Category: World News

BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanon’s capital is overwhelmed with displaced families.

One month has passed since Hezbollah launched rockets toward Israel following the U.S.-Israeli strike on Iran, prompting Israeli bombing campaigns across Lebanon and ground forces entering the country. More than one million residents from southern and eastern regions, along with Beirut’s southern neighborhoods, have abandoned their homes. Most have packed into increasingly crowded areas of the capital where airstrikes have not yet reached.

The Israeli military operations and evacuation directives — unmatched in their reach across what aid organizations say covers 15% of the small nation — have cleared out southern Lebanese communities and forced nearly all residents from southern neighborhoods into central Beirut, altering the city’s population distribution and geography while raising concerns about what lies ahead.

A massive temporary settlement of tents has emerged in the grass between a yacht club and entertainment district, completely changing Beirut’s waterfront appearance. Some families have taken shelter in empty shops, religious buildings, and the vehicles they escaped in, creating long lines of parked cars on major roads. Others have gathered in makeshift shelters constructed from tarps along the curved seaside boulevard or near Horsh Beirut, a pine tree park on the edge of the southern district called Dahiyeh.

“It’s horrid because we feel this tension, that we’re not wanted here,” said Noor Hussein, who arrived at the waterfront in early March after escaping the initial Israeli airstrikes on Dahiyeh. She observed wealthy joggers weaving through a maze of tents and dirty mattresses while her three youngest children climbed onto her lap.

“We don’t want to be here,” she said. “We have nothing here and nowhere to go.”

Previous displacement waves have disrupted this city before, including during the 2024 Israel-Hezbollah conflict. However, experts find it difficult to remember such a massive population movement — roughly 20% of the nation’s residents, according to official reports — affecting Beirut this rapidly.

“The scale and intensity of this is just unprecedented,” said Dalal Harb, the spokesperson for the United Nations refugee agency in Lebanon. She explained that the one million displaced figure is likely conservative since it doesn’t include those who haven’t officially registered as displaced through the Ministry of Social Affairs.

Officials have transformed hundreds of public schools into temporary housing and erected tents for displaced families under the bleachers of the city’s primary sports stadium. Charitable organizations have rushed to assist, with one group converting an abandoned slaughterhouse damaged in Beirut’s 2020 port explosion into sleeping quarters for nearly 1,000 displaced individuals.

However, urban planning experts point to an extraordinary number of people living on the streets compared to previous conflicts, making it challenging for regular residents to ignore the war and its devastating effects.

“This is relatively new, that you have so many people spending time in these open spaces, who are very vulnerable, living in very precarious conditions,” said Mona Harb, a professor of urban studies at the American University of Beirut. “You have to confront this visually when you’re coming and going to work, to school … and there are strong, mixed feelings associated with this presence that’s unregulated.”

Displaced families report difficulty securing space at government-operated shelters in Beirut and prefer enduring outdoor conditions rather than traveling north to cities where better housing might exist but where they lack family or social connections.

“The further away we go, the more we’ll lose hope about finding our way back,” said Hawraa Balha, 42, explaining why her family of four was cramming into the small car they drove from the destroyed southern border village of Duhaira instead of sleeping in an available shelter further north. “We don’t want to move again.”

People from the Dahiyeh suburbs have mostly chosen to stay in Beirut. This allows them to occasionally return to collect possessions and verify whether their homes remain intact, though these visits require quick trips under bombardment threats. Hussein mentioned her children became so desperate for bathing facilities after almost a month without proper restrooms that they hurried home to clean up last week despite constant Israeli drone activity overhead.

The movement of hundreds of thousands of Shiites has heightened Lebanese concerns about the nation’s delicate religious balance. Since its devastating 15-year civil war ended, Lebanon has depended on a power-sharing system to balance the interests of Christians, Shiite Muslims and Sunni Muslims, the country’s three largest religious communities, which comprise roughly equal portions of the population.

“It’s generating anxieties in Beirut, where the bulk of the displacement is, that this may cause a significant transformation in the demographic balance within the country, or within certain spaces and cities,” said Maha Yahya, director of the Beirut-based Carnegie Middle East Center.

Each passing day brings more tents to the waterfront settlement. Children have begun developing skin irritations. Recent heavy rains flooded the grassy area and penetrated tents, creating trails of wet clothing and causing sore throats. A dispute erupted last week when volunteers came to distribute donated items.

“We’re not used to living like this — we had a house, we had normal lives,” said Lina Shamis, 51, warming herself beside a fire at the base of a billboard advertising luxury watches. She, her three adult daughters and their young children established their camp here after following Israeli evacuation orders for Dahiyeh in a rush, bringing almost no belongings.

“Now the kids are out of school and hungry, and our neighborhood is gone,” she said. “All I feel is despair.”

With Israeli forces advancing deeper into Lebanon and threatening to occupy Lebanese territory extending to the Litani, a river 20 miles (30 kilometers) north of the Israeli border, the circumstances for displaced people in Beirut “will be even worse than what we’re seeing now,” warned Harb, from the U.N. refugee agency.

“The needs will continue to increase,” she said. “It’s an imminent humanitarian catastrophe.”

A 36-year-old driver is scheduled for a court appearance Wednesday following a weekend collision that injured seven people walking along a busy street in Derby, England.

Authorities have charged Sandhu Ponnachan with six counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, one count of attempted grievous bodily harm, and one count of possession of a bladed article, according to Derbyshire Constabulary officials.

While counterterrorism specialists joined local law enforcement in examining the case, Derbyshire police emphasized this collaboration is standard procedure for such incidents and investigators are “keeping an open mind” regarding the circumstances.

The collision happened around 9:30 p.m. Saturday along Friar Gate, a bustling entertainment district in central Derby. The city, home to approximately 275,000 residents, sits northeast of Birmingham.

Seven individuals were transported to medical facilities following the incident – four men and three women between the ages of 36 and 52. Hospital officials have since released four of the injured victims, police confirmed.

VIENNA (AP) — Military and nuclear experts warn that any U.S. operation to forcibly secure Iran’s uranium reserves would present enormous challenges, involving radiation hazards, chemical dangers, and complex logistics requiring hundreds of specialized personnel.

President Donald Trump has cited various justifications for military action against Iran while maintaining that a key goal is preventing the nation from ever obtaining nuclear weapons. However, the extent of measures he would authorize to capture Iran’s nuclear materials remains uncertain.

Considering the dangers of deploying up to 1,000 specially trained military personnel into an active conflict zone to extract the stockpile, experts suggest a diplomatic agreement allowing Iran to voluntarily surrender the materials could be preferable.

According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations nuclear monitoring organization, Iran possesses 440.9 kilograms (972 pounds) of uranium enriched to 60% purity — requiring only minor technical advancement to reach weapons-grade concentration of 90%.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi previously told The Associated Press that this stockpile could potentially produce up to 10 nuclear weapons if Iran chose to weaponize its nuclear program, though he emphasized this doesn’t indicate Iran currently possesses such weapons.

While Iran continues to maintain its nuclear program serves peaceful purposes, the IAEA and Western governments assert that Tehran operated an organized nuclear weapons development program until 2003.

IAEA inspectors have been unable to verify the location of the near-weapons-grade uranium since June 2025, following Israeli and American strikes that significantly damaged Iran’s air defenses, military command structure, and nuclear facilities. This inspection gap has created uncertainty about the precise whereabouts of the materials.

Grossi has indicated that the IAEA believes approximately 200 kilograms (about 440 pounds) of highly enriched uranium is housed in underground tunnels at Iran’s nuclear facility near Isfahan. This location was primarily used for manufacturing uranium gas that feeds into centrifuges for enrichment processing.

He has also stated that additional amounts are likely located at the Natanz nuclear installation, with smaller quantities possibly stored at the Fordo facility.

Whether additional stockpiles exist at other locations remains unknown.

During a House hearing on March 19, U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard stated that American intelligence agencies have “high confidence” in their knowledge of where Iran’s highly enriched uranium stockpiles are located.

Iran’s highly enriched uranium supply is contained in canisters weighing approximately 50 kilograms (110 pounds) when filled. The material exists as uranium hexafluoride gas. Expert estimates suggest between 26 and roughly 50 canisters exist, depending on how completely each cylinder is filled.

David Albright, a former nuclear weapons inspector in Iraq and founder of the nonprofit Institute for Science and International Security in Washington, described the canisters containing the highly enriched uranium as “pretty robust” and engineered for both storage and transportation.

However, he cautioned that “safety issues become paramount” if the canisters sustain damage — such as from air strikes — allowing moisture to penetrate.

Under such circumstances, fluorine would create a significant hazard, as this highly toxic chemical causes severe damage to skin, eyes, and lungs. Personnel attempting to enter the tunnels to recover the canisters “would have to wear hazmat suits,” Albright explained.

Maintaining proper distance between the various canisters would also be essential to prevent a self-sustaining critical nuclear reaction that would generate “a large amount of radiation,” he noted.

To prevent such a radiological incident, the canisters would need to be placed in specially designed containers that maintain separation during transportation, he said.

Albright indicated that the optimal approach for handling the uranium would involve removing it from Iran using specialized military aircraft and then “downblending” it — combining it with lower-enriched materials to reduce it to levels appropriate for civilian applications.

Processing the material within Iran through downblending would likely prove impractical, given that the necessary infrastructure may have been damaged during the conflict, he added.

Darya Dolzikova, senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, shared this assessment.

Downblending the material within Iran is “probably not the most likely option just because it’s a very complicated and long process that requires specialized equipment,” she explained.

Christine E. Wormuth, who served as Army Secretary under former President Joe Biden, characterized securing Iran’s nuclear materials through ground forces as a “very complex and high risk military operation.”

This assessment stems from the material’s distribution across multiple locations and the reality that such an undertaking would “probably take casualties,” added Wormuth, who now serves as president and CEO of the Washington-based Nuclear Threat Initiative.

She estimated that operations at the Isfahan location alone would require no fewer than 1,000 military personnel.

Since tunnel entrances are likely buried beneath debris, helicopters would need to transport heavy machinery like excavators, and U.S. forces might need to construct a nearby airstrip to accommodate all necessary equipment and personnel, Wormuth explained.

She indicated that special operations forces, potentially including the 75th Ranger Regiment, would need to coordinate “in tandem” with nuclear specialists who would search underground for the canisters, with special forces likely establishing a defensive perimeter against potential attacks.

Wormuth identified the Nuclear Disablement Teams within the 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives Command as one possible unit for deployment in such an operation.

“The Iranians have thought this through, I’m sure, and are going to try to make it as difficult as possible to do this in an expeditious way,” she stated. “So I would imagine it will be a pretty painstaking effort to go underground, get oriented, try to discern … which ones are the real canisters, which ones may be decoys, to try to avoid booby traps.”

Scott Roecker, former director of the Office of Nuclear Material Removal at the National Nuclear Security Administration, a semiautonomous agency within the U.S. Department of Energy, suggested the optimal solution would be “to have an agreement with the (Iranian) government to remove all of that material.”

A comparable mission took place in 1994 when the United States, working with Kazakhstan’s government, covertly removed 600 kilograms (about 1,322 pounds) of weapons-grade uranium from the former Soviet republic in an operation called “Project Sapphire.” The material remained from the USSR’s nuclear program.

Roecker, now serving as vice president for the Nuclear Materials Security Program at the Nuclear Threat Initiative, explained that the Department of Energy’s Mobile Packaging Unit was developed based on the Kazakhstan experience. This unit has successfully removed nuclear materials from multiple countries, including Georgia in 1998 and Iraq in 2004, 2007, and 2008.

The unit comprises technical specialists and specialized equipment capable of deployment anywhere to safely extract nuclear materials, and Roecker believes it would be perfectly suited to remove the uranium under a negotiated agreement with Iran. However, Tehran maintains distrust toward Washington, which under Trump abandoned a nuclear agreement and has conducted attacks twice during high-level diplomatic talks.

Under a diplomatic solution, IAEA inspectors could also participate in the mission. “We are considering these options, of course,” IAEA’s Grossi stated on March 22 during CBS’s “Face the Nation” when questioned about such a possibility.

Iran has “a contractual obligation to allow inspectors in,” he noted. “Of course, there’s common sense. Nothing can happen while bombs are falling.”

BUDAPEST, April 1 – New polling data from Hungary shows the opposition Tisza party has strengthened its advantage over longtime Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s Fidesz party as the country approaches its April 12 parliamentary election, according to two independent surveys released Wednesday.

The results suggest Orban, a veteran nationalist leader, is confronting the most serious threat to his authority in 16 years of governance, though the final outcome remains unclear given the significant number of uncommitted voters.

According to research from the 21 Research Centre, Tisza – a centre-right opposition movement headed by former government official Peter Magyar – now commands 56% support among voters who have made their choice, representing an increase from 53% recorded in early March. Meanwhile, Fidesz saw its backing drop to 37% from 39% three weeks prior.

The survey found that 26% of those questioned had not decided which party to support.

The 21 Research Centre study, which polled 1,500 people between March 23 and 28, demonstrated Tisza’s lead had expanded to 19 percentage points from a 14-point margin in the previous survey. When including all respondents, the poll published by news website 24.hu indicated 40% support for Tisza compared to 28% for Fidesz.

A separate study released Tuesday by Zavecz Research confirmed the trend, showing Tisza had expanded its advantage to 13 points among committed voters, up from 12 points in February polling.

The Zavecz survey, conducted between March 24 and 28 with 1,000 participants, found 51% of decided voters favoring Tisza – a slight increase from 50% in February – while Fidesz maintained steady support at 38%.

Among all respondents in the Zavecz poll, Tisza received 39% backing while Fidesz earned 31%. Twenty percent of those surveyed remained undecided.

Magyar has outlined his party’s agenda, stating Tisza would combat corruption, secure billions of euros in frozen European Union funding to strengthen the economy, and ensure Hungary’s firm commitment to both the EU and NATO.

Although most recent polling indicates a Tisza advantage, Fidesz officials cite alternative surveys suggesting their party remains positioned for victory. Opposition figures argue these favorable polls primarily come from organizations with financial or personal connections to the governing party.

Both 21 Research Centre and Zavecz Research operate independently from political organizations and collected responses through telephone interviews and online surveys.

The polling data suggests the far-right Our Homeland party (Mi Hazank) may be the sole additional political group to surpass the 5% threshold necessary for parliamentary representation.

21 Research Centre calculated Our Homeland’s support at 5% among decided voters, while Zavecz placed it at 4%.

The chairwoman of Taiwan’s primary opposition party emphasized Wednesday that global tensions make it crucial to avoid a Taiwan crisis, as she prepares for a six-day visit to China beginning Tuesday.

Kuomintang (KMT) leader Cheng Li-wun will travel to China at Chinese President Xi Jinping’s invitation, focusing on what she calls efforts toward reconciliation.

Beijing considers Taiwan, which operates as a democracy, part of Chinese territory and has increased military and political pressure on President Lai Ching-te’s administration. Chinese officials label Lai a “separatist,” while he maintains that Taiwan’s citizens alone should determine their island’s destiny.

During her party’s weekly gathering in Taipei, Cheng emphasized that Taiwan’s residents don’t want their home to become a global conflict zone.

“What we are promoting is peace and reconciliation, including reconciliation between the ruling and opposition parties within Taiwan, and reconciliation and peace across the Taiwan Strait,” she said.

“No one wants to see the Taiwan Strait once again fall into a tense military crisis at a time when the international situation is already turbulent.”

Her visit occurs as Taiwan’s opposition-controlled legislature blocks a $40 billion defense spending package backed by the U.S. The KMT maintains it supports military funding but opposes what it calls “blank cheques.”

Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council, which handles China policy, stated this week that Beijing’s goal to “annex” the island won’t change simply because of political party interactions or individual meetings.

In Beijing Wednesday, Zhang Han from China’s Taiwan Affairs Office declined to provide additional details about Cheng’s planned stops in Beijing, Shanghai, and Jiangsu province.

Zhang described the visit as demonstrating both the Communist Party and KMT’s commitment to “seek peace.”

Following last month’s Middle East conflict outbreak, China has intensified efforts to convince Taiwan of the advantages of Beijing’s rule, highlighting energy security and proposing a “rapid transit link” connecting both sides.

“Peaceful reunification will create enormous opportunities for Taiwan’s economic and social development and bring tangible benefits to the broad masses of Taiwan compatriots — this is its greatest appeal,” Zhang stated during a press briefing.

Polling data consistently shows Taiwan residents have little interest in accepting Beijing’s authority through its “one country, two systems” framework.

Chinese leadership has never ruled out military action to bring Taiwan under its authority.

ANKARA, Turkey – A tragic maritime disaster claimed the lives of at least 18 migrants Wednesday when their vessel capsized in rough waters off Turkey’s western coastline, according to Turkish coastguard officials.

The inflatable vessel equipped with an outboard engine was spotted by authorities at 3 a.m. local time near the Bodrum district in Mugla province. Coastguard personnel issued multiple commands for the boat to halt, but the vessel attempted to evade capture, officials reported.

Deteriorating weather patterns and challenging sea conditions caused the craft to take on water before ultimately going under, coastguard representatives explained.

Emergency response teams immediately launched rescue operations, deploying one helicopter and three patrol vessels to the disaster site. So far, rescue crews have pulled 21 survivors from the waters, with search efforts ongoing.

Authorities have not disclosed the vessel’s point of origin or intended destination.

This stretch of the Aegean Sea serves as a major crossing point for countless migrants seeking passage from regions across North Africa and the Middle East into European territory. Turkey currently provides refuge to millions of displaced individuals fleeing conflicts in Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

BUCHAREST – Defense representatives from Ukraine and Romania are advancing discussions this week about collaborative drone manufacturing through a newly established European Union funding program, according to Romania’s defense ministry.

The meetings in Bucharest bring together Ukrainian drone companies and Romanian military leadership to explore partnership opportunities under the EU’s rearmament funding initiative. Romania borders Ukraine along a 650-kilometer stretch and has experienced multiple incidents of drone incursions and debris falling on its soil since Russia began targeting Ukrainian ports along the Danube River.

Under the EU’s new SAFE rearmament program launching later this year, Romania has been allocated 16.6 billion euros ($19.2 billion). Defense Minister Radu Miruta announced plans to dedicate 200 million euros specifically toward joint drone manufacturing efforts.

“We are currently discussing how to form a team to deal exclusively with this project, with the contract signing deadline being the end of May,” Miruta stated following his Tuesday meeting with Ukraine’s Deputy Minister for Strategic Industries Sergiy Boyev.

The defense minister noted that fifteen Ukrainian companies will participate in continued project discussions throughout the remainder of the week in Bucharest.

The current talks build upon an agreement signed earlier this month between the Romanian and Ukrainian presidents, establishing their intention to manufacture Ukrainian defense equipment, including unmanned aircraft systems, within Romanian territory.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — A border collie named Molly has been safely rescued from New Zealand’s rugged wilderness after spending a week alone following her owner’s dramatic fall from a 180-foot waterfall.

The dramatic rescue unfolded after the injured hiker had to be evacuated without her beloved pet, who disappeared during the emergency response on March 24. The woman suffered serious bruises and cuts when she fell at the rocky waterfall location on New Zealand’s South Island West Coast.

Matt Newton, who operates Precision Helicopters New Zealand near the Hokitika Gorge close to the Arahura River where Molly vanished, refused to abandon the search effort.

“I contacted her in hospital and said I’d go for a look for it,” Newton explained. “I went and looked for the dog several times and no avail.”

Determined to continue the rescue mission, Newton and his family organized a crowdfunding campaign to cover additional flight time and specialized equipment. The community response was overwhelming, with complete strangers contributing more than 11,000 New Zealand dollars ($6,300) to support the search operation.

The donations funded three additional helicopter hours equipped with thermal imaging technology. Newton launched the renewed search Tuesday with a veterinary nurse, volunteer searchers, and a rescue dog named Bingo.

“We struck jackpot within about an hour,” Newton recalled. “As we made our way up the river, we could see the dog in the thermal and then we could visually see it.”

Molly was discovered disheveled and starving just meters from where her owner had miraculously survived the fall. Newton noted that the dog hadn’t been visible during his earlier searches of the waterfall area, leaving questions about whether she had also fallen or eventually found her way to the landing spot.

The helicopter descended low enough to allow a volunteer and rescue dog Bingo to approach Molly, helping to calm her and guide her to safety.

Newton believes Molly survived her ordeal by hunting wild animals during her week-long wilderness adventure.

“She knew what we were up to, I think,” he said. “She behaved real well. She didn’t run away and she was pleased to be rescued.”

Despite her week in the wild, the pilot reported that Molly was in “surprisingly good condition.” Newton radioed the helicopter base where additional volunteers had gathered to assist with the search. “Instead we just had a big barbecue and all had a cuddle with Molly.”

The emotional reunion came later that day when Molly’s owner, still recovering from her injuries, arrived to see her pet.

“I think that’ll speed up her healing process somewhat,” Newton observed. “Having your dog back, that’s for sure.”

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Tehran launched new strikes Wednesday morning against a commercial vessel near Qatar’s coastline and Kuwait International Airport, continuing its aggressive campaign against Gulf Arab nations while confirming for the first time that Washington has made direct contact regarding potential ceasefire negotiations.

Israeli forces issued alerts about incoming projectiles from Yemen and Iran while conducting their own operations in Lebanon that resulted in at least five deaths.

As the conflict shows no signs of diminishing after claiming more than 3,000 lives, President Donald Trump indicated the fighting might conclude within two weeks, even as he deploys additional thousands of military personnel to the Middle East.

Growing pressure mounts on Trump to halt the warfare as Tehran’s control over Strait of Hormuz shipping lanes and strikes against regional energy facilities have pushed gasoline costs to their peak levels since 2022, triggering widespread stock market volatility.

Tehran restricted vessel movement through the strategic waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to international waters following U.S. and Israeli strikes on February 28. During normal operations, twenty percent of global oil shipments pass through this corridor, and Brent crude prices have surged over 40% since hostilities began, now exceeding $104 per barrel.

Washington has presented Tehran with a comprehensive 15-point ceasefire proposal demanding the strait’s reopening. Iran’s five-point counter-proposal insists on maintaining control over the waterway, with Trump suggesting Tuesday that hostilities might end even with continued Iranian dominance of the passage.

The United States “will not have anything to do with” developments in the Strait of Hormuz, Trump told media, stating that nations dependent on the waterway bear responsibility for maintaining its accessibility.

“That’s not for us. That’ll be for France. That’ll be for whoever’s using the strait,” Trump stated.

Trump’s reference to France remained unclear, given Europe receives minimal oil through the strait compared to Asian nations. The president plans a prime-time national address Wednesday.

Trump, who has alternated between claiming diplomatic progress with Iran and threatening expanded military action, declared the U.S. is “finishing the job” in Iran and predicted completion in “maybe two weeks, maybe a couple of days longer to do the job.”

Trump has cautioned that without a “shortly” achieved ceasefire and strait reopening, America would expand operations, potentially targeting the Kharg Island oil terminal and desalination facilities.

Thousands of Marines and paratroopers have received deployment orders for possible Kharg Island operations, though naval access would require passage through the Strait of Hormuz and Persian Gulf, which Iran has threatened to mine.

During an Al Jazeera interview, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed receiving direct communications from U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. However, he emphasized no formal negotiations exist and expressed zero confidence in productive American discussions, stating “the trust level is at zero.”

Regarding potential ground operations, he warned “we are waiting for them.”

“We know very well how to defend ourselves,” Araghchi declared.

Wednesday morning brought reports of a projectile striking a tanker off Qatar’s coast, according to the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center. Crew members reportedly escaped injury. A loaded Kuwaiti oil vessel suffered attack near Dubai Tuesday, joining more than 20 ships targeted by Iran during the conflict.

Bahrain issued dual missile alerts and reported an Iranian strike ignited fires at a commercial facility.

In Kuwait, state-run KUNA news agency confirmed a drone struck a fuel storage tank at Kuwait International Airport, creating a “large fire” that emergency crews worked to contain.

Saudi Arabia intercepted two drones amid repeated Iranian attacks, while air raid warnings sounded across Israel without immediate damage or casualty reports.

Within Iran, Israeli forces claimed striking a facility manufacturing fentanyl allegedly intended for chemical weapons development. Iran acknowledged the attack on Tofigh Daru factory but maintained it only produces “hospital drugs” for medical applications.

Both Israeli and Iranian sources confirmed Tuesday’s strike timing.

Medical facilities widely utilize fentanyl for severe pain management, though small quantities prove lethal.

Israel and the United States have previously accused Iran of incorporating fentanyl into weapons systems.

In Beirut, Israeli strikes on a residential area killed at least five people, with Lebanon’s Health Ministry reporting 21 additional injuries.

Israeli forces entered southern Lebanon following missile attacks from Iran-affiliated Hezbollah militants targeting northern Israel shortly after broader hostilities erupted. Many Lebanese citizens fear another extended military occupation.

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

Iranian officials cite more than 1,900 domestic casualties, compared to 19 reported Israeli deaths.

Since the Iran conflict began, 13 U.S. service members have died with 348 wounded, including six seriously injured, according to U.S. Central Command.

Over two dozen fatalities have occurred across Gulf states and the occupied West Bank.

NEW DELHI (AP) — The world’s most extensive national population survey has commenced in India, with potential to dramatically alter government assistance programs and legislative representation throughout the nation.

India’s last population count in 2011 documented 1.21 billion residents. Current estimates place the figure above 1.4 billion, establishing India as the globe’s most populated country.

Originally scheduled for 2021, the massive undertaking was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic and operational obstacles.

Understanding India’s census process and its importance:

The initial stage launched Wednesday and will expand nationwide through September. Census workers will spend approximately one month in each region gathering data about residences and available infrastructure while documenting housing inventory and living standards.

The process combines face-to-face interviews with digital technology, allowing citizens to provide information via a multilingual mobile app that incorporates satellite mapping capabilities.

Beginning in September through April 1st, the second stage will capture comprehensive details about residents’ social and economic backgrounds, including religious affiliation and caste identity.

Over 3 million government employees are anticipated to participate throughout the year-long effort. The 2011 census involved nearly 2.7 million data collectors who surveyed more than 240 million households across the country.

The upcoming census’s second phase will seek expanded caste documentation beyond traditionally disadvantaged communities.

India’s caste system represents an ancient social structure that continues influencing social status and determining access to resources, educational opportunities, and economic advancement. Hundreds of caste classifications exist based on profession and financial standing throughout India, especially among Hindu populations, though current demographic information remains insufficient or obsolete.

The most recent comprehensive caste data collection occurred in 1931 under British colonial administration. Since India’s independence and first census in 1951, counting has focused solely on Dalits and Adivasis, members of disadvantaged groups classified as scheduled castes and tribes.

Previous administrations have avoided comprehensive caste enumeration, expressing concerns it might intensify social divisions and provoke civil unrest.

Census population statistics form the foundation for allocating government assistance programs and developing numerous public policies.

The data may also necessitate restructuring India’s political landscape, as parliamentary and state legislative seats might increase to reflect demographic growth. A 2023 statute designates one-third of legislative positions for women, meaning any expansion would boost female representative allocations.

AMSTERDAM — The Netherlands capital commemorated a historic milestone Wednesday as three same-sex couples exchanged vows at City Hall just after midnight, marking 25 years since the world’s first legal gay marriages took place.

Mayor Femke Halsema officiated the celebratory ceremony, honoring a groundbreaking moment from a quarter-century ago when her predecessor Job Cohen conducted four wedding ceremonies that became a pivotal moment for LGBTQ+ rights globally, inspiring similar laws in nearly 40 nations.

The Netherlands has seen same-sex marriages become routine since the historic 2001 legislation took effect. Government statistics show more than 36,000 same-sex couples have wed in the country over the past two decades.

The nation’s Prime Minister Rob Jetten, who holds the distinction of being the country’s first openly gay leader, plans to wed his partner Nicolás Keenan, an Argentine field hockey player who earned bronze with his national team at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

“As a prime minister, I’m very proud that we celebrate 25 years of universal marriage here in the Netherlands,” Jetten told The Associated Press during the midnight celebration.

“Also for me personally, I can still remember when I was 14 years old watching TV, seeing the first couples getting married here in Amsterdam. That was also very inspiring and emancipating for me, personally, as it has been for so many others,” he continued.

The United States achieved nationwide recognition of same-sex marriage through a Supreme Court ruling in 2015, following earlier state-by-state adoptions. Research from last year indicates more than 800,000 same-sex married couples currently live in America.

Amy Quinn and her spouse Heather Jensen were among the initial couples to marry in New Jersey when the state recognized such unions in 2013.

Quinn explained the importance stemmed from their plans to have children, noting their attorney advised marriage would ensure both women’s names appeared on birth certificates while granting equal rights for school documentation and hospital visits.

“It’s shocking to me in terms of really how recently we got it,” said Quinn, who serves as deputy mayor of Asbury Park, New Jersey.

The Human Rights Campaign, a U.S.-based LGBTQ+ advocacy organization, has tracked legislation in at least nine American states during current or recent sessions attempting to reverse legal recognition of same-sex marriages. Most proposals urge the Supreme Court to overturn its 2015 ruling, though none have progressed and couldn’t compel judicial reversal even if passed.

“I don’t think it’s a time for people to be afraid,” stated Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign. “It’s a time to be aware, to protect our families, to protect our kids and to protect our lives.”

Vast regions globally — especially throughout Asia and Africa — have not legalized same-sex marriage, with some nations becoming increasingly restrictive.

Senegal’s president enacted legislation Monday strengthening penalties for homosexuality, joining other African countries imposing severe sanctions against LGBTQ+ communities.

American conservatives have also contested laws prohibiting “conversion therapy” for LGBTQ+ youth. The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that objectors have valid concerns, determining Colorado’s ban raises free-speech issues requiring lower court review.

Philip Tijsma, representing the primary Dutch LGBTQ+ advocacy organization COC, acknowledged while the silver anniversary provided opportunity for reflection and celebration, the Netherlands has fallen behind other nations in supporting LGBTQ+ communities.

“We have become a little bit lazy,” he stated, noting other European countries now maintain stronger transgender protections. He emphasized that Dutch LGBTQ individuals still face school bullying and street harassment for public displays of affection.

Recent years have witnessed significant backlash in America against transgender rights particularly. Most states have prohibited transgender women and girls from certain women’s sports competitions while restricting gender-affirming healthcare for minors. Limitations on puberty-blocking medications, hormone treatments and gender-affirming surgeries have expanded internationally.

President Donald Trump and his administration have advocated for transgender restrictions.

Despite ongoing challenges, Amsterdam’s ceremony maintained a joyful atmosphere.

Gert Kasteel and Dolf Pasker participated in Wednesday’s event, having originally married during the historic April 1, 2001 ceremony.

“We’re very happy!” Kasteel declared.

“It’s unbelievable, 25 years,” Pasker added. “It’s so beautiful that there’s so much attention for it.”

More than a million Rohingya refugees living in overcrowded Bangladesh camps began receiving drastically reduced food assistance Wednesday, creating widespread fear and desperation among families already struggling to survive.

The 1.2 million refugees currently trapped in these makeshift settlements had been receiving $12 monthly per person – an amount community leaders have consistently described as insufficient. The majority of these refugees escaped violent military assaults in Myanmar during 2017, and Bangladesh law prevents them from seeking employment, making humanitarian assistance their primary lifeline.

The United Nations World Food Program has implemented a new classification system that distributes aid based on family vulnerability levels. Approximately 17% of refugees will now receive only $7 monthly, while one-third classified as “extremely food insecure” – including families led by children – will maintain the $12 allocation.

“It is very difficult to understand how we will survive now with only $7. Our children will suffer the most,” said camp resident Mohammed Rahim, who said he and his wife were already struggling to feed their three children before the reduction. “I am deeply concerned that people may face severe hunger and some may even die due to lack of food.”

While the WFP previously cautioned that assistance might decrease following significant funding reductions by the United States and other nations last year – resulting in a one-third budget loss – spokesperson Kun Li stated Wednesday’s changes were unconnected to those cuts. Li emphasized this should not be characterized as a “ration cut,” despite two-thirds of residents receiving diminished assistance.

The organization maintains that reducing aid below 2,100 daily calories would constitute a true ration reduction, the established minimum for emergency food assistance. According to WFP officials, even recipients of the $7 monthly allocation will meet this nutritional threshold.

The revised approach “ensures that even with differentiated ration sizes, all Rohingya continue meeting their minimum food needs, strengthening fairness, transparency, and equity in food assistance,” the agency stated.

However, Bangladesh’s Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Mohammad Mizanur Rahman directly contradicted this assessment, calling the changes exactly what they appear to be – ration cuts.

Rahman warned The Associated Press that desperate refugees will likely attempt dangerous escapes seeking food and employment opportunities.

“Law and order will be deteriorated,” he predicted.

The same military forces responsible for the 2017 attacks – which the United States officially recognized as genocide – seized control of Myanmar’s government in 2021 and continue ruling the country. This situation makes safe repatriation virtually impossible for the Rohingya community.

Previous funding cuts deepened camp conditions significantly, especially impacting children through school closures that contributed to increased kidnapping, forced marriages, and child labor. Rohingya support programs received only half their required funding in 2024 and just 19% this year.

During 2023, donation shortfalls forced the WFP to reduce monthly rations to $8. By November, agency reports showed 90% of camp residents could not afford adequate nutrition, while 15% of children experienced acute malnutrition – the highest levels ever documented in these settlements. The $12 monthly allocation was restored throughout 2024.

Camp residents who endured the previous reduction are questioning their ability to survive additional cuts. Dozens of Rohingya organized protests Tuesday opposing the new distribution system and demanding full ration restoration. Demonstrators carried signs warning of starvation and declaring “Food is a right, not a choice.”

Rahim, whose family’s assistance dropped to $7 monthly, explained that illness prevents him from working while his children cannot safely leave the camps due to rising kidnapping, violence, and trafficking threats.

Several acquaintances are already contemplating returning to Myanmar despite extreme dangers, Rahim reported. Others are considering perilous sea journeys to Malaysia aboard unsafe fishing vessels – trips that claim hundreds of Rohingya lives annually through drowning or disappearances.

“Ration cuts are pushing people toward life-threatening risks, leaving them with no safe choices,” he said. “I am very worried about the future of our children.”

President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that U.S. military operations against Iran could wrap up within two to three weeks, while declaring that other nations must take over security responsibilities for the critical Strait of Hormuz shipping lane. The White House has scheduled a prime-time presidential address for Wednesday evening regarding the ongoing conflict.

During remarks to reporters, Trump voiced his displeasure with international partners who have failed to provide adequate support for American military efforts, bluntly advising them to “go get your own oil.” The president has recently alternated between highlighting potential diplomatic progress with Iran and threatening to expand military operations.

Trump stated that America “will not have anything to do with” future developments in the strategically important waterway, which Iran has blocked. He emphasized that nations dependent on the strait for commerce must assume responsibility for maintaining its accessibility. The passage serves as a crucial route for Gulf nations’ trade and handles approximately 20 percent of global oil shipments.

Fuel costs across the United States surpassed $4 per gallon on Tuesday, marking the highest average since 2022 as the Iranian conflict continues driving worldwide energy prices upward. Economic experts predict these elevated fuel expenses will impact grocery prices as businesses face increased transportation and packaging expenses.

Israeli defense forces issued a public warning Wednesday morning about an incoming missile from Yemen, representing another assault by Houthi rebels who recently joined the conflict supporting Iran. Emergency sirens activated throughout southern Israel, spanning from Beersheba to coastal Mediterranean areas.

The early morning alert ended a significant quiet period, with more than 19 hours passing since Israel’s last missile warning from Iran, and over six hours since northern Israeli alarms, which have faced continuous attacks from Lebanese Hezbollah forces in recent days.

Iranian forces and allied groups conducted a drone strike against Kuwait International Airport, targeting a fuel storage tank and igniting a blaze, according to official reports. The state-operated KUNA news service reported the Wednesday morning attack created a “large fire” at the aviation facility.

Airport authorities confirmed no immediate casualties from the assault while firefighting crews worked to contain the flames. Kuwait’s main airport has previously suffered Iranian attacks during the current conflict, with KUNA suggesting Iranian-backed Iraqi militias may have executed the strike with Tehran’s backing.

Bahrain reported early Wednesday that emergency responders were battling a fire at a commercial facility following an Iranian attack on the island nation.

Israeli forces announced they destroyed a facility early Wednesday that allegedly supplied Iran’s government with fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid reportedly intended for chemical weapons development. Iran confirmed the strike on the Tofigh Daru manufacturing plant but maintained the facility only produced “hospital drugs” for medical procedures.

Both Israeli and Iranian officials confirmed the Tuesday attack occurred. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi shared an image of the damaged Tehran factory on social media platform X, writing: “The war criminals in Israel are now openly and unashamedly bombing pharmaceutical companies.”

Medical facilities commonly utilize fentanyl for treating intense pain, though minimal quantities can prove lethal. Israeli and American intelligence agencies have previously warned that Iran was developing fentanyl-based weapons, with the U.S. citing Iranian academic studies examining Russia’s suspected use of fentanyl compounds during the 2002 Moscow theater hostage crisis involving Chechen separatists.

Israeli intelligence claimed Tofigh Daru provided fentanyl supplies to a Tehran advanced research facility known as SPND. American officials allege SPND conducts research and testing that could support nuclear weapon development and other military applications.

The United Arab Emirates has implemented a ban preventing Iranian citizens from entering or traveling through the country as hostilities continue, three major airlines announced Wednesday. International carriers Emirates and Etihad, along with budget airline FlyDubai, posted the restrictions on their official websites.

While entry regulations in the authoritarian UAE federation of seven emirates can lack transparency, all three airlines confirmed the coordinated directive. The policy allows holders of 10-year Golden Visa residency permits to maintain entry privileges.

UAE officials have not provided public statements regarding the travel ban. Dubai has already ordered the closure of the Iranian Hospital and Iranian Club, both institutions established during the era of the Iranian shah.

JAKARTA – Indonesian officials are pressing the United Nations to launch a formal investigation into the deaths of three Indonesian peacekeepers who were killed in southern Lebanon amid Israeli military strikes, according to a foreign ministry statement released Wednesday.

During an emergency Security Council session on Tuesday, Indonesia’s UN representative Umar Hadi delivered the country’s demand for accountability.

“We demand a direct investigation from the U.N., not just Israel’s excuses,” Hadi stated during the meeting.

Earlier this week, Indonesian officials warned that current Israeli military actions have put UN peacekeeping forces in Lebanon in serious danger.

The three Indonesian peacekeepers died in two different incidents in southern Lebanon, occurring during a violent weekend that also saw Lebanese journalists and medical personnel killed in Israeli attacks.

According to UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix, preliminary investigation results suggest that a roadside bomb may have been responsible for killing two Indonesian peacekeepers on Monday.

Israeli military officials responded Tuesday, stating their review of Monday’s incident determined that Israeli forces did not plant any explosive devices in the location and that no Israeli personnel were in the area at the time.

The UN reported in 2024 that Indonesia ranks among the world’s top contributors to peacekeeping operations, providing more than 2,700 uniformed personnel to various missions.

Indonesia has also committed to providing troops for possible deployment in Gaza as part of a UN-authorized multinational stabilization force.

Kuwaiti officials reported Wednesday that an Iranian drone strike targeted fuel storage facilities at Kuwait International Airport, igniting a large fire without causing any injuries.

According to Kuwait’s state news agency KUNA, the attack represents another in a series of strikes against the airport and its fuel infrastructure amid escalating tensions in the region.

The incident occurs as conflicts involving the United States, Israel, and Iran continue to expand, with Tehran launching attacks against Israel and Gulf nations that provide hosting facilities for American military operations.

A civil aviation authority spokesperson told the news agency that the Wednesday assault resulted in extensive damage to fuel tanks operated by the Kuwait Aviation Fuelling Company at the international airport.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared on Tuesday that Venezuela must undergo a transitional period and hold democratic elections, while emphasizing the need for patience during this process.

During an appearance on Fox News Channel’s “Hannity” program, Rubio stated, “Ultimately, there will have to be a transition phase. There will have to be free and fair elections in Venezuela. And that point has to come.”

“We have to be patient, but we also can’t be complacent,” he added.

These comments come after U.S. military forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro during a fatal operation in January, which President Donald Trump had authorized. The United Nations’ human rights office has declared this action violated international law.

Trump previously announced that Washington would “run” Venezuela following the operation. Maduro’s former vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, has since assumed control of the nation under American supervision.

In the wake of developments in Venezuela, Trump has discussed potential action against Cuba and applying pressure to its government.

During Tuesday’s interview, Rubio emphasized that Cuba requires both economic and governmental changes, hinting that Washington would soon announce developments regarding that nation.

“So I think Cuba is in need of two things, economic reforms and political reforms, you cannot fix their economy if you don’t change their system of government,” Rubio explained.

The United States halted Venezuela’s oil shipments to Cuba after removing Maduro in early January, with Trump warning of severe tariffs against any nation that provides crude oil to Cuba.

Cuba’s resulting energy shortage has led to widespread power outages throughout the nation of 10 million residents. Medical authorities report that the crisis has heightened mortality risks for cancer patients, particularly children.

Human rights analysts argue that Trump’s emphasis on controlling Venezuelan oil resources and his threats toward Cuba reflect an imperialist strategy.

Asian countries are frantically negotiating fuel exchange agreements as ongoing Middle East conflicts severely impact energy deliveries to the region, with Indonesia’s president making a diplomatic visit to Japan this week as part of these urgent efforts.

The scramble for energy alternatives has intensified after China, the globe’s second-largest economy, banned fuel exports, while countries like South Korea and Thailand attempt to take advantage of temporarily relaxed U.S. sanctions on Russian energy as an emergency solution.

The situation has become dire for developing nations, with the Philippines becoming the first country to announce a national energy emergency, Sri Lanka reducing its work schedule to four days weekly, and Myanmar restricting vehicle use to alternating days.

Indonesia, which represents Southeast Asia’s largest economy and ranks as the world’s fourth most populated nation, has implemented comprehensive measures including fuel sales restrictions and encouraging remote work arrangements.

“To maintain rational economic relationships is of vital importance,” President Prabowo Subianto addressed Japanese business executives in Tokyo following agreements signed Monday for long-term oil, gas and geothermal energy projects.

“The geopolitical situation in the Middle East gives strategic uncertainty for the security of our energy.”

In more immediate terms, Jakarta may finalize an agreement to increase liquefied natural gas shipments to Tokyo in return for liquefied petroleum gas, a crucial cooking fuel, according to Djoko Siswanto, who heads oil and gas regulatory body SKK Migas, speaking to Reuters Monday.

Although Prabowo and Japan’s Sanae Takaichi agreed to strengthen energy security cooperation during Tuesday’s meeting, neither official verified such an exchange arrangement.

Japan’s government-supported energy company Inpex is negotiating a comparable trading agreement with India to exchange LPG for naphtha and crude oil, based on an internal Japanese government document obtained by Reuters.

Vietnam has similarly requested Japan’s assistance for energy supplies, the document revealed, while the Philippines announced Monday it had received diesel shipments from Tokyo.

Japan’s trade minister emphasized the critical nature of maintaining fuel deliveries to Southeast Asian countries where it operates supply networks, but refused to discuss specific agreements.

Energy-scarce Japan depends on Middle Eastern sources for approximately 95% of its oil and 11% of its liquefied natural gas imports, although its energy reserves rank among the world’s most substantial.

Australia’s status as a significant energy producer and exporter should provide it with negotiating power in discussions with Asian partners for jet fuel supplies that may soon become scarce, according to energy experts.

The government has been coordinating with major suppliers including China, Singapore and South Korea, Foreign Minister Penny Wong stated this month.

Nevertheless, China has prohibited refined fuel exports, including jet fuel, to protect its domestic economy from energy disruptions.

This prohibition, along with Thailand’s similar ban, has particularly affected Vietnam, as these neighboring countries supply over 60% of its jet fuel requirements.

Vietnam’s aviation regulatory body urged officials this month to pursue additional jet fuel sources from Brunei, India, Japan and South Korea.

Bilateral agreements with alternative suppliers should help alleviate shortages, but extended conflict would demand coordinated responses, according to Hiroshi Hashimoto, senior fellow at Japan’s Institute of Energy Economics.

“If the crisis continues for a prolonged period, Asian countries may need to develop multilateral frameworks to help each other and talk to alternative supply sources.”

Russia may emerge as an unexpected supplier for certain Asian nations following the United States’ temporary suspension of sanctions related to its Ukraine invasion.

South Korea imported Russian naphtha this week for the first time in years, a essential component for manufacturing plastics used in automobiles and electronics, and is also seeking crude oil access, its energy ministry reported.

India has increased oil purchases from Russia, with Bangladesh, Thailand and Sri Lanka also conducting negotiations.

Finalizing arrangements with Russian oil companies before the April 11 expiration of the U.S. sanctions waiver could prove difficult, noted Janaka Rajakaruna, chairman of Sri Lanka’s state-operated Ceylon Petroleum Corp.

Smaller nations like New Zealand recognize their vulnerability during an increasingly intense fuel competition expected to worsen in coming months.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has conducted phone conversations in recent weeks with leaders from Singapore, Malaysia and South Korea, New Zealand’s three primary refined product suppliers, as well as the European Commission head.

Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones told Reuters he has also reached out to major commodity trading companies, among others, in efforts to secure fuel supplies.

“Unless you build options, we’re too small to get noticed in a maddening, frenzied search for fuel in another two or three months,” Jones explained.

Manufacturing operations across Asia experienced a slowdown during March as escalating energy expenses and global economic uncertainty stemming from the Middle East conflict began impacting regional production, according to business surveys released Wednesday.

The data underscores the difficulties facing policymakers throughout a region that depends on approximately 80% of petroleum transported via the Strait of Hormuz, leaving numerous nations exposed to energy-related economic shocks from the ongoing warfare.

Chinese manufacturing continued its growth streak for the fourth consecutive month in March, though companies faced mounting inflation pressures and supply chain difficulties, private sector data revealed.

S&P Global’s RatingDog China General Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index dropped to 50.8 in March, down from February’s 52.1 reading and below the anticipated 51.6 forecast. Values above 50 indicate expansion while readings below signal contraction.

Production activity decelerated across multiple economies including Indonesia, Vietnam, Taiwan and the Philippines during March, with PMI data demonstrating how the Middle Eastern crisis was already affecting regional businesses.

Japanese manufacturing facilities also experienced setbacks from deteriorating business sentiment and cost increases that reached their highest level in 19 months.

Japan’s final S&P Global Manufacturing PMI declined to 51.6 in March from the previous month’s 53.0. Input costs climbed at their steepest pace since August 2024 as Middle Eastern warfare pushed up energy and commodity prices, compounding existing pressures from currency weakness and worker shortages.

“The war has also fuelled greater uncertainty about the global economic outlook, dampening business confidence and resulting in more cautious hiring and purchasing activity,” said Annabel Fiddes, Economics Associate Director at S&P Global Market Intelligence.

Indonesia’s manufacturing index dropped to 50.1 from February’s 53.8, while Vietnam’s reading slowed to 51.2 compared to the prior month’s 54.3, survey data indicated.

South Korea bucked the regional trend with factory output growing at its fastest rate in over four years during March, driven by semiconductor demand and new product introductions.

Financial markets have experienced volatility this month following the Iran conflict’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage for roughly one-fifth of worldwide oil and gas shipments, pushing crude prices higher and increasing broader inflation.

Growing appetite for the safe-haven dollar has also weakened emerging Asian currencies, creating additional challenges for regional central banks working to protect their economies from secondary effects of the conflict.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated Tuesday that the United States can envision an end to the ongoing conflict with Iran, now entering its fifth week, while suggesting Washington may need to reassess its NATO partnerships following the war.

During an appearance on Fox News Channel’s “Hannity” program, Rubio stated: “We can see the finish line. It’s not today, it’s not tomorrow, but it is coming.”

The conflict commenced February 28 when American and Israeli forces launched coordinated strikes against Iran. In response, Tehran retaliated with attacks targeting Israel and Gulf nations hosting U.S. military installations.

Combined American-Israeli military operations in Iran, along with Israeli strikes in Lebanon, have resulted in thousands of casualties and displaced millions of people. The warfare has also driven up petroleum prices and created instability in international markets.

According to Rubio, diplomatic communications are occurring between Iranian and American officials, with possibilities for face-to-face negotiations in the future.

“There are messages being exchanged, there are talks going on. There is the potential for direct meeting at some point,” Rubio explained.

President Donald Trump, who has provided varying timelines and goals for the military campaign – from removing Iran’s government to reducing its military capabilities and regional power – announced Tuesday that U.S. combat operations could conclude within two to three weeks.

The Secretary of State also indicated that America will need to reevaluate its NATO relationships once the Iranian conflict ends.

“Ultimately, that’s a decision for the president to make, and he’ll have to make it,” Rubio noted.

He continued: “But I do think, unfortunately, we are going to have to reexamine whether or not this alliance that has served this country well for a while is still serving that purpose, or has it now become a one-way street where America is simply in a position to defend Europe, but when we need the help of our allies, they’re going to deny us basing rights, and they’re going to deny us overflight.”

European leadership has declined participation in offensive military actions against Iran.

Criminal organizations carried out additional violent assaults in Haiti’s crucial agricultural zone on Tuesday, following a devastating weekend attack that claimed the lives of roughly 70 civilians, according to human rights organizations and area residents.

Haitian national police confirmed they were conducting operations across multiple locations in the Artibonite region on Tuesday.

Community members in Jean-Denis discovered 70 bodies on Sunday following an assault by the Gran Grif criminal organization, the National Network for the Defense of Human Rights (RNDDH) reported, aligning with estimates from the Defense Plus advocacy group while significantly exceeding government figures that placed fatalities at approximately 16.

The RNDDH documented an additional 30 wounded individuals, with casualties spanning all ages including babies, expectant mothers, adolescents and an elderly 80-year-old resident.

While the armed attackers retreated from Jean-Denis on Monday, RNDDH reported they had regrouped in the nearby community of Pont Benoit by Tuesday and were planning to launch another assault on Marchand Dessalines, located roughly 12 miles to the north.

Social media footage captured armed individuals, reportedly from the Kokorat San Ras organization – a close partner of the influential Gran Grif group – handing out money to people in Marchand Dessalines. Both the United States and Dominican Republic have classified Gran Grif as a terrorist entity.

Local residents informed Reuters that community defense groups lacked sufficient weapons to repel the criminal organizations, which would remain hidden during daylight hours when police were visible but would emerge after dark to conduct shootings and arson attacks.

The RNDDH investigation, which included interviews with regional officials, law enforcement and community members, revealed that Gran Grif’s assault on Jean-Denis came after weeks of intimidation, though residents remained because they trusted their local defense brigade would provide protection.

However, the community defense force retreated when they realized they were outgunned and unable to withstand the attack, according to RNDDH findings.

Police intervention proved insufficient, the organization noted, with armored units that reached the location remaining only briefly before withdrawing and not returning until Monday.

Regional officials informed the rights organization that most of their armored vehicles were inoperable, some due to battery problems requiring assistance from mechanics located in Port-au-Prince, while units from the U.N.-supported security force needed approval from the capital before deployment.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime met with United Nations representatives to discuss expanding a partially deployed international security mission that has struggled with shortages of equipment, personnel and funding.

President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that American military operations against Iran could conclude within the next few weeks, telling reporters that Tehran does not need to reach a diplomatic agreement for the conflict to end.

Speaking from the White House, Trump indicated the timeline for withdrawal could be swift. “We’ll be leaving very soon,” the president stated, adding the departure might happen “within two weeks, maybe two weeks, maybe three.”

When questioned whether successful negotiations with Iran were necessary before the U.S. concludes what officials have called “Operation Epic Fury,” Trump made clear they were not required.

“Iran doesn’t have to make a deal, no,” he stated. “No, they don’t have to make a deal with me.”

The president’s statements highlight the fluctuating and sometimes conflicting messages coming from Washington regarding how the five-week conflict might conclude.

Earlier Tuesday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth indicated Trump remained open to reaching an agreement with Iran to halt the war, which has resulted in thousands of casualties, expanded throughout the region, disrupted global energy markets, and threatened worldwide economic stability.

According to Hegseth, diplomatic discussions are progressing and gaining momentum, though the U.S. remains ready to continue military action if Iran fails to cooperate.

“We have more and more options, and they have less … in only one month we set the terms, the upcoming days will be decisive,” Hegseth said during remarks in Washington.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards responded Tuesday with fresh warnings targeting American corporations operating in the region, effective Wednesday evening.

The Iranian forces identified 18 companies for potential targeting, including major tech and aerospace firms Microsoft, Google, Apple, Intel, IBM, Tesla and Boeing, beginning at 8 p.m. Tehran time.

Asked about his concerns regarding these corporate threats, Trump dismissed them. “They don’t have much left to threaten,” he said regarding Iran’s capabilities.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi confirmed Tuesday he has been receiving direct communications from U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, though he clarified these do not amount to formal “negotiations,” according to Qatar’s Al Jazeera television.

Araqchi described the communications as including warnings or exchanged perspectives delivered through intermediary “friends.”

Trump also criticized allied nations that have not supported the American war effort, specifically mentioning Britain.

In a social media message, he suggested that in response to global fuel shortages, these countries should purchase energy from America or find “some delayed courage, go to the strait and just TAKE IT.”

Sources indicate that France and Italy have objected to certain U.S.-Israeli military operations, revealing how the conflict has created divisions among NATO partners.

U.S. General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, reported Tuesday that American forces continue targeting critical manufacturing and research facilities and have destroyed more than 150 Iranian naval vessels.

As military strikes show no signs of diminishing, Pakistan is attempting to broker peace in the conflict. Chinese and Pakistani foreign ministers called for an immediate ceasefire Tuesday following their Beijing meeting, advocating for peace negotiations to begin immediately.

Despite sustained American and Israeli attacks over the past month, Iran has maintained its defiant stance as neighboring countries have been drawn into the fighting.

Security sources reported heavy bombardment in Beirut Tuesday evening.

Israeli military officials confirmed they had targeted a senior Hezbollah commander and another high-ranking fighter in two separate Beirut strikes.

Syrian state television reported that explosions heard in Damascus resulted from Israeli air defense systems intercepting Iranian missiles.

A regional official told state media that a weather station’s radar equipment and building in the Iranian port city of Bushehr were disabled Tuesday after being struck twice in coordinated U.S.-Israeli attacks.

The Mobarakeh steel facility in central Isfahan was attacked for the second time in seven days, according to semi-official Tasnim news agency, while portions of the Sefiddasht Steel Complex in Borujen were also targeted, Fars news agency reported.

Reuters could not immediately confirm these battlefield accounts.

Rising oil and fuel costs have begun impacting American household budgets and present a political challenge for Trump and the Republican Party ahead of November’s midterm elections.

American retail gasoline prices exceeded $4 per gallon Monday for the first time in over three years, according to GasBuddy price-tracking data.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll revealed that two-thirds of Americans believe the U.S. should work toward quickly ending its involvement in the Iran conflict, even if that means not accomplishing the Trump administration’s stated objectives.

All 29 individuals aboard a Russian military aircraft perished when the plane went down in Crimea during the early morning hours Wednesday, according to statements from Russia’s Defense Ministry reported by news agencies.

Search and rescue teams located the wreckage of the An-26 transport aircraft, confirming that both the 23 passengers and six crew members died in the incident. Defense officials indicated that mechanical problems appear to be the likely cause of the fatal crash.

The Israeli Defense Forces announced Wednesday that they launched two distinct military operations in the greater Beirut region, with both attacks aimed at high-ranking officials within the Hezbollah organization.

According to Israeli military officials, one operation targeted a senior commander within the militant group, while the second focused on another prominent Hezbollah member. The attacks occurred within a short timeframe of each other on April 1st.

Israeli authorities have declined to release additional information regarding the specific identities of those targeted or whether the military operations achieved their intended objectives.

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Drivers across South Africa flocked to fuel stations Tuesday evening as the nation braced for unprecedented gasoline and diesel price jumps scheduled to begin at midnight, driven by ongoing Middle East conflicts affecting worldwide energy markets.

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana attempted to soften the blow by announcing a 3 rand ($0.18) reduction in fuel taxes per liter on Tuesday, though the relief proved insufficient to prevent sticker shock.

The diesel price surge of 7.51 rand ($0.44) represents the largest single increase in the country’s history, while gasoline climbed 3.06 rand ($0.18), creating widespread concern throughout the southern African nation.

By evening hours Tuesday, multiple fuel stations in eastern Johannesburg had exhausted their supplies of both diesel and gasoline, forcing operators to turn customers away. Other locations offered only gasoline while denying service to diesel customers, with lengthy queues forming at remaining stations with available fuel.

According to Godongwana, the continuing Middle Eastern warfare has elevated risks within international energy markets while applying significant pressure to South Africa’s domestic fuel costs.

The temporary fuel tax reduction for April, implemented before new pricing adjustments are announced in March, will result in lost government tax collections exceeding 6 billion rand (more than $351 million).

Distribution challenges and operational disruptions have compounded the nation’s fuel crisis, with numerous stations running completely dry while others implemented purchase limits ranging from 30 to 50 liters (8 to 13 gallons) per vehicle.

“Even after fuel levies were reduced, these are the largest increases in recent history and would be devastating for consumers,” said Theuns Du Buisson, an economic researcher at the Solidarity Research Institute.

Du Buisson warned that the price jumps, particularly the record-breaking diesel increase, would severely impact logistics and transportation expenses, creating ripple effects on inflation in upcoming months.

Since most South Africans depend on public transportation including minibus taxis and buses, low-income families will likely bear the heaviest burden from these increases, Du Buisson explained.

Public bus operations in Pretoria, the capital city, experienced disruptions Tuesday due to fuel shortages affecting municipal bus facilities, according to city officials.

The Lebanese militant organization Hezbollah launched more than 50 rockets and drones targeting Israel’s Upper Galilee region Tuesday evening, leaving three people wounded and causing damage to the area, according to emergency officials. The northern assault occurred hours after separate Iranian attacks struck central Israel earlier in the day, injuring at least nine additional people.

Israeli emergency medical service Magen David Adom reported that debris from the evening bombardment landed close to a residential structure on a kibbutz. Among the three people who sustained minor injuries was a 6-year-old child. Medical personnel transported two of the victims to a local medical facility for care.

The evening rocket barrage came after morning launches from Iran that included cluster munitions hitting various targets, resulting in casualties and structural damage across central Israel.

In the city of Bnei Brak, six individuals suffered minor injuries from the blast impacts, including one woman who was wounded by flying glass shards. First responders pulled a mother and her two children to safety after part of a building’s roof caved in during the attack. Three other people were also hurt at that same location.

Tuesday’s events represented an escalation of violence affecting both Israel’s northern border region and its central areas, with emergency crews dispatched to numerous locations throughout the targeted zones.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared Tuesday that his nation has fundamentally transformed the regional power dynamic with Iran through ongoing military operations, speaking during a televised address where he did not accept reporter questions.

“We have enormous, tremendous achievements. There are also painful costs,” Netanyahu stated, referencing recent military losses. “Just yesterday we lost four of our finest sons. I extend condolences to the families. We all embrace the families and our wounded heroes, in body and spirit. We are one people.”

The Prime Minister described how Israel’s military campaign has substantially diminished Iran’s influence across the Middle East and damaged its military strength. “We are systematically crushing the Iranian regime,” Netanyahu declared, explaining that Tehran had previously aimed “to annihilate us and take control of the Middle East.”

According to Netanyahu, Iran had poured approximately $1 trillion into its military objectives across the region. “That trillion has gone down the drain,” he stated, claiming Israel had struck “10 blows to the axis of evil” throughout what he characterized as the “war of resurgence.”

“The campaign is not yet over, but against the 10 blows our enemies have absorbed, we have achieved 10 tremendous accomplishments,” Netanyahu continued. “We have created a strategic reversal. Before the two operations, Iran sought to choke us—today we are choking them. Their regime is weaker than ever.”

The Israeli leader mentioned ongoing coordination with the United States and suggested potential diplomatic breakthroughs ahead. “We have created conditions for expanding alliances and the circle of peace. I hope that soon I will be able to tell the citizens of Israel about our new alliances.”

Netanyahu emphasized that Israel has weakened fundamental terrorist infrastructure in the region. “We have undermined the foundations of the terror regime,” he said. “We have shaken the regime, and I say that sooner or later — the regime will fall.”

“It is true, they still have the ability to threaten us—but they can no longer threaten our existence,” he added, speaking about Iran and its allied groups throughout the region.

The Prime Minister noted that Israel has created security buffer zones outside its borders in Gaza, Syria, and Lebanon, while expressing gratitude to citizens and military personnel. “Israel has become a regional power, and in certain areas, even a global power,” Netanyahu concluded.

Iraqi security forces are conducting an intensive search operation after freelance American journalist Shelly Kittleson was taken by unknown individuals in central Baghdad on Tuesday, according to Iraqi officials.

Kittleson, who writes for Al-Monitor and has covered conflicts across Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan, was seized near the Baghdad Hotel on Al-Sa’doun Street, local reports indicate. Iraqi security personnel responded rapidly using what officials characterized as reliable intelligence information to begin tracking her captors.

During the search efforts, authorities located a vehicle they believed was connected to the abduction. The car flipped over when those inside tried to escape, leading to the arrest of at least one suspect. However, Kittleson was not in the vehicle and her current location is still undetermined.

Different versions of how the abduction occurred have emerged. Some sources report armed men took her in daylight hours, while other accounts describe individuals wearing masks and civilian clothing conducting the operation, leading to questions about potential connections to local armed groups. So far, no organization has taken credit for the incident.

A US government representative confirmed American officials are informed about the situation and are working alongside Iraqi authorities in ongoing efforts to bring about her safe return. The incident brings to mind the 2023 abduction of researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov in Baghdad, which underscored the dangers that armed factions present in Iraq’s capital city.

Kittleson, who holds American citizenship and lives in Rome, had allegedly received warnings about traveling to Iraq before making this trip.

TORONTO (AP) — Canadian diplomat and human rights champion Stephen Lewis passed away Tuesday at age 88, following an eight-year fight against stomach cancer, according to an announcement from The Stephen Lewis Foundation.

Lewis served as Canada’s United Nations ambassador and later took on several high-profile UN roles, including special adviser to former Secretary-General Kofi Annan during his distinguished international career.

His son Avi Lewis was just elected to lead Canada’s New Democratic Party this past Sunday, continuing the family’s political legacy.

Throughout his career, Lewis dedicated himself to advocating for human rights, women’s equality, and supporting African families affected by the AIDS crisis, using his powerful speaking and writing abilities as his primary tools for change.

“Stephen spent the last eight years of his life battling cancer with the same indomitable energy he brought to his lifelong work: the unending struggle for justice and dignity for every human life,” his family stated following his passing.

“The world has lost a voice of unmatched eloquence and integrity,” the family added.

Known throughout Canada as a gifted writer and speaker, Lewis spent decades advocating for the poor and marginalized, raising awareness about climate change dangers, and condemning violence against women and children globally.

His political career began with the federal New Democratic Party, leading to his election to Ontario’s legislature in 1963 when he was just 26 years old. He assumed leadership of the provincial NDP in 1970, guiding the party to official opposition status by 1975. Following electoral losses in 1978, he stepped down from party leadership to pursue careers in media commentary, lecturing, and labor arbitration.

Prime Minister Brian Mulroney selected Lewis as Canada’s UN ambassador in 1984, a position he maintained for four years. Subsequently, he served as special adviser to the UN secretary-general on African matters until 1991, followed by roles as UNICEF deputy director from 1995 to 1999, and UN special envoy for AIDS in Africa from 2001 to 2006.

Current Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed his condolences, stating he “joined Canadians in mourning the loss of Stephen Lewis, a pillar of compassionate leadership in Canadian democracy and a renowned global champion for human rights and multilateralism.”

“As a member of Ontario’s legislature, leader of the Ontario New Democratic Party, and Canada’s ambassador to the United Nations, Mr. Lewis moved millions with his appeals for a compassionate and just society,” Carney remarked.

According to Carney, Lewis played a crucial role in establishing Canada as a principled opponent of South African apartheid and maintained that accessible healthcare was essential for poverty reduction and economic development.

Lewis was married to journalist and activist Michele Landsberg. The Toronto-based couple raised three children: Ilana Landsberg-Lewis, Jenny Leah Lewis, and Avi Lewis, who is married to author Naomi Klein.

Attorneys representing Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi report that the imprisoned Iranian human rights advocate may have experienced a heart attack while incarcerated.

The 53-year-old activist’s legal team and sister met with her at Zanjan Prison in Iran’s northwest region on Sunday, according to her French attorney Chirinne Ardakani, who spoke with The Associated Press following briefings from the Iranian lawyers present at the visit.

“When my colleagues saw her, they were shocked because she was very pale and had lost a lot of weight, and she was not alone but aided by a nurse,” Ardakani stated.

Ardakani explained that Mohammadi reported fellow prisoners informed her she remained unconscious for more than an hour on March 24. Following a subsequent medical evaluation at the prison’s health facility, a physician indicated she likely experienced a cardiac event.

“She said she has since been having chest pain more than once a day and she has breathing difficulties and that she is in a very bad state,” Ardakani explained.

Prison authorities have refused to allow Mohammadi’s transfer to a hospital or permit visits with her heart specialist. A correctional officer remained present during the entire brief meeting with her attorneys.

Direct contact with her Iranian legal representatives was unavailable, as they typically avoid media interactions. Government-imposed internet restrictions have severely limited communications throughout the country. Ardakani noted that unauthorized contact with foreign press can result in criminal charges carrying potential 10-year prison sentences.

The human rights attorney received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2023 while behind bars. She was taken into custody in December while visiting Mashhad in eastern Iran and received an additional seven-year prison term.

Her husband, Taghi Rahmani, informed The Associated Press last month that her condition was deteriorating, partly due to physical assault during her December arrest. He described how multiple attackers struck and kicked her head, neck, and torso.

Before her December 12 detention, Mohammadi was already serving a 13-year, nine-month sentence for charges including conspiracy against national security and anti-government propaganda. She had been temporarily released on medical furlough since late 2024.

Throughout her temporary freedom, Mohammadi continued her advocacy work through public demonstrations and international media engagements, including protests outside Tehran’s infamous Evin Prison where she was previously held.

A Revolutionary Court in Mashhad imposed the additional seven-year sentence in February. These specialized courts routinely deliver judgments with minimal opportunity for defendants to challenge accusations.

Supporters indicate Mohammadi has pre-existing cardiac issues and previously suffered multiple heart attacks during imprisonment before requiring emergency surgical intervention in 2022.

“We are very worried that the regime is seeking to exhaust (Mohammadi), to wear her down, slowly killing her,” Ardakani expressed. She noted visible bruising remained on Mohammadi’s body more than three months following her violent arrest.

The Nobel committee issued a statement last month denouncing the “ongoing life-threatening mistreatment” of Mohammadi.

Mohammadi became the fifth individual to receive the Nobel Peace Prize while imprisoned in 2023, elevating her advocacy for the widespread demonstrations that erupted across Iran following Mahsa Amini’s death. Amini died after arrest by morality police for allegedly improper headscarf compliance.

Her Nobel selection infuriated Iran’s conservative Shiite leadership, which extended her incarceration and later deployed guards to physically attack her and other protesting inmates at Evin Prison.

Despite these challenges, Mohammadi maintained her resistance, including calls to boycott the 2024 election won by President Masoud Pezeshkian. She expressed confidence that public pressure would eventually bring governmental change to Iran.

Early Tuesday morning, reports indicated an airstrike targeted a Shiite religious facility in Zanjan, located approximately two miles from Mohammadi’s current detention center.

Iraqi authorities confirmed Tuesday that an American freelance reporter was abducted in Baghdad, prompting an intensive search operation by security forces to locate her captors.

The victim has been named as Shelly Kittleson, a freelance correspondent, according to one of the publications she writes for.

Iraq’s interior ministry released a statement confirming that a foreign correspondent had been taken, though they did not initially reveal the person’s identity.

Two Iraqi security sources, speaking anonymously due to restrictions on public statements about the case, confirmed the abducted reporter is an American woman.

According to these sources, the abduction involved two vehicles. During the chase by authorities near Al-Haswa in Babil province, located southwest of Baghdad, one vehicle crashed and was captured. However, the reporter had already been moved to a second car that successfully escaped.

The interior ministry stated that law enforcement agencies initiated a comprehensive operation to locate the abductors, “acting on precise intelligence and through intensive field operations” following the interception of a kidnapper’s vehicle that overturned during their escape attempt.

Authorities successfully detained one individual and confiscated one of the cars used in the crime, though additional suspects remain free, according to the official statement.

The security sources revealed that Kittleson was taken from Baghdad’s center, specifically on Saadoun Street. They noted that warnings were distributed to all security checkpoints, which led to the pursuit as the kidnappers traveled southwest toward Babil province.

Al-Monitor, a Middle Eastern news organization, confirmed that Kittleson, who contributes articles to their publication, was the journalist taken Tuesday in Baghdad. The outlet expressed being “deeply alarmed” by her abduction.

“We call for her safe and immediate release,” their statement declared. “We stand by her vital reporting from the region and call for her swift return to continue her important work.”

Kittleson has worked as a regional freelance correspondent for many years, providing extensive coverage from both Syria and Iraq.

A representative from the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad refused to provide comment.

The U.S. State Department issued a statement saying, “The Trump Administration has no higher priority than the safety and security of Americans” and confirmed they are “tracking these reports.”

“Due to privacy and other considerations, we have nothing further to share at this time,” their statement continued.

Whether this kidnapping connects to the current regional conflict remains unclear, though Iranian-supported militias in Iraq have consistently targeted American installations since the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran began.

Following the war’s outbreak, the U.S. embassy has issued warnings about abduction dangers and encouraged American citizens to depart the country.

Iraqi militant groups have also taken foreign nationals captive prior to the current conflict.

Elizabeth Tsurkov, a Princeton University graduate student holding both Israeli and Russian passports, vanished in Baghdad during 2023. Following her release to U.S. officials in September 2025, she revealed that the Iranian-affiliated Iraqi group Kataib Hezbollah had held her captive.

The organization never formally acknowledged responsibility for her kidnapping.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Caribbean nation Haiti unveiled strict budget-cutting measures Tuesday in response to rising global oil costs and supply disruptions caused by ongoing conflict in Iran.

The cash-strapped government has prohibited purchasing any new vehicles, mandated reductions in fuel spending across public agencies, and restricted international travel to only essential trips that must receive approval from the prime minister.

Additionally, security details will be reduced to just one vehicle per convoy in a nation where criminal organizations have seized control of roughly 90% of Port-au-Prince, the capital, along with large portions of the countryside.

Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé authorized the new policies in an official statement, explaining they would help the administration “to anticipate serious repercussions on the already fragile macroeconomic balance and public finances in particular.”

“The government has no choice but to further reduce state spending,” the statement said.

Economic hardship throughout Haiti has worsened as criminal gangs have expanded their territorial control following the July 2021 killing of President Jovenel Moïse.

Nations worldwide have implemented various responses to the ongoing conflict, with some adopting four-day work schedules to conserve resources.

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — Europe’s energy chief delivered sobering news Tuesday, cautioning that the dramatic surge in fuel costs triggered by the Iran conflict will persist long after any potential peace agreement.

EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen emphasized that while the 27-nation European Union isn’t facing immediate fuel shortages, the bloc is grappling with strained diesel and jet fuel availability plus growing limitations in worldwide gas markets that are pushing electricity costs higher.

“What I find extremely important is to state as clearly as I can, that even if that peace is here tomorrow, still we will not go back to normal in a foreseeable future,” Jørgensen stated during a press briefing following discussions among EU energy ministers.

The commissioner revealed that European officials are developing a comprehensive package of relief measures to help households and companies cope with massive energy cost increases that have sent gas prices soaring 70% and oil climbing 60% across Europe. The conflict has added 14 billion euros to the EU’s fossil fuel import expenses, Jørgensen reported.

He stressed the need for unified action among all member nations to “avoid fragmented national responses and disruptive signals to the markets.”

The upcoming relief package, which Jørgensen promised would be announced “quite soon,” will feature options to help countries separate gas pricing from electricity rates. Officials are also considering an electricity tax reduction proposed by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

While Jørgensen doesn’t anticipate a repeat of 2022’s natural gas emergency that generated enormous profits for energy companies during price spikes, he noted that a temporary “windfall tax” on such firms remains “a possibility.”

The commissioner highlighted current “good opportunities” for member countries to provide financial assistance to vulnerable populations and industries experiencing “extraordinary stress,” promising the Commission would make “these possibilities even simpler and wider.”

Jørgensen also urged EU nations to adopt the International Energy Agency’s 10-step conservation plan, which features remote work policies, lower highway speed limits, enhanced public transportation, and expanded carpooling programs.

The EU maintains its prohibition on Russian gas imports, designed to decrease Moscow’s energy influence and eliminate funding for Russia’s Ukrainian military campaign. Russian gas dependency has plummeted from 45% before the conflict to just 10% currently, with plans to reach zero once alternative suppliers increase deliveries, particularly from America. European leaders are exploring new energy partnerships with Azerbaijan, Algeria, and Canada, along with smaller producers globally.

Jørgensen cautioned against repeating “the mistakes of the past allowing Putin to weaponize energy against us and blackmail member states.” He declared it “would be totally unacceptable” for the EU to continue purchasing energy that would “indirectly help finance the terrible war that Putin is conducting in Ukraine.”

HAVANA (AP) — Cuban residents who have been forced to carry bags stuffed with cash due to severe inflation received some assistance Wednesday as the country launched two new high-value banknotes into circulation.

The Central Bank of Cuba released the new 2,000 and 5,000 peso bills, worth approximately $4 and $10 respectively, following their announcement Tuesday on the official government platform Cubadebate.

These bills mark a historic milestone as the first Cuban paper money to showcase women. The violet and pink 2,000 peso bill displays Mariana Grajales, an independence movement patriot and mother to multiple Cuban heroes. The blue 5,000 peso note honors Celia Sánchez, a guerrilla combatant who worked closely with former leader Fidel Castro.

According to Cubadebate, the new currency will “facilitate cash transactions, respond to the real needs of an economy that demands large amounts of cash… reduce the costs of cash logistics, and improve operational efficiency during the current period of inflation.”

Previously, the 1,000 peso bill represented the largest denomination available, but escalating inflation since 2001 has left citizens struggling with bulky stacks of money that exceed wallet capacity.

While government officials have encouraged electronic banking and transfers, cash remains the preferred payment method for many Cubans.

Official data shows annual inflation reached 14% by the end of last year. Price surges over the past five years — which hit a peak of 77% in 2021 — coupled with sharp drops in the nation’s economic output have dramatically affected everyday life.

The island nation faces a deep economic downturn stemming from the coronavirus pandemic, a 2021 monetary overhaul that triggered massive inflation, and expanded U.S. economic sanctions designed to pressure Cuba toward political and economic reforms.

HARARE, Zimbabwe — Violence erupted during a public parliamentary session in Zimbabwe’s capital on Tuesday as lawmakers heard testimony about proposed constitutional changes that could keep the nation’s 83-year-old president in office longer.

The meeting at a Harare sports facility became chaotic when supporters of extending the presidential term physically assaulted prominent human rights attorney Doug Coltart, leaving him injured. The attackers damaged his eyeglasses, stole his mobile phone, and left him with bruises as he attempted to leave the venue.

Coltart was among several critics who walked out of the session to protest the intimidating atmosphere that dominated the proceedings. Supporters of the term extension pushed and struck him while shouting their backing for the constitutional changes.

The proposed modifications would permit President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who previously served as a guerrilla fighter, to continue governing for an additional two years past his scheduled departure in 2028. The changes would also transfer presidential selection authority from voters to Parliament and extend both presidential and legislative terms from five to seven years.

These nationwide hearings represent a required procedural step before parliamentary members cast their votes on the legislation, although public feedback does not legally bind Parliament’s decision.

According to Tendai Biti, who leads the Constitutional Defenders Forum opposing these proposals, critics at multiple hearings that started Monday across Zimbabwe faced hostile crowds who shouted them down, intimidated speakers, or prevented them from participating entirely.

Biti, who previously served as finance minister, gained his freedom on bail last week following his detention for allegedly conducting an unauthorized gathering against the amendments.

Earlier this month, another opposition leader required hospitalization after unidentified attackers beat him following a meeting about the proposed changes. The victim claimed police officers carried out the assault, though law enforcement denied involvement and stated the gathering had been prohibited.

Government officials have dismissed claims they are silencing opposition voices, maintaining that the reform process follows legal procedures. While Mnangagwa has stated he plans to leave office when his second term concludes in 2028, he has not publicly criticized his ruling ZANU-PF party’s efforts to extend his presidency.

Mnangagwa assumed leadership following a widely supported military takeover in 2017 that removed Zimbabwe’s long-serving ruler, the late Robert Mugabe. He subsequently secured victory in contested elections during 2018 and 2023, both of which drew criticism from international rights organizations for alleged suppression of opposition candidates and their supporters.

Opposition voices maintain that any attempt to lengthen presidential terms must receive voter approval through a nationwide referendum.

The resolution of Prince Harry’s remaining legal battle with British newspapers may depend on whether a judge finds a private investigator credible, after the detective previously confessed to surveillance activities targeting the royal family member.

During closing arguments Tuesday, an attorney representing the Daily Mail’s publisher argued that the lawsuit filed by the Duke of Sussex alongside celebrities like Elton John, Sadie Frost, and Elizabeth Hurley falls apart based on testimony from investigator Gavin Burrows, who denied conducting surveillance work for the newspaper or its sister publication, the Mail on Sunday.

In his final argument, defense attorney Antony White stated that a document Burrows supposedly signed — which he later rejected — claiming he “must have done hundreds of jobs” for the Mail from 2000 to 2005 had sparked the legal action.

However, Burrows, who previously expressed regret to Harry in a BBC program for aggressively pursuing him for tabloids during his teenage years, testified he never performed such activities for the Mail. He claimed the document was created by the plaintiffs’ legal representatives and his signature was falsified.

Throughout the 11-week High Court proceedings, Judge Matthew Nicklin repeatedly questioned the plaintiffs’ attorney about the case’s viability if Burrows’ original statement was dismissed. The judge will deliver a written decision at a later date.

Lawyer David Sherborne argued that substantial additional evidence exists showing the newspapers engaged in illegal information collection, including employing other investigators, reporters, and freelance journalists to hack phones, intercept voicemails, and gather information through fraudulent means.

Harry and six additional plaintiffs are pursuing “a substantial award of damages, including aggravated damages,” according to Sherborne. Legal expenses alone are estimated to approach 40 million pounds ($52 million).

This trial represents the concluding phase of Harry’s extended conflict with British tabloid media. He seeks to make newspapers answerable for previous misconduct and transform what he has characterized as a harmful media landscape.

Harry and fellow plaintiffs are pursuing legal action against Associated Newspapers Ltd. for privacy violations. Additional plaintiffs include anti-racism campaigner Doreen Lawrence, former politician Simon Hughes, and John’s spouse, David Furnish.

They allege the publications engaged in “clear, systematic and sustained use of unlawful information gathering” spanning two decades to conduct surveillance on them.

Associated Newspapers rejected the accusations as “preposterous,” maintaining that approximately 50 disputed articles relied on legitimate sources, including friends, royal staff members, and publicists who voluntarily provided information to journalists. The company also argued that claims reaching back to the 1990s were submitted beyond acceptable time limits.

While Sherborne claimed payment records to private investigators corresponded with publication dates of questioned articles, White dismissed this as speculation and argued the case depended too heavily on assumptions.

Harry testified early in the January trial that media intrusions made him “paranoid beyond belief,” damaged his relationships, and affected his mental well-being.

During cross-examination, he adopted a protective stance and became emotional, stating that tabloids had made his wife Meghan’s life “an absolute misery.”

Harry has connected his media hostility to his mother Princess Diana’s death, who died in a 1997 automobile accident while being chased by photographers, and to what he describes as continuous press harassment of his wife that influenced their choice to reduce royal responsibilities and relocate to the United States in 2020.

Harry previously secured a favorable ruling in a phone hacking case against the Daily Mirror’s publisher and received a settlement and apology from Rupert Murdoch’s Sun and the now-closed News of the World.

The Mail trial has proceeded differently from the Mirror case, featuring significantly more current and former journalists and editors testifying to deny using illegal methods for stories about Harry’s numerous relationships — particularly regarding former girlfriend Chelsy Davy — his godfather responsibilities, and his deceased mother.

Several reporters identified their sources and challenged Harry’s claim that his “social circles were not leaky.”

“They were not all tight lipped,” said Katie Nicholl, a former Mail on Sunday editor, regarding Harry’s associates. “I had very good sources in the inner circle.”

HAVANA — In a crumbling Havana neighborhood, Yuneisy Riviaux faces a reality she never thought possible: watching her young daughters go hungry because there simply isn’t enough food.

The 42-year-old mother, currently without work, shares a deteriorating home with multiple families after the building’s upper level caved in years earlier. As she holds her 2-year-old daughter Seinet, Riviaux describes their desperate situation.

“Things have been going very, very badly for me,” Riviaux explained. “Some days I manage to get food.”

“But other times I can’t — like right now, when I have to bite my lip and swallow my tears because I don’t have lunch for the girls.”

Cuba’s worsening financial collapse, now in its sixth year and made worse by energy sanctions implemented during Donald Trump’s presidency, has hit families like Riviaux’s the hardest. Constant power outages, reductions in government food distributions, and critical shortages of clean water and medical supplies have made survival a daily struggle for Riviaux, her 61-year-old husband Cristóbal Estrada, and their two children.

Earlier that morning, Estrada had prepared breakfast for their 7-year-old daughter Edianet: a slice of rationed bread topped with a small amount of butter — a rare treat given to the family by a passing tourist exploring their neighborhood.

After taking Edianet to school, Estrada began the challenging journey to Cotorro, roughly 12 miles away, hoping to collect food and financial assistance from family members. The nationwide power failure on March 21 had destroyed all the perishable items in their refrigerator.

“He has to see if he can find a ride, a bus or whatever it takes to get there,” Riviaux said.

Cuba’s transportation network has nearly ground to a halt due to fuel shortages after the United States blocked oil shipments to the island following January’s attack on Venezuela — Cuba’s primary petroleum source. The island only produces about 40% of its required crude oil.

These fuel shortages have triggered nationwide blackouts that have frustrated Cubans already dealing with years of hardship. The lack of gasoline and essential supplies has devastated healthcare facilities and caused dramatic increases in food costs and availability problems.

Mexico previously provided oil to Cuba during the island’s ongoing energy struggles, but stopped these deliveries when faced with potential US trade penalties, now limiting assistance to humanitarian supplies only.

This Tuesday, a Russian oil tanker arrived at Cuba’s Matanzas port carrying 730,000 barrels of petroleum after the Trump administration allowed the delivery despite the US energy blockade — the first such shipment in three months. However, energy analysts estimate this supply will only meet the island’s diesel requirements for approximately nine to ten days.

Riviaux and Estrada previously operated a small vendor stand outside their residence, selling drink mixes and basic packaged goods.

However, in February, Estrada became seriously ill and required hospitalization for a collapsed lung. The medical expenses proved financially devastating as the couple exhausted their savings purchasing medications on the illegal market when government-subsidized pharmacies had no supplies available.

“We had to sacrifice that business to buy the medicine and save his life,” Riviaux said.

Currently, Riviaux sells sweet baked goods prepared by her sister whenever they can obtain flour — an item not included in the limited monthly government rations that provide rice, beans, sugar, cooking oil, coffee, and daily bread.

Cuba’s previously celebrated universal healthcare system has deteriorated so severely that it cannot deliver basic medical services. Medical facilities face enormous backlogs, with approximately 96,000 surgical procedures delayed, including 11,000 for pediatric patients, based on local government and United Nations data.

Almost 5 million citizens with ongoing medical conditions cannot access necessary medications, while critical treatments including cancer radiation therapy and kidney dialysis have been suspended for 16,000 and 2,800 patients respectively.

The United Nations announced a $94 million emergency assistance program this week to address what officials described as a “life-threatening” situation for Cuban citizens. Francisco Pichón, the UN’s resident coordinator in Cuba, noted the appeal follows Cuba’s historical leadership in Latin American maternal healthcare and immunization programs — achievements now seriously threatened.

By midday, with her husband still away, Riviaux had no option but to feed her 2-year-old a piece of bread and the family’s remaining milk — a donation from Mexico. Riviaux went without eating. Her 7-year-old continues receiving free school meals, as classes persist despite the national emergency.

Riviaux looks back wistfully to the period before the COVID-19 pandemic, when she recalls “Cuba had everything.”

“I know the pandemic hit the whole world, but it hit us much harder,” she said.

Before the pandemic, each family’s ration booklet included rice, beans, daily milk for children, sugar, oil, chicken, ground meat, and approximately 30 food and hygiene items. These supplies typically lasted about 20 days, requiring families to purchase additional items from private businesses using currency tied to the US dollar.

Enhanced US sanctions that began during Trump’s first term, combined with tourism’s collapse during the pandemic and Cuba’s unsuccessful economic strategies, created a severe recession.

Cuba’s economic output has dropped 15% during the past six years, causing a massive population exodus. The island lost over 1 million residents — roughly 10% of its total population — in 2024 alone.

Following the US capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Trump has intensified his statements about Cuba, initially suggesting a “friendly takeover” and recently telling conservative Latin American allies he would “take care” of Cuba after concluding the conflict with Iran.

Riviaux acknowledged that despite attempting to avoid political discussions, Trump’s aggressive language has caused her significant concern.

“We heard the news that Trump wanted to take over. What will happen if the U.S. gets involved?” she questioned as her husband returned late that afternoon.

He brought plantains, chicken, and sufficient money to purchase a kilogram of rice from a neighboring vendor — providing small comfort during an unpredictable week.

Military officials in Burundi report that loud explosions that shook the commercial capital of Bujumbura on Tuesday stemmed from an electrical malfunction at a weapons storage facility within a military installation.

The powerful blasts echoed throughout the city, creating massive smoke clouds visible across the skyline while frightened citizens rushed indoors for safety.

Social media users posted videos and photos capturing the dramatic explosions, showing thick smoke and flames in the distance, though Reuters was unable to confirm whether these images were authentic.

“A serious electrical accident at the (army) ammunition depot in Musaga is the cause of the explosions currently being heard in the economic capital, Bujumbura,” military spokesman Gaspard Baratuza told Reuters when asked about the incident.

Baratuza called on citizens to remain composed and stay away from the affected area, noting that emergency response crews were working to handle the crisis.

Palestinian families in the West Bank are expressing deep anxiety about the safety of their imprisoned loved ones following Israel’s passage of new legislation that establishes capital punishment as the standard sentence for Palestinians found guilty of fatal attacks.

The legislation, approved by Israeli lawmakers late Monday evening, technically applies to all citizens but specifically targets attacks described as those “negating Israel’s existence” – language that critics argue makes it highly unlikely to affect Jewish Israelis.

Legal scholars anticipate Israel’s Supreme Court will overturn the measure after civil rights organizations file their expected challenge, noting the law conflicts with international agreements. The U.N. human rights chief stated Tuesday that the legislation breaches international humanitarian law.

Under the new statute, condemned individuals would face execution specifically through hanging within 90 days of sentencing, with no opportunity for clemency. Legal experts suggest the hanging provision was included due to concerns that Israeli physicians would decline to participate in lethal injection procedures.

While judges retain discretion to impose life imprisonment instead of execution in undefined “special circumstances,” the law otherwise mandates capital punishment.

The Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem reports that West Bank military tribunals, which exclusively handle Palestinian cases, achieve conviction rates of 96% and have documented histories of coercing confessions through pressure or torture – allegations Israel disputes.

Family members of Palestinian detainees gathered for a demonstration in Ramallah Tuesday, demanding the death penalty statute be rescinded.

“I am afraid for my son and for all the prisoners. The news came down like a thunderbolt on the prisoners’ families,” said Maysoun Shawamreh, whose 29-year-old son Mansour faces attempted murder charges.

Abdel Fattah al-Himouni’s son Ahmed awaits trial for his alleged role in an October 2024 combined shooting and stabbing incident at a light-rail station near Tel Aviv that claimed seven lives, including a woman holding her infant.

Al-Himouni expressed concern his son could now face execution if convicted and questioned whether a fair trial would be possible. “I appeal to human rights organizations to pressure the Israeli government so this law does not come into effect,” said al-Himouni.

The 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention, which Israel has signed, requires that death row inmates retain petition rights for pardons and mandates at least six months between sentencing and execution.

Mordechai Kremnitzer, a legal scholar with the Israel Democracy Institute, characterized the law as “a clear case that invites the Supreme Court to strike it down.”

“The likelihood of executions in the near future is not very high,” Kremnitzer explained, noting that judges typically oppose capital punishment as it conflicts with both universal and Jewish moral principles.

The measure has generated international condemnation of Israel, which already faces criticism for escalating settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank and its military operations against Hamas in Gaza.

Israeli settler attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank seldom result in military court charges. The monitoring group Yesh Din reports the most recent case of an Israeli citizen being indicted for killing a Palestinian involved a 2018 incident.

In Israel’s civilian court system, where Palestinians may also face trial, the law similarly mandates death or life imprisonment for homicides intended to “negate Israel’s existence” – terminology unlikely to apply to Jewish defendants.

“That’s how the law will only apply to Palestinians,” explained attorney Debbie Gild-Hayo of The Association for Civil Rights in Israel, which has petitioned the Supreme Court challenging the measure.

Suhad Bishara, whose organization Adalah jointly filed the appeal with ACRI, argued that “military courts have no basic guarantees for a fair trial” and questioned whether Israel’s parliament has authority to create laws for occupied territories.

Palestinian Authority prisoners’ minister Raed Abu al-Hummus estimates 45 to 47 Palestinian detainees currently awaiting murder sentencing could face execution if the law takes effect.

ACRI clarified the statute would only apply to future killings, not past cases, and would not affect the hundreds of Hamas fighters involved in the October 7, 2023 attack that killed 1,200 people in southern Israel, since parliament continues developing the legal framework for their trials.

Israel’s far-right politicians celebrated the legislation as fulfilling a key 2022 campaign promise by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. His Jewish Power party contends capital punishment will discourage Palestinians from conducting deadly attacks against Israelis or attempting kidnappings to secure prisoner exchanges.

However, Amnesty International, which monitors global death penalty implementation, states “there is no evidence that the death penalty is any more effective in reducing crime than life imprisonment.”

Two Indonesian peacekeepers serving with the United Nations died Monday when an explosive device detonated along their convoy route in southern Lebanon, according to preliminary investigation results released by UN officials on Tuesday.

The fatal incident occurred near the village of Bani Hayyan, where the roadside explosion also left two additional soldiers injured. This tragedy followed another deadly attack just hours earlier, when a third Indonesian peacekeeper lost his life Sunday night after a projectile struck close to a UN position.

Speaking at a UN Security Council session focused on Lebanon, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, who oversees UN peacekeeping operations, announced that investigators are working to understand the full details of these attacks. “UNIFIL is conducting investigations to determine the circumstances of these reprehensible developments,” Lacroix stated.

The violence comes as fighting between Israel and the Lebanese militant organization Hezbollah intensified following the outbreak of renewed conflict on March 2nd.

Israel’s UN representative Danny Danon pointed fingers at Hezbollah for the peacekeepers’ deaths, claiming the organization fires rockets from civilian areas adjacent to UN facilities. This practice, he argued, “putting peacekeepers directly in the line of fire.”

When asked to respond to Danon’s accusations, UNIFIL spokesperson Kandice Ardiel replied: “We invite them to share their evidence with our investigative team.”

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric confirmed during a press briefing that the Bani Hayyan attack involved a “roadside bomb, most likely an IED,” referring to an improvised explosive device.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a strong condemnation of the attacks, describing them as “grave violations of international humanitarian law… and may amount to war crimes.” He emphasized that “There will need to be accountability” for these incidents.

Indonesia’s foreign ministry responded Tuesday with its own harsh criticism, condemning the attacks “in the strongest terms” while noting the worsening security situation across the region. The ministry specifically cited ongoing Israeli military actions as creating serious dangers for UN peacekeeping personnel stationed in Lebanon.

During the Security Council meeting, U.S. representative Mike Waltz highlighted the long history of peacekeeper casualties, noting that since 1978, more than 300 UNIFIL personnel have died. This record, he argued, means the council “must think very carefully about the effectiveness of this effort.”

“We can help refocus international efforts on supporting Lebanese state institutions, reducing risk to peacekeepers, and pressing Hezbollah and Iran to cease their destabilizing activities,” Waltz added.

The peacekeeping mission faces a scheduled conclusion, with the Security Council having decided that UNIFIL operations will end in late 2026, followed by complete withdrawal in 2027. Current deployment numbers show 7,505 peacekeepers from 47 different countries serving in the mission as of March.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced Tuesday his decision to retain Vice President Geraldo Alckmin as his vice presidential candidate for the upcoming October election.

The 80-year-old leftist leader faced pressure from political allies to select a running mate from a larger right-wing party, but ultimately chose to stand by the former São Paulo state governor.

Alckmin, 73, represents the center-right and previously challenged Lula in the 2006 presidential race, which he lost. He currently serves as the nation’s industry minister alongside his vice presidential duties.

According to Brazil’s election regulations, Alckmin must resign from his Cabinet position to qualify as a candidate. “Our partner Alckmin will have to leave the Industry Ministry. He will have to leave because he will be candidate for vice president once again,” Lula announced during a Cabinet session in Brasília.

Brazilian electoral rules require government ministers to step down by April 4 if they plan to seek office in the October general election. Multiple other Cabinet members are expected to resign to pursue various political positions.

Alckmin’s conservative background proved valuable in Lula’s tight 2022 victory over former President Jair Bolsonaro. This election cycle, Lula is anticipated to face Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, the former president’s son. Current polling indicates a closely contested race between the two candidates.

Known to many Brazilians as “Dr. Alckmin,” the mild-mannered Catholic politician led Brazil’s most prosperous state on three separate occasions. His 2006 presidential bid ended in a decisive runoff defeat to Lula. In 2018, despite beginning as the frontrunner, he suffered an early elimination in the first round to political newcomer Bolsonaro, who subsequently defeated Workers’ Party nominee Fernando Haddad.

For the 2022 election, Alckmin switched his party affiliation to the Brazilian Socialist Party to join Lula’s ticket, abandoning the center-right Brazilian Social Democracy Party he had helped establish thirty years earlier.

As vice president, Alckmin has played a significant role in Lula’s government, particularly in trade negotiations with the United States and in finalizing the agreement between the Mercosur trade bloc and the European Union.

DENPASAR, Indonesia — Indonesian immigration officials have detained a Scottish national believed to be a high-ranking member of a global criminal organization, law enforcement announced Tuesday.

Steven Lyons, 45, was apprehended by immigration personnel at Ngurah Rai International Airport on Saturday after arriving from Singapore, confirmed Untung Widiyatmoko, who leads Indonesia’s Interpol division.

Airport systems had identified Lyons through an Interpol Red Notice requested by Spanish authorities. These notices serve as international alerts asking law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and arrest individuals for potential extradition.

Widiyatmoko informed media in Denpasar, Bali’s capital city, that Lyons faces charges in both Spain and Britain for organized criminal activity, narcotics trafficking, and financial crimes. Officials plan to transfer him to Spain on Wednesday.

Spanish authorities have pursued Lyons for approximately two years following a homicide investigation that began in 2024. Bali Police Chief Daniel Adityajaya explained that the capture resulted from collaborative efforts between Spanish and Scottish law enforcement agencies.

Widiyatmoko stated that investigators believe Lyons operated a criminal network utilizing fake businesses to launder money throughout Europe and Middle Eastern nations, including Spain, Scotland, England, Dubai, Qatar, Bahrain and Turkey.

Law enforcement agencies in Scotland and Spain conducted coordinated raids last week related to Lyons’ case, leading to several additional arrests with assistance from Europol, the European Union’s law enforcement coordination agency, along with authorities in Turkey, the Netherlands and the United Arab Emirates.

Reports from Scottish news outlets indicate 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 another associate were fatally shot in what authorities suspect was a gang-related attack at a coastal bar in Fuengirola, located in southern Spain.

Bugie Kurniawan from Bali’s immigration department revealed that Lyons traveled with two other individuals who remain on the island. While Spanish Interpol officials have identified these companions as suspected members of the same criminal organization, no arrest warrants have been issued for them.

Syrian Internal Security Forces have arrested former Major General Muhammad Mansoura in Jableh, located in Latakia governorate, and brought him to Damascus for questioning.

Information from The Media Line reveals that authorities have launched a formal investigation into Mansoura and are ready to accept any complaints or legal actions brought against him.

Mansoura stands out as a key security official who occupied critical roles within Syria’s former government structure. From 2005 through 2016, he directed Syria’s Political Security Directorate, which ranked among the most powerful security organizations under the Interior Ministry.

Throughout his career, he occupied various security leadership roles, including directing the military intelligence division in Syria’s Jazira region from Qamishli, leading the Palestine branch in Damascus, and serving as deputy to Major General Ghazi Kanaan.

Born in 1950 in the village of Ain Qubiya within Latakia governorate’s Hamam al-Qarahleh subdistrict, Mansoura achieved the rank of major general. Sources suggest he managed security operations involving Arab-Kurdish relations in the Qamishli region and supervised issues related to Kurdish political groups and military forces during his time there.

Allegations have connected his name to weapons trafficking and corruption charges, along with claims of connections to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party and its Syrian political affiliates. Mansoura has not responded publicly to these accusations.

This arrest occurs as pressure mounts within Syria to examine suspected violations and misconduct by the previous security establishment. These calls represent part of a comprehensive transitional justice movement that encompasses truth-seeking, legal responsibility, victim compensation, and protecting historical records—measures considered crucial for the nation’s political and social healing.

This action follows dramatic transformations in Syria after Bashar Assad’s government collapsed in late 2024, marking an end to an era characterized by oppression, violations, and security agencies controlling civilian life.

The pursuit of former security and military leaders represents a component of the wider transitional justice initiative, encompassing accountability measures, truth revelation, and safeguarding victims’ rights and collective memory.

Israeli military officials confirmed that four soldiers died during fierce fighting with Hezbollah militants in southern Lebanon Monday evening, as border operations continue in the region.

Military authorities have identified three of the deceased service members as Captain Noam Madmoni, age 22, from Sderot; Staff Sergeant Ben Cohen, age 21, from Lehavim; and Staff Sergeant Maxsim Entis, age 21, from Bat Yam. All three belonged to the Nahal Brigade’s Reconnaissance Unit. Officials have not yet disclosed the identity of the fourth fallen soldier.

Military investigators report the confrontation took place Monday evening in southern Lebanon’s western region, where reconnaissance troops spotted a group of Hezbollah fighters. The Israeli soldiers confronted the militants in close-quarters combat, opening fire and striking multiple targets.

The firefight resulted in four Israeli fatalities. Three other soldiers sustained injuries – one critically wounded, with another soldier and a reservist suffering moderate wounds. Medical teams transported all injured personnel to hospitals, and military officials contacted the families of those affected.

As troops worked to remove the wounded from the battlefield, Hezbollah forces launched an anti-tank missile at Israeli positions. Military sources say the missile strike caused no further casualties.

Israeli forces retaliated with tank bombardments and aerial attacks against Hezbollah positions in the surrounding area.

The military stated that troops located and confronted terrorist groups as part of continuing missions in southern Lebanon. The Nahal Brigade operates within the 162nd Division’s command structure during efforts to gain military control of the border zone.

Military forces worldwide are grappling with the growing threat of drone warfare, and one Israeli company believes it has found an innovative solution. Rather than developing specialized anti-drone weapons, Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) has created a system that enhances conventional rifles where it matters most – at the trigger.

The company’s new Arbel technology integrates computer processing directly into standard firearms, enabling military personnel to achieve rapid, accurate strikes against small tactical drones during fleeting engagement opportunities. This approach allows soldiers to deliver multiple precise shots in the critical seconds when unmanned targets briefly become visible before vanishing again.

A journalist from The Media Line recently toured IWI’s advanced facility to examine how this anti-drone technology functions. The system represents a shift away from creating entirely new weapon platforms, instead focusing on upgrading existing military rifles with enhanced firing capabilities.

The technology addresses a key challenge in modern warfare: the difficulty of neutralizing small, fast-moving drones with traditional shooting methods. By incorporating computational assistance into the trigger mechanism, the Arbel system aims to improve soldiers’ effectiveness against these increasingly common battlefield threats.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has requested that British diplomatic officials worldwide help combat false information about his city that has been promoted by President Donald Trump.

Speaking to Reuters after meeting with British diplomats, ambassadors and high commissioners on Tuesday, Khan expressed concern about what he termed misleading claims being spread about London.

Trump has previously criticized Khan, whom he has labeled a “terrible mayor,” and has made various statements about London, claiming crime rates are extremely high and suggesting the city wants to implement Islamic law.

Khan acknowledged that London isn’t without problems but emphasized that it remains secure and is actually safer than many major American cities. The mayor, who made history in 2016 as London’s first Muslim mayor and has since won two additional elections, cited recent crime statistics to support his position.

According to Khan, London achieved its lowest homicide rate per capita on record last year, while incidents of phone theft have also decreased recently.

“A lot of this misinformation, disinformation and lies comes from the United States of America,” Khan stated. “It’s really important to counter the propaganda coming from President Trump.”

The White House has not responded to requests for comment regarding Khan’s statements.

Khan emphasized the need to better challenge false narratives that circulate globally. “One of the things that we’ve got to do better is to rebut these lies that exist across the globe,” he said, stressing that diplomatic personnel need accurate information to counter misconceptions about London.

The mayor expressed worry that such false claims spreading through social media platforms might discourage tourism, investment, residency, and educational opportunities in London, potentially damaging the city’s economic future.

The diplomatic meeting included representatives from multiple countries, including the United States, United Arab Emirates, and Japan, along with officials from London’s Metropolitan Police.

The ongoing public dispute between Trump and Khan began around 2017, when Khan criticized Trump’s proposed travel restrictions targeting several predominantly Muslim nations.

Three United Nations peacekeepers from Indonesia died this week in southern Lebanon during separate attacks, marking some of the most dangerous conditions the international mission has faced as it prepares to conclude operations next year.

The UN Interim Force in Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, has maintained a presence in the region since 1978, weathering multiple conflicts including the current war between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants that erupted in 2024.

According to UN Security Council decisions, the peacekeeping mission will end operations by late 2026 and complete its withdrawal in 2027. The force currently includes 7,505 personnel from 47 different countries.

Two of the Indonesian peacekeepers died Monday when a roadside bomb struck their convoy near the town of Bani Hayyan, according to preliminary investigation findings released by the head of UN peacekeeping operations.

Israel’s UN ambassador claimed that Hezbollah explosive devices were responsible for that attack. UNIFIL spokesperson Kandice Ardiel responded by asking Israel to “share their evidence with our investigative team.”

Hezbollah has not yet responded to requests for comment about the allegations.

The third peacekeeper was killed Sunday when a projectile struck a UNIFIL base close to the village of Adchit al-Qusayr. That incident remains under investigation.

During the 2024 conflict, UNIFIL facilities were repeatedly hit by fire from both sides, though no peacekeepers died in those earlier incidents.

Ardiel described “a great deal of violence” occurring around UNIFIL positions, explaining: “There are projectiles being launched back and forth between the Israel Defense Forces and non-state actors, presumably Hezbollah.”

The most recent peacekeeper death prior to this week occurred in 2022, when an Irish soldier was killed after his vehicle came under fire in southern Lebanon. A Lebanese military court later convicted six Hezbollah members in connection with that killing.

UNIFIL was originally established in 1978 following Israel’s invasion of Lebanon to combat Palestinian militant groups in the south. The mission’s initial goals included verifying Israel’s withdrawal and assisting Lebanon in restoring government control over the area.

As the Palestinian threat to Israel decreased, Hezbollah emerged as a new hostile force following Israel’s 1982 invasion of Lebanon.

Following a 2006 conflict, UN Resolution 1701 significantly expanded UNIFIL’s responsibilities to include ceasefire monitoring, supporting Lebanese army deployment in the south, and assisting with enforcement of illegal weapons restrictions.

“UNIFIL’s mission is to monitor the situation and report on violations of Resolution 1701,” Ardiel explained, noting: “The active conflict has changed what we’re able to do as we’re no longer able to go out and patrol.”

Unlike in 2024 when Israel requested peacekeepers to abandon their positions, no such demand has been made this time, she said. “But of course, they continue to reiterate that they consider this a dangerous situation” and that peacekeepers “should stay out of the way.”

Israeli military officials stated they are coordinating with UNIFIL and have urged “different uninvolved forces and civilians to get out of harm’s way” following Hezbollah attacks.

The decision to end UNIFIL’s mission comes after the 2024 war dramatically altered Lebanon’s power structure, significantly weakening Hezbollah while a new Lebanese government has taken office and begun efforts to peacefully disarm the group, starting in southern regions.

The U.S. ambassador to the UN cited a “radically different” security situation in Lebanon when agreeing to a French-proposed resolution in August that extended UNIFIL’s mandate “for a final time.” Israel’s UN ambassador argued at that time that UNIFIL had “failed in its mission and allowed Hezbollah to become a dangerous regional threat.”

One of Israel’s current objectives is establishing and maintaining security control over the territory between the border and the Litani River, which encompasses UNIFIL’s operational area.

Several major European allies are limiting American military access to their territory during the ongoing conflict with Iran, creating friction within NATO as President Trump publicly criticizes partner nations for their lack of cooperation.

Sources revealed Tuesday that both France and Italy have recently declined to support certain US-Israeli military activities, marking a shift in European participation since the conflict began February 28.

Trump took to Truth Social to express his frustration with France’s decision, writing: “The Country of France wouldn’t let planes headed to Israel, loaded up with military supplies, fly over French territory. France has been VERY UNHELPFUL with respect to the ‘Butcher of Iran,’ who has been successfully eliminated! The U.S.A. will REMEMBER!!!”

French officials responded with surprise to Trump’s post, stating their actions align with policies established at the conflict’s beginning. However, diplomatic sources confirmed this was France’s first refusal to allow Israeli aircraft carrying American weapons to cross its airspace since hostilities commenced.

Italy similarly restricted access last week when it prevented US military planes from landing at Sicily’s Sigonella air base before continuing to Middle East operations. The Corriere della Sera newspaper reported that “some U.S. bombers” had planned to use the eastern Sicily facility as a stopover.

Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto downplayed any policy changes or tensions with Washington, explaining on social media that American bases remain operational but require special authorization for activities beyond existing agreements.

Spain has taken the strongest stance among European nations, completely closing its airspace to US aircraft participating in Iranian operations. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has emerged as one of the most outspoken opponents of American and Israeli military actions.

Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles stated her country will only permit base usage for NATO collective defense purposes. Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares dismissed concerns about potential retaliation, telling state television: “We fear absolutely nothing. How could a country possibly fear anything for upholding international law, world peace and the United Nations Charter?”

Trump also targeted Britain in his social media criticism, despite the upcoming state visit by King Charles and Queen Camilla scheduled for late April. He posted: “All of those countries that can’t get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz, like the United Kingdom, which refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran, I have a suggestion for you: Number 1, buy from the U.S., we have plenty, and Number 2, build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT.”

Germany, which hosts Ramstein – America’s largest European military installation – initially indicated no restrictions on base usage early in the conflict. However, debate has emerged following comments by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier questioning the war’s legality.

The restrictions highlight growing divisions within the NATO alliance over the month-long Iranian conflict, with European partners increasingly reluctant to provide military support for operations they view as potentially destabilizing.

BEIRUT (AP) — More than a month after the United States and Israel began military operations against Iran on February 28, the Trump administration maintains it has nearly “obliterated” the Islamic Republic’s armed forces. Last week, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that “never in recorded history has a nation’s military been so quickly and so effectively neutralized.”

However, following weeks of intense American-Israeli air campaigns, Iran’s weakened military continues to pose a persistent threat. The country’s ongoing attacks on Israel and neighboring Gulf states are creating regional instability and generating significant economic and political consequences.

Iranian missiles keep breaching Israeli air defenses and causing civilian casualties. Low-cost unmanned aircraft evade neighboring countries’ defensive systems, damaging the Gulf Arab states’ reputation for security while injuring American service members. Tehran’s warnings to target petroleum vessels in the Strait of Hormuz are restricting shipping traffic and driving up fuel costs worldwide.

President Donald Trump has pursued diplomatic talks while issuing severe threats, aiming to secure Iran’s enriched uranium supplies and force the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. According to analysts, Iran’s strategy involves enduring the current fighting long enough to pressure Washington into seeking a resolution.

“Their strategy is to try to cause sustained pain and to drive up the costs of the war for the U.S.,” said Kelly Grieco, an expert in U.S. military strategy and operations who is a senior fellow at the Washington-based Stimson Center think tank.

From the opening day of the American-Israeli air offensive, leaders from both nations have consistently highlighted a significant reduction in Iran’s ballistic missile launches as evidence their campaign to eliminate launch sites and weapon supplies was succeeding.

Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine reported to journalists on March 4 that Iran’s “ballistic missile shots fired are down 86% from the first day of fighting and their one-way attack drone shots are down 73%.” During a media briefing two weeks afterward, Hegseth announced that Iran’s ballistic missile attack frequency had decreased “90% since the start of the conflict.”

This Tuesday, Hegseth informed Pentagon reporters that Iran had launched its “lowest number” of missiles and drones in the previous day, although neither he nor Caine provided updated statistics. Trump posted on Truth Social Tuesday that “Iran has been, essentially, decimated.”

Independent tracking by Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED), an American organization monitoring global conflicts, supports assertions of reduced Iranian attacks.

March 1, the conflict’s second day, saw Iran execute nearly 100 strikes. The following day, attacks fell to 53 and remained at similar levels for several days. ACLED information indicates Iran hasn’t exceeded 50 strikes daily since March 6, spanning three and a half weeks. Under ACLED’s system, a “strike” may encompass multiple individual attacks at the same location on one day.

Iran has averaged 30 daily strikes over the past three weeks, occasionally increasing its attack frequency.

“That makes me question whether it’s a capacity issue or a strategy issue,” Grieco said of the initial decline in Iran’s strike rate. Iran may be conserving its missiles and drones rather than experiencing ammunition shortages.

ACLED findings reveal approximately 40% of Iran’s regional attacks are penetrating air defenses, indicating stress on American and Israeli interceptor supplies. Iran has deployed fewer missiles while increasing difficult-to-intercept low-altitude drones.

“We are vaporizing billions of dollars in long-range anti-missile defenses, which are scarce national resources,” said Tom Karako, the director of the Missile Defense Project at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Karako warned that America and Israel risk depleting interceptors before eliminating Iran’s remaining missile stockpiles and mobile launchers — a goal proving “maddeningly difficult.”

More than a month into the conflict, Trump administration representatives continue referencing the initial 72 hours when discussing Iran’s diminished capabilities.

“A good percentage of Iranian missiles, at least half of the arsenal, is stored in very hardened facilities that are not easily reachable with air power,” said Farzin Nadimi, an expert on the Iranian missile program at The Washington Institute. “It looks like the Americans and the Israelis have been underestimating some level of complexity.”

Despite Hegseth’s description of Iranians as “flailing recklessly” through attacks on civilian and energy infrastructure throughout the Arabian Peninsula, analysts believe Tehran has carefully calibrated its timing and target selection for maximum impact.

“They have been able to strike targets more efficiently and therefore use fewer missiles to achieve the same result,” Nadimi said.

Iran has increasingly focused its attacks on critical infrastructure including oil pipelines and water treatment facilities across the Persian Gulf, attempting to force American concessions. The United Arab Emirates and Kuwait have suffered the heaviest damage. Last week, Iranian ballistic missiles and drones targeted a Saudi military base, injuring over two dozen American troops and damaging aircraft.

“In this asymmetrical war, the most important thing for Iran is attack the world economy in hopes of coercing the U.S. to stop,” said Assaf Orion, a retired Israeli brigadier general and senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies. This economic warfare has become more significant to Iran than targeting Israel, which considers this conflict existential and won’t be deterred, he explained.

Iran’s ability to maintain current retaliation levels remains uncertain, given limited American and Israeli intelligence regarding Iran’s missile and drone inventories.

Military analysts from both countries provide different estimates of remaining weapons but agree Iran likely retains thousands of inexpensive, domestically-produced drones capable of threatening American allies, even if much of its medium-range ballistic missile capacity has been eliminated.

“Iran built itself to be able to ride a war like this out,” said Karako. “It has been preparing for this.”

KABUL, Afghanistan — Deadly storms and flooding across Afghanistan claimed 14 additional lives during the past day, officials announced Tuesday, pushing the five-day casualty count to 42 fatalities as meteorologists predict continued severe weather ahead.

Afghanistan’s National Disaster Management Authority reported that 66 people have sustained injuries during the five-day period, as powerful thunderstorms and torrential rainfall impacted nearly all provinces throughout the nation. The severe weather has spawned dangerous flooding, deadly landslides, and fatal lightning incidents. Officials warned that additional heavy precipitation is expected to sweep across Afghanistan during the next 72 hours.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Afghanistan posted on X that their initial field assessments indicated 19 fatalities and impacts to more than 900 households from the flooding. UN officials noted that damage evaluations remain underway and casualty numbers may be revised.

Earlier this year in January, dangerous snowstorms and sudden flooding resulted in dozens of deaths nationwide.

The country faces extreme susceptibility to severe weather conditions, where snow accumulation and intense rainfall create sudden flood events that frequently claim dozens or even hundreds of lives simultaneously. During 2024’s spring season, rapid flooding killed more than 300 people.

Years of warfare, combined with inadequate infrastructure, economic hardship, forest destruction, and worsening climate impacts have magnified the devastation from such natural disasters, especially in isolated regions where residences constructed from mud provide minimal defense against rapid flooding or heavy snow.

During the most recent 24-hour period, the extreme weather partially or completely demolished 476 residences, the national disaster authority reported Tuesday. Commercial properties, farmland, and water distribution systems also sustained damage, impacting 603 households.

Lebanon’s government is making contingency plans for a scenario where hundreds of thousands of citizens displaced by Israeli military operations may be permanently unable to return to their communities, according to the country’s social affairs minister.

Minister Haneen Sayed made these remarks following statements from Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, who announced plans to demolish all residential structures near Lebanon’s border with Israel and prevent 600,000 people who evacuated southern Lebanon from going back to their towns.

The conflict has forced more than one million Lebanese citizens from their residences, while another 1,200 have lost their lives in Israeli military strikes since March 2, when the Lebanese militant organization Hezbollah entered the regional war by launching attacks into Israel.

“Long-term displacement is something we are concerned about, of course. We hope it does not happen, but as a government, we have to prepare and think about it,” Sayed stated during her Tuesday interview.

Lebanese officials are exploring various solutions, including rental assistance programs and identifying “physical places where people might go,” though the government has no immediate plans to build refugee camps, the minister explained.

“And it all depends on how much of a land grab the Israelis will insist on, and of course, it’s totally unacceptable for us. I mean, this is a huge violation of our sovereignty, and we will do everything we can to ensure that this doesn’t happen, whatever we have in our means,” Sayed emphasized.

Israeli officials have indicated they plan to maintain military control over southern Lebanon extending to the Litani river, located approximately 30 kilometers north of the Israeli-Lebanese border. This territory represents nearly ten percent of Lebanon’s total landmass.

HUMANITARIAN AID FALLS SHORT OF REQUIREMENTS

Currently, approximately 136,000 displaced individuals are housed in group shelters, while the remaining population stays with family members or, in limited instances, lives without shelter.

Extended displacement could spark social unrest among Lebanon’s varied population groups, as existing political and religious divisions have intensified due to Hezbollah’s involvement in the broader regional conflict.

“We already have a very large number, and the space is getting tighter in terms of where people can go,” Sayed noted.

Several communities that previously welcomed displaced families during the 2024 Hezbollah-Israel conflict, including offering schools and government facilities, have shown less willingness to help during the current crisis, she reported.

“This is another challenge – ensuring the social cohesion, making sure that people still love each other, if you will. And I mean, I fundamentally do believe the Lebanese have that. And with most of the examples, fantastic examples of the hospitality all over. But at the same time, people’s resources are stretched,” the minister said.

Sayed’s department is attempting to develop three-month advance planning to ensure displaced families receive essential services, but insufficient funding continues to pose difficulties.

The 2024 conflict, which lasted slightly more than two months, saw the United Nations collect $700 million for Lebanon’s humanitarian response, while various nations provided over 110 cargo flights of assistance, according to Sayed.

As Lebanon enters the second month of renewed fighting, it has obtained only $30 million from the UN’s current funding request, with an additional $60 million pledged by international donors. Just seven assistance flights have been delivered.

“We’re not even close. In the last war, within the first month, there must have been at least 50 flights that had already come in,” Sayed observed.

She explained that some of Lebanon’s regular Gulf state donors are now directly involved in the conflict in ways they weren’t during 2024, and noted that rising oil costs are reducing the effectiveness of available aid.

The minister indicated that current assistance covers roughly 30 percent of her ministry’s requirements.

“Of course, we’re trying all our efforts to make sure that we can at least cover all those that are in shelters. And then the other question, of course, will be the timing. I mean, how long this will last?”

Israeli military leaders and defense experts find themselves at odds over the scope and duration of operations in southern Lebanon, as ground forces continue reshaping the border region.

The discussion has evolved beyond simply pushing Hezbollah away from Israel’s northern border to considering extended military control of Lebanese territory. With memories of Israel’s previous 18-year presence in the region still fresh, strategists remain split on what measures will actually guarantee security for northern Israeli communities.

Dr. Gabriel Siboni, an IDF reserve colonel and senior researcher at Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, advocates for the most comprehensive approach. When Israeli leadership discusses maintaining a security zone until threats are eliminated, Siboni believes the goal should be crystal clear.

“Removing the threat means that Hezbollah does not exist in Lebanon as a military organization with military capabilities,” Siboni explained to The Media Line. His position represents the most aggressive thinking currently influencing Israel’s northern strategy discussions.

This perspective extends far beyond typical military objectives of restoring deterrence or pushing enemies back from borders. Instead, Siboni envisions completely eliminating Hezbollah’s capacity to function as an armed organization within Lebanon.

Regarding territorial control, Siboni’s vision is equally expansive. Israel must maintain a presence in southern Lebanon, he argues, not just along the immediate border area. “My professional view is that we have to stay on the borders of the Litani River, on the Litani River, and in some points on the east side, even beyond the Litani River,” he stated.

Siboni’s stance puts him among the most hawkish voices currently discussing Lebanon policy. However, he frames his argument through military necessity rather than political ambition. He refuses to avoid the term “occupation,” emphasizing that “occupation is a military term” and that operationally, “we need to occupy, to hold the land” until withdrawal becomes feasible.

His proposed campaign would unfold in distinct phases. Initially, Israel would “occupy, to take hold of the area,” followed by what he calls “purifying the area” through destruction of Hezbollah infrastructure. The final phase involves sustained control preventing Hezbollah’s return.

“All these activities take time,” Siboni noted, adding that Israel must remain “until we think that there is no more threat to our northern villages,” meaning Hezbollah loses all military capabilities.

Siboni sees the October 7 attacks as fundamentally changing Israeli strategic thinking. When asked about shifts in northern doctrine, he confirmed the change “in comparison to what was before Oct. 6, 2023.” He explained that Israel’s current security strategy refuses to allow Hezbollah to build northern threats, with a southern Lebanon security zone being one essential component.

Dr. Harel Chorev from Tel Aviv University’s Moshe Dayan Center offers a more measured perspective. While agreeing that serious action against Hezbollah would require extended, multi-phase operations, he draws clear distinctions between degrading the organization and completely destroying it.

“I don’t think it would be realistic to hope for a full destruction of Hezbollah,” Chorev told The Media Line. This represents a significant departure from Siboni’s maximalist approach.

Chorev’s analysis recognizes Hezbollah as more than just “an Iranian arm,” describing it as “a Shiite Lebanese party, movement, mass movement that represents the desires and motivations of the Shiite sect.” This deeper social and political embedding makes complete eradication far more complex than military rhetoric suggests.

Attempting total destruction would require “the lives of many soldiers” and “an operation that would be extremely expensive, long range, unreasonable in any way,” according to Chorev’s assessment.

Nevertheless, Chorev doesn’t reject the possibility of renewed territorial control. He expects Israel will attempt destroying maximum Hezbollah capabilities while securing “a major part” of southern Lebanon to protect border communities.

However, his vision differs significantly from Siboni’s. “I don’t think it would be in the same pattern as the old security belt,” Chorev explained. “I think it would be something different.” He emphasized that Israel “would love to avoid any stay in Lebanon” but currently sees no viable alternatives.

“None of the Israelis would like a new option of staying in southern Lebanon,” Chorev said. “But the question is always, okay, so what is the alternative?”

Both analysts present renewed Lebanese presence as necessity rather than preference, resulting from strategic failures and post-October 7 intolerance for nearby Hezbollah forces.

Chorev, who served in the 1990s security belt, was particularly emphatic: “No one wants to go back there. They are forcing us to go back there because we cannot bear a situation where Hezbollah and Radwan forces are hanging on our border, threatening our settlements.”

Memories of the previous security zone, which ended with Israel’s May 2000 withdrawal, heavily influence current discussions. Siboni challenges conventional wisdom about that period’s costs.

The earlier presence cost was “not high compared to what we had to pay after October 2023,” Siboni argued, claiming the real strategic failure came when Hezbollah was permitted to rebuild strength.

A future security zone would differ because civilian populations have been relocated northward, eliminating the embedded village environment that complicated previous operations. “Now there will be no population in this area,” Siboni said. “Hopefully, it will be different than before.”

Chorev suggests learning from past mistakes by maintaining mobility rather than static positions, avoiding fixed outposts that make soldiers “sitting ducks.” While acknowledging that effective agreements could eventually allow withdrawal, he remains skeptical based on Hezbollah’s history of using quiet periods for rebuilding.

Both experts reach similar conclusions about Lebanese state capacity but frame them differently. Siboni dismisses possibilities of Lebanese government or military action against Hezbollah by force, concluding that only Israel can dismantle Hezbollah’s capabilities.

Chorev also describes Lebanese government and army as “totally incapable” of military confrontation with Hezbollah. However, he notes recent political shifts in Beirut, including Lebanon’s expulsion of Iranian ambassador Mohammad Reza Sheibani, as reflecting “shared interest and perception of the conflict with Hezbollah.”

Chorev bluntly observed that as long as Israel doesn’t threaten Lebanon as a state, many Lebanese officials “enjoy it” and “encourage it” because Israel performs “the dirty job for them.”

Siboni viewed the ambassador’s expulsion as significant since “Hezbollah is Iran,” calling Lebanese actions against Hezbollah and Iran meaningful. However, he sees this as supplementary to, not replacement for, Israeli force. He also rejects notions of hypothetical Iranian confrontation: “Iran is involved. We are fighting.”

The analytical differences don’t represent simple hawk-versus-moderate divisions. Both accept that previous northern border deterrence models have failed. Their disagreement centers on achievable objectives rather than whether action is necessary.

Chorev doesn’t envision Hezbollah’s complete military disappearance, while Siboni defines this as the only meaningful outcome. For Siboni, anything less leaves fundamental threats unresolved. For Chorev, such ambitions appear unrealistic, with more credible goals involving maximum operational capacity destruction while physically distancing dangers from Israeli communities.

These differences matter for determining any future Lebanese presence duration and justifying political language. Missions defined as temporary prevention can conclude when threats become manageable. Missions targeting Hezbollah elimination may lack clear endpoints.

For northern Israeli residents, the debate carries immediate rather than theoretical urgency. Siboni acknowledges that even with southern Lebanon control, neutralizing Hezbollah’s short-range threats “will take time,” while longer-range capabilities remain problematic. However, he argues the alternative—another cycle of Hezbollah survival, regrouping, and renewed threats—is worse.

“We need to finish the job with Hezbollah and not leave Hezbollah intact so they can recover,” Siboni stated.

Chorev concluded more soberly: “I don’t think there’s such a thing as final,” warning against definitive closure fantasies. Despite damage, Hezbollah remains functional, decentralized, and capable of coordinated operations. The situation isn’t about Israeli preferences, he noted: “None of us would like to be in it. But they left us no choice.”

Israeli forces are already operating in southern Lebanon and advancing. The ultimate outcome remains undetermined, with IDF scope and duration developing in real-time through field operations.

Israeli lawmakers voted Monday to establish capital punishment for individuals who commit deadly terrorist attacks, with the Knesset approving the controversial measure by a margin of 62 to 48 votes.

The new law, which completed its second and third readings on March 30, 2026, declares that any individual who deliberately kills someone during a terrorist attack will face execution. The measure mandates this punishment in specific circumstances and eliminates the previous requirement for judges to reach a unanimous verdict.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cast his ballot in support of the legislation, even though the measure was expected to pass without his vote. The opposition Israel Beiteinu party endorsed the bill, while United Torah Judaism, a member of the governing coalition, opposed it. Following the vote, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who helped initiate the proposal, declared: “We are making history.”

Under the new statute, the Israel Prison Service will conduct executions by hanging within 90 days, with no option for presidential pardons. However, government sources indicated the legislation remains vulnerable to challenges before the High Court of Justice.

Constitutional law specialists have identified several potential legal obstacles, including the compulsory nature of the death sentence and the prohibition on mercy provisions. They also noted complications arising from different legal systems governing Israeli citizens versus cases in West Bank territories.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid harshly criticized the legislation, stating: “This law will not lead to a single execution. Not in Gaza, not in Judea and Samaria, not of terrorists, and not of anyone else. It is deliberately written without filters and without balances, for one purpose only: to ensure that it will be struck down.”

According to N12 news reports, high-ranking European Union officials conducted emergency discussions with Israeli representatives in attempts to prevent the law’s passage. European leaders reportedly threatened economic sanctions and potential suspension of trade deals, technological partnerships, scientific collaboration, and diplomatic relations.

BERLIN, March 31 – German Chancellor Friedrich Merz walked back controversial statements Tuesday regarding Syrian refugees returning to their native country, following sharp criticism from political leaders and economic experts who cautioned about potential severe financial repercussions from widespread departures.

During Monday’s press conference alongside Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, Merz had stated that approximately 80% of Germany’s Syrian population was anticipated to head back to Syria over the coming three years.

The chancellor faced immediate pushback from politicians across party lines, who criticized him for establishing what they viewed as an unattainable target while potentially undermining integration initiatives. Economic analysts also raised concerns that such a large-scale departure could worsen existing worker shortages across multiple industries.

“The Syrian president cited a figure of 80% of returnees within three years. We have taken note of this figure, but we are aware of the scale of the task,” Merz stated in his clarification.

Approximately one million Syrians currently reside in Germany, with many having arrived during the massive migration wave of 2015-2016 that occurred during Syria’s civil conflict. Increasing numbers have secured employment, particularly within construction, logistics and healthcare industries, while political discussions about immigration continue to heat up and the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) party gains momentum.

Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei remains within the country’s borders but is staying away from public events “for understandable reasons,” according to statements from Russia’s ambassador reported by RTVI news on Tuesday.

Mojtaba assumed leadership after the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who died during the conflict between Iran and a coalition of Israel and the United States that began over a month ago. American officials have stated they believe Mojtaba sustained injuries and may have suffered disfigurement.

The two nations maintain strong diplomatic relations, having entered into a strategic partnership agreement last year that solidified their cooperation.

An international medical organization has documented widespread sexual violence being deployed as a strategic weapon in Sudan’s brutal civil war, according to a report released Tuesday by Doctors Without Borders.

The conflict erupted in April 2023 when tensions between Sudan’s military forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces escalated into full-scale warfare across Khartoum and other regions. The International Criminal Court is now examining mass murders, group sexual assaults, and additional atrocities from this conflict as possible war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The medical aid organization, operating under the French acronym MSF, documented testimonies from women who experienced group sexual assault in both South Darfur and North Darfur provinces.

Between January 2024 and November 2025, MSF facilities provided care to no fewer than 3,396 sexual violence survivors. According to the organization, the majority of these survivors described their attackers as armed militants, with 60% of South Darfur incidents involving group perpetrators.

One survivor shared her traumatic experience in the report: “They took us to an open area. The first man raped me twice, the second once, the third four times,” according to her testimony.

MSF Emergency Coordinator Myriam Laroussi, who worked in Tawila, North Darfur, assisting medical teams following El Fasher’s capture in late 2025, addressed reporters during the report’s presentation in Nairobi, Kenya. She emphasized that the documented figures represent merely the “tip of the iceberg” and that sexual violence occurs on a much larger scale in regions where MSF cannot operate.

Gloria Endreo, an MSF midwife, reported that medical teams treat approximately 10 to 15 women each day, with the majority arriving beyond the crucial 72-hour window essential for addressing injuries, trauma, infections, and preventing unwanted pregnancies. Many victims must travel for days on foot or by camel to reach Tawila.

“As healthcare practitioners, we consider the 72 hours as a golden period because we provide a lot of care within that period,” Endreo explained.

The violence extends beyond individual victims to impact entire communities, according to Andreza Trajano, MSF’s sexual health specialist. She noted that in certain instances, young women were assaulted in front of their mothers and grandmothers. Community members now avoid essential activities like farming due to fear of sexual assault, Trajano reported.

“Will we continue to just let women’s and girls’ bodies be used as a weapon of war?” she questioned.

MSF called upon the United Nations to establish a stronger presence in Sudan to address community needs more effectively.

The catastrophic war has claimed over 40,000 lives according to United Nations data, though humanitarian organizations believe this represents a significant undercount and the actual death toll could be substantially higher.

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

JOHANNESBURG — In an unusual campaign move, a 75-year-old mayoral candidate donned full snorkeling equipment and took a swim in a massive water-filled pothole to protest what she calls decades of municipal incompetence in South Africa’s largest metropolis.

Helen Zille, a prominent figure in South African politics, suited up in a wetsuit, diving mask, snorkel gear, and a distinctive pink-and-white swim cap before taking a doggy paddle through the murky brown water that had collected in an upscale Johannesburg neighborhood street. According to Zille, the water-filled crater has remained unfixed for approximately three years following a water main break that city workers have unsuccessfully attempted to repair multiple times.

The politician filmed her aquatic protest and shared it online, where local television networks quickly picked up the footage. During her swim, she remarked with obvious sarcasm, “And here we are with a free and wonderful Saturday-afternoon snorkel.”

“I wonder if there are any fishes in here. Let me take a look,” she continued before submerging her head beneath the surface.

Despite being recognized as Africa’s wealthiest metropolis in terms of private assets, Johannesburg has endured years of unstable local government partnerships and deteriorating public services. The municipality, historically dubbed the “City of Gold” due to its origins in massive gold mining operations, continues to face significant challenges.

The city’s roughly six million residents regularly endure power outages, water service interruptions, and crumbling infrastructure including failed water mains and deteriorated roadways.

Zille, who previously served as head of South Africa’s second-largest political party and held the mayoral position in Cape Town, announced her intention to seek the top municipal office in Johannesburg during upcoming local elections.

Following Zille’s weekend demonstration, Johannesburg’s sitting mayor responded via social media on Tuesday, acknowledging that the pothole resulted from a water main “that had repeatedly failed over the past three years.” The official stated that repair crews addressed the problem and filled the crater within one day of the politician’s publicity stunt on Saturday.

Two major Asian nations have forged a stronger alliance to secure their energy futures as Middle Eastern conflicts create uncertainty in global oil and gas markets.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto announced Tuesday their commitment to expanded energy cooperation during talks held in Tokyo.

“In the wake of the Iran situation, the importance of resources and energy security is being recognized globally,” Takaichi stated during their joint press conference.

While specific terms of their new partnership remain confidential, both leaders revealed they had formalized an economic collaboration agreement earlier this month focusing on essential minerals and nuclear technology.

The March 15 memorandum outlines plans for constructing a nuclear facility, potentially located in Indonesia’s West Kalimantan region, utilizing Japanese technical knowledge and possible financing from development institutions, according to Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry documentation.

President Prabowo expressed Indonesia’s interest in Japanese assistance with processing valuable minerals including rare earth materials, along with expanding renewable energy and nuclear power capabilities.

Despite the devastating 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident, Japan has renewed its commitment to atomic energy while pursuing partnerships across Southeast Asia to achieve carbon-neutral goals. Meanwhile, Indonesia seeks nuclear solutions to address rising energy consumption.

Indonesian officials previously announced intentions to construct two compact nuclear reactors on a southern island by 2034, with formal cooperation proposals already received from Canadian and Russian governments.

The nations also committed to strengthening supply chain stability, particularly for liquefied natural gas, according to Japan’s Foreign Ministry statement.

Japan ranks among the world’s largest LNG importers, with Indonesia supplying approximately 5% of its needs. The resource-limited island nation relies on the Middle East for over 90% of its oil imports and has begun tapping strategic reserves this month to maintain market stability while seeking alternative suppliers.

Foreign ministers from China and Pakistan issued a joint statement Tuesday demanding an immediate halt to fighting in Gulf and Middle Eastern regions, with both nations pushing for urgent diplomatic negotiations to begin, according to reports from Pakistan’s foreign ministry and China’s state-run Xinhua news agency.

The diplomatic leaders emphasized the need to protect maritime shipping lanes and ensure the security of vessels and their crews currently stuck in waters near the Strait of Hormuz, Xinhua reported.

Both nations presented their demands through a comprehensive five-point peace plan unveiled Tuesday aimed at bringing back stability and calm to the troubled region, Pakistan’s foreign ministry announced.

The president of Senegal has given his approval to controversial legislation that increases maximum prison sentences for same-sex relations from five to 10 years while also making it illegal to promote homosexuality, according to an official government announcement.

Parliament members voted by a wide margin to pass the legislation earlier in March, though President Bassirou Diomaye Faye faced significant opposition from international human rights organizations urging him not to enact the measure.

Volker Turk, the United Nations human rights chief, criticized the proposed law on March 12, stating it “flies in the face of the sacrosanct human rights we all enjoy: the rights to respect, dignity, privacy, equality and freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly.”

Both Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko had pledged during their 2024 election campaigns to implement stricter anti-LGBT legislation. The two leaders signed the bill into law on Friday, as confirmed by a government announcement dated Monday and shared by a government spokesperson on Tuesday.

Previously, Senegal’s criminal code included provisions that imposed prison sentences of up to five years and financial penalties reaching 1,500,000 CFA francs (equivalent to $2,700) for what it termed “acts against nature.”

The updated legislation increases the maximum sentence to twice the previous length and raises potential fines to as much as 10 million CFA francs.

The new law explicitly defines acts against nature as including homosexuality, bisexuality, “transsexuality,” zoophilia and necrophilia.

Individuals convicted of promoting or providing financial support for such activities will also face imprisonment.

Reuters previously reported that Senegalese supporters of the legislation had coordinated with a United States-based “pro-family” organization that characterizes homosexuality as a threat to public health, discussing campaign tactics and mobilization strategies.

In the weeks before lawmakers cast their votes on the bill, there was a notable increase in arrests of men suspected of “acts against nature” and, in certain instances, “voluntary transmission” of HIV, which carries a potential 10-year prison sentence.

JERUSALEM (AP) — Demonstrators filled streets throughout Palestinian territories on Tuesday following Israel’s parliamentary approval of legislation mandating capital punishment by hanging for Palestinians found guilty of killing Israelis.

Palestinian demonstrators of all ages organized sit-ins and protest marches in the Israeli-controlled West Bank, where the new legislation will have its broadest impact. The law requires West Bank military tribunals — which exclusively prosecute Palestinians — to impose death sentences as the standard punishment for murder convictions, unless extraordinary circumstances warrant otherwise.

Protest signs in the West Bank city of Nablus displayed images of a prisoner in traditional Palestinian keffiyeh headwear beside a hangman’s noose, bearing messages that read “Time is running out and silence is deadly” and “Stop the law to execute prisoners, before it’s too late.”

Israeli lawmakers gave final approval to the legislation Monday evening amid celebration and applause. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who led efforts to advance the bill, characterized the new law as overdue and representative of national strength and pride.

While scheduled to become effective within 30 days, the law’s enforcement may face delays due to ongoing legal challenges before Israel’s Supreme Court.

Though the legislation does not apply retroactively to existing inmates, it represents a dramatic shift toward harsher Israeli criminal justice policies that has generated anxiety among demonstrators concerned about all Palestinian detainees in Israeli facilities — viewed as symbols of national resistance.

Protesters in Nablus voiced support by chanting “You are the symbol of struggle, You are the symbol of steadfastness,” while displaying photographs of imprisoned relatives and friends.

The Fatah movement called for a comprehensive work stoppage in northern West Bank areas for Wednesday. Palestinian leadership issued condemnations claiming the death penalty legislation breaches international legal standards and urged global intervention. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry demanded sanctions against Israel’s parliament and its removal from international organizations.

“The law represents a critical turning point in the formalization of extrajudicial killings under a legal guise,” the statement said. “The Ministry stresses that this law, in its essence, constitutes an institutionalized policy of field executions based on discriminatory and racist standards.”

The bill’s approval represented the achievement of a multi-year campaign by Israel’s far-right politicians to increase penalties for Palestinians convicted of attacks against Israelis. Following the vote, Ben-Gvir posted a video on X showing himself celebrating with champagne. Israeli human rights organizations and opposition legislators announced plans to file a Supreme Court petition seeking to invalidate the law.

Amnesty International warned that implementing the death penalty under this new legislation could breach fundamental rights to life and prohibitions against torture and cruel punishment established under international law.

In Gaza, demonstrators gathered outside Red Cross offices where women wearing hijabs displayed large portraits of prominent Palestinian prisoners including Marwan Barghouti.

The legislation also affects Israeli courts, authorizing them to impose capital punishment on Israeli citizens convicted of nationalist-motivated murder — terminology that legal analysts say effectively limits death sentences to Palestinian citizens of Israel while exempting Jewish citizens.

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — European Union officials on Tuesday condemned reports of violent incidents that occurred during Serbia’s local elections over the weekend, demanding that President Aleksandar Vucic’s government prosecute those responsible for the attacks.

The EU’s diplomatic mission in Serbia — a nation seeking to join the 27-member European bloc — referenced observations from international election monitors who documented violence and voting violations during Sunday’s elections.

“We regret the number of reported irregularities and incidents during the elections, the uneven playing field, and note with concern reports of acts of violence against independent observers, citizens, representatives of political parties and media workers,” the EU said in a statement.

“We call on the competent national authorities to ensure swift and transparent follow up and to hold perpetrators accountable,” the statement added.

Sunday’s elections took place across 10 Serbian municipalities and served as a crucial test for the authoritarian leader Vucic, who has faced over a year of youth-driven demonstrations that have weakened his stronghold on authority.

Vucic proclaimed success for his right-wing populist Serbian Progressive Party across all 10 local governments. The Serbian leader personally spearheaded the campaign effort, attempting to solidify his leadership following protests that began in November 2024 after a deadly train station incident in northern Serbia.

International election monitors from the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe stated Monday that although the actual voting process followed proper procedures, they were “alarmed” by conditions surrounding the polling locations.

Observers “saw heated arguments and the threatening presence of large groups of people, often unidentified and sometimes masked,” the group said.

The Associated Press asked the Serbian government to comment on the allegations but did not have a reply yet.

Multiple individuals sustained injuries during confrontations in at least three municipalities, including students and media personnel, who reported being assaulted by organized pro-government groups. Vucic has blamed his political opposition for inciting the disorder.

Although Vucic officially supports Serbia’s European Union membership bid, critics accuse him of restricting democratic rights while cultivating strong ties with Russia and China.

The student-organized demonstrations following the Novi Sad railway station roof collapse that claimed 16 lives have presented the most significant threat to Vucic’s leadership in more than ten years. Government officials have since intensified their crackdown on opposition voices, with hundreds of individuals arrested or reporting job losses.

On Tuesday, law enforcement officers searched the University of Belgrade campus, claiming they were investigating a student’s death from the previous week. University staff told local news outlets they believed the search was connected to ongoing government pressure following the student-led demonstrations.

Serbia is anticipated to hold presidential and parliamentary elections either later this year or in 2025. Political analysts believe Vucic’s popularity has declined, though large-scale protests have diminished in recent months.

President Donald Trump directed harsh criticism toward European allies on Tuesday, demanding they “go get your own oil” as the ongoing military conflict with Iran has driven American gasoline prices beyond $4 per gallon.

Trump’s sharp social media remarks followed recent U.S. military strikes against a city housing one of Iran’s primary nuclear facilities, creating a massive explosion visible from space, while Tehran retaliated by attacking an oil tanker from Kuwait in the Persian Gulf.

The escalating military actions demonstrate how intense the warfare has become more than 30 days after American and Israeli forces initiated the campaign. The fighting has resulted in over 3,000 casualties and severely disrupted global energy supplies, creating chaos in international markets.

Earlier, Trump had posted video footage showing the strike on Isfahan, a central Iranian city that houses one of three uranium enrichment facilities targeted by U.S. forces in June. Intelligence experts suspect much of Iran’s weapons-grade nuclear material is stored at this location.

Energy Markets in Turmoil

Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz – a critical shipping channel that normally handles 20% of global oil transportation – has caused dramatic price increases worldwide, along with Tehran’s systematic attacks on energy facilities throughout the region. These disruptions have created volatility in international stock exchanges and increased costs for essential consumer products.

Brent crude oil, the global benchmark, reached approximately $107 per barrel on Tuesday, representing a surge of more than 45% since military operations commenced on February 28.

Trump specifically blamed European partners including Britain and France for declining to participate in a military campaign they claim lacks clear objectives and was launched without their input.

“You’ll have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the U.S.A. won’t be there to help you anymore, just like you weren’t there for us. Iran has been, essentially, decimated. The hard part is done. Go get your own oil!” Trump posted online.

He particularly criticized France for blocking aircraft carrying military equipment to Israel from using French airspace, calling the nation “VERY UNHELPFUL” and warning “The U.S.A. will REMEMBER!!!”

European Nations Restrict Military Support

French military officials previously stated they permitted American Air Force operations at the Istres facility in southern France only after receiving assurances that aircraft involved in combat missions would not use the base.

Spain, which has become Europe’s most vocal opponent of the military campaign, announced Monday it was prohibiting U.S. military aircraft connected to the conflict from entering Spanish airspace.

Italy has also denied American forces access to the Sigonella air base in Sicily for operations related to the Middle East offensive, according to a knowledgeable official who confirmed earlier media reports.

The restriction was implemented several days ago and affected U.S. aircraft, including bomber squadrons, that were scheduled to refuel at the facility before continuing to the Middle East theater, said the official, who requested anonymity due to lack of authorization for public statements.

Italian government representatives later emphasized that their partnership with America remains “solid and based on full and loyal cooperation.”

Latest Military Operations Target Iranian Infrastructure

American and Israeli forces conducted fresh strikes against Iran, hitting the capital Tehran during early morning hours. Israeli military officials also announced new attacks against what they characterized as Hezbollah facilities in Beirut.

Video footage Trump distributed appeared to document a major assault on Isfahan, with NASA satellite monitoring systems detecting explosions in mountainous terrain south of the city. Iranian authorities have not acknowledged the attack occurred.

Satellite imagery captured before June’s military operations indicates Tehran moved a truck containing highly enriched uranium to a nuclear installation approximately 20 kilometers (12 miles) from Tuesday’s strike locations.

Intelligence analysts believe the vehicle – shown in images entering an underground tunnel while carrying 18 blue storage containers – likely transported most or all of Iran’s uranium stockpile enriched to 60% purity. This level represents a brief technical step away from weapons-grade concentrations.

Trump issued warnings this week that without a ceasefire agreement “shortly” and reopening of the strait, America would expand military operations to include attacks on the Kharg Island oil export terminal and potentially water desalination infrastructure.

During a Pentagon briefing, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declined to specify whether U.S. ground troops would join the conflict.

“We don’t want to have to do more militarily than we have to,” he stated. “But I didn’t mean it flippantly when I said, in the meantime, we’ll negotiate with bombs.”

FRANKFURT, Germany — European inflation climbed to 2.5% during March as ongoing conflict involving Iran drove fuel costs significantly upward, according to official data released Tuesday. Economic experts are now forecasting that the European Central Bank will implement interest rate increases later this year in response.

The yearly inflation figure for the 21 nations in the European Union that use the euro jumped from February’s 1.9% rate, which was recorded before the conflict began and disrupted oil and natural gas shipments from the Persian Gulf region.

Energy costs surged 4.9% during March, a stark contrast to February’s 3.1% decrease, according to data from Eurostat.

The conflict’s effect on pricing has become evident at Rome’s expansive Trionfale indoor marketplace, located just north of Vatican City, where produce vendor Anna Caruso noted that rising fuel expenses are driving up costs for zucchini, eggplant and other fruits.

“If the price of fuel increases, those who transport will increase the general price,” she explained. “With many items, they say, I can’t afford this … and shift toward the cheaper items.”

Fellow vendor Paola Ianzi acknowledged that while some price increases stem from seasonal factors, “the increase is also partially due to the war because diesel and fuel increased and those who transport fruit and vegetables need to compensate that.”

Food costs rose by a relatively modest 2.4%, while services — encompassing everything from healthcare to personal grooming — increased 3.2%.

Christine Lagarde, who leads the European Central Bank, has warned that companies might respond more rapidly to price increases during this inflationary period, influenced by difficult experiences from the 2022 inflation surge when rates reached double digits. During that period, Russia severely reduced natural gas deliveries to Europe while oil prices soared, causing energy expenses to skyrocket.

Iran has restricted most tanker movement through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping route that normally handles approximately 20% of global oil and gas transportation. This blockade threatens to create much tighter fuel markets in the weeks and months ahead.

The anticipated continued rise in inflation above the ECB’s 2% goal is prompting analysts to forecast rate increases in upcoming months to prevent inflation from becoming embedded in the economy through higher wage and price expectations. Bill Diviney, who heads macro research at ABM AMRO bank, stated: “We expect the ECB to raise rates already at the April and June governing council meetings… in order to pre-empt any de-anchoring of inflation expectations.” Economic researchers at Oxford Economics similarly anticipate two rate hikes during this year.

The ECB maintained its benchmark rate at 2% during its most recent meeting on March 19. Interest rate adjustments remain the primary tool central banks use to combat inflation.

LONDON — Buckingham Palace announced Tuesday that King Charles III plans to conduct his first official state visit to America this coming April, timing the trip to honor the approaching 250th anniversary of the United States’ independence while strengthening diplomatic relationships between both countries.

This royal visit comes after President Donald Trump’s ceremonial trip to Britain last September, which featured elaborate pageantry including ornate royal jewels, military musical performances, and an elegant formal dinner served with centuries-old silverware. These grand diplomatic ceremonies are designed to strengthen international partnerships, especially during challenging periods.

While Trump has expressed admiration for Britain’s royal family, tensions have emerged with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has provided only cautious backing for his nation’s traditional ally regarding the Iran conflict.

Although Charles has traveled to America on 19 previous occasions, this marks his first formal state visit as Britain’s monarch. His late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, completed four official state visits to the United States during her reign.

The king’s itinerary will also include a stop in Bermuda, marking his inaugural visit to the British overseas territory since assuming the crown.

HAVANA — A Russian oil tanker successfully arrived at Cuba’s Matanzas port on Tuesday, delivering 730,000 barrels of much-needed fuel to the Caribbean island after a three-month gap in petroleum deliveries.

The vessel Anatoly Kolodkin was permitted to complete its mission by the Trump administration, even as the U.S. maintains strict energy sanctions against Cuba.

Cuban officials, including Energy and Mines Minister Vicente de la O Levy, celebrated the tanker’s arrival as the nation grapples with widespread power outages and shortages of essential goods including food and medical supplies.

“Our gratitude to the Government and People of Russia for all the support we are receiving. A valuable shipment that arrives amidst the complex energy situation we are facing,” de la O Levy wrote on X.

The island nation generates less than half of its fuel needs domestically and depends heavily on foreign oil to power its electrical infrastructure. Energy analysts estimate the cargo could yield approximately 180,000 barrels of diesel fuel, sufficient to meet Cuba’s consumption for roughly nine to ten days.

Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío highlighted the significance of the delivery on social media. “The arrival of an oil tanker to a country has likely never generated so much news as the Russian one to Cuba,” he posted on X. “It’s a sign of the brutal siege Cubans endure with heroism and stoicism. It’s a demonstration of the criminal cruelty of imperialism against a nation that refuses to be dominated.”

Cuba previously depended on Venezuela for most of its petroleum imports, but those deliveries ceased after U.S. actions against the South American nation in early January, including the arrest of its leadership. Mexico also suspended oil exports to Cuba following Trump’s late January warning of potential tariffs against any nation providing fuel to the island.

Speaking to reporters while returning to Washington on Sunday evening, Trump expressed tolerance for the Russian delivery. “We don’t mind having somebody get a boatload because they need … they have to survive,” Trump stated.

However, he remained critical of Cuba’s government, adding: “Cuba’s finished. They have a bad regime. They have very bad and corrupt leadership and whether or not they get a boat of oil, it’s not going to matter.”

The Russian tanker faces sanctions from the United States, European Union, and United Kingdom due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

When questioned Monday about the administration’s selective approach to oil deliveries, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt described it as “a decision that will continue to be made on a case-by-case basis for humanitarian reasons or otherwise,” while emphasizing “there’s been no firm change in our sanctions policy.”

Both Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio continue pushing for significant reforms in Cuba’s political system and policies, with discussions ongoing as the island faces mounting economic and energy challenges.

Beijing plans to maintain its restrictions on refined fuel exports through April, according to five industry insiders familiar with the situation, though limited exceptions may be granted to regional nations that have requested assistance.

Negotiations are underway for modest shipments of diesel, jet fuel and gasoline to Southeast Asian countries during April, three sources revealed. Export volumes under consideration range from 150,000 to 300,000 metric tons, depending on which source is consulted.

The sources, who requested anonymity because they lack authorization to discuss the matter publicly, indicated that independent export sales by refineries would continue to be prohibited.

Nations potentially eligible to receive Chinese fuel deliveries include Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Vietnam, the sources indicated.

Any direct deliveries to these countries would be managed by Chinese government-owned companies, three sources confirmed.

China’s National Development and Reform Commission has not yet responded to requests for official comment.

Multiple nations, including the Philippines and Bangladesh, have approached China seeking fuel assistance since the Iran conflict began, as previously reported by Reuters. Beijing has expressed willingness to collaborate with Southeast Asian countries to help resolve energy supply shortages.

The Chinese government implemented export restrictions on diesel, gasoline and jet fuel beginning March 12. The prohibition does not apply to jet fuel used for international flight refueling and marine bunkering operations, and was not formally announced to the public.

Limited quantities of diesel and jet fuel continued to leave bonded storage facilities in Hainan province in southern China after March 12, with two knowledgeable sources explaining these shipments had already cleared customs procedures before the restrictions took effect.

Three vessels – Stavanger Pearl, Auchentoshan and Qian Chi – departed Hainan with combined diesel cargo exceeding 600,000 barrels following March 12. Ship-tracking information from Kpler and trade sources showed the first tanker headed to Mexico while the remaining two sailed for the Philippines.

Iranian forces launched an overnight assault on a large Kuwaiti oil tanker in waters near Dubai, setting the vessel ablaze in the latest escalation affecting Gulf region shipping.

The attack on the massive tanker represents another example of how Gulf nations are bearing the brunt of consequences from the expanding regional conflict.

Meanwhile, former President Trump has directed sharp words toward European allies regarding energy independence, telling them to secure their own petroleum supplies rather than relying on external sources.

The tanker incident occurred as tensions continue to mount across the Middle East, with maritime shipping routes becoming increasingly vulnerable to military actions.

Gulf states have found themselves caught in the crossfire of the broader conflict, with their strategic waterways and energy infrastructure becoming frequent targets.

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Samer Lulu’s face lit up with joy as he lifted his oldest daughter Kinda into his arms for the first time in over two years. The emotional reunion came Monday when eleven Palestinian toddlers returned to Gaza after being evacuated as critically ill newborns.

Kinda and other premature babies were rescued from Shifa Hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit in November 2023 when power failures shut down the life-sustaining incubators. The facility, Gaza’s largest medical center, lost electricity during the early stages of the Israel-Hamas war as Israeli forces surrounded and later entered the complex.

The fragile infants faced life-threatening conditions due to their premature births — they had delicate skin, dangerously low birth weights, and required continuous medical attention to survive. When the power went out, medical staff wrapped them in blankets and placed them together to share body heat after removing them from the non-functioning incubators.

Medical personnel were treating 50 premature infants during the conflict’s opening week, according to doctors who spoke with The Associated Press at that time. Of those, 31 babies survived the initial month and were transported to safety. On Monday, eleven of these children returned home, accompanied by some of the caregivers who had evacuated with them to Egypt.

Mohammad Zaqout, a hospital administrator, explained before the evacuation that electrical outages prevented Shifa from purifying water, creating a chain reaction of medical emergencies for the newborns, including digestive issues, blood infections, and dangerously low body temperatures. Medical staff reported that three infants died before the evacuation could take place.

Sundus Al-Kurd shared with The Associated Press that she initially feared her daughter had perished in the months following the emergency evacuation to Egypt. She was reunited with Bissan, now 2 and a half years old, during Monday’s homecoming.

While the children’s return brought rare happiness to Lulu and other families, concerns about what lies ahead overshadowed their celebrations. Describing Monday as the most significant day of his existence, Lulu acknowledged that anxiety about the future dampened his joy.

“Our feelings are mixed with pain because of the reality we live in,” he shared with The Associated Press outside Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. “We hope that the future of our children will not be filled with the tragedy or suffering they faced at the beginning of their lives.”

These vulnerable infants became early representations of civilian casualties in Gaza following Israel’s military response launched October 8, 2023, one day after Hamas-led fighters carried out a devastating assault that killed over 1,200 people in Israel and resulted in 250 hostages being taken.

Israeli officials claimed that the attackers used medical facilities as military headquarters, accusations that both hospital administrators and Hamas rejected. During the war’s early phase, medical professionals and civilians seeking shelter in hospitals described continuous bombardment and rapidly worsening conditions.

The Red Crescent and World Health Organization coordinated the evacuation of Shifa’s neonatal intensive care unit in November 2023 as Israeli forces advanced into northern Gaza and surrounded the medical complex.

“Most cases in the neonatal unit depend on electricity, and most of them depend on artificial respiration. In the event of a power outage, a disaster will occur within five minutes, and all cases dependent on ventilators will inevitably die due to the power outage,” Naser Bulbul from Shifa’s neonatal unit explained at the time as medical staff worked frantically to keep the babies alive.

These children were part of a broader group of Palestinians returning to Gaza from Egypt through the partially reopened Rafah crossing, where they were transported to Nasser Hospital for family reunions. Parents held their sons and daughters close and comforted them as they cried while crowds gathered to witness the emotional scenes.

The border crossing resumed limited operations for Palestinian returnees in February, though passage has remained restricted, including a complete closure during the early weeks of tensions with Iran.

An Israeli government representative confirmed that the 11 toddlers and seven accompanying caregivers were allowed to return with assistance from UNICEF, the U.N. children’s organization. The official requested anonymity as they lacked authorization to speak publicly.

The whereabouts of most children from the original group of 31 evacuees from November 2023 remains unknown, though medical staff reported that four died after reaching Egypt in critical condition. Some parents told The Associated Press they still have no information about what happened to their newborns after the evacuation.

Two-year-old Ibrahim Bader was reunited with his father and grandmother, but not his mother, who died from illness in December 2023 after most Gaza hospitals had ceased operations or reduced services, according to his father Jabr Bader.

Ibrahim, Kinda, and the other children are coming back to a Gaza dramatically changed by more than two years of warfare. Israel’s military campaign has resulted in over 72,000 Palestinian deaths, according to local health officials, and forced most residents to flee their homes repeatedly. Communities lie in rubble, parts of the territory experienced severe food shortages last year, and attacks and gunfire have persisted beyond the October ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.

Although several Gaza hospitals stopped functioning during the conflict, some have resumed limited operations, though power outages, fuel shortages, and supply problems continue to threaten services, requiring backup generators and endangering medical procedures. Gaza’s Health Ministry, which tracks victim ages, has documented thousands of children among the casualties. The ministry, operating under Hamas governance, keeps comprehensive casualty records that U.N. agencies and independent analysts consider generally credible.

Ahmed al-Farra, a physician in Nasser Hospital’s children’s department, described the family reunions as an emotional moment, “filled with many messages — sadness, and the joy of being reunited with their loved ones.”

Weekly, hundreds of residents queue up with plastic containers to receive meals at an extraordinary location: the modest childhood residence of soccer icon Diego Armando Maradona in Argentina.

Located in Villa Fiorito, an impoverished area outside Buenos Aires, the property no longer belongs to Maradona’s relatives following his 2020 death from cardiac arrest. For the past month, the current property owner has allowed volunteers to use the dirt courtyard to grill and prepare meals for local residents.

During a recent Thursday visit, Maria Torres was seen preparing stew in two oversized pots while other volunteers prepared potatoes and cut up chicken portions. The building’s front wall features a painted mural showing the soccer star alongside text reading “The house of god.”

Argentina’s poverty statistics show improvement, declining to 31.6% during the first six months of 2025 from 52.9% in early 2024, when President Javier Milei dramatically devalued the currency and inflation surged. Officials plan to release second-half 2025 data on Tuesday.

Despite this “very important drop” in poverty levels, Argentina requires increased GDP expansion in job-creating industries like mining rather than capital-focused sectors such as farming, according to Eduardo Donza, a sociologist from Argentina’s Catholic University.

The poverty reduction coincided with significant decreases in monthly inflation rates, falling from double-digit levels when Milei assumed office to 2.9% by February.

Nevertheless, Milei’s budget-cutting policies have drastically reduced government employment, and many citizens report decreased buying power following reductions in transportation and energy assistance programs.

Pastor Leonardo Fabian Alvarez, who operates the temporary food distribution site, reports increased demand for meals in Villa Fiorito and surrounding areas as small manufacturing businesses have shut down. Milei’s deregulation policies and a strengthened peso have made foreign goods more affordable.

“People obviously lost their jobs,” Alvarez explained, noting that “they come to the line, pick up food, take what we give them.”

In 2021, Argentina officially designated Maradona’s birthplace as a national historic landmark.

A Russian oil tanker loaded with approximately 700,000 barrels of crude oil reached Cuba’s Matanzas port early Tuesday morning, marking the island’s first major fuel shipment in three months during a severe energy shortage.

The vessel named Anatoly Kolodkin, which operates under Russian flag and faces U.S. sanctions, arrived at the anchorage area at sunrise under clear weather conditions, according to eyewitness reports and maritime tracking information. The ship had entered Cuban waters late Sunday evening near the U.S. naval facility at Guantanamo Bay.

U.S. officials stated they permitted the tanker’s fuel delivery on humanitarian grounds, despite ongoing sanctions against the vessel.

The Aframax-class ship docked at Matanzas Bay, Cuba’s primary facility for supertanker operations and fuel storage, while much of the surrounding city and most of Cuba remained without electrical power.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel has confirmed that no oil tankers had reached the country for three months prior to this delivery, intensifying an energy emergency that has caused continuous power outages throughout the nation of 10 million residents. The crisis has pushed medical facilities, mass transit systems, and agricultural operations to near-collapse conditions.

Should the cargo be successfully unloaded, it would provide temporary relief to Cuba’s Communist government as it faces mounting challenges from the Trump administration, which has pledged policy changes regarding Cuba.

Processing the crude oil aboard the Anatoly Kolodkin into usable gasoline, diesel fuel, and power generation materials will require several days through Cuba’s domestic refining operations.

The tanker’s cargo consists of Russian Urals crude, a medium sour grade that matches the capabilities of Cuba’s older refinery infrastructure.

PRAGUE – Czech law enforcement announced Tuesday that a foreign individual has voluntarily surrendered to police, confessing to hurling incendiary devices at a Russian cultural facility in Prague during the previous week.

Authorities have not released additional identifying information about the individual, who was taken into custody on Monday.

“It is a foreigner who, according to his own words, had planned the act and was preparing for it since summer 2025,” police said on X.

The assault occurred last Thursday evening when the perpetrator launched multiple petrol bombs at the structure.

Law enforcement released photographs showing the blackened exterior of the building located in Prague’s 6th district, an area that houses numerous diplomatic facilities, including Russia’s embassy.

Russian embassy officials reported last week that the assailant hurled six containers filled with combustible materials, with three of them causing damage to the building’s front exterior.

During a diplomatic mission to Taiwan on Tuesday, U.S. Senator Thom Tillis cautioned the island nation against underestimating China’s territorial ambitions, citing Hong Kong’s experience as a cautionary tale.

The Republican senator’s comments came as part of discussions surrounding Taiwan President Lai Ching-te’s stalled $40 billion defense budget proposal, which has U.S. backing but faces opposition in Taiwan’s parliament.

President Lai argues the additional military funding is essential to strengthen Taiwan’s defenses against China, which considers the island part of its territory. However, opposition lawmakers, while supporting defense investments generally, refuse to approve what they call “blank cheques.”

Speaking to reporters as part of a bipartisan Senate delegation, Tillis emphasized that Hong Kong’s fate should serve as a clear warning to Taiwan about Chinese intentions.

Hong Kong transitioned from British control to Chinese sovereignty in 1997 with promises of maintaining certain freedoms, but Beijing implemented strict national security legislation in 2020 that opponents argue has eliminated many liberties. Chinese officials defend the law as necessary for restoring order following prolonged civil unrest.

“And I think my biggest worry for Taiwan is that they underestimate the intentions of China, which I think were made very, very clear by what happened to Hong Kong. And so, yes, we would love peace, but please don’t be naive,” Tillis stated.

“You have a perfect example right in front of you of the intentions of China. And let’s make sure what happened to Hong Kong doesn’t happen here to Taiwan,” he continued.

The senator was joined by other lawmakers, including Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen, who serves as ranking member on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The delegation met with President Lai on Monday.

Coinciding with the U.S. visit, China extended an invitation to Cheng Li-wun, leader of Taiwan’s main opposition Kuomintang party, to visit Beijing. Cheng accepted the invitation and plans to travel next week on what she describes as a peace mission.

Taiwan’s government responded to Cheng’s planned Beijing trip by stating that China’s goals to “annex” Taiwan remain unchanged.

“While we may have ideals about peace, we should not harbour illusions,” declared Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council, the agency responsible for cross-strait policy, in an official statement.

Iranian military forces launched an overnight assault on a large Kuwaiti oil tanker in waters near Dubai, causing the vessel to catch fire and demonstrating how Gulf nations are becoming increasingly entangled in the expanding regional conflict.

The attack on the massive commercial oil vessel occurred as military operations continue across multiple theaters, with Gulf states now facing direct consequences from the widening warfare that has engulfed the region.

The incident marks a significant escalation in hostilities that threatens critical maritime shipping routes through the Persian Gulf, where much of the world’s oil transportation occurs daily.

Authorities in the Czech Republic announced Tuesday they have taken a foreign national into custody who confessed to firebombing a Russian cultural facility in Prague with homemade incendiary devices.

The male suspect voluntarily surrendered to law enforcement on Monday and admitted to orchestrating the assault on the Russian House, revealing he had been plotting the attack since last summer. The targeted facility receives funding from the Russian government but operates without diplomatic protection.

Czech authorities have not disclosed the suspect’s country of origin or provided additional identifying information.

The attack occurred late Thursday evening in the Czech capital. Images from the scene revealed shattered glass and smoke damage to two windows and an exterior wall, though the structure did not ignite.

The Russian House provides cultural, educational and academic programming while also teaching Russian language classes to the public.

Facility director Igor Girenko informed Russian state media outlet Tass that attackers hurled six Molotov cocktails at the building Thursday night, with three devices failing to detonate.

Russian Foreign Ministry representative Maria Zakharova denounced the incident as “a barbaric act,” while Russia’s Prague embassy urged Czech officials to strengthen protection for Russian facilities and personnel throughout the country.

Czech Foreign Ministry officials have publicly criticized the attack.

JERUSALEM – Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced Tuesday that his country intends to create and maintain a security buffer zone throughout southern Lebanon extending to the Litani River after concluding military operations against Hezbollah.

Following a security briefing, Katz outlined the plan in an official statement, saying the Israeli Defense Forces would maintain authority over the region up to the Litani River, including remaining bridges across the waterway. He described the initiative as establishing a “security zone” while eliminating Hezbollah’s elite Radwan military units that have moved into the territory and destroying weaponry in the area.

The defense minister also stated that more than 600,000 Lebanese civilians who were evacuated to areas north of the Litani River would not be permitted to return to southern Lebanon until Israeli officials can ensure the security of northern Israeli communities.

Katz further announced that border villages in Lebanon would face complete destruction, stating this would follow “the model of Rafah and Beit Hanoun in Gaza, in order to permanently remove threats near the border to northern residents” of Israel.

MOSCOW – Russia’s top diplomatic official made accusations Tuesday that American efforts to topple governments in Iran and Venezuela are driven by desires to secure greater access to oil and natural gas reserves.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov claimed that both the United States and Israel oppose efforts to normalize relations between Iran and neighboring countries. He also issued warnings that ongoing Middle Eastern conflicts could expand into a much larger regional war.

HAMBURG, Germany — German authorities report a woman was attacked by a wolf Monday evening in a busy shopping district of Hamburg, marking what officials believe is the first recorded incident of its kind since wolves made their comeback to the country nearly three decades ago.

Emergency responders transported the victim to a local Hamburg medical facility following the unprecedented encounter, according to reports from the German news service dpa. Details about the woman’s medical status remained unavailable Tuesday, and law enforcement has not disclosed the location or extent of her injuries. The circumstances that led to the attack remain unclear.

The incident occurred in a commercial district close to Altona station, located west of Hamburg’s central area. Later that same evening, law enforcement officers retrieved the wolf from the Binnenalster lake in the heart of the city after receiving multiple reports of the animal’s presence there and at various other locations throughout Hamburg. Media outlets reported the wolf was subsequently moved to a containment facility on the city’s outskirts.

Authorities suspect the wolf responsible for the attack is likely the same animal spotted over the weekend in Blankenese, a Hamburg suburb. Wildlife specialists theorize the creature is a juvenile wolf seeking its own territory that inadvertently entered the urban area. Hamburg’s regional administration emphasized that wolves typically steer clear of human and canine contact, and noted that the unfamiliar city setting would create significant stress for the animal.

According to Germany’s Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, this represents the first documented case of a wild wolf attacking a human since these animals returned to German territory following a 150-year absence that ended nearly 30 years ago, dpa reported.

However, wolf attacks targeting farm animals across Europe have increasingly troubled agricultural communities for years. In the previous year, the European Parliament approved changing the wolf’s classification from “strictly protected” down to “protected.”

Just last week, Germany’s national legislature gave final authorization to new laws that will make it simpler for authorities to eliminate wolves that attack or injure farm animals.

BRUSSELS – The European Union’s top energy official is warning member nations to get ready for extended turmoil in energy markets caused by the war involving Iran.

EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen sent a letter dated March 30 to energy ministers across the bloc, advising them to begin preparations for what could be lasting market disruptions. The correspondence was obtained ahead of an emergency ministerial meeting scheduled for Tuesday.

The ongoing Middle East conflict has severely impacted global energy costs, with European gas prices skyrocketing more than 70% since the U.S.-Israeli military action against Iran commenced on February 28. Europe’s substantial dependence on energy imports makes the continent particularly vulnerable to price volatility stemming from regional conflicts.

While the closure of the critical Strait of Hormuz shipping lane hasn’t directly affected Europe’s crude oil and natural gas deliveries – since most of these resources come from non-Middle Eastern suppliers – Brussels remains deeply worried about other energy products.

Jorgensen highlighted immediate concerns regarding Europe’s access to refined petroleum goods, including jet fuel and diesel. These products face potential supply constraints that could impact the continent’s energy security.

The commissioner’s letter outlined several recommendations for member states during this uncertain period. Nations should refrain from implementing policies that would boost fuel usage, restrict petroleum product trading, or discourage production at European refineries processing these critical materials.

“Member States are encouraged to defer any non-emergency refinery maintenance,” Jorgensen wrote in his communication to ministers.

The emergency meeting comes as European leaders grapple with energy security challenges that echo previous disruptions caused by geopolitical tensions in key energy-producing regions.

Iranian judicial authorities are threatening capital punishment and complete property confiscation for citizens suspected of espionage or collaboration with adversarial nations, according to a judiciary spokesperson’s announcement on March 31st.

The official stated that individuals who share photographs or video footage potentially useful for enemy targeting operations may face charges of intelligence collaboration under the enhanced legislation.

Over 1,000 individuals have been detained during the past month on allegations including recording footage at strategic sites, distributing anti-regime material on social media platforms, and engaging in enemy collaboration, according to Iranian news outlets.

The ongoing military confrontation between Iran and both the United States and Israel began February 28th, subsequently expanding throughout the Middle East region, resulting in thousands of casualties while disrupting global energy markets and economic stability.

The judicial representative explained that the strengthened statute, enacted in the previous year, covers operational activities, intelligence work, and specific media actions considered supportive of antagonistic governments, particularly the United States and Israel.

Citizens who spread panic through false information could receive imprisonment, with enhanced penalties during periods of armed conflict, the spokesperson cautioned.

Approximately 200 formal charges have been filed in related cases, with authorities collaborating with security agencies to locate and confiscate assets connected to accused individuals, emphasizing zero tolerance in law enforcement, the official added.

Russian authorities are intensifying efforts to block Virtual Private Networks, the digital tools that millions of citizens rely on to circumvent government internet restrictions and censorship, according to the country’s top digital official.

The announcement comes amid what international diplomats have dubbed Russia’s “great crackdown” on digital freedoms, which has included blocking mobile internet access and disrupting major messaging platforms while expanding government authority to shut down mass communications.

“The task is reduce VPN usage,” stated Digital Minister Maksut Shadayev through the state-supported messaging platform MAX on Monday evening. He added that his department is working to implement these restrictions while attempting to minimize disruption for users.

Shadayev revealed that officials have made decisions to limit access to several unnamed foreign platforms, though he provided no specific details about which services would be affected.

Following Russia’s 2022 military action in Ukraine, the government enacted the most restrictive censorship measures witnessed since the Soviet era, strengthening oversight and expanding the authority of the Federal Security Service, which succeeded the Soviet KGB.

Recent months have seen authorities escalate these measures significantly, blocking WhatsApp entirely, reducing Telegram’s functionality, and repeatedly disrupting mobile internet service in Moscow and other major cities and regions throughout the country.

Government officials justify these actions by claiming foreign platforms have violated Russian law and that mobile internet limitations are essential for defending against large-scale Ukrainian drone attacks.

Data from the Kommersant newspaper indicates that by mid-January, Russian authorities had blocked over 400 VPN services, representing a 70% increase from the end of the previous year.

However, the situation has become an ongoing battle between authorities and users: each time officials disable one VPN service, replacement options quickly emerge, and many young Russians reportedly switch between different VPN providers on a daily basis to maintain access.

KYIV, Ukraine — A delegation of twelve European foreign ministers arrived in Ukraine’s capital Tuesday, traveling by train to commemorate the fourth anniversary of Russian war crimes committed in the nearby town of Bucha.

The high-level diplomatic mission comes as American-led peace negotiations remain stalled and Washington’s focus has shifted toward Middle Eastern conflicts, prompting European nations to intensify efforts to maintain international attention on what has become Europe’s largest land conflict in decades, now entering its fifth year.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha welcomed the European delegation, acknowledging what he called the “grim anniversary” of the horrific crimes that shocked the world four years ago.

Russian forces quickly seized control of Bucha following their February 24, 2022 invasion of Ukraine, maintaining occupation for approximately one month. After Ukrainian forces reclaimed the community, they discovered over 400 bodies left behind from Russia’s systematic killing campaign.

“Such a strong European presence (in Ukraine) on this day demonstrates that justice for this and other Russian atrocities is inevitable,” Sybiha wrote on X. “Comprehensive accountability for Russian crimes is vital to restore justice in Europe.”

Tuesday’s discussions between EU representatives and Ukrainian officials centered on reaffirming Europe’s commitment to pursuing accountability for Russia’s invasion and subsequent war crimes.

During her journey to Kyiv, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas emphasized the critical need to prosecute both military commanders who issued execution orders and soldiers who carried out the killings in communities like Bucha.

“One of the things that is really necessary is accountability. Otherwise, you have revenge and retaliation,” Kallas stated. “If you don’t see people doing this to your family held accountable, you will want revenge.”

The ongoing Iran conflict has become Washington’s primary concern, potentially redirecting crucial military resources that Ukraine desperately needs, including air defense systems, while simultaneously boosting Russia’s economy through elevated energy prices.

“We can’t let it (the Ukraine war) slip off the table,” Kallas warned. “We are the ones who have to keep this up because nobody else does.”

American-facilitated peace talks have reached an impasse, with no clear timeline for resumption as the Middle East crisis continues to dominate international attention.

“The talks are stalled,” Kallas confirmed.

BANGKOK (AP) — The globally popular Eurovision music competition will debut its inaugural Asian version in Thailand’s capital city this November.

Eurovision Song Contest Asia 2026 will feature performers from a minimum of 10 Asian nations: Thailand, South Korea, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan. Additional countries are anticipated to participate before the November finale.

Contest director Martin Green stated in Tuesday’s announcement: “As we mark the 70th anniversary of the Eurovision Song Contest, it feels especially meaningful to open this next chapter with Asia, a region rich in culture, creativity and talent.”

Thailand Tourism Authority representative Chuwit Sirivajjakul explained that Bangkok serves as an ideal host city because it “has always been a place where cultures come together, where music fills the air, and where celebration is part of everyday life.”

The primary competition, organized by the European Broadcasting Union, attracts over 100 million viewers annually.

The 2025 main event featuring 35 nations will take place in Vienna this May. However, Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain are refusing to participate due to disagreements regarding Israel’s involvement.

While the competition aims to prioritize pop music over politics, it has frequently become entangled in global conflicts. Russia faced expulsion in 2022 following its comprehensive invasion of Ukraine.

The Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza has also created controversy, sparking demonstrations outside venues and prompting organizers to restrict political displays.

Similar political tensions might surface in the Asian version, particularly given that Thailand and Cambodia experienced fatal border confrontations on two occasions last year.

Military officials from two Baltic nations reported detecting suspicious drone activity along their borders with Russia during the overnight hours, marking the latest in a series of airspace incidents affecting NATO’s eastern territories.

Estonian defense officials announced Tuesday morning that they had identified what they termed “potentially dangerous air activity” both within and beyond the nation’s airspace boundaries during the night.

“A preventive threat notification was sent out,” military officials stated, adding that the danger had subsequently subsided.

Colonel Uku Arold, a spokesperson for Estonia’s defense forces, told the country’s public broadcasting network ERR that it was “highly likely that Ukrainian drones that went astray were involved.”

Defense authorities did not respond to requests for additional information.

In recent weeks, Ukraine has intensified its drone operations against Russian oil processing facilities and export infrastructure, with some targets located near Russia’s borders with Baltic states and Finland, as part of efforts to undermine Moscow’s wartime economic capabilities.

According to ERR, wreckage from at least one unmanned aircraft was discovered in Estonia’s Tartu county, while officials continue investigating reports of additional debris findings.

Meanwhile, Latvia’s military forces issued their own statement confirming they had spotted a foreign drone near the Latvian-Russian border on Monday evening. Officials emphasized that the aircraft remained outside Latvian airspace.

Finnish authorities revealed Monday that a Ukrainian drone that went down in Finland on Sunday was carrying an unexploded warhead when it crashed.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has issued a two-day deadline for England’s resident doctors’ union to reconsider its rejection of a compensation and staffing agreement, cautioning that upcoming work stoppages will damage both medical professionals and the patients they serve.

In an opinion piece published in the Times newspaper, Starmer criticized the British Medical Association for making a “reckless” choice by declining to allow its membership to vote on the government’s proposal while simultaneously declaring six days of work stoppages scheduled for April.

England’s resident doctors, previously called junior doctors, plan to stop work from April 7 through April 13 following the BMA’s announcement last week that the administration’s proposal did not adequately address ongoing salary deterioration and personnel shortages within the National Health Service.

According to Starmer, the government’s proposal would have provided a salary increase exceeding inflation rates for the current year and brought total compensation improvements to approximately 35% across three years, along with changes to advancement structures intended to better recognize professional experience.

“That is why walking away from this deal is the wrong decision. It is a reckless decision,” Starmer stated in Monday’s newspaper column. “And doing so without even giving resident doctors themselves the chance to vote on it makes it even worse.”

The proposed agreement also featured coverage of required examination costs, which can total thousands of pounds during training periods, plus the establishment of up to 4,500 new specialty training positions over three years.

“If this deal is not put to a vote, those opportunities will be lost,” Starmer declared, pressing the committee to allow members input and submit the proposal for voting.

The BMA, representing approximately 55,000 resident doctors who comprise nearly half the medical workforce, has maintained that the suggested salary boost fell short of inflation rates and that the gradual implementation of advancement changes could secure additional real-value decreases.

Jack Fletcher, who leads the BMA’s resident doctors’ committee, responded to Starmer’s criticism by saying the disagreement was “not about arbitrary cut-offs,” noting that any time limit would disappear once a believable and lasting proposal became available.

Fletcher indicated the union planned to restart discussions with the government on Tuesday, hoping to achieve an agreement that might still prevent the strikes.

STOCKHOLM – Sweden experienced its most significant drop in deadly violence in more than a decade last year, according to new government data released Tuesday, as law enforcement officials deployed enhanced tactics to combat gang-related crime that has troubled the Nordic nation for two decades.

Data from Sweden’s National Council for Crime Prevention reveals that 84 individuals lost their lives to homicide and manslaughter in 2025, marking a decrease from 92 fatalities recorded in 2024 and representing a substantial decline from the 2020 peak of 124 deaths.

“The development of the number of cases of deadly violence in 2025 represented the second straight year of decline and was at the lowest level since 2012,” BRA said in a statement.

These encouraging numbers provide political momentum for the conservative administration that secured victory in 2022 elections by pledging to address organized criminal activity, which had driven firearm-related fatalities to Europe’s highest rates.

However, the crime prevention council noted that a devastating mass shooting incident in February 2025 – unconnected to gang activity – resulted in 10 deaths and significantly influenced the year’s overall violence statistics, representing nearly 25 percent of all gun-related deaths.

With national elections scheduled for September, public safety remains a priority concern for Swedish voters, despite shooting incidents declining by more than half since 2022.

Law enforcement leaders and government officials point to innovative strategies, expanded funding, and broadened authority – including comprehensive surveillance legislation – as key factors driving the reduction in criminal violence.

Recent policy changes encompass protected identities for certain court witnesses, expanded electronic monitoring capabilities, harsher criminal penalties, and designated safety zones allowing officers to conduct searches without requiring probable cause.

Police officials report these enhanced measures have enabled them to confiscate criminal organizations’ resources more effectively and improve their ability to prevent shooting incidents.

Firearms remained the primary method in violent deaths, claiming 42 lives during 2025, representing a decrease of three victims from the previous year’s total.

BEIJING – Pakistan’s top diplomat is scheduled to meet with China’s foreign minister on Tuesday, with Iran’s current situation expected to be a key topic of discussion, according to Chinese foreign ministry officials.

A ministry spokesperson revealed during a press briefing that both nations maintain aligned perspectives on significant international and regional matters.

The diplomatic meeting comes as part of ongoing cooperation between the two countries on foreign policy issues.

MAKURDI, Nigeria – When US foreign aid cuts threatened to leave thousands of HIV patients without access to crucial medications, volunteer health workers in Nigeria took matters into their own hands, walking from house to house to ensure people stayed alive.

Josephine Angev, a 40-year-old volunteer, spent months last year traveling through rural communities in Nigeria’s Benue State, helping HIV patients maintain access to antiretroviral drugs that keep the virus suppressed and prevent transmission to others.

Angev is among dozens of volunteer “HIV champions” who conducted personal visits to bring patients back into medical care when medication access was interrupted, serving people whose condition often carries social stigma and shame.

Many patients were unaware of the dangers of stopping their treatment. “They don’t understand the implications,” Angev explained.

When people with HIV discontinue antiretroviral medications that control the virus, it resurges in their system. This creates risk for HIV-related health complications within months and enables virus transmission to others.

Angev made repeated visits to a 65-year-old woman who had ceased taking her medication when her supply was exhausted. The woman subsequently became sick. Through Angev’s persistent efforts, she has resumed her drug regimen and is now healthy.

This case illustrates how individuals managed during the aftermath of aid reductions that disrupted global HIV programs in 2025. Additional wealthy nations followed the US in reducing aid, forcing countries dependent on such assistance to find alternative solutions.

Nigeria responded within six weeks by announcing a $200 million health funding package that included HIV programs. The US government also granted a waiver for “life-saving” aid in February 2025, including antiretroviral medications. However, volunteers played a crucial role in filling service gaps.

Dinah Adaga oversees the volunteer network in Benue State. “If we couldn’t reach someone by phone, we went to their house – we traced the address and knocked on their door,” she explained.

A 41-year-old mother described feeling hopeless when learning about the aid reductions, worried that medications would become too expensive. Volunteers helped reconnect her with treatment in November.

“These drugs mean a lot to me. My future depends on them. I have three daughters, and they’re all doing well… They are all (HIV) negative. I’m the only one who is positive. So I believe the drugs were truly made for people like me,” she stated.

President Donald Trump’s 90-day suspension of foreign aid beginning January 20 last year created immediate consequences in Nigeria.

The US had covered approximately 90% of Nigeria’s HIV treatment expenses and supported healthcare personnel. In subsequent months, patients and advocacy organizations reported that medication distribution systems collapsed.

Patients could only obtain supplies lasting one to two weeks instead of six months from major medical facilities. In Makurdi, Benue’s capital city, all 10 treatment facilities shut down for one month, and the World Health Organization cautioned that medications might be depleted.

A network of volunteers intervened, operating as part of Afrocab, a continent-wide community support organization. They reconnected people with care facilities once they reopened with new funding sources, and addressed false information that had circulated about prayer-based “cures.” They encouraged expectant mothers to return to prenatal care to safeguard their babies.

Between June and December 2025, the volunteers brought more than 1,000 people in Benue, including 95 children under age five, back into medical care – representing everyone they estimate who had discontinued treatment in February and March.

“We have not received reports of people dying from not accessing antiretrovirals… that’s, for us, a good sign,” stated Krittayawan Boonto, UNAIDS country director in Nigeria.

Nigeria has approximately two million people living with HIV, among the world’s highest totals. Benue, a state with 4.25 million residents, has slightly over 200,000 people receiving treatment, according to Afrocab estimates.

Immediately following the aid suspension, a UNAIDS monitoring system indicated 200,000 fewer Nigerians were receiving treatment. However, by year-end 2025, data revealed 1.7 million people on treatment, a modest increase from 2024’s 1.6 million.

A US State Department representative said the number receiving medications was “very similar” at the end of 2025 compared to 2024. “The narrative suggesting widespread HIV treatment loss… is inaccurate, misleading and irresponsible,” they added.

Nigeria’s government did not respond to requests for comment.

Global health organizations and the Nigerian government have warned that HIV prevention services experienced more severe and prolonged impacts.

Bright Oniovokukor, who coordinates the Civil Society for HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, reported that people accessing drugs to prevent HIV infection decreased from 43,000 in November 2024 to below 6,000 in April 2025, while condom distribution fell by 55%.

Conditions have improved since then, but any interruption in prevention leads to increased cases, explained Dr. Oluwafunke Odunlade, HIV unit head at WHO Nigeria. Testing was also affected, meaning cases may have been overlooked: preliminary data showed that more than one million fewer people received HIV testing in 2025 compared to 2024.

Currently, the US and Nigeria are finalizing details of a health agreement for 2026-2030 that was signed in December, under which the US will provide $2.1 billion and Nigeria $3 billion.

The agreement prioritizes HIV response and commits to enrolling more patients in treatment programs, with Nigeria assuming complete funding responsibility over the next five years.

The US has indicated that only workers “formally recognised within government structures” will receive funding, and the agreement emphasizes “a strong emphasis on Christian faith-based healthcare providers,” reflecting broader US efforts to support Nigeria’s Christian population, which faces threats from Islamist violence.

In Benue, Angev will continue her volunteer work. “It can be exhausting, but we do it so lives that might have been lost are instead restored. And when you see them living better lives and truly changed, that’s when you feel happy,” she said.

Japan has activated its first long-range missile system at a military installation in the country’s southwest, officials announced Tuesday, representing a major expansion of the nation’s offensive military capabilities.

The enhanced Type-12 land-to-ship missile system, manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, went into operation at Camp Kengun located in Kumamoto prefecture.

Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi addressed reporters about the significance of this development. “As Japan faces the most severe and complex security environment in the postwar era … it is an extremely important capability to strengthen Japan’s deterrence and responsiveness,” Koizumi stated. “It demonstrates Japan’s firm determination and capability to defend itself.”

The modernized Type-12 system can strike targets approximately 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) away, a dramatic increase from the original version’s 200-kilometer (125-mile) capability that now puts mainland China within striking distance.

This missile deployment provides Japan with “standoff” strike capabilities, allowing the country to attack enemy launch sites from distant positions. This represents a departure from Japan’s historically defensive-only military doctrine maintained under its pacifist constitution.

Local citizens who oppose having the weapons stationed near civilian neighborhoods held demonstrations outside Camp Kengun, arguing the deployment could heighten regional tensions and make their community a potential target for adversaries.

On the same day, military officials also activated a hypersonic glide vehicle system at Camp Fuji in Shizuoka prefecture, located west of Tokyo. This new weapons platform was specifically designed for defending Japan’s island territories. Military planners expect to install additional Type-12 missiles and hypersonic systems at various sites across Japan, including northern Hokkaido and southern Miyazaki, with completion targeted for March 2028.

Japan’s military expansion also includes plans to equip the destroyer JS Chokai with American-made Tomahawk cruise missiles capable of reaching targets 1,600 kilometers (990 miles) away later this year, with seven additional destroyers scheduled to receive the same weapons.

Japanese officials view China as the primary regional security challenge and have been strengthening defenses on southwestern islands near the East China Sea in recent years.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s administration approved a record-breaking defense spending plan in December exceeding 9 trillion yen ($58 billion) for the fiscal year starting in April, focusing on counter-strike capabilities and coastal defenses using cruise missiles and autonomous weapons systems.

Last June, Japan detected two Chinese aircraft carriers operating simultaneously near remote Japanese Pacific islands for the first time, raising Tokyo’s concerns about Beijing’s expanding military presence beyond its territorial boundaries.

Defense officials established a specialized office last week dedicated to monitoring China’s Pacific naval activities.

Regional tensions have intensified following Takaichi’s November declaration that any Chinese military assault on Taiwan could justify Japanese military intervention.

SAO PAULO (AP) — While the ongoing conflict involving Iran continues to disrupt oil markets worldwide, Brazil has found protection through an innovative solution that’s both cost-effective and eco-friendly: millions of motorists can select between pure sugarcane ethanol or gasoline mixed with 30% biofuel when they visit gas stations.

The South American nation’s extensive fleet of flexible-fuel vehicles — cars that operate on any mixture of ethanol and gasoline — represents an unparalleled program in terms of size. This initiative, which began in 1975 under Brazil’s former military government, has successfully adapted during democratic rule to decrease reliance on imported petroleum.

Currently, as the ongoing Middle East crisis involving Iran, the United States and Israel continues into its fifth week, countries including India and Mexico are examining Brazil’s approach as a model for achieving energy independence.

While motorists across the globe experience significant cost increases, Brazilian fuel prices climbed only 5% in March — a stark contrast to the 30% surge seen in America. Experts partially attribute this price stability to an established domestic biofuel sector that enables the nation to weather international tensions with little threat of fuel supply disruptions.

“Brazil is much better prepared than most countries because it has a viable alternative of this nature,” said Evandro Gussi, president of the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association, UNICA.

The circumstances are especially favorable given that Brazil’s upcoming sugarcane season, starting in April’s first half, is projected to yield a record 30 billion liters of ethanol — representing 4 billion liters more than the previous year. “That increase alone is equivalent to the total amount of gasoline Brazil imported in all of last year,” Gussi noted.

Although Brazil ranks as a significant crude oil producer and exporter, the country continues importing petroleum to satisfy domestic refined fuel needs. Brazil currently obtains oil from the United States, Saudi Arabia, Russia and nearby Guyana.

Nevertheless, ethanol has emerged as a cornerstone of everyday transportation. During 2025, ethanol sales reached 37.1 billion liters, based on data from the state-operated Energy Research Company. While it remains slightly behind diesel and gasoline in overall energy consumption, ethanol’s availability at all service stations offers Brazilians both psychological comfort and economic protection.

Brazil’s biofuel industry success centers in Sao Paulo state, the nation’s manufacturing and farming hub.

Operations there combine advanced, export-focused large-scale farms with smaller family-run businesses like Bom Retiro farm, established in 1958, where several dozen employees are currently preparing to harvest their 40-square-kilometer property spanning nearly 10,000 acres.

The country’s biofuel technology has benefited from extensive government-funded research. The Science Development Center for Ethanol at Unicamp university in Campinas, located near Sao Paulo, represents one such facility. Coordinator Luis Cortez explains that Brazil’s program possesses distinct benefits that other countries cannot replicate.

“We have flexibility in ethanol production, in vehicle engines and from the federal government, which sets the percentage of ethanol in the fuel blend,” said Cortez. “We have flexibility at three levels.”

He maintains that this research investment ultimately creates benefits for consumers at service stations.

Data from the Brazilian Association of Fuel Importers shows that gasoline processed by state-owned Petrobras — containing biofuel additives — costs 46% less than imported alternatives, saving 1.16 Brazilian reals ($0.22) per liter. Petrobras diesel similarly sells at refineries for 63% below international prices.

Although the potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz hasn’t dramatically affected Brazil’s gasoline sector, the country faces challenges with increasing diesel costs. This occurs because diesel relies heavily on imported crude oil and contains lower biofuel percentages.

In contrast to the sugarcane-ethanol achievement, Brazil’s biodiesel production, primarily derived from soybeans, comprises just 14% of diesel mixtures. This percentage may reach the same 30% level used in gasoline blends only by 2030, pending research advances and technological progress, meaning the current conflict has created immediate consequences.

Brazilian diesel costs jumped over 20% in March, leading President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to suggest import subsidies lasting through May. Government data indicates Brazil must purchase 20% to 30% of its diesel monthly, with most supplies coming from Russia.

Brazilian officials report the country imported nearly 17 billion liters of diesel during the past year.

For 80-year-old President Lula, who seeks reelection this October, maintaining stable diesel prices remains essential to avoid trucker protests and control food price inflation.

UNICA president Gussi revealed that since the recent Iran conflict began, multiple world leaders have contacted him regarding Brazil’s biofuel sector. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed interest earlier this month in Petrobras’ methods for producing ethanol from agave, a widely cultivated plant in Mexico.

“The best news, even in the midst of a situation like the one we are experiencing, is that this solution has a significant level of replicability,” Gussi said.

PALU, Indonesia — Search and rescue operations in Indonesia concluded successfully Tuesday morning when teams located 21 survivors floating on a makeshift raft, one day after their passenger vessel went down in turbulent ocean conditions.

Muhammad Rizal, director of the Palu city search and rescue operations center, confirmed that all individuals aboard the vessel were recovered alive. Initial reports indicated 27 people were unaccounted for, but survivors clarified that six passengers listed on the ship’s roster had canceled their travel plans before departure.

The survivors, consisting mainly of fishing industry workers, were discovered on their raft approximately 46 kilometers (29 miles) away from the location where their vessel sank in waters north of Taliabu Island.

The vessel Nazila 05 had left port on Taliabu island in North Maluku province shortly after sunset on Sunday, heading toward Kema in North Sulawesi province, according to Rizal.

Rizal explained that the Nazila 05 regularly carried tourists and served the local community as both a fishing boat and small passenger transport.

According to statements from the vessel’s owner to authorities, the ship’s captain reported that the Nazila 05 went under after powerful waves damaged the front section during severe weather conditions, with all crew members successfully evacuating to a smaller boat before the main vessel submerged, Rizal noted.

Family members informed officials that the survivors had secured themselves to a raft, prompting the National Search and Rescue Agency, known as Basarnas, to dispatch a rescue ship toward the projected drift location at first light Tuesday, where the raft was expected to be floating in rough seas.

“All survivors located by rescuers will be taken to a nearby city of Gorontalo,” Rizal said in a video statement.

The rescue mission deployed two rescue ships and received support from area fishing boats, Basarnas reported.

As an island nation containing over 17,000 islands, Indonesia relies heavily on watercraft for transportation between locations. Maritime incidents happen regularly due to insufficient safety regulations and vessel overcrowding issues.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — American military forces conducted what appears to be a major strike against Iran’s central city of Isfahan in the early morning hours Tuesday, creating enormous explosions visible from great distances, while Iranian forces retaliated by attacking a fully-loaded Kuwaiti oil vessel in Persian Gulf waters.

These escalating strikes demonstrate how fierce the month-long conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran has become, with Tehran continuing to block the strategically important Strait of Hormuz and cutting off crucial global oil shipping lanes, causing petroleum costs to spike dramatically and creating chaos in international markets.

President Donald Trump, who continues to claim diplomatic negotiations toward ending hostilities are making headway, posted footage of the Isfahan assault on social media, showing bright explosions illuminating the darkness. The targeted city houses one of three locations previously bombed by American forces in June and likely contains significant quantities of Iran’s highly enriched uranium materials stored underground.

Separately, Israeli officials reported that four additional soldiers lost their lives during their Lebanese military operation, along with two more United Nations peacekeeping personnel, leading the U.N. Security Council to call an urgent meeting for Tuesday evening.

International Brent crude oil pricing reached approximately $107 per barrel during morning trading sessions, marking a more than 45% increase since military actions began February 28 when American and Israeli forces first attacked Iranian targets.

Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz, the critical waterway connecting the Persian Gulf through which one-fifth of global oil moves during normal times, has caused worldwide petroleum prices to climb, along with Tehran’s strikes against regional energy facilities throughout the Gulf area.

Responding to increasing frustration from Arab Gulf nations, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated Tuesday that Tehran only aims at American military personnel. Multiple countries have been urging Washington to continue military operations until Iran’s armed forces are completely eliminated.

“Our operations are aimed at enemy aggressors who have no respect for Arabs or Iranians, nor can provide any security,” Araghchi wrote on X. “High time to eject U.S. forces.”

However, civilian targets remained under attack as an Iranian unmanned aircraft struck the Kuwaiti tanker in waters near Dubai, igniting fires that emergency crews later extinguished, according to Dubai Media Office statements.

Four Dubai residents sustained injuries when fragments from a destroyed drone crashed into a neighborhood area.

Warning sirens activated across Bahrain, while Saudi Arabia’s Defense Ministry reported intercepting three ballistic rockets aimed at Riyadh, with falling debris from a destroyed drone southeast of the capital causing minor property damage to six residential buildings.

Alert signals also sounded in Jerusalem with loud blasts heard shortly after Israeli military officials warned of incoming Iranian missile attacks.

Israel and the United States launched fresh bombing campaigns against Iran, striking Tehran during early morning hours.

The footage Trump shared appeared to document a massive assault on Isfahan, where NASA fire-detection satellites indicate the blasts occurred near Mount Soffeh, a location believed to contain military installations. Iranian officials have not yet acknowledged the attack.

Satellite imagery captured just before June’s 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel suggests Tehran moved a truck containing highly enriched uranium to its Isfahan nuclear complex.

The photograph from an Airbus Defense and Space Pléiades Neo satellite depicts a vehicle carrying 18 blue containers entering a tunnel at the Isfahan Nuclear Technology Center approximately two weeks before U.S. forces bombed the location.

Intelligence experts concluded the truck probably transported most or all of Iran’s uranium stockpile enriched to 60% purity levels. This represents a brief technical process away from weapons-grade concentrations of 90%.

Trump stated this week that “great progress is being made” in negotiations with Iran to cease military activities. However, he warned that without a deal reached “shortly,” and if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, America would expand its campaign by “completely obliterating” electrical facilities, oil installations, Kharg Island and potentially desalination plants.

The United States has deployed 2,500 Marines to the region with additional forces en route, while ordering 1,000 paratroopers to the conflict zone.

Trump has publicly discussed potentially attempting to capture Kharg Island, Iran’s primary oil export terminal, and Iran has accused America of using diplomatic discussions to delay while positioning more military personnel.

U.S. forces have already struck military positions on Kharg Island. Iran has warned it will launch ground invasions of Gulf Arab nations and place mines throughout the Persian Gulf if American troops enter Iranian territory.

During Trump’s second presidency, the United States has twice attacked Iran while high-level peace talks were ongoing, including the February 28 strikes that initiated the current war.

The U.N. Security Council scheduled Tuesday’s emergency session after officials reported three peacekeepers in southern Lebanon had died within a 24-hour period.

The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the area where Israel is fighting Iran-supported Hezbollah forces did not identify who was responsible for the fatalities.

Iranian authorities report more than 1,900 casualties within their borders, while 19 deaths have been confirmed in Israel.

Twenty-four people have died in Gulf states and the occupied West Bank. Lebanese officials said over 1,200 people have been killed, with more than 1 million displaced from their homes.

Ten Israeli soldiers have been killed in Lebanon, including the four announced Tuesday, while 13 U.S. military personnel have died in the conflict.

American conservative leaders are keeping a close eye on Hungary’s upcoming parliamentary election on April 12, where Prime Minister Viktor Orban faces his most challenging political fight in over a decade.

For years, U.S. conservatives have held up Orban as an example of how Western politicians can implement strict immigration controls, challenge international organizations, and combat what they call “woke” ideology while maintaining electoral success.

However, polling data indicates that after 16 years in office, Orban’s Fidesz party is struggling against center-right challenger Peter Magyar and his Tisza party. Most independent surveys show Magyar holding a lead over the incumbent prime minister.

A potential loss for Orban would send shockwaves beyond Hungary’s borders, undermining a governing model characterized by strong nationalism and weakened democratic oversight that some American conservatives have promoted as a template for Western nations.

Magyar, age 45, has campaigned across hundreds of Hungarian communities, frequently delivering speeches from a truck decorated with the country’s national colors. The lawyer and European Parliament member has focused his message on economic concerns including stagnant wages, increasing food costs, and declining public services while promising to address corruption and restore democratic institutions.

His campaign has resonated particularly well with younger Hungarian voters, who appreciate his focused messaging and effective use of social media platforms.

Orban, 62, has characterized his opponent as an unreliable choice who would submit to European Union pressure and involve Hungary in the conflict in Ukraine. The longtime leader maintains friendly relations with Russia and opposes providing aid to Ukraine. Campaign materials throughout Budapest promote Fidesz as “The Safe Choice.”

Five political experts believe that even prominent American support, including Donald Trump’s endorsement and a scheduled visit from Vice President J.D. Vance on April 7-8, will have minimal impact on the election outcome since voters are primarily concerned with domestic economic issues.

Trump has described Orban as “a truly strong and powerful leader,” and Budapest has hosted conferences where American conservative figures study his political strategies.

The Hungarian leader’s approach to governance, which he calls “illiberal democracy,” shares similarities with Trump-era policies including strict immigration enforcement, rejection of liberal institutions, opposition to global organizations, and criticism of media outlets, universities, and advocacy groups. Orban became the first European leader to support Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.

During Barack Obama’s presidency, Washington frequently criticized Orban’s government for undermining democratic principles, including judicial independence and media freedoms, but such criticism diminished after Trump took office.

Orban’s willingness to oppose the European Union has also attracted American conservative supporters. He has consistently challenged the bloc, particularly by opposing Ukraine’s membership application and maintaining ties with Russia. Magyar has promised to distance Hungary from Moscow and strengthen Western relationships.

In a previous Reuters interview, Magyar stated that voters must decide between “Europe and development, or a continuation of ’16 years of decline.’”

On his Truth Social platform, Trump has praised Orban for helping achieve “new heights of cooperation and spectacular achievement” between the United States and Hungary. A White House spokesperson confirmed that Trump considers Orban “a close partner, respected leader, and a winner for the people of Hungary – a great ally to the United States.”

Despite this praise, the Trump administration has not provided Orban with the same level of economic support given to other allies like Argentine President Javier Milei, who received billions in U.S. assistance last year.

Following a November White House meeting, Orban claimed he had secured a U.S. “financial shield” for Hungary’s economy, but Trump later denied making such an offer. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s February 16 visit to Budapest yielded only vague promises about “finding ways to provide assistance” if needed.

“We’re hitting a ceiling (on) what the Americans are willing to really offer,” said Zsuzsanna Vegh, a political analyst at the German Marshall Fund of the United States. “That may signal a level of uncertainty about whether Orban will really win. Trump might not want to be seen supporting a loser.”

International observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe found Hungary’s 2022 general election, which Orban won decisively, to be free but not fair due to extensive state-funded advertising and media bias favoring Fidesz. Changes to election laws under Orban’s leadership have enabled his party to secure supermajorities with less than half the popular vote.

Vance’s upcoming visit demonstrates Orban’s position within Trump’s global conservative network, highlighted by two March conferences in Budapest featuring right-wing politicians and activists from multiple countries.

Even Orban supporters question whether international endorsements will influence voters. “Domestic issues will determine voter intentions,” said Zoltan Kiszelly, a political analyst at the pro-Orban think tank Szazadveg.

A March 21 CPAC Hungary conference included Argentine President Milei, German far-right leader Alice Weidel, and Republican congressmen Russ Fulcher of Idaho and Andy Harris of Maryland. During the event, conservative media personality Dave Rubin acknowledged feeling “trepidation” among attendees, while Harris warned of “vandals” threatening Christian values and urged Hungarians to “throw the vandals out and shut the gate,” declaring that “the future of Western, Christian, free civilization depends on it.”

Harris told Reuters that Orban’s leadership “led the way for the victory of many right-of-center leaders in Europe. Of course, that put a political target on him.”

Two days later, Orban met with leaders from at least 10 European far-right parties, including France’s Marine Le Pen and the Netherlands’ Geert Wilders. Their alliance, Patriots for Europe, established by Orban and allies in 2024, now ranks as the third-largest group in the European Parliament.

Kiszelly suggested his American conservative contacts remain confident despite polling challenges, drawing lessons from Trump’s 2024 victory about the unreliability of surveys. He attributed Orban’s apparent deficit to “pro-opposition pollsters” and cited polling by McLaughlin & Associates, a firm associated with Trump, showing Fidesz leading Tisza by six points.

According to Kiszelly, such a margin would allow Fidesz to govern independently or with support from the far-right Our Homeland party. “The opposition has no chance,” he stated.

However, most polling suggests a different outcome, favoring a challenger who appeals to voters in areas traditionally dominated by Fidesz.

Magyar represents a departure from typical liberal opposition figures. Campaigning with the motto “Now or never,” his party supports strict immigration controls, traditional family values, and nationalism – positions historically associated with Orban’s platform. Notably, his surname translates to “Hungarian.”

Signs of electoral pressure have emerged on the campaign trail. Orban faced heckling at a recent rally in Gyor, an unusual occurrence for a leader whose events are typically carefully managed. Appearing unsettled by the disruption, he accused the protesters of “not standing with Hungarians.”

KYIV, Ukraine – European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and multiple EU foreign ministers traveled to Ukraine’s capital on Tuesday to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the Bucha massacre while demonstrating continued support for the war-torn nation. The diplomatic visit occurs as the European bloc faces internal disputes regarding stalled aid packages.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha welcomed Kallas and the delegation of high-ranking European officials at Kyiv’s main train station Tuesday morning. Sybiha emphasized that such significant European representation proved that accountability for Russian war crimes would ultimately prevail.

“Today, we commemorate the grim anniversary of the Bucha massacre,” Sybiha wrote on his Telegram account. “Comprehensive accountability for Russian crimes is vital to restore justice in Europe. And today, we will advance accountability efforts.”

This week marks four years since Ukrainian forces liberated Bucha, a town located approximately 25 kilometers from Kyiv, revealing horrific war crimes committed there. Russian forces killed over 400 civilians in the community during their occupation. Russia has consistently rejected responsibility for the killings and claimed Ukraine fabricated the evidence.

MELBOURNE, Australia — Australia’s internet safety regulator announced Tuesday it may pursue legal action against major social media companies, claiming Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube have failed to adequately enforce the nation’s groundbreaking ban on users under 16.

Legal experts suggest Australian courts will ultimately determine what constitutes reasonable enforcement measures under the legislation that became effective December 10, which requires platforms to block minors from creating accounts.

eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant issued her initial enforcement assessment Tuesday following the law’s implementation, which mandated 10 social media services eliminate all Australian account holders below age 16.

The assessment revealed that although 5 million Australian accounts were shut down, significant numbers of children continue maintaining existing accounts, establishing new profiles, and circumventing the platforms’ age verification procedures.

Inman Grant stated her agency holds “significant concerns about the compliance” of five out of the 10 platforms examined. Her department is compiling evidence showing these companies failed to implement “reasonable steps” to block underage account creation.

Judicial authorities could impose penalties reaching 49.5 million Australian dollars ($33 million) for widespread compliance violations. The eSafety office plans to determine whether to pursue litigation against any platform by mid-2025.

Social media services not facing investigation include Reddit, X, Kick, Threads and Twitch.

Communications Minister Anika Wells accused the five targeted platforms of intentionally avoiding compliance with Australian regulations.

“Social media platforms are choosing to do the absolute bare minimum because they want these laws to fail,” Wells stated to news media.

“This is the world-leading law. We’re the first in the world to do it. Of course they don’t want these laws to work because they want that to be a chilling effect on the dozen countries that have come out since Dec. 10 to follow Australia’s step,” she continued.

The safety agency documented “poor practices” including platforms permitting endless attempts to bypass age verification systems and encouraging users to retry verification even after declaring themselves underage.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, told The Associated Press it remains dedicated to following Australia’s social media restrictions. “We’ve also been clear that accurately determining age online is a challenge for the whole industry,” the company stated.

Snap Inc. reported it has disabled 450,000 accounts under the new law and continues blocking additional accounts daily.

“Snapchat remains fully committed to implementing reasonable steps under the legislation and supporting its underlying goal of improving online safety for young Australians,” a Snap spokesperson said.

TikTok refused to provide comment Tuesday, while Alphabet Inc., YouTube and Google’s parent company, did not respond immediately to requests for statement.

Lisa Given, an information technology specialist at RMIT University in Melbourne, predicted courts will determine whether platforms have implemented “reasonable steps” to exclude minors.

“If a tech company has said: look, we put in age assurance, we’ve done all these steps. That’s reasonable. Even though the aged assurance technologies are flawed, whose fault is that? Should they be held accountable for a piece of technology that is not 100% and likely not going to be 100% foolproof any time soon?” Given explained.

“That’s really the crux of it: what the courts will deem reasonable,” she concluded.

Military operations in southern Lebanon have resulted in the deaths of United Nations peacekeepers and Israeli forces, authorities confirmed Tuesday, while President Donald Trump and Iranian leadership made conflicting claims regarding potential diplomatic talks to resolve their ongoing conflict.

Israeli forces are conducting operations aimed at removing Hezbollah fighters from southern Lebanon, following repeated rocket and drone attacks launched across the border. Israeli leadership indicates this military campaign may develop into an extended occupation of the region.

An emergency United Nations Security Council meeting has been scheduled after three UN peacekeeping personnel were fatally wounded in southern Lebanon within a 24-hour period, though the responsible party remains unclear. Israeli military sources reported Tuesday morning that four additional Israeli soldiers had died during the offensive operations.

In an interview published Monday by the New York Post, President Trump stated that the United States is conducting negotiations with Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, Iran’s parliamentary speaker. The former Revolutionary Guard leader had previously been suggested as a potential diplomatic contact for Washington, but he has rejected claims that Iran is engaging in talks with America and characterized Pakistan-mediated discussions as merely concealing U.S. military positioning.

Trump additionally warned of massive strikes against Iran’s energy infrastructure and critical facilities, including water desalination systems, unless a peace agreement is achieved “shortly.”

Financial markets showed modest gains during volatile Monday trading sessions as petroleum prices continued rising amid uncertainty about the conflict’s duration.

The Thai cargo vessel operator whose ship was damaged by projectile fire near the Strait of Hormuz announced that search crews successfully boarded the disabled vessel but could not find three missing sailors.

The Mayuree Naree sustained damage after being struck north of Oman earlier this month.

Precious Shipping Co., Ltd informed the Stock Exchange of Thailand on Monday that searchers examined all reachable sections of the Mayuree Naree “under challenging conditions, including the presence of fire damage, residual smoke, and flooding in the engine room.” The company stated that relatives of the three missing crew members received appropriate notification.

Satellite imagery captured shortly before the 12-day Iran-Israel war in June indicates Tehran moved a truck carrying highly enriched uranium to its Isfahan nuclear complex.

The Airbus Defense and Space Pléiades Neo satellite photograph shows a truck carrying 18 blue containers entering a tunnel at the Isfahan Nuclear Technology Center on June 9, 2025. Hostilities commenced June 13, and American forces bombed the Isfahan facility along with two additional nuclear sites on June 22.

François Diaz-Maurin, a researcher with the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, determined the truck probably transported 18 secure containers holding up to 534 kilograms (1,177 pounds) of uranium enriched to 60% purity. This represents a brief technical process away from weapons-grade 90% enrichment levels.

“This calculation suggests that Iran could have transferred all of its stockpile of highly enriched uranium to Isfahan via the truck seen in the satellite image,” Diaz-Maurin stated in his assessment.

The Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security similarly concluded the vehicle was moving highly enriched uranium. French publication Le Monde initially disclosed the satellite images.

Iran’s foreign minister declared early Tuesday that Tehran’s military strikes against Gulf Arab nations exclusively target American forces, despite attacks affecting civilian infrastructure across the region.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s statements, directed toward Saudi Arabia, come as increasing Gulf Arab frustration encourages those nations to support America’s continued military engagement.

“Iran respects the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and considers it a brotherly nation,” Araghchi posted on X, including a photograph allegedly showing damage to an American aircraft at Prince Sultan Air Base in the kingdom. “Our operations are aimed at enemy aggressors who have no respect for Arabs or Iranians, nor can provide any security. … High time to eject U.S. forces.”

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia — Parliament in Mongolia has approved Uchral Nyam-Osor to serve as the nation’s third prime minister within a 12-month period, as lawmakers attempt to break through legislative gridlock during a time of growing economic challenges for the resource-rich, landlocked nation.

The new leader emphasized the need for political cooperation, stating that internal conflicts have worsened external difficulties facing the country.

“As others unite to confront crises, we cannot afford political infighting that weakens our economy,” he addressed parliament members.

During Monday evening’s vote, 107 out of 126 parliament members participated, with 88 lawmakers backing Uchral’s appointment — representing 82.2% support — paving the way for the 39-year-old to assume leadership.

Previously serving as minister of digital development and communications, Uchral championed transparency initiatives and digital government programs. Prior to his political career, he gained public recognition performing hip-hop music under the name “Timon.”

The new prime minister has established himself as a modernization advocate, working to update Mongolia’s regulatory framework and simplify permit processes left over from the nation’s Soviet period. The country shifted to democratic governance in 1990 following years of single-party Communist control.

His selection occurs as international investors express growing worries about Mongolia’s governmental instability, constantly shifting policies, and problems with corruption and regulatory uncertainty.

Parliament viewed Uchral as a middle-ground choice between competing groups within the Mongolian People’s Party — some supporting the president and others backing former prime minister Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai.

The opposition Democratic Party’s boycott and internal conflicts within the governing party had prevented parliament from achieving the necessary attendance for voting during the legislative session that started approximately two weeks earlier.

Former Prime Minister Zandanshatar Gombojav, who had served for nine months, tendered his resignation on Friday to address the political crisis. He also faced pressure due to corruption charges against one of his top cabinet officials.

Zandanshatar, who maintains close ties with the president, had succeeded Oyun-Erdene, who served as prime minister for four years before stepping down last June following a parliamentary confidence vote defeat. All three leaders belong to the Mongolian People’s Party.

Manufacturing activity in China showed improvement during March, breaking a two-month streak of decline, according to government statistics released Tuesday. Economic experts remain cautious about future prospects due to potential energy supply challenges stemming from the ongoing Iran conflict.

China’s National Bureau of Statistics announced that the official manufacturing purchasing managers index climbed to 50.4 in March, up from February’s reading of 49. This figure exceeded analyst predictions and marked the highest level recorded in twelve months. The PMI scale runs from 0 to 100, with readings above 50 signaling sector growth.

Although the March data reflects the period following the start of the Iran war on February 28, economists believe the full effects of rising energy prices have yet to materialize. “So far supply disruptions have not occurred in a material way,” said Jacqueline Rong, Chief China Economist, BNP Paribas, a French bank.

China’s economic challenges extend beyond international conflicts, as the nation continues to grapple with a persistent real estate downturn that has lasted several years. This housing market decline has dampened both consumer spending and business investment throughout the country. As the globe’s second-largest economy, China has increasingly depended on international sales, particularly to Southeast Asian and European markets, which helped generate a record-breaking $1.2 trillion trade surplus last year despite elevated U.S. tariffs.

The nation’s export-driven economic strategy faces potential obstacles as the Iran conflict threatens to increase energy expenses and disrupt global supply networks. Maritime shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage for approximately 20% of worldwide oil transport, has been severely restricted.

The severity of economic consequences will largely depend on the duration of Middle Eastern energy supply interruptions, according to BNP Paribas economist Rong. “If it is months, rather than weeks, then the supply disruptions, not just from oil, but also from the shortage of many chemical products — such as rare gases — would manifest itself in disrupting industrial production and services,” she said.

Chinese export performance could also decline if worldwide economic growth suffers significantly from the energy crisis, Rong noted. Higher global inflation rates, for instance, might reduce international demand for Chinese manufactured goods.

In early March, Chinese government officials announced an economic growth objective of 4.5% to 5% for the current year, representing a modest reduction from last year’s “around 5%” target and marking the most conservative growth goal since 1991.

Currently, China’s economy “appears to have weathered” the energy disruption from the Iran conflict relatively well, according to Zichun Huang, China economist at Capital Economics, in a recent research analysis. However, she warned that “it is likely that the fallout from the Iran war will grow over the coming months.”

As Chinese exports to the United States, its primary trading partner, have decreased in recent months, economists are monitoring developments in diplomatic relations between Washington and Beijing ahead of an anticipated meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping scheduled for May.

Some economic analysts suggest that reduced U.S. tariffs following a recent Supreme Court decision against Trump’s comprehensive global tariff policies might provide a modest boost to Chinese exports and manufacturing activity.

Israeli defense forces confirmed Tuesday that four military personnel lost their lives while two additional soldiers sustained injuries during active fighting in southern Lebanon.

The military announcement on March 31 detailed the casualties that occurred during ongoing combat operations in the southern region of Lebanon.

Energy markets experienced a dramatic turnaround during Tuesday’s Asian trading session, with crude oil prices falling after earlier gains, following reports that President Donald Trump indicated to his staff he may be prepared to halt military operations against Iran without requiring immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Brent crude futures for May delivery dropped $1.22, representing a 1.08% decline to $111.56 per barrel as of 0210 GMT, despite climbing 2% earlier in the trading day. The May contract reaches expiration Tuesday, while the more actively traded June contract stood at $105.76.

West Texas Intermediate futures for May fell 98 cents, or 0.95%, to $101.90 per barrel after reaching their highest levels since March 9 during early trading hours.

Market experts indicated the price decline represents a short-term response to potential conflict resolution, though substantial pricing changes would require complete restoration of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

According to a Wall Street Journal report published Monday citing administration sources, Trump informed his advisers he would consider ending the military operation against Iran while potentially delaying the waterway’s reopening to a future date.

Just one day earlier, Trump issued a stern warning that the United States would “obliterate” Iran’s energy infrastructure and petroleum facilities if Tehran failed to reopen the strategic waterway.

Iran’s effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage that normally handles approximately one-fifth of worldwide oil shipments and substantial liquefied natural gas transport, has driven Brent futures up 59% throughout March, marking their largest monthly increase on record. WTI has similarly risen 58% this month, the steepest gain since May 2020.

“While diplomatic signals remain mixed, the ground reality suggests that uncertainty will persist,” stated Sugandha Sachdeva, founder of SS WealthStreet, a New Delhi-based research firm.

“Even in the event of de-escalation, restoring damaged infrastructure will take time, keeping supply tight,” Sachdeva added.

Demonstrating ongoing threats to maritime energy transportation amid the conflict involving Iran, the U.S., and Israel, Kuwait Petroleum Corp announced Tuesday that its fully loaded crude tanker Al Salmi, with capacity for up to 2 million barrels, sustained damage from what officials described as an Iranian attack at a Dubai port facility. Authorities also expressed concerns about possible environmental contamination in the region.

Over the weekend, Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi forces launched missile attacks targeting Israel, sparking renewed worries about potential disruptions to the Bab el-Mandeb strait, the narrow passage connecting the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden that serves as a vital shipping corridor between Asia and Europe through the Suez Canal.

Saudi Arabia has redirected its crude exports through this route, with shipments rerouted from the Gulf to the Red Sea facility at Yanbu reaching 4.658 million barrels daily last week according to Kpler data, representing a significant increase from the average 770,000 barrels per day recorded in January and February.

In domestic developments, U.S. crude oil inventories were projected to have decreased last week, alongside reductions in distillate and gasoline stocks, according to a preliminary Reuters survey released Monday.

“Contradictory statements and signals on the state of the war are flying thick and fast and truth and facts are the biggest casualty,” commented Vandana Hari, founder of oil market analysis provider Vanda Insights.

“Crude is likely to continue being whiplashed and directionless,” Hari concluded.

Iranian forces launched an attack Monday that set fire to a massive oil tanker loaded with crude off the coast of Dubai, while President Donald Trump issued stark warnings about destroying Iran’s energy infrastructure if shipping lanes remain blocked.

The assault targeted the Al-Salmi, a Kuwait-flagged vessel capable of transporting approximately 2 million barrels of oil valued at over $200 million based on current market rates. This marks another episode in an ongoing series of attacks against commercial shipping using missiles and explosive drones throughout the Gulf region and Strait of Hormuz, following U.S. and Israeli military actions against Iran on February 28.

Dubai officials later confirmed they successfully extinguished the blaze caused by the drone strike, with no casualties reported. Kuwait Petroleum Corp, which owns the vessel, announced efforts to evaluate the damage while cautioning about potential environmental spillage.

The month-long regional conflict has expanded throughout the Middle East, resulting in thousands of deaths, energy supply disruptions, and threats to global economic stability. Oil markets responded immediately to news of the tanker attack, with prices experiencing another surge.

Rising fuel costs have begun impacting American families’ budgets and created political challenges for Trump and the Republican Party before November’s midterm elections, despite campaign promises to reduce energy expenses and boost domestic oil and gas output.

Monday marked a milestone as U.S. gasoline prices exceeded $4 per gallon for the first time in over three years, according to GasBuddy data, driven by constrained global supplies that pushed American crude above $101 per barrel.

Military escalation continues on multiple fronts, with Iran-supported Houthis joining the conflict by launching missiles and drones toward Israel in recent days. Turkey reported intercepting an Iranian ballistic missile that had crossed into Turkish airspace using NATO defense systems.

Israeli forces conducted missile attacks on what they described as military facilities in Tehran and Hezbollah infrastructure in Beirut, leaving dark smoke visible across Lebanon’s capital city. The violence has claimed the lives of three Indonesian UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon during two separate incidents.

Elite soldiers from the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division have begun deploying to the Middle East, according to two U.S. officials who spoke to Reuters Monday. This reinforcement could provide Trump with additional military options, including potential operations within Iranian borders, even as diplomatic discussions with Tehran continue.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt indicated Trump seeks an agreement with Tehran before his April 6 deadline, which extends an earlier timeframe he established for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. This critical waterway typically handles about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.

Leavitt noted that negotiations with Iran are advancing, observing that Tehran’s public statements contrast with their private communications to American officials.

The Wall Street Journal subsequently reported that Trump has informed advisers he would consider ending military operations against Iran even if the strait remains mostly blocked, potentially postponing the complex task of fully reopening it.

Iran acknowledged Monday it had received American peace proposals through intermediary nations, following Sunday discussions between foreign ministers from Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei characterized the proposals as “unrealistic, illogical and excessive.”

“Our position is clear. We are under military aggression. Therefore, all our efforts and strength are focused on defending ourselves,” he stated during a press conference.

Following Baghaei’s comments, Trump announced the U.S. was negotiating with a “more reasonable regime” to conclude the Iranian conflict while issuing fresh warnings regarding the Strait of Hormuz.

“Great progress has been made but, if for any reason a deal is not shortly reached, which it probably will be, and if the Hormuz Strait is not immediately ‘Open for Business,’ we will conclude our lovely ‘stay’ in Iran by blowing up and completely obliterating all of their Electric Generating Plants, Oil Wells and Kharg Island,” Trump posted on social media, also threatening Iranian desalination facilities.

The White House revealed Trump is exploring requests for Arab nations to finance the conflict’s costs. “It’s an idea that I know that he has and something that I think you’ll hear more from him on,” Leavitt responded when asked about the concept.

Trump’s administration has submitted a request for an additional $200 billion in war funding, though the proposal encounters significant resistance in Congress, which must authorize new expenditures.