syria three weeks prior to her abduction but was initially denied entry at the al-Qaim border crossing on March 9. She lacked the required press credentials and officials cited security risks due to “the escalation of the war and aerial projectiles over Iraqi airspace as a result of the war on Iran.”

Kittleson subsequently obtained a 60-day transit visa designed for foreign nationals stranded in neighboring countries who need to pass through Iraq to return home, Alawi explained. She arrived in Baghdad several days before the kidnapping and had been staying at a hotel in the capital.

“The incident is being followed closely by Iraqi security and intelligence agencies under the supervision of” al-Sudani, Alawi stated. He confirmed that investigators have detained one individual suspected of participating in the kidnapping scheme and are currently questioning him.

Iraqi security forces pursued the abductors immediately after the incident, successfully apprehending one suspect when his vehicle crashed during the chase. However, other kidnappers managed to flee with Kittleson in a separate vehicle.

An Iraqi intelligence source, speaking anonymously due to lack of authorization to discuss the case publicly, said authorities believe Kittleson is being held somewhere within Baghdad and are working to determine her exact location and secure her freedom. The official noted that investigators “have information about the abducting party” but refused to provide additional specifics.

American officials have accused Kataib Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed Iraqi militia group with a history of foreign kidnappings, of orchestrating the abduction. The organization has not taken responsibility for the incident, and Iraqi government representatives have not publicly identified the perpetrators’ affiliations.

The intelligence official revealed that before Kittleson’s kidnapping, Iraqi authorities had alerted U.S. officials about a particular threat against her from Iranian-affiliated militia groups.

Dylan Johnson, U.S. assistant secretary of state for public affairs, posted on X Tuesday that the “State Department previously fulfilled our duty to warn this individual of threats against them.”

A U.S. government source, also requesting anonymity, confirmed that “She was contacted multiple times with warnings of the threats against her,” with the most recent alert coming the night before her abduction.

Video footage acquired by The Associated Press appears to capture the kidnapping as it occurred on a Baghdad street. The surveillance recording shows two individuals approaching someone standing at a street corner and directing that person into the rear of a vehicle. The footage reveals what appears to be a brief struggle before the car door closes and the vehicle departs with the men inside.

Iranian-supported militia groups operating in Iraq have consistently targeted U.S. installations throughout the country since the start of the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran.

BERLIN (AP) — Economic analysts significantly lowered Germany’s growth projections for the next two years on Wednesday as European nations rush to implement emergency policies to shield citizens from rising prices caused by the ongoing Iran conflict.

Five leading economic research institutes now expect Germany’s gross domestic product to grow just 0.6% in 2026 — less than half their September prediction of 1.3% — and 0.9% in 2027, a reduction from their earlier 1.4% estimate. These revised projections fall short of the government’s own estimates from two months ago of 1% and 1.3% growth for those respective years.

The conflict in Iran has emerged as a significant barrier to economic expansion throughout Europe. Inflation in the 21-country eurozone accelerated to 2.5% in March, up from 1.9% the prior month, driven primarily by energy costs that surged 4.9% as warfare and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz pushed fuel expenses higher.

“This energy price shock is hitting a German economy in which a recovery set in last year after a several-year downturn,” said Timo Wollmershäuser, an expert with the Munich-based Ifo institute, one of those that issued the joint forecast for Europe’s biggest economy.

The shock “will dampen this recovery in Germany, but should not completely stop it,” he continued, citing upcoming government expenditures on defense and infrastructure as stabilizing elements. Germany’s economic output expanded 0.2% last year following two consecutive years of contraction.

Wollmershäuser cautioned against “short-term activism,” specifically opposing government-mandated fuel price reductions, which he claimed would be “costly, benefit many people who don’t need relief, distort the signal of scarcity from the price and keep up demand for crude oil.”

Germany’s approach has remained measured compared to other nations. New legislation that became effective Wednesday restricts gas stations to raising prices only once daily at noon, attempting to eliminate volatile price swings at fuel pumps. The law also expands the national antitrust authority’s ability to combat excessive fuel pricing.

Several other European countries have adopted more aggressive measures, despite the European Union’s executive commission encouraging member states to “consider the promotion of demand saving measures” and “refrain from taking measures that may increase fuel consumption.”

Poland introduced emergency measures this week establishing daily maximum fuel prices set by government officials, threatening penalties up to 1 million zlotys ($268,000) for businesses exceeding the price ceiling. The country also temporarily reduced fuel taxes.

Austria implemented fuel tax reductions Wednesday to lower pump prices. Sweden’s government has proposed decreasing gasoline and diesel taxes beginning May 1. The country also acted on another front Wednesday, cutting the value-added tax on food and beverages purchased in stores or for takeout from restaurants from 12% to 6%.

Latvia and Lithuania are planning to reduce diesel duties. Norway, though not an EU member, enacted temporary fuel tax cuts Wednesday following a parliamentary mandate last week.

Nevertheless, the EU’s energy commissioner cautioned Tuesday that oil and gas prices will not normalize quickly even if Middle Eastern peace is achieved soon.

Wollmershäuser explained the German forecast assumes the Strait of Hormuz will reopen during the second quarter and energy prices will decline starting in summer, “but without reaching the prewar level.”

This disruption occurs as Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s governing coalition considers comprehensive reforms to address Germany’s structural challenges — including elevated production costs, insufficient private investment, and mounting healthcare and pension expenses — while stimulating long-term economic growth.

Economy Minister Katherina Reiche stated the latest growth forecast delivers a clear message: “The conflict in the Middle East is increasing the pressure on German politicians to tackle structural reforms forcefully.”

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Media professionals brought traffic to a standstill Wednesday in front of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic’s office, demanding action against what they describe as escalating violence and intimidation targeting news reporters throughout the Balkan nation.

The demonstration in Serbia’s capital came after reporters covering Sunday’s municipal elections encountered violent confrontations during chaotic scenes reported in at least three of the 10 communities holding votes.

“We want to show solidarity with colleagues who were attacked on that day (Sunday) … but also to stress the ever harder and more dangerous position of journalists in the field,” Serbia’s Independent Journalists’ Association said in a statement.

The organization emphasized that “attacks on journalists are not isolated incidents, they are a systematic blow to the public’s right to know.”

Global election monitors documented violence and voting irregularities during Sunday’s balloting.

The municipal contests served as a political barometer for Vucic after more than 12 months of youth-driven demonstrations that have weakened his firm control over the country. His conservative populist Serbian Progressive Party secured victories across all 10 municipalities.

Approximately 20 media workers faced assault on Sunday, while the Serbian press organization reports documenting over 100 such incidents throughout this year.

Government officials have pledged investigations, though prosecution of perpetrators has been virtually nonexistent.

While Serbia maintains official European Union membership candidate status, Vucic faces criticism for restricting democratic institutions, particularly press liberties, while strengthening relationships with Russia and China.

Political friction intensified Tuesday when law enforcement officers conducted searches at Belgrade University headquarters, claiming to investigate a student fatality. University officials accused authorities of exploiting the case to apply pressure following student-organized demonstrations that began in November 2024 after a deadly train station incident in northern Serbia.

Thousands assembled Tuesday evening outside the university administration building in central Belgrade to condemn the police operation. Brief confrontations occurred when officers forced demonstrators back from the structure.

The student movement emerged following a railway platform roof collapse in Novi Sad that claimed 16 lives. The protests represent the most significant threat to Vucic’s authority in over ten years.

DENPASAR, Indonesia — Indonesian authorities have sent a high-ranking Scottish criminal figure to Spain following his capture at a Bali airport, where he faces serious charges including murder and large-scale narcotics operations.

Steven Lyons, 45, was apprehended Saturday upon landing at Ngurah Rai International Airport from Singapore, according to Indonesian immigration and law enforcement officials. The arrest came after immigration systems detected an Interpol Red Notice requesting his detention for extradition to Spain.

Officials characterize Lyons as a top-level member of a global criminal organization who had been evading capture for several months. The Red Notice system allows Interpol member nations to request worldwide arrests of suspects sought for extradition.

Bugie Kurniawan from Bali’s immigration department confirmed that Lyons, who faces charges in both Spain and Britain, departed for Spain via Doha on Wednesday evening. Spanish Civil Guard officers took custody of the suspect at the Bali airport before his transport to Madrid.

“The alleged leader of the Lyons crime family, based in Scotland, was handed over to Spain’s Civil Guard officers at Ngurah Rai airport ahead of his extradition to Madrid, where prosecutors are seeking to try him on charges in connection with organized crime, drug trafficking and money laundering,” Kurniawan said.

Spanish authorities have pursued Lyons for approximately two years following a 2024 homicide. Bali Police Chief Daniel Adityajaya indicated the arrest resulted from collaborative efforts between Spanish and Scottish investigators.

Untung Widiyatmoko, who oversees Indonesia’s Interpol operations, detailed the scope of Lyons’ alleged criminal enterprise. The suspect reportedly commanded a multinational trafficking network headquartered in Cumbernauld, Scotland, managing drug smuggling corridors between Spain and the United Kingdom.

The criminal organization allegedly employed fake businesses to launder money across Europe and the Middle East, with operations spanning Spain, Scotland, England, Dubai, Qatar, Bahrain and Turkey, according to Widiyatmoko.

Law enforcement conducted coordinated strikes one day before Lyons’ Bali arrest, with Scottish and Spanish police executing raids supported by Europol, the European Union’s law enforcement coordination center. Multiple arrests occurred during these operations, while additional suspects were detained in Turkey, the Netherlands and the United Arab Emirates.

Scottish news outlets report that Lyons escaped a 2006 Glasgow shooting that claimed his cousin’s life, subsequently relocating to Spain before establishing residence in Dubai. In May of last year, his brother and an accomplice were fatally shot at a coastal bar in Fuengirola, southern Spain, in what authorities suspect was a gang-related attack.

Improving poll numbers have given Brazilian opposition Senator Flavio Bolsonaro additional time to select his economic advisory team as he prepares for the October presidential election, according to campaign sources.

The 44-year-old senator has dedicated significant time to international travel, meeting with conservative allies abroad and visiting his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently under house arrest in Brasilia following his conviction related to a failed coup attempt.

Despite this approach, polling data shows Flavio Bolsonaro now running neck-and-neck with 80-year-old President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in projected head-to-head scenarios. The current leftist president faces challenges from economic slowdown and a banking corruption scandal affecting the capital.

Campaign insiders indicate that Bolsonaro’s growing support, built on a platform similar to his father’s policies, provides additional flexibility for assembling his advisory team and developing policy proposals to build a successful electoral coalition.

The economic team announcement, originally scheduled for May, may face further postponement if current polling trends persist, according to one source. Initially, campaign officials had suggested the economic platform could be unveiled as early as February when Bolsonaro was working to gain business community confidence in December.

This strategy differs markedly from the elder Bolsonaro’s 2018 campaign approach, when the then-congressman selected Paulo Guedes as his chief economic adviser nearly twelve months before the election to calm investor concerns.

The senator’s cautious strategy will encounter new challenges as additional right-wing candidates enter the race. The Social Democratic Party recently nominated Goias state Governor Ronaldo Caiado, while Minas Gerais Governor Romeu Zema is campaigning for the Novo Party.

Carlos Melo, a political scientist at Insper in Sao Paulo, commented on the increasingly competitive conservative landscape: “It will be a turbulent campaign.” However, he noted that the gubernatorial candidates face significant obstacles in overtaking Bolsonaro’s position.

Caiado made a direct pitch to Jair Bolsonaro supporters on Monday, promising comprehensive pardons for individuals convicted in connection with the 2023 coup attempt, including the former president who remains under home confinement due to medical conditions.

In an interview with Reuters, Zema emphasized his intention to use his administrative experience in Minas Gerais and his clean reputation in a nation troubled by corruption scandals to provide conservative voters with an alternative option, while acknowledging the challenging path ahead in early polling.

“All political campaigns are somewhat unpredictable,” Zema stated.

Flavio Bolsonaro, who served as a Rio de Janeiro state legislator before winning his Senate position during his father’s 2018 presidential campaign, has provided limited specifics regarding his economic agenda. He has committed to reducing taxes and government expenditures while enhancing conditions for business operations.

Campaign advisers believe his polling momentum will attract greater interest from prospective cabinet appointees.

Sources within Bolsonaro’s circle revealed that the campaign has established preliminary discussions with potential advisers, including former Treasury Secretary Mansueto Almeida, currently with BTG Pactual, and former central bank governor Roberto Campos Neto, now serving as vice chairman at digital banking company Nubank.

Both individuals served in the previous Bolsonaro administration from 2019 to 2022.

Speaking at a Boston conference over the weekend, Almeida confirmed he continues working in the private sector and has not received approaches from any presidential candidates. Campos Neto did not provide a response to requests for comment.

As Brazil, Colombia, and Peru prepare for upcoming presidential contests, fresh polling data from the Pew Research Center reveals that religious considerations will play a significant role in voters’ decisions across all three countries. The survey shows that roughly two-thirds of citizens in each nation desire a leader who will actively support and protect their faith-based values.

The research also uncovered strong support for incorporating religious principles into governance, with approximately the same percentage of respondents expressing the view that biblical teachings should serve as the foundation for their country’s legal framework. Perhaps most surprisingly, the poll found that even among those who don’t consider themselves religious, about half shared this perspective on the role scripture should play in lawmaking.

SEOUL, South Korea — Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung met Wednesday to strengthen their nations’ strategic alliance, focusing on military technology partnerships and energy security amid global disruptions from Middle Eastern conflicts, according to Seoul’s presidential office.

During their summit meeting in the South Korean capital, both leaders issued a joint declaration promising enhanced economic relationships and continued collaboration on military equipment projects, which include supersonic fighter aircraft, training planes, and anti-tank weapon systems.

The nations committed to strengthening their partnership in securing supply lines for energy resources, essential minerals, and other critical materials. Lee highlighted Indonesia’s importance as a key supplier of natural gas and coal during a time when Middle Eastern warfare has created worldwide energy market instability.

Data from Lee’s administration shows that South Korean businesses are set to import approximately 820,000 tons of liquefied natural gas from Indonesia throughout this year, providing sufficient fuel to operate the nation’s entire fleet of gas-powered electrical generation facilities for roughly 12 days.

Both presidents praised their countries’ joint work on South Korea’s domestically developed KF-21 supersonic fighter aircraft, an initiative that began in 2015 with Indonesian participation as a key partner. The initial aircraft from this program were unveiled last week, and reports indicate South Korea intends to sell 16 of these advanced fighters to Indonesia.

A major system breakdown left passengers trapped inside autonomous vehicles amid busy traffic in Wuhan, China, marking the first reported mass failure of robotaxis in the country, authorities confirmed Wednesday.

Law enforcement officials in Wuhan revealed that over 100 driverless vehicles simultaneously shut down due to what they described as a “system malfunction,” though they provided no additional details about the cause. Authorities confirmed no one was hurt during the incident.

A rider described to Chinese news outlets how their autonomous vehicle suddenly stopped after making a turn. The vehicle’s display showed a message stating: “Driving system malfunction. Staff are expected to arrive in 5 minutes.” When no help arrived, the passenger activated an emergency button and received assurance that assistance was coming. The individual managed to exit independently since the doors remained functional.

This represents China’s first documented widespread robotaxi shutdown. A similar incident occurred in San Francisco last December when numerous Waymo autonomous vehicles stopped operating due to an electrical outage.

The affected vehicles belong to Baidu, a prominent Chinese technology and artificial intelligence corporation that has been growing its Apollo Go autonomous taxi operations into European and Middle Eastern markets.

Company representatives from Baidu were not available for immediate response.

Law enforcement indicated that reports of stalled taxis began arriving around 9 p.m., with news sources confirming that several individuals required rescue assistance.

Some riders managed to leave their vehicles independently, while others remained inside because their taxis had stopped in center lanes of ring roads with traffic flowing around them, according to media accounts. These elevated roadways lack traffic signals and are designed for rapid urban transportation.

Baidu maintains several hundred robotaxis in Wuhan, where the company conducted early testing programs.

The corporation, which manages over 1,000 autonomous taxis primarily throughout China, launched operations in Abu Dhabi and Dubai this year and is collaborating with international partners to begin services in Britain and Switzerland.

LONDON – British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced Wednesday that worldwide tensions stemming from the Iran conflict necessitate stronger ties between the United Kingdom and European Union regarding security and economic matters. His remarks followed sharp criticism from President Donald Trump directed at European allies.

During a news conference designed to address public worries about escalating energy costs, Starmer declared the war’s effects will “define us for a generation” and might mirror the energy price spikes experienced during the 1970s.

“We want to be more ambitious, closer economic cooperation, closer security cooperation, a partnership that recognises our shared values, our shared interest and our shared future” with the EU, Starmer explained to members of the press.

On Tuesday, Trump once again condemned European nations that declined to participate in his military campaign against Iran, specifically naming Britain and France as transatlantic relationships have worsened due to the conflict that has pushed energy prices higher.

The president cautioned Britain and other nations to “start learning how to fight for yourself” because the United States “won’t be there to help you anymore.”

The current Labour administration in Britain has pursued improved relations with the EU, and Starmer stated it was evident that the Brexit agreement negotiated by the former Conservative government in 2020 had inflicted “deep damage to our economy.”

French anti-terrorism authorities announced Wednesday they believe a pro-Iranian organization orchestrated a thwarted bombing attempt targeting Bank of America’s Paris headquarters last week.

The suspected group, known as HAYI (Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiyya or Movement of the Companions of the Right Hand of Islam), had released a threatening video on social media on March 23 that specifically mentioned the bank’s location in Paris’s 8th district, according to prosecutors.

“In light of the aforementioned video targeting this U.S. bank and the modus operandi observed in similar operations across several European countries, this attack… appears to be linked to the HAYI group, although this has not yet been formally established at this stage of the proceedings,” prosecutors stated.

The explosive device discovered on March 28 consisted of a five-liter gasoline container attached to a large pyrotechnic charge containing 650 grams of active material and a fuse. French police determined it was the most potent pyrotechnic device of its type ever found in the country.

Authorities have formally charged four individuals in the case – one adult and three minors – while releasing a fifth person due to insufficient evidence. Through surveillance video, phone records, and interrogations, investigators determined the adult recruited the three teenagers between March 26-27, paying them 500 to 1,000 euros to place the device, ignite it, and record the incident.

While all four suspects have denied terrorist intentions, the minors admitted they understood their target was not a residential structure, prosecutors said.

The Iranian embassy in France has not responded to requests for comment and previously declined to address remarks by French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez regarding Iran’s potential involvement.

French anti-terrorism investigators are coordinating with officials in Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands regarding what they describe as HAYI-connected attacks throughout Europe in March. Their current focus centers on identifying the masterminds behind the operation.