Category: World News

HAVANA, March 13 – In an uncommon move, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel plans to speak with domestic journalists Friday morning as his country grapples with mounting economic difficulties and heightened tensions with the Trump administration.

Cuban officials announced Thursday evening that Diaz-Canel will hold the media session at 7:30 a.m. EDT to discuss matters of national and international significance. While such presidential media encounters are unusual in Cuba, international journalists were not extended invitations, and any questions posed will likely come from pre-selected Cuban reporters.

Officials described Friday’s session as building upon Diaz-Canel’s February 5 remarks, during which he cautioned that Cuba might need to implement drastic measures due to ongoing economic hardships, widespread electrical outages, and fuel scarcities worsened by Trump’s petroleum embargo against the island nation.

During that earlier appearance, Diaz-Canel also expressed Cuba’s openness to diplomatic dialogue with Washington, provided Cuba receives respectful treatment without threats or predetermined conditions.

The Cuban leader may respond to Trump’s repeated claims that high-level negotiations between American and Cuban officials are already taking place. While Cuban authorities have rejected assertions of formal diplomatic meetings, they haven’t categorically dismissed reports suggesting informal communications channels exist.

Following the U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and the removal of Cuba’s primary international supporter in January, Trump has blocked Venezuelan petroleum deliveries to Cuba and warned of potential tariffs against nations selling oil to the Caribbean island.

Trump has recently made several public statements suggesting Cuba faces imminent collapse or seeks an agreement with America. This Monday, he mentioned Cuba might experience a “friendly takeover,” before adding the caveat that “it may not be a friendly takeover.”

Japanese officials say their country will announce participation in President Trump’s ambitious missile defense program during next week’s Washington summit, with expectations that the US may soon request help producing military equipment.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi plans to reveal Japan’s commitment to the “Golden Dome” initiative when she sits down with President Trump on March 19 in Washington D.C., according to two government sources who spoke anonymously about the sensitive discussions.

Trump unveiled his Golden Dome concept last year with hopes of completing it by 2028. The program aims to enhance current ground-based missile interceptor systems by adding experimental space-based technology designed to spot, monitor and potentially neutralize incoming threats from orbit.

However, the initiative has shown limited concrete advancement to date, and specifics about Japan’s role remain undetermined.

The Yomiuri newspaper broke the story Friday, reporting that Tokyo views the program as potential protection against advanced hypersonic weapons currently under development by China and Russia.

Japanese officials believe Trump may ask their nation to manufacture or jointly develop missiles to replenish American weapons supplies that have been exhausted by the US-Israeli conflict with Iran and American support for Ukraine, the sources indicated. Tokyo is still weighing how it would handle such requests.

In a significant policy shift late last year, Japan shipped Patriot surface-to-air missiles manufactured under licensing agreements to the United States, marking the first time the country exported lethal weapons after decades of prohibition.

The current administration is urging defense manufacturers to increase production of missiles and ammunition that have been depleted in recent conflicts. Meanwhile, Japan seeks to strengthen its own weapons stockpiles as a deterrent against China’s growing assertiveness and North Korea’s nuclear capabilities.

Patriot missile systems have proven essential in stopping hundreds of Iranian ballistic missiles and drones targeting Gulf nations since the US and Israel began their aerial campaign against Iran this month.

Ukrainian forces have also depended on Patriot systems to protect critical energy facilities and military installations throughout Russia’s invasion that began in 2022.

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Military forces in South Africa have successfully shut down unlawful gold mining activities in a community located near Johannesburg, causing illegal operators to abandon their sites and equipment while fleeing the area.

Law enforcement and military personnel seized numerous pieces of mining equipment, including power generators and drilling machinery — items that were photographed by an Associated Press journalist on Thursday.

Temporary excavation sites containing food provisions and cooking equipment belonging to the miners were also destroyed, with personal belongings scattered throughout the area after the operators escaped from the location in Randfontein, situated approximately 40 kilometers (25 miles) west of Johannesburg.

These actions represent an uncommon decision by the government to send military personnel into some of the nation’s highest-crime regions, including areas in Western Cape province where Cape Town is located and Gauteng province, which serves as an economic center.

Illegal mining activities flourish in the region due to numerous deserted mine shafts surrounding Johannesburg’s outskirts, where well-armed criminal organizations and unofficial miners called ‘zama zamas’ descend into the shafts seeking remaining gold deposits or other valuable minerals.

Mining without proper government authorization is prohibited, and conditions in many locations pose serious safety risks.

Additional provinces containing abandoned mining sites, including North West and Mpumalanga, have also witnessed extensive illegal mining activities, sometimes resulting in deadly outcomes.

Government officials estimate approximately 30,000 unauthorized miners operate throughout South Africa, working within roughly 6,000 deserted mining shafts.

Officials have documented rising illegal mining activity, calculating that criminal organizations steal over $4 billion worth of gold annually.

The illegal trade appears to be primarily managed by individuals from nearby countries including Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique, creating tensions within South African communities toward both criminal leaders and foreign residents in local areas.

During Thursday’s parliamentary questioning, President Cyril Ramaphosa explained that military deployment would occur alongside additional measures, including enhanced anti-gang units and specialized illegal mining task forces.

‘The police will also be working with the National Prosecuting Authority on multi-disciplinary task teams to target the leadership, finances, firearms and logistics of these criminal networks,’ Ramaphosa said.

JAKARTA – Indonesian foreign ministry officials announced Friday that a scheduled gathering of eight prominent Muslim developing nations has been postponed from its planned April dates due to continuing conflict in the Middle East region.

The economic cooperation summit was originally planned for April 13-15 in Jakarta and would have brought together representatives from the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation member countries.

This organization, founded in 1997, includes Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey, spanning from Southeast Asia across to Africa with a focus on enhancing economic partnerships among member states.

Senior foreign ministry official Tri Tharyat informed reporters that officials have not yet established a replacement date for the postponed conference.

The ongoing military actions between the United States and Israel against Iran, which began February 28, have prompted retaliatory strikes from Iran targeting both Israel and Gulf nations hosting American military installations.

The last D-8 summit took place in Egypt during 2024.

Travelers worldwide are facing massive financial losses and trip disruptions as the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran forces airlines to cancel flights and close airspace across the Middle East region.

Natasha Earle, an accountant from Dardanup in Western Australia, is experiencing firsthand the financial impact of the war. Her family’s planned five-week European vacation – which they booked through Emirates last May to visit London, Paris, Berlin, Vienna and Rome – now costs an additional A$10,000 ($7,000) due to necessary rerouting around the conflict zone.

“We’ve spent tens of thousands of dollars on this holiday,” Earle explained, with her departure scheduled for later this month during what experts call the most significant global travel disruption since COVID-19. “We should get at least half of that back from Emirates eventually.”

The crisis highlights how regional conflicts can instantly paralyze international aviation, since the Gulf region serves as a crucial hub for worldwide commercial flights. Rising costs, reduced capacity, and shattered vacation plans are becoming commonplace as the situation continues.

Aircraft have been forced to circle near Dubai regularly due to drone and missile attacks as the conflict enters its third week. The disruption is severely affecting Middle Eastern tourism, an industry valued at approximately $367 billion per year for the region.

Data from Cirium shows that Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways collectively transport over half of all passengers traveling between Europe and Australia, New Zealand, and surrounding Pacific islands under normal circumstances.

The war has resulted in widespread airspace closures throughout the Middle East due to missile and drone threats, leading to tens of thousands of flight cancellations, route changes, and schedule modifications globally, affecting millions of travelers.

Jacob Brown, a 34-year-old New Zealand citizen residing in Doha, Qatar, was forced to drive across the Saudi Arabian desert to Riyadh to catch a London-bound flight after Qatar Airways canceled his direct flight to New Zealand, where he was scheduled to serve as best man at a wedding.

His journey, which typically takes under 24 hours, stretched to several days due to closed airspace, additional flight complications, delays and missing luggage.

“It was pretty nerve-wracking flying out of Riyadh just considering that that morning, there had been a few missile interceptions south of the capital,” Brown recounted.

Aditya Kushwaha, an Australian disability support worker from Orange near Sydney, has planned a family trip to London and Paris from April 13-29 through Emirates via Dubai, but remains uncertain whether the journey will proceed.

“We are very much in a dilemma of what to do,” Kushwaha stated, estimating potential losses exceeding $10,000 if he cancels, with the financial ability to reschedule potentially years away.

Australian traveler Kellee Smith describes how her “dream holiday” to Europe scheduled for late March – planned a full year in advance – has transformed into a “nightmare” costing her roughly A$5,500 in additional expenses.

“I’ve had many sleepless nights as I was stressed thinking I’m going to lose my dream holiday … and all the money we paid,” Smith shared.

She awaits an Emirates refund exceeding A$4,000 while securing alternative flights through Cathay Pacific and Qantas that route through Asia instead of the Middle East.

The conflict has significantly reduced the already limited flight corridor options for long-distance routes between Europe and Asia, creating operational challenges for international airlines and driving ticket prices dramatically higher.

As the war impacts businesses globally and pushes oil prices upward, concerns about jet fuel costs and availability are pressuring airlines. Many carriers are implementing fuel surcharges while others, including Air New Zealand, are reducing flight schedules.

The International Energy Agency reports that the war is generating the largest oil supply disruption in recorded history. Some analysts warn that airlines could face jet fuel shortages within weeks, with Vietnam announcing this week that aviation fuel shortages could begin as early as April due to the conflict.

In Bath, England, John Moore, 81, and his wife Pauline – who call themselves “travel virgins” – paid “a couple of hundred pounds” extra to switch their Brisbane-bound flights from Qatar Airways to Qantas, choosing to transit through Singapore rather than the Middle East.

“We decided we’d rather pay the extra to book via Singapore, which is no guarantee, but clearly it’s likely to be safer than the current route,” Moore told reporters.

Some travelers are avoiding the risk entirely. Sumit Sharma, a Sydney resident employed by Westpac Banking Corp., had originally planned Etihad Airways travel to Dubai with his family but changed destinations after confirming refund eligibility.

“We changed the plan from the Middle East to Hong Kong,” Sharma explained, noting his switch to Cathay Pacific and excitement about taking his son to Disneyland.

Shobana Gopal, a senior consultant with Alliance Insurance in Sydney, redirected her family’s travel plans to China instead of flying through Dubai to reach Austria.

“We’re going to three cities in China,” Gopal announced.

Qantas reports increased passenger preference for European routes via the United States, other Asian cities, and Johannesburg, South Africa, utilizing their partner airline network.

Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific announced this week that the airline is experiencing “drastic changes in terms of demand patterns due to the Middle East situation,” while budget carrier Ryanair noted a booking surge for European destinations as travelers avoid Middle Eastern routes.

Lufthansa reported surging demand for European routes, with the German airline noting that 12-month advance bookings for direct Asian flights increased 75% compared to the previous year.

“The large Middle Eastern airlines like Emirates and Etihad can’t fly the routes they should, and therefore the European and Asian airlines have to pick up that traffic,” explained aviation specialist Hans Joergen Elnaes.

Authorities in the Netherlands have launched an investigation following an intentional fire set at a Rotterdam synagogue during the early morning hours on Friday, marking another incident in a series of suspected antisemitic attacks occurring internationally.

The blaze caused no injuries and has been extinguished, according to local law enforcement officials, who report no suspects have been taken into custody at this time.

Rotterdam police detailed the incident on social media, stating: “Around 3:40 a.m., a fire was started at the synagogue.” Officials added that “The fire burned for a short time before extinguishing,” and are requesting anyone with information or evidence to contact authorities.

This attack follows a similar incident earlier this week when a synagogue in Belgium, located approximately 124 miles from the Rotterdam site, was damaged by an explosion on Monday. Belgian officials have classified that incident as an antisemitic attack, though it also resulted in no casualties.

Across the Atlantic, another violent incident occurred in Michigan, where a Lebanese-born American citizen deliberately drove his vehicle into a synagogue and its affiliated preschool before being fatally shot by authorities.

Security concerns for Jewish communities worldwide have intensified amid ongoing tensions following recent military actions involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, including airstrikes and retaliatory responses between the nations.

SALLA, Finland (AP) — Hundreds of spectators gathered in the icy Finnish community of Salla over the weekend to witness the annual Salla Reindeer Cup, a time-honored racing tradition that has captivated audiences for generations.

The weekend event showcased Finland’s longstanding reindeer racing heritage, drawing enthusiasts to the frozen northern town on both Saturday and Sunday for the competitive spectacle.

This coverage features a collection of images selected by Associated Press photography staff.

BEIJING, March 13 – Chinese officials on Friday criticized a recent United States trade investigation examining alleged excessive industrial production capacity, stating they maintain the authority to implement counter-responses as both countries prepare for upcoming trade discussions this weekend.

According to China’s Commerce Ministry statement, the United States lacks authority to “unilaterally” assess whether a trade partner maintains “overcapacity” via its Section 301 investigation process and implement one-sided restrictive actions.

When the US announced its investigations Wednesday targeting excessive industrial capacity and forced labor practices, China was identified among the trade partners under scrutiny.

The ministry stated that China is evaluating these investigations and maintains the authority to implement all necessary actions to protect its rights and interests.

On Friday, a representative from China’s Foreign Ministry rejected the forced labor accusations, describing them as “a lie concocted by the U.S.”

These trade investigations contribute to challenging topics that Beijing and Washington must address while preparing for US President Donald Trump’s scheduled Beijing visit at March’s end to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

China’s Commerce Ministry confirmed Friday that the France trade discussions are anticipated to establish foundations for the upcoming summit.

Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng will head a delegation to France from March 14 through March 17 for these negotiations, while the American delegation is anticipated to feature Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

This represents the sixth negotiation round since Trump previously targeted Beijing with increased tariffs last year. Beijing responded with export restrictions on essential minerals and implemented its own tariff actions, elevating import duties on mutual goods to restrictive amounts.

Following a ceasefire achieved through earlier negotiations and a leaders’ meeting in South Korea during late October, both China and the United States have subsequently reversed most of their trade restrictions.

Municipal candidates across France are making data center opposition a central campaign issue as the country prepares for local elections on March 15 and 22.

In Le Bourget, a suburb outside Paris, mayoral candidate Sofiane Milous is promising to block a proposed data center that he argues will increase local temperatures, add noise pollution, and provide minimal employment opportunities for residents.

The former judo champion, campaigning on an environmental platform, criticized the push for artificial intelligence infrastructure as inadequate compensation for the industrial jobs his working-class community lost when manufacturer Alstom closed its facility thirty years ago.

“We lost an industry that gave us a livelihood, even if it polluted, and now we face this new ‘industry 4.0’ that doesn’t create jobs for residents,” Milous stated.

While President Emmanuel Macron has promoted data centers as essential for France’s technological sovereignty and announced plans for 109 billion euros in private investment, community opposition continues mounting due to electrical grid concerns, environmental issues, and American technology companies’ market dominance.

Reuters identified candidates in at least ten municipalities, including major cities like Marseille and Bordeaux, who are either opposing new data facilities or demanding construction pauses and increased public disclosure.

The municipal races will determine control of more than 35,000 local government seats and serve as an indicator of far-right political strength before the 2027 presidential election.

This resistance movement parallels similar trends throughout Europe and America, where rapid data center expansion has created political controversy over energy consumption and technology companies’ community impact.

Ireland exemplifies these tensions, with data centers consuming 22 percent of the nation’s electricity supply. Opposition parties have criticized the government’s decision to end a four-year connection moratorium. Near London, activists are legally challenging a massive data center project, arguing developers failed to properly assess climate consequences.

France is addressing speculative land purchases for inactive projects, following Britain’s similar regulatory actions last year amid increased grid connection requests.

Chris Adams from the Green Web Foundation noted that critics include environmentalists, academics, property owners, and labor organizations.

“It’s an unregulated industry that is now upsetting people across the political spectrum,” Adams explained.

France is marketing its nuclear energy as an affordable, clean power source to compete with Britain and Germany for data center investment.

Regional authorities approved the Le Bourget project in January, requiring developer Segro Bourget to complete additional environmental and noise studies plus conduct public meetings. The company declined to comment.

Current right-wing mayor Jean-Baptiste Borsali has expressed confidence in the government’s evaluation and suggested the facility could benefit half the town’s population through waste heat recovery systems. He did not respond to interview requests.

Local residents at Le Bourget’s weekend market indicated the data center proposal would influence their voting decisions.

“I signed the petition — it’s right next to schools. I want a park for my children; we have no green space,” said Veronique Pernolet, a 28-year-old teacher living near the former retail warehouse site designated for the facility.

In Marseille, where underwater cables have established the port as a data center hub, left-wing candidate Sebastien Barles advocates for a construction moratorium.

“We have significant electricity needs — powering ships at dock, ship-repair facilities — and these data centres consume a large share of available power,” said Barles, representing the France Unbowed party.

In Wissous, south of Paris, municipal candidate Philippe de Fruyt is pursuing legal action scheduled for next week to prevent expansion of an existing Amazon data center. Amazon provided no comment.

According to climate research organization Ember, connecting new data centers in major European markets typically requires seven to ten years, though French grid access remains less restricted than neighboring countries.

Proposed legislation would designate data centers as “projects of national interest,” reducing legal and environmental obstacles while allowing federal authorities to override local decisions. The bill remains stalled in France’s parliament.

Academic experts and politicians argue these measures would diminish public participation in decision-making.

“We’ve seen what happened in the U.S., where so many data centres were built that serious opposition emerged,” said Anthony Devillet from The Cloud Is Under Our Feet advocacy organization. “With the rise of AI, I think the debate will become omnipresent here.”

Military officials report that a KC-135 Stratotanker went down in western Iraq while conducting refueling operations in support of the ongoing conflict with Iran, prompting immediate rescue efforts.

According to U.S. Central Command, which manages Middle Eastern operations, the incident occurred in friendly territory and involved a pair of aircraft. The second plane successfully made it to safety and touched down without incident.

This marks the fourth confirmed U.S. military aircraft loss during the current Iranian conflict.

The KC-135 Stratotanker serves as the Air Force’s primary aerial refueling platform, enabling fighter jets and bombers to extend their range and mission duration without returning to base. These versatile aircraft also handle medical evacuations for injured personnel and conduct reconnaissance operations when needed.

Built on the same framework as the Boeing 707 commercial airliner, these tankers have served American and allied forces for over six decades. The Air Force plans to eventually replace the aging fleet with newer KC-46A Pegasus aircraft, though this transition has moved slower than originally anticipated.

The advanced age of these aircraft has raised questions about their continued reliability and structural integrity.

“The last of these planes were produced in the 1960s,” said Yang Uk, a security expert at South Korea’s Asan Institute for Policy Studies. He added that the transition to the KC-46A has progressed more slowly than expected.

Congressional Research Service data shows the Air Force operated 376 KC-135s last year, with 151 serving in active duty units, 163 assigned to Air National Guard squadrons, and 62 supporting Air Force Reserve operations.

Standard crew composition includes three personnel: a pilot, co-pilot and boom operator. Medical staff join the crew during evacuation missions.

Fuel transfer operations occur at the aircraft’s rear section, where the boom operator manages a retractable fuel line that connects to receiving aircraft. Many operators perform this task while lying prone and observing through a window positioned on the plane’s underside.

Certain KC-135 variants can also dispense fuel through wing-mounted pods. These aircraft feature cargo space above fuel storage areas for transporting supplies or personnel when required.

Military analysts suggest refueling aircraft may become increasingly vital if the Iranian conflict continues, as American warplanes could face longer missions pursuing retreating enemy forces further inland, Yang noted.

Casualty information remains unavailable following the Iraq incident. An anonymous U.S. official told The Associated Press that the aircraft carried no fewer than five crew members.

A separate official, also speaking anonymously, confirmed the second aircraft involved was another KC-135. Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter posted on X that this plane landed safely in Israel.

U.S. Central Command has not provided details about the crash circumstances, but stated it “was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire.”

Yang observed that enemy forces rarely target refueling tankers since these operations typically occur well behind front-line combat areas.

This incident follows last week’s friendly fire tragedy when three U.S. F-15E fighters were accidentally shot down by Kuwaiti forces.

Several deadly KC-135 accidents have occurred throughout the aircraft’s service history. The most recent fatal crash happened May 3, 2013, when a KC-135R went down after departing an airfield south of Chaldovar, Kyrgyzstan during Afghanistan war operations.

Air Force investigators determined that crew members battled rudder control problems during the 2013 incident. As they attempted to regain aircraft control, the tail section separated and the plane exploded in flight, killing all three crew members.

The aircraft’s most catastrophic midair collision occurred in 1966 when a nuclear-armed B-52 bomber collided with a tanker near Palomares, Spain.

That accident destroyed the tanker and killed four personnel aboard. The disaster triggered a massive cleanup operation to remove nuclear contamination after conventional explosives in the hydrogen bombs detonated upon ground impact.

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — A jury in Sydney has found a business consultant guilty of violating Australia’s foreign interference statutes after he supplied intelligence reports to two individuals who were likely Chinese operatives.

Alexander Csergo, 59, becomes just the second individual convicted under Australia’s anti-espionage and covert interference legislation that was enacted in 2018, drawing criticism from China at the time.

The New South Wales District Court jury determined that Csergo should have realized that two contacts he knew simply as Ken and Evelyn were operatives for China’s ministry of state security.

Following his conviction on reckless foreign interference charges, Csergo was granted bail through the weekend and must appear in court Monday, when prosecutors will seek his detention. The conviction carries a maximum sentence of 15 years imprisonment.

Defense attorneys contended that Csergo relied on publicly available information for his research work. They noted he fabricated stories to the suspected operatives, including false claims about conducting interviews with prominent figures such as Kevin Rudd, Australia’s former prime minister who now serves as the nation’s U.S. ambassador.

While working as a communications and technology consultant in Shanghai during 2021, Csergo was contacted via LinkedIn by someone calling herself Evelyn, who claimed to represent a Chinese research organization.

In exchange for payment, he delivered handwritten intelligence assessments to both Evelyn and Ken covering defense matters, security issues, political developments and mining operations. His reports included information about the AUKUS defense agreement, under which Britain is assisting Australia in acquiring nuclear-powered submarines using American technology.

Citizens of Kazakhstan head to the polls this Sunday to decide on constitutional amendments that opposition voices claim might enable President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to extend his leadership of Central Asia’s biggest economy past his scheduled 2029 departure.

The 72-year-old president, a seasoned diplomat who has successfully balanced relationships with Russia, the United States, and China, has described the referendum as “a truly historic moment” that will shift Kazakhstan—a major energy and mining nation—from what he calls a “super-presidential” structure toward better separation of governmental powers.

However, political observers argue the proposed amendments still concentrate excessive authority in the presidency.

Political analyst Dosym Satpayev explained that the draft “[s]ignificantly increases the powers of the head of state and does not create a system of checks and balances.”

The constitutional changes would combine parliament’s dual chambers into a single body and bring back the vice-president role, eliminated in 1996, with the president selecting this position.

Under current rules, Kazakh presidents serve one seven-year term—a restriction Tokayev implemented in 2022.

While Tokayev has stated he plans to leave office in 2029, some political watchers suggest a new constitution might reset his term limitations, mirroring strategies employed by other former Soviet leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Addressing widespread speculation in Kazakhstan about Tokayev potentially pursuing the UN secretary-general position this year, Satpayev noted the vice-presidency would enable Tokayev to choose his replacement before departing early.

A diplomatic source from Kazakhstan informed Reuters that Tokayev, who led the UN’s Geneva operations from 2011-2013, is weighing both a secretary-general bid and a potential second presidential campaign.

Tokayev has publicly denied interest in returning to the United Nations.

Government-sanctioned polling organizations report strong public support for the constitutional amendments, with limited visible opposition.

This vote occurs during challenging times for Kazakhstan, whose economy remains tightly connected to Russia’s and has experienced negative effects from the Ukraine conflict.

While economic expansion has picked up pace, inflation has also risen, reaching 11.7% in February, with interest rates climbing to a historic 18%. New tax increases have added to public frustration.

At an Almaty marketplace, horsemeat vendor Asya Tuligenova—selling the traditional Kazakh specialty—explained that merchants are absorbing increased expenses rather than burdening customers.

“We’re kind of afraid. If we raise prices, it will be difficult for our regular customers,” she said.

Tuligenova declined to reveal her voting intentions for Sunday.

The European Union’s foreign policy leader has accused the United States of intentionally working to fracture European unity, according to remarks published in a Financial Times interview on Friday. The comments from Kaja Kallas come after more than a year of strained relationships across the Atlantic.

“What I think is actually important for everybody to understand is that the U.S. has been very clear that they want to divide Europe. They don’t like the European Union,” Kallas stated during her conversation with the Financial Times.

President Donald Trump has consistently criticized the European Union throughout his current presidency, implementing trade penalties against EU member nations and discussing the potential acquisition of Greenland – a proposal that could potentially dissolve the NATO partnership.

Earlier this week, the Trump administration initiated trade reviews targeting the EU along with several other nations including China, India, Japan, South Korea and Mexico, citing allegedly unfair commercial practices. These investigations could result in additional trade penalties by summer, following the Supreme Court’s decision last month to dismantle significant portions of Trump’s previous tariff framework.

According to the Financial Times, Kallas noted that America’s strategy toward the EU mirrors methods employed by the bloc’s opponents.

She urged EU member states to avoid individual negotiations with Trump, emphasizing instead that they should engage with him collectively, “because we are equal powers when we are together,” as reported by the Financial Times.

Regarding military matters, however, Kallas acknowledged the bloc must “to buy from America because we don’t have the assets or the possibilities or the capabilities that we need,” while emphasizing that Europe should strengthen investment in its own defense manufacturing sector.

BERLIN (AP) — In Germany’s capital city, a social media personality organized a welcoming Ramadan dinner that brought together individuals from various backgrounds to champion unity and understanding among different communities.

Ali Darwich, a 33-year-old German citizen with Palestinian and Lebanese heritage who shares content on Instagram and TikTok under the handle @alifragt, brought together a diverse group including Muslims and Christians, LGBTQ+ individuals and straight allies, as well as native Germans and immigrants for the special meal.

“No one can be ‘too queer’ to belong,” Darwich stated, emphasizing his message of inclusion that bridges religious faith and sexual identity.

The event represents part of a curated photo collection assembled by Associated Press photo editors.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Following fresh assaults by Iran on Friday morning targeting Gulf Arab nations, including a barrage of dozens of drones aimed at Saudi Arabia, President Donald Trump issued severe threats of retaliation after Iran’s new supreme leader warned about American military presence in the region.

“Watch what happens to these deranged scumbags today,” Trump posted on social media. “Iran’s Navy is gone, their Air Force is no longer, missiles, drones and everything else are being decimated, and their leaders have been wiped from the face of the earth.”

Trump’s remarks followed statements from Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, who pledged Thursday to “not refrain from avenging the blood” of Iranian casualties and urged Gulf Arab countries to close American military installations, calling U.S. protection promises “nothing more than a lie.”

Heavy bombardments struck areas around Tehran and surrounding regions early Friday morning, though immediate details about specific targets remained unclear.

Brent crude oil prices continued hovering above $100 per barrel as Iran maintained its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the critical passage where one-fifth of global oil shipments travel from the Persian Gulf to international waters.

Oil costs have surged as high as approximately $120 per barrel, representing a 40% increase since the United States and Israel launched their initial assault on Iran on February 28, marking the conflict’s beginning.

Iranian forces have been targeting vessels attempting passage through the strait, with Khamenei’s statements — his first public address since assuming leadership after his father’s death on the war’s opening day — confirming Iran’s intention to maintain the waterway closure.

Recovery operations continued in Iraq following the crash of an American KC-135 refueling aircraft, U.S. Central Command confirmed. Additionally, French President Emmanuel Macron announced Friday that a French soldier stationed in northern Iraq was killed in an attack.

Iran’s campaign against oil facilities and other infrastructure throughout the Gulf region continued Friday, with Saudi Arabia reporting the destruction of nearly 50 drones launched in successive waves during early morning hours.

Warning sirens activated in Bahrain as incoming fire approached from Dubai, while black smoke rose from an industrial zone after officials said intercepted debris ignited fires.

Approximately 60 individuals sustained injuries in northern Israel after Hezbollah claimed responsibility for launching multiple rocket attacks toward the region and Israeli forces in southern Lebanon. Medical officials characterized most injuries as minor.

Lebanese Health Ministry reports confirmed one fatality in southwestern Beirut from an Israeli strike, while another attack set an apartment building ablaze in the capital. Israeli military officials stated they were targeting a Hezbollah member with Iranian connections.

Since fighting commenced, Lebanon’s Health Ministry has documented over 600 deaths, with the U.N. refugee agency reporting nearly 800,000 internally displaced persons.

Iranian officials report more than 1,300 casualties within their borders, while Israel has confirmed 12 deaths. American losses include at least seven soldiers killed and eight others with serious injuries.

In his Friday morning social media post, Trump declared that “we are totally destroying the terrorist regime of Iran, militarily, economically, and otherwise.”

“They’ve been killing innocent people all over the world for 47 years, and now I, as the 47th President of the United States of America, am killing them,” Trump stated. “What a great honor it is to do so!”

Military officials report American forces have conducted strikes against more than 6,000 targets since operations against Iran began, including over 30 mine-laying ships.

French President Macron confirmed Friday that a French soldier died in an attack on Erbil in Iraq’s Kurdish region. France previously reported six soldiers injured in an Erbil drone strike, where French troops serve in a multinational counterterrorism mission supporting Iraqi forces against Islamic State militants.

British authorities reported that several American personnel received minor injuries Wednesday when drone attacks hit an Erbil base housing both British and American forces.

Italy confirmed that its base in Erbil was also struck Wednesday, though no injuries occurred. The Italian presence trains local Kurdish forces at the Iraqi government’s request.

Recovery efforts for the crashed American KC-135 refueling plane in western Iraq continued Friday. Casualty information remained unclear, though the aircraft carried five crew members.

U.S. Central Command stated the crash was unrelated to enemy or friendly fire, noting two aircraft were involved with one landing safely.

The KC-135 represents the fourth publicly confirmed aircraft loss during U.S. military operations against Iran. Three American fighter jets were accidentally shot down by friendly Kuwaiti fire last week.

JUBA, South Sudan (AP) — United Nations peacekeepers in South Sudan announced Monday they will disregard a military directive demanding they abandon their base in Akobo, a town controlled by opposition forces located near the Ethiopian border that has become a refuge for tens of thousands of displaced people.

The South Sudanese military issued the evacuation order on Friday, instructing UN peacekeepers, non-governmental organizations, and civilians to leave Akobo in advance of a military operation they plan to conduct.

However, the peacekeeping mission rejected the demand and declared it will maintain “a protective presence for civilians” in the area, emphasizing that the safety and security of its staff “must be fully respected at all times.”

According to the UN Mission, officials are conducting “intensive” discussions with various government levels regarding the evacuation directive. Mission leader Anita Kiki Gbeho stated, “Any military operations in and around Akobo gravely endanger the safety and security of civilians.”

South Sudan’s government has been engaged in combat with opposition groups since a 2018 peace agreement collapsed approximately one year ago.

The conflict intensified significantly in December 2025 when opposition fighters captured multiple government positions in northern Jonglei. Government forces launched a counter-attack one month later that pushed back opposition troops but caused more than 280,000 people to flee their homes. Thousands of these displaced individuals have sought safety in Akobo, where a small group of UN peacekeepers maintains a presence.

With concerns mounting about the impending government offensive against Akobo, aid workers were removed over the weekend, and large numbers of residents have started leaving the town.

Local authorities who spoke with The Associated Press described the dangers facing evacuating civilians and critical shortages of necessary supplies. Dual Diew, who serves as Akobo County’s health director and has escaped to Ethiopia, reported that 84 injured patients were at the local hospital. “We have most of them with us here now,” Diew explained, noting they are without adequate medicine and basic medical equipment.

Christophe Garnier, who heads Doctors Without Borders operations in South Sudan, reported his organization had to remove its personnel from Akobo on Saturday and later discovered their hospital had been looted and their office destroyed.

“People in Akobo must now either flee without protection or remain at risk of being killed, while losing access to healthcare and other essential services,” Garnier stated.

Three Western nations that have been central to peace negotiations — the United States, United Kingdom, and Norway — delivered a letter to President Kiir on Monday calling for the military’s evacuation order to be withdrawn and cautioning about “further deaths, displacement and suffering for the South Sudanese people” if the Akobo offensive proceeds.

Frightened by blasts that have rocked their neighborhoods in Tehran and major urban centers, thousands of Iranian families have evacuated to rural areas, seeking safety in remote villages during ongoing strikes by Israeli and American forces.

Among those who fled is 22-year-old Pouya Akhgari, now staying with relatives in a mountain village in Zanjan province, roughly 120 miles from his Tehran residence. While snow blankets the rural landscape, he passes time watching entertainment programs and occasionally traveling to nearby larger communities.

Though his current location remains untouched by attacks, contacts back in the capital describe constant explosions around them.

“It just feels so chaotic. I thought it’d be very short but it’s dragging on,” he told The Associated Press by a messaging app. “If it goes on like this, we’ll run out of money.”

United Nations refugee officials report that approximately 100,000 residents abandoned Tehran during the conflict’s opening 48 hours, representing a significant portion of the metropolitan area’s 9.7 million population. Officials believe the actual number of displaced persons is considerably higher, though comprehensive data from subsequent days and other affected cities remains unavailable.

A 39-year-old attorney experienced a full day of explosions rattling her residence in Ahvaz, located 500 miles southeast of Tehran. The following day, March 2nd, she departed with her siblings and their families – including their pets Coco and Maggie – heading to their family’s strawberry cultivation operation in a distant small community.

The woman and others contacted by AP requested anonymity to avoid potential retaliation, and she declined to identify their current location.

Their temporary refuge lacks military installations, providing a sense of relative security. However, Iran’s southern regions have experienced some of the heaviest bombardment. She noted that a neighboring community witnessed an explosion when strikes targeted a Revolutionary Guard ammunition facility belonging to the country’s most influential military organization.

She remains concerned about potential attacks on a fitness center used by Guard personnel located several hundred meters from their agricultural property. Air strikes have targeted numerous athletic facilities throughout Iran, apparently because Guard forces frequently utilize such locations for meetings. While the gym’s distance would likely protect them from direct impact, she acknowledged, “but all the same, the danger exists.”

With no one reporting to jobs and children separated from their schools, families occupy themselves by walking their dogs, engaging in board games, and harvesting strawberries.

The tranquil natural surroundings help create distance from the conflict – clouds drifting over verdant hills and neighboring goats calling at dusk. The attorney described the birth of puppies to one of their farm dogs, Maya, as the most uplifting moment.

Nevertheless, uncertainty pervades their daily existence.

“From morning to night, we talk about what is happening, our worries, how everything gets more expensive every day, about how far our money will stretch,” she said.

“If this situation continues, we will have problems meeting basic needs.”

The American-Israeli military operation has delivered significant damage to Iran’s governing structure, eliminating Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and senior military commanders. The campaign has specifically focused on Revolutionary Guard and paramilitary Basij forces, the organizations responsible for defending the clerical Islamic Republic and suppressing anti-government demonstrations, including recent January protests.

Leadership control continues under Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, the former supreme leader’s son, who assumed the top position this week. Guard and Basij organizations have maintained their local operational networks thus far.

During infrequent trips from the farm into town, the lawyer observed increased weaponry among street-patrolling Basij members.

“They are waiting for the slightest movement” showing dissent, she said.

Previously an activist opposing mandatory head covering requirements – she faced brief detention in the past – and had abandoned wearing hijab years earlier, she now covers her hair when leaving home to avoid provoking Basij forces.

The community traditionally supports the government, she explained, with many residents holding state employment or Guard membership. Religious and patronage connections remain strong in rural regions particularly, since the Islamic Republic extended essential services to Iran’s countryside and smaller communities.

Despite this, she has observed increasing dissatisfaction even locally. Substantial crowds participated in January’s anti-government demonstrations, and compliance with official mourning observances for Khamenei has been limited, with few residents wearing black clothing as authorities requested.

One father described how explosions caused his 6½-year-old son to shake with terror before they evacuated their Tehran home.

“You place him between you and your wife in bed, hoping he might feel safer,” he said, but the child continued screaming during sleep. They determined departure was necessary.

While driving through the capital, they witnessed roadside vehicles with windows destroyed by blasts. Departing the city at the Alborz Mountain foothills north of Tehran, they observed smoke columns rising from various city sections into the cloudy sky.

“The scene made the city look frightening,” he said.

On the western highway from Tehran, heavy with traffic, explosions shook their vehicle, terrorizing his son. Eventually they reached family accommodations in a small mountain village northwest of the capital, overlooking the Caspian Sea.

They now spend days in the house, surrounded by rice cultivation fields, with snow-covered peaks visible in the distance. Daily, he and his wife take their son for walks.

“Boys have so much energy, and in a village, there is not much fun for him,” he said. Evenings bring visits from his wife’s parents, who also evacuated Tehran.

Throughout the disruption, local residents demonstrate “remarkable kindness,” he said.

At the neighborhood bakery, he encountered a lengthy line. When the baker recognized him as an outsider, he was called forward and the baker attempted to refuse payment for bread.

“The others in line were very friendly, asking whether I had a place to stay and whether I needed anything,” he said.

Evacuation remains impossible for everyone.

A 53-year-old Tehran man explained he cannot relocate his elderly parents and must remain home. The psychological pressure is overwhelming, he said.

“At night, I go down to the parking garage, sit inside my car and scream out loud,” he said. “I pray for calm and for quieter days.”

KABUL, Afghanistan — The Taliban administration in Afghanistan has leveled serious allegations against Pakistan’s armed forces, claiming they conducted deadly overnight bombing raids on residential neighborhoods in the capital city and Kandahar province early Friday morning.

Taliban government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid posted on X that the alleged Pakistani air attacks resulted in casualties among women and children living in civilian areas. The claims come as hostilities between the neighboring nations have persisted for three weeks, continuing despite international appeals for both sides to de-escalate.

According to Mujahid’s statement, Pakistani warplanes also bombed fuel storage facilities owned by private carrier Kam Air located near the airport in Kandahar.

Pakistani military officials and government representatives have not yet responded to the Taliban’s accusations.

During the week spanning March 6 through 12, 2026, significant developments unfolded across Latin America and the Caribbean region.

In Chile, José Antonio Kast officially assumed the presidency after taking his oath of office. The inauguration marked a new chapter in Chilean leadership as Kast began his presidential term.

Security concerns dominated headlines in Mexico, where civilian defense groups took positions throughout Guerrero state. These community members organized patrols as a direct response to escalating violence from drug trafficking organizations operating in the region.

Sports enthusiasts followed international baseball competition as the World Baseball Classic continued its tournament schedule. Teams from Panama and Colombia faced off in a matchup held in Puerto Rico, showcasing talent from across the Americas.

These images were selected and compiled by photo editor Jon Orbach, who works from Mexico City covering regional events throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.

Crude oil markets have surged past the $100 per barrel mark as military operations intensify between the United States, Israel, and Iran, with no clear resolution in sight to the expanding conflict affecting Persian Gulf energy infrastructure and shipping routes.

Heavy bombardments targeted Tehran and surrounding areas near Iran’s capital city, while Iranian forces continued launching attacks against neighboring Arab Gulf nations.

President Donald Trump vowed to “finish the job,” describing Iran as “virtually destroyed.” Pentagon officials report the conflict’s first seven days have already drained $11.3 billion from U.S. military resources. The United Nations refugee organization estimates approximately 3.2 million Iranians have fled their homes, while Lebanese officials say 800,000 residents have been displaced as Israeli forces target structures connected to Iran-supported Hezbollah fighters.

Casualty figures show more than 600 deaths in Lebanon, over 1,300 in Iran, and twelve in Israel. Seven American service members have also lost their lives during combat operations.

Saudi Arabia’s military reported intercepting ten additional drones approaching the kingdom’s Eastern and Central regions early Friday, pushing the total to nearly 50 aerial threats within several hours.

This drone assault marks an unusually high volume of airborne dangers for Saudi Arabia, which has witnessed attacks on various targets including the American Embassy in Riyadh, petroleum facilities, and military installations housing U.S. personnel as the Iranian conflict expands.

Dense black smoke billowed across Dubai’s horizon Friday morning following what officials characterized as a blaze in the emirate’s industrial district.

An Associated Press reporter observed the fire in Dubai’s Al Quoz area, where onlookers assembled to view the smoke plume.

Authorities prevented the AP correspondent from approaching the fire scene, located within a dead-end street.

Dubai’s Media Office stated that “debris from a successful interception caused a minor incident on the façade of a building in central Dubai.” Officials reported no injuries, though the dark smoke stretched across the skyline toward the distinctive sail-shaped Burj al-Arab hotel.

An Israeli attack early Friday struck a vehicle in Jnah, a waterfront district in southwestern Beirut, killing one individual, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.

In a separate incident, Israeli forces hit an apartment building in the Nabaa area, leaving it consumed by flames, local news outlets reported. Nabaa sits on Beirut’s northern edge within the crowded Burj Hammoud section, which houses a significant Armenian population. Initial reports indicated no immediate casualties.

This marked the first time such locations have been targeted during this confrontation or throughout the 2024 hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel.

After these attacks, Israeli military officials announced they had targeted a Hezbollah operative in Beirut. Both neighborhoods lie far from Beirut’s southern suburbs, areas the Israeli military has designated as dangerous zones requiring civilian evacuation.

Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency service reported 58 individuals injured during a missile strike on Zarzir, located roughly 100 kilometers north of Jerusalem near the Lebanese border. Medical personnel said one person suffered moderate injuries while 57 others sustained minor wounds from glass fragments.

Video footage from the ambulance service showed damaged vehicles and scattered wreckage at the impact location.

Israeli military forces coordinated with emergency responders to remove debris from the strike zone.

Hezbollah announced Friday morning it had launched multiple rocket barrages targeting northern Israeli territory and Israeli forces positioned in southern Lebanon.

French President Emmanuel Macron revealed Friday on social media platform X that the assault targeted Irbil in Iraq’s northern Kurdish territory.

Macron named the fallen soldier as Chief Warrant Officer Arnaud Frion from the 7th Battalion of Chasseurs Alpins stationed in Varces.

“To his family, to his brothers in arms, I want to express all the affection and solidarity of the nation,” Macron stated. “Several of our soldiers have been wounded. France stands by their side and with their loved ones.”

France previously confirmed six soldiers were injured in a drone assault in Irbil. French forces operate in Iraq under a multinational counterterrorism initiative supporting regional forces battling Islamic State extremists.

President Donald Trump expressed his belief that Iran’s newly installed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei remains alive despite sustaining injuries, following the death of his father in the current U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran.

Speaking during a Fox News interview on “The Brian Kilmeade Show,” Trump stated his assessment of the Iranian leader’s condition. “I think he probably is (alive). I think he is damaged, but I think he’s probably alive in some form, you know,” the President remarked. Fox News released these comments late Thursday evening.

The younger Khamenei assumed the supreme leadership position after Iranian clerical authorities selected him on Sunday, following his father’s death on the opening day of the U.S.-Israeli offensive. Since taking power, the new leader has remained out of public view, with Iranian citizens unable to see him directly.

On Thursday, Iranian state television broadcast the new supreme leader’s initial public statements, which were delivered by a news anchor rather than spoken by Khamenei himself. A Reuters source within the Iranian government confirmed Wednesday that the recently appointed leader sustained minor injuries but continues his official duties, corroborating earlier state media reports describing him as wounded in combat.

In his first official communication, Khamenei issued aggressive threats, promising to maintain the closure of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz shipping lane. He also demanded that regional nations expel American military installations from their territories, warning that Iran would consider them legitimate targets otherwise.

The military confrontation between the United States, Israel, and Iran commenced on February 28. Iran has retaliated against both Israeli targets and Gulf nations hosting U.S. military facilities.

As the conflict nears its two-week anniversary, the violence has claimed thousands of lives and created significant instability in global financial markets. Leadership from Iran, Israel, and the United States have all maintained defiant positions and pledged to continue military operations.

A political newcomer who once performed rap music criticizing Nepal’s government has led his upstart party to an overwhelming electoral triumph that could bring much-needed stability to the troubled Himalayan nation.

Balendra Shah’s Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) captured a commanding 182 seats out of 275 in parliament during the March 5 elections, election officials announced Thursday. The victory represents the most decisive parliamentary majority achieved by any single party in more than six decades.

The stunning results position Shah, a former Kathmandu mayor whose anti-establishment rap songs made him a social media sensation, to become Nepal’s next prime minister. He would be the first leader from the country’s southern Madhesh region to hold the top office.

The electoral success follows violent demonstrations last September that claimed 77 lives and forced the previous government from power. Young protesters had taken to the streets after authorities imposed social media restrictions, sparking nationwide unrest in the nation of 30 million people situated between China and India.

Constitutional scholar Purna Man Shakya expressed optimism about the prospects for governmental continuity. “If everything goes well, we can expect that it can give a stable government for five years,” Shakya stated, referencing how previous administrations fell apart due to disputes over power-sharing arrangements.

The electoral outcome offers hope for political consistency in a country that has endured 32 government changes over the past 35 years. This chronic instability has undermined investor confidence and hampered both economic development and job creation.

“We are encouraged by the victory,” declared Sisir Khanal, a newly-elected RSP legislator and senior party official. “The mandate has made us very responsible.”

Traditional political forces suffered crushing defeats in the voting. The established Nepali Congress party managed only 38 seats, while the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), led by former Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli, secured just 25 seats. Former Chief Justice Sushila Karki had served as interim leader following Oli’s departure.

Shah’s campaign focused heavily on anti-corruption measures, employment generation, and an ambitious pledge to more than double Nepal’s $42 billion economy within five years. His rise from musician to mayor to potential prime minister has captivated voters seeking change from conventional politics.

However, the party faces challenges ahead. RSP’s prominent leader Ravi Lamichhane, a former television personality, is currently fighting allegations of financial misconduct involving small savings companies. Lamichhane has denied any wrongdoing and remains free on bail.

Regional parties from the Madhesh plains, where Shah originates, failed to win any parliamentary representation despite the area’s significant population.

Afghan Taliban authorities announced Friday that Pakistani forces struck a fuel storage facility belonging to Kam Air, a private airline, located close to Kandahar airport, signaling a renewed escalation in the severe border dispute between the neighboring nations.

The cross-border violence began last month when Pakistani military forces launched aerial attacks within Afghan territory, which Pakistan justified as operations targeting militant bases. Afghan officials condemned these strikes as violations of their national sovereignty and responded with counter-attacks.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid explained that the targeted facility serves both commercial aviation and United Nations flights. “The company (Kam Air) supplies fuel to civilian airlines as well as to United Nations aircraft,” Mujahid stated.

According to Mujahid, Pakistani forces also conducted bombing operations in additional locations, including Afghanistan’s capital city of Kabul, resulting in casualties among women and children when residential areas were hit. He warned that this aggression would “not go unanswered.”

Prior to this recent incident, both nations had not documented any Pakistani aerial operations against Afghanistan for several days, and combat activity along their 2,600-kilometer shared border had diminished.

Pakistani military officials have not provided any response to requests for statements regarding these allegations.

The root of tensions between these former allies centers on militant activity, with Pakistan claiming that Afghanistan harbors extremist groups responsible for attacks on Pakistani soil. Afghan Taliban leadership rejects these accusations, maintaining that Pakistan’s militant problems are domestic issues.

Chinese mediation efforts aimed at ending the violence had reportedly helped reduce hostilities between the countries, according to Thursday reports. Pakistani foreign ministry representative Tahir Andrabi confirmed that Pakistan and China were participating in diplomatic discussions regarding Afghanistan.

BUDAPEST, Hungary — Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has directed Hungarian officials to detain a shipment of Ukrainian money and gold valued at approximately $82 million for as long as 60 days while the nation’s tax agency conducts an investigation.

Hungarian forces intercepted the valuable cargo last Thursday as it traveled by road through the country, with officials citing concerns about potential money laundering activities. The confiscated materials consisted of $40 million in U.S. currency, 35 million euros in cash, and 9 kilograms of gold bullion.

Ukrainian leadership has expressed fury over the confiscation, with officials condemning Hungary’s Russia-aligned administration for what they consider unlawful conduct.

Footage from Hungary’s Counter Terrorism Center depicted masked tactical officers detaining seven workers from Ukraine’s government-operated Oschadbank. The employees were traveling in two armored vehicles that had departed Austria and were bound for Ukraine.

Ukrainian officials characterized the transport as a standard transfer of resources between government banking institutions.

The banking personnel remained in custody for more than 24 hours before being removed from Hungary on Friday evening. Hungarian authorities provided no explanation for their release or whether criminal charges were being considered.

The directive issued by Orbán on Monday evening instructs the National Tax and Customs Administration to investigate the cargo’s source, final destination, and planned usage. The order also calls for background checks on the seven deported Ukrainian citizens “and their possible links to criminal or terrorist organizations.”

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha criticized Hungary’s actions on social media Monday night, stating the country was “falling down a spiral of lawlessness.” He accused Orbán’s administration of attempting to “‘legalize’ the illegal seizure.”

“This is a de facto recognition that Hungary’s actions lack any legal grounds,” Sybiha wrote. “They are just adding lawlessness on top of lawlessness.”

Hungary’s tax administration has not yet provided a response to requests for comment.

The country has maintained a “state of danger” declaration due to the conflict in adjacent Ukraine, granting Orbán’s administration the power to implement policies through executive orders without legislative approval.

In his latest decree, Orbán—who confronts his most significant electoral challenge from a center-right rival with voting scheduled for next month—also directed the tax authority to examine whether Ukrainian financial transfers have supported “Hungarian criminal organizations, terrorist organizations present in Hungary or political organizations.”

Leading up to the April 12 election, the right-wing populist leader and his network of supportive media have repeatedly claimed, without substantiation, that his main challenger Péter Magyar and the Tisza party receive Ukrainian funding.

The inclusion of “political organizations” in the executive order has generated speculation that Magyar and Tisza might become subjects of the cash shipment investigation.

Orbán, whose polling numbers currently lag behind Tisza in most surveys, has intensified his anti-Ukraine messaging in recent weeks before the election. He has labeled Ukraine as Hungary’s “enemy” and warned that his electoral defeat would result in national financial ruin and force Hungarian young people into combat roles.

Tensions with Kyiv escalated further when Hungary’s parliament approved a resolution Tuesday authorizing the government to block Ukraine’s European Union membership bid and oppose any weapons or financial support initiatives for Ukraine.

KYIV, Ukraine — Military leaders from both Ukraine and Russia are presenting conflicting accounts of battlefield victories in their ongoing four-year conflict, with Ukrainian commanders reporting territorial gains while Moscow maintains its military campaign continues to advance.

Russian aerial bombardments targeting Ukrainian civilian areas persist on an almost daily basis. On Tuesday, regional administrator Vadym Filashkin reported that three devastating glide bombs hit central Sloviansk in eastern Ukraine, resulting in four fatalities. The attack also injured at least 16 others, including a 14-year-old girl.

Emergency services reported Tuesday that nighttime drone attacks across three additional Ukrainian cities left at least 17 people injured, including two children.

Ukrainian air defense forces successfully intercepted 122 of the 137 drones launched by Russia during overnight operations, according to the country’s air force.

Peace negotiations facilitated by the United States have been suspended as Washington’s focus has shifted to the Iran conflict, drawing international attention away from Ukraine’s struggle against Russia’s larger military force.

Major General Oleksandr Komarenko told RBC-Ukraine in a Tuesday interview that Ukrainian troops have successfully reclaimed nearly the entire southeastern Dnipropetrovsk industrial region through recent counteroffensive operations, forcing Russian forces from over 400 square kilometers of territory, despite facing troop shortages.

Komarenko characterized the front-line situation as challenging yet manageable, noting that the most intense combat continues around Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine and Oleksandrivka in the south, where Russian forces have concentrated their primary offensive efforts.

Independent confirmation of these military developments was not available.

The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War reported Monday that Ukraine’s recent counterattacks “are generating tactical, operational and strategic effects that may disrupt Russia’s spring-summer 2026 offensive campaign plan.”

Conversely, Kremlin spokesperson Yuri Ushakov told reporters that Russian President Vladimir Putin informed U.S. President Donald Trump during a Monday conversation that Russian military forces are “advancing rather successfully” in Ukraine.

Ushakov suggested this military progress should “encourage” Kyiv to “move toward a negotiated settlement of the conflict,” despite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s repeated calls for a comprehensive peace agreement and European leaders’ accusations that Putin is only pretending to seek diplomatic solutions while continuing military operations.

The Kremlin anticipates the Iran conflict will provide financial benefits through increased oil prices, shift global focus away from Ukraine, deplete Western military stockpiles, and pressure the U.S. and NATO allies to reduce military aid to Kyiv.

Zelenskyy hopes that by providing Ukraine’s advanced, combat-proven drone technology to the United States and Gulf partners for Middle Eastern operations, his country will gain greater international diplomatic influence against Moscow.

He is also pursuing reciprocal agreements for advanced American air defense missile systems that Ukraine requires to counter Russian attacks.

A former Syrian military intelligence colonel made his court appearance through video conference Tuesday in London, where he faces serious charges of crimes against humanity and torture connected to his role in crushing peaceful protests in Damascus over a decade ago.

Salem Michel Al-Salem, 58, participated in the Westminster Magistrates’ Court hearing from his residence, appearing with medical breathing equipment due to his battle with motor neurone disease, a progressive neurological condition.

The defendant faces three murder charges classified as crimes against humanity for deaths that occurred in April and July 2011, described by prosecutors as “part of a widespread or systematic attack against a civilian population with knowledge of the attack.”

Additional charges include three counts of torture for incidents spanning 2011 and 2012, plus one count of conduct related to murder as a crime against humanity. Al-Salem remained silent throughout the proceedings and entered no plea.

Defense attorney Sean Caulfield informed the court that his client was too ill to verbally confirm his identity during the hearing.

These seven criminal charges represent a historic case under British legislation that permits prosecution of severe international crimes committed on foreign soil. According to the Crown Prosecution Service, this marks the first instance of murder charges being filed as crimes against humanity under this law.

British courts previously convicted Afghan warlord Faryadi Zardad of torture in 2005 for acts committed in Afghanistan.

Prosecutors describe Al-Salem as a colonel who served in Syria’s Air Force Intelligence division, specifically overseeing the Information Branch in Jobar, a district located east of Damascus city center. He has applied for permanent residency status in Britain.

According to the prosecution, Al-Salem commanded a unit responsible for suppressing demonstrations that typically took place during Friday afternoon prayer services. Authorities allege he instructed his subordinates to shoot at demonstrators, causing fatalities.

The charges also include allegations that Al-Salem participated in or witnessed the torture of detained men at the Information Branch facility.

Police initially arrested Al-Salem in central England during December 2021. His legal team attempted to keep his identity sealed, citing safety concerns, but Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring denied this request while agreeing to keep his home address confidential.

The case will continue Friday at London’s Old Bailey courthouse.

PANAMA CITY — Rising energy prices and ongoing Middle Eastern tensions could drive more commercial shipping traffic toward the Panama Canal, according to the waterway’s top official.

Canal Administrator Ricaurte Vásquez told reporters Thursday that escalating fuel expenses and navigation challenges elsewhere are positioning the interoceanic passage as an increasingly cost-effective alternative for global cargo operations.

“When costs increase, in general when the price of marine fuel rises, the Panama Canal becomes a more attractive route,” Vásquez explained during his remarks.

Energy prices have climbed as Middle Eastern warfare has disrupted regional shipping lanes, including Iran’s temporary blockade of the Strait of Hormuz following strikes by U.S. and Israeli forces. The Persian Gulf waterway handles approximately 20 percent of global oil shipments.

Should elevated energy expenses continue, Vásquez noted that Panama Canal routing could shorten shipping journeys by three to 15 days while simultaneously cutting fuel usage, depending on the specific voyage path.

The canal chief expects container vessels, bulk freight carriers, and liquefied natural gas tankers to be most affected by increased fuel expenses. Should Middle Eastern energy supplies face further interruption, alternative sources including U.S. producers might reroute LNG shipments from European destinations toward Asian markets through Panama.

Panama Maritime Chamber executive Gerardo Bósquez suggested that extended regional conflict could fundamentally alter worldwide shipping patterns, with natural gas transportation among the sectors positioned to gain.

However, Vásquez warned that any traffic shifts would not occur immediately and would depend largely on shipping companies’ expectations regarding the duration of Gulf region conflicts and instability.

While Israeli and American forces concentrate their military efforts on Iran, the ongoing situation in Gaza continues to present unresolved challenges, with Hamas maintaining its presence in the territory despite a fragile truce.

The conflict in Gaza has stretched beyond two years, with Israeli forces yet to complete their mission against the terrorist organization Hamas. A delicate ceasefire agreement took effect in October 2025, and while occasional violence persists, the truce has generally remained intact as discussions about the next phase move forward.

Dr. Sagit Yehoshua from the Dvora Forum and the International Institute for Counterterrorism at Reichman University explained the current situation to The Media Line: “Israel hasn’t finished with Gaza. With the attention elsewhere, Hamas now has the time to regroup. Hamas, like other Iranian proxies, has been trained to emulate the Iranian regime, and even when senior leadership members are taken out, there is always someone ready to replace them.”

The terrorist organization has received financial support and backing from Iran for many years. Dr. Michael Milstein, who leads the Palestinian Studies Forum at the Dayan Center at Tel Aviv University, warned The Media Line: “At the end of the war with Iran, Israel will find itself at square one again in Gaza.”

However, political analyst Kobi Michael from the Institute for National Security Studies and the Misgav Institute suggested to The Media Line that success against Iran could transform the Gaza situation. “If the campaign in Iran is ended successfully … Iran will be much weaker, and Iran will not be able to continue supporting Hamas and Hezbollah,” he stated. “Then it will change the entire situation in the Gaza Strip and in Lebanon dramatically.”

The current focus has turned to Israel’s military operations against Tehran’s regime, conducted in partnership with the United States. Many Israelis view this confrontation as the peak of the broader conflict that started in October 2023, when Hamas executed its surprise attack and set off a chain of regional events. Throughout the past two years, Israeli military and intelligence operations have struck targets spanning Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and Iran.

Despite these broader operations, Gaza’s status remains uncertain. The ceasefire terms require Hamas to surrender its weapons while Israeli forces complete their withdrawal, but this arrangement appeared impractical even before Israeli aircraft began targeting Iran last week. Milstein characterized Gaza as trapped in both military and political stalemate. “When it comes to the Gaza Strip, actually, we are in a sort of status quo,” he explained. “There is no progress with regard to the Palestinian technocratic government, because the technocratic government is not in the Gaza Strip yet. … Hamas does not allow the technocratic government to enter.”

Jerusalem officials have stated that Israeli troops will return to complete their mission if Hamas refuses to disarm voluntarily. Hamas counters that Israel has consistently broken the ceasefire terms and is advancing deeper into Gaza instead of withdrawing. According to Milstein, Israeli forces have maintained strikes against Hamas positions throughout the truce period. “The IDF continues on a daily basis to destroy all the terror infrastructure … tunnels … places that were used for manufacturing weapons and rockets,” he noted. When Hamas violates the ceasefire, he added, Israel responds with force: “This is to signal to Hamas that if they continue breaching the agreement, they will pay a price.”

President Donald Trump, who has committed significant political capital to ending the Israel-Hamas conflict, may soon expect results on that investment. “Israel will likely see even greater enforcement of the agreement by Trump,” Milstein observed. “Israel already started doing things it didn’t want to do in Gaza, but as a result of Trump’s desires. Israel would rather resume the fighting.”

This pressure is already evident in humanitarian matters. Israel reopened the Rafah Crossing after initial delays, responding to mounting international and American demands for increased aid access to Gaza. However, Rafah closed again when the Iran conflict intensified, stopping medical evacuations and civilian departures. When The Media Line requested information, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, the Israeli military unit managing aid coordination for Gaza, stated the crossing remains closed due to the Iran war and “will reopen as soon as the security situation allows.”

Aid deliveries continue but at reduced levels. The Kerem Shalom crossing, Gaza’s primary entry point for humanitarian supplies, has gradually resumed operations. Relief organizations report approximately 200 to 250 trucks entering daily, significantly below the roughly 600 trucks per day that UN agencies consider necessary for Gaza’s population. The World Health Organization has issued warnings about hospitals facing severe shortages of trauma supplies, medications, and fuel.

Yehoshua suggested President Trump’s post-war agenda could increase pressure on Israel. “When Trump wants something, he wants it immediately and doesn’t stop at any means,” she noted. “After the war in Iran, Trump might also be even more considerate than before of the needs of his Arab partners.”

This dynamic extends beyond Gaza’s borders. Israel’s relationships with Arab and Gulf nations have historically been influenced by Palestinian issues. Establishing normalized relations with Saudi Arabia, a goal shared by both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Trump as part of regional restructuring, has traditionally required Palestinian progress. If the Iran conflict creates new opportunities, pressure on Israel for Gaza concessions will likely increase.

The ceasefire achieved the release of all Israeli hostages held by Hamas, fulfilling one of the government’s declared war objectives and representing a significant accomplishment Netanyahu attributed to his leadership. However, he ended the campaign before achieving Israel’s broader objectives, primarily due to American frustration with the prolonged conflict.

Gaza, a small coastal territory housing more than 2 million Palestinians, remains Israel’s most immediate and pressing challenge. Netanyahu had promised to eliminate Hamas and remove its weapons and governing authority. Neither objective has been accomplished. Hamas continues to control Gaza, albeit in a diminished capacity, and has only been displaced from areas along the “Yellow Line,” where Israeli forces remain positioned under the ceasefire terms.

“As long as Hamas controls Gaza, and so it still does, albeit weakened, this problem will not be solved,” Yehoshua stated.

Political constraints contribute to this predicament. Netanyahu leads Israel’s most far-right coalition government in history, with members advocating for complete Gaza occupation and renewed Jewish settlements there. He has rejected these proposals, recognizing the international opposition, particularly from the United States, that such actions would generate.

“The inability to decide and the lack of strategy by the government that didn’t give any serious thought to the matter has caused Israel to drag its feet,” Yehoshua explained. “Choosing not to decide is also a type of decision.”

For years, Israel underestimated Hamas’s capabilities. This miscalculation helps explain the devastating impact of October 7, 2023, when the organization killed approximately 1,200 Israelis in a single day. More than two years later, after Israel has engaged stronger adversaries elsewhere, Hamas persists. Its deep integration within one of the world’s most densely populated areas has constrained Israel’s military options from the beginning.

While Washington has supported Israeli operations in Gaza, it also seeks stability in the region. A strategy developed by President Trump’s close advisor Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff proposes a demilitarized Gaza managed by a technocratic administration instead of Hamas. Currently, this remains conceptual. The proposed government has not been deployed, Hamas continues functioning as a military entity, and no unified authority is prepared to assume responsibility for reconstruction, public services, or security.

Palestinian attorney Hiba Husseini challenged the notion that Hamas alone prevents this transition. “Based on my information, it’s not only Hamas that is objecting to the technocratic committee,” she told The Media Line. “It’s also Israel.”

Milstein questions whether the proposed arrangement would genuinely end Hamas rule. “Trump will probably push for further Israelis withdrawal from Gaza,” he predicted. “The technocratic government may be instated, but it is actually a cover for Hamas still ruling Gaza. To rid Gaza of Hamas’ hold, all of the territory must be conquered. That’s not something Trump will give a green light to.”

Husseini offered a humanitarian perspective, expressing concern that Gaza could become overlooked amid the Iran conflict. “The more important things for me are the humanitarian conditions in Gaza and also the longevity of this war without proper shelter, food, and medical supplies in the Strip,” she said. “Nothing has changed. Unfortunately, Gaza is now on the sidelines. … I hope it won’t be a forgotten situation amid this bigger regional picture.”

Netanyahu has frequently managed to sideline Palestinian issues. However, once attention shifts away from Iran and military operations conclude, Gaza will return to prominence—still unresolved, still unstable, and still awaiting solutions that no one appears prepared to provide.

Israeli military forces announced Monday they executed multiple rounds of airstrikes throughout Iran, hitting military facilities in Tehran, Isfahan, and southern regions as part of their continued operations against Iranian forces.

Israeli warplanes targeted control centers and production facilities connected to Iran’s military operations across several areas, including sites located near Shiraz, according to Israeli Defense Forces reports.

The strikes in Isfahan focused on the Iranian regime’s Internal Security Force headquarters and the command center for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps police division. Military officials reported that a Basij militia installation and a rocket engine manufacturing plant were also destroyed in the assault.

Israeli forces also bombed a facility that housed the IRGC’s drone operations. Military sources indicated this location had been used to launch unmanned aircraft attacks against Israel and housed additional drones planned for future assaults.

“The combined effort to further degrade the regime’s firing capabilities and defense capabilities continues at this moment,” the military said in a statement. “Alongside the continued expansion of strikes on the ballistic-missile production infrastructure throughout Iran.”

Earlier on Monday, Israeli military officials reported their forces had also attacked multiple launching positions for long-range ballistic missiles along with other IRGC military facilities.

Additional operations conducted Sunday evening concentrated on six Iranian military airports. Military officials stated these attacks were designed to enhance Israeli dominance over regional airspace.

During Sunday’s raids, Israeli forces destroyed multiple aircraft, including planes operated by the IRGC’s Quds Force and Iranian military helicopters. However, despite the extensive damage to Iran’s missile infrastructure, Israeli authorities warned that Tehran might still possess the ability to continue attacks.

The Israeli military reported that Iran’s ballistic missile launching systems have been diminished by roughly 75%, though military analysts believe the remaining launch capacity could enable Iran to maintain missile attacks against Israel for a prolonged timeframe.

The world’s largest oil company is issuing stark warnings about the potential for economic disaster as military tensions threaten one of the globe’s most vital shipping lanes.

During a Tuesday earnings call, Aramco Chief Executive Amin Nasser cautioned that ongoing conflicts affecting the Strait of Hormuz could devastate international energy markets and trigger widespread economic turmoil. The strategic waterway typically handles approximately 20% of worldwide oil transport, but current hostilities have dramatically reduced vessel traffic and driven petroleum prices upward.

“There would be catastrophic consequences for the world’s oil markets, and the longer the disruption goes on, the more drastic the consequences for the global economy,” Nasser stated.

The executive emphasized that worldwide petroleum reserves have dropped to their lowest levels in five years, heightening concerns that extended instability around this crucial passage could create ripple effects throughout numerous sectors.

Nasser explained that the impact reaches far beyond energy markets, potentially disrupting shipping and insurance industries while creating strain on aviation, farming, automobile manufacturing, and other economic sectors worldwide.

In response to these concerns, France is coordinating with allied nations to launch a naval mission aimed at restoring commercial navigation through the waterway. French President Emmanuel Macron announced Monday during his Cyprus visit that the upcoming operation would provide protection for cargo vessels and petroleum tankers through what he characterized as a “defensive” strategy to gradually reopen the strait once the most intense period of conflict subsides.

A complete closure of this corridor would drive up costs for goods and services globally, particularly affecting major crude oil importing nations such as China, India, and Japan.

Iran has previously issued threats to “set fire” to vessels attempting passage through the waterway, though some maritime traffic has managed to continue despite the ongoing conflict.

President Donald Trump issued his own warning to Tehran on Monday, threatening a forceful American reaction to any attempts at blocking oil shipments through the strait.

“If Iran does anything that stops the flow of Oil within the Strait of Hormuz, they will be hit by the United States of America TWENTY TIMES HARDER than they have been hit thus far,” Trump posted on social media.

A spokesperson for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps countered that Tehran would prevent “one liter of oil” from leaving the region if American and Israeli attacks persist.

President Trump announced Monday that U.S. military campaigns targeting Iran are approaching their conclusion, claiming Tehran’s armed forces have been severely weakened throughout the operations.

In an interview with CBS News, Trump indicated that the military missions dubbed Epic Fury and Roaring Lion had advanced more rapidly than anticipated and were reaching their concluding phases.

“I think the war is very much complete, pretty much,” President Trump stated. “They have no navy, no communications, they’ve got no air force. Their missiles are down to a scatter. Their drones are being blown up all over the place, including their manufacturing of drones.”

“If you look, they have nothing left. There’s nothing left in a military sense,” he continued.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested the ongoing conflict might eventually trigger internal political transformation within Iran.

“Our aspiration is to bring the Iranian people to throw off the yoke of tyranny,” Netanyahu stated during a late-night visit to the National Health Emergency Operations Center. “Ultimately, it depends on them. But there is no doubt that through the actions taken so far, we are breaking their bones—and our arm is still outstretched.”

“If we succeed together with the Iranian people, we will bring about a permanent end—if such things exist in the life of nations—and we will bring about change,” Netanyahu added.

These statements emerged amid ongoing tensions surrounding Iran’s leadership and the wider regional crisis. The Wall Street Journal reported that current and former U.S. officials revealed President Trump informed his staff he would back the assassination of Iran’s recently appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei should the leader reject Washington’s conditions, which include dismantling the nation’s nuclear program.

Trump also expressed his displeasure to the New York Post regarding Mojtaba Khamenei’s rise to power, having previously labeled the appointment “unacceptable.”

The president issued a stern warning to Iran about interfering with maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. In a Monday social media message, Trump cautioned: “If Iran does anything that stops the flow of Oil within the Strait of Hormuz, they will be hit by the United States of America TWENTY TIMES HARDER than they have been hit thus far.”

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) spokesperson countered by threatening that Tehran would prevent “one liter of oil” from leaving the region if American and Israeli strikes persist.

HAVANA (AP) — In a surprising announcement Thursday evening, Cuban officials revealed plans to free 51 inmates from the nation’s correctional facilities.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the prisoner releases scheduled for the coming days reflect goodwill gestures and strong ties with the Vatican.

Officials declined to name specific individuals set for release, stating only that “all have served a significant part of their sentence and have maintained good conduct in prison.”

The prison release news came just hours before Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel was set to hold a rare Friday morning press conference “to address national and international issues.”

Cuban authorities reported granting clemency to 9,905 prisoners since 2010, with an additional 10,000 sentenced individuals gaining freedom over the last three years.

Earlier this year in January 2025, Cuba freed well-known opposition figure José Daniel Ferrer through a government initiative to gradually release over 500 detainees following Vatican negotiations.

Ferrer departed Cuba last October and currently resides in the United States.

His release was among several that occurred in early 2025 through Vatican-mediated discussions. These prisoner releases started one day after the Biden administration revealed plans to remove Cuba’s designation as a terrorism-sponsoring state.

Officials have not disclosed whether any political detainees are included among the 51 individuals planned for release.

The advocacy organization Prisoners Defenders reported 1,214 political detainees remained in Cuban custody as of February 2026.

Recent data from Australia shows that approximately 20% of teenagers under 16 are still accessing popular social media platforms two months after the nation implemented its comprehensive ban on minors using these services.

According to research from parental control software company Qustodio, usage among 13-to-15-year-olds on TikTok and Snapchat has decreased since the ban took effect in December, but significant numbers of young users remain active on these platforms through February.

This information represents some of the earliest evidence of how young people’s online habits have changed since Australia launched its pioneering social media restrictions, which other nations worldwide are now considering adopting. While the Australian government and multiple university research teams are monitoring the ban’s effectiveness, no official data has been released yet.

“Among children whose parents haven’t blocked access, a meaningful number continue to use restricted platforms in the months following the ban,” Qustodio stated in their report, which analyzed information gathered from Australian families between late 2024 and February.

The legislation requires major platforms such as Meta’s Instagram, Facebook and Threads, along with Google’s YouTube, TikTok and Snapchat, to prevent users under 16 from accessing their services or face penalties reaching A$49.5 million (approximately $35 million).

Australia’s internet regulator, the eSafety Commissioner, has indicated that platforms will receive time to adjust their systems and that enforcement actions will focus on widespread violations rather than individual cases.

Neither the eSafety Commissioner nor the Communications Minister provided immediate responses to requests for comment. Snapchat representatives were unavailable for comment, while TikTok spokespersons chose not to respond.

The research data revealed that Snapchat usage among 13-15-year-old Australians dropped by 13.8 percentage points to 20.3% between November and February. TikTok usage in the same age group declined by 5.7 percentage points to 21.2%.

YouTube usage among this demographic decreased by just one percentage point to 36.9%, though the data didn’t distinguish between logged-in account usage and anonymous browsing. Australia’s ban permits unrestricted YouTube access for users who don’t sign into accounts.

While Australian teen social media activity typically decreases during December and January due to extended summer school holidays, this year’s decline was more pronounced than the previous year, indicating the ban’s influence, according to Qustodio.

However, the report noted that “some dips seen in December-January are slowly beginning to recover.”

Concerns that teenagers might shift to unmonitored platforms haven’t proven accurate based on the data, though WhatsApp did see a slight increase in usage among 13-15-year-olds.

French President Emmanuel Macron will make an official state visit to South Korea during the first week of April, according to an announcement from Seoul officials on March 13.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will welcome Macron for the two-day diplomatic visit scheduled for April 2-3, the presidential Blue House announced in an official statement.

The formal agenda for April 3 includes a ceremonial welcome for the French leader, high-level discussions between the presidents, the signing of bilateral agreements, and an official state luncheon, according to the Blue House.

Officials indicated the presidential talks will cover economic partnerships, investment opportunities, and collaborative efforts in emerging technology fields including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, space exploration, and nuclear energy development. The leaders will also address broader regional and international matters during their meetings.

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Islamic extremist organizations, notably Boko Haram and its affiliated splinter groups, are being held responsible for a series of coordinated strikes on Nigerian military installations throughout the northeastern region during the past seven days.

The assaults have claimed the lives of no fewer than two military officers and multiple enlisted personnel, with security experts describing the operations as demonstrating extraordinary organizational capabilities.

During the weekend period, militant forces executed a minimum of six separate strikes across Borno and Yobe states, as well as throughout the broader Lake Chad basin, successfully capturing military vehicles and equipment from the targeted installations, security specialists and official reports indicate.

In an official statement, Nigeria’s armed forces characterized the recent Sunday through Monday operations as “an attempt by the terrorists to overwhelm troop positions.”

Military representative Sani Uba announced Monday evening that forces sustained casualties including an undetermined number of enlisted personnel and one commanding officer, declining to elaborate on specifics. These losses contribute to a weekly casualty count encompassing multiple soldiers and at least one officer. Security specialists place the weekly officer death toll at approximately four individuals.

The continent’s most densely populated nation has faced ongoing challenges in suppressing extremist violence throughout its northeastern territories. Following the initiation of their insurgency campaign in 2009, Boko Haram has fractured into multiple branches, including the Islamic State West Africa Province, or ISWAP, which receives support from the Islamic State organization. This crisis has strained Nigeria’s military resources, which simultaneously confronts additional security challenges across the conflict-affected northern regions.

These military strikes have generated widespread anger among Nigerian citizens, with numerous individuals criticizing President Bola Tinubu’s administration and the governing political party for focusing on the upcoming presidential campaign where Tinubu is anticipated to pursue another term.

Although ISWAP has conducted an increasing number of military-targeted operations in recent months, analysts note this marks the first occasion in recent memory where the organization has successfully executed simultaneous large-scale operations across the region.

The strikes demonstrate “a remarkable level of coordination” from the organization, stated Vincent Foucher, a security specialist with France’s National Center for Scientific Research who possesses extensive expertise regarding the conflict.

Footage released by ISWAP displayed substantial quantities of weaponry and munitions, along with numerous motorcycles and vehicles that the militants claimed were seized during their operations. The Associated Press could not independently confirm the video’s contents.

A primary objective of these extremist groups involves replenishing their weapons stockpiles, explained Taiwo Adebayo with the Africa-focused Institute for Security Studies.

“When they hit those camps, they strip the base of weapons, burn it down and retreat into the forests,” Adebayo stated.

Malik Samuel, a Nigerian security analyst with Good Governance Africa, observed that “as long as military bases remain vulnerable to being overrun, ISWAP does not need to spend money buying arms.”

These operations are occurring despite assistance from the United States, which has positioned no fewer than 100 military personnel to provide Nigerian forces with training and logistical support. This deployment represents part of a new security collaboration between Nigeria and the U.S. that developed after U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that Christians face targeting in Nigeria’s security crisis.

Since American involvement in the security situation began last December, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, or ISR, missions have assisted Nigerian military forces in intensifying aerial strikes against extremist strongholds, according to officials.

Nevertheless, ISWAP continues executing coordinated operations that demonstrate their advanced capabilities and illustrate their growing dominance, Adebayo noted.

A significant obstacle in the region continues to be the insufficient presence of security personnel and governmental authority in conflict zones.

Despite achieving victories against extremist organizations in the area, Nigeria’s military lacks resources for prolonged operations and rapidly relocates to address other crisis areas, Taiwo explained.

“So the (armed) groups are quickly regrouping and delivering attacks elsewhere,” he stated.

A United Nations investigation released Tuesday has determined that Moscow’s systematic removal of Ukrainian children following its 2022 invasion constitutes crimes against humanity.

According to Ukrainian officials, nearly 20,000 children have been unlawfully transported to Russia and Belarus, where some undergo military instruction and are compelled to take up arms against Ukrainian forces.

The International Criminal Court has issued warrants for the arrest of President Vladimir Putin and five additional Russian officials in connection with the unlawful removal of children. Russian authorities reject claims that children are being taken involuntarily, maintaining they are conducting voluntary evacuations to protect civilians from combat zones.

“In this report, the Commission concluded that crimes against humanity and war crimes by Russian authorities have targeted children, who are among the most vulnerable victims,” the investigation stated.

“These crimes have irreversible consequences on their lives and their future.”

The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine examined 1,205 children’s cases from five Ukrainian regions and determined that 80% remain unreturned.

The commission’s findings stem from analyzing thousands of documents and submissions from human rights organizations, plus conducting more than 200 interviews with affected families and children who successfully returned home.

“The deportations and transfers have originated from various locations across a wide geographic area in Russian-occupied areas in Ukraine, following a well-established pattern of conduct, indicating that these acts have been widespread and systematic,” the report noted. The findings will be presented to the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva this Thursday.

The investigation also determined that high-level Russian government officials have coordinated these operations.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha praised the report and urged international pressure on Russia to facilitate the return of displaced children.

Russian diplomatic representatives in Geneva have not yet responded to requests for comment.

Research funded by the United States last year revealed Russia’s expansion of forced re-education programs targeting deported children. Former U.S. first lady Melania Trump has championed their release and maintained contact with Putin’s administration regarding this issue.

TEL AVIV, Israel — Israeli military officials report that Iran has deployed cluster munitions on a daily basis throughout their ongoing 10-day conflict, presenting new complications for the nation’s air defense capabilities.

These weapons function by releasing their payload at high elevations, dispersing numerous smaller explosive devices across extensive areas. The secondary explosives, which appear as orange fireballs during nighttime attacks, present significant interception challenges and have caused casualties.

Israeli officials, who typically limit public disclosure about Iranian strikes and resulting damage, have recently launched public awareness campaigns about these weapons’ hazards, including the risk posed by unexploded ordnance that remains dangerous after civilians emerge from protective shelters.

More than 120 nations have ratified an international agreement prohibiting cluster munition deployment, though Israel, the United States, and Iran remain outside this treaty. These weapons have appeared in global conflicts for decades, including Israel’s 2006 confrontation with the Iran-backed Lebanese militant organization Hezbollah.

The weapons operate when a primary munition deploys smaller submunitions at elevations between 7-10 kilometers (4-6 miles). These secondary devices spread across vast territories, spanning several hundred meters to multiple kilometers, sacrificing accuracy for broad coverage.

International critics contend that cluster munitions cause indiscriminate casualties, with unexploded components posing long-term threats. In Israel’s case, the danger increases because most missiles target the country’s heavily populated central region.

“Cluster bombs don’t create real damage to buildings, only people,” said Yehoshua Kalisky, a senior researcher at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies.

While Israel’s Arrow defense system effectively intercepts incoming ballistic missiles, Kalisky explained that once cluster munitions deploy before missile destruction, defensive options become limited.

Israel’s Iron Dome technology targets smaller rockets launched from shorter distances and lower elevations. However, it lacks the capability to neutralize dispersed bomblet clusters, Kalisky noted.

The lightweight bomblets — typically under 3 kilograms (7 pounds) — pose the greatest threat to vehicles, storefronts, and individuals outside protective shelters, unlike heavier explosive devices.

“They pose a particular threat to the civilian population both during and after use, with victims often including a high proportion of children,” according to the Convention on Cluster Munitions.

These secondary munitions experience higher failure rates compared to conventional warheads. Unexploded devices function similarly to landmines, potentially detonating later and causing random casualties.

The Open Source Munitions Portal, which verifies publicly available munition imagery globally, has released multiple photographs of unexploded submunitions discovered in Israel this week.

While larger Iranian missiles have caused most damage in Israel, Iran has deployed cluster munitions on a “nearly daily basis,” stated Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, a military spokesperson. He noted Iran launched similar projectiles during their 12-day conflict in June.

Military sources indicate Iranian warheads contain 20 to 24 bomblets with explosive components weighing up to 5 kilograms (11 pounds).

Israel’s Home Front Command has circulated warnings advising residents against touching unexploded submunitions. Police public service announcements similarly caution people to avoid contact with suspicious objects and contact authorities instead.

The Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies’ Missile Defense Project reports that Iran announced in 2017 its Khorramshahr medium-range ballistic missile could transport multiple warheads. These missiles represent Iran’s largest submunition-carrying weapons. Iran also possesses shorter-range Zolfaghar missiles equipped with submunitions.

Cluster munitions, including those captured in Associated Press footage traveling westward toward Israel, resemble falling fireballs — an appearance created by atmospheric reentry friction.

N.R. Jenzen-Jones, director of Armament Research Services, noted limited public information exists regarding Iran’s cluster munitions beyond state television coverage of leadership factory visits and military exercise footage. However, recent deployment videos suggest some Iranian missiles carrying cluster warheads are engineered to open at high altitudes, dispersing them across areas far exceeding typical military targets.

Engineering features enabling high-altitude dispersal — including protective coatings allowing submunitions to survive atmospheric reentry heat — indicate these weapons were constructed for less precise applications than cluster munitions observed in other conflicts.

“The design seems to scatter submunitions so widely as to suggest it was designed purely as a weapon of terror, scattering its explosive cargo indiscriminately over a wide area,” Jenzen-Jones said.

Following the July 2025 12-day Iran-Israel war, Amnesty International declared Iran’s “deliberate use of such inherently indiscriminate weapons is a blatant violation of international humanitarian law.”

While cluster munitions — including more targeted versions than Iran’s — remain legal, Geneva Conventions prohibit their use in civilian areas. Recent international agreements signed by over 120 nations also ban these weapons.

Nazi Germany first deployed cluster munitions when it dropped “butterfly bombs” on the United Kingdom during World War II. The United States has utilized various types in Vietnam, Laos, Iraq, and Afghanistan, and supplied cluster munitions to Ukraine. Russia faced accusations of using cluster bombs during its 2022 full-scale Ukraine invasion, which Moscow denied.

During Israel’s 2006 Lebanon war with militant group Hezbollah, the United Nations estimated 30% to 40% of Israeli cluster bombs failed to detonate, leaving southern Lebanon contaminated with hundreds of thousands of bomblets.

The U.S. State Department concluded Israel likely deployed American-manufactured cluster bombs in civilian areas during the 2006 conflict, after U.N. demining teams discovered unexploded bomblets in hundreds of locations.

According to a military official speaking anonymously under briefing protocols, Israel is not currently using cluster bombs.

SEOUL – Investigators in South Korea conducted a search of the nation’s transportation ministry on Friday as they expand their investigation into the deadly 2024 Jeju Air disaster that claimed 179 lives at Muan International Airport.

The ministry search comes as officials continue re-examining crash debris, an effort that has led to the discovery of more human remains and personal items over a year after the tragedy occurred. These findings have raised fresh concerns about how authorities initially handled the disaster response.

Law enforcement has already conducted searches at regional aviation facilities and companies that worked on the airport’s construction as investigators work to establish who bears responsibility for the fatal accident.

While a police spokesperson refused to provide additional details about Friday’s ministry search, Yonhap News Agency reported that an official described the action as necessary to obtain more evidence for the continuing investigation into what caused the crash.

The expanding probe reflects authorities’ determination to uncover whether failures in government oversight and regulation played a role in the aviation disaster.

ROME — The Italian government has made a historic acquisition, purchasing an extraordinary portrait by baroque master Caravaggio for 30 million euros in what represents one of the nation’s most significant financial commitments to a single piece of art, officials announced Tuesday.

Created around 1598 and officially recognized as a Caravaggio work in 1963, the painting shows Maffeo Barberini, an influential nobleman who would eventually ascend to become Pope Urban VIII.

Following more than a year of complex negotiations, Italian authorities successfully obtained the artwork from private collectors, and it will now become a permanent fixture at Rome’s renowned Palazzo Barberini museum.

“This is a work of exceptional importance,” declared Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli, highlighting that the painting marked a pivotal moment in the modern rediscovery of Caravaggio’s genius and strengthens Italy’s public holdings of the artist’s creations.

This major purchase comes after Italy’s recent acquisition of Antonello da Messina’s “Ecce Homo” and represents part of the country’s comprehensive initiative to expand its national cultural treasures while providing researchers and visitors greater access to artistic masterpieces.

The “Portrait of Monsignor Maffeo Barberini” captures the future pontiff during his thirties, portrayed in the robes of an Apostolic Chamber cleric during a pivotal period of his ascent to ecclesiastical power.

Art historian Roberto Longhi brought widespread attention to the piece through his influential 1963 essay “The True ‘Maffeo Barberini’ of Caravaggio,” after which scholars have broadly accepted the work as an authentic creation by Caravaggio, whose full name was Michelangelo Merisi.

Longhi described the piece as “one of the founding moments of modern portraiture,” highlighting Caravaggio’s introduction of unprecedented psychological depth to his subjects.

The revolutionary artist transformed painting during the early 1600s through his innovative manipulation of light and shadow, establishing techniques that would define the entire Baroque movement. Despite being among the most extensively researched artists globally, authenticated Caravaggio works remain extraordinarily scarce.

The newly acquired portrait will be exhibited at Palazzo Barberini alongside the museum’s other Caravaggio pieces, forming one of the world’s most significant collections of his work, particularly near his celebrated masterpiece “Judith Slaying Holofernes,” which Italy acquired in 1971.

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelan and Colombian officials unexpectedly called off a scheduled summit between their nations’ leaders on Thursday, just one day before the highly awaited border meeting was set to take place.

The summit would have marked Venezuelan acting President Delcy Rodríguez’s inaugural official encounter with another Latin American head of state since taking office in January after a U.S. military action resulted in the capture of former President Nicolás Maduro. The agenda for Rodríguez and Colombian President Gustavo Petro included discussions on cross-border security concerns stemming from criminal organizations involved in narcotics trafficking, as well as exploring opportunities for Colombia to purchase Venezuelan natural gas.

According to a joint declaration issued through Venezuela’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, both nations cited “force majeure” as the reason for postponing the meeting, though no additional details were provided about the circumstances. Officials stated the presidential summit will be rescheduled for a future date.

The declaration further noted that Petro’s invitation to Rodríguez remains open for the presidential discussions and emphasized both countries’ continued dedication “to strengthening trust, cooperation and bilateral relations.”

Just hours before the cancellation was announced Thursday, Petro’s administration revealed the Colombian president had spoken by telephone with U.S. President Donald Trump, during which Petro expressed his hopes for Trump’s “success” in his upcoming meeting with Rodríguez.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney unveiled a massive spending plan Thursday, committing billions to strengthen military installations and infrastructure across Canada’s northern territories as tensions rise over Arctic sovereignty.

Speaking from Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories, Carney revealed his administration will allocate an extra $32 billion Canadian dollars—approximately $24 billion USD—toward military forward operating bases in Yellowknife, Inuvik, Iqaluit, and Goose Bay.

“In this new era, we cannot rely on other nations for our security and prosperity,” Carney stated during the announcement.

The substantial investment follows President Donald Trump’s earlier statements this year suggesting the United States should assume control of Greenland, Denmark’s self-governing Inuit territory. Trump has also made remarks about potentially incorporating Canada as America’s 51st state.

Carney delivered his remarks before departing for Norway, where he plans to observe NATO military exercises.

The comprehensive funding package designates $2.7 billion Canadian dollars—roughly $1.9 billion USD—for establishing four new remote operational centers throughout the North, designed to facilitate quick military deployment.

Additionally, Carney outlined financial support for numerous transportation and port development initiatives across the northern region.

Among these projects is funding for the Mackenzie Valley Highway, a major route that will link Yellowknife with Inuvik.

Rising geopolitical tensions, climate change effects, and shifts in the global economy have positioned the Arctic region as a critical focal point in discussions surrounding international commerce and national security.

TORONTO — Authorities in Toronto have located the stolen vehicle used in this week’s shooting incident at the US consulate, police announced Thursday.

The white Honda CR-V was found just hours after Tuesday’s attack, according to Toronto police officials. Law enforcement revealed the SUV had been taken shortly before the shooting occurred but declined to release additional information about the recovery.

The incident unfolded around 4:30 a.m. Tuesday when two individuals approached the downtown diplomatic facility and opened fire on the building using a handgun before driving away. Officials reported no one was hurt in the attack.

The gunfire happened during a period of increased tensions surrounding the Iran conflict and came after shootings targeted two synagogues in the Toronto area over the weekend. Government officials announced enhanced security measures would be implemented at US and Israeli consulates, along with embassies in Ottawa.

Authorities didn’t learn of the shooting until approximately one hour afterward, and police believe those inside the heavily secured consulate building may not have realized the attack was taking place.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police are investigating the incident as a matter involving national security. Both Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Prime Minister Mark Carney denounced the shooting as an intimidation tactic.

Toronto hosts a substantial Iranian population, and the ongoing Iran conflict has sparked various demonstrations near the US consulate, with both supporters and opponents gathering. The diplomatic facility frequently serves as a location for protests.

The Israeli military carried out new attacks against Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon on Tuesday, while Lebanese leadership pushes for a comprehensive ceasefire arrangement.

According to the Israel Defense Forces, Tuesday’s military operations targeted a rocket launching site in Lebanon’s southern region. Israeli troops conducting ground operations in the area also executed raids where they encountered armed militants from the organization, including some who were reportedly planning attacks on Israeli personnel. Military officials said weapons were confiscated during these operations.

On Monday night, Israeli forces attacked Hezbollah operational centers in the southern Lebanese village of Ansar. Military sources stated these facilities were connected to rocket attacks launched from that region into Israeli territory.

The IDF has also been targeting Al-Qard Al-Hasan, a financial organization that provides funding to armed groups including Hezbollah. Military officials report that 30 facilities linked to this organization have been hit since the previous week. This group supplies financial support for Hezbollah’s operations, including purchasing weapons and equipment and paying member salaries.

Israeli officials describe their military campaign as focused on destroying Hezbollah’s operational network, with strikes reaching areas connected to the group’s activities in Beirut.

The current military escalation began after Hezbollah launched missile attacks into Israel last week following Israeli strikes on Iran.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has expressed his backing for renewed ceasefire negotiations. In a virtual conference on Monday with European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Aoun endorsed a “complete ceasefire” with Israel contingent on Israel ending its military activities. He also requested logistical support for Lebanon’s military forces.

Aoun stated that under such an agreement, Lebanon’s armed forces would guarantee Hezbollah’s disarmament and “confiscate all weapons” from the militant organization. He advocated for “direct negotiations under international sponsorship to reach the implementation” of ceasefire conditions.

A previous ceasefire agreement that concluded hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah on November 27, 2024, mandated that Lebanon “prevent Hezbollah and other armed groups from conducting operations against Israel.” Israeli leadership maintains that Hezbollah’s persistent refusal to disarm, contrary to what was previously agreed upon, necessitates continued military operations to secure the border region.

PARIS (AP) — Designer Nicolas Ghesquière transformed the Louvre into an artificial mountain landscape, sending his models traversing the peaks for Louis Vuitton’s latest show.

The designer brought Paris Fashion Week to a close Tuesday evening with a collection that elevated mountain folklore into luxury fashion, featuring flowing capes, traditional cowbells, warm shearling headwear, and hiking poles accessorized with designer handbags.

Dubbing his line “Super Nature,” Ghesquière explained his goal was to discover the common threads among mountain communities spanning from the Alps through Central Asia to the Andes — garments molded by harsh weather conditions, high elevations, and the necessity for mobility.

A-list celebrities including Zendaya, Ana de Armas, Jennifer Connelly and Jaden Smith occupied prime viewing spots in the front row.

Production designer Jeremy Hindle, known for his work on “Severance,” reimagined the Louvre’s historic Cour Carrée courtyard into a setting that blended science fiction aesthetics with Alpine imagery.

Models emerged wearing textured capes with dramatic shoulder silhouettes to begin the presentation.

Oversized fur shoulder pieces enveloped the models’ arms while pointed headpieces evoked childhood paper boat crafts. Several models balanced massive wicker baskets above their heads, while others carried tree branches as props.

Animal motifs including wolves, sheep and rabbits decorated jackets and skirts throughout the collection.

Ukrainian artist Nazar Strelyaev-Nazarko created lamb paintings for the pieces. Ghesquière updated a classic Man Ray parure previously worn by Catherine Deneuve, incorporating the signature nail head details from Louis Vuitton luggage.

The iconic Noé bag appeared in its original 1932 silhouette. The Mini Malles debuted in softer iterations. Shoe heels were sculpted to resemble antler forms.

While the clothing ventured into artistic territory, the accessories maintained practical grounding.

Formal tuxedo pants featured fluffy trim instead of traditional satin stripes, and weatherproof capes in bright red and pale blue stood out against the natural color scheme. Outerwear incorporated hemp-derived artificial fur linings.

The fashion house described their material philosophy as “hyper-craft” — elevating nature rather than simply copying it.

Additional attendees included K-pop performers Felix and Lisa, musical group Haim, Phoebe Dynevor, Ava DuVernay, Alicia Vikander, Chase Infiniti, Chloe Grace Moretz, Erin Doherty, Katherine LaNasa and Olympic figure skating champion Alysa Liu.

Ghesquière has directed Louis Vuitton’s women’s collections since 2013, maintaining his position longer than over a dozen creative leaders at competing fashion houses.

Meanwhile across Paris, the Miu Miu venue resembled a disturbed woodland floor several hours later.

Workers hand-placed twigs and moss right up to the show’s start time.

While Ghesquière constructed an elaborate environment, Miuccia Prada stripped hers away.

“You, as a human person, you are enough,” Prada stated. “You have your mind. That should be enough against whatever happens.”

The garments appeared worn and weathered, like final pieces remaining in a closet. Minimal tank dresses. Compact weathered leather jackets. Wrinkled cotton blazers softened by use.

Narrow coats polished from wear paired with wide-leg trousers that swept the ground.

Cotton poplin, processed cashmere, linen, and decorated tulle — all fitted close to the body. Bow details referenced intimate apparel, the most personal clothing items.

No protective elements. No added bulk. Simply the individual wearing them.

Prada reinforced this message through her model selection.

Gillian Anderson participated in the show, joined by Chloë Sevigny and Kristen McMenamy.

TXT member Yeonjun walked alongside Diana Silvers and Gemma Ward.

The diverse age range of models gave the minimalist clothing more significance than a younger-only cast would have provided.

The accessories carried the visual impact that the clothing deliberately avoided. Decorated fur hats, crystal-adorned belts, jeweled sneakers. Single statement pieces contrasting with the understated fabrics.

Following weeks of shows featuring protective, padded, and heavily textured designs, Prada concluded the season with the opposing viewpoint.

The human form needs no enhancement. Fashion should simply step aside and let it shine.

GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — Guatemala’s freshly appointed Constitutional Court faces the challenging task of restoring faith among citizens who have grown skeptical of a judicial system that many believe favors a select few, according to legal experts speaking Thursday.

The nation’s top court, chosen every five years through various institutional processes, will retain four of its 10 total members, including backup judges. The departing court drew sharp criticism for rulings in high-stakes cases that seemed to shield individuals connected to narcotics trafficking, human rights violations, and graft.

Legal observers note that the incoming court shows signs of greater equilibrium, though its future rulings will ultimately determine its true character.

“What it has to do is recover the concept of a legal and technical court and not issue decisions tailored for anyone,” said Carlos Luna Villacorta, a former alternate magistrate on the court. “It must inspire more confidence above all with its most controversial decisions.”

The court selection process concluded Wednesday when President Bernardo Arévalo revealed his picks: Gladys Annabella Morfín, who previously served as solicitor general, and her backup María Magdalena Jocholá, a Kaqchikel Maya attorney and scholar focused on Indigenous legal matters.

Guatemala’s Constitutional Court has played a central role in the nation’s anti-corruption struggles. The tribunal has weighed in on major cases involving an international corruption-fighting body and the freedom of a former president facing graft charges.

As Guatemala’s supreme judicial authority, the Constitutional Court’s rulings cannot be challenged. Backup members serve when primary judges face conflicts of interest or when constitutional matters require a seven-judge panel.

In 2019, when ex-President Jimmy Morales ended the mandate of the anti-corruption body called CICIG, the Constitutional Court served as a crucial democratic check by declaring his action unconstitutional.

However, the court shifted direction after new members took office in 2021.

The tribunal demonstrated this change in April 2024 when it approved the prison release of former President Otto Pérez Molina (2012-2015), who had been found guilty in two separate corruption proceedings.

Beyond Arévalo’s appointments, the Supreme Court of Justice, Congress, University of San Carlos, and the national bar association each chose one primary judge and one alternate.

The incoming court will feature four women among its five main judges when it begins work in April.

Political commentator Renzo Rosal described the new tribunal as appearing “relatively balanced.”

“The court leans conservative, but nothing else can be expected of the (Constitutional Court),” since its essence is applying the Constitution, he said. “What we need is a group of magistrates who must stabilize (the court) and allow it to be an institution that halts the mistrust of justice, that serves the people and not the spurious spaces like now.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared Thursday that joint military efforts with the United States have significantly damaged Iran’s nuclear and missile programs while diminishing Tehran’s regional influence. However, he emphasized that overthrowing the Iranian government ultimately rests with the Iranian people.

During his first media briefing since the conflict began, Netanyahu described how the military campaign has transformed regional dynamics. “This is no longer the same Iran, this is no longer the same Middle East and this is also not the same Israel,” he stated. “We initiate and attack with force. Trump and I talk almost every day, exchange ideas and advice, and decide together.”

The Israeli leader outlined key military goals, focusing on severely damaging Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile infrastructure while preventing Tehran from securing these capabilities in underground facilities. “We are aiming to stop Iran from moving nuclear and ballistic projects underground,” he explained.

Netanyahu claimed the joint campaign has already produced substantial outcomes, elevating Israel’s position “as a regional power and, in certain respects, a global power.”

The Prime Minister referenced previous warnings he and US President Donald Trump issued to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei about rebuilding what Netanyahu termed “industries of death.” “Not only did he not listen,” Netanyahu said about Khamenei, “he accelerated efforts to rebuild them and bury them deep underground, under high mountains.”

Despite military successes, Netanyahu acknowledged limitations regarding internal Iranian political transformation. “We can create conditions for regime change, but it is up to Iran’s people to take to the streets,” he said. “I can’t say with certainty the Iranian people will overthrow the regime, but we can certainly help.”

Addressing Iranians directly, Netanyahu proclaimed, “The moment you can set out on a new path of freedom is getting closer.” He cautioned about uncertainty surrounding potential change in Tehran, saying “It’s not certain that this will happen – it depends on the Iranian people.” Using an analogy, he added, “You can bring a man to water, but you can’t force him to drink.”

Regarding northern border fighting, Netanyahu said Hezbollah continues facing intense pressure while maintaining some military capability. “Hezbollah feels the comfort of our arm and will pay a very heavy price for its aggression,” he declared.

When questioned about previous assertions of Hezbollah’s defeat, Netanyahu argued Israel had prevented catastrophic scenarios. “We talked then about 150,000 rockets and missiles, about the destruction of the towers in Tel Aviv, about the eyes of ruins in the rest of the country, and about 15,000 to 20,000 dead. All of this did not materialize because we dealt them a tremendous blow, but that does not mean that they did not have any residual fire left.”

He predicted continued weakening, stating, “Tomorrow they will be even weaker—both Iran and Hezbollah.”

Netanyahu revealed he had cautioned Lebanon’s government against permitting Hezbollah operations within its borders. “I told them, ‘you’re playing with fire,’” he said. “We will exact a heavy price from Hezbollah, and I hope Lebanon’s government is [with] us.”

When asked about specific threats to Mojtaba Khamenei and Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem, Netanyahu remained cryptic. “I wouldn’t issue life insurance policies on any of the leaders of the terrorist organization … I don’t intend to give an exact message here about what we are planning or what we are going to do.”

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — An unprecedented 280 political parties met Thursday’s registration deadline to compete in Haiti’s upcoming general election, marking the nation’s first such contest in ten years, though not every group will qualify for the ballot.

Despite this uncertainty, newly formed parties celebrated the opportunity, expressing optimism about addressing their nation’s ongoing struggles with widespread gang violence and government corruption.

CAHDOA, which stands for Collective of Haitian Actors for Development and Alternative Organization and was established just one year ago, arrived at Haiti’s Provisional Electoral Council building accompanied by musicians.

The sound of vuvuzelas filled the air while supporters applauded and shouted, “We are on board!”

CAHDOA representative Abel Decollines expressed his desire for widespread voter participation in the upcoming election.

“Today the country needs a new leader to allow the population to breathe,” he said.

The EDE party, known as Committed to Development, also completed their registration Thursday. The organization was established by Claude Joseph, who served as prime minister during the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse at his home in July 2021.

Joseph and his followers wore green and white clothing while walking quietly toward the election council building.

On social media platform X, Joseph stated his party supports ending political dominance in Haiti “characterized by the failure of eternal political transitions.”

Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé currently serves as Haiti’s sole leader after being selected by a transitional presidential council that disbanded in early February as legally required.

Government leaders initially announced plans to conduct elections in late August with a potential runoff in early December, though the prime minister has recently indicated the initial voting round would occur before the year concludes.

Skeptics question whether this timeline is realistic given continuing gang-related violence.

“The people in charge need to provide security so campaigning can take place and people can choose who will govern them,” Decollines said.

United Nations data shows more than 5,900 deaths and over 2,700 injuries occurred throughout Haiti last year.

Criminal gangs have also forced a record 1.4 million residents from their homes in the nation of approximately 12 million people, with armed groups maintaining control over roughly 90% of the capital city Port-au-Prince.

“It’s a fact that the county is insecure, no one can deny that, but no matter what, there must be an election,” said Dalouce Désir, a member of EDE, which was founded four years ago. “We believe in the election, and we believe in democracy.”

Haiti’s Provisional Electoral Council plans to release the official roster of approved political parties by March 26, though specific qualification standards have not been disclosed.

WASHINGTON — A U.S. Air Force refueling aircraft has crashed in Iraq while participating in military operations against Iran, with rescue teams working to recover personnel, according to U.S. Central Command officials Thursday.

The downed KC-135 tanker was conducting missions as part of ongoing operations targeting Iran when it crashed in Iraq’s western region, military officials confirmed. Central Command emphasized the aircraft was not brought down by enemy attacks or accidental friendly fire.

Two KC-135 refueling planes were operating together when the incident occurred, according to military leadership overseeing Middle East operations. While one aircraft returned to base without incident, the second was declared “a loss” after going down in western Iraq.

An anonymous military source confirmed both aircraft involved in the incident were KC-135 tankers, though details about crew status remain limited.

“More information will be made available as the situation develops,” Central Command officials stated. “We ask for continued patience to gather additional details and provide clarity for the families of service members.”

Military leadership has not yet disclosed whether any personnel were injured or killed in the crash. Both President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have previously acknowledged that American casualties are expected to continue as the Iran conflict progresses.

This marks the fourth confirmed U.S. military aircraft lost during Iran operations. Just last week, military officials revealed that three American F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets were accidentally shot down by Kuwaiti forces in a friendly fire incident.

The six aircrew members from those F-15E aircraft successfully ejected and were recovered in stable condition, according to military reports.

Combat operations against Iran have resulted in seven American military deaths to date. Six service members died when an Iranian drone attack hit an operations facility at a Kuwaiti civilian port, while another soldier was fatally wounded during an assault on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.

Pentagon officials reported earlier this week that approximately 140 U.S. military personnel have sustained injuries during the Iran conflict, with eight suffering severe wounds.

Swedish maritime authorities conducted their second vessel seizure operation within days, taking control of a suspicious tanker in Baltic Sea waters on Thursday.

The 228-meter vessel Sea Owl I, displaying Comorian registration, was intercepted by coast guard officials who believe the ship was operating under fraudulent documentation. Maritime authorities suspect the tanker lacks legitimate state registration.

The intercepted vessel appears on multiple international sanctions lists, including those maintained by European Union member nations.

Daniel Stenling, who serves as deputy operations chief for Sweden’s coast guard, explained the decision to intervene. “The threats to maritime safety and the environment are too high,” Stenling stated. “Therefore, there is reason to intervene against the vessel.”

Civil Defence Minister Carl-Oskar Bohlin indicated through social media that authorities believe the tanker belongs to Russia’s covert maritime operations network.

The enforcement action occurred in waters near Trelleborg, a coastal community in southern Sweden.

This incident follows a similar operation last Friday when Swedish officials boarded another vessel, the Caffa, which was displaying Guinean registration documentation. That seizure also took place in waters adjacent to Trelleborg.

BOGOTA, Colombia — A media watchdog organization reports that journalists throughout the Western Hemisphere faced severe challenges in 2025, marking what they call a significant decline in press freedoms across the region.

The Inter American Press Association released findings Tuesday showing deteriorating conditions for media professionals in 23 nations. “This has been one of the worst years in the region, with homicides, arbitrary arrests, and impunity” for crimes committed against journalists, the organization stated in their yearly assessment.

The Miami-headquartered organization has tracked media freedoms through their Chapultepec index since 2020, examining how nations from Canada to South America safeguard journalistic rights.

Their latest rankings place Venezuela and Nicaragua in the worst category as nations “without freedom of speech.” Countries including Ecuador, Bolivia, Honduras, Peru, Mexico, Haiti, Cuba, and El Salvador received “high restriction” designations. Meanwhile, Canada, Brazil, Chile and Panama earned “low restrictions” ratings for their treatment of press freedoms.

The United States received a “restrictions” classification, with researchers documenting 170 incidents targeting journalists throughout 2025. The assessment highlighted particular concerns about attacks during Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations coverage.

Investigators determined that in the U.S. “there was poor government action against disinformation, as well as government actions aimed at limiting free expression and access to information.” They noted that President Donald Trump and administration officials have “stigmatized” news organizations that report critically on government actions.

The organization attributes rising journalist attacks to emerging “authoritarian presidents” throughout the region. In Venezuela, media outlets practiced widespread “self-censorship,” providing minimal coverage of opposition leader María Corina Machado receiving the Nobel Peace Prize due to fears of government retaliation.

Nicaragua faces “institutionalized” censorship following constitutional changes that consolidated all government branches under presidential authority, according to the findings.

El Salvador earned a “high restrictions” designation as officials use legal action and criminal probes to intimidate reporters. Between May and July alone, 180 incidents against media personnel were documented in the Central American nation.

Ecuador experienced 290 aggressive acts against journalists last year, including four killings allegedly committed by criminal organizations. Police also wounded a journalist during live coverage of an Indigenous community demonstration.

Haiti appeared in the annual assessment for the first time, receiving one of the lowest press freedom rankings in the Americas. Gang members killed two journalists in 2024 during an attack on a hospital reopening ceremony in Port-au-Prince.

The report emphasized that journalist-targeted crimes face no consequences in Haiti, where criminal groups dominate much of the capital and systematically threaten both media workers and residents.

The Inter American Press Association represents over 1,300 news organizations and advocates for media freedoms throughout the Western Hemisphere.

WASHINGTON — Federal officials have given the green light to spend as much as $40 million from emergency reserves to fund charter evacuation flights helping Americans escape the Middle East amid ongoing conflict with Iran.

Two government sources, speaking anonymously to the Associated Press, revealed that officials tapped into funds typically set aside for emergencies involving embassy and consular personnel.

While State Department representatives confirmed they’re using emergency money, they wouldn’t reveal the exact dollar amount being spent.

“We have sufficient funding to cover our efforts to date,” department officials told the AP. “The administration will work with Congress should additional funding be necessary.”

Federal regulations typically require private citizens to pay back the government for such evacuation services, but Secretary of State Marco Rubio eliminated that payback requirement last week.

Congressional members and stranded travelers have criticized the State Department for inadequate preparation ahead of the U.S.-Israel military action against Iran and for responding too slowly to assist Americans caught in the region. Officials issued departure warnings for Americans across 14 Middle Eastern nations two days after fighting commenced, as airport closures and canceled flights created major travel obstacles.

Such criticism targeting the State Department during international crises has remained constant across both Democratic and Republican leadership, spanning from the 2003 Iraq War launch through the turbulent 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal.

Department officials announced Tuesday that over 40,000 Americans have successfully returned from Middle Eastern countries since the Iran conflict started February 28, though most managed to get home using regular commercial airlines without federal assistance.

Officials report organizing more than two dozen charter flights transporting thousands of American citizens from multiple Middle Eastern nations to either the United States or European destinations. However, they note that most of the 27,000-plus individuals who requested help “have declined assistance when offered, opting either to remain in country or book more convenient commercial flight options.”

“At this time, seats available on the department’s charter options are significantly greater than the demand from Americans in the region,” officials stated, noting that evacuation flights “continue to operate with less than 40% occupancy on average.”

A federal trial began Tuesday in Miami as prosecutors outlined their case against four defendants accused of orchestrating the 2021 murder of Haiti’s former President Jovenel Moïse, describing a conspiracy driven by greed and the desire for power.

The defendants facing trial are Arcangel Pretel Ortiz, Antonio Intriago, Walter Veintemilla and James Solages, all charged with plotting from South Florida to kidnap or assassinate Haiti’s former leader. The president’s death plunged the Caribbean nation into chaos, with violent gangs gaining unprecedented control.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean McLaughlin described the prosecution’s case as straightforward, telling jurors the defendants sought to grab power and accumulate wealth.

“So arrogant and confident in themselves, the evidence will show, and thinking so little of the Republic of Haiti and its people, they actually thought they could pull it off,” McLaughlin said.

Defense lawyers countered that the Haitian investigation was flawed and their clients became scapegoats for a domestic overthrow attempt.

“Once you get off on the wrong foot, everything that comes after is hard to trust,” Ortiz’s attorney Orlando do Campo said.

The assassination occurred on July 7, 2021, when approximately two dozen foreign mercenaries, primarily Colombian nationals, stormed the president’s residence near Port-au-Prince, according to authorities. Court filings indicate South Florida served as the hub for organizing and funding the scheme to remove Moïse and install a replacement leader.

Ortiz and Intriago operated Counter Terrorist Unit Federal Academy and Counter Terrorist Unit Security, known collectively as CTU, while Veintemilla ran Worldwide Capital Lending Group. All companies operated from South Florida.

The trio could receive life imprisonment if convicted. All have entered not guilty pleas. U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Becerra has allocated over two months for the proceedings.

Authorities say the plotters originally selected Christian Sanon, a dual Haitian-U.S. citizen, as Moïse’s successor. Solages served as CTU’s Haiti representative, working with Sanon and other participants, according to officials.

During an April 2021 meeting in South Florida, the conspirators agreed that Sanon would grant CTU lucrative contracts for infrastructure development, security services and military supplies once he assumed power, investigators revealed. Worldwide Capital provided financial backing, establishing a $175,000 credit line for CTU and transferring funds to Haiti-based accomplices for ammunition purchases, authorities stated.

CTU recruited approximately 20 Colombian military veterans to serve as Sanon’s security detail. The group also spent months acquiring firearms and protective gear while attempting to establish connections with Haitian criminal organizations, officials reported.

By June 2021, the conspirators recognized that Sanon lacked both the constitutional requirements and public backing necessary to become president. They subsequently supported Wendelle Coq Thélot, a former Haitian Superior Court judge who died in January 2025 while evading capture.

Defense attorneys informed jurors that Sanon contacted their clients in early 2021 with proposals to free Haiti from Moïse, who had extended his presidential term beyond its limit and faced condemnation from Haitian citizens, American lawmakers and United Nations representatives.

Emmanuel Perez, representing Intriago, stated the group believed they were collaborating with FBI personnel, U.S. Embassy staff and Haitian government members in what they considered the legitimate detention of a criminal president.

The defense has identified Joseph Félix Badio, a former Haitian government employee arrested in Haiti in 2023, as the true architect of a plot to murder Moïse during his arrest. Defense lawyers maintain that Haitian police officers had already killed Moïse when the Colombian security team arrived to apprehend him.

The group possessed a legitimate arrest warrant bearing a judge’s signature, according to Solages’ attorney Jonathan Friedman. The judge subsequently claimed the warrant was signed under coercion.

“None of the people here on trial knew that,” Friedman said.

Marissel Descalzo, representing Veintemilla, chose to delay her opening statement until after the prosecution presents its evidence.

Five other individuals have already admitted guilt to conspiracy charges in the United States and received life sentences. A sixth person was sentenced to nine years in prison after pleading guilty to supplying body armor to the conspirators. Sanon’s trial date will be determined later.

Seventeen Colombian military personnel and three Haitian officials are facing charges in Haiti. Gang warfare, death threats and a deteriorating justice system have hindered the investigation.

The Middle East conflict could accelerate Japan’s central bank toward more aggressive interest rate increases by amplifying inflation concerns, according to four sources with knowledge of the institution’s deliberations.

The less-than-two-week-old war has created worldwide economic turbulence, leaving global financial policymakers uncertain whether to implement restrictive or supportive monetary measures.

For Japan’s central bank, this increased focus on price pressures represents a shift from its traditional approach of protecting economic growth through low interest rates, reflecting evolving inflation patterns.

However, the sources acknowledge equal possibilities that the conflict might spark a worldwide recession affecting Japan’s delicate economic recovery, potentially forcing the Bank of Japan to revise optimistic forecasts and rate increase strategies.

The Iranian conflict might also provide additional justification for government officials to oppose early rate increases, with dovish Premier Sanae Takaichi reportedly already expressing concerns about further borrowing cost increases.

Nevertheless, climbing crude oil costs are expected primarily to drive inflation upward before dampening growth, meaning Japan will likely experience an initial wave of price pressures that could influence public inflation expectations.

“The conflict comes at a time underlying inflation is already close to 2%,” one source explained, emphasizing policymakers must remain alert to higher inflation risks. Three additional sources shared this perspective.

A fourth source indicated that while the conflict has increased economic uncertainty, this alone wouldn’t prevent the Bank of Japan from implementing necessary rate increases. All sources requested anonymity as they lacked authorization for public statements.

The Middle East situation hasn’t significantly reduced market expectations for near-term rate increases, with April action priced at approximately 60%, suggesting investors also increasingly focus on inflation upside risks.

Historically, Japan’s central bank would have overlooked oil price impacts on inflation, concentrating instead on supporting a struggling economy where consumers and businesses, accustomed to decades of modest price and wage increases, restricted spending.

This approach led to gradual, cautious withdrawal of extensive monetary support. The bank required two years following Russia’s Ukraine invasion to end decade-long stimulus in March 2024, despite rising raw material costs pushing inflation beyond its 2% target.

Though the central bank has since increased rates to 0.75%, the slow progression has drawn criticism for elevating import costs and broader inflation by maintaining yen weakness.

This time, the Bank of Japan may lack that luxury of extended timing.

Conflict-driven fuel increases compound rising import costs from a weakened yen that has prompted numerous companies to raise prices, keeping inflation above the bank’s target for nearly four years.

Rising prices have elevated inflation expectations. Companies anticipate inflation averaging 2.4% five years ahead, while households project 9.8% inflation for the same timeframe, recent Bank of Japan surveys indicate.

After maintaining stagnant wage growth for decades, chronic labor shortages have encouraged companies to increase wages, including last year’s agreement to the largest pay increase in 34 years.

Growing price pressures have generated increasing demands within the Bank of Japan board for consistent rate increases to avoid falling behind in controlling excessive inflation risks.

“Medium- and long-term inflation expectations are heightening, and price increases now have a greater tendency to generate second-round effects,” hawkish board member Hajime Takata stated on February 26, advocating for steady rate increases.

Speaking days following the February 28 U.S. attack against Iran, Governor Kazuo Ueda acknowledged the conflict could damage the economy by worsening Japan’s trade terms, while also warning it might elevate underlying inflation.

Prior to the U.S.-Israel attack on Iran, Japan’s economy had advanced toward meeting conditions for another rate increase, with wage improvements supporting consumer spending, sources reported.

While the Bank of Japan is expected to maintain current interest rates at next week’s policy meeting, Ueda will likely reiterate the institution’s commitment to continued rate increases and preserve options for near-term action during his post-meeting briefing, sources indicate.

Highlighting its renewed inflation focus, the Bank of Japan released an academic paper on February 4 arguing that intensifying supply constraints created “persistent impact” on prices through actual increases and heightened inflation expectations.

Ayako Fujita, JPMorgan’s chief Japan economist, anticipates next week’s Bank of Japan message will emphasize maintaining “the normalization path” and “assess uncertainties related to the Iran war.”

“This would not pre‑commit to an April move while keeping the option open if conditions stabilise,” Fujita explained.

While conflict-driven market volatility will likely keep the Bank of Japan inactive until June or July, it must closely monitor mounting price pressures, said former top central bank economist Seisaku Kameda.

“The BOJ is already behind the curve in addressing mounting inflationary pressure,” he stated. “The risk of being too late could heighten further with rising oil prices and the weak yen.”

SARKAND, Iraq — While conflict continues in neighboring Iran, daily routines persist in Iraq’s Kurdistan region. Workers in the remote mountain village of Sarkand maintain their traditional charcoal-making operations along a winding river that flows through small rural settlements.

The laborers arrange hardwood logs and enclose them within earthen chambers where the material slowly transforms into charcoal through controlled burning. Workers use shovels to tend the dark earth surrounding these chambers while smoke rises through small openings.

When taking breaks from their labor, several workers pause for prayer while observing Ramadan fasting traditions. One man can be seen kneeling in prayer on a stone in the river, while another prays next to a truck filled with charcoal bags after performing ritual washing of his feet, face and hands.

One worker, Zana, a 22-year-old student from Koya University, grins and requests to be photographed. Educational institutions throughout the Kurdistan region have remained shuttered since fighting began between the United States, Israel and Iran.

“I’m afraid of the rockets and drones, but I need to work,” he says. “From Brazil to anywhere in the world, whether in the U.S. or here, war is not good for anyone.”

Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado declared Thursday that she still views the Trump administration as crucial for her nation’s path toward democracy, despite Washington’s continued backing of acting President Delcy Rodríguez as Venezuela’s rightful leader.

During remarks in Chile’s capital of Santiago, Machado recognized the challenging road ahead while emphasizing that the United States continues to serve as an essential partner for Venezuela. She voiced optimism about Trump’s outlined strategy, noting it includes a comprehensive approach with “three phases” covering stabilization, recovery and democratic change.

Global election monitors broadly recognize Edmundo González, who had Machado’s support, as the actual victor in Venezuela’s 2024 presidential race. Machado herself was prohibited from seeking the presidency.

These statements follow last week’s announcement that the United States and Venezuela would resume diplomatic and consular ties, along with President Trump’s praise for Rodríguez, saying she was “doing a great job, and working with U.S. Representatives very well.”

Before addressing members of the Venezuelan community living in Chile, the Nobel Peace Prize winner lauded America as the “only nation in the world that has risked the lives of its citizens to secure freedom in Venezuela,” referencing January’s U.S. military action that resulted in the capture of former President Nicolás Maduro.

Machado made the trip to Chile for the swearing-in ceremony of conservative President José Antonio Kast, and she also spoke about the massive Venezuelan exodus caused by her country’s prolonged turmoil.

“Nearly 700,000 Venezuelans live in this country. They are decent people who were forced to flee their homeland to save their lives,” she stated. “What we are doing here today is asking all Chileans — and all Latin Americans — to help us ensure that every Venezuelan can return with dignity and freedom to the country they adore and that desperately needs them.”

Her visit occurred just one day after Kast took office with promises to make unauthorized immigration a criminal offense and remove approximately 330,000 undocumented foreigners from Chile, most of whom are Venezuelan nationals. Even with these strict immigration positions, Machado said she was “very grateful to President Kast,” stating that “every country has the right — indeed, the duty — to guarantee its own security.”

A devastating drone attack at a marketplace in Sudan’s Darfur region Thursday left four people dead and wounded more than 20 civilians, according to international medical officials.

The humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders (MSF) reported that the military drone targeted fuel storage areas at the Adikong border market near Chad, creating massive explosions. This represents the second deadly aerial assault on Adikong within the past month.

“Twenty-three people were injured, including seven children and four women,” stated Gado Mahamadou, MSF’s mission leader in Chad.

Sudan has been engulfed in civil conflict since April 2023, when escalating disputes between the country’s military forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) erupted into full warfare in the capital Khartoum before spreading nationwide. United Nations statistics indicate the brutal conflict has claimed more than 40,000 lives, though humanitarian organizations believe the actual death toll could be significantly higher.

The Darfur and Kordofan areas have emerged as primary battlegrounds, with aerial bombardments becoming increasingly common in Kordofan. These escalating drone operations have severely impacted civilian populations and disrupted relief efforts, according to humanitarian analysts.

While Sudan’s armed forces have not issued any public comments regarding Thursday’s marketplace strike, two military sources confirmed ongoing operations in the region aimed at RSF targets. Both officials requested anonymity as they lacked authorization to speak publicly.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) issued a warning Thursday that the rising frequency of drone attacks throughout Sudan “are exacting a growing toll on civilians.”

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk expressed his horror at the increasing aerial assaults Thursday, referencing intelligence that indicates drone strikes have killed more than 200 civilians in the Kordofan region and White Nile state since March 4 alone.

Just one day earlier, an RSF drone targeted a high school and medical facility in southern Sudan’s White Nile province Wednesday, resulting in at least 17 deaths, primarily female students.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog declined to provide a specific timeline for concluding hostilities with Iran during a Tuesday interview with German publication Bild, stating instead: “We need to take a deep breath and get to the end result.”

In his remarks, Herzog characterized the combined American and Israeli military operations against Iran as fundamentally reshaping Middle Eastern dynamics. He justified targeting Iranian oil infrastructure as a strategy to deprive Tehran’s “war machine” of crucial funding.

The interview appeared in print as American and Israeli forces launched what Pentagon officials and witnesses in Iran described as the most devastating aerial bombardment campaign of the ongoing conflict, even as international financial markets anticipate President Donald Trump may pursue a swift resolution to the hostilities.

Earlier, Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar had indicated his nation does not intend to engage in prolonged warfare and is coordinating with Washington regarding the appropriate time to cease operations.

“The Iranians are the ones spreading chaos and terror throughout the region and the world. So I think if we measure everything by a speedometer, we won’t get anywhere. We need to take a deep breath and get to the end result,” Herzog stated to Bild.

Removing the Iranian threat would “enable the entire system in the region to suddenly breathe again and develop further. That’s fantastic,” he concluded.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Tuesday that his nation’s armed forces successfully targeted a Russian manufacturing facility in the Bryansk region that produces missile components.

According to Ukraine’s military leadership, the attack utilized British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles against the Kremniy facility. Military officials released footage showing explosions and fires at the manufacturing site, which they described as producing essential missile parts.

“Our fighters struck one of the important Russian military factories in Bryansk,” Zelenskyy stated during his evening video message, citing information from Ukraine’s top military commander Oleksandr Syrskyi.

“The plant produced electronics and components for Russian missiles. The very missiles that strike our cities, our villages and civilians,” he said.

Regional Governor Alexander Bogomaz reported that the incident resulted in six civilian deaths and 37 injuries, sharing footage of himself visiting the affected area. Bogomaz characterized the strike as a “terrorist missile attack” and confirmed the wounded were receiving hospital treatment, though he did not acknowledge the military facility.

Ukraine’s General Staff described the targeted facility as “a critically important link in the chain of production of Russian high precision weapons” that manufactures semiconductor components and integrated microchips.

“The target was hit and significant damage to production facilities was recorded,” military officials stated. “The extent of the damage is being clarified.”

The released footage displays aerial views of multiple explosions and extensive fires across a broad area adjacent to wooded terrain.

Iran’s recently appointed leader Mojtaba Khamenei released his inaugural written communication on Thursday afternoon, breaking nearly two weeks of silence following his selection as the Islamic Republic’s new head four days earlier.

According to an informed source in Tehran, the Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) actually composed the statement and published it under Khamenei’s name. The message featured multiple spelling mistakes when Iranian state media outlets distributed it.

In his debut statement, released two weeks after his predecessor’s death, Mojtaba Khamenei made threats to establish additional war zones throughout the region, particularly emphasizing plans to obstruct the Strait of Hormuz. He made specific mentions of Iran’s allied forces operating in Iraq, Yemen, and Lebanon. The newly installed leader also demanded retaliation against Israel and the United States, while supporting continued strikes against nearby nations that house American and Israeli military and financial installations.

Saturday saw President Masoud Pezeshkian release a video statement offering apologies to neighboring nations for recent missile and drone attacks, explaining that these operations resulted from the deaths of top military officials whose troops had operated independently. He claimed the interim Leadership Council had authorized ending these strikes. However, within an hour, the IRGC conducted an assault on Dubai. Judiciary Chief Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i completely rejected any such decision, declaring that attacks on these nations would persist.

Speculation continues regarding Mojtaba Khamenei’s health status, with reports suggesting he sustained serious injuries during Israel’s strike on the leadership compound (Beit e-Rahbari) at the conflict’s beginning, potentially leaving him unable to walk or make camera appearances. In his initial message, he urged his followers to “remain present on the scene” and maintain solidarity.

He also stated he had viewed Ali Khamenei’s remains, a notable claim considering that no funeral or burial arrangements have been scheduled thirteen days following the death.

This situation demonstrates both Iranian officials’ reluctance to participate in public ceremonies and the disarray affecting government institutions during the past two weeks.

Speculation persists that minimal remains existed of Khamenei’s body, along with military commanders who were located on the bunker’s ground level during the attack. While the Israeli strikes killed most Khamenei family members, supreme leader’s office staff, and on-site security personnel, Mojtaba Khamenei’s survival—who would have been a key target for Israel and the United States—continues generating significant debate.

Unlike his father, Mojtaba Khamenei maintains a reserved personality with roots in traditional religious education. He possesses limited skills in public speaking, administrative management, or modern Persian writing.

His preference for the Arabic Hijri lunar calendar over Iran’s official Iranian Solar calendar demonstrates his separation from contemporary Iranian social conditions. This contrasts sharply with his father, who projected intellectual sophistication, organized literary events with followers, and exclusively used the solar calendar in official correspondence.

Mojtaba Khamenei has never given a public address. His sole video message dates to last year, when he announced in traditional clerical style the postponement of his religious classes indefinitely. Additionally, despite previously holding significant sway within his father’s office regarding political and security issues, he has been noticeably absent from such responsibilities during the past year.

The new leader’s digital office has encouraged supporters to follow his Instagram, X, and Telegram accounts, platforms that remain officially prohibited within Iran. Recently, social media users have ridiculed the new leader through artificial intelligence-created content, while IRGC-affiliated media organizations have employed similar technology to create images of him with Ali Khamenei, due to limited recent photographs, and to digitally improve his appearance.

A knowledgeable Tehran source informed The Media Line that following the message’s publication, the IRGC had originally composed it before adapting it to match Mojtaba Khamenei’s writing style. Many high-ranking officials have not met him personally, and reports indicate he is receiving medical care in a secure underground location outside Tehran. This occurs as the IRGC-connected Fars News Agency reported that the new “supreme leader” had become a janbaaz, a term specifically describing someone who has experienced severe physical trauma, including limb loss.

Early Monday morning, immediately after announcing Mojtaba Khamenei’s appointment, residents across various sections of the capital climbed onto their rooftops, shouting “Death to Mojtaba.”

A witness informed The Media Line that recently the Basij and IRGC have significantly increased their use of deadly force, resulting in multiple fatalities in Tehran. The casualties include civilians who had celebrated Ali Khamenei’s death in the streets, dancing and expressing joy, before being shot by security forces equipped with heavy infantry weapons and semi-heavy military gear.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — America has officially stepped into the legal fight at the United Nations’ top court to defend Israel against genocide accusations brought by South Africa, contending the charges are unfounded and cautioning that a decision against Israel could damage international law.

The International Court of Justice is examining whether Israel’s Gaza military campaign aimed at defeating Hamas constitutes genocide under a post-World War II treaty. Israel, established following the Holocaust, has strongly rejected these claims.

According to documents The Associated Press obtained Thursday, America contends these accusations represent part of a “broader campaign” targeting Israel and Jewish people “to justify or encourage terrorism against them.”

Any nation that signed the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide may intervene to offer its legal interpretation of the case. In 2023, more than 30 nations supported Ukraine in a similar case against Russia.

Over a dozen additional countries have submitted interventions in the Israel matter, including Spain, the Netherlands and Ireland. Many hold different positions than America’s stance.

The American submission emphasizes that proving genocide demands “specific intent” to commit the offense and warns the Hague-based court against “lowering the standard.”

“Civilian casualties, even widespread civilian casualties, are not necessarily probative of genocidal intent, particularly when they occur in the context of an armed conflict involving urban combat,” America contends in its filing.

Reed Rubenstein, a State Department legal adviser representing America, stated that a decision against Israel would constitute a “radical repudiation” of the court’s established precedent.

Such a ruling would “feed the perception that the court is simply just one more tool in the ongoing pro-Hamas lawfare campaign” against Israel, Rubenstein explained to the AP.

Following a US-negotiated ceasefire that took effect last year, Gaza’s most intense combat has decreased, although regular Israeli military action persists.

The fragile deal has allowed increased humanitarian aid and other supplies into the territory, though limitations have returned during American and Israeli strikes against Iran.

The ICJ has issued multiple directives regarding Israel’s Gaza actions since South Africa launched its case in 2023, including ordering the nation to take all possible measures to prevent deaths, destruction and any genocidal acts. In related proceedings, the court has ruled that Israel must permit the UN aid organization in Gaza, called UNRWA, to deliver humanitarian assistance to Palestinian areas.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest orders for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister in 2024 related to the Gaza fighting. The ICC stated there was evidence to suggest the pair employed “starvation as a method of warfare” by limiting humanitarian aid and deliberately attacking civilians.

The Trump administration retaliated by imposing sanctions on ICC officials, including nine judges and senior prosecutors.

Pakistan’s government has launched an emergency two-month conservation program as Middle East tensions threaten to trigger a major energy shortage, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced during a televised address Monday evening.

The sweeping measures take effect immediately and include shutting down schools for two weeks, requiring half of all workers to operate remotely, and establishing three-day weekends for both government and private sector employees.

During his national broadcast, Sharif highlighted the gravity of regional instability, emphasizing that Iran and surrounding Middle Eastern nations remain locked in severe warfare that poses risks to global energy supplies.

The Prime Minister unveiled comprehensive cost-cutting initiatives spanning the next two months, targeting energy savings, government spending reductions, and economic relief for citizens.

Transportation restrictions will slash government vehicle fuel allowances in half, while 60% of official vehicles will be temporarily removed from service. Emergency vehicles and public transit systems remain unaffected by these limitations.

Top government officials face significant financial sacrifices under the new policy. Cabinet ministers, advisers, and special assistants will surrender their entire salaries, while parliamentary members will see 25% pay reductions. Administrative departments must cut non-personnel expenses by 20%, and purchases of vehicles, office furniture, and air conditioning units are completely prohibited.

International travel by federal ministers, government advisers, senior bureaucrats, and provincial leaders faces strict limitations, with only critical overseas trips receiving approval.

Virtual meetings will replace in-person gatherings wherever possible, and workplaces will operate just four days weekly with expanded weekend breaks. Banking, manufacturing, and agricultural sectors are excluded from these operational changes.

Educational institutions will suspend in-person classes for two weeks, while universities and colleges will transition to remote learning platforms.

Sharif expressed Pakistan’s profound grief over the deaths of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, his relatives, and other Iranian citizens killed in Israeli military strikes, while strongly denouncing the attacks on Iran. Notably, he avoided directly naming the United States in his remarks.

The Prime Minister also condemned military actions against multiple Muslim nations, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and Azerbaijan, describing the human casualties as both heartbreaking and alarming.

However, Sharif did not acknowledge that Iran was responsible for attacks on several of these countries.

Pakistan is pursuing diplomatic solutions to address the regional crisis, Sharif stated.

He warned that today’s interconnected world means conflicts in one nation rapidly impact others, cautioning that further deterioration could cause prices to surge uncontrollably.

Sharif emphasized Pakistan’s heavy reliance on Gulf region oil and gas imports for its economy, farming sector, manufacturing, transportation, and daily life. He acknowledged that the government’s response required making challenging and significant policy choices.

The Prime Minister issued stern warnings against fuel hoarding or price manipulation, promising swift legal consequences for violators regardless of their status.

Pakistani citizens are already experiencing the impact of increased fuel costs resulting from Middle Eastern conflicts and an unexpected government price increase implemented March 7.

Rising oil prices are driving up costs for food and essential goods, creating additional hardships for a population already struggling with inflation.

Multiple members of Iran’s women’s national soccer team have applied for asylum in Australia following their refusal to sing the Iranian national anthem during an international tournament, sparking urgent efforts by activists to protect them from forced repatriation.

The situation unfolded during the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia, where Iranian players remained silent during their national anthem before their opening match against South Korea. This act was widely viewed as a protest against Iran’s government amid ongoing political tensions and the regime’s crackdown on demonstrators.

Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced that five Iranian players received humanitarian visas, posting photos on social media with the athletes, including team captain Zahra Ghanbari. However, one player, Mohaddeseh Zolfi, later reversed her asylum request after her family allegedly faced threats in Iran.

“After speaking with her teammates, the player came to this decision and contacted the Iranian Embassy,” Burke stated. “In Australia, people are free to change their minds, and we respect that decision.”

The controversy began when Iranian state television officials condemned the players’ silent protest, with one presenter calling them traitors and saying their wartime actions represented “the height of dishonor.” Under mounting pressure, the team was forced to sing the anthem and perform a military salute during their second match against Australia.

Following their tournament elimination, some players appeared to signal distress by flashing phone lights as supporters gathered around their team bus, urging them to seek asylum. This moment triggered a social media campaign and online petition with 10,000 signatures calling on Australia to prevent the athletes from returning to Iran.

The campaign gained international attention, prompting President Trump to post on Truth Social, calling on Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to help the players and offering U.S. asylum if Australia failed to act.

Iranian officials reacted angrily to Australia’s decision to grant humanitarian visas. Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref called it “psychological warfare” and interference in Iran’s “family affairs,” while the prosecutor’s office formally demanded the players’ return.

Concerns intensified when a message circulated on social media from the family of star player Golnoosh Khosravi, urging her not to return to Iran due to communication restrictions and internet shutdowns in the country.

According to supporters, up to 11 delegation members initially refused to board flights, though exact numbers remain disputed. Some team members traveled to Malaysia, where they reportedly remain under surveillance by Iranian embassy and sports ministry security personnel.

Medis Tavakoli, a clinical psychologist in Madrid monitoring the situation, told The Media Line: “In the current hard situation, psychologically we are supporting one another so that no one feels alone, because we know our situation does not matter to many people in the world.”

The five players granted Australian humanitarian visas are captain Zahra Ghanbari, Mona Hamoudi, Atefeh Ramezanizadeh, Zahra Sarbali, and Fatemeh Pasandideh.

This represents the first time in recent decades that multiple Iranian national team members have sought refuge abroad and refused to return home. Supporters express concern not only for the athletes caught between countries but also for their families facing pressure in Iran.

The remaining players and staff in Malaysia continue under close watch while Iranian expatriate groups attempt to persuade them against returning, even as flight suspensions to Iran complicate their situation.

Iranian forces and Hezbollah militants conducted coordinated rocket attacks against Israel spanning from Wednesday evening into Thursday morning, sending approximately 200 projectiles toward Israeli territory in strikes that targeted both northern communities and the Jerusalem region.

More than 100 rockets struck northern Israel on Wednesday during the synchronized assault, which activated emergency sirens throughout multiple communities and left five individuals wounded when a projectile hit a residential building in the Northern Galilee region.

First responders reported that the rocket strike caused significant damage to the home and resulted in five casualties. United Hatzalah stated that four of those injured received treatment for anxiety-related symptoms as emergency teams arrived at the location.

The emergency organization also noted that rocket fragments and debris scattered across multiple urban areas during the bombardment, while responders discovered a wildfire that ignited in a wooded region after missile remnants landed there.

Warning sirens echoed across northern Israel as the incoming rockets approached, prompting civilians to seek shelter in protected areas while emergency personnel managed reports of strikes and falling debris.

Military officials report that Hezbollah has fired approximately 200 rockets toward Israel since Wednesday, with roughly 120 projectiles penetrating Israeli airspace while about 80 failed to reach Israeli borders.

Emergency alerts were triggered throughout greater Jerusalem, the Shfela region, and the Jordan Valley on Thursday morning following missile launches originating from Iran.

Israeli defensive systems successfully intercepted the approaching missiles, with no immediate casualties reported from the Thursday morning strikes.

Emergency command centers documented reports of one impact on a roadway near Har Gilo and interceptor debris falling in Jerusalem’s Mamilla district.

On Wednesday, Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir announced that the military was strengthening its northern positions. Zamir stated that additional forces, including the Golani Brigade, would be sent to the area.

Based on military preparations, the IDF is organizing an operation involving approximately 1,000 strikes within Lebanon, with particular emphasis on Beirut’s Dahiyeh district, which serves as a Hezbollah stronghold.

Prior to the assaults, Israeli officials informed CNN they anticipated a “significant expansion” of attacks from Lebanon and Iran as regional tensions continued to intensify.

MOSCOW – The leader of the United Nations’ nuclear monitoring organization held talks Thursday with Russia’s top nuclear energy executive about preventing the spread of nuclear weapons, according to the Russian state corporation.

Rafael Grossi, who leads the International Atomic Energy Agency, traveled to Moscow for meetings with Russian officials and is scheduled to sit down with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday, according to the TASS news agency.

Russia’s state nuclear company Rosatom announced that its chief executive Alexei Likhachev met with Grossi to address key matters. “On the eve of the meeting, the head of the state corporation (Rosatom) Alexei Likhachev and the Director General of the IAEA Rafael Grossi discussed strategic issues concerning the enforcement of the non-proliferation regime and the development of nuclear energy in the world,” the company stated.

Rosatom did not provide additional information about what was discussed during their conversation.

BEIRUT (AP) — Following evacuation warnings to civilians, Israeli forces launched airstrikes on a densely populated residential and commercial area in central Beirut, claiming they were targeting Hezbollah facilities. The military operation struck a structure in the Bashoura neighborhood on two occasions, representing the nearest assault to the city center since the conflict between Israel, the U.S., and Iran commenced.

This report features a collection of photographs selected by Associated Press photo editors.

JERUSALEM — The Israeli military announced Thursday it will not pursue charges against five soldiers who faced accusations of physically and sexually abusing a Palestinian prisoner, in an incident that was partially recorded on video.

The controversial ruling concluded a divisive case that has split Israeli society since the soldiers’ detention in 2024 at the Sde Teiman military facility. Their arrest sparked outrage among far-right government officials and extreme nationalist groups, who staged violent protests at the prison.

While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the military’s decision, human rights advocates condemned it as overlooking serious abuse within Israel’s wartime detention system.

“Israel’s military advocate general just gave his soldiers license to rape — so long as the victim is Palestinian,” declared Sari Bashi, who leads the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel, following the case dismissal. She characterized the ruling as “the latest in a long line of actions that whitewash abuses against detainees whose frequency and severity have worsened since Oct. 7, 2023.”

Netanyahu endorsed the outcome, stating that “the state of Israel must pursue its enemies, not its heroic fighters.”

The dropped criminal charges detailed allegations that the soldiers dragged a Palestinian detainee across the floor, trampled on him, used a taser, and committed sexual assault by penetrating his rectum with an object. Medical treatment at an Israeli hospital revealed the prisoner had suffered broken ribs and rectal injuries requiring surgical repair before his return to detention.

Public awareness of the abuse allegations intensified when Israeli media aired leaked surveillance footage of the incident in August 2024.

The recording depicted masked soldiers removing a handcuffed detainee from where he lay face-down with other Palestinians in an enclosed area, then moving him to a section they blocked from view with protective barriers.

Military legal officials justified Thursday’s dismissal by arguing the video evidence failed to demonstrate abuse severe enough for criminal prosecution and had been inappropriately disclosed to news outlets. They also cited the Palestinian victim’s release to Gaza as creating uncertainty about his availability to provide testimony during trial proceedings.

Following months of questions about the video’s leak, Military Advocate General Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi — the military’s chief legal officer — revealed in November 2025 that she had authorized its public release. She explained her intention was to demonstrate the severity of the abuse and justify the military’s obligation to conduct an investigation.

After facing intense criticism from Netanyahu’s administration, she suddenly stepped down and vanished, prompting an urgent search that located her on a Tel Aviv beach without her phone. Authorities later retrieved the device, potentially containing evidence related to her case, from the ocean.

The Associated Press had previously examined claims of harsh treatment and abuse at Sde Teiman prior to the surveillance footage becoming public.

The detention center was established following the October 7, 2023 attacks to house Palestinians detained during Israel’s military campaign against Hamas in Gaza. The classified facility rapidly became controversial as staff members and former detainees reported instances of mistreatment and torture, leading Israeli civil rights organizations to petition the nation’s highest court for its closure.

Israel has faced ongoing criticism for allegedly failing to prosecute soldiers for offenses against Palestinians, with such accusations increasing during the Gaza conflict. Israeli officials maintain their forces operate within military and international legal frameworks and conduct thorough investigations of reported misconduct.

International divisions deepened Thursday as the United States and its Western partners faced off against Russia and China during a heated United Nations Security Council session focused on Iran’s nuclear activities.

During the meeting of the 15-nation council, which the U.S. currently leads, Moscow and Beijing attempted to prevent discussions regarding a committee responsible for monitoring and implementing UN sanctions against Iran. Their effort failed by a vote of 11-2 with two countries abstaining.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz criticized Russia and China for attempting to shield Iran from scrutiny by obstructing the work of what’s known as the 1737 Committee.

“All member states of the United Nations should be implementing an arms embargo against Iran, banning the transfer and trade of missile technology, and freezing relevant financial assets,” Waltz stated.

“The U.N. provisions to be re-imposed are not arbitrary, but instead, narrowly scoped to address the threat posed by Iran’s nuclear, missile and conventional arms programs and Iran’s ongoing support for terrorism,” he added.

Waltz alleged that both nations opposed an effective sanctions committee “because they want to protect their partner, Iran, and continue to maintain defense cooperation that is now once again prohibited.”

The American envoy highlighted that the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency recently confirmed Iran remains the sole non-nuclear weapon state globally to produce and stockpile uranium enriched to 60 percent levels, while denying IAEA inspectors access to these materials.

Russia’s UN representative Vasily Nebenzya countered that the United States and allies had “whipped up hysteria surrounding supposed plans Iran had to get a nuclear weapon” without IAEA verification.

“This was done in order to undertake yet another military venture against Tehran and to ensure great escalation of the situation in the Middle East and beyond,” he declared.

China’s delegate Fu Cong labeled Washington the “instigator” of the Iranian nuclear crisis, saying it had “resorted to blatant use of force against Iran during the negotiation process, which rendered the diplomatic efforts futile.”

President Donald Trump has pointed to Iran’s nuclear development as grounds for military action against the country. He claimed this month that Iran was just two weeks away from obtaining nuclear weapons before U.S. forces targeted three major nuclear facilities in June, though intelligence sources reportedly question this assessment.

Both Britain and France supported reinstating Iranian sanctions during the Security Council session, citing Tehran’s failure to address nuclear program concerns. France noted the IAEA could no longer verify the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear activities and stated Tehran possessed enough nuclear material for ten weapons.

Former President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that the United States is conducting high-level discussions with Cuban officials, asserting that Cuba is anxious to negotiate an agreement that would reduce tensions between the neighboring countries amid the island nation’s worsening economic struggles.

While Cuba’s leadership has rejected claims that formal negotiations are taking place, they have not specifically refuted media reports suggesting that American officials have been meeting with Raul Guillermo Rodriguez Castro, the grandson of Cuba’s former leader Raul Castro, who remains highly influential at age 94.

Cuba’s chief diplomatic representative to America indicated his nation is “ready to engage with the U.S.” regarding bilateral relationships, provided that Cuba’s independence and self-governance rights are honored, according to Thursday’s Los Angeles Times coverage.

“We are sure that it is possible to find a solution,” stated Ambassador Lianys Torres Rivera in her interview with the publication.

Should these discussions be occurring, they would coincide with America’s intensification of economic penalties against Cuba through an almost complete petroleum embargo, following the January 3 capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro by US forces, which eliminated a vital Cuban partner from leadership.

DOES RAUL CASTRO STILL HOLD POWER?

Raul Castro participated in the revolutionary struggle with his elder sibling Fidel that overthrew an American-supported government in 1959 and remained his brother’s dedicated defense secretary for many years. He rose to the presidency initially as an interim leader when Fidel became sick in 2006, then permanently assumed control when Fidel stepped down in 2008. Following Fidel’s passing in 2016, Raul became the sole unifying figure among supporters of the Cuban revolution.

He continues to maintain power despite relinquishing the presidency in 2018 and Communist Party leadership in 2021, now holding the ceremonial position of army general.

During his 2018 inauguration, current President Miguel Diaz-Canel declared that Raul Castro “will lead the most important decisions for the present and future of the nation.”

This influence was demonstrated as recently as December 2025, when Cuba’s Communist Party was preparing to select Diaz-Canel’s replacement at a crucial party congress this year. Raul Castro suggested delaying the congress indefinitely due to Cuba’s economic difficulties, and the party’s Central Committee unanimously supported his recommendation.

WHO IS RAUL GUILLERMO RODRIGUEZ CASTRO?

Nicknamed “El Cangrejo” or “The Crab” due to his hand condition, Rodriguez Castro, age 41, is considered among his grandfather’s most trusted advisers. Having served as Raul Castro’s former security detail, he remained close to his grandfather during Raul Castro’s presidential term, often appearing in Interior Ministry military dress. Reports indicate he holds the military rank of lieutenant colonel.

Cuban authorities did not respond to inquiries regarding Rodriguez Castro’s background or potential involvement in diplomatic discussions.

Axios reported on February 18, citing three anonymous sources, that Rodriguez Castro was conducting confidential discussions with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The Miami Herald reported on February 26, based on unnamed sources, that officials connected to Rubio met with Rodriguez Castro during a regional Caribbean Community conference in St. Kitts and Nevis.

The Trump administration has been conducting confidential, senior-level discussions with multiple individuals within Raul Castro’s close circle, US Representative Mario Díaz-Balart informed the Miami Herald.

Rodriguez Castro is the child of Raul’s daughter Deborah Castro Espin and the deceased General Luis Alberto Rodriguez Lopez-Calleja, who led the military business organization GAESA. Throughout Raul Castro’s presidency, GAESA gained control over the government’s most significant enterprises, including hospitality, finance, logistics, and retail sectors. Rodriguez Lopez-Calleja passed away from cardiac arrest in 2022 at 62. Media sources indicate Rodriguez Castro may have assumed responsibilities within his deceased father’s enterprise.

This family background positions Rodriguez Castro at the convergence of Cuba’s political authority and its most influential economic entity, potentially making him a valuable intermediary for Washington.

Rodriguez Castro has never made public statements or participated in media interviews.

WHAT ABOUT ALEJANDRO CASTRO ESPIN?

If “El Cangrejo” is serving as an unofficial communication channel between Havana and Washington, he would be fulfilling a comparable function to his uncle and Raul Castro’s son, Alejandro Castro Espin, who led previously confidential negotiations that represented a significant policy change by the United States regarding Cuba during Barack Obama’s administration.

Family connections seem crucial. Neither of the younger Castro family members held formal diplomatic positions. Raul Castro similarly served as a trusted advisor to his older brother Fidel.

Alejandro Castro Espin, 60, is thought to have been marginalized after his father stepped down from office, although the Interior Ministry colonel may have been promoted to brigadier general.

Aerospace manufacturer Boeing has secured a substantial $289 million agreement with Israel to supply up to 5,000 precision-guided bombs, according to a source who spoke with Reuters on Tuesday.

The agreement is separate from current U.S.-Israeli military operations targeting Iran, with weapon deliveries not expected to commence for another 36 months, Bloomberg News previously reported, citing an individual with knowledge of the deal.

When approached for comment by Reuters, Boeing representatives declined to provide any statement.

The aircraft manufacturer’s Small Diameter Bomb represents a precision-guided weapon system that Israeli aircraft can deploy against targets located more than 40 miles away.

Two major international energy corporations, Chevron and Shell, are reportedly on the verge of finalizing substantial oil production agreements with Venezuela, marking the first significant petroleum contracts since U.S. forces captured President Nicolas Maduro in January, according to five sources familiar with the negotiations.

These agreements would enable both energy companies to increase production in highly sought-after oil regions within the South American nation, representing the most significant progress toward what U.S. President Donald Trump has described as a $100 billion initiative to reconstruct Venezuela’s petroleum industry following years of poor management and insufficient investment under both Maduro and former leader Hugo Chavez.

In late January, Venezuela’s National Assembly passed comprehensive changes to the nation’s primary oil legislation. The updated law provides foreign corporations with independence to operate, export, and market Venezuelan petroleum even when serving as minority partners alongside state-owned oil company PDVSA.

Sources indicate that Chevron and Venezuelan energy officials have reached preliminary agreement on terms to expand Chevron’s most significant oil operation, Petropiar, located in the extensive Orinoco Belt region.

Neither Venezuela’s oil ministry, PDVSA, nor Chevron responded to requests for comment.

The agreement would grant Chevron production rights in the Ayacucho 8 region, situated south of the existing Petropiar operation area, sources revealed. This substantial block contains confirmed oil reserves and would enable Chevron to significantly increase its extra-heavy oil production and exports.

According to sources, Chevron seeks to obtain reduced royalty rates for the new territory along with additional tax and trade benefits available to companies under recent legislation designed to develop new oil and gas regions. While PDVSA finished exploration and assessment work in Ayacucho approximately twenty years ago, the area remains mostly undeveloped.

Sources added that Chevron and PDVSA could expand their existing well-cluster production infrastructure from Petropiar into Ayacucho 8, enabling relatively rapid output increases. This project would become Chevron’s fifth oil region in Venezuela.

The development could establish Chevron as the largest private producer in the Orinoco region, which contains more than three-quarters of the country’s total crude reserves. Previously, rival American company ConocoPhillips held the position of top foreign producer in that area before departing Venezuela twenty years ago during widespread nationalizations.

According to a PDVSA document reviewed by Reuters, Chevron and PDVSA produced approximately 90,000 barrels per day of upgraded Hamaca crude and 20,000 barrels per day of vacuum gasoil at Petropiar last month. Venezuela’s overall production stands at roughly 1.05 million barrels per day.

Shell finalized preliminary oil and gas agreements with Venezuela last week during U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum’s visit to Caracas. Venezuelan officials did not publicly release specifics about these deals or identify the included fields.

Reuters obtained an official summary document revealing that Shell plans to develop the Carito and Pirital fields in the highly desirable Monagas North region in eastern Venezuela. These locations are among the limited areas in the country capable of producing light and medium crude oil plus natural gas, which oil companies value for blending to facilitate exports of Venezuela’s heavy oil.

Shell confirmed via email that it signed multiple agreements with the government, engineering firms Vepica and KBR, and oil-service company Baker Hughes. These agreements “formally articulate Shell’s intent to progress a variety of opportunities with Venezuela,” including offshore gas, onshore oil and gas, exploration, local content and workforce development. The company declined to provide field details or additional information to Reuters.

Monagas North aligns with Shell’s broader natural gas strategy due to its proximity to the country’s onshore gas infrastructure and areas with the highest gas flaring in Venezuela. Shell, M&P, and other companies have previously developed plans to reduce gas flaring by constructing necessary infrastructure to capture, process, and transport gas for export, potentially through Trinidad.

The Punta de Mata area, encompassing Pirital, Carito, and the nearby El Furrial field, generated approximately 94,000 barrels per day of crude and about 1.03 billion cubic feet per day of gas last month, according to independent data. Of that gas production, roughly 350 million cubic feet per day was flared.

Prior to this preliminary agreement, Shell’s sole Venezuelan project was the flagship Dragon offshore development near Trinidad. The company faced challenges advancing this project after the U.S. imposed sanctions on Venezuela’s energy sector in 2019. Shell had previously sold its interest in the flagship Urdaneta Oeste oilfield to French company Maurel & Prom in 2018.

PDVSA and the oil ministry are conducting discussions with approximately twelve joint venture partners interested in expanding operations to adjacent fields, established areas, or blocks designated as greenfields requiring infrastructure development.

Other companies seeking to expand their project areas to increase oil and gas production include Spain’s Repsol and M&P, sources reported. Repsol represents the foreign partner with the largest outstanding debt in Venezuela, totaling over $5 billion accumulated during sanctions, the company stated last month.

Chevron and Venezuela’s government are also negotiating the U.S. company’s return of two undeveloped offshore natural gas areas to Venezuela at the Plataforma Deltana project on the maritime boundary with Trinidad and Tobago, which could be reopened for private investment.

The terms for Chevron to relinquish those stakes remain unclear. Chevron prioritizes oil rather than gas production in Venezuela.

Venezuela initiated a comprehensive review of all oil and gas projects in February, beginning with production sharing contracts signed by Maduro’s administration with lesser-known companies, and recently extending to joint ventures with larger partners. The government is requesting project documentation from participating companies, sources indicated.

PDVSA has assumed control of administration and oil sales for many production sharing contracts during the review, temporarily suspending them. Oil ministry officials have informed oil executives they expect to complete the review by the end of March, sources said.

Oil ministry officials have informed oil executives that inactive projects or those failing to meet investment targets could face contract revocation under the review.

The U.S. government is also thoroughly examining company credentials and sanctions compliance before approving any existing or new partners, separate sources reported.

Officials in Eswatini confirmed Thursday that four additional African migrants have been deported to their country by the United States.

The deportees represent the third shipment of migrants that the Trump administration has transferred to the small African kingdom. These individuals are among more than 40 people who have been sent to various African countries through largely confidential agreements with at least seven nations, drawing criticism from human rights organizations.

The Trump administration has established similar third-country deportation arrangements with Ghana, Rwanda, Uganda, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and South Sudan.

According to a government statement, the most recent arrivals to the landlocked nation of Eswatini consisted of one person from Tanzania, one from Sudan, and two from Somalia, all of whom will eventually be returned to their home countries. Officials did not release their identities or specify their current location.

Beginning last July, the United States has transferred at least 19 individuals across three separate groups to Eswatini as part of its strict immigration enforcement policies. U.S. officials described the initial five-person group sent in July as convicted criminals subject to deportation orders. One Jamaican citizen from that original group was successfully returned to Jamaica in September.

Eswatini’s government announced Thursday that another foreign national has obtained the necessary travel documentation and “will be departing the country shortly.” Officials added that negotiations with other home countries continue for the remaining individuals.

Following the arrival of this latest group, Eswatini’s government stated it “reiterates its commitment to ensuring that the rights and dignity of the third-country nationals are upheld while they remain in the country.”

The deportation program involving Eswatini, a small monarchy adjacent to South Africa where the king maintains absolute authority and faces accusations of suppressing democratic movements, has generated opposition from local civil society organizations.

According to a report published last month by Democratic staff members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the Trump administration has allocated at least $40 million to deport approximately 300 migrants to nations other than their countries of origin across Africa, Central America and other regions.

President Donald Trump expressed concerns Thursday about Iran’s men’s soccer team participating in the upcoming 2026 World Cup, citing safety worries amid escalating regional tensions.

Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump stated: “The Iran National Soccer Team is welcome to The World Cup, but I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety.”

The comments follow Wednesday’s announcement from Iran’s sports minister, who indicated his country’s athletes may not be able to compete following recent U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Tehran. These attacks have sparked a broader regional conflict that continues to intensify.

The upcoming tournament, featuring 48 teams, is set to take place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 through July 19. Iran’s team has games scheduled in both Los Angeles and Seattle.

Should Iran formally withdraw from the tournament—which hasn’t occurred yet—it would mark the first such decision in modern World Cup history. FIFA would then face the challenging task of securing a replacement team on short notice.

Notably absent from last week’s FIFA planning conference in Atlanta, Iran was the sole qualifying nation that didn’t attend the World Cup preparation meeting.

FIFA has yet to respond to requests for comment. The organization notably presented Trump with its first-ever peace prize late last year, as the former president continues his campaign for the Nobel Peace Prize.

The situation has also affected Iranian women’s soccer. This week, Australia provided humanitarian visas to five female Iranian players who requested asylum, expressing fears of persecution if they returned home after refusing to sing their national anthem during an Asia Cup game.

Trump had previously encouraged Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to offer sanctuary to the Iranian women’s team members, indicating the United States would step in if Australia declined to help.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran’s newly appointed supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, delivered his inaugural public remarks regarding the ongoing conflict on Thursday, though he remained off-camera while a television presenter read his statement.

The religious leader provided no details about his health status or current whereabouts during the address. Intelligence reports from Israel suggest he sustained injuries during the initial stages of the war.

Khamenei is believed to be hiding in an undisclosed, heavily protected facility to evade Israeli assassination attempts. His predecessor and father, former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, died in a coordinated Israeli-American strike that marked the beginning of hostilities.

Several significant statements emerged from his address:

Regarding regional military installations, he declared: “These countries must clarify their position regarding those who have attacked our beloved homeland and killed members of our people. I recommend that they shut down those bases as soon as possible, because by now they must have realized that the United States’ claims of providing security and peace have been nothing more than a lie.”

On strategic military options, he stated: “The lever of closing the Strait of Hormuz must certainly continue to be used as well. Studies have also been conducted on opening other fronts in which the enemy has little experience and would be highly vulnerable. Their activation will take place, if the wartime situation continues and in accordance with considerations of expediency.”

Describing his father’s death, he shared: “I had the honor of seeing his body after his martyrdom. What I saw was a mountain of steadfastness, and I was told that the fist of his intact hand had been clenched.”

Promising vengeance, Khamenei declared: “I assure everyone that we will not refrain from avenging the blood of your martyrs. The retaliation we have in mind is not limited only to the martyrdom of the great leader of the Revolution; rather, every member of the nation who is martyred by the enemy constitutes a separate case in the file of revenge.”

He elaborated on planned retribution: “A limited portion of this retaliation has already taken tangible form, but until it is fully achieved, this file will remain open above other cases. We will be especially sensitive regarding the blood of our children. Therefore, the crime the enemy deliberately committed against the Shajareh-Tayyebeh school in Minab, and some similar cases, holds a special status in this process of accountability.”

Concluding his message, he expressed gratitude to Iranian forces: “Our sincere thanks go to our brave fighters who, at a time when our nation and beloved homeland have been unjustly attacked by the leaders of the front of arrogance, have blocked the enemy’s path with their powerful blows and dispelled their illusion of being able to dominate our beloved country or possibly divide it.”

POMPEII, Italy (AP) — A haunting new permanent display opened Thursday at the ancient ruins of Pompeii, featuring more than 20 plaster reproductions of people who perished during the devastating Mount Vesuvius eruption nearly 2,000 years ago.

These remarkable casts, described by researchers as “imprints of pain,” preserve the final moments of Pompeii residents who died in 79 AD. The replicas were formed by filling the hollow spaces left behind by decomposed bodies with liquid plaster, creating detailed impressions in the solidified volcanic ash.

“We wanted to give dignity to these people who are like us — women, children, men — who died during the eruption, but at the same time make it understandable, inclusive, and somehow joyful to understand what really happened in Pompeii,” explained Gabriel Zuchtriegel, who directs the Archaeological Park of Pompeii.

This casting method, developed by Giuseppe Fiorelli in 1863, accurately captures each victim’s final position, facial expressions of anguish, and even clothing details, creating unparalleled historical records. Modern researchers at the archaeological site continue using this same approach today.

Pompeii stands alone worldwide in offering this type of archaeological evidence, allowing visitors to witness recreations of both destroyed objects and the people who experienced that tragic day firsthand.

Mount Vesuvius claimed approximately 2,000 lives within Pompeii itself, while regional death tolls may have reached 16,000. The ancient city was buried beneath ash that later hardened due to pyroclastic flows.

Archaeological work has uncovered remains of more than 1,000 eruption victims throughout the site. These individuals were discovered trapped inside buildings or shelters, crushed by falling pumice and volcanic rocks, or killed when structures collapsed under roughly 10 feet of accumulated volcanic material.

The 22 featured casts represent the finest preserved specimens found throughout the city, from central districts to entrance gates and escape routes where residents attempted to flee to safety.

“They have a strong emotional impact on visitors and can be very moving,” noted Silvia Martina Bertesago, an archaeologist working at the Pompeii Archaeological Park.

“Through the analyses we can carry out today with increasingly advanced techniques, we can also understand their age and sex, but also whether they had particular diseases or particular types of diet,” she added.

The new exhibition occupies the Palestra Grande porticoes, situated across from the Amphitheatre. Beyond the human remains section, the display includes preserved plants and food items that remained buried for centuries under layers of ash and hardened lava.

MEXICO CITY — Following her administration’s first significant legislative failure, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum minimized the impact of Congress rejecting her constitutional reform package on Thursday, announcing she has a backup strategy to modify the nation’s electoral framework.

The Morena party leader fell short of the required supermajority in the Chamber of Deputies during Wednesday night’s vote after losing support from lawmakers within the allied Green and Workers parties. The rejected measures, which Sheinbaum’s administration characterized as cost-cutting initiatives, were criticized for potentially weakening smaller political parties’ influence.

Since assuming the presidency in 2024, Sheinbaum issued a warning Thursday that the electorate would evaluate whether opposition politicians honored their commitments to back her administration’s legislative priorities.

A central point of contention involved eliminating the proportional representation system that allows political parties to secure congressional seats based on their share of the national vote. This mechanism was established to ensure smaller parties could gain legislative representation even when unable to win specific district contests.

The president had advocated for a system where all congressional members would be chosen directly through voter elections.

The failed legislation also sought to cut election expenses by 25%, affecting both the National Electoral Institute’s budget and funding distributed to political parties. Political analysts warned these modifications could jeopardize Mexico’s electoral operations while strengthening the ruling party’s position.

According to Georgina de la Fuente, who teaches political science at Tecnológico de Monterrey University, the voting outcome demonstrates that “the small parties are not going to give their unconditional support (to Morena), they are not going to put their survival at risk.”

While Sheinbaum indicated she would reveal specifics about her alternative approach on Monday, she emphasized her objective remains unchanged: “to continue reducing privileges.”

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Election results released Thursday by Nepal’s electoral commission reveal that a newly-formed political movement headed by a former rapper has achieved a decisive victory in the nation’s parliamentary elections.

The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), under the leadership of rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah, claimed victory in the nation’s inaugural election following last year’s youth-driven uprising.

Shah’s RSP secured 125 direct election victories and an additional 57 seats through proportional representation voting, totaling 182 seats in the 275-seat House of Representatives, parliament’s influential lower house. The established Nepali Congress party finished as runner-up with just 38 seats.

Nepal’s electoral system allows voters to directly choose 165 House of Representatives members, while the remaining 110 positions are distributed via proportional representation, where parties receive seats corresponding to their vote percentage.

Electoral officials will request party lists for proportional representation seats before reporting to the president, who will convene the new parliament to select a prime minister requiring majority support. The RSP now controls nearly two-thirds of all seats.

Establishing a new government will likely require several days to complete the process.

Shah, serving as the RSP’s candidate for prime minister, previously captured Kathmandu’s mayoral position in 2022. He became a prominent leader during the 2025 uprising that removed former Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli from power.

Founded in 2022, the RSP attracted massive electoral support, mounting a serious threat to Nepal’s two traditionally powerful parties — the Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist).

Last year’s demonstrations against government corruption and ineffective leadership began with opposition to social media restrictions before expanding into widespread anti-government protests. The violence resulted in dozens of deaths and hundreds of injuries as demonstrators targeted government facilities and police responded with gunfire.

GENEVA (AP) — A tragic incident unfolded Tuesday evening in Switzerland when a postal bus became completely consumed by flames, resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries in the town of Kerzers.

Officials from the Fribourg region released a statement indicating that an intentional action may have triggered the deadly blaze that occurred approximately 25 kilometers west of Switzerland’s capital city, Bern. The statement noted that an unspecified “voluntary act could be the cause” of the devastating fire.

Emergency responders who arrived at the scene discovered the postal vehicle completely destroyed by flames. “After rushing to the scene, rescue teams noted that the vehicle was totally engulfed in flames,” regional government officials stated.

Medical teams utilized both ground ambulances and helicopter transport to rush three victims to area hospitals for treatment. Two additional individuals received medical care at the scene of the incident.

While authorities have confirmed that multiple fatalities occurred in the blaze, officials have not yet released the precise death toll. An active investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fire is currently in progress.

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay — The Paraguayan Chamber of Deputies gave final legislative approval Tuesday to a military cooperation pact that will permit temporary deployment of American forces and civilian personnel on Paraguayan soil, marking a significant win for the Trump administration’s efforts to bolster U.S. influence throughout Latin America.

The Status of Forces Agreement received overwhelming support from legislators, passing with 53 votes in favor, 8 opposed, and 4 abstentions among the 80-member chamber. Fifteen lawmakers were absent during the vote. The measure now heads to President Santiago Peña, a strong Trump ally in the region, who is anticipated to sign the legislation into law within days.

Originally signed by both nations in Washington this past December, the pact creates a legal structure for American security personnel to operate in Paraguay for training missions, joint military exercises, and humanitarian operations. The agreement also grants the United States criminal jurisdiction over its personnel stationed in the country.

Both the U.S. State Department and Paraguayan Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez Lezcano have characterized the treaty as “historic.” The Paraguayan Senate had already given its approval last week, though that chamber saw more heated debate over potential sovereignty concerns.

Opposition lawmakers raised objections to a controversial clause providing foreign military personnel with immunity from prosecution similar to diplomatic staff protections.

“We believe in international cooperation, but we also believe in strong states, respected institutions and real democratic sovereignty,” stated independent congressman Raúl Benítez.

Paraguay’s foreign minister has defended the agreement, stating in December that its primary goal is enhancing U.S.-Paraguay collaboration in combating transnational organized crime and “terrorism.” He emphasized that “there is no possibility of the installation of U.S. military bases” in Paraguay.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also endorsed the SOFA arrangement, describing it as a “historic agreement” that will enhance bilateral and multinational training, humanitarian aid, disaster relief, and other mutual security objectives.

The SOFA approval aligns with Washington’s strategy to expand American influence across Latin America under the Trump administration’s national security framework, even as segments of Paraguayan civil society continue voicing opposition.

“The security of a country is not built by importing troops or shielding foreign agents with diplomatic immunities,” declared Peace and Justice Service, a civil organization with operations throughout Latin America, in a statement issued before the final vote. The organization added that the treaty “does not represent progress in security, but rather the formalization of a geopolitics of impunity that undermines the pillars of our national dignity.”

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Prosecutors at the International Criminal Court announced Thursday they are closing their probe into whether American sanctions imposed on Venezuela amounted to crimes against humanity.

The case began in 2020 when Venezuelan officials petitioned the ICC to examine what they termed “unlawful coercive measures.” The country argued that financial asset freezes and travel restrictions targeting Venezuelan leaders — initially put in place during Barack Obama’s presidency — had created “widespread suffering” among citizens.

After conducting a preliminary review, prosecutors determined there was insufficient evidence to proceed with formal charges.

The prosecutor’s office acknowledged in their announcement that while it was “generally accepted” that the sanctions “may have exacerbated an existing dire humanitarian situation,” investigators could not establish the “necessary intent” required for criminal prosecution.

Officials emphasized that ending this particular investigation has no connection to “the January 2026 events in Venezuela.”

Those events included a rapid military operation by U.S. forces that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his spouse, who were subsequently removed from the country. American forces have also conducted multiple operations targeting vessels allegedly transporting narcotics from Venezuelan waters.

This sanctions investigation operates independently from the ICC’s continuing examination of potential crimes by Venezuelan security personnel under Maduro’s administration during their 2017 response to anti-government demonstrations.

The court’s chief prosecutor Karim Khan faced complications last year when appeals judges required him to remove himself from the Venezuela case due to conflicts of interest. Khan’s family connection to international criminal attorney Venkateswari Alagendra, who represents Maduro’s administration, created the conflict.

Khan has temporarily stepped away from his position while facing an internal investigation regarding sexual misconduct allegations.

In a separate development Thursday, prosecutors announced they would proceed with examining potential crimes against humanity in Belarus.

Lithuania requested the investigation in 2024, focusing on its neighboring country’s harsh treatment of opposition movements.

Lithuanian officials contend that Belarus’s authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko has forcibly relocated political dissidents across international borders, establishing the court’s authority to investigate. While Lithuania participates in the ICC, Belarus does not.

This decision creates the possibility that Lukashenko and other Belarusian government officials could face ICC charges.

Exiled Belarusian opposition figure Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya welcomed the announcement. “This decision restores hope — that justice will prevail, that those responsible will be held accountable, and that the victims will finally receive truth and justice,” she told The Associated Press.

Two individuals working on behalf of Russian interests deliberately torched a train and railway infrastructure in Latvia during August, according to an announcement Wednesday from Latvia’s State Security Service. This incident represents the most recent example in a growing pattern of attacks on critical European infrastructure that Western officials attribute to Russia.

According to the security service, the perpetrators ignited both the train and several railway relay cabinets — control boxes containing equipment that manages train operations — while recording their destructive actions. The footage was subsequently transmitted to those who ordered the arson, who then exploited it for propaganda by falsely claiming the fires occurred in Ukraine, officials stated.

This August arson attack joins at least 151 documented cases of sabotage and hostile activities throughout Europe that The Associated Press has tracked and Western officials have connected to Russia following Moscow’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. According to officials, these attacks aim to weaken European support for Ukraine, create fear and division within European communities, and exhaust investigative resources. Russia frequently employs intermediaries for such operations, with some perpetrators claiming ignorance about their connection to Moscow.

Polish officials reported in November that Russian intelligence services orchestrated multiple sabotage incidents targeting a railway line used for delivering assistance to Ukraine.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced in January that hackers “directly linked to the Russian services” attacked two combined heat and power facilities serving nearly half a million customers, along with numerous wind and solar energy installations.

Danish authorities disclosed in December that Russian cyberattacks during 2024 on a water utility resulted in some residences losing water service, while Norwegian police reported in August that pro-Russian hackers remotely activated a dam valve, causing water to flow out.

These cyber incidents highlight European critical infrastructure’s susceptibility and represent part of a troubling pattern indicating Moscow is taking a “more aggressive posture” toward European nations it considers opponents, according to Ciaran Martin, former director of the U.K.’s National Cyber Security Centre.

This approach includes “cyber-kinetic” operations where Russian-affiliated hackers modify system parameters to create physical consequences — such as changing water flows, Martin explained to AP.

Italian authorities are also examining the sabotage of several high-speed rail lines on the opening day of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics in February. The ANSA news agency reported that infrastructure was burned or severed, affecting thousands of travelers. Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stated that cyberattacks originating from Russia also targeted the Winter Olympics, including Games-related websites, Cortina hotels, and foreign ministry platforms.

France’s high-speed rail network also suffered sabotage in 2024 on the summer Olympic Games’ opening day. Neither Italy nor France has formally blamed Russia for the railway sabotage. The Kremlin has previously denied to the AP any participation in a sabotage campaign.

LONDON — British officials are weighing new military deployment strategies in the Gulf region as Iranian forces intensify their assault on maritime vessels, Defense Minister John Healey announced Thursday.

The announcement comes after the Royal Navy’s final minehunter vessel, HMS Middleton, completed its journey back to Britain on March 1st following its Gulf assignment based in Bahrain. The aging ship, which had served for more than four decades, was no longer deemed seaworthy for continued operations.

“We do have some autonomous mine hunting systems already in the region,” Healey stated. “There are additional options we’re starting to consider that we could deploy alongside allies.”

Intelligence sources revealed to Reuters that Iranian forces have positioned approximately twelve mines throughout the Strait of Hormuz, creating significant obstacles for any potential reopening of this crucial shipping corridor that handles substantial oil and liquefied natural gas transport.

American military forces report successful strikes against Iranian mine-deployment vessels, destroying sixteen of these craft on Tuesday alone.

The volatile situation escalated further Thursday when two oil tankers caught fire at an Iraqi port following what officials suspect were Iranian explosive boat attacks. This incident occurred just hours after three additional vessels sustained damage elsewhere in the Gulf waters.

Healey characterized these developments as a “major escalation from Iran.”

“It is a breach of international law,” the defense minister emphasized. “It’s a very serious situation that is having an impact on oil prices and the cost of living for everyone.”

KYIV – Ukrainian officials announced Thursday they will share combat information with partner countries to help develop artificial intelligence technology for military drones, leveraging knowledge gained from nearly four years of defending against Russia’s invasion.

The announcement reflects a growing global trend of armed forces incorporating automated systems capable of directing unmanned aircraft to targets independently or rapidly processing enormous amounts of intelligence data.

International partners and defense contractors have been requesting access to Ukraine’s combat information, which is essential for teaching computer models to identify patterns, formations, and movement of personnel and equipment during warfare.

Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov announced the creation of a secure system that allows AI development while protecting classified information, yet still provides continuously updated datasets along with extensive photo and video collections.

“Today, Ukraine has a unique array of battlefield data that is unmatched anywhere else in the world,” he wrote on Telegram.

“This includes millions of annotated images collected during tens of thousands of combat flights.”

Fedorov, known for his technology expertise and close ties to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, explained that Ukraine would benefit from accelerated AI development that could then be deployed against Russian forces.

“We are ready to work with partners on joint analytics, model training, and the creation of new technological solutions,” he stated, emphasizing Ukraine’s goal to expand the use of autonomous military systems.

Following his appointment in January, Fedorov outlined ambitious plans for a comprehensive technology-focused transformation of Ukraine’s extensive defense apparatus.

Ukrainian leadership aims to capitalize on knowledge acquired from what represents Europe’s most significant military conflict since World War II, working to maintain international support and financial assistance as the war enters its fifth year.

This week, Ukraine deployed counter-drone experts to four Middle Eastern countries following requests for assistance in neutralizing Iran’s extensive Shahed drone attacks.

Iran’s parliamentary leader issued stark warnings Thursday about potential strikes on strategic Persian Gulf islands that serve as the nation’s southern maritime border, emphasizing their vital role in Iran’s economic and security framework.

Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf declared through social media that Iran “will abandon all restraint” should these islands face assault, holding U.S. President Donald Trump accountable for “the blood of American soldiers.”

Despite representing a minimal portion of Iran’s landmass, these islands hold disproportionate significance due to their petroleum infrastructure and tactical positioning.

The motivation behind Qalibaf’s statements remained unclear, though he joins others who have discussed potential island strikes since the Iran conflict commenced February 28.

Both American and Israeli officials have indicated interest in broadening target lists beyond nuclear and military installations. While Israeli government representatives haven’t openly mentioned the islands, opposition figure Yair Lapid has advocated for attacking Kharg Island’s energy facilities.

“That is what will cripple Iran’s economy and topple the regime,” Lapid posted on X last Sunday.

The compact coral formation sits approximately 21 miles from Iran’s mainland and functions as the central hub handling virtually all Iranian petroleum exports.

Oil revenues constitute a major portion of Iran’s income, with deliveries reaching nations including China. Targeting Kharg would damage not only current leadership but potentially weaken any future replacement government.

Southern sections house massive storage facilities alongside residential areas for thousands of employees. Wildlife including gazelles wander near refineries and storage areas that establish Kharg as among Iran’s most precious and vulnerable resources.

Investment analysts at JPMorgan’s commodity research division cautioned this week about significant economic ramifications from striking the facility.

“The island has often been viewed as a critical vulnerability, yet it has rarely been directly targeted,” their analysis stated. “A direct strike would immediately halt the bulk of Iran’s crude exports, likely triggering severe retaliation in the Strait of Hormuz or against regional energy infrastructure.”

Three diminutive islands have remained central to ongoing disputes between Iran and U.S.-allied Gulf nations.

Iranian military took control of these territories in November 1971, shortly after Britain’s Gulf withdrawal and preceding the formation of the United Arab Emirates from local sheikhdoms. Iran continues maintaining armed forces and military installations across the islands.

This territorial disagreement persists as one of the region’s most enduring conflict zones.

The Persian Gulf’s most substantial island lies adjacent to the Strait of Hormuz, housing roughly 150,000 inhabitants. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi claimed American forces damaged a desalination facility there March 8 — an allegation Washington hasn’t confirmed.

“Attacking Iran’s infrastructure is a dangerous move with grave consequences,” Araghchi stated in a March 7 social media post. “The U.S. set this precedent, not Iran.”

The water treatment plant serves approximately 30 rural communities.

Bahrain’s Interior Ministry, located in the nation hosting America’s 5th Fleet headquarters, reported an Iranian drone “caused material damage” to their desalination infrastructure the following day, though water distribution remained unaffected.

LONDON — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer finds himself in deepening political trouble after government documents revealed he disregarded senior advisers’ concerns when selecting Peter Mandelson, who had connections to Jeffrey Epstein, as Britain’s U.S. ambassador.

The embattled leader continues facing criticism over Mandelson’s selection and subsequent dismissal, with Wednesday’s release of nearly 150 pages of government records representing just a small portion of thousands more documents yet to be disclosed.

“It’s hard to believe that later releases are going to persuade anybody to see the PM’s decision in a better light,” said Tim Bale, politics professor at Queen Mary University of London. “It’s damning stuff and, if the country weren’t preoccupied with rather more important Middle Eastern matters at the moment, it might even have hastened Starmer’s departure.”

The released materials verified what had been previously reported: Starmer selected the experienced political operative despite his tarnished reputation from past controversies and connections to Epstein.

Mandelson’s background check documentation highlighted in bold text the warning signs Starmer overlooked, detailing how his association with Epstein could create “reputational risk” for the government.

The paperwork also outlined separate reputation concerns regarding Mandelson’s service in a former Labour administration — where he resigned twice due to financial controversies — and his role at Global Counsel, a lobbying company he helped establish.

One document cautioned Starmer that selecting a political figure for the position carried greater risks than appointing a career diplomat, which is Britain’s usual practice.

“If anything goes wrong, you could be more exposed as the individual is more connected to you personally,” then-Cabinet Secretary Simon Case advised.

Starmer dismissed Mandelson in September following revelations that he stayed in touch with Epstein — whom he previously described as his “best pal” — even after the financier’s 2008 conviction on sexual offenses involving a minor.

Starmer maintains Mandelson deceived him regarding the scope and nature of his relationship with the convicted sex offender. He expressed regret about appointing him to the diplomatic position.

“It was me that made a mistake, and it’s me that makes the apology to the victims of Epstein, and I do that,” Starmer said Thursday.

The documents disclosed thus far haven’t provided proof supporting Starmer’s assertion that he was deceived, partly because investigators examining Mandelson requested that communications between the prime minister and Mandelson remain sealed to preserve the investigation’s integrity.

Mandelson faced a brief arrest last month on accusations he shared classified government details with Epstein fifteen years ago. He has rejected any wrongdoing and faces no charges. No allegations of sexual impropriety have been made against him.

Defense attorney Marcus Johnstone, who isn’t involved in Mandelson’s case, suggested civil servants, government attorneys and law enforcement likely engaged in intense discussions behind the scenes before determining which documents to make public. He predicted this struggle will persist as additional batches containing thousands of pages are released over the coming weeks and months.

“We need to remember that the files we are seeing today are only the thin end of the wedge on Mandelson,” Johnstone said. “But we should be under no illusions that what we are currently seeing is anything like the full picture.”

Even after removing Mandelson in September, Starmer encountered fresh questions about his decision-making when extensive files released by the U.S. Justice Department in January revealed additional information about Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein. Opposition figures and some Labour Party members demanded the prime minister step down.

Starmer weathered the immediate crisis, though his standing remains precarious, despite having no personal meetings with Epstein and no involvement in his criminal activities.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused Starmer Thursday of deceiving Parliament regarding the appointment and urged Labour lawmakers to reconsider his leadership.

“It is very clear that he told lie after lie after lie about the appointment of Peter Mandelson,” Badenoch said. “He wanted to make this all about Peter Mandelson. This is about his judgments.”

Prime ministerial spokesperson Tom Wells stated Thursday that appropriate procedures were followed in evaluating Mandelson, though the screening process requires enhancement.

Starmer has frequently appeared more confident in international affairs than domestic politics, which might offer the political protection he currently needs.

He took a measured approach to the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran — declining to participate in airstrikes, which he suggested violated international law, and initially denying American aircraft access to British bases.

Following Iran’s retaliation with missile and drone attacks on neighboring nations, Starmer agreed to allow U.S. planes to use U.K. facilities for strikes against Iran’s missile capabilities, but not other targets.

Starmer’s cautious stance frustrated Trump, who criticized last week that Starmer was “not Winston Churchill.” However, polling indicates his war response generally matches public opinion, which opposes deeper conflict involvement.

“The whole affair, while certainly doing nothing to help him, seems — rightly or wrongly — pretty inconsequential in the grand scheme of things,” Bale said about the Mandelson documents.

BEIRUT – Israeli forces nearly doubled the size of evacuation zones in southern Lebanon on Thursday, just hours after the country’s defense minister announced plans to broaden military operations in the region.

The expanded evacuation orders came one week after Israel began air and ground operations targeting Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant organization that initiated attacks against Israel on March 2. Hezbollah stated these strikes were retaliation for the death of Iran’s supreme leader during the ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran.

Since those initial attacks, Hezbollah has launched daily rocket and drone strikes against Israel, including a major assault late Wednesday that prompted intense Israeli bombardment of Beirut’s southern neighborhoods.

Israeli military operations have targeted Lebanon’s southern regions, eastern areas, and the capital’s southern districts, resulting in more than 600 deaths. The accompanying mass evacuation directives have forced over 800,000 residents from their homes across these zones.

According to Reuters analysis, Thursday’s new evacuation directives posted by Israeli military officials on social media now affect residents across one-tenth of Lebanon’s entire territory.

The Israeli military spokesman directed southern Lebanon residents to relocate north beyond the Zahrani river, positioned approximately 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the Israeli border.

Military officials also issued evacuation warnings for a central Beirut neighborhood near high-end dining establishments, announcing plans to target a specific building in that area.

According to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Wednesday’s Hezbollah rocket and drone offensive was coordinated with Tehran’s simultaneous attack. Israeli defense officials confirmed this marked the first synchronized assault by both entities against Israel since hostilities began.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that military commanders had received orders to expand Lebanese operations.

“We promised quiet and security to the communities of the north, and that is exactly what we will deliver,” Katz stated during a senior military leadership meeting.

Katz issued a warning to Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, stating that if Lebanon’s government fails to stop Hezbollah’s attacks on Israel, “we will take the territory and do it ourselves,” his office reported.

Lebanon announced last year its intention to establish exclusive state control over weapons, and the cabinet recently banned all military activities not conducted by official Lebanese forces.

Following Wednesday’s coordinated attack, Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi called in Iran’s charge d’affaires, stating the joint operation violated the recent decree, according to a knowledgeable source.

Israel reports eliminating several Iran Quds Force members operating in Lebanon, including casualties from Sunday’s strike on a central Beirut hotel.

Thursday’s early morning strike in Beirut claimed 12 lives, Lebanon’s health ministry confirmed.

The attack struck a waterfront sidewalk where dozens of displaced families had erected temporary shelters and were sleeping outdoors.

“Who’s in these tents? There are children, elderly people, and women in them. Israel… what justification will it create for last night’s strike?” questioned Abu Ali, a displaced resident.

“My heart is dead, my heart is dead. I’m not like before, when one would be afraid only for himself,” he shared with Reuters.

The United Nations International Organization for Migration director condemned Thursday’s attack. “Many displaced people who have been forced to make the streets of Beirut their home … Tents and makeshift shelters offer no protection from the dangers of bombardment,” Amy Pope declared in an official statement.

WARSAW, March 12 – Legal abortion procedures in Poland increased by 100% during 2024, and grievances filed with the European Court of Human Rights regarding healthcare providers declining to perform abortions have come to a halt, according to Thursday’s announcement from the Council of Europe.

The Catholic-majority nation implemented extremely restrictive abortion legislation in 2021 during the prior nationalist administration’s tenure, after courts declared pregnancy terminations for fetal defects to be unconstitutional.

Donald Tusk’s pro-European coalition government secured victory in the 2023 elections, campaigning in part on promises to relax these limitations, though lawmakers have yet to reach consensus on new legislation. Nationalist President Karol Nawrocki has indicated his intention to veto any liberalization efforts.

Nevertheless, Tusk’s administration has worked to better implement current laws. Government officials provided guidance to medical facilities and legal prosecutors, making clear that terminating pregnancies for maternal mental health reasons remains lawful, and mandating that all hospitals must offer these services.

The Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers, responsible for monitoring compliance with European Court of Human Rights decisions, stated Thursday that the government’s measures “appear to bring results in practice.”

“The number of lawful abortions has doubled year to year and no complaints have recently been received about the refusal of abortion based on the conscience clause,” the committee stated in its assessment of Poland’s adherence to court decisions regarding legal abortion access.

The committee further observed “that since the introduction of the unconditional obligation of hospitals to provide abortion as a contracted medical service, no complaint has been reported about a refusal of lawful abortion based on the conscience clause.”

Despite these improvements, the committee voiced disappointment regarding the absence of legislative progress on comprehensive pregnancy termination safety measures.

Polish Health Ministry statistics reveal that approximately 900 legal abortions took place in the country’s hospitals during 2024, up from 425 the previous year. Medical facilities performed 411 legal procedures in the first six months of 2025, with complete annual figures still pending.

Prior to the 2021 court decision that restricted access, Polish hospitals conducted over 1,000 abortions each year, with fetal abnormalities accounting for nearly all cases.

Authorities in Kenya have detained a Chinese citizen after discovering more than 2,200 living ants hidden in his travel bags at the country’s busiest airport, marking another case in what officials describe as an increasing pattern of insect trafficking.

Zhang Kequn, age 27, was taken into custody at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Tuesday as he attempted to depart Kenya, according to court documents reviewed by Reuters on Thursday. Airport immigration personnel had placed a “stop order” on Zhang’s travel documents following his escape from authorities in the country the previous year.

Collectors who are passionate about ants often spend substantial amounts of money to house colonies in large clear containers called formicariums, providing observers with direct access to view the insects’ intricate social behaviors and organizational systems.

In the previous year, four individuals each received fines totaling $7,700 for attempting to illegally transport thousands of ants that play important roles in Kenya’s natural environment, a case that specialists indicated represents a transition in wildlife trafficking from traditional items like elephant tusks to more obscure species.

Authorities reported that when they examined Zhang’s belongings, they found 2,238 ants total, with 1,948 stored inside test tubes and the remaining insects wrapped in three bundles of “soft tissue papers”.

Officials stated that Zhang had spent two weeks in Kenya and had identified three associates who provided him with the insects.

The Kenya Wildlife Service informed the court that additional time was required to finish their investigation, which includes analyzing an iPhone and MacBook that were confiscated from Zhang.

Wildlife officials also revealed that authorities in Bangkok intercepted a similar shipment of ants on Tuesday that had originated from Kenya, suggesting the presence of an extensive and coordinated ant trafficking operation.

Seven Iranian women’s soccer team members have been granted protection by the Australian government after expressing fears about returning to their homeland, officials announced Wednesday.

Two additional team members – one player and one support staff member – accepted Australia’s humanitarian visa offer, according to Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke. This follows five other players who received asylum protection just one day prior.

“I made them the same offer that I made the five players the night before,” Burke explained to the media. “If they wanted to receive a humanitarian visa for Australia, which would have a pathway to a permanent visa, I had the paperwork ready to execute that immediately.”

Australian authorities conducted individual conversations with most team members at Sydney’s airport, explaining their options before the remaining players departed the country. Burke emphasized the careful approach taken during these discussions.

“What we made sure of was that there was no rushing, there was no pressure. Everything was about ensuring the dignity for those individuals to make a choice,” Burke stated during his press conference in Canberra.

Several players consulted with their families before ultimately declining Australia’s protection offer. Those who chose to leave have continued their journey to Iran via Kuala Lumpur.

The safety concerns intensified after Iranian state television branded the team as “wartime traitors” for their refusal to perform the national anthem during their Asia Cup competition in Australia.

The team’s tournament participation coincided with military strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran, which resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Their tournament run ended with elimination on Sunday.

Iranian expatriates in Australia organized demonstrations against their home government, surrounding the team’s transportation on the Gold Coast as they departed for the airport. Additional protesters gathered at Sydney’s airport Tuesday evening during the team’s transfer to international departures.

Iran’s prosecutor general’s office extended an invitation for the remaining team members to return home “with peace and confidence,” according to Iranian news outlets reporting Tuesday.

AMSTERDAM – The International Criminal Court announced Thursday that it has launched a formal investigation into alleged deportation crimes committed by Belarusian officials.

The investigation focuses on accusations that Belarus engaged in acts of deportation that constitute crimes against humanity. While Belarus is not a member state of the international court, Lithuania – which holds membership – initiated the legal proceedings.

Court prosecutors determined they have the authority to pursue the case because evidence indicates that portions of the alleged criminal activities by Belarus took place within Lithuania’s borders, establishing the necessary jurisdictional requirements for the investigation to proceed.

Nepal’s government announced Thursday it will implement cooking gas rationing measures beginning Friday as public anxiety over potential shortages grows amid ongoing Middle East conflicts.

The state-operated Nepal Oil Corporation will limit refills to half-capacity for empty cylinders in an effort to extend current liquefied petroleum gas inventory, according to executive director Chandika Prasad Bhatta.

The rationing decision comes as escalating tensions between the U.S.-Israel alliance and Iran have disrupted maritime traffic through the critical Strait of Hormuz, leading to increased energy costs and reduced production from regional oil and gas suppliers.

Despite government reassurances about adequate LPG availability, citizens have been rushing to refilling stations, creating extensive lines at facilities across the nation.

“The rationing is expected to end the panic and rush for hoarding,” Bhatta explained to reporters.

Nepal relies entirely on India for its fuel imports, including cooking gas supplies. The Himalayan nation consumes approximately 45,000 cylinders monthly, each containing 14.2 kilograms of cooking gas, according to government data.

Corporation officials emphasized that supply chains remain uninterrupted despite regional instability.

“We are getting regular supply of fuel including the cooking gas according to our demands,” Bhatta confirmed.

The rationing policy aims to prevent hoarding behavior while maintaining steady distribution until public concerns subside.

Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei issued his inaugural public statement Thursday, declaring his nation will seek revenge for fallen fighters and continue blocking a vital oil shipping channel while targeting American military installations overseas.

The combative message, broadcast on Iranian state television, marked Khamenei’s first public comments after taking over following his father’s death. He demanded the United States shut down all regional military facilities and said Iran would maintain its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz to apply pressure on adversaries.

The waterway, located along Iran’s coastline, handles approximately 20% of global oil shipments, making it one of the world’s most strategically important maritime routes.

Thursday witnessed intensified maritime violence as two oil tankers caught fire at an Iraqi port following what authorities described as attacks by Iranian explosive boats. The incidents represent an escalation in assaults that have severely disrupted Middle Eastern oil exports, contradicting President Donald Trump’s assertions of victory in the military campaign he initiated two weeks prior.

Reuters confirmed footage captured from Basra port’s shoreline showing vessels consumed by enormous orange flames illuminating the darkness. Iraqi officials attributed the strikes to Iranian naval forces, with at least one crew member losing their life in the attacks.

Earlier that day, three additional ships suffered damage in Gulf waters. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards took credit for striking a Thai cargo vessel that subsequently burned, claiming the ship had ignored their directives. A container ship also reported being hit by an unidentified projectile near the United Arab Emirates.

The military confrontation, which commenced with coordinated U.S.-Israeli bombing operations in late February, has claimed roughly 2,000 lives and created what the International Energy Agency characterizes as history’s most severe global energy supply crisis.

Despite American and Israeli assertions of successfully eliminating much of Iran’s long-distance weaponry, additional drones were spotted Thursday entering airspace over Kuwait, Iraq, the UAE, Bahrain and Oman.

Lebanon’s Iranian-supported Hezbollah organization launched its largest rocket barrage into Israel since hostilities began, triggering retaliatory Israeli airstrikes on Beirut.

Crude oil prices jumped back beyond $100 per barrel after declining earlier in the week when Trump predicted a swift conclusion to the conflict. Iranian officials have stated they will prevent oil transit through the Strait of Hormuz until American and Israeli military operations end.

Trump has made multiple attempts this week to reassure energy markets by suggesting the price spike will be temporary.

However, the president has not outlined how the conflict will conclude or presented strategies for reopening the blocked shipping lane. American and Israeli representatives say their objective involves dismantling Iran’s missile and nuclear capabilities, though Trump has also called for Iran’s “unconditional surrender” and claimed authority to choose its leadership.

“You never like to say too early you won. We won,” Trump declared at a rally-style event in Hebron, Kentucky, Wednesday evening. “In the first hour it was over.”

Trump claimed America had “virtually destroyed Iran” but added: “We don’t want to leave early, do we? We got to finish the job.”

International businesses are facing significant challenges as the escalating conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran creates ripple effects across global markets, according to a Reuters analysis released March 12. The situation is causing energy costs to climb, creating shortages of essential materials, and raising concerns about the dependability of shipping lanes that handle everything from food products to automotive components.

AVIATION INDUSTRY STRUGGLES

Air travel has been severely impacted with thousands of flights being canceled, rerouted or rescheduled across the globe. Missile and drone threats have forced the closure of significant portions of Middle Eastern airspace, including Qatar’s aviation corridors.

The aviation sector is experiencing its most severe disruption since the COVID-19 pandemic, with Dubai International Airport – the world’s busiest passenger hub – seeing operations significantly hampered. Other regional airports serving as crucial connection points for international flights are also under strain.

Some stranded passengers are turning to private aircraft to escape the Gulf region, while others are taking lengthy overland journeys to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, hoping to secure flights home from there.

The crisis has also blocked a major oil shipping route, causing jet fuel costs to spike dramatically. This has led to higher airfares on multiple routes and growing concerns about a potential widespread decline in travel bookings.

Time-critical air freight has suffered major setbacks, with shipments including perishable foods and aircraft components stuck in transit as the Middle East situation reduces cargo capacity and increases shipping costs.

AIRLINE SECTOR IMPACTS

The closure of Gulf region airspace has quickly affected airline operations worldwide and caused stock prices in the industry to tumble.

Flight costs between Asian and European destinations have increased substantially, with carriers like Wizz Air and Lufthansa modifying their flight paths. Ryanair has reported increased bookings for shorter domestic routes.

Jet fuel expenses, which represent airlines’ second-highest cost after employee wages, have doubled since the conflict began, creating additional financial pressure on carriers.

Airlines that typically use financial hedging to protect against sudden oil price increases are still implementing fare increases, fuel surcharges and flight reductions as they deal with an unprecedented rise in refining costs.

The conflict is making flying conditions more dangerous for pilots, who face increased risks from drone activity in affected airspace.

Middle Eastern airspace restrictions have particularly hurt Indian airlines, which depend on the region as a vital pathway to Europe and the United States, especially after Pakistan prohibited Indian carriers from using its airspace last year.

DUBAI TOURISM CONCERNS

The conflict threatens the Middle East’s carefully developed reputation as a secure, upscale travel destination, following years of substantial investment from Abu Dhabi to Dubai. The region’s tourism industry generates approximately $367 billion each year.

The situation has highlighted how dependent international air travel has become on a small number of major hubs, with Dubai leading as the world’s busiest international airport.

Many retail establishments in Dubai and other prominent Middle Eastern commercial centers were either closed or operating with minimal staff during the past week.

MILITARY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS

American forces have deployed various weapons systems against Iranian positions, including Tomahawk cruise missiles, stealth aircraft, and – for the first time in actual combat – inexpensive single-use attack drones based on Iranian technology.

The Pentagon also utilized artificial intelligence services from Anthropic, including its Claude systems, during military operations.

However, the Pentagon recently classified the AI company as a “supply-chain risk,” preventing government contractors from using its technology for U.S. military projects. This decision came after extended disagreements over the company’s security requirements, which the Defense Department considered excessive.

President Donald Trump held meetings with leadership from seven defense contractors on March 6, as the Pentagon works to replace equipment and supplies used in U.S. operations against Iran and other recent military actions.

METALS AND MATERIALS SHORTAGES

Qatar’s Qatalum smelting facility started shutting down operations last week, while Aluminium Bahrain announced it had stopped shipments and declared force majeure due to inability to transport materials through the Strait of Hormuz. The Gulf area produces roughly 8% of the world’s aluminum supply.

Aluminum prices on the London Metal Exchange rose dramatically following this news, while physical aluminum costs in Europe and the United States reached their highest levels in several years.

Indonesian nickel producers, who depend on the Middle East for three-quarters of their sulfur supplies, may need to reduce output as Gulf shipping faces increasing disruption from the conflict.

RETAIL AND FOOD SECTOR EFFECTS

Clothing shipments for major retail chains became stranded at airports in Bangladesh and India as the conflict affected flight operations, Reuters reported last week.

South Asia serves as a major garment production center, with fast fashion companies worldwide depending on factories in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan for continuous supplies of new shirts, dresses and pants.

The crisis is adding stress to the luxury goods sector, which was already working to recover from reduced consumer demand. Companies such as Richemont and Zegna are considered particularly vulnerable.

Indian restaurants and hotels have warned of potential disruptions and possible closures as the Iran conflict restricts cooking gas supplies, leading authorities to establish a committee to review industry concerns.

India’s bottled water industry is also seeing some producers increase prices for distributors, as war-related supply disruptions affect everything from plastic containers to caps, labels and packaging materials.

Higher oil prices have increased polymer costs, which are derived from crude oil and essential for plastic bottle manufacturing.

TECHNOLOGY SECTOR CONCERNS

South Korean government officials have cautioned that an extended conflict could interrupt supplies of crucial semiconductor manufacturing materials from the Middle East, including helium, which is vital for chip production and has no suitable alternative.

Drone attacks that damaged some of Amazon’s data centers in the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have raised questions about technology supply chains and major tech companies’ expansion plans in the region.

BANKING SECTOR RESPONSES

Citigroup and Standard Chartered have instructed Dubai employees to work remotely, Reuters reported citing sources, as financial institutions respond to Iranian threats against Gulf banking operations connected to the U.S. and Israel.

HSBC has temporarily closed all Qatar branches indefinitely, according to a customer announcement, stating the action was taken to protect employee and customer safety.

WARSAW – Polish law enforcement officials report that a mining employee discovered an unidentified drone at a western Poland mining facility on Thursday.

According to police authorities, the unmanned aircraft was located by a worker during regular operations. A police representative stated the device “does not look like civilian drone” and confirmed investigators have not yet determined the specific model or type.

The discovery has prompted an ongoing investigation as officials work to identify the origin and purpose of the mysterious aircraft found at the mining location.

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Hungarian officials announced Thursday they will make public a classified intelligence document that Prime Minister Viktor Orbán claims contains evidence his primary political rival accepted unlawful financial support from Ukraine.

The embattled leader is confronting the most serious electoral threat of his political tenure in the upcoming April 12 election, with polling data showing him behind center-right challenger Péter Magyar and his Tisza party.

With the voting date drawing near, Orbán — who has cultivated friendly ties with Moscow — has intensified his anti-Ukraine messaging, alleging that Kyiv, the European Union, and the Tisza party are collaborating in a plot to remove his administration and replace it with one more sympathetic to Ukrainian interests.

The Hungarian leader has made repeated assertions that Ukraine has provided financial backing to Tisza, though he has not offered proof to support these claims. During a television appearance on ATV last week, Orbán stated that Ukraine had given “significant” amounts of money to Tisza for developing technology platforms and organizing voter outreach activities.

Magyar has rejected these accusations.

Orbán insisted his statements were “not assumptions, but facts” documented in a national security committee analysis, and urged reporters to push for the document’s public release.

“I don’t think the state would withhold this information from you,” Orbán said.

During Thursday’s press briefing, Orbán’s chief of staff Gergely Gulyás confirmed that “the declassification process is underway,” adding the document would be made available “in the foreseeable future.”

Facing an election just one month away, with citizens frustrated by economic stagnation, deteriorating public services, and persistent corruption scandals, Orbán has framed the election outcome as critical to Hungary’s survival.

Orbán’s campaign strategy centers on warning voters that a new administration would devastate Hungary’s finances through Ukrainian support against Russia’s military offensive, while forcing Hungarian young people into deadly combat roles. This messaging campaign, filled with false information, has extensively utilized artificially generated images and videos.

Hungarian authorities have spent taxpayer money on nationwide billboard displays showing a digitally altered photo of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with a menacing grin. The text declares: “We won’t let Zelenskyy have the last laugh!”

In contrast, Magyar, a 44-year-old attorney who previously worked within Orbán’s Fidesz party, has raised concerns about potential Russian intelligence interference designed to benefit Orbán in the election.

The Tisza party did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Orbán’s administration has firmly rejected EU monetary and weapons assistance for Ukraine, and pledged to block any EU efforts to admit Ukraine as a member.

Hungary recently prevented new EU penalties against Russia and stopped a massive 90-billion-euro ($104-billion) loan package for Kyiv in response to disruptions in Russian oil deliveries through Ukraine.

Orbán has also positioned military personnel at critical energy facilities throughout Hungary, claiming Ukraine is planning sabotage operations.

Last week, masked Hungarian Counter Terrorism Center operatives arrested seven Ukrainian state bank workers and seized two armored trucks containing 40 million U.S. dollars, 35 million euros, and 9 kilograms (19.8 pounds) of gold.

The banking officials were sent back to Ukraine after being held for more than 24 hours, but the cash and gold, valued at approximately $82 million, remained in Hungarian custody.

This incident sparked outrage from Ukraine, which explained the shipment was traveling from Austria to Ukraine through Hungary as part of routine inter-bank operations. Ukraine’s foreign minister condemned Hungary for “state terrorism” and “taking hostages.”

BERLIN, March 12 – Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul emphasized Thursday that diplomatic negotiations represent the only viable path forward for addressing security concerns in the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping corridor.

Speaking during his official visit to Turkey, Wadephul stressed the importance of collaborative efforts. “A reliable and sustainable solution can only be achieved through diplomatic channels, and that is why I believe … that we should pool our common interests from the Gulf region, but also here in the neighbourhood,” he stated.

The critical waterway has become increasingly dangerous following Iranian retaliatory attacks against U.S.-Israeli actions, with strikes targeting vessels navigating the strait. These assaults have brought commercial shipping traffic from non-Iranian vessels to virtually a complete halt through what serves as the primary export route for Middle Eastern oil, compelling regional producers to reduce their output levels.

During a joint press briefing with his Turkish counterpart, Wadephul outlined broader regional stability goals. “Together, we must find a way out of this war and, at the same time, develop an initial idea of what a future security architecture for the region might look like,” he declared.

A high-ranking member of an Iranian opposition organization operating from Paris stated Thursday that the current U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran will fail to remove the nation’s religious rulers, contending that only widespread domestic revolt combined with internal resistance movements could achieve regime change.

The nearly two-week military operation has resulted in approximately 2,000 Iranian casualties, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, while significantly damaging the country’s military infrastructure and security forces.

Tehran has retaliated with its own strikes, creating turmoil in worldwide energy markets and transportation systems while expanding hostilities throughout the Middle East region. Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has strengthened its control and issued warnings about suppressing any domestic unrest.

Mohammad Mohaddesin, who serves as foreign policy chief for the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), addressed reporters about the military campaign’s limitations.

“The 12-day war in June, and the current war, now in its 12th day, proved that bombings cannot overthrow the regime,” Mohaddesin stated during his press briefing.

“Even if you have 50,000 armed soldiers on the ground, you need the support of Iranian people. You need a popular uprising. The combination of this 50,000 or 20,000 or any other number with a popular uprising, then you have this power to overthrow the regime,” he explained.

Mohaddesin dismissed the possibility of American ground forces being deployed as unrealistic.

The NCRI, which goes by the Farsi designation Mujahideen-e-Khalq, remained on the U.S. terrorist organization list until 2012.

Iranian authorities have prohibited the group’s activities within the country, and its domestic support level remains uncertain. Nevertheless, alongside its main competitor—monarchist supporters of Reza Pahlavi, the deposed shah’s exiled son—it represents one of the few opposition movements capable of mobilizing followers.

While Mohaddesin conceded his organization lacks the capacity to single-handedly topple Iran’s government, he predicted that large-scale demonstrations similar to January’s protests, which authorities violently suppressed, would return after the bombing campaign ends and could ultimately tip the scales.

“I cannot say how many months or a year, but … this is the track of overthrowing the regime,” he stated.

Israeli leadership has indicated that weakening Iran’s security infrastructure to enable the Iranian population to determine their own future represents one of their military goals.

BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanese residents from the country’s southern regions are evacuating their communities to escape Israeli military strikes aimed at Hezbollah positions, finding temporary refuge in public buildings throughout Beirut including sports venues and educational facilities.

The mass displacement illustrates how the broader conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran is creating humanitarian consequences throughout the Middle East region.

The Associated Press photo editors have compiled a visual documentation of these events.

WASHINGTON – An American diplomatic compound in Iraq came under drone attack Tuesday, according to a Washington Post report citing unnamed security officials and internal State Department communications.

The attack targeted a diplomatic support center that serves as a logistics hub for U.S. diplomatic personnel, located close to Baghdad’s airport and Iraqi military installations, the newspaper reported.

According to the Post’s reporting, casualty information was not immediately available. Federal agencies including the White House, State Department, and Pentagon have not yet provided official statements regarding the incident.

The Washington Post indicated that half a dozen drones were directed at the Baghdad compound, with one successfully striking the American facility while air defenses intercepted the remaining five. A security source, speaking anonymously due to the sensitive nature of the situation, told the Post they had no information about potential casualties.

Internal State Department communications referenced in the Post report indicated the drone impacted an area near a guard tower, prompting officials to issue “duck and cover” instructions to personnel at the location.

The newspaper attributed the attack to the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, described as a coalition of Iranian-supported armed groups, based on information from the security official.

The incident occurs during ongoing military operations between the United States, Israel, and Iran that commenced February 28. Iran has conducted counter-strikes against Israeli targets and American military installations in Persian Gulf nations. Iran’s United Nations representative claims the U.S.-Israeli operations have resulted in over 1,300 civilian deaths.

Israeli officials report 11 civilian fatalities from Iranian attacks, while U.S. military sources confirm seven American service members have died. Reuters reported earlier Tuesday that up to 150 U.S. military personnel have sustained injuries during the conflict.

President Trump has defended the military actions as necessary to counter what he described as immediate Iranian threats, pointing to the country’s nuclear and missile development programs, its backing of Hamas and Hezbollah, and other “menacing activities.” Iranian leadership has rejected nuclear weapons development claims and condemned the attacks as violations of national sovereignty.

Commercial vessels navigating waters near the Strait of Hormuz are broadcasting false Chinese identities in their tracking systems to protect themselves from potential Iranian attacks, according to marine traffic analysis.

Marine tracking data reviewed by news organizations reveals that no fewer than eight ships operating in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman regions have modified their destination broadcasts to include phrases like “CHINA OWNER” and “CHINA OWNER&CREW” since hostilities with Iran escalated.

“The main goal of vessels publicly identifying themselves as ‘Chinese’ while transiting the Gulf or the Strait of Hormuz is primarily to reduce the risk of being attacked rather than to facilitate passage through the strait itself,” explained Ana Subasic, who analyzes trade risks for Kpler, the company that operates MarineTraffic.

The strategy appears designed to exploit Iran’s reluctance to target Chinese-connected shipping, given Beijing’s neutral position in the conflict and substantial economic relationships with Tehran, according to Subasic.

Kun Cao, who works as a client director for consulting company Reddal, described the tactic more bluntly: “The message is more like ‘do not mistake me for the kind of ship you said you would hit.’”

Shipping companies face mounting anxiety over Iranian military actions against commercial vessels throughout the Persian Gulf and surrounding waters. By Thursday, Iranian forces had damaged no fewer than 19 merchant ships since the conflict began.

Most of the eight vessels displaying Chinese messages actually sail under different national flags, including Panama and the Marshall Islands. However, Cao noted that flag registration often bears little relationship to actual ownership in modern commercial shipping operations.

While many cargo ships do maintain genuine Chinese connections through ownership structures, crew composition, or cargo destinations, the actual protective value of claiming Chinese ties remains uncertain, according to Rico Luman, a transportation economist with Dutch bank ING.

Ship crews manually input destination signals into their vessel’s transponder systems, which broadcast the information publicly via GPS tracking, Subasic explained. These messages typically indicate the ship’s next planned port stop and help coordinate navigation safety and harbor operations.

Because these signals lack real-time verification systems, “some vessels occasionally use it to display additional information or signals, such as references to ownership or nationality,” Subasic said.

This protective strategy mirrors earlier behavior during Houthi attacks in Red Sea shipping lanes, where vessels similarly broadcast Chinese connections to deter strikes from the Iranian-supported militant group.

Chinese government departments and major state-controlled companies, including the nation’s biggest banking institutions, have been issued advisories in recent days instructing them not to install OpenClaw artificial intelligence software on workplace computers due to security concerns, according to a Bloomberg News report published Wednesday that cited sources with knowledge of the situation.

Reuters was unable to independently confirm the Bloomberg report at this time.