Category: World News

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan announced Tuesday that border violence between Afghanistan and Pakistan has resulted in the deaths of at least 42 civilians, with another 104 people suffering injuries.

The casualty figures cover a five-day span of hostilities that took place from February 26 through March 2, according to the UN mission’s statement issued from Kabul.

The cross-border confrontations have highlighted ongoing tensions between the neighboring countries, with innocent civilians bearing the brunt of the violence during this recent escalation.

The Treasury Department announced Monday it has placed financial penalties on Rwanda’s military leadership and defense forces, alleging the African nation is providing assistance to armed rebels operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

According to Treasury officials, Rwanda’s military has been providing training, equipment and direct combat support to the March 23 Movement, commonly known as M23, which operates in eastern Congo and has been linked to widespread human rights violations and mass population displacement.

“The Rwandan Defense Force is actively supporting, training, and fighting alongside the March 23 Movement (M23), a U.S.- and United Nations-sanctioned armed group responsible for human rights abuses and a mass displacement crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo,” Treasury Department officials stated.

The penalties specifically target four Rwandan military leaders, including army chief of staff Vincent Nyakarundi and the nation’s top defense official.

International observers, including Congolese officials, American diplomats and United Nations investigators, have long alleged Rwanda provides backing to M23 forces, which have expanded dramatically from several hundred members in 2021 to approximately 6,500 fighters today, UN data shows.

Eastern Congo has become a battleground for more than 100 different armed factions competing for control of the region’s valuable mineral resources near the Rwandan border. M23 has emerged as the most powerful among these groups. The ongoing violence has generated what refugee agencies describe as one of the planet’s worst humanitarian emergencies, forcing more than 7 million residents from their homes.

Combat operations persist across multiple areas of eastern Congo despite diplomatic efforts, including a US-brokered agreement between Congolese and Rwandan leadership and continued talks between rebel representatives and Congo’s government. The fighting has resulted in significant casualties among both civilians and military personnel.

Rwanda’s government rejected the American sanctions as unfair and inaccurate. “The sanctions issued today by the United States — unjustly targeting only one party to the peace process — misrepresent the reality and distort the facts of the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo,” government spokesperson Yolande Makolo stated Monday.

Makolo further claimed Congo has broken peace agreements through what she described as “indiscriminate” aerial bombardments and ground military operations.

A shipping industry leader revealed that approximately 100 container vessels are among 750 ships currently stranded near the Strait of Hormuz due to escalating tensions between Iran and Western allies.

Jeremy Nixon, who leads Ocean Network Express (ONE), disclosed these figures during a maritime industry gathering in Long Beach, California on Monday. Nixon explained that this represents roughly one-tenth of all container ships operating worldwide.

“About 10% of the container ship global fleet is caught up in this,” Nixon stated at the conference.

The maritime crisis developed after insurance companies halted coverage for ships traveling through the strategic waterway connecting Iran and Oman. This crucial passage handles approximately 20% of the world’s oil supply along with substantial natural gas shipments.

Iranian military officials have escalated their threats, with a Revolutionary Guards commander announcing on state television Monday that vessels attempting passage through the strait would face destruction.

Nixon warned of significant supply chain disruptions ahead, saying “All of that cargo is going to start backing up” at major shipping terminals throughout Europe and Asia.

The shipping executive, who will step down from his CEO position on July 1, confirmed that ONE has joined competitors including industry giant MSC in suspending cargo reservations bound for Middle Eastern destinations.

Ocean Network Express operates as a joint venture between three major Japanese shipping corporations: Nippon Yusen Kaisha, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, and K Line.

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — What typically brings vibrant street festivals and elaborate costume celebrations has moved underground this year, as Israeli families observed the Jewish holiday of Purim from the safety of reinforced bomb shelters while their nation remains at war with Iranian forces.

On Monday in Tel Aviv, residents dressed in glittering outfits, animal ears, swashbuckling attire, and colorful plumage gathered in a shopping center’s basement parking area that doubles as a protective shelter. They came together for the ceremonial Purim story reading, followed by live music and traditional dancing.

“It’s all about choosing happiness, choosing to be joyful, no matter what else is going on,” said Mariel Margulis, a Tel Aviv resident who had set up a tent in the parking garage and lived there for the past few days with her husband and 6-month old son. They dressed up as people having a bath, complete with bath robes, and their son, Amichai, as a rubber ducky, and created a bathtub play area for him next to their tent.

The ancient Purim narrative from the Book of Esther recounts how Haman, a royal advisor to King Ahashverosh, devised a scheme to eliminate all Jews throughout the empire. Queen Esther and her relative Mordechai ultimately prevented this genocide. These events unfolded in Shushan, located in ancient Persia—territory that encompasses present-day Iran.

“It feels biblical in proportions, what’s happening right now, and we’re doing the little bit we can, staying calm, staying joyful,” said Mariel. Nearby, Amichai slept through the loud “boos” from the crowd to drown out the name of Haman, the villain of the story, during a reading from the Book of Esther.

“It’s like the same plot of Purim with a different cast,” said Daniel Margulis, Mariel’s husband.

This cherished festival, embraced by observant and non-religious Jews alike, commenced Monday evening across most Jewish communities worldwide. In historically fortified cities like Jerusalem, the holiday begins one day later according to tradition.

During peaceful years, families in elaborate disguises fill city centers while children consume countless triangular pastries called hamantaschen. Custom dictates wearing costumes and consuming significant amounts of alcohol during the festivities.

Jerusalem typically sees performers positioned on balconies above busy streets, with neighborhood block parties continuing well into the night throughout the ancient stone walkways.

Organizers had scheduled large-scale celebrations this year following a two-year hiatus. Multiple municipalities had cancelled or reduced their Purim activities over the previous two years because of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

However, the recent military action by Israel and the United States against Iran on Saturday once again forced modifications to holiday plans.

“We came because the kids didn’t want to miss out on Purim, they were really excited to get dressed up,” said Elysa Rapoport, a Tel Aviv resident who works in investments. Her daughters dressed up as Barbie Cowgirl and Rumi from K-pop Demon Hunters.

With most traditional Purim events cancelled, the family carefully planned their route to ensure quick access to protective shelters along the way. Iranian rocket attacks have forced Israeli citizens to seek shelter repeatedly throughout both day and night hours.

“This just feels surreal,” Rapoport said, looking over the celebrations, as hundreds of people gathered and danced under the parking lot’s fluorescent lights. Nearby, people and their dogs who had moved into the shelter for the duration of the war lounged on air mattresses, scrolling through their phones.

“It’s not the most optimal conditions, we’re used to our synagogue, but we’re here together with all of the nation of Israel,” said Gabi Grinshtain, a 39-year-old environmental consultant. “These are important days, and the setting is less important.”

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — The Haitian government launched a 10-day window Monday allowing political organizations to register for participation in planned general elections, marking a significant milestone for the Caribbean nation that has been without elections for more than ten years amid ongoing deadly criminal violence.

Security forces carrying heavy weapons formed a protective perimeter around the Provisional Electoral Council’s main building as representatives from established political organizations collected required registration documents.

Among those present was Pierre Dieu-Donné Delice, a mental health professional leading a newly formed political organization called Tools for Another Haiti. Speaking with The Associated Press, Delice expressed frustration with the temporary administration that has governed since President Jovenel Moïse’s assassination at his home in July 2021.

“They love transition because there’s no control. They can do whatever they want,” Delice stated regarding Haiti’s current leadership.

The nation’s current interim leader is Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, who governs a troubled nation where criminal organizations maintain control over approximately 90% of Port-au-Prince and significant territory in central regions.

Fils-Aimé enjoys support from the United States government and previously shared authority with a temporary presidential council created in 2024, almost three years following Moïse’s death. The council concluded its mandate on February 7 as legally required, making Fils-Aimé the country’s sole executive authority.

Officials have committed to conducting general elections by late August with potential runoff voting scheduled for early December, though the feasibility remains questionable.

“The conditions are not ready yet for an election,” Delice observed, pointing to continuing criminal violence across multiple regions. “There is no way for candidates to campaign there. … If the situation stays the way it is now, it will be impossible to have an election.”

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

The criminal violence has forced a historic 1.4 million people from their homes in the nation of approximately 12 million residents.

Delice personally experienced displacement when heavily armed criminal groups attacked his family’s residence in the central coastal community of Arcahaie.

He relocated his political organization’s operations from his hometown to Port-au-Prince and now relies on watercraft or aircraft to connect with regional party supporters because criminal groups maintain control over major transportation corridors leading to and from the capital, sometimes firing on passing vehicles.

Joseph André Gracien Jean, the cabinet official overseeing electoral affairs, welcomed Monday’s launch of political party registration.

“Today, we take a big step,” he informed the AP. “People should be elected to return to a democratic order.”

He indicated the council would not delay party registration until security improves nationwide.

“It’s a long process; step by step, we are moving forward,” Gracien Jean explained. “What’s important is that the executive branch is making an effort.”

The registration window closes March 12, with officials anticipating increased activity before the deadline.

André Jonas Vladimir Paraison, who leads Haiti’s National Police, recently informed the AP that law enforcement continues developing plans for conducting elections safely.

A new criminal suppression unit is anticipated to replace the current U.N.-supported mission headed by Kenyan officers that remains both understaffed and inadequately funded in the coming months.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed confidence that the current military conflict with Iran will conclude swiftly and won’t develop into a prolonged engagement spanning multiple years, as fighting expanded across the Middle East on Tuesday.

While President Donald Trump had originally estimated the military operation would span four to five weeks, he has since advocated for a more comprehensive campaign against Iran.

Netanyahu dismissed concerns about the conflict becoming another lengthy regional war during an appearance on Fox News’ “Hannity” show Monday evening.

“I said it could be quick and decisive. It may take some time, but it’s not going to take years. It’s not an endless war,” Netanyahu stated during the television interview.

On Tuesday, the fourth day of hostilities, air defense systems intercepted incoming Iranian missiles over Tel Aviv, causing explosions that rattled buildings throughout the city.

Israeli forces struck Iran’s state television network IRIB facilities in Tehran while simultaneously targeting Hezbollah militants across multiple Lebanese towns.

Two Iranian drones hit the American embassy in Riyadh early Tuesday morning, causing minimal damage and igniting a small fire, according to Saudi Arabia’s Defense Ministry. Saudi forces intercepted at least eight additional drones before they could reach the capital city.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced Tuesday that its naval units had destroyed the primary command center at a U.S. airbase in Bahrain during what they called the 14th phase of “Operation Promise of the Truth 4.”

The IRGC reported launching an extensive drone and missile assault on the Sheikh Isa area facility during early morning hours, claiming 20 drones and three missiles successfully hit their designated targets.

Neither the U.S. State Department nor the White House provided immediate responses to requests for comment regarding these attacks.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Monday that “the hardest hits are yet to come from the U.S. military” as the offensive against Iran continues.

When questioned about the duration of American involvement in Iran, Rubio acknowledged uncertainty and didn’t dismiss the possibility of Trump authorizing ground troops for Middle Eastern combat operations.

“We believe the objectives we have set for this mission, the destruction of their ballistic missile capabilities, both launch capibilities and manufacturing can be achieved without ground forces,” Rubio explained to reporters.

“Right now we are not postured for ground forces. But obviously the president has those options and he is not going to rule out anything.”

The joint U.S.-Israeli aerial campaign against Iran commenced Saturday with strikes on Tehran that resulted in the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iranian and Hezbollah retaliation has expanded the conflict throughout the Gulf region, causing civilian casualties across Iran, Israel, and Lebanon.

American military officials reported striking over 1,250 Iranian targets and destroying 11 Iranian naval vessels. Six U.S. service members have died in Iran’s weekend retaliatory strikes against Kuwait.

Kuwaiti forces accidentally shot down three American F-15E fighter aircraft during an Iranian assault, U.S. Central Command confirmed. All six crew members successfully ejected and were rescued safely.

The warfare has severely disrupted global aviation and halted maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, where twenty percent of worldwide oil commerce passes along Iran’s coastline, driving petroleum prices sharply higher.

Key Gulf transportation centers, including Dubai’s international airport – typically the world’s busiest with over 1,000 daily flights – remained shuttered for the fourth consecutive day due to the conflict. Tens of thousands of travelers remain stranded in what represents aviation’s greatest challenge since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Asian airline stocks continued declining Tuesday as carriers monitored fuel cost increases and experienced booking surges from passengers avoiding Middle Eastern carriers.

International oil and gas shipping costs skyrocketed, with Middle Eastern supertanker rates reaching record levels after Tehran began targeting vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, according to Tuesday shipping data and industry sources.

Trump has justified the war by citing an immediate Iranian threat to the United States, though he hasn’t provided specific details and some congressional members say he’s presented no supporting evidence.

Rubio told reporters Monday that America acted preemptively after learning of ally Israel’s planned Iranian strikes and anticipating Tehran’s response would endanger U.S. installations.

“We knew that that would precipitate an attack against American forces, and we knew that if we didn’t preemptively go after them before they launched those attacks, we would suffer higher casualties,” Rubio explained.

In his most comprehensive public statements about the conflict, Trump said Monday he authorized the attack to disrupt Tehran’s nuclear program and rapidly expanding ballistic missile capabilities.

Satellite imagery analysis revealed what appears to be the first documented strikes on an Iranian nuclear facility since hostilities began, according to an independent policy research organization’s Monday report.

Iran has rejected accusations of pursuing nuclear weapons and characterized the U.S.-Israeli assault as unprovoked, occurring during ongoing Tehran-Washington nuclear agreement negotiations.

Trump abandoned a previous international nuclear limitation agreement with Iran in 2018, three years after its initial signing during his first presidency.

Trump’s Iranian military action represents the most significant U.S. foreign policy risk in decades and poses considerable political danger for his Republican Party in upcoming midterm elections, with only twenty-five percent of Americans supporting the Iranian attack according to a recent Reuters/Ipsos survey.

Russia, China, and Turkey have all condemned the military campaign.

The death of a young French extremist has sparked an unprecedented wave of coordinated demonstrations across Europe, revealing the growing international connections between far-right organizations and raising alarm among security officials.

Twenty-three-year-old Quentin Deranque died following a violent confrontation with left-wing activists in Lyon, France on February 14. His death has been compared by some to a “Charlie Kirk moment,” referencing last year’s shooting of the American conservative figure.

In response to Deranque’s death, extremist groups from multiple countries organized memorial events in more than two dozen European cities, including Rome, Dresden, and Zagreb. The most significant gathering occurred in Lyon one week after the incident, drawing approximately 3,000 participants who displayed Nazi salutes and chanted racist and anti-LGBTQ slurs.

Austrian far-right figure Martin Sellner, who organized a memorial in Vienna, declared in a social media video: “His death must awaken a European-wide movement.”

The Lyon demonstration attracted participants from several countries, including members of Germany’s Identitarian movement, which German intelligence agencies classify as an extremist organization with connections to the Alternative for Germany (AfD) political party. Italian neo-fascist groups CasaPound and Lealta Azione also participated, according to their social media communications.

French government officials confirmed the attendance of extremist groups from Italy, Switzerland, and Germany, though they declined to identify specific organizations.

Monitoring far-right membership remains challenging across Europe, with few governments releasing comprehensive data. Germany, which maintains strict surveillance of such groups due to its historical experience with Nazism, reported 50,520 right-wing extremists in 2024—a 50% increase from 2020 figures.

MAINSTREAM POLITICAL INFLUENCE

A 2023 French parliamentary investigation concluded that international cooperation among far-right groups primarily involved sharing ideological content rather than establishing “operational links” between organizations.

However, report author and former parliamentarian Eric Poulliat now acknowledges a significant change, stating: “It is an evolution.”

Berlin-based researcher Lorenz Blumenthaler from the Amadeu Antonio Foundation confirmed this assessment, noting: “The far right is actually quite successful in forming international bonds.” He added that Deranque’s death provided these groups with additional opportunities “to mobilise even further” through social media platforms.

Despite government warnings about far-right threats, extremist ideologies have gained acceptance in mainstream political discourse. Concepts like “remigration”—forcibly removing non-white immigrants and their descendants—have transitioned from fringe discussions into the platforms of parties such as Germany’s AfD and policies promoted by the Trump administration.

Britain’s Reform UK party has proposed mass deportations and eliminating primary pathways for immigrant citizenship. France’s National Rally advocates for “national preference” policies, seeking to revoke residency rights for unemployed immigrants and limit family reunification programs.

SECURITY RESPONSE

Lyon municipal authorities expressed concern about activists traveling from across France and Europe for the demonstration, positioning police at city entry points according to a source familiar with the mayor’s office operations.

French intelligence agencies are actively monitoring far-right mobilization following Deranque’s death, with security sources noting his transformation into a European-level symbol and expressing worry about potential revenge attacks.

During a recent interview addressing foreign influence concerns ahead of France’s upcoming presidential election, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot highlighted far-right attempts to undermine democratic institutions following the killing.

“Our responsibility is to prevent it from doing so and to do so to regain control of our public space,” Barrot stated during a franceinfo television appearance, amid French criticism of warnings from the U.S. State Department and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni about left-wing threats.

Several European nations have implemented entry restrictions against prominent far-right figures in recent years. Switzerland and Germany have barred Austria’s Sellner, while Britain denied visa-free access to Dutch influencer Eva Vlaardingerbroek.

Sellner dismissed these restrictions, telling Reuters: “These measures just create more attention and more interest in what I have to say.” Vlaardingerbroek did not respond to requests for comment.

Greek officials confirmed they are monitoring far-right reactions to Deranque’s death. Switzerland’s intelligence service stated it tracks violent right-wing extremists with known international connections. German, Italian, and British authorities declined to comment on security concerns regarding far-right groups and their cross-border activities.

COORDINATED MESSAGING

The Lyon demonstration united various far-right factions, including groups connected to major extremist political parties such as France’s National Rally and Germany’s AfD.

German media collective Filmkunstkollektiv wrote on its Telegram channel regarding the Lyon march: “As alternative filmmakers, it is our foremost duty to spread the news of the murder of the young patriot as widely as possible.”

Simon Kaupert, who founded the collective, confirmed to Reuters that his organization has collaborated with the AfD and Identitarian movement chapters across Austria, Germany, and France.

More than 30 members of Italian group Lealta Azione attended the Lyon demonstration. The organization’s activists have previously campaigned alongside and sought election with Prime Minister Meloni’s party and Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini’s far-right League party.

The official march organizer and government liaison was Aliette Espieux, an anti-abortion activist who campaigned in Lyon’s 2020 municipal elections on a combined National Rally-Christian Democratic Party ticket called “For the love of Lyon.”

The AfD, Lealta Azione, National Rally, and Espieux did not respond to requests for comment.

A German far-right activist and influencer using the online name “Arminius,” who participated in the march but refused to provide his real identity, explained the strategic importance of international cooperation: “The right only has potential if it works together.”

“Networking with other European activists is extremely important to learn from each other and work together on greater projects,” he added.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrives at the White House Tuesday for high-stakes discussions with President Donald Trump, addressing complex issues from recent U.S.-Israeli military operations in Iran to potential new trade restrictions and Merz’s recent diplomatic trip to China.

The German leader’s Washington visit coincides with Germany and France revealing plans to strengthen their nuclear deterrence partnership, signaling European nations’ efforts to adjust to shifting Atlantic alliance dynamics while facing continued Russian aggression and potential Middle East instability.

Coming directly from meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Merz aims to preserve the strong working relationship he’s built with Trump during the past year, bolstered by Germany’s leadership in boosting military spending commitments.

However, the diplomatic mission requires careful navigation given European questions about the international legal basis for the Iran operations, plus significant anxiety over Trump’s warnings of additional global trade penalties.

Merz becomes the first European head of government to visit Washington following the Iran military actions — which have shut down a critical global oil shipping route and disrupted international aviation — and after the Supreme Court’s February 20 decision declaring Trump’s emergency trade measures unlawful.

While originally planned to center on commercial relations, the talks will likely focus heavily on the U.S.-Israeli operation that resulted in the deaths of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other top Iranian officials during the weekend.

Speaking Sunday, Merz avoided condemning the American airstrikes while declining to fully support an action that Trump opponents claim lacked proper justification and international legal foundation.

“We recognize the dilemma,” he said, explaining that repeated attempts over past decades had not put Iran off trying to acquire nuclear weapons or oppressing its own people. “So we’re not going to be lecturing our partners on their military strikes against Iran.”

Jeff Rathke, who leads the American-German Institute, a Washington think tank, indicated the Trump administration holds modest expectations for the meeting, with no significant investment deals anticipated.

“It makes it inevitable that the U.S. and Israeli attacks in Iran will be more of a focal point,” which could prove risky for Merz, Rathke said. “He might be asked directly whether Germany supports the U.S. and whether Germany would provide material support to the U.S. campaign, if asked.”

Charles Lichfield, who directs economic analysis at the Atlantic Council’s GeoEconomics Center, suggested Trump likely wants to hear from Merz about his China meetings before his own planned visit there within a month.

“Merz can tell Trump about what he heard and what he saw in China, and say, ‘We need to do something together. We’ll be stronger against China together,’” he said, noting that industrial overcapacity and global imbalances were key elements of the U.S. agenda for the Group of 20 nations this year.

Merz might also use the trip to press Trump for more detail on what he plans to do next on Iran, said Julianne Smith, who served as U.S. ambassador to NATO under former President Joe Biden.

“So, if nothing else, it can be a fact-finding mission to try to determine, ‘Do you guys have a plan for the day after?’” she said.

The State Department announced Tuesday that it has directed all non-essential American government employees and their family members to evacuate from three Middle Eastern nations: Bahrain, Iraq and Jordan.

Officials said the evacuation directive was issued due to heightened security concerns stemming from escalating tensions between the United States and Iran.

The announcement comes as American officials continue to assess potential threats to U.S. personnel stationed throughout the region amid the ongoing diplomatic and military standoff with Iranian forces.

KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim revealed new information Tuesday about an alleged conspiracy designed to overthrow his administration, telling lawmakers that a suspect hired a global public relations company to orchestrate attacks on government institutions.

Speaking before parliament, Ibrahim detailed how the scheme was allegedly developed in response to a major corruption probe being conducted by Malaysia’s Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) targeting the unnamed suspect.

Law enforcement officials announced last week they were examining a potential conspiracy to “sabotage national stability” using legislation designed to protect parliamentary democracy from threats.

The prime minister explained that the public relations campaign launched in August 2024 and was designed to continue through Malaysia’s next scheduled general election in early 2028. The strategy reportedly involved recruiting media organizations, financial institutions, and elected officials.

“Their strategy… was to contact all foreign media with a strategy of undermining the government’s efforts, especially the MACC’s,” Ibrahim stated during his parliamentary address, referencing materials seized by investigators.

“And then to use their power and contacts in foreign countries to shape a narrative questioning the authority of the Malaysian government and organise a movement through the Malaysian parliament. That is what worries us.”

According to Ibrahim, official documents show Bloomberg was among the media companies specifically targeted in the alleged conspiracy. Bloomberg representatives have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding these claims.

Authorities have not disclosed the identity of either the suspected individual or the international PR company involved.

A government task force is separately examining claims made in a recent Bloomberg investigation suggesting MACC chief Azam Baki may have violated stock ownership regulations.

Baki has expressed readiness to face investigation, stating he has “nothing to hide” and confirming all his financial disclosures comply with civil service requirements.

Political leaders, including members of Ibrahim’s own governing alliance, have demanded a royal commission investigate additional Bloomberg reporting alleging widespread impropriety within the anti-corruption agency.

MACC officials have dismissed these claims as “baseless” and accused critics of attempting to damage the agency’s corporate investigations and enforcement activities.

Ibrahim indicated Tuesday that establishing a royal commission would be “premature” while the special committee expects to finish its investigation within days.

Travelers flying between Asia and Europe are facing dramatically higher ticket prices and limited availability after major Middle Eastern airports shut down due to the ongoing U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran.

Dubai International Airport, which typically processes more than 1,000 daily flights and ranks as the world’s busiest international hub, has now been closed for four straight days as of Tuesday. Other major Gulf region airports have also suspended operations, creating severe capacity shortages on popular travel corridors including Australia to Europe, where Emirates and Qatar Airways typically dominate the market.

The crisis has overwhelmed travel agencies with desperate customers seeking alternatives. Australia’s Flight Centre Travel Group reports call volumes to their retail locations and emergency help lines have jumped 75% since the situation began, with staff working continuously to assist stranded passengers, according to Global Managing Director Andrew Stark.

“Australians are very resilient and are already rebooking flights to the UK/Europe via alternative routes via China, Singapore, and other Asian hubs, as well as North America via hubs such as Houston,” Stark explained.

Airlines providing direct Asia-Europe service can navigate around the restricted Middle Eastern airspace by routing northward through the Caucasus region and Afghanistan, or taking southern paths through Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Oman. However, these longer flight paths increase both travel time and fuel consumption, pushing up operational costs just as oil prices have surged, potentially leading to permanently higher ticket prices.

“Right now the whole of the Middle East is out of bounds, which is a high price for some airlines,” stated Subhas Menon, who leads the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines. “If then Europe can only be served at a high cost, airline profitability will be undermined. At the end of the day, the price to pay is connectivity.”

Aviation analysts suggest carriers offering direct flights or connections through unaffected hubs – such as Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Turkish Airlines – could benefit in the short term as passengers abandon Gulf-based airlines.

Website searches conducted by Reuters on Tuesday revealed extremely limited near-term availability and inflated pricing for Asia-to-London flights. Cathay Pacific’s Hong Kong-London route showed no economy seats available until March 11, with one-way tickets starting at HK$21,158 ($2,705.28) on that date, compared to more typical HK$5,054 pricing later in the month.

Qantas Airways has no economy-class availability on Sydney-London flights via its standard Perth and Singapore connections until March 17, when tickets cost A$3,129 ($2,220.03) one-way. For immediate travel, the airline offers expensive alternatives with unusual stopovers in cities like Los Angeles and Johannesburg.

Thailand’s Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn noted that Thai Airways is seeing completely booked Europe-bound flights as European vacationers choose direct routing instead of Middle Eastern connections. Bangkok-London searches showed sold-out conditions through late next week, with economy tickets priced at 71,190 baht ($2,265) on March 15, dropping to 27,045 baht by March 18.

Taiwan’s EVA Airways reported booking surges for European destinations as both Asian and European travelers hunt for alternative routing solutions. Chinese airline websites displayed dramatically elevated fares on China-UK routes, with economy seats virtually unavailable for immediate departure.

Typically, round-trip economy tickets from Beijing to London cost less than 10,000 yuan ($1,452.71), but Air China’s only Wednesday option is business class at 50,490 yuan one-way.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iranian forces launched a drone assault on the American Embassy in Saudi Arabia’s capital early Tuesday morning, continuing a pattern of regional strikes while the United States and Israel intensified their bombing campaign against Iran in what President Donald Trump described as the beginning of an extended military operation potentially lasting over a month.

Two Iranian drones targeted the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, resulting in a “limited fire” and minimal structural damage, Saudi Arabia’s Defense Ministry reported, though officials declined to provide additional specifics. This incident occurred one day after Iranian forces struck the American Embassy in Kuwait.

The broadening scope of Iran’s retaliatory strikes throughout the Gulf region, combined with the intensity of American and Israeli bombardments, the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and the absence of any clear withdrawal strategy suggest a potentially extended conflict with widespread implications.

Iranian retaliation has reached numerous Middle Eastern nations previously considered secure, with recent strikes targeting two Amazon data centers in the United Arab Emirates and causing damage near another facility in Bahrain, the company confirmed Tuesday. Tehran’s forces have also attacked energy infrastructure in Qatar and Saudi Arabia, while targeting multiple vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, the critical waterway handling one-fifth of global oil trade, causing petroleum and natural gas prices to spike worldwide.

The State Department has advised American citizens to evacuate more than a dozen Middle Eastern nations due to security concerns, with many other countries issuing similar warnings, though widespread airspace closures have left numerous travelers unable to depart.

Trump indicated that military operations will likely continue for four to five weeks, though he expressed readiness “to go far longer than that.”

“The hardest hits are yet to come from the U.S. military,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared to reporters prior to briefing Congress members on the Iranian operation.

According to the Iranian Red Crescent Society, the American-Israeli campaign has resulted in at least 555 fatalities. Israeli casualties include 11 deaths from Iranian missile strikes on multiple locations within the country. Israel’s counter-strikes against Hezbollah have killed dozens in Lebanon.

“Military escalation would force more families from their homes and hit civilians hard,” warned Amy Pope, director general of the International Organization on Migration, as she urged the global community Tuesday to push for de-escalation.

“Millions are already displaced in the region,” she added.

The American military has acknowledged six service member deaths. All casualties were Army personnel from a single logistics unit stationed in Kuwait, according to a U.S. official speaking anonymously due to lack of authorization for public comment.

Casualty reports include three deaths in the United Arab Emirates, with one fatality each in Kuwait and Bahrain.

Iran’s foreign minister shared imagery Monday depicting graves he claimed belonged to over 160 girls killed in a U.S.-Israeli attack on a Minab school. “Their bodies were torn to shreds,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on X.

In Israel, funeral services were held Monday evening at Jerusalem’s Mount of Olives for three young siblings killed in an Iranian strike.

The conflict’s confusion became evident when American forces reported that Kuwait had “mistakenly shot down” three U.S. fighter aircraft during Iran’s multi-pronged assault using planes, ballistic missiles and drones. U.S. Central Command confirmed all six pilots safely ejected.

Iranian state television reported that strikes caused two explosions at a Tehran broadcasting facility early Tuesday, though no injuries were reported.

Iran’s International Atomic Energy Agency ambassador Reza Najafi informed reporters that Sunday airstrikes hit the Natanz nuclear enrichment facility.

“Their justification that Iran wants to develop nuclear weapons is simply a big lie,” he stated.

Neither Israel nor the United States have confirmed targeting the facility, which American forces bombed during the 12-day Iran-Israel conflict in June. Israeli officials have stated their focus on “leadership and nuclear infrastructure.”

Trump outlined the military campaign’s goals as destroying Iran’s missile capabilities, eliminating its naval forces, preventing nuclear weapon acquisition, and stopping support for allied groups like Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which launched missiles at Israel Monday.

Iran maintains it has not enriched uranium since June, while asserting its right to do so and characterizing its nuclear program as peaceful.

However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed in a Monday evening Fox News Channel Hannity interview that Iran was constructing “new sites, new places” underground for atomic bomb production.

“We had to take the action now and we did,” Netanyahu said, providing no supporting evidence for his assertion.

Associated Press analysis of satellite imagery revealed minimal activity at two Iranian nuclear facilities before the conflict began. Experts suggested Tehran was likely evaluating damage from 2025 U.S. strikes and potentially salvaging remaining materials.

The conflict has extended into Lebanon, where Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants fired missiles at Israel Monday, though no injuries or damage were reported.

Israeli retaliation included strikes on Lebanon. The nation’s Health Ministry documented at least 52 deaths and 154 injuries from overnight attacks in Beirut suburbs and southern Lebanon.

Israeli military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin stated that Israel maintains “all options on the table,” including a possible ground invasion of Lebanon.

Early Tuesday morning brought additional Israeli airstrikes on Beirut, with officials claiming they targeted “Hezbollah command centers and weapons storage facilities.”

Hezbollah reported launching drones against an Israeli air base. Israeli military forces confirmed downing two drones.

An Iranian-affiliated militant group in Iraq has also claimed responsibility for strikes on American military installations.

Middle Eastern warfare has reached a critical juncture, with President Donald Trump indicating American forces possess “the capability to go far longer” than the originally estimated four-to-five week duration for military action against Iran.

Throughout Tehran, explosive sounds echoed across the city during overnight hours and into Tuesday morning, as American and Israeli forces have maintained their assault on Iran following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei this past Saturday.

Iranian forces and their regional partners have retaliated with strikes against Israeli territory, Gulf nations in the vicinity, and infrastructure vital to global oil and gas supplies.

The ferocity of the combat and absence of a clear withdrawal strategy have created conditions for an extended confrontation with widespread ramifications. American and Israeli officials have offered inconsistent explanations regarding the conflict’s goals and potential resolution.

During a Monday evening appearance on Fox News Channel’s “Hannity” program, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu justified the military action, claiming Iran was constructing “new sites, new places” that would render “their ballistic missile program and their atomic bomb program immune within months,” though he offered no supporting evidence.

Associated Press examination of satellite imagery revealed minimal operations at two Iranian nuclear facilities prior to hostilities, with experts suggesting Tehran was likely evaluating damage from American June strikes and attempting to recover remaining materials.

Recent developments include:

Iran’s capital experienced continuous explosive sounds throughout nighttime hours extending into early Tuesday morning.

Local residents reported observing aircraft flying overhead during the attacks.

The specific targets of these strikes remained unclear in immediate reports.

Iranian state broadcasting aired a Revolutionary Guard statement early Tuesday, announcing missile and drone strikes against a Bahraini air installation.

Israeli military operations struck Lebanon’s capital city Tuesday morning.

Israeli defense forces stated they were attacking “Hezbollah command centers and weapons storage facilities in Beirut.”

Hezbollah responded by launching drone attacks against an Israeli airfield.

Israeli military officials reported successfully intercepting two incoming drones.

Japan has instructed its shipping companies to keep vessels away from Persian Gulf waters to protect crew safety.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara announced Tuesday that the Transport Ministry had contacted the Japanese Shipowners’ Association, urging maximum protection for personnel in the region.

Kihara stated that ships currently in Gulf waters should anchor in secure locations.

Monday saw Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi meeting with Iranian ambassador Peiman Seadat, reiterating Japan’s position that Iran must cease attacks on neighboring nations and other destabilizing activities.

Motegi emphasized the critical importance of maintaining security in the Strait of Hormuz for Japan’s energy needs.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi attempted to shift blame to the United States early Tuesday, characterizing American involvement as entering “a war of choice on behalf of Israel.”

Following Trump’s call for Iranians to overthrow their government, Araghchi made a similar appeal to American citizens.

“Shedding of both American and Iranian blood is thus on Israel Firsters,” Araghchi posted on X. “American people deserve better and should take back their country.”

WASHINGTON/BEIJING – Recent American military operations targeting Iran have placed Chinese President Xi Jinping in a difficult position as he prepares for a scheduled summit with President Donald Trump, marking the second time in two months that Washington has taken military action against one of China’s key allies.

Trump plans to travel to Beijing by the end of March, following the January capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro during a dangerous operation in Caracas and the ongoing U.S.-Israeli air campaign that resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday. Both nations have served as significant oil providers for China.

The upcoming meeting, which Trump’s administration says will center on trade discussions, remains uncertain in both its outcome and whether it will proceed as planned.

A week ago, Trump appeared to be heading into the Beijing talks from a position of weakness after the Supreme Court struck down several of his tariff policies. However, the tables have turned, with Xi now appearing unsteady and struggling to formulate a strong response to America’s largest military engagement since the Iraq conflict.

Although Beijing has denounced the U.S.-led operations as “unacceptable” and urged restraint, analysts note that China’s cautious reaction demonstrates both its limited capacity to affect American military decisions and the transactional character of its diplomatic relationships.

Former U.S. ambassador to Beijing Nicholas Burns, who served under President Joe Biden, wrote on X that China is “proving to be a feckless friend for its authoritarian allies.”

Xi must now navigate the uncomfortable choice between welcoming Trump on the international stage or withdrawing from the proposed March 31 to April 2 summit. Chinese officials have not yet confirmed these meeting dates.

If Xi chooses to move forward, he may be calculating that Washington will ultimately suffer if it becomes mired in a prolonged Middle Eastern conflict.

Trump has indicated the Iranian operation could continue for approximately four weeks, potentially extending nearly to his China visit.

China’s Washington embassy did not respond to inquiries about whether the Iranian situation has affected plans to receive Trump. When asked about how the Iran strikes might influence discussions with Xi, a White House representative said Trump was “taking decisive action to eliminate major national security threats,” without referencing China specifically.

CHINA FACES UNIQUE VULNERABILITIES

The U.S. military campaign presents both immediate and symbolic risks for China.

As the globe’s top purchaser of Iranian petroleum, China imported 13.4% of its total seaborne oil from Iran last year. This creates exceptional vulnerability to supply interruptions as the conflict develops, especially if the Strait of Hormuz – the planet’s most critical oil shipping lane – becomes blocked.

Although China has options to diversify its oil sources, analysts explain that losing Iranian supplies in the near term would create substantial price pressures, squeezing profit margins for the manufacturing sector that forms the backbone of China’s economy.

The American assault on Iran also demonstrates to Beijing and its partners that U.S. military forces can operate effectively not just in their immediate region, but globally.

“The strikes on Iran and the potential regime change will severely impact China’s interests,” stated Zhao Minghao, an international relations specialist at Shanghai’s Fudan University.

Zhao added: “China is assessing the deeper intentions behind U.S. actions in Venezuela and Iran, as the U.S. may increase pressure on China by controlling the international energy market.”

The White House was certainly aware of these implications when it announced Trump’s China trip dates while preparing for the Iranian attack. A source with knowledge of U.S.-China communications told Reuters that the White House continues to wait for an official invitation from Chinese leadership.

BANKING ON RESTRAINED CHINESE REACTION

Currently, the United States is wagering that its Iranian operations will not provoke any Chinese military intervention.

A U.S. official informed Reuters that there is no expectation of China providing material assistance to Iran during American operations, nor that continued U.S. Middle East involvement would encourage Beijing to act more aggressively in the short term in the Indo-Pacific region, where China has undertaken an unprecedented military expansion.

The primary American worry is that challenges in quickly restocking ammunition supplies could diminish “medium-term deterrence” against potential Chinese military moves toward Taiwan, the official explained.

Limited in its capacity to challenge America’s global military presence, China will likely step back and allow the United States to bear responsibility for any resulting Middle Eastern instability, reinforcing Beijing’s message that Washington acts recklessly and creates instability, according to analysts.

Zha Daojiong, an energy security expert at China’s Peking University, told Reuters that Chinese leadership would not feel obligated to assist Iran in the conflict and would reject the “purely rhetorical construction” in Western discourse suggesting an alliance with Iran.

“The direct parties to the conflict make their own bed and get to sleep in it,” Zha stated.

Taiwan’s government declared its backing for global initiatives aimed at bringing democratic freedoms to the Iranian people, while also expressing solidarity with the United States and Israel in their recent military actions.

The announcement came Tuesday from Taiwan’s foreign ministry, as the island nation continues to strengthen ties with democratic partners amid increasing military threats from China, which claims sovereignty over Taiwan.

Taiwan’s leadership, led by President Lai Ching-te, has frequently compared their nation’s security challenges to those facing Israel, particularly as Beijing has intensified military pressure on the island in recent years.

The relationship between Taiwan and Israel has deepened significantly since Hamas launched its attack on southern Israel in October 2023, sparking the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Taiwan has provided unwavering support to Israel throughout this period.

When questioned about Taiwan’s position on recent U.S. and Israeli military operations against Iran, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hsiao Kuang-wei emphasized Taiwan’s commitment to democratic values.

“We support the international community’s efforts to help the Iranian people pursue freedom and democracy and we hope the Iranian people can soon enjoy freedom, democracy and human rights,” Hsiao stated.

The spokesperson also criticized Iran’s recent “indiscriminate military attacks,” specifically mentioning the missile and drone strikes targeting Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and other nations in the Gulf region.

During parliamentary proceedings earlier Tuesday, Deputy Foreign Minister Francois Wu, who conducted a confidential visit to Israel in late 2023, characterized U.S. and Israeli objectives as efforts to “eliminate terrorism.”

“Of course, the U.S. and Israel are both allies of Taiwan’s,” Wu noted.

While Taiwan maintains unofficial relationships with both Israel and the United States, it lacks formal diplomatic recognition from either nation. However, Washington remains Taiwan’s primary international supporter and weapons provider.

Taiwan severed diplomatic connections with Iran in 1971 when Tehran officially recognized the People’s Republic of China.

The Israeli Defense Forces announced Monday night that they have launched another series of military attacks targeting Iran’s capital city of Tehran.

Before conducting the operations, Israeli military officials had warned Tehran civilians to evacuate certain areas of the city, with particular emphasis on neighborhoods surrounding the headquarters of IRIB, Iran’s state-run television and radio network.

The announcement marks the latest escalation in ongoing tensions between the two Middle Eastern nations.

WASHINGTON – Detainee advocates are sounding the alarm about the safety of Americans currently held or trapped in Iran as military strikes between the U.S., Israel, and Iran continue to intensify.

According to advocacy groups, Iran is currently holding at least six U.S. citizens or permanent residents in custody. These individuals are part of what experts believe could be thousands of dual U.S.-Iranian citizens and green card holders who have remained in the country despite ongoing State Department advisories against traveling there due to arrest risks.

“The regime’s history of seeking to leverage Americans for political aims is long established,” explained Ryan Fayhee, who serves on the board of the Foley Foundation advocacy organization. “I would have to imagine that any American is potentially at risk.”

The concerns have intensified following Saturday’s coordinated U.S.-Israeli military operations against Iran, which resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other high-ranking officials. Iran has responded with retaliatory strikes throughout the region, raising fears that Tehran may seek additional ways to strike back against America.

Kieran Ramsey, formerly an FBI assistant director who once led the U.S. hostage recovery unit and now works with Global Reach advocacy group, highlighted the scope of the problem. “There are hundreds, if not thousands, if not more, of dual nationals that are back there that still have familial ties despite the risks,” Ramsey stated.

The situation is complicated by Iran’s refusal to acknowledge dual citizenship, which prevents other nations from offering diplomatic protection or consular assistance to their citizens who also hold Iranian nationality.

A knowledgeable source revealed that the State Department lacks precise information about how many Americans are currently in Iran. Neither the office of the U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, the White House, the State Department, nor Iran’s U.N. mission provided immediate responses to requests for comment.

President Donald Trump has prioritized the release of Americans who are wrongfully detained or held hostage internationally. According to White House figures, more than 70 Americans have been freed since his second term began in January 2025. However, Trump has not outlined specific protection measures for those detained since Saturday’s military strikes commenced.

Just hours before the U.S.-Israeli attacks began, Secretary of State Marco Rubio made a significant announcement on Friday, designating Iran as the first state sponsor of wrongful detention under a Trump executive order from September 5.

Rubio indicated this designation could lead to restrictions on using U.S. passports for travel to and from Iran, along with other unspecified actions, unless Tehran stops taking “hostages” and frees all Americans. He did not specify the total number of detained Americans.

While detainee advocates viewed Rubio’s announcement as a warning to Iran against harming American prisoners or other U.S. citizens, they worry the message might be ignored given the disruption to Iran’s leadership structure from the strikes.

“When you have kinetic action and military strikes like this, it just ups the risk factor for these folks exponentially,” Ramsey warned.

Elizabeth Richards, research director at the Foley Foundation, confirmed that at least six dual U.S.-Iranian citizens or legal permanent residents are known to be detained in Tehran’s Evin Prison – a facility notorious for housing political prisoners and foreign nationals – or are prevented from leaving Iran. Three of these individuals have not been publicly identified.

Israeli forces bombed Evin Prison during a 12-day aerial campaign against Iran last June, resulting in at least 71 deaths according to Iranian officials.

Among those currently held at Evin is Shahab Dalili, a green card holder who was arrested in 2016 while heading to the airport after his father’s funeral. He received a 10-year sentence for allegedly collaborating with a foreign government, the Foley Foundation reports.

Fayhee represents Reza Valizadeh, a dual U.S.-Iranian citizen and journalist who was arrested in 2024 after returning to Iran to see his aging parents. He also received 10 years for “collaboration with a hostile government,” according to the Foley Foundation.

Also imprisoned at Evin is Kamran Hekmati, a 70-year-old Jewish Iranian-American who owns a jewelry business and was arrested last year, according to Ramsey, who represents Hekmati’s family.

Hekmati was found guilty of traveling to Israel under a law prohibiting such visits within the past decade, despite providing evidence that his last visit occurred 13 years before his arrest, Ramsey explained.

The elderly man, who is battling bladder cancer, also faces espionage charges for which he has not been convicted. His attorney was informed these charges stem from alleged meetings with Israeli intelligence operatives.

According to Ramsey, Iran frequently adds espionage charges as a way to signal that a detainee will only be released through a prisoner exchange with Washington.

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — When 12-year-old Lionel Saunders called his mother to report seeing a crocodile in their neighborhood creek, Stephanie Kirsop thought he was pulling her leg.

The Newcastle family lives in a temperate coastal region located 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) away from where crocodiles naturally inhabit Australia’s tropical northern areas.

Young Lionel and his companions discovered the 39-inch juvenile reptile on Saturday afternoon in the local waterway. While officials were initially doubtful about the sighting, they managed to capture the wandering crocodile by Sunday evening.

“My son took videos because he was trying to convince me it was real and I didn’t believe him. It did look like a crocodile but I was like, no it’s a log,” Kirsop explained on Tuesday.

“He rang me back a little bit later and he’s like: ‘I’m so serious mom. You have to come down here and have a look,’” she recalled. “The whole drive down there I’m thinking this is going to be a trick. They’re going to laugh at me.”

When Kirsop arrived at the scene, there was no mistaking what she saw.

“There is a little crocodile just swimming around in the creek where local kids go to fish and sometimes kids swim in there. Wow,” she said.

After contacting a wildlife rescue organization, Kirsop was told crocodiles weren’t found in their region. She provided photographic and video evidence to prove otherwise.

The case was then forwarded to the Australian Reptile Park, a facility that houses crocodiles in climate-controlled conditions.

Billy Collett, the park’s manager, initially wondered if the images might be digitally created fakes. However, police verification confirmed a genuine crocodile was indeed present in Ironbark Creek.

“I was a bit suspicious because we get a lot of phone calls. These days with AI, it’s just so crazy,” Collett explained.

Upon examination, Collett identified the animal as an Australian freshwater crocodile, scientifically known as crocodylus johnstoni. This species is smaller and poses less threat than saltwater crocodiles.

“They’re capable of inflicting a serious injury,” Collett noted regarding the smaller variety.

Collett’s rescue team successfully captured the reptile on Sunday evening, approximately 3 kilometers (2 miles) from its original location.

“I just wanted to get him out of there because he would’ve perished in winter,” Collett stated. The Southern Hemisphere is currently experiencing autumn weather.

The healthy crocodile will remain at the reptile park while officials determine its permanent placement, as crocodiles receive protection under Australian wildlife laws.

Collett believes the animal was likely an escaped or abandoned pet that had outgrown its aquarium home or become too hazardous for private ownership.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu provided reassurance Monday that current military operations against Iran will not become a drawn-out conflict spanning multiple years.

Speaking during an appearance on Fox News’ “Hannity” show, Netanyahu addressed concerns about the duration of the military campaign that commenced over the weekend with coordinated U.S.-Israeli strikes on Tehran.

“I said it could be quick and decisive. It may take some time, but it’s not going to take years. It’s not an endless war,” Netanyahu stated during the television interview.

The military action began Saturday with airstrikes targeting Iranian positions, resulting in the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iran has responded with retaliatory strikes against Israeli targets and launched missiles at Arab nations hosting American military installations throughout the Middle East.

President Donald Trump had initially estimated the conflict would last approximately four to five weeks, though he later suggested it might extend beyond that timeframe while defending the decision to engage in comprehensive military action against Iran.

Netanyahu dismissed comparisons to other regional conflicts that have stretched on for years, emphasizing this operation would have a more defined endpoint.

The Israeli leader expressed optimism that the military campaign could create opportunities for sustainable peace across the Middle East, potentially including normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

When questioned about prospects for lasting regional stability, Netanyahu responded affirmatively: “Yes I do.”

Recent polling data from Reuters/Ipsos indicates limited American support for the military intervention, with only one-quarter of respondents backing the strikes on Iran that have intensified Middle Eastern tensions.

The lengthy conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have left many Americans wary of extensive military commitments overseas, contributing to skepticism about the current operation.

Netanyahu suggested the joint U.S.-Israeli military pressure could encourage Iranian citizens to challenge their government’s authority.

“Now, of course, it’s up to the people of Iran in the final count to change the government, but we are creating – America and Israel together are creating – the conditions for them to do so,” he explained.

Trump’s stated objectives for the military campaign have evolved since operations began. Initially, he called on Iranians to “take back your country” and suggested regime change as a goal.

However, in more recent statements Monday, Trump focused on preventing Iran’s nuclear weapons development – which Tehran denies pursuing – and dismantling its long-range missile capabilities, without mentioning government overthrow.

Israel is widely regarded as the sole nuclear-armed nation in the Middle East, while the United States also maintains nuclear weapons capabilities.

GUADALAJARA, Mexico — Mexican authorities conducted the burial of one of the country’s most notorious drug kingpins Monday, as Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, better known as ‘El Mencho,’ was laid to rest in an elaborate gleaming gold coffin surrounded by massive floral arrangements and heavy military security.

A federal source verified that the head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel was interred at a burial ground in Zapopan, located on the outskirts of Guadalajara, Mexico’s second most populous city. The funeral procession drew dozens of attendees, with many holding black umbrellas despite clear skies while a traditional banda ensemble performed regional Mexican music.

The source speaking about the burial site asked to remain unnamed as they lacked permission to discuss the matter publicly. Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office refused to verify where El Mencho was buried, citing safety concerns.

Enhanced security measures had been in place since Sunday at a mortuary where massive floral displays began arriving without identification. Several arrangements featured rooster imagery made from flowers, referencing Oseguera Cervantes’ nickname as the ‘Lord of the Roosters.’

Mexican military forces fatally shot Oseguera Cervantes just over a week ago during an operation to apprehend him. According to his death certificate reviewed by The Associated Press, he succumbed to numerous gunshot injuries.

His death triggered widespread violence spanning approximately 20 states. The death certificate aligns with Defense Secretary Ricardo Trevilla’s account of the capture mission, in which he stated that the cartel boss and two security personnel sustained severe injuries during a firefight with troops near a residence in Tapalpa, Jalisco. All three perished while being transported to medical facilities.

The official document detailed that Oseguera Cervantes sustained gunshot trauma to his torso, stomach, and lower extremities.

Following his death, his remains were transported to Mexico City for forensic examination before being released to relatives on Saturday, according to a brief Attorney General’s Office announcement.

The death certificate also indicates that Oseguera Cervantes was designated for burial, which is typical protocol in violent death cases to preserve potential forensic evidence for future investigations. The paperwork did not specify the intended burial site.

Law enforcement’s security worries about the burial location are justified. The cartel leader’s death prompted revenge attacks by the organization across multiple states. Over 70 individuals lost their lives between the initial military action and subsequent violence. Officials report that enforcement operations targeting other senior cartel members remain ongoing.

Mexican drug lord burials are traditionally shrouded in secrecy, which their followers exploit to build legendary status around these figures. Within hours of El Mencho’s death, songwriters had already composed ballads called narcocorridos commemorating his demise.

In Culiacan, located in adjacent Sinaloa state and headquarters of the similarly named cartel, a graveyard is famous for its opulent tombs and monuments housing former drug bosses including Ignacio Coronel — a former El Mencho partner — and Arturo Beltrán Leyva.

One drug leader, Nazario Moreno of the violent, religiously-themed Knights Templar cartel, gained notoriety for being reportedly killed twice — first in 2010, then actually eliminated in 2014.

Some remains vanish entirely, such as Heriberto Lazcano, the notorious Zetas leader whose corpse was taken in 2012. Others meet unusual ends, like Amado Carrillo Fuentes, the ‘Lord of the Skies,’ who perished during failed cosmetic surgery.

BEIJING — While China showcases impressive technological achievements including martial arts-performing robots and vehicles that park themselves, the nation’s economic modernization efforts are encountering significant obstacles as the property sector remains in decline, small enterprises face hardships, and young adults find employment increasingly scarce.

The contrast between President Xi Jinping’s vision of a high-technology, AI-powered future and the stark reality of decelerating economic expansion forms the setting for this week’s National People’s Congress gathering, China’s primarily ceremonial legislative body that convenes Thursday.

Approximately 3,000 representatives will travel to Beijing for the sessions, where senior officials will reveal China’s yearly economic growth objectives and legislators will approve a five-year policy roadmap extending through 2030.

“What we’ll see is the trade-off between whether it’s going to be industry and tech, or looking after domestic demand,” said Alexander Davey, an analyst at the Mercator Institute for China Studies. “These are the two priorities that are juggling for Xi Jinping right now.”

In Guangdong province’s southern region, households reduced major expenditures during February’s Lunar New Year celebration. Even traditional good-luck plants such as orchids, typically purchased as symbols of wealth and fortune, saw price reductions of up to 40% compared to the previous year.

This budget-conscious behavior has prompted small business operators to voice concerns about difficult economic conditions.

Chinese officials announced the country achieved “around 5%” economic expansion in 2025, though economists express skepticism regarding certain government statistics.

The moderately strong growth rate received support from robust industrial output as overseas sales increased, withstanding tariff increases imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump and additional trade disruptions.

“Hitting the 2025 growth target is hardly reassuring as the Chinese economy is losing growth momentum, with rising imbalances and enormous structural problems being papered over by a surge in export-driven growth,” Eswar Prasad, a professor of economics and trade policy at Cornell University, told The Associated Press in emailed comments.

China’s real estate sector downturn started multiple years ago, with fragmented recovery attempts showing only sporadic improvement. Numerous property companies failed to meet debt obligations as government officials restricted excessive lending practices. With home values declining 20% or more since 2021, market recovery remains distant.

The collapse of this major industry eliminated hundreds of thousands of positions, and with 12.7 million university graduates entering employment markets this year, over 16% of young Chinese remain jobless. Some are abandoning competitive pursuits entirely, choosing to “lie flat.”

Households whose primary wealth consists of property ownership have become hesitant about spending, undermining consumer demand and complicating long-term plans to transition the economy toward greater domestic consumption.

The congressional session may introduce new initiatives to strengthen social services and additional support measures, which economists describe as overdue and essential for sustained, stable growth.

Export dependency currently helps maintain China’s economic activity. The country generated a $1.2 trillion trade surplus in 2025, with overseas sales keeping manufacturing facilities operational. Despite ongoing U.S.-China trade tensions, shipments have increased to markets including Europe and Latin America, though trading partners are expressing resistance.

Under Xi’s leadership, China has emphasized developing cutting-edge technologies including artificial intelligence, robotics, semiconductors, electric vehicles, and clean energy. Extensive government backing has enabled companies to produce more EVs, televisions, solar panels, and other goods than China and its partners require.

“To achieve those goals, the government is going to have to continue to provide subsidies and preferential support for high-tech and strategic industries,” said Leah Fahy, a China economist at Capital Economics. “(That) will, in turn, continue to fuel overcapacity.”

The International Monetary Fund recently recommended China reduce extensive state subsidies and support for industries that numerous Western nations claim provide unfair competitive advantages over international competitors. Meanwhile, social welfare and other economic sectors remain underdeveloped.

The emphasis on what the governing Communist Party calls “high quality development” will likely persist under the 2026-2030 five-year plan that lawmakers are expected to approve during the congress.

Throughout recent decades, China’s evolution into a manufacturing powerhouse was supported by explosive construction of residential buildings, commercial structures, transportation networks, harbors, and rail systems. However, technology supply chains are more limited, generating fewer employment opportunities. The economic spillover effect is considerably weaker, according to Lynn Song, chief economist for Greater China at ING Bank.

“If anything, the more successful the so-called future industries become, the more they will draw resources away from the traditional sectors that still provide the bulk of employment and livelihoods for most people,” said Henry Gao, a professor of law at Singapore Management University.

The yearly congressional gathering presents an elaborate spectacle. Thousands of representatives occupy Beijing’s Great Hall of the People. Military musicians perform while delegates representing various ethnic communities attend wearing traditional attire.

Despite the ceremony, the meeting functions largely as political theater. The congress spans just one week, with nearly unanimous final-day voting that formalizes decisions previously made by party leadership. The event demonstrates unity while confirming established policies and direction.

This leadership has increasingly focused on Xi, who has concentrated authority since assuming control in 2012. Now 72, he ranks among modern China’s most influential leaders. Some observers believe Xi may follow Mao Zedong’s example, the revolutionary founder of communist China, and govern indefinitely.

Congressional reports contain numerous references to the party’s essential function, “with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core.”

Following his rise to power, Xi intensified existing anti-corruption efforts, compelling many officials to resign for investigation and prosecution, including senior military leadership.

Prior to the congress opening, the national legislature expelled nine military officers from membership, expanding a multi-year military cleanup. Last month, Gen. Zhang Youxia, the highest-ranking military official below Xi, was removed due to suspected disciplinary infractions.

Xi’s measures may diminish China’s military preparedness in the near term, but he is also ensuring the armed forces will demonstrate greater political loyalty over time, according to a Center for Strategic and International Studies analysis.

The anti-corruption campaigns have eliminated potential political opponents, and his firm control over power significantly reduces the likelihood that other officials will contest his vision of transforming China into a technologically self-reliant leader and 21st-century global superpower.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney landed in Australia Tuesday for diplomatic talks focused on strengthening the partnership between two nations he describes as “middle powers” navigating what he calls a “rupture” in global stability.

Both countries, which maintain strong alliances with the United States, are conducting these discussions as conflicts intensify in the Middle East. The leaders plan to enhance collaboration, particularly as both nations serve as major suppliers of essential minerals.

Carney’s current diplomatic tour spans multiple destinations across the Asia-Pacific, including Japan and India, where he has already secured trade agreements and worked to repair relationships with New Delhi following a year of tensions over Sikh separatist issues.

The relationship between Canada and Australia remains strong, with both governments planning to expand partnership efforts in defense operations, maritime security, essential mineral resources, commerce, and artificial intelligence development, according to statements from Carney’s administration prior to his arrival.

During his visit, Carney will speak before Australia’s parliament and hold discussions with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Last week, Albanese characterized Canada as among Australia’s “closest friends, built on generations of trust” and advocated for stronger connections to advance mutual national objectives.

Western governments are working to establish their own reserves of critical minerals essential for semiconductor manufacturing and defense equipment production, as China—currently the world’s leading producer—restricts supply chains.

“There’s a lot Canada and Australia can do together on critical minerals as producer nations,” Australian Resources Minister Madeline King stated Monday when discussing Carney’s diplomatic visit.

During a prominent address at the World Economic Forum in Davos last month, Carney emphasized the importance of “middle powers” forming closer partnerships.

“Middle powers must act together because if we’re not at the table, we’re on the menu,” he declared.

At Wednesday’s scheduled appearance at Sydney’s Lowy Institute think tank, Carney plans to expand on these themes, discussing changes in international dynamics and the potential advantages they present for nations like Canada and Australia.

WASHINGTON – Federal officials issued an urgent evacuation order Monday, directing American citizens to leave 15 Middle Eastern nations immediately following escalating military actions between the United States, Israel, and Iran.

The State Department’s assistant secretary for consular affairs, Mora Namdar, instructed U.S. nationals to utilize any available commercial flights to exit the region “due to safety risks.”

The evacuation directive encompasses Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. This follows the department’s recent updates to regional travel advisories warning Americans against visiting these areas.

Earlier Monday, the U.S. Embassy in Amman, Jordan, confirmed its staff had evacuated the facility “due to a threat.”

Federal authorities have established an inter-agency emergency task force to handle the crisis and coordinate America’s response to the expanding conflict, according to a U.S. official.

The escalation began Saturday when American and Israeli forces launched coordinated attacks on Iranian targets, resulting in the deaths of numerous high-ranking officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran retaliated with counter-strikes against U.S. and Israeli positions throughout the region.

President Donald Trump indicated Monday that military planners initially estimated the conflict would span four to five weeks, though he acknowledged it could extend beyond that timeframe.

The regional warfare has claimed numerous lives and triggered a surge in energy costs after Iranian leadership threatened to target vessels attempting passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global oil shipments.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Energy Secretary Chris Wright plan to unveil measures Tuesday aimed at addressing rising energy prices, according to the nation’s top diplomat, Marco Rubio.

“We anticipated this could be an issue, and Secretary Wright and Bessent will begin to roll out those steps, starting tomorrow, to mitigate, to mitigate against the impact that could have,” Rubio stated before briefing congressional leadership about the strikes.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has responded to Iranian allegations that more than 160 people were killed when a girls’ elementary school was struck during weekend military operations between the United States, Israel, and Iran.

Iranian state media claimed the deadly incident occurred at a school in Minab, a town in southern Iran, on Saturday during the opening day of coordinated U.S. and Israeli military action against Iran. The reported casualties would make it the most lethal single event in the current conflict.

When questioned by reporters Monday about the alleged school strike, Rubio emphasized that American military policy prohibits such attacks. “The United States would not deliberately target a school,” Rubio stated, adding that “The Department of War would be investigating that if that was our strike, and I would refer your question to them.”

Rubio acknowledged the severity of the allegations while noting the lack of confirmed details. “It will be very tragic, but I can’t speak to the details behind it because I just don’t have it. It will be a tragic outcome if it’s happened. I don’t have the details as to what led to it but what is clear is that the United States will not deliberately target a school,” he explained.

The Pentagon and U.S. Central Command have not provided official statements regarding the specific incident. However, Central Command informed media organizations over the weekend that it was “looking into” reports concerning “civilian harm resulting from ongoing military operations.”

The alleged attack has drawn sharp criticism from international figures and organizations. Both UNESCO, the United Nations’ cultural and educational agency, and Nobel Peace Prize recipient Malala Yousafzai have denounced the reported strike. Under international humanitarian law, intentional attacks on schools, hospitals, and other civilian infrastructure constitute war crimes.

U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Rosemary DiCarlo confirmed Monday that she was aware of the Iranian reports regarding the deaths and noted that American officials have indicated they are examining the claims.

Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon, when asked about the strike that Iranian media attributed to both Israel and the United States, said he had encountered varying accounts of the incident, including reports suggesting Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was responsible for targeting the school.

Reuters has been unable to verify the reports independently.

The current air campaign by U.S. and Israeli forces against Iran commenced Saturday with strikes on Tehran and has expanded as Iran has launched retaliatory attacks.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was reportedly killed during the weekend operations. President Donald Trump has indicated the military campaign may continue for several weeks.

WASHINGTON – Federal intelligence officials are warning that the United States could face retaliatory strikes from Iran and its allied groups following the weekend death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, according to a government assessment obtained by news outlets.

The Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis issued the threat evaluation on February 28, stating that Iranian forces and proxy organizations “probably” present a risk for targeted strikes within American borders, though officials believe a major physical assault remains improbable.

Intelligence analysts indicate their primary immediate worry centers on Iran-supported “hacktivists” launching smaller-scale digital warfare against American computer systems, including website vandalism and coordinated service disruption attacks.

“Although a large-scale physical attack is unlikely, Iran and its proxies probably pose a persistent threat of targeted attacks in the Homeland, and will almost certainly escalate retaliatory actions — or calls to action — if reports of the Ayatollah’s death are confirmed,” the DHS document stated.

The Department of Homeland Security has not yet provided a response to requests for additional information.

Iranian officials on Sunday verified reports confirming Khamenei’s death during Saturday’s military operation, which was first disclosed by Israeli forces and President Donald Trump.

The homeland security evaluation further indicated that Iran would likely maintain its offensive operations against American and coalition forces throughout the Middle East region and would almost certainly hold top U.S. leadership responsible for any domestic unrest triggered by Trump’s statements advocating for governmental overthrow.

The combined U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran that began Saturday expanded Monday as Israeli forces struck Lebanese targets following Hezbollah counterattacks, while Tehran continued launching missiles and unmanned aircraft against Gulf nations housing American military installations.

Meanwhile, law enforcement officials investigating a deadly shooting at an Austin, Texas establishment Sunday that claimed at least two lives say it remains premature to determine whether the perpetrator acted in response to the Iranian conflict.

The deceased shooter, who was fatally wounded by responding officers, was photographed wearing clothing displaying the Iranian flag with “IRAN” written in the nation’s colors of green, white and red, along with a sweatshirt bearing the phrase “Property of Allah,” according to a federal law enforcement source.

First Lady Melania Trump made history Monday by becoming the first spouse of any world leader to preside over a United Nations Security Council session, leading discussions about protecting children and education during armed conflicts.

The groundbreaking meeting, titled “Children, Technology, and Education in Conflict,” took place just two days following U.S. and Israeli military operations against Iran that have raised UN concerns about child welfare in the region.

The session occurred as the United States assumed the Security Council’s monthly rotating leadership role, representing another example of how President Trump has integrated family members into significant foreign policy matters.

According to her office, the First Lady’s goal was to highlight education as a pathway to promoting tolerance and global peace. During her address to the council, she stated: “The U.S. stands with all of the children throughout the world. I hope soon peace will be yours.”

The timing proved controversial following Iran’s accusations against Israel and the U.S. regarding a Saturday attack on a girls’ elementary school in Minab, a southern Iranian community. Iran’s UN representative Amir Saeid Iravani reported that 165 female students were killed in the strike, though Reuters has been unable to verify these claims independently.

Iravani criticized what he called the “deeply shameful and hypocritical” nature of the U.S. hosting a meeting about child protection in warfare “while at the same time launching missile strikes against Iranian cities and bombing schools and killing children.”

Following the Iranian allegations, UNICEF released a statement Saturday acknowledging the reports and warning that the Middle East military escalation “marks a dangerous moment for millions of children in the region.” The statement supported UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ appeal for immediate hostilities to end.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio responded Monday, telling reporters that “the United States will not deliberately target a school.”

Israel’s UN representative indicated he had received conflicting accounts, including reports that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps was responsible for targeting the school, while expressing regret over any civilian casualties.

During Monday’s Security Council session, China’s UN ambassador Fu Cong addressed school attacks without directly referencing Iran’s claims, noting that such strikes represent serious violations against children as defined by the United Nations. He emphasized the need for thorough investigations and accountability measures from the international community.

President Trump has consistently criticized the United Nations throughout his political career, describing the 193-nation organization as inefficient and requiring significant reforms. Under his administration, the United States has accumulated billions in unpaid UN budget contributions, with the debt increasing substantially during Trump’s tenure.

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric commented last week that Melania Trump’s decision to chair the meeting demonstrated “the importance that the United States feels towards the Security Council and the subject at hand.”

Last month, President Trump adopted a more cooperative approach toward the UN during the inaugural meeting of his Board of Peace, an initiative he claims will address global conflicts, though many international leaders worry it’s intended to supersede the United Nations.

While the First Lady has maintained a relatively low public profile throughout Trump’s presidencies, she has previously championed children’s issues, including sending a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2025 requesting the return of Ukrainian children relocated to Russia during the ongoing conflict.

While military tensions escalate in the Middle East with ongoing missile exchanges, Americans across the region are voicing their opinions about recent U.S. military strikes targeting Iran.

Citizens in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania shared their perspectives on the unfolding international crisis and what they think about America’s military response to the situation.

The developing story continues to draw attention as the conflict between the two nations intensifies, prompting discussions among local communities about the implications of the military action.

KATHMANDU, March 3 – Last September 8th, 23-year-old student Rashik Khatiwada joined hundreds of demonstrators outside Nepal’s parliament, protesting government corruption and joblessness with a sign declaring “FUCK THE SYSTEM!”

Two hours later, he was fatally shot.

Khatiwada became one of 77 casualties during two days of deadly demonstrations that ultimately toppled Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli’s government and transformed Nepal’s political landscape ahead of Thursday’s national elections.

The youth-driven protests have intensified calls for political reform throughout Nepal, particularly among families who lost relatives during the violence.

“What have past leaders done for this country over the last three decades? They accumulated wealth for themselves and placed their own people in positions of power to benefit from it,” Rashik’s mother, Rachana Khatiwada, questioned. “What did they truly do for the nation?”

This widespread frustration with established politicians has opened doors for newcomers like 35-year-old former rapper Balendra Shah, now a leading candidate for prime minister. Khatiwada has thrown her support behind his campaign.

The 46-year-old homemaker joined the Rastriya Swatantra Party as a proportional representation candidate after Shah became a member in January, despite having little previous political involvement.

Khatiwada explained her political engagement stems from wanting justice for her son and other protest victims’ families.

“We demanded accountability for those responsible for the deaths of so many children, and the interim government failed to deliver,” she stated.

A government-appointed investigative commission examining the protests, including authorities’ use of live rounds against young protesters, has received three deadline extensions. The commission’s conclusions won’t be published until after the election.

ARTIST WHO NEVER RETURNED

On September 8th morning, 34-year-old Binod Maharjan completed his usual routine of feeding pigeons on his family’s rooftop before suddenly departing, abandoning his breakfast of rice and lentils.

“My son said he would return home and eat the meal he had left behind,” recalled his 75-year-old mother, Lata Maya Maharjan. “He never came back.”

The family learned of Binod’s protest participation only after his older brother got a call from a childhood friend and rushed to Kathmandu’s Everest Hospital.

“My mind went completely silent,” Kaji Ratna Maharjan remembered, describing the bullet wound near his brother’s mouth and exit wound behind his head. “I still cannot put into words what I felt when I saw his lifeless body.”

Though Binod left school early, he devoted himself to artistic pursuits. His painted murals decorate virtually every surface of the family’s three-story brick home.

His bedroom featured a hand-drawn Nepal map and artwork depicting Shiva, his favored Hindu god, while he slept on yak hide with horns positioned near his pillow.

In his mother’s bedroom, Binod created a self-portrait showing his characteristic long dreadlocks and cigarette, surrounded by his nieces and nephews.

“We do not understand politics, but those who do and are actively involved in it must focus on ending corruption and creating jobs in this country,” said Kaji Ratna Maharjan, who plans to vote Thursday alongside his mother. “Only then can we prevent another protest like the September uprising in Nepal.”

WIDOW CAMPAIGNS FOR CHANGE

Each day before sunrise, Parbati Subedi begins work as a house cleaner before reporting to her primary job in a major Nepali corporation’s sanitation department.

Though exhausting, this demanding routine provides the 28-year-old widow with 30,000 Nepalese rupees ($206) monthly to support herself and her daughter following her husband’s death during September’s uprising.

Security officer Dev Kumar Subedi, 29, suffered a fatal stomach gunshot wound on September 9th while participating in the second day of anti-government demonstrations.

“I believe this protest happened because people wanted change in Nepal and change in our leaders,” Subedi said. “Those in power forgot about families like ours, for whom putting two meals on the table is a daily struggle.”

Subedi received 1.5 million rupees compensation from the interim government that replaced Oli’s administration, payment made to families of 42 among the 77 killed who were designated as martyrs.

However, additional commitments including job opportunities for relatives, ongoing medical assistance, and pension benefits remain unfulfilled, according to multiple families of the deceased, including Subedi.

Following her late husband’s political preferences, Subedi supports the RSP and Shah based on his mayoral performance in Kathmandu, even creating social media content encouraging voters to back their campaign.

“I believe they will genuinely work towards improving the country,” she said. “But if it’s any of the other parties, I have little hope that things will change.”

($1 = 145.5 Nepalese rupees)

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — The largest labor union organization in Argentina took legal action Monday to stop major workplace reforms championed by President Javier Milei that would dramatically reshape employment laws across the South American nation.

Congress gave final approval to the legislation on Friday, which provides business owners with increased authority over employment decisions, terminations, compensation packages and union negotiations while reducing the traditional influence labor organizations have wielded.

“This law represents a serious infringement of collective and individual rights that expressly violate constitutional principles,” the General Confederation of Labor, known as CGT, declared in their official statement following the court filing in Buenos Aires.

The legal challenge questions whether the reforms comply with Argentina’s constitution, claiming they breach the “principle of progressivity” that protects existing worker benefits from being rolled back, as well as the “protective principle” designed to prevent workplace exploitation and maintain fair employer-employee relationships.

“The damages are not collateral effects of an isolated decision, but are consistent with the national government’s economic and social program,” CGT officials stated, pointing to more than 300,000 job losses that have occurred since Milei assumed the presidency in late 2023 with promises of fiscal discipline and major economic changes.

Following the legislation’s passage on Friday, Milei described the overhaul as “historic” and declared, “We have a labor modernization.”

The path to approval was marked by significant conflict between Milei’s administration and opposition lawmakers. Tensions reached a peak last month as the bill moved through the lower chamber, with CGT organizing a day-long national work stoppage while protesters from multiple left-wing organizations fought with law enforcement officers near the congressional building.

Milei views these modifications to Argentina’s five-decade-old employment laws as essential for attracting international investment, enhancing worker productivity and generating new employment opportunities in a nation where approximately 40 percent of the workforce operates without official documentation.

Labor representatives contend the legislation will undermine worker safeguards that have been fundamental to Argentina since Peronism, the nation’s influential populist movement, emerged in the 1940s.

The judicial system will now determine whether to accept or reject the CGT’s legal challenge, a ruling that might lead to a temporary halt of the reforms while judges deliberate on a final decision.

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump defended his military strategy against Iran on Monday as criticism grows over his administration’s handling of the expanding Middle East conflict.

The backlash isn’t limited to political opponents — some of Trump’s own supporters are questioning the war effort as fighting spreads across the region, energy costs climb, and casualties mount in what officials say could be just the beginning of a prolonged campaign.

Speaking to the New York Post on Monday, Trump declined to rule out deploying American ground forces to the conflict zone. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth later told reporters the administration wouldn’t engage in what he called the “foolish” practice of revealing military plans in advance.

“I don’t have the yips with respect to boots on the ground — like every president says, ‘There will be no boots on the ground.’ I don’t say it,” Trump stated. “I say ‘probably don’t need them,’ (or) ‘if they were necessary.’”

The president and his senior staff worked to justify their approach as Iran launched retaliatory drone and missile attacks against Israel, U.S. military installations throughout the region, and Persian Gulf allies. Monday also saw Israel and Hezbollah, Iran’s proxy force in Lebanon, exchange fire, creating another battlefield in the widening conflict.

Trump returned to the White House promoting an “America First” agenda focused on avoiding the extended military engagements that characterized previous administrations. His foreign policy platform has consistently emphasized rejecting “the failed policy of nation building and regime change.”

During a Saudi Arabia visit last year, he reiterated this position, stating that “so-called ‘nation-builders’ wrecked far more nations than they built — and the interventionists were intervening in complex societies that they did not even understand themselves.”

However, Trump now faces a military engagement of his own making that has raised concerns about another lengthy Middle Eastern entanglement for America.

“I’m not happy about the whole thing. I don’t think this was in America’s interests,” said Erik Prince, a Trump supporter and private security executive, during Sunday’s appearance on former Trump advisor Steve Bannon’s “War Room” podcast. “It’s gonna uncork a significant can of worms and chaos, and destruction in Iran now.”

Prince continued, “I don’t see how this is in keeping with the president’s MAGA commitment. I am disappointed.”

Additional Trump supporters expressing doubts about the Iran strike include YouTube personality Benny Johnson, social media influencer Andrew Tate, and media figure Tucker Carlson.

Nevertheless, numerous Trump loyalists continue supporting the president’s choice, dismissing suggestions of internal division within their political movement.

“No, ma’am, I think Iran, they’re bad actors,” said Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., when asked about the disagreement. “They’ve killed Americans. In Iraq, they supply armaments. Hezbollah is part of their pact and they’ve supplied them with armaments and funds. And they do business with Chinese, so absolutely not. I think we’re good.”

During a White House appearance Monday, Trump described the combined American-Israeli military campaign as “substantially ahead of schedule” and projected four to five weeks to achieve administration goals, though he acknowledged the timeline could extend further.

“We have capability to go far longer than that,” Trump declared.

Hegseth provided less specific timing estimates.

“President Trump has all the latitude in the world to talk about how long it may or may not take. Four weeks, two weeks, six weeks,” Hegseth explained. “It could move up. It could move back.”

Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine warned reporters that additional American military casualties are anticipated as operations continue. By Monday, six U.S. personnel had died in combat with others seriously wounded during Iran’s widespread retaliatory attacks across the region.

The administration hasn’t specified who should assume leadership of Iran after eliminating Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and numerous other senior officials in the conflict’s initial strikes.

When announcing major combat operations, Trump urged the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps to surrender their weapons. However, military experts note that airstrikes alone rarely achieve the type of government overthrow Trump seeks in Iran.

The president also hasn’t promised support for Iranian opposition groups he’s encouraged to revolt against the Islamic government following the bombing campaign’s conclusion.

Trita Parsi, executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, a Washington policy organization, suggested Trump might accept “regime collapse” or “regime implosion” instead.

“That is very different (than regime change), not only because potentially it could be achieved, but it’s also something that enables the Trump administration to wash their hands of the consequences of this,” Parsi explained.

Meanwhile, Israel is urging Trump to maintain extended operations that could definitively end Iran’s religious government.

“I think the Israelis’ biggest concern may be that President Trump would take … sort of the early offering, declaring victory,” said Daniel Shapiro, former U.S. ambassador to Israel under Obama and current Atlantic Council distinguished fellow. “I think they’d like to see this go longer, with the president’s support.”

Administration officials briefed congressional staff privately Sunday that American intelligence hadn’t detected Iranian preparations for preemptive strikes against the U.S. Instead, officials acknowledged broader regional threats from Iran’s missile capabilities and allied forces.

Nevertheless, Trump reiterated Monday his position that action was required due to concerns over Iran developing ballistic missiles capable of reaching American territory.

Iran hasn’t confirmed pursuing intercontinental ballistic missile development. The U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency stated in an unclassified report last year that Iran could create a functional intercontinental ballistic missile by 2035 “should Tehran decide to pursue the capability.”

The president also restated claims that Iran was rebuilding its nuclear capabilities despite U.S. strikes last June during the 12-day Israel-Iran conflict that he said “obliterated” three major nuclear installations.

International Atomic Energy Agency Director Rafael Grossi confirmed Monday that Iran maintains an “ambitious” nuclear program but currently lacks weapons development efforts. Iran has blocked IAEA inspectors from examining its damaged nuclear facilities.

Kelsey Davenport, nonproliferation policy director at the Arms Control Association, argued that “regime change is not a viable nonproliferation strategy.”

“Iran’s nuclear program cannot be bombed away. Iran’s nuclear knowledge cannot be bombed away,” she stated. “Even if there’s regime change, Iran’s program will still pose a proliferation risk.”

Brazil’s administration plans to generate more than $48 billion in environmentally-focused investments throughout President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s four-year presidency, according to a departing government official.

Tatiana Rosito, who stepped down Monday from her role as international affairs secretary at Brazil’s Finance Ministry, stated the government anticipates mobilizing over 250 billion reais during this timeframe. She emphasized that 2026 will focus on strengthening programs already in motion.

Rosito, who will transition to serve as the World Bank’s regional director for China, Korea and Mongolia beginning in July, explained that Brazil has developed an extensive collection of financing mechanisms highlighted during the country’s leadership roles in the G20, BRICS and COP30.

She noted that the current emphasis involves producing tangible outcomes and securing investment capital instead of developing additional financial tools.

Brazil’s recent policy initiatives have helped reestablish the nation as a significant international participant, with other countries recognizing Latin America’s largest economy as moving beyond promises toward actual implementation, Rosito explained.

Among the major initiatives are establishing national guidelines for ecological transformation, releasing sovereign sustainable bonds in international markets, and introducing EcoInvest, which leverages government funding to draw private sector investment into environmental projects.

Rosito highlighted the Brazil Investment Platform for Climate and Ecological Transformation (BIP), a system that catalogs sustainable projects seeking financial backing.

Following Brazil’s introduction of this platform during its 2024 G20 leadership, the country assisted in creating a network of comparable programs under its COP presidency to encourage collaboration on sustainable and climate financing among developing nations.

Over 15 countries, including Colombia, Nigeria and South Africa, have subsequently revealed plans to establish their own platforms, according to Rosito.

“I don’t see many people viewing this as an ecosystem, but it is,” she stated, characterizing Brazil’s sustainable finance initiative as an innovative framework developed primarily from the ground up that facilitates real investments and supports strategic emerging industries.

Rosito observed that sustainable development discussions have been “all but erased” from certain international forums, especially the G20 under this year’s U.S. leadership, and maintained that Brazil and its allies must continue advocating to keep these issues prominent.

Mathias Alencastro, formerly an adviser to Finance Minister Fernando Haddad, will replace Rosito at the Finance Ministry, as Reuters initially reported Friday.

Iranian military commanders issued their strongest warning yet regarding the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, declaring the waterway completely off-limits to shipping traffic on Monday.

A high-ranking Revolutionary Guards official announced that Tehran would use military force against any vessels attempting to navigate through the passage, which handles roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil transportation.

“The strait (of Hormuz) is closed. If anyone tries to pass, the heroes of the Revolutionary Guards and the regular navy will set those ships ablaze,” stated Ebrahim Jabari, a senior adviser to the Guards commander-in-chief, according to Iranian state media reports.

The waterway serves as the planet’s most critical petroleum export channel, linking major Gulf oil-producing nations including Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates to the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea.

Tehran’s decision to shut down the passage stems from recent military actions by the United States and Israel on February 28, which targeted Iranian leadership. President Donald Trump has publicly encouraged Iranian citizens to remove their current government officials.

Iran responded by launching multiple missile strikes against neighboring Gulf states that house American military installations, including Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain. Iranian forces also targeted the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Oman with missile attacks.

This blockade represents the fulfillment of longstanding Iranian promises to seal off the narrow shipping channel if the country faced military aggression.

The strait measures approximately 21 miles across at its most constricted section, yet facilitates the passage of about 20% of daily global oil consumption.

Energy markets have remained focused on escalating tensions between Iran and its longtime adversaries, the United States and Israel, with concerns that expanded conflict could severely impact oil supplies and destabilize the broader region.

The closure compounds existing shipping challenges caused by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi forces, who have conducted drone and missile attacks against vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since the Gaza conflict began in 2023.

On Monday, diplomatic leaders from Central Asia gathered to address the growing crisis in Iran and surrounding Middle East territories, according to an announcement from Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry.

The diplomatic gathering was notable for bringing together representatives from nearly all regional nations simultaneously, with participants advocating for peaceful resolution to the current turmoil affecting Iran and neighboring areas.

According to the ministry’s official statement, the foreign ministers emphasized “the importance of de-escalating tensions, adhering to international law, and combining efforts in the interest of maintaining regional security, peace, and stability.”

Kazakhstan’s top diplomat Yermek Kosherbayev conducted meetings with his counterparts representing Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Azerbaijan during the diplomatic session.

Kosherbayev acknowledged the assistance provided by Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan in helping evacuate people from Iran, noting that the participating nations were ready to work together on additional evacuations and related matters.

The diplomatic discussions occurred as military actions intensified throughout the region on Monday, with U.S. and Israeli forces expanding air operations against Iran. Meanwhile, Israel launched strikes against Lebanon following Hezbollah attacks, and Tehran continued launching missiles and drone strikes targeting Gulf nations.

ATHENS – Authorities in Greece have taken a 36-year-old man into custody at Athens airport following allegations that he conducted surveillance activities at a critical naval installation on Crete, according to police sources who spoke Monday.

The arrest occurred based on intelligence provided by Greece’s national security service. The facility in question, Souda Bay, serves as a vital strategic location for Greek, American, and NATO military operations in the eastern Mediterranean region.

The naval base recently hosted the U.S. aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford during a resupply mission, highlighting its importance to American military operations in the area.

Investigators have opened a formal inquiry into the allegations and are currently analyzing digital materials, including photographic evidence that was allegedly collected by the suspect, police officials confirmed.

Records show the accused individual was registered at a hotel in close proximity to Souda last month. As of now, he has not provided any response to the charges against him, according to one law enforcement official.

This incident follows a similar case from June, when Greek police apprehended an Azerbaijani citizen also suspected of espionage activities. That individual had similarly taken up residence at a hotel near the same naval and air force installation in western Crete for several days.

Security measures at the facility have been enhanced following recent military strikes conducted by Israel and the United States against Iran over the weekend.

Cuban authorities have taken 10 Panamanian nationals into custody, accusing them of producing anti-government propaganda materials on Saturday, according to the country’s Interior Ministry.

Officials claim the detainees were hired by unidentified sponsors who promised payment in exchange for traveling to Cuba to create what authorities describe as subversive messaging.

The detentions come just days after Cuban officials reported another alleged infiltration attempt, where armed Cuban exiles attempted to enter the country via speedboat. That incident resulted in a deadly confrontation at sea, leaving four attackers dead and six others wounded and in Cuban custody.

These incidents unfold as Cuba faces significant economic and energy challenges, with U.S. sanctions creating what officials describe as an oil embargo that has worsened fuel shortages and power outages across the island nation.

According to the Interior Ministry’s statement, the Panamanian citizens face charges for “acts of propaganda against the Cuban constitutional order.” Cuban law imposes sentences of three to eight years for “inciting against social order, international solidarity, or the socialist state,” and prohibits creating, distributing, or possessing such materials in any form.

Ministry officials say the detained individuals confessed they had been “instructed to enter Cuba to create signs with subversive content.”

“Once this objective was achieved, they were to leave the country and, upon their return to Panama, would receive a sum of money that, according to their initial statements, ranged between $1,000 and $1,500 each,” the Interior Ministry said.

Panama’s embassy in Havana has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the arrests.

These restrictions on free expression have long been cited by Cuban exiles as justification for maintaining U.S. economic sanctions against Cuba’s Communist leadership.

BRUSSELS – The head of the European Council expressed strong support Monday for Lebanon’s commitment to halt Hezbollah’s armed operations and hold accountable those who launched attacks against Israel.

Antonio Costa, the European Council President, praised the Lebanese government’s stance following a conversation with Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun. Costa emphasized the critical need for renewed security cooperation between Israel and Lebanon.

“It is now important for Israel and Lebanon to resume security coordination, so the Lebanese Armed Forces can disarm Hezbollah and ensure the security of all Lebanese people,” Costa wrote on the social media platform X.

During separate diplomatic communications, Costa reached out to Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides to offer European Union solidarity after an Iranian-made Shahed drone struck a British military installation on the Mediterranean island. Intelligence suggests the drone attack was likely carried out by Hezbollah, which receives backing from Iran.

Costa also thanked Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, expressing “appreciation” for Greece’s military assistance provided to Cyprus in response to the incident.

A powerful Sicilian organized crime leader who spent more than three decades behind bars has passed away at age 87, according to two sources familiar with the situation who spoke Monday.

Benedetto “Nitto” Santapaola died while incarcerated at a maximum-security facility in Milan, where he was serving multiple life sentences for homicide and additional criminal charges following his 1993 arrest, one source confirmed.

Italy’s justice ministry has not yet provided a statement regarding the death.

Santapaola earned the fearsome nicknames “il cacciatore” (the hunter) and “il licantropo” (the werewolf) during his reign as the head of organized crime operations in Catania, a major city in eastern Sicily, spanning from the late 1970s through the early 1990s.

The deceased crime boss was prosecuted and found guilty as one of the masterminds behind the 1992 assassinations of Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino, two of Italy’s most renowned prosecutors dedicated to fighting organized crime.

Fighter jets struck two facilities belonging to Iran’s state broadcasting network in Tehran on Sunday evening, resulting in casualties among staff members and temporarily knocking transmissions off the air.

The attacks targeted complexes operated by the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), with explosions visible across Tehran. Broadcasting resumed within minutes from backup studios, though programming remained limited and some radio services experienced significant interruptions.

An IRIB presenter, reporting from an alternate studio in Tehran’s Jame Jam area, confirmed that the network had suffered attacks from US and Israeli forces before announcing the return to regular programming.

The current broadcasting setup stems from damage sustained during a 12-day conflict in June, when missiles from Israeli aircraft completely destroyed IRIB’s primary facility known as the Glass Building in northern Tehran. Since that time, the News Network has operated from multiple locations, including backup studios and repurposed facilities.

Financial constraints have hampered efforts to establish a permanent replacement site. According to sources within IRIB, the broadcaster’s Political Department had sought emergency funding for a new studio outside the main complex, but the request was denied and postponed to the following budget year. Economic difficulties have reduced commercial advertising income, forcing the organization to scatter operations across various buildings, some outside protected areas.

In the hours following the physical attacks, hackers compromised Iranian television satellite transmissions, inserting content featuring Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and portions of a speech by President Donald Trump directed at Iranian citizens, along with footage related to the recent strikes.

Around midnight Tehran time, Tasnim News Agency, which has ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, confirmed that multiple state radio employees were killed or wounded during Sunday’s assault on Iran’s primary radio facility in southern Tehran near the city center.

The Israeli airstrikes occurred in multiple phases and also damaged Police Station 113 near Tehran’s Grand Bazaar and several military and security installations in the vicinity. Local sources reported uncertainty about whether the main radio building at Arg Square was deliberately targeted or suffered collateral damage from nearby strikes.

Additionally, Noor News, a Telegram channel with connections to Iranian security agencies, reported that Channel 2 of state television, situated outside the primary IRIB compound, also came under attack.

Prior to the commencement of US and Israeli operations, sources indicated that IRIB had activated emergency protocols starting at midnight Saturday, implementing wartime staffing schedules and preparing for potential cyber attacks and threats to live broadcasting capabilities. Another source revealed that news regarding the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had reached IRIB executives and the Political Department by Saturday afternoon, with broadcast managers developing plans to announce the development in the early morning hours.

Two Palestinian brothers died Monday after Israeli settlers opened fire in their village in the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry, as violent incidents by settlers continue to increase throughout the territory during ongoing regional conflicts.

The Palestinian Health Ministry named the victims as Mohammad and Faheem Mo’mar in an official statement. Mohammad, age 52, suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head while Faheem, 48, was struck in the pelvis. Both men died in Qaryout, their home village located in the northern West Bank.

This deadly incident raises the total number of Palestinians killed in settler attacks this year to three, following the February 19 shooting death of Nasrallah Abu Siyam, a 19-year-old Palestinian American.

Video footage distributed by Palestinian news outlets and Breaking the Silence, an organization of former Israeli military personnel, captured approximately 10 settlers positioned near a Palestinian residence in Qaryout. The footage shows one settler aiming a rifle at the home’s upper level. Additional video shows Palestinians hurriedly carrying an injured, bleeding man toward medical assistance.

The Palestinian Red Crescent reported that at least three additional people sustained injuries during the shooting.

Israeli military officials have not yet provided a response to requests for comment.

Medical personnel transported the wounded to a hospital in Nablus, a city in the central West Bank, where Associated Press reporters observed family members mourning over one brother’s body. Village residents assisted medical staff in moving bloodied victims onto surgical tables and covering both the deceased and injured with blankets.

Adham Johary, a village resident, explained to the AP that settlers had been spotted operating a bulldozer at the town’s perimeter before fleeing when young Palestinian men approached.

“Less than 10 minutes later, more than 10 settlers attacked nearby houses. The young residents attempted to defend the area, and random gunfire was directed at the young men and the entire area,” Johary stated.

Human rights organizations and Palestinians maintain that Israeli officials consistently fail to pursue legal action against settlers or ensure accountability for violent acts. The United Nations humanitarian office documented that 2023 saw the highest daily average of settler attacks resulting in deaths, injuries or property destruction — five incidents per day — since tracking began in 2006.

COGAT, the military authority overseeing the territory, announced closures of West Bank and Gaza crossings citing security concerns. West Bank Palestinians report that travel limitations have severely restricted access to essential services, preventing some villages from reaching urban centers with medical facilities and commercial establishments.

HAVANA — During a Monday session with his Council of Ministers, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel announced that his administration must take immediate action to overhaul the nation’s economic and social framework as oil supplies continue to diminish across the Caribbean island.

Díaz-Canel’s announcement comes as Cuba grapples with mounting pressure from a recent oil embargo and suspended petroleum deliveries from Venezuela following U.S. actions against the South American nation in January.

“We must focus, immediately, on implementing the urgent, most necessary transformations that must be made to the economic and social model,” Díaz-Canel stated, according to reports from state-controlled media outlets.

According to government media sources, the president outlined that Cuba’s economic and social restructuring efforts would involve expanding business and local government independence, along with downsizing state bureaucracy and governmental institutions.

Díaz-Canel urged local governments to take charge of various initiatives, including attracting foreign investment, creating partnerships between government and private enterprises, and developing investment opportunities with Cuban expatriates, state media reported.

Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz emphasized that the nation’s immediate priorities center on boosting food production and overhauling the electrical infrastructure as the country continues to experience widespread blackouts and fuel shortages.

Energy and Mines Minister Vicente de la O Levy told state media that local governments are moving too slowly in creating transition plans, despite efforts to distribute solar panels to medical professionals, educators, and students. He stressed that municipalities must develop self-reliant sustainability plans using local resources.

In recent weeks, Cuba has enacted strict fuel conservation policies, including suspending certain public transit services and shifting educational instruction to online platforms.

While the U.S. Treasury Department provided some relief last week by relaxing certain restrictions on Venezuelan oil sales to Cuba, experts predict the island’s energy and economic challenges will continue.

Beyond energy concerns, Cuba faces mounting difficulties from intensified U.S. sanctions, which government data shows have eliminated approximately $8 billion in revenue between March 2024 and February 2025 — representing a nearly 50% increase in losses compared to the previous year.

NEW YORK (TV Delmarva) — First Lady Melania Trump is set to make history Monday when she chairs a United Nations Security Council session focused on children caught in war zones, marking the first time a world leader’s spouse has led the UN’s most influential body.

The historic session will address “Children, Technology, and Education in Conflict,” with Trump’s office stating the discussion will “emphasize education’s role in advancing tolerance and world peace.” The meeting was planned before weekend hostilities erupted between the US, Israel, and Iran.

As the United States holds the Security Council’s rotating monthly presidency for March, Trump was granted the opportunity to lead the 15-member body that typically sees presidents, prime ministers, and foreign ministers at the helm.

The timing proves particularly significant as the administration faces scrutiny over military actions affecting civilian populations. Iranian state media reported that airstrikes on Saturday struck a girls’ school in southern Iran, resulting in at least 165 deaths and numerous injuries. Israeli military officials stated they had no knowledge of operations in that region, while US military representatives said they were investigating the reports.

All eyes will be on the First Lady’s remarks, particularly whether she addresses how current military operations impact children in conflict zones.

Saturday’s emergency Security Council session grew heated as Secretary-General António Guterres criticized both US and Israeli airstrikes as violations of international law and the UN Charter. He equally condemned Iran’s retaliatory strikes for breaching Middle Eastern nations’ sovereignty and territorial boundaries.

Trump has previously engaged in diplomatic efforts regarding children in conflict situations. Last summer, she wrote directly to Russian President Vladimir Putin before his meeting with President Trump, which her office credited with helping reunite displaced children from the Russia-Ukraine conflict with their families.

Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine resulted in Ukrainian children being removed from their homeland to be raised as Russians, prompting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to seek international assistance in family reunification efforts.

The appearance comes amid strained US-UN relations, as President Trump has withdrawn America from key UN organizations including the World Health Organization and UNESCO, while reducing funding to numerous others. The US has also fallen behind on mandatory contributions, owing the United Nations billions of dollars.

This financial shortfall has created a crisis at the UN, with Guterres warning in late January of “imminent financial collapse” unless payment structures are reformed or all 193 member countries fulfill their financial obligations.

When asked whether the First Lady’s participation signals improved US-UN cooperation, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric described it as demonstrating “the importance that the United States feels towards the Security Council and the subject.”

Military analysts are closely monitoring a joint American-Israeli aerial campaign against Iran that has reached a pivotal moment, with experts identifying two potential outcomes that could reshape Middle East dynamics for years to come.

According to Brigadier General (retired) Eran Ortal, who spoke with The Media Line, “There is no precedent for regime change through an air campaign.” However, the current military operations are testing whether sustained pressure and leadership elimination can trigger Iran’s internal collapse.

The coordinated strikes, which began February 28 under US Operation Epic Fury and Israeli Operation Roaring Lion, have evolved beyond typical military degradation campaigns. Experts say the key question is whether communication breakdowns, leadership losses, and mounting pressure can fracture Tehran’s control enough to spark revolution from within.

Professor Danny Orbach, a military historian at Hebrew University of Jerusalem, explained the strategy to The Media Line: “The goal is not for the regime to fall, but to create conditions that will enable the Iranian people to topple it. If the Iranians don’t take advantage of the opportunity, the war might end with less ambitious goals achieved—the destruction of the Iranian navy, its missile arsenal, and the remnants of its nuclear program.”

CENTCOM characterized the initial assault as one of the most intensive American firepower deployments in the region in decades, utilizing cruise missiles and advanced fighter jets launched from air, land, and sea platforms.

The conflict entered a new phase after social media footage showed Iranian citizens celebrating in streets following confirmation that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in an airstrike. This development has pushed the confrontation beyond conventional capability degradation into uncertain political territory.

Both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump have urged Iranian citizens to capitalize on this moment and overthrow their government, though success remains far from guaranteed.

“The duration of the operation depends on its goal,” Ortal noted. “This goal could change as the success of the operation becomes apparent.”

Israeli sources report that initial strike phases involved hundreds of targets and over 1,200 munitions, suggesting a potentially extended campaign ahead.

Ortal outlined two possible scenarios emerging from current operations. The first involves leadership elimination and communication failures combining with public pressure to create governmental rupture—though he emphasized that airpower alone has never historically achieved regime change.

“Seeing Iranians celebrating the attack in the streets increases the optimism that this scenario could materialize,” Ortal said. “This could create a domino effect that cannot be foreseen in which the disappearance of senior leadership, major communications disruption, and extreme public pressure destabilize the leadership, who then abandons their positions.”

Should internal collapse fail to materialize, the alternative outcome would leave Iran’s government politically intact but strategically crippled. “This will leave the regime without military capabilities, weak and neutralized and fully subordinate to American whims and future coercion,” Ortal explained.

Orbach emphasized the strategic importance of targeting Iran’s naval capabilities, particularly regarding the Strait of Hormuz. “The navy is more important than what most people think,” he said. “The navy is the ability to project power, especially through the threat of blocking the Hormuz Strait. Its destruction will humiliate them and turn them into a country that cannot project power.”

The Hormuz Strait carries approximately one-fifth of global oil trade, making any disruption capable of affecting worldwide energy markets, shipping schedules, and commercial insurance costs. Eliminating Tehran’s maritime leverage would significantly reduce its ability to threaten neighbors or the global economy during future crises.

The strikes target the foundation of Iran’s decades-long regional strategy: proxy networks combined with missile and drone capabilities designed to deter direct attacks and impose escalation costs. Dismantling these tools fundamentally alters Iran’s negotiating position and battlefield options.

“Iran’s ability to influence the Middle East is tied to two abilities—its proxies and its missiles,” Ortal said. “Iran no longer has air defense systems, and its missile launchers are gradually depleting. Iran has no ability to face this, leaving the regime subdued to American pressure it will not be able to withstand.”

Iran’s nuclear program provides crucial context for current hostilities. The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action temporarily limited Tehran’s enrichment activities in exchange for sanctions relief, but following US withdrawal in 2018, Iran expanded enrichment and reduced international oversight, escalating tensions that led to today’s confrontation.

Orbach argued that achieving complete regime collapse would require expanding targets beyond military assets to include internal enforcement mechanisms used for protest suppression and population control.

“The way to increase the odds of toppling the regime is to eliminate its leader and his heirs, in several rounds, rendering them weak and scared,” Orbach said, estimating slim survival chances for the current government. “In addition, the oppression mechanisms of the regime also need to be hit. The question is how long Israel and the US will persist in this effort.”

Iran’s domestic conditions may prove as significant as strike intensity. Years of sanctions, corruption, and heavy security expenditures have damaged the economy, while inflation, infrastructure deterioration, power shortages, and water crises have intensified public dissatisfaction—factors that could amplify political consequences if leadership and control systems continue deteriorating.

“Iran’s economy is in a catastrophic state and deteriorating further,” Orbach observed. “This will only worsen after the war, including raging inflation and the water crisis. Add to this a succession struggle and popular unrest, and it is hard to see the regime surviving in the long run.”

Even if political objectives become more modest over time, Ortal believes the military impact alone could transform regional dynamics for years. “Even if the goals of the operation will be downgraded, still Iran will be rendered extremely weak and subdued for a substantial number of years,” he said.

Analysts identify four key indicators that will reveal the campaign’s direction: whether strikes expand beyond military targets to internal enforcement apparatus; whether Iran’s naval influence around Hormuz Strait gets neutralized; whether domestic unrest grows from scattered incidents into sustained pressure; and whether Washington and Jerusalem begin describing success in narrower terms focused on long-term military degradation.

The central uncertainty remains what Ortal highlighted: while airpower can eliminate leaders, disrupt communications, and destroy capabilities, it cannot vote, demonstrate, or govern. Coming days will determine whether these strikes merely dismantle Iran’s security infrastructure—or create opportunities for Iranians themselves to dismantle the system controlling it, potentially defying historical patterns that Ortal says have defined previous air campaigns.

Officials in the United Arab Emirates reported Monday that a drone strike ignited a blaze at the Musaffah fuel storage facility, though the attack did not disrupt normal operations at the critical energy hub.

The Abu Dhabi media office confirmed authorities quickly managed the emergency situation. “Abu Dhabi authorities have responded today to a fire resulting from the targeting of a Musaffah fuel tank terminal by a drone. The situation was promptly contained,” the office said.

Officials confirmed no one was hurt in the incident.

The targeted facility serves as a key distribution point operated by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, where fuel products are loaded onto trucks for delivery. The site connects to an extensive pipeline system spanning 1,600 kilometers that supplies petroleum products throughout the Abu Dhabi emirate.

This marks another attack on the Musaffah facility, which previously came under fire from Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in 2022 during their ongoing conflict with the Saudi-led military coalition.

The strike occurred as regional tensions intensify following a series of attacks across the area. Earlier Monday, Saudi Arabia’s national oil company Aramco was forced to close its Ras Tanura refinery after a drone strike, marking what appears to be an escalation on the third consecutive day of regional attacks launched by Tehran following a U.S.-Israeli operation against Iran.

Meanwhile, QatarEnergy suspended production of liquefied natural gas and related products after attacks targeted facilities at Ras Laffan, according to an informed source speaking to Reuters.

SOFIA – Former Bulgarian President Rumen Radev announced Monday that he has formed a new three-party coalition named Progressive Bulgaria to compete in the nation’s parliamentary elections scheduled for April 19.

The move marks the country’s eighth electoral contest in just seven years, highlighting Bulgaria’s ongoing political turmoil. Radev, who resigned from his largely ceremonial presidential position in January, remains widely favored among Bulgarian voters, with polling data indicating his new alliance could secure over 30 percent of voter support.

During his presidency, Radev exercised significant unofficial political influence throughout a turbulent period that culminated in the most recent government’s downfall on December 11. He stepped down from office nearly twelve months ahead of schedule.

The administration collapsed after sustained public demonstrations against increased taxes and what protesters viewed as inadequate efforts to combat corruption within the government.

Taking to Facebook, Radev declared: “‘Progressive Bulgaria’ is the answer to the expectations of Bulgarians for dismantling the oligarchic corruption model. In order to succeed, we will fight for a decisive victory and it depends on the voice of all Bulgarians.”

The new coalition unites three left-oriented political groups: Our People Movement, Social Democratic Party, and the Socialdemocrats movement.

Since becoming a eurozone member on January 1, Bulgaria has struggled with persistent governmental instability. Political parties have been unable to establish lasting governing partnerships since 2021 due to a divided parliament.

LONDON, March 2 – British Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned lawmakers Monday that Iran has intensified its military attacks on regional targets following the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, describing the nation’s current tactics as increasingly dangerous.

Speaking before Parliament, Starmer cautioned that Khamenei’s death has not deterred Iran from conducting strikes against military and economic infrastructure across the region.

“The death of Khamenei will not stop Iran from launching these strikes,” Starmer addressed Parliament members. “In fact, their approach is becoming even more reckless and more dangerous to civilians.”

The Prime Minister’s comments highlight growing international concerns about Iran’s military activities in the aftermath of their longtime leader’s passing.

COPENHAGEN – Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced Monday that her country has formed a strategic nuclear defense partnership with France, marking a significant shift in European security cooperation.

The announcement came as French President Emmanuel Macron revealed plans to expand France’s nuclear capabilities and enhance deterrent measures through unprecedented collaboration with European allies, describing it as a fundamental shift in nuclear policy.

“Enhanced cooperation will help bolster Europe’s deterrent strength. Regrettably, this has become essential as we anticipate Russia’s military threat will grow in the years ahead,” Frederiksen explained to reporters.

The Danish leader emphasized that this new European partnership would work alongside existing security frameworks. “We want to make clear today that this strategic cooperation will supplement, not substitute for, our deterrent collaboration within NATO,” she stated.

Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen clarified that the strategic partnership will not involve placing nuclear weapons within Denmark’s borders.

BOGOTA, Colombia — One-time guerrilla fighters who previously dominated Colombia’s countryside now face an uphill battle to maintain their existence as a legitimate political organization during this Sunday’s crucial congressional elections.

The former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia members, operating under the political banner Comunes (Commoners), face steep odds in securing sufficient votes to keep their legislative positions or even preserve their official party recognition.

During the previous two legislative terms, the organization held 10 assured congressional positions — a benefit provided through their 2016 peace agreement with Colombia’s government.

However, those guaranteed positions have now expired according to the peace accord’s provisions, forcing Comunes to compete alongside all other political organizations without special advantages.

Political analysts anticipate the former insurgents will struggle to maintain their legislative presence amid fierce competition from over a dozen parties vying for Senate and House positions.

“They have not really gained the support of the people,” stated Yan Basset, who teaches political science at Bogota’s Rosario University.

The ex-rebels conducted kidnappings affecting thousands of citizens and carried out bombing attacks on numerous rural communities throughout their 50-year war against Colombia’s government.

According to Basset, the conflict’s negative legacy persists, “and obviously for many Colombians it is difficult to forgive.”

Despite having secured legislative seats, Comunes demonstrated poor electoral performance in past voting cycles.

The organization captured 89,300 votes across Colombia during 2018’s congressional races. This figure dropped to 50,100 by 2022.

This downward trend poses serious consequences since Colombian election regulations mandate parties secure at least 3% of total votes to maintain official recognition for candidate nominations and government funding eligibility. The previous election required 509,000 votes to achieve that essential 3% threshold.

To boost their electoral prospects this cycle, Comunes has partnered with Fuerza Ciudadana, an organization established two decades ago by progressive activists and scholars that recently secured mayoral victories and a gubernatorial win in northern Colombia.

The former guerrillas also seem to be downplaying their brand identity to make their candidates more appealing to ordinary voters. Campaign materials including flyers, banners and stickers prominently display Fuerza Ciudadana’s branding, while Comunes’ red rose emblem is notably missing from most promotional content.

Comunes additionally registered their coalition under the Fuerza Ciudadana name with election officials, guaranteeing the partner organization’s orange symbol, not their own, will be visible on Sunday’s voting forms.

“Politics in Colombia is very complex,” remarked Carlos Carreño Marín, a former FARC military leader.

Marín participated in FARC’s negotiating team for the 2016 peace agreement and has served as a Comunes congressional representative since 2018.

The 48-year-old is now working to retain his Bogota legislative position while recognizing the difficulty ahead.

“We are in an intense struggle against parties that have been doing this for two centuries,” he explained.

Nearly 300 congressional positions will be decided during Sunday’s voting.

The election results could significantly impact President Gustavo Petro’s constitutional reform agenda. Petro has criticized judicial officials and lawmakers for obstructing his initiatives to nationalize Colombia’s healthcare infrastructure and overhaul the retirement system.

Energy markets experienced significant volatility Monday as escalating conflict involving Iran led to major disruptions in shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, underscoring the critical importance of this waterway to global oil distribution.

This narrow channel serves as the gateway from the Persian Gulf, facilitating the transport of approximately 20% of worldwide oil supplies. Vessels navigating these waters, which border Iran to the north, transport petroleum and natural gas from major producers including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE and Iran itself. The majority of these energy exports are destined for Asian markets.

Any interruption to shipping through this strategic waterway creates significant ripple effects throughout global energy markets.

“The scale of what is at stake cannot be overstated,” said Hakan Kaya, senior portfolio manager at investment management firm Neuberger Berman. He explained that while oil companies could manage a partial slowdown lasting one to two weeks, a complete or near-complete blockage extending a month or longer would drive crude oil prices, currently trading around $70 on Monday, “well into triple digits” and push European natural gas prices “toward or above the crisis levels seen in 2022.”

The Strait of Hormuz forms a curved waterway measuring approximately 33 kilometers (21 miles) across at its most constricted point. It links the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman, providing ships access to international waters and global destinations. Although Iran and Oman maintain territorial claims within the strait, international maritime law recognizes it as open waters accessible to all vessels. The United Arab Emirates, known for Dubai’s iconic skyline, is also positioned adjacent to this vital shipping lane.

Throughout history, the Strait of Hormuz has served as a crucial trade corridor, with ceramics, ivory, silk and textiles flowing from China through the region. In contemporary times, it accommodates massive oil tankers transporting petroleum and gas from regional producers. Most of these shipments reach Asian destinations, including China, which remains Iran’s sole remaining oil purchaser.

Although Saudi Arabia and the UAE operate pipelines that can bypass the strait, the U.S. Energy Information Administration notes that “most volumes that transit the strait have no alternative means of exiting the region.”

Previous threats to this shipping route have triggered global energy price increases, including during the Israel-Iran conflict in June.

While the strait remains officially open, vessel traffic has declined dramatically due to disrupted satellite navigation systems, according to data analytics company Kpler in a Sunday statement on X. The U.K. Maritime Trade Operations Center documented attacks on multiple ships in waters surrounding the strait and issued warnings about increased electronic interference affecting vessel tracking systems.

A drone boat loaded with explosives attacked a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman, the eastern approach to the strait, resulting in one crew member’s death, Omani officials confirmed.

Iran has been issuing threats to vessels approaching the Strait of Hormuz and is suspected of conducting several attacks.

In mid-February, Iran temporarily blocked portions of the strait, claiming the action was part of military exercises. Oil prices surged approximately 6% in subsequent days.

This closure represented a rare, possibly unprecedented shutdown of the waterway.

During previous periods of regional tension and warfare, Iran has periodically interfered with shipping through the narrow passage. During the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s, both nations targeted tankers and other vessels, deploying naval mines that completely halted traffic at various times. However, Iran has not followed through on repeated threats to completely close the waterway since the 1980s, even during last year’s 12-day conflict when Israel and the United States conducted strikes on Iran’s nuclear and military facilities.

WASHINGTON — Hours after expressing frustration with stalled nuclear negotiations, President Donald Trump authorized a large-scale military operation against Iran that eliminated key leadership figures and disrupted global markets.

The sequence of events began Friday afternoon when Trump spoke to media outside the White House before departing for Texas, stating his dissatisfaction with ongoing indirect discussions with Iran.

“I’m not happy with the way they’re going,” Trump told reporters at 12:25 p.m. EST regarding the nuclear negotiations. When questioned about his next steps, he responded, “No, I haven’t,” regarding whether he had reached a final decision.

While traveling on Air Force One to Texas events at 3:38 p.m. EST, Trump authorized the military action dubbed “Operation Epic Fury.”

“The president directed, and I quote, ‘Operation Epic Fury approved … Good luck,’” General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, revealed during a Monday press conference.

According to Caine, this authorization triggered final preparations across all joint U.S. military branches, with air defense systems positioning themselves and flight crews conducting last-minute rehearsals of their attack plans. Simultaneously, aircraft began receiving final armaments while two U.S. carrier strike groups moved toward launch positions.

During his continued flight to Texas, Trump made multiple Truth Social posts, including one nine minutes after approving the strike that ordered the government to cease using Anthropic artificial intelligence technology following a public disagreement between the company and Pentagon regarding AI safety measures.

Upon arriving in Texas at 4:03 p.m. EST, Trump addressed reporters at the Port of Corpus Christi about the negotiations, reiterating his displeasure without revealing the approved operation. When asked about his proximity to deciding on strikes, he declined to answer.

“I’d rather not tell you,” Trump responded. “You would have had the greatest scoop in history, right? Yeah.”

The actual military action commenced at 1:15 a.m. EST, based on Caine’s Monday timeline presentation.

“Across every domain — land, air, sea, cyber,” American forces “delivered synchronized and layered effects designed to disrupt, degrade, deny and destroy Iran’s ability to conduct and sustain combat operations on the U.S. side,” Caine explained.

During the Pentagon briefing, Caine described the operation as involving “thousands of service members from all branches, hundreds of advanced fourth- and fifth-generation fighters, dozens of refueling tankers, the Lincoln and Ford carrier strike group and their embarked air wings.”

He emphasized that ammunition and fuel supplies maintained continuous flow with support from an extensive network including intelligence and surveillance operations, while additional forces continued deploying to the region.

The military action followed months of CIA efforts to monitor senior Iranian leadership movements, particularly Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. This intelligence was shared with Israel, leading to adjustments in Saturday’s strike timing, according to an anonymous source familiar with the operation.

In Tehran, explosions were audible as Israel’s defense minister announced a state of emergency.

Three coordinated strikes at separate locations occurred within sixty seconds, eliminating Khamenei and approximately 40 senior officials, including the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard commander and Iran’s defense minister, an Israeli military official confirmed.

At 4:37 p.m. EST, Trump used his Truth Social platform to announce Khamenei’s death, stating the supreme leader was “unable to avoid our Intelligence and Highly Sophisticated Tracking Systems.”

On Sunday at 12:21 p.m. EST, Trump posted on Truth Social that American forces had “destroyed and sunk 9 Iranian Naval Ships,” would be “going after the rest” and “largely destroyed their Naval Headquarters.”

Later Sunday at 4:06 p.m. EST, the Republican president released a video message stating that U.S. military and allies struck hundreds of Iranian targets, including Revolutionary Guard installations and air defense systems “all in a matter of literally minutes.”

Trump indicated the strikes would persist until “all of our objectives are achieved” without specifying those goals.

Also Sunday, Trump administration officials informed congressional staff during private briefings that U.S. intelligence had not indicated Iran was planning a preemptive attack against America, according to three briefing participants.

Instead, administration officials acknowledged a broader regional threat from Iran’s missile capabilities and proxy forces, two sources reported.

A senior White House official also stated Sunday that Iran’s “new potential leadership” had expressed openness to discussions with the United States.

In a Sunday New York Times interview, Trump suggested the assault could continue for “four to five weeks.”

Monday at 8 a.m. EST, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth clarified during a Pentagon briefing that the U.S. was not pursuing nation-building in Iran and that continued strikes would not lead to prolonged conflict.

“This is not Iraq. This is not endless,” he stated. “This is not a so-called regime change war, but the regime sure did change, and the world is better off for it.”

During Monday trading, oil prices surged as tanker disruptions near the Strait of Hormuz sparked concerns about Persian Gulf supply shortages. U.S. oil reached approximately $71.97 per barrel. MarineTraffic.com reported that strait transit had decreased 70% since Saturday.

The strikes also unsettled global markets, with U.S. futures following European and Asian markets downward. Both S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average futures dropped roughly 1%.

Recent escalations in Middle East tensions have exposed just how dependent worldwide aviation has become on a select few major airport hubs, with Dubai’s international airport – the globe’s busiest – at the center of widespread travel disruptions.

The Gulf region’s commercial powerhouse has built an impressive aviation empire over four decades, growing from Emirates’ humble beginnings with just two leased aircraft and a pair of flight routes to today’s massive operation connecting 110 countries through 454,000 annual flights.

“That we’ve got such a well-spread geographic business model and are well spread between visitors and those in transit suggests it’s very robust and will continue to survive any geopolitical tension that exists, wherever it may be,” Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths told Reuters in a recent interview.

However, Saturday’s U.S. and Israeli military actions against Iran brought these regional conflicts directly to Dubai’s front door, including a direct assault on the airport facility itself.

Now Dubai confronts the enormous challenge of managing tens of thousands of stranded travelers while rebuilding its flight network and protecting incoming traffic that makes up half of its operations.

Industry experts generally believe the Gulf aviation hubs will bounce back from this setback, provided regional warfare doesn’t drag on indefinitely. However, the simultaneous closure of all three primary Gulf hubs – Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha – comes at a time when competitors from Turkey, Saudi Arabia and India are expanding their own operations.

“There’s no doubt at all this is temporary. They have seen major incidents before and recovered very quickly due to their importance as global hubs,” said UK-based travel consultant Paul Charles. “They will recover quickly, even if there is substantial uncertainty in the short term.”

Some analysts express more skepticism about the recovery timeline. While the aviation sector rebounded from pandemic losses due to demand exceeding available flights, this situation threatens passenger demand itself.

“Travellers are likely to consider more direct flights rather than stop over in Dubai or Doha. All this hub traffic is likely to take a hit,” said independent aviation adviser Bertrand Grabowski.

Despite these concerns, geography and economics continue working in the Gulf hubs’ favor.

“One third of the world’s population is within four hours’ flying time and two thirds within eight hours,” said Dubai Airports’ Griffiths.

“We’ve seen the incredible aggregation power that a hub delivers.”

Nevertheless, challenges to the Gulf’s aviation dominance are emerging. Turkish Airlines stands to gain significantly through its major hub positioned outside the conflict area, according to independent aviation analyst John Strickland.

Saudi Arabia is also expanding its aviation presence, with India following suit as Asian carriers capture more passengers.

Technical improvements in aircraft manufacturing, which previously benefited Gulf carriers, are now working against their hub model. Airbus recently started construction on a second ultra-long-range A350 aircraft to support Qantas plans for direct Sydney-to-London service.

Emirates launched operations during the height of the Iran-Iraq conflict in 1985. Its explosive expansion contributed to Gulf Air’s breakup – the airline that previously served Qatar, Bahrain, Abu Dhabi and Oman – as Qatar and Abu Dhabi established independent carriers, creating today’s three competing Gulf aviation hubs.

With Dubai’s reputation for stability now questioned following Iranian attacks and defensive missile debris, analysts say the biggest uncertainty surrounds future passenger traffic to Dubai itself.

The timing has also raised concerns about the already-postponed development of a massive new airport facility outside the city.

Dubai destination traffic “will doubtless recover, but there is likely to be some lasting damage”, Grabowski said.

For Emirates and its partner airline flydubai, recovery may require leveraging their market influence to restore normal operations.

“People have short memories and they might be incentivised by some bargain deals to bring people back, but I don’t think that would need to be there for long,” said Eddy Pieniazek, head of advisory at aviation and leasing consultancy Ishka.

WASHINGTON – The Biden administration announced Monday it has levied financial penalties against Rwanda’s military forces and high-ranking defense officials, the Treasury Department confirmed on its website, following ongoing combat operations across multiple areas in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

The African nations had previously agreed to a ceasefire arrangement in Washington this past December, which was part of former President Trump’s initiative to establish stability in the area and encourage substantial Western financial investment totaling billions of dollars.

However, military conflicts have persisted since that agreement, undermining the previous administration’s peace-building efforts in the region.

The Treasury Department’s website shows that Monday’s penalties include Vincent Nyakarundi, who serves as Rwanda’s army chief of staff, along with the nation’s chief defense staff and two additional Rwandan officials.

Rwandan government representatives have not yet provided a response to requests for comment on the sanctions.

GENEVA – Swiss officials confirmed Monday that diplomatic communications between Washington and Tehran continue flowing through Switzerland’s neutral channels, even as military operations between U.S.-Israeli forces and Iran entered their third day.

The Swiss foreign ministry told Reuters via email that the diplomatic pathway “is available to both parties and operates in both directions,” though ministry officials declined to elaborate on specific details of the communications.

Switzerland has served as a diplomatic intermediary between America and Iran for more than four decades, taking on the role of neutral “protecting power” to represent American diplomatic interests in Iran after the two nations severed official relations following Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Swiss diplomatic officials also reported that all of their regional embassies continue normal operations and are providing assistance to Swiss citizens in the area who require support during the ongoing conflict.

ANKARA – Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan condemned recent strikes against Iran carried out by the United States and Israel, calling them a “clear violation” of international law during remarks made Monday.

The Turkish leader made his comments while addressing attendees at a Ramadan iftar dinner in the capital city of Ankara, where he also expressed that Turkey stands with the Iranian people during this difficult time.

Erdogan announced that Turkey plans to increase diplomatic engagement across all levels of government to help broker a ceasefire and restore stability to the region. He warned that allowing the current conflict to persist poses significant dangers that extend beyond the immediate area and could create global consequences that no nation is equipped to manage.

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump confirmed Monday that he has authorized U.S. military forces to conduct strikes against Iran with the goal of stopping Tehran’s nuclear weapons development and rapidly expanding ballistic missile capabilities.

Speaking from the White House East Room, Trump revealed that military operations he initiated on Friday are moving faster than anticipated. The president had initially estimated the campaign would run four to five weeks, though he acknowledged it might extend longer than planned.

The president stated that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons serves as a primary motivation for the military action, despite Tehran’s denials of pursuing such capabilities. Trump also cited the need to disrupt Iran’s long-range ballistic missile development as a key objective.

During his White House appearance, Trump provided his most detailed public remarks about the conflict, following earlier video statements and brief media interviews over the weekend that sometimes presented conflicting goals for the military engagement.

The president reported that U.S. forces had successfully destroyed 10 Iranian naval vessels and conveyed optimism about the campaign’s progress thus far.

Pakistan’s leader stood by his nation’s military operations against Afghanistan during remarks to lawmakers Monday, asserting that diplomatic solutions were exhausted before launching strikes against militant groups operating from Afghan soil.

The Pakistani government previously declared it was engaged in “open war” with Afghanistan, raising concerns among international observers. The disputed border region serves as a base for extremist organizations such as al-Qaida and ISIS.

“(The Afghan Taliban) must choose to dismantle the terror groups that survive on conflict and its war economy,” President Asif Ali Zardari told parliament members, emphasizing that “no state accepts serial attacks on its soil.”

Following Pakistani air operations last Sunday, Afghanistan responded with counter-attacks on Thursday. Pakistan has since conducted multiple border operations, with Information Minister Attaullah Tarar asserting that 435 Afghan military personnel were eliminated and 31 Afghan positions seized.

Afghan officials dispute these assertions.

Afghanistan’s deputy government spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat reported that Pakistani military forces launched mortar attacks on a displaced persons camp in Kunar province’s eastern region, resulting in three children’s deaths and three additional injuries.

Afghan defense officials stated their forces targeted a Pakistani military installation near Paktia province, inflicting “substantial losses and heavy casualties.”

Pakistani military officials declined to comment but have maintained they exclusively target Afghan military sites to prevent civilian harm.

Pakistan has experienced increased violence recently, attributing the attacks to the banned Pakistani Taliban organization, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which operates within Pakistan and from Afghan territory.

Pakistani officials claim Afghanistan’s Taliban leadership provides sanctuary for TTP fighters, an allegation Kabul rejects.

The current border hostilities terminated a truce negotiated by Qatar and Turkey last October, after Istanbul peace talks failed to produce a lasting resolution.

Zardari emphasized Pakistan’s willingness to negotiate, stating, “We have never walked away from dialogue.”

The Pakistani president renewed accusations that Afghanistan serves as India’s proxy by harboring militant organizations. “Stop being used by another country as a battlefield for their ambitions,” he declared.

Zardari referenced a recent United Nations Security Council monitoring team assessment that characterized militant presence in Afghanistan as a threat extending beyond the region.

The United States is encountering significant roadblocks in its mission to secure critical minerals from the Democratic Republic of Congo, despite establishing a partnership agreement just months ago, according to diplomatic and industry sources.

Congo holds the world’s most extensive cobalt reserves along with substantial copper and lithium deposits, making it a cornerstone of America’s strategy to reduce Western dependence on China for essential minerals.

Following the December signing of a minerals agreement between the US and Congo, officials in Kinshasa provided Washington with a list of 44 potential projects last month covering copper, cobalt, lithium, tin, gold, and energy resources, as Reuters previously reported.

This US-Congo collaboration aims to attract investment and support a peace agreement that Washington helped negotiate between Congo and Rwanda. The Congolese government has alleged that Rwanda backs M23 rebel forces currently battling government troops in eastern regions.

However, many of the proposed mining sites are located in politically unstable areas or face licensing complications, making rapid and dependable mining agreements difficult to achieve, according to sources including Congolese government and mining sector officials who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of ongoing discussions.

One American diplomat suggested that Kinshasa may be intentionally delaying new agreements to pressure Washington into taking stronger action against M23 before moving forward. Reuters was unable to independently confirm this assertion.

The Congolese government did not provide immediate responses to comment requests. Speaking on background, a senior government official dismissed the allegations as “speculation.”

“The agreement has its own rhythm: a period for receiving offers, a period for negotiation,” the official explained. Rwanda, which denies supporting M23, also did not respond immediately to requests for comment.

The US State Department informed Reuters that America remains “deeply concerned” about violence in eastern Congo and continues pressing regional partners to strengthen the ceasefire, calling on Rwanda to cease M23 support and withdraw according to December’s peace agreement.

The department expressed Washington’s desire to see rapid advancement on major deals, including a proposal for Glencore to transfer copper and cobalt operations to the US-supported Orion consortium, US-based Virtus Minerals’ attempt to acquire Congo-focused Chemaf, and expansion of the Lobito Corridor railway.

According to Joshua Walker from NYU’s Congo Research Group, Kinshasa’s decision to include the Rubaya mine on the shortlist indicates Congo’s desire for stronger US action against M23. The mine produces approximately 15% of global coltan and currently operates under M23/AFC control.

Walker noted that investment remains unlikely while the group maintains territorial control.

American security influence has already impacted some mining operations. Alphamin Resources resumed operations at its Bisie tin mine only after US diplomatic intervention helped reduce fighting in surrounding areas, though the company warns that renewed violence could threaten access and operations.

Michael Bahati, chief analyst at advisory firm Ascendance Strategies, identified Congo’s licensing bottlenecks as a fundamental obstacle to new US investment. Additionally, some assets on Kinshasa’s list face disputes, incomplete ownership documentation, and delayed transparency reporting.

At Manono, a world-class lithium site, US-backed KoBold is working to resolve a dispute with Australia’s AVZ, while China’s Zijin in the same region prepares for June shipments.

High-quality copper-cobalt properties, including Chemaf and Gecamines’ holdings, encounter political disputes and permitting histories that discourage Western financial institutions. Chemaf’s proposed sale to US-backed Virtus has stalled after owners indicated that the approximately $30 million offer fails to address the company’s substantial debts.

Even for simpler opportunities like tailings reprocessing or proposed cobalt refineries, Kinshasa has indicated that success depends on governance improvements and security assurances that only Washington can help provide.

These obstacles highlight a disconnect between US strategic goals and its capacity to deploy capital quickly, according to Geraud-Christian Neema, an analyst specializing in African natural resource geopolitics.

Washington continues focusing on “ready-to-produce” properties. A longer-term transformation would require US companies willing to accept Congo-level risks and wait years for profits, a commitment “not many US firms are prepared to make,” he explained.

Congolese officials admit they want American companies to accelerate their pace but say they cannot bypass compliance requirements.

While US and other Western companies must satisfy obligations including anti-corruption screenings, establishing clear ownership chains, and documenting community impact assessments, Chinese firms operate under different regulatory frameworks.

At Manono, Zijin’s early progress in developing roads, power systems, and port connections is already influencing the project. KoBold’s Congo representative said the company plans to utilize that infrastructure once ownership disputes are settled, reflecting the compliance challenges facing US-backed enterprises.

The difference is evident throughout Congo’s mining industry – Chinese operators can manage uncertainty that Western companies cannot, enabling Beijing-linked firms to advance projects while American companies remain caught in extended due-diligence processes.

Currently, Kinshasa has successfully drawn Washington deeper into its critical-minerals sphere, gambling that US engagement will yield security and political benefits, NYU’s Walker observed.

“What that engagement will ultimately look like, however, remains uncertain.”

With Chinese companies already controlling more than 70% of Congo’s copper-cobalt and other rare mineral assets, nothing yet indicates Washington can substantially weaken Beijing’s dominance.

Two major European allies announced Monday they will deepen their collaboration on nuclear defense matters, creating a new coordination team to align their strategic approaches and military training exercises.

The partnership between France and Germany emerges as European nations grow increasingly worried about potential changes to America’s nuclear protection promises during Donald Trump’s presidency.

According to Monday’s joint announcement, the European collaboration seeks to boost the continent’s capabilities in managing conflicts before they reach nuclear levels, with particular focus on early detection systems, aerial defense networks, and long-range precision weaponry.

Both nations committed to launching concrete measures within the current year, including allowing German military personnel to participate in France’s nuclear training programs and conducting shared visits to critical defense installations.

The two countries emphasized that their enhanced cooperation would work alongside NATO’s existing nuclear deterrent framework rather than replacing it, while reaffirming their ongoing dependence on American deterrence capabilities and the independent nuclear arsenals maintained by France and Britain.

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump indicated Monday that the United States plans to dramatically escalate its military actions against Iran, describing current operations as minimal compared to what lies ahead.

During an interview with CNN on Monday, Trump suggested that America’s military response has been restrained so far. “We haven’t even started hitting them hard. The big wave hasn’t even happened. The big one is coming soon,” the president stated.

The president’s remarks followed reports of the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, creating questions about who will assume control of the Islamic Republic. Trump acknowledged the leadership vacuum, telling CNN that the administration remains uncertain about Iran’s current command structure.

“We don’t know who the leadership is. We don’t know who they’ll pick,” Trump explained during the interview.

According to Reuters reporting from Sunday, numerous high-ranking U.S. officials express doubt that the ongoing military campaign against Iran will result in immediate government change within the country.

Multiple nations in the Persian Gulf region have approached Italy seeking advanced air defense technology as Middle Eastern conflicts continue to intensify, according to Italy’s defense minister who briefed lawmakers Monday.

Defense Minister Guido Crosetto explained that regional tensions involving Iran, Israel, and the United States have prompted these urgent requests from Gulf nations looking to bolster their defensive capabilities.

The escalating situation has seen Israel launch attacks into Lebanon following strikes from the militant organization Hezbollah, while Iran has targeted Gulf nations with missiles and unmanned aircraft. Additionally, a drone manufactured in Iran recently struck a British military installation in Cyprus.

“The Gulf countries are expressing strong concern about the evolution of the crisis and have indicated the urgent need to strengthen their defence capabilities, particularly air defence and anti-drone,” Crosetto told Italian parliament members.

Among the requested equipment is the SAMP/T system, a joint French-Italian defense platform also called MAMBA, which has the capability to monitor multiple dozens of aerial threats while simultaneously engaging up to ten targets. This represents Europe’s sole domestically-produced system capable of stopping ballistic missiles.

However, meeting these requests poses significant challenges since Italy is currently providing SAMP/T units to Ukraine for protection against Russian attacks, creating supply constraints.

“It is a very delicate issue, considering that these capabilities are already heavily strained and limited in light of European needs and the support provided so far to Ukraine,” the defense minister explained during his parliamentary testimony.

Crosetto had recently returned from Dubai on Sunday, where he and his family had been temporarily stuck following Iran’s recent military actions. He appeared alongside Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who characterized the regional conflict as presenting direct security risks to Italy itself.

Iranian officials are working urgently to select a new Supreme Leader following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who led the nation for nearly four decades before being killed in an unexpected joint U.S.-Israeli attack.

This marks just the second occasion since Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution that the country must choose a new supreme leader. Candidates being considered span from hardline figures favoring continued confrontation with Western nations to reform-minded individuals supporting diplomatic solutions.

The supreme leader holds ultimate authority over all critical decisions in Iran, including matters of war and peace, as well as the nation’s controversial nuclear activities.

Currently, a temporary leadership group consisting of President Masoud Pezeshkian, hardline judicial leader Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, and prominent Shiite religious figure Ayatollah Ali Reza Arafi is steering Iran through what many consider its most significant crisis in recent decades. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced Sunday that officials expect to name a new supreme leader within the coming days.

The selection process falls to the Assembly of Experts, an 88-member body required by law to promptly designate a replacement. This assembly comprises Shiite religious leaders who win public elections after the Guardian Council, Iran’s constitutional oversight body, approves their candidacy.

Given Khamenei’s substantial influence over both religious institutions, analysts believe the next leader is unlikely to represent a dramatic shift in direction.

Among the leading possibilities is Khamenei’s son, a mid-ranking Shiite cleric widely viewed as a potential heir. While he maintains strong connections to Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, he has no governmental experience. His appointment could create complications, given the Islamic Republic’s historical opposition to inherited leadership and its claims of offering a more equitable system.

Arafi, who sits on the interim governing council, received Khamenei’s personal endorsement for Guardian Council membership in 2019 before winning election to the Assembly of Experts three years later. The senior religious leader oversees an extensive network of Islamic schools.

Former President Hassan Rouhani, considered a moderate voice, led Iran from 2013 through 2021 and negotiated the significant nuclear deal with President Obama’s administration that President Trump later abandoned. Rouhani maintained Assembly of Experts membership until 2024, when he claimed officials prevented his reelection bid. He condemned this action as limiting Iranian citizens’ political involvement.

Hassan Khomeini represents the most notable descendant of Islamic Republic founder Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Though also viewed as relatively moderate, he lacks government experience and currently works at his grandfather’s memorial site in Tehran.

Senior cleric Mirbagheri enjoys support among hardline factions and serves on the Assembly of Experts. He maintained close relationships with the late Ayatollah Mohammad Taghi Mesbah Yazdi, another hardline figure who argued Iran should retain the option to develop “special weapons,” widely understood as nuclear weapons.

During the COVID-19 outbreak, Mirbagheri criticized school closures as part of a “conspiracy.” He currently directs the Islamic Cultural Center in Qom, Iran’s primary center for religious education.

BRUSSELS — European nations find themselves increasingly entangled in the escalating Middle East conflict between the U.S.-Israel alliance and Iran, scrambling to safeguard military installations and rescue thousands of citizens trapped in the expanding war zone.

The crisis has thrust European countries into emergency mode, despite having no voice in the initial U.S.-Israeli military operations against Tehran. Now they’re grappling with the consequences as Iranian retaliation spreads throughout the region that houses vital European trading partners and strategic commercial pathways.

Thousands of Europeans residing in major Middle Eastern cities like Beirut, Dubai, and Jerusalem now face uncertainty, while extensive immigrant communities from Turkey, Egypt, and Gulf nations living across Europe watch developments with growing concern.

Although European powers have declined direct military participation, Britain, France, and Germany announced their willingness to collaborate with Washington in countering Iranian attacks. The United Kingdom has granted American forces access to British military installations for strikes against Iranian missile facilities.

The conflict’s reach has already touched European soil. Cyprus, currently holding the EU’s rotating leadership, was forced to clarify its non-involvement after an Iranian-designed Shahed drone struck a British air facility on the island’s southern shoreline this past weekend. These same drone models have previously appeared in European skies during Russia’s assault on Ukraine.

Anticipating potential domestic threats, several European governments have enhanced security protocols at transportation hubs including train terminals and airports.

Notably, European leadership has largely avoided condemning the American-Israeli military campaign. Many officials welcome the potential collapse of Iran’s government, which has repeatedly detained European nationals and undermined continental economic interests over recent years.

Spain stands as a notable exception to this consensus. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez declared Sunday, “One can be against a hateful regime, and at the same time, be against a military intervention that is unjustifiable, dangerous and outside of international law.”

European involvement remains essential given the region’s volatility and the continent’s need for Middle Eastern stability. Concerns about prolonged petroleum price increases and potential unpredictable migration waves ensure continued European engagement.

The immediate European focus centers on protecting thousands of nationals caught in the spreading conflict zone.

EU foreign ministers addressed evacuation concerns during weekend emergency discussions. While no coordinated rescue operation launched, officials acknowledged one might become necessary shortly.

German authorities report approximately 30,000 German travelers stranded aboard cruise vessels, in hotels, or at shuttered airports, unable to return due to the fighting. Most remain in Middle Eastern locations, though some are stuck elsewhere because their connecting flights route through Abu Dhabi, Qatar, or Dubai. Military extraction proved impossible due to closed airspace.

The Czech Republic has dispatched two aircraft to Egypt and Jordan for citizen retrieval, collecting dozens of Czech nationals who traveled overland from Israel. Four additional planes were scheduled for Oman to transport more of the estimated 6,700 Czechs throughout the region.

Iranian threats against vessels in the Strait of Hormuz—the narrow Persian Gulf passage handling one-fifth of global oil commerce—have prompted calls for enhanced EU merchant ship protection following actual attacks in those waters.

France responded by deploying two additional warships to strengthen Operation Aspides, the European naval mission in the area. However, these vessels will only patrol the distant Red Sea and Gulf of Aden—entry points to the Suez Canal connecting the Red Sea and Mediterranean—joining three ships already stationed there.

Operation Aspides launched two years ago to shield maritime commerce from potential Houthi rebel attacks originating in Yemen. While the Houthis have voiced support for Iran, they haven’t immediately declared military action on Tehran’s behalf.

Officials are reviewing the mission’s authorization and considering stricter engagement protocols, though immediate changes appear unlikely.

Preserving broader Middle Eastern stability remains a primary European objective. Iran’s retaliatory actions across multiple countries have drawn widespread condemnation.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas plans to organize talks with Gulf Cooperation Council nations at the ministerial level this week, as the bloc works to reassure Iran’s neighbors and other regional countries facing potential threats.

“Iran’s attacks of a number of countries in the Middle East are inexcusable. The events must not lead to further escalation that could threaten the region, Europe and beyond, with unpredictable consequences,” Kallas stated following Sunday’s emergency discussions.

The European Union intends to spearhead diplomatic initiatives aimed at reducing regional tensions while maintaining efforts to prevent Iranian nuclear weapons acquisition, despite the collapsed nuclear agreement after the Trump administration’s withdrawal.

EU officials indicate no preferred successor for Tehran’s leadership, noting it’s premature to identify potential candidates for future support. Foreign ministers primarily expressed “solidarity with the Iranian people.”

They pledged assistance for “their fundamental aspirations for a future where their universal human rights and fundamental freedoms are fully respected.”

European leaders maintain that authentic popular opposition to the regime emerged recently but was crushed through unprecedented violence. Thousands died and tens of thousands faced detention.

One certainty remains: the EU will unlikely support any leadership promoted by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. The IRGC’s addition to the bloc’s terrorism list last month makes European recognition of them as legitimate negotiating partners virtually impossible.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Recent military operations involving American and Israeli forces targeting Iran have intensified concerns about violations of international legal standards, as Tehran and allied groups responded with missile strikes throughout the Middle East region on Monday.

From United Nations headquarters in New York, the center of post-World War II international governance, Secretary-General António Guterres addressed the Security Council on Saturday, declaring that American and Israeli military strikes breached international law and UN Charter provisions. Guterres simultaneously criticized Iran’s counter-attacks as violations of Middle Eastern nations’ sovereignty and territorial boundaries.

Trump administration representatives maintain their military operations represent legitimate actions to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear capabilities. “It’s a matter of global security. And to that end, the United States is taking lawful actions,” stated Mike Waltz, Trump’s UN ambassador.

In a Sunday correspondence to the United Nations, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as “constitutes a grave and unprecedented breach of the most fundamental norms governing relations among States.”

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth offered a forceful defense of American military actions on Monday. “No stupid rules of engagement, no nation building quagmire, no democracy building exercise, no politically correct wars. We fight to win and we don’t waste time or lives,” Hegseth declared from Pentagon headquarters.

These Iranian operations follow by fewer than eight weeks the American military operation that resulted in the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas, subsequently transporting him to New York for prosecution.

International law expert David Crane, who established and led a United Nations tribunal prosecuting Sierra Leone war crimes, authored an assessment stating that American operations in Iran and Venezuela “highlight a dangerous trend: the normalization of unilateral force as a tool of foreign policy. Even when the outcome is positive, the violation of international law and constitutional limits sets a precedent that threatens global stability and undermines America’s own legal foundations.”

Democratic lawmakers in Washington have characterized the military strikes as unlawful. Their position maintains that constitutional authority for war declarations rests exclusively with Congress. Critics argue the Trump administration has not provided adequate justification or strategic planning for the military operations and their consequences.

Congressional leadership rapidly organized a Monday debate regarding Trump’s constitutional authority for Iranian bombardment under war powers legislation.

The International Criminal Court’s founding treaty amendment defines aggression as “the use of armed force by a State against the sovereignty, territorial integrity or political independence of another State, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Charter of the United Nations.”

The court specifically identifies aggressive acts including: “Bombardment by the armed forces of a State against the territory of another State or the use of any weapons by a State against the territory of another State.”

Since the United States, Israel, and Iran maintain non-membership status with the court, ICC jurisdiction over the current conflict requires Security Council referral to court prosecutors.

UN Charter provisions restrict nations to using force against other countries only with Security Council authorization or for self-defense purposes, explained Marieke de Hoon, who teaches international criminal law at Amsterdam University.

De Hoon characterized the Iranian attacks as aggression crimes.

“It is a violation of the prohibition to use force, the cornerstone of the international legal order, and there is no legal justification for it: it is not a self-defense against an armed attack by Iran or an imminent threat” of attack, “nor is there a UNSC resolution to authorize use of force,” she explained to The Associated Press. “Regime change moreover violates the sovereignty of another state.”

Iranian leadership maintains an established record of violently suppressing opposition movements and supporting extremist activities that have created Middle Eastern instability. Trump administration forces targeted the nation’s nuclear facilities in previous military strikes last year.

However, De Hoon argued these factors cannot justify American and Israeli bombardments.

International law grants Tehran self-defense rights, she noted, while adding that “Iran is not allowed to attack civilian infrastructure in other countries. Its response needs to be proportionate to stop the aggression, without offering itself a legitimation toward, for instance, regime change in the aggressor country.”

Crane acknowledged that removing Maduro and Khamenei from power might enhance regional stability, decrease human suffering, and improve democratic and peaceful prospects, but “international law does not permit states to unilaterally decide which tyrants to remove by force.”

Reading University international law professor Marko Milanovic stated that during peacetime, “it is a clear violation of international law to assassinate the head of state or government of some other state.”

Government leaders “enjoy personal immunities and inviolability, and any attacks against them would also violate the sovereignty of their state,” he explained.

Wartime conditions alter these protections, he noted, explaining that when political leaders serve as armed forces members, “then they are combatants like any other members of the armed forces and are not immune from attack.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Monday that his nation will finish technical preparations needed to begin European Union membership negotiations within the coming days.

Speaking to reporters through a WhatsApp media session, Zelenskyy again urged EU partners to establish a concrete timeline for Ukraine’s admission to the bloc, arguing this would serve as a crucial security guarantee for his country as it works to negotiate an end to the conflict with Russia.

“We are ready, but not all leaders of the European Union are… I mean, not everyone is ready to give Ukraine this opportunity,” Zelenskyy stated.

Ukraine gained official EU candidate status shortly after Russia launched its invasion in February 2022.

However, Kiev’s advancement through the standard EU membership process has stalled due to Hungary’s opposition, which has prevented the required unanimous consent to formally begin discussions on the six main “clusters” of membership requirements.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who maintains the strongest Russia ties within the EU and faces crucial elections in April, has also blocked the most recent EU aid package for Ukraine valued at 90 billion euros spanning this year and next.

Orban claims Ukraine has cut off Russian oil deliveries to Hungary through the historic Druzhba pipeline that runs through Ukrainian territory. Ukraine maintains the pipeline suffered damage from a Russian drone strike.

Kiev views EU membership as essential to its post-conflict reconstruction. Ukraine’s inclusion in the EU with a specific entry date appears in preliminary versions of a 20-point peace framework developed jointly by Ukraine and the United States, currently being discussed with Russia.

European Union officials have indicated that Ukraine, given its checkered history regarding government transparency, anti-corruption efforts, and legal system reforms, may require several years of institutional changes to satisfy EU entry standards.

Zelenskyy reiterated Monday that Ukraine would be technically prepared for EU membership by next year, emphasizing that the actual timing depends on political commitment from existing member nations.

“If they truly believe in Ukraine, if they want to see Ukraine in the EU, then this is the opportunity: at the end of the war, to give Ukraine a concrete date and not repeat the mistake they made with NATO,” he explained.

PARIS – French President Emmanuel Macron announced Monday that his nation will expand its nuclear weapons stockpile and bolster its defense capabilities, citing growing concerns about global conflicts potentially escalating to nuclear warfare.

Speaking from a naval submarine facility in Brittany on March 2nd, Macron warned of mounting international tensions that require France to strengthen its military deterrence strategy.

“We are currently experiencing a period of geopolitical upheaval fraught with risk,” Macron declared during his address, emphasizing that France needs a “hardening” of its nuclear deterrence approach to address these challenges.

The announcement comes as nations worldwide grapple with various regional conflicts and security threats that have raised concerns about potential nuclear escalation.

The head of the United Nations nuclear monitoring organization stated Monday that there’s no evidence recent strikes by Israel and the United States damaged Iran’s nuclear installations, contradicting Iranian officials who claim the Natanz facility was attacked.

Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, addressed the organization’s 35-member governing board, saying Iran’s nuclear program has been cited as justification for the military operations by Israel and the U.S., who contend Iran is advancing toward nuclear weapons capability.

However, Iran’s atomic installations appear to have avoided significant damage in the current round of attacks, unlike the June strikes that severely impacted nuclear facilities.

“We have no indication that any of the nuclear installations … have been damaged or hit,” Grossi told the Board of Governors meeting.

The IAEA chief revealed that his organization’s emergency response team has struggled to maintain contact with Iran’s nuclear oversight authorities, though some communication with Iranian officials continues.

“We are, of course, in conversation with Iran, but at the moment, it’s very limited. Until last Thursday, it was very intense,” Grossi explained during a news briefing, noting that while no IAEA personnel are currently stationed in Iran, the agency is monitoring developments through satellite surveillance.

Iran has prevented IAEA inspectors from returning to facilities damaged in the June bombardment.

Shortly after Grossi’s presentation, Iran’s IAEA representative Reza Najafi contradicted the assessment, telling journalists that strikes had targeted the Natanz nuclear site.

“Again they attacked Iran’s peaceful, safeguarded nuclear facilities yesterday,” Najafi declared. When asked by reporters to specify which installations were struck, he responded “Natanz” before departing.

The Natanz location previously contained two uranium processing facilities that sustained damage during June attacks – a surface-level plant that the IAEA determined was completely destroyed, and a subterranean facility that suffered extensive damage.

When questioned about the Iranian ambassador’s statements, Grossi maintained his position during the subsequent news conference.

“I will not get into a polemic on that. We stand by what I said before. We haven’t seen major military activity targeting the nuclear facilities. We have been looking at different satellite images,” he stated.

“There might be something there, but not significant or comparable in any way to what we saw last time.”

Grossi had participated in recent diplomatic discussions in Geneva, where Oman facilitated negotiations between Iranian and American representatives regarding nuclear issues.

“An understanding eluded the parties this time. I am sure we are, quite understandably, feeling a strong sense of frustration,” Grossi informed the governing board.

The IAEA director encouraged renewed diplomatic efforts while reaffirming the agency’s assessment that Iran shows no credible signs of operating a coordinated nuclear weapons development program. Iranian officials continue to deny any military objectives in their nuclear activities.

Energy facilities across the Middle East went offline Monday as escalating conflicts between Israel, the United States, and Iran triggered widespread precautionary shutdowns of oil and gas operations.

Qatar suspended its liquefied natural gas production, which accounts for roughly one-fifth of the world’s total supply. The nation ranks as the globe’s second-largest LNG exporter behind the United States and serves as a crucial supplier for balancing energy demands in Asia and Europe. QatarEnergy’s customer base is 82% Asian.

Saudi Arabia’s largest domestic oil refinery ceased operations after being targeted by a drone attack, according to a source familiar with the situation.

The military actions have extended into their third day, also forcing the halt of most oil production in Iraqi Kurdistan and shuttering several significant Israeli gas fields, which has disrupted exports to Egypt.

Energy markets reacted dramatically, with oil prices climbing as much as 13% during trading to exceed $82 per barrel – the highest level since January 2025. The price surge occurred as the conflict brought shipping through the Strait of Hormuz to a virtual standstill. This critical waterway handles one-fifth of the world’s oil supply.

Saudi Aramco’s Ras Tanura refinery, which processes 550,000 barrels daily, was closed as a safety precaution. The facility sits within an energy complex along the kingdom’s Gulf coastline that also functions as a vital export terminal for Saudi crude oil.

Aramco has not yet responded to requests for comment.

QatarEnergy announced it was also stopping production of LNG-related products. Earlier Monday, Qatar’s government reported that two Iranian drones struck a QatarEnergy facility, with officials currently evaluating the extent of damage.

In Iraqi Kurdistan, oil companies including DNO, Gulf Keystone Petroleum, Dana Gas and HKN Energy have suspended operations at their fields as a safety measure, though no damage has been reported. The region exported 200,000 barrels daily through a pipeline to Turkey’s Ceyhan port in February.

Off Israel’s coast, the government ordered Chevron to temporarily close the massive Leviathan gas field, where the company is working to increase capacity to approximately 21 billion cubic metres annually as part of a $35 billion export agreement with Egypt. A Chevron representative confirmed that its facilities, including the Tamar gas field, remain secure.

Energean also shut down its production vessel that services smaller gas fields in the area.

In Iran, explosions were reported Saturday at Kharg Island, which handles 90% of Iran’s crude exports, though the impact on facilities remains unclear.

Iran ranks as the third-largest producer within the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, contributing about 4.5% of global oil supplies. The country produces approximately 3.3 million barrels per day of crude oil, plus an additional 1.3 million barrels daily of condensate and other liquids.

Regarding the Saudi facility, the source indicated that conditions at Aramco’s Ras Tanura refinery are now stable. The Saudi defense ministry spokesperson told Al Arabiya TV that two drones were intercepted at the site, with debris sparking a contained fire but causing no injuries.

While some refinery units were shut down for safety reasons, an unnamed energy ministry official told Saudi state news agency SPA that petroleum product supplies to domestic markets remained unaffected.

However, the Ras Tanura closure will likely heighten supply concerns as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has nearly stopped following attacks on vessels in the area Sunday.

“The attack on Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura refinery marks a significant escalation, with Gulf energy infrastructure now squarely in Iran’s sights,” said Torbjorn Soltvedt, principal Middle East analyst at risk intelligence firm Verisk Maplecroft.

“The attack is also likely to move Saudi Arabia and neighbouring Gulf states closer to joining U.S. and Israeli military operations against Iran.”

Saudi Arabia’s well-protected energy infrastructure has faced previous attacks, particularly in September 2019 when drone and missile strikes on the Abqaiq and Khurais facilities temporarily eliminated more than half of the kingdom’s crude production.

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis previously targeted Ras Tanura in 2021.

The nation’s highest-ranking military officer warned Monday that American military goals in Iran will require an extended timeline to accomplish, with more U.S. casualties anticipated as joint operations with Israel enter their third consecutive day.

General Dan Caine, who serves as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, addressed reporters about the expanding aerial campaign between the United States and Israel against Iranian forces, which shows no signs of concluding soon. During Monday’s operations, Kuwait’s air defense systems accidentally downed three U.S. F-15E fighter aircraft while responding to an Iranian assault, according to military officials.

“This is not a single overnight operation. The military objectives that CENTCOM and the Joint Force have been tasked with will take some time to achieve, and in some cases will be difficult and gritty work,” Caine explained to the media. He confirmed that America continues deploying additional military personnel to the Middle Eastern region, building upon an already substantial troop presence.

The general’s remarks followed President Donald Trump’s Sunday indication that Iranian strikes could continue for up to four weeks.

Military officials reported that a fourth American service member succumbed Monday to wounds received during the Iranian operation. U.S. forces have successfully intercepted numerous ballistic missiles aimed at American positions and regional allies.

At the same briefing, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth assured that military actions against Iran would not result in an “endless war,” while recognizing the operation cannot be finished immediately. Hegseth outlined plans to eliminate Tehran’s missile capabilities, naval forces, and additional security infrastructure.

“This is not Iraq. This is not endless,” Hegseth stated.

President Trump initiated what military analysts consider the most significant U.S. foreign policy risk in recent decades, launching the coordinated campaign with Israel on Saturday against a longtime adversary that has challenged America and its allies for generations.

Despite the ongoing U.S.-Israeli attacks, Iran’s conservative religious leadership has demonstrated no indication of surrendering control. Defense experts suggest that American and Israeli air superiority, without ground troops, may prove insufficient to remove them from power. Reports indicate dozens of Iranian deaths from the strikes, including several that apparently struck civilian locations.

Officials in Gaza are warning of a critical shortage of fuel and essential supplies after Israel shut down all border crossings into the war-torn territory following military action against Iran.

The closure came Saturday after Israel announced coordinated airstrikes on Iran conducted alongside the United States. Israeli military officials have not provided a timeline for reopening the crossings, stating they cannot operate safely during active warfare.

The Palestinian territory relies entirely on fuel deliveries by truck from Israel and Egypt, and the supply shortage threatens to cripple hospitals and disrupt water and sewage systems. The majority of Gaza’s population has been forced from their homes during Israel’s ongoing two-year conflict with Hamas.

United Nations official Karuna Herrmann, who oversees fuel distribution in the region, warned of the dire situation ahead. “I expect we have maybe a couple of days’ running time,” Herrmann stated.

Palestinian aid coordinator Amjad Al-Shawa, who collaborates with UN agencies and non-governmental organizations, provided a similarly grim assessment. He projected fuel reserves might stretch three to four days, while supplies of produce, flour and other basic necessities could also be depleted if border operations remain suspended.

Reuters could not confirm these supply estimates independently.

COGAT, Israel’s military agency overseeing Gaza access, maintained that sufficient food had entered the territory since an October ceasefire began to meet population needs. “(The) existing stock is expected to suffice for an extended period,” COGAT stated without providing specifics. The agency did not address questions about potential fuel shortages.

The ceasefire is part of a broader American-supported initiative aimed at ending the conflict, which includes reopening Egypt’s Rafah border crossing, expanding humanitarian aid deliveries, and reconstruction efforts.

Hamada Abu Laila, among Gaza’s displaced residents, expressed concern that the border closures could trigger another humanitarian crisis similar to the famine that affected portions of the territory last year when Israel halted aid shipments for nearly three months.

“Why is it our fault, in Gaza, with regional wars between Israel, Iran, and America? It is not our fault,” Abu Laila said.

Large numbers of Iranian nationals made their way across the Turkish border on Monday as regional conflict intensified, according to eyewitness reports from the scene.

A Reuters correspondent observed the mass crossing at the Kapikoy border checkpoint, where new arrivals described a climate of anxiety in Iran’s capital and long lines forming at fuel stations throughout the country.

The border crossing came after Turkey announced earlier Monday that routine day-trip travel between the nations had been mutually halted at all three crossing points. Turkish officials stated they would only permit Turkish citizens and third-country nationals to enter, following reports Sunday that some Iranian travelers had been turned away.

Despite the restrictions, Iranian citizens began streaming through the Kapikoy gate by Monday afternoon, carrying luggage through light snowfall with snow-capped Iranian mountains visible in the distance.

One Tehran resident, who requested anonymity while explaining his family was waiting in Istanbul, described conditions in the capital. “The situation in Tehran is already difficult,” he stated. “There are difficult things in Tehran, bombings. Everyone is scared. But for example, normal people, nothing happened to them.”

The man explained he had purchased household supplies when the conflict began, noting that stores were packed with customers.

Binali Kilic, who identified himself as an Iranian of Azeri descent from the Qazvin region near the Turkish frontier, said daily life continued in his area but military targets were under constant attack, disrupting civilian routines.

“They’ve withdrawn into themselves. Everyone is in their homes,” Kilic explained as travelers pulled suitcases through the checkpoint toward waiting transport vehicles. “There were sounds of bombing coming from nearby areas that were hit.”

Regarding daily necessities, Kilic noted supplies remained available but fuel access had become problematic. “There are no food problems or anything like that. The only concern people have is getting fuel for their trips, near and far. There are queues at petrol stations,” he added.

Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat confirmed Iran was allowing its citizens to return home through Turkey, while commercial freight continued moving through all three border crossings under enhanced security measures.

“All our units continue to perform their duties on high alert to ensure the uninterrupted continuation of Turkey’s border crossing services and trade flows,” Bolat announced.

BEIRUT — Lebanese residents evacuated from southern regions and Beirut’s southern neighborhoods on Monday, finding safety in makeshift shelters at schools throughout the capital after renewed deadly violence between Israel and the Iranian-backed militant organization Hezbollah.

According to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, no fewer than 31 individuals lost their lives while 149 others sustained injuries during nighttime attacks across Beirut’s suburbs and southern Lebanese territories.

Lebanon’s administration on Monday harshly criticized Hezbollah’s choice to join Iran’s conflict against Israel and the United States, declaring the organization’s military operations unlawful and insisting it surrender its arsenal.

Traffic congestion plagued roadways through the night and into Monday as residents escaped what represented Israel’s most devastating bombardment of Lebanon in over twelve months, occurring just hours after Hezbollah launched cross-border missiles for the first time in more than a year.

Inside a public school quickly transformed into emergency housing, displaced families brought mattresses, plastic containers, and bundles of personal items. Additional families waited on sidewalks with their possessions, while some men smoked cigarettes as they anticipated available space indoors.

Community volunteers moved among the crowds, recording names as families occupied classrooms and assembled in the school’s outdoor areas.

Hussein Abu Ali, who escaped from a southern Beirut neighborhood with his spouse and kids, recounted when the attacks occurred.

“My son began shaking and crying,” he said. “Where are you supposed to go? I stepped outside, then back in because I was afraid of shooting in the air. I gathered my children and went down to the street.”

Nadia Al-Salman, forced to leave the southern community of Majdal Zoun, stated they “left our homes not out of fear or terror of the United States, but to fulfill our religious and legal duty to protect ourselves.”

“They do not intimidate or frighten us, and they will not make us retreat even an inch from the path of resistance,” she added.

Throughout the most recent Israel-Hezbollah conflict in 2024, over one million Lebanese citizens were forced from their homes at its peak. Many remain unable to return to southern residences, where border communities continue lying in devastation.

Hezbollah fired rockets toward Israel one day following the militant Palestinian organization Hamas’s assault on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which sparked the Gaza conflict. Following months of limited confrontations, the situation intensified into comprehensive warfare in September 2024 before a U.S.-mediated ceasefire temporarily ended hostilities two months afterward.

Following that truce, Israel has maintained almost daily bombardments in Lebanon, claiming its goal involves preventing Hezbollah’s reconstruction efforts.

Monday’s violence also represented the first occasion in over twelve months that Hezbollah acknowledged responsibility for attacking Israel. The organization released a statement claiming the bombardments occurred as retaliation for Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s assassination and for “repeated Israeli aggressions,” characterizing it as “a legitimate defensive response.”

However, Lebanon’s administration declared Hezbollah’s military operations unlawful and insisted the organization surrender its weapons. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam announced following an urgent Cabinet session Monday that exclusively the state should determine war and peace matters.

He stated that Hezbollah’s military actions were prohibited moving forward and urged security forces to prevent missile or drone launches from Lebanon while detaining those responsible for the attacks. This represented the most severe position Lebanon’s government has adopted regarding Hezbollah, which maintains a political wing with parliamentary representation alongside its armed militants.

Israeli military officials overnight warned approximately 50 communities throughout southern and eastern Lebanon to evacuate. Military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin stated Israel maintains “all options on the table,” including possible ground operations in Lebanon and warned that “Hezbollah will pay a very heavy price.”

He reported Israel has mobilized more than 100,000 reserve forces since the conflict with Iran commenced Saturday.

A deadly assault on a South Sudanese village has claimed the lives of at least 169 people, marking another devastating chapter in the nation’s escalating conflict that threatens to spiral into full-scale civil war.

The Sunday attack in Abiemnom county left 90 civilians dead, according to James Monyluak, information minister for the Ruweng administrative region. Among the casualties were women, children, and numerous fighters.

Following the massacre, approximately 1,000 terrified residents fled to a United Nations peacekeeping base seeking safety, according to the U.N. Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

“Such violence places civilians at grave risk and must stop immediately,” stated Anita Kiki Gbeho, a UNMISS official. “I urge all involved to cease hostilities without delay and engage in constructive dialogue to address their grievances.”

“Our peacekeepers will continue to do everything within their capabilities to protect civilians seeking refuge at our base,” she added.

UN officials reported 23 wounded in the assault and expressed alarm over “reports indicating that dozens of civilians and some local officials have lost their lives.”

The massacre represents part of intensifying hostilities across South Sudan, where forces supporting President Salva Kiir are clashing with militants believed connected to opposition leader Riek Machar.

Intelligence suggests the armed fighters responsible for Sunday’s attack maintain connections to Machar’s faction, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In-Opposition.

Machar served as Kiir’s deputy until his September dismissal following criminal charges. He remains under house arrest in Juba, South Sudan’s capital, while his trial continues.

The United States has called for negotiations between Kiir and Machar to resolve the crisis.

The current violence jeopardizes a delicate 2018 peace accord that ended five years of civil warfare. Under that arrangement, Machar assumed the role of first vice president in a unity government. However, a UN investigation determined that South Sudan’s leadership is “systematically dismantling” the peace framework.

Machar’s allies contend the subversion charges against him are politically driven. Violence surged dramatically following his removal from office.

The crisis intensified in December when opposition fighters captured government positions in Jonglei county, an opposition stronghold that has become a focal point of renewed combat displacing an estimated 280,000 people, according to UN figures.

Humanitarian organizations have cautioned that restricted access to opposition-controlled territories is putting civilian lives in danger.

Since January, government forces have launched a counterattack involving air strikes and ground operations, despite official pledges to honor the peace agreement.

KYIV, Ukraine — Diplomatic negotiations between Ukraine and Russia set for this week could be moved from the United Arab Emirates to alternative locations due to escalating Middle East violence, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Monday.

The Ukrainian leader indicated that Switzerland or Turkey might serve as backup venues if the originally planned Abu Dhabi meeting cannot proceed safely amid regional warfare.

Zelenskyy also confirmed that Western nations have not signaled any immediate disruption to crucial air defense missile shipments to Ukraine despite their Middle East defense obligations.

The U.S.-facilitated diplomatic initiative aims to resolve the conflict that started when Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. However, recent American and Israeli military actions against Iran, along with retaliatory missile strikes from Iran and its allied militias targeting Israel and Arab nations, threaten to shift global focus away from the nearly three-year European war.

“Because of the fighting, we cannot guarantee at this time that the meeting will happen in Abu Dhabi,” Zelenskyy stated during a WhatsApp conversation with journalists. He had announced the UAE capital as the chosen location just last week.

Past diplomatic sessions between the warring nations have taken place in Abu Dhabi, Istanbul, and Geneva, though none have achieved significant progress on major disputes.

The Ukrainian president reported no immediate reduction in American and European air defense weapon supplies, particularly the crucial American-manufactured Patriot missile systems. Nevertheless, he warned that delivery quantities might decrease if Middle Eastern hostilities persist.

According to Zelenskyy, Russia’s winter campaign to destroy Ukraine’s electrical infrastructure was unsuccessful, despite causing substantial damage. He noted that Russian air strikes have now shifted focus to other critical systems, including water supply networks.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced Sunday that the UK plans to deploy Ukrainian specialists to assist Persian Gulf nations in intercepting Iranian drones. Ukraine has developed significant drone warfare capabilities throughout the conflict, as Russia conducts daily bombardments using Iranian-designed Shahed drones.

However, Zelenskyy said he has not been contacted directly by Britain or other nations regarding such assistance requests.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — After more than six decades of doubt, a painting once dismissed as a fake has been verified as an authentic work by renowned Dutch artist Rembrandt van Rijn, according to an announcement Monday from a prominent Netherlands museum.

The Rijksmuseum, which serves as the country’s premier art and history institution, revealed that “Vision of Zacharias in the Temple” is indeed a genuine piece created by Rembrandt when he was 27 years old in Amsterdam during 1633. The confirmation came after two years of intensive examination and advanced technological analysis.

The artwork had disappeared from public view for decades following its purchase by an unnamed private collector in 1961. This acquisition occurred just one year after art experts had concluded the piece was not created by the famous Golden Age painter. Beginning Wednesday, visitors will be able to view the painting alongside other renowned works at the Rijksmuseum, where it will remain as part of a long-term lending arrangement.

Museum Director Taco Dibbits explained that the institution frequently receives inquiries from individuals wondering whether their paintings might be undiscovered Rembrandt works. “We always hope to find a new Rembrandt, but this happens rarely,” Dibbits told The Associated Press. He described making such a discovery as being “just like (finding) a needle in a haystack.”

The anonymous owner initially approached the museum with a simple question about whether the painting was of Dutch origin. “He really didn’t know what he had. And then to discover that it’s a Rembrandt is something that’s amazing to experience,” Dibbits explained.

The composition illustrates a religious narrative featuring high priest Zacharias receiving a divine visit from the Archangel Gabriel, who announces that Zacharias and his spouse will become parents to John the Baptist. According to the museum, the painting captures Zacharias’s astonished reaction through dramatic lighting that signals Gabriel’s celestial presence.

Jonathan Bikker, the museum’s specialist in 17th-century Dutch art, detailed the comprehensive research process that led to the authentication. The investigation included advanced macro X-ray fluorescence scanning technology and detailed comparisons with other confirmed Rembrandt pieces.

“So the wood that was used for the panel on which it’s painted, that is definitely from a tree that was cut down before 1633, the date on the painting,” Bikker explained.

“All the pigments, the paint in the painting were used by Rembrandt in other paintings. And the layers of paint and how he painted it, that is also precisely the same as in other works by Rembrandt,” he continued.

This authentication increases the catalog of known Rembrandt paintings to approximately 350 works and raises optimism about potential future discoveries.

“We’re not actively looking for new paintings by Rembrandt, but I think this gives us hope — not just us, but everyone who’s interested in Rembrandt,” Bikker stated.

WASHINGTON — Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth and the nation’s top military officer, Air Force Gen. Dan Caine of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, are scheduled to address reporters Monday regarding ongoing U.S.-Israeli military operations against Iran.

This will represent the administration’s first formal media briefing since Saturday concerning the strikes and developing Iranian situation. Although President Donald Trump has participated in several telephone interviews with individual news outlets, he has avoided on-camera questioning and has only issued two video statements since military operations commenced.

The scheduled briefing occurs amid an expanding regional conflict. Iranian forces and their proxy organizations have fired missiles targeting Israeli territory, Arab nations, and American military installations throughout the Middle East.

American military personnel have suffered four combat deaths. Trump indicated Sunday that additional U.S. casualties should be expected.

The escalating crisis was highlighted when Kuwait, a U.S. partner nation, accidentally destroyed three American warplanes during a combat operation while Iranian aircraft, missiles, and unmanned drones were conducting attacks. According to U.S. Central Command, all six crew members successfully ejected from their F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft and remain in stable medical condition.

American leadership has not presented any withdrawal strategy or indicated when the conflict might conclude, while the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has created uncertainty about the Islamic Republic’s future and pushed the region toward greater instability.

During a Sunday discussion with The New York Times, Trump indicated the military campaign might continue for “four to five weeks.”

The Republican commander-in-chief reported that American and Israeli forces have already hit hundreds of objectives. These operations included joint strikes on Iranian missile facilities and naval targets, with claims of destroying Iran’s naval command center and several warships.

Iran’s Red Crescent Society reports that U.S.-Israeli operations have resulted in at least 555 Iranian deaths. Regional authorities indicate 11 Israeli fatalities and 31 deaths in Lebanon.

TOKYO (AP) — Global tensions reached new heights Monday as international leaders grappled with the aftermath of coordinated US and Israeli military operations against Iran that resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

President Donald Trump, confirming Khamenei’s death in the strikes, described the military action as “the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their Country.”

The international response revealed deep divisions, with many nations carefully avoiding direct commentary on the weekend strikes while focusing criticism on Iran’s retaliatory attacks. Several governments condemned Tehran’s missile strikes against Arab nations while remaining silent about the American and Israeli military operations.

Clear divisions emerged among key allies: Australia and Canada voiced explicit backing for the US actions, while Russia, China and Spain issued sharp rebukes of the strikes.

Following Saturday’s major assault by US and Israeli forces, Trump urged Iranian citizens to “seize control of your destiny” and overthrow the Islamic government that has controlled Iran for over four decades. Tehran responded by launching missiles and unmanned aircraft at Israeli targets and American military installations throughout the Middle East.

European leaders Keir Starmer of Britain, Emmanuel Macron of France, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz issued a joint declaration urging Washington and Tehran to restart diplomatic discussions, emphasizing their preference for a peaceful resolution.

These three nations have spearheaded international efforts to negotiate agreements regarding Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

Thailand’s Foreign Affairs Ministry appealed for peaceful dialogue, requesting “all the parties to prevent the conflict from further deterioration, thereby undermining international peace and security and affecting innocent civilians.”

Oman issued a declaration stating the American military action “constitutes a violation of the rules of international law and the principle of settling disputes through peaceful means, rather than through hostility and the shedding of blood.” However, Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, who previously facilitated nuclear discussions between Washington and Tehran, maintained after two days of fighting that “the door to diplomacy remains open.”

The Arab League, representing 22 member nations, characterized Iran’s attacks as “a blatant violation of the sovereignty of countries that advocate for peace and strive for stability.” This coalition has traditionally criticized both Israeli and Iranian actions that threaten regional stability.

Senior diplomats from six Persian Gulf nations demanded Iran immediately cease attacks on their soil, arguing these actions violated national sovereignty and jeopardized regional peace.

Foreign ministers from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain conducted an emergency virtual conference Sunday after the US-Israeli strikes triggered Iranian missile barrages against American bases and civilian targets including airports, hotels and residential neighborhoods.

Syria, previously Iran’s strongest regional partner under former President Bashar Assad, issued a statement exclusively condemning Iranian actions, demonstrating the new government’s efforts to strengthen relationships with regional economic powers and the United States.

Saudi Arabia declared it “condemns and denounces in the strongest terms the treacherous Iranian aggression and the blatant violation of sovereignty.”

Several European and Middle Eastern nations chose diplomatic language, avoiding appearances of either endorsing unilateral American military action or directly criticizing the United States.

Other countries responded more forcefully.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry labeled the strikes “a pre-planned and unprovoked act of armed aggression against a sovereign and independent U.N. member state.” Moscow accused America and Israel of using nuclear concerns as cover while actually seeking government overthrow.

Kremlin representative Dmitry Peskov expressed Monday that Russia felt deeply disappointed seeing the US and Israel attack Iran despite recent diplomatic progress.

China’s leadership said it remained “highly concerned” about the American and Israeli strikes, demanding immediate cessation of military activities and renewed negotiations.

Spain’s prime minister criticized the US-Israeli operations, advocating for immediate tension reduction and peaceful talks.

Canada, despite recent diplomatic friction with America, supported the military intervention. “The Islamic Republic of Iran is the principal source of instability and terror throughout the Middle East,” stated Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Australia’s Senate approved a resolution celebrating Khamenei’s death while rejecting provisions praising the United States and Israel.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi downplayed Monday concerns about economic impacts on Middle Eastern oil supplies following the strikes, noting Japan maintains domestic reserves lasting several months.

The Palestinian Authority condemned Iranian attacks on Arab states that have historically provided financial support, while making no reference to Israeli or American strikes.

Anxiety spread across multiple nations. Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide expressed to broadcaster NRK his worry that failed US-Iran negotiations could trigger “a new, extensive war in the Middle East.”

The Nobel Peace Prize-winning International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons criticized the US and Israeli military operations.

European Union leadership released a Saturday statement advocating restraint and diplomacy to guarantee “nuclear safety.”

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Monday that India remained troubled by the crisis and supported dialogue to reduce tensions.

Germany announced it would not participate in military operations against Iran but would consider protecting German troops at international bases in Jordan and Iraq if attacked, according to Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul.

British comedy legend John Cleese has announced he will avoid performing in British Columbia during his planned Canadian tour this year. The Monty Python co-creator made the decision following a substantial court ruling in the province.

A school official in British Columbia was recently ordered to pay $750,000 in damages after making public statements opposing transgender ideology. This legal outcome has prompted Cleese, known for his advocacy of free expression and his atheist beliefs, to reconsider performing in the region.

“What a pity. Now I won’t be able to risk doing any shows in British Columbia,” the veteran entertainer stated.

The decision means fans in that Canadian province will miss out on seeing the celebrated performer during his theatrical tour of the country.

International travelers found themselves trapped Monday after military operations between the United States, Israel and Iran forced the closure of major aviation routes throughout the Middle East.

Vacationers and business people were left waiting in hotels, terminals and aboard cruise vessels with little information about when normal air travel might return. Officials advised citizens abroad to stay put while evacuation plans were developed.

Key transportation centers in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha – including the world’s busiest Dubai International Airport – suspended operations after being directly impacted by the conflict. These facilities serve as crucial connection points linking Europe, Africa and Western nations with Asian destinations.

Qatar Airways announced Monday that all services remain halted, with the next status update scheduled for Tuesday morning. Jordan also implemented partial airspace restrictions.

Germany faces a particularly challenging situation with approximately 30,000 of its citizens currently unable to return home from the region.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stated late Sunday that military rescue operations were impossible due to the airspace closures.

He explained that officials were exploring alternative methods to assist stranded Germans and urged people to heed guidance from travel companies and local officials.

The German Travel Association issued an urgent advisory telling tourists to “remain at their booked hotels as a matter of urgency” and avoid “make their own way to the airport or to a neighboring country.”

Similar guidance came from other nations dealing with stranded citizens.

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš announced plans to deploy two aircraft to Egypt and Jordan for citizen evacuation. One plane will collect 79 Czech nationals in Sharm El Sheikh who are traveling by bus from Israel to Egypt. The second aircraft will retrieve citizens from Amman, Jordan. Babiš reported approximately 6,700 Czech citizens are currently in the affected region.

An additional four Czech evacuation flights are departing for Muscat and Salalah in Oman to transport tourists home.

The disruption extended to Asia, where thousands became stranded on Indonesia’s popular Bali island following widespread flight cancellations.

Officials at Bali’s international airport reported at least 15 cancelled flights by Monday afternoon, including eight departures and seven arrivals on routes serving Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi.

Major carriers including Air France suspended service to Tel Aviv, Beirut, Dubai and Riyadh, while airlines from Air India to KLM issued travel warnings and halted operations.

Airport representative Gede Eka Sandi Asmadi confirmed that 3,197 departing passengers were impacted by the service interruptions.

American airlines issued travel alerts as the transportation chaos affected financial markets Monday morning, with travel sector stocks declining sharply. United, Delta and American Airlines each dropped 5% to 6%, while international hotel companies and cruise operators like Carnival experienced even steeper losses.

Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam announced on March 2nd that his government will prohibit Hezbollah’s armed operations throughout the country. The announcement comes after Israel conducted strikes against facilities connected to Hezbollah in response to the militant group’s recent missile and drone attacks.

The escalation follows unconfirmed reports regarding the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, which appears to have triggered the series of retaliatory actions between the groups. Israel targeted what it described as Hezbollah-affiliated locations after the organization launched its attacks using missiles and unmanned aircraft.

PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron will address European security concerns Monday when he delivers a closely anticipated speech updating his nation’s nuclear weapons strategy from a military submarine base.

The French leader plans to detail how his country’s nuclear arsenal factors into European defense planning as continental leaders express mounting anxiety about President Donald Trump’s stance on Ukraine, Greenland and NATO commitments.

Despite escalating Middle East tensions involving Iran, French officials decided to proceed with the previously scheduled address. A presidential aide, speaking on condition of anonymity per standard protocol, explained that current global violence demonstrates why France must maintain its strategic independence against emerging threats.

Across Europe, government leaders are questioning whether the United States will honor its traditional “nuclear umbrella” commitment — the longstanding promise that American nuclear capabilities would shield NATO allies from attack.

As the European Union’s sole nuclear-armed nation, France holds unique significance in continental defense discussions. Macron’s administration indicated the speech will expand upon his 2020 nuclear deterrence remarks, made before Russia’s comprehensive Ukraine invasion transformed European security calculations.

Presidential officials have not revealed specific details about Monday’s announcement.

Several European countries have already accepted Macron’s previous invitation to participate in discussions about French nuclear deterrence and potentially join nuclear training exercises.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz disclosed earlier this month that he had conducted “preliminary discussions” with Macron regarding nuclear cooperation and publicly suggested German military aircraft might transport French nuclear weapons.

“We have to re-articulate nuclear deterrence,” Macron stated at this month’s Munich Security Council gathering. He described having “strategic conversations” with Merz and other European leaders “in order to see how we can articulate our national doctrine, which is guaranteed and controlled by the Constitution, with special cooperation, common exercises and common security interests.”

France and Britain established a joint agreement in July enabling their independent nuclear forces to operate in “coordinated” fashion. The United Kingdom, though no longer an EU member while remaining a NATO partner, represents Europe’s only other nuclear-capable nation.

Macron has repeatedly emphasized that authority over French nuclear weapons deployment remains exclusively with France’s president.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysian officials have granted Australian mining company Lynas Rare Earths a decade-long extension to operate its processing facility, while mandating the elimination of radioactive waste production by 2031.

The Lynas processing plant in Malaysia represents the first rare earth refinery established outside of China, producing essential materials for advanced technology manufacturing. Located in Pahang state’s central region, the facility has been operational since 2012 but has faced ongoing controversy regarding radiation concerns from accumulated waste materials.

Science Minister Chang Lih Kang announced Monday that radioactive waste produced over the next five years must undergo treatment and neutralization through thorium extraction or alternative approaches. He emphasized that no additional permanent storage facilities would be permitted.

The renewed operating permit extends through March 3, 2036, with a mandatory review scheduled after five years. Chang noted the license faces potential revocation if Lynas fails to meet established conditions.

Activist organizations have maintained sustained opposition to the Lynas facility, pushing for the company to remove its radioactive materials from the country. These groups argue that radioactive components, including thorium and uranium, become more dangerous following mechanical and chemical processing.

Lynas received a five-year window to upgrade its infrastructure and expand operations under what Chang characterized as an aggressive but definitive schedule. He reported that laboratory testing has demonstrated encouraging outcomes in waste radiation neutralization through thorium extraction, though implementing such technology on an industrial scale typically requires seven to 10 years.

“We have not gone against our promise to prevent the accumulation of radioactive waste in Malaysia. We remain committed to that position, and through this license renewal, we aim to fully achieve this goal by 2031,” Chang said in a statement.

Chang explained the license approval followed comprehensive technical assessment, considering Malaysia’s strategic priorities and commitments from Lynas. Current radioactive waste will be housed in a permanent storage facility currently under development, expected to be completed by year’s end.

Rare earth elements comprise 17 minerals essential for manufacturing electric and hybrid vehicles, defense systems, flat-screen televisions, mobile devices, mercury-vapor lighting and camera lenses. While China holds approximately one-third of global rare earth deposits, it maintains nearly complete control over supply chains. Lynas has indicated its refinery could supply almost one-third of worldwide rare earth demand, excluding China.

Malaysia’s only other rare earth processing facility — run by Japan’s Mitsubishi Group in northern Perak state — shuttered in 1992 after public demonstrations and allegations linking it to birth defects and leukemia among local residents. The site remains one of Asia’s most extensive radioactive contamination cleanup locations.

Thousands of Lebanese residents are abandoning their communities as deadly violence escalates along the Israeli-Lebanese border following Monday’s missile exchanges between the two nations.

The violence began when Hezbollah fired rockets from Lebanese territory into Israel, responding to the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Israeli forces answered with military strikes against Lebanese targets, resulting in at least 31 fatalities according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry.

Images captured by Associated Press photographers document the mass displacement as families pack belongings and flee areas near the conflict zone.

VIENNA (AP) — Iran’s representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency made accusations Monday that American and Israeli military strikes hit the country’s Natanz uranium enrichment complex.

However, this claim conflicts with statements from UN nuclear oversight director Rafael Grossi, who indicated the agency has found “no indication” that atomic facilities in Iran have been struck “up to now.”

“Again they attacked Iran’s peaceful safeguarded nuclear facilities yesterday. Their justification that Iran wants to develop nuclear weapons is simply a big lie,” Iranian Ambassador Reza Najafi stated to media at IAEA offices in Vienna during a special Board of Governors meeting requested by Russia.

When a journalist asked which atomic facility he meant, Najafi responded “Natanz.”

Located approximately 220 kilometers (135 miles) south of Tehran, the Natanz complex combines surface and underground laboratories that handled most of Iran’s uranium processing operations.

Prior to current hostilities, IAEA reports showed Iran operated sophisticated centrifuges at the site to process uranium to 60% purity — just one technical step away from the 90% weapons-grade threshold. Officials believe some of this material remained at the facility when the entire compound was struck last June.

The primary surface enrichment structure at Natanz was called the Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant. Israeli forces struck this building on June 13, rendering it “functionally destroyed” and causing significant damage to subterranean chambers containing centrifuge arrays, according to IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi’s assessment at that time. A subsequent U.S. operation on June 22 targeted Natanz’s underground sections with penetrating explosives, potentially destroying remaining equipment.

Speaking to the special Board of Governors session, IAEA Director Rafael Mariano Grossi stated the International Atomic Energy Agency currently has “no indication that any of the nuclear installations, including the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, the Tehran Research Reactor or other nuclear fuel cycle facilities” in Iran have sustained damage or been targeted.

Grossi noted the IAEA continues attempting to reach Iranian nuclear regulatory officials through the agency’s Incident and Emergency Center “with no response so far,” citing communication difficulties due to the ongoing conflict.

The IAEA chief called for military restraint, cautioning that Iran and numerous other regional nations facing military action operate “operational nuclear power plants and nuclear research reactors, as well as associated fuel storage sites, increasing the threat to nuclear safety.”

He reported that thus far “no elevation of radiation levels above the usual background levels has been detected in countries bordering Iran.”

Najafi further accused the United States of using “deception and disinformation to invade other countries.” He claimed the conflict was initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump, “who attempts to portray himself as a man of peace and asking for Nobel Peace Prize. Even when they talk about peace, it is a lie. And if they call for diplomacy, it’s about deception,” he stated.

The Iranian ambassador characterized the strikes on his nation as “unlawful, criminal and brutal” and urged the 35-member IAEA Board of Governors to “categorically condemn” the military actions.

A joint military operation conducted by the United States and Israel during the weekend has resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and numerous other high-ranking officials, sparking intense Iranian retaliation that raises fears of expanded regional conflict.

U.S. allies have committed to assisting in defending against Iran’s missile and drone attacks. For the first time in over a year, the Lebanese militant organization Hezbollah has launched strikes against Israel, prompting Israeli counterattacks.

The conflict has resulted in the first reported American military casualties. Additional fatalities have been confirmed in Israel and Gulf region countries, while Iranian officials report hundreds of deaths within their borders.

Following Khamenei’s death, Iran faces the task of selecting a new supreme leader for the first time since 1989. President Donald Trump has called on Iranian citizens to take advantage of this opportunity to topple the theocratic government that suppressed nationwide demonstrations earlier this year. However, there are no indications of such an uprising occurring.

Global reactions have been mixed, with some demonstrations taking place while others have celebrated the developments.

These military actions occurred just two days following the most recent diplomatic discussions between the U.S. and Iran regarding restrictions on Tehran’s nuclear activities. The situation mirrors events from the previous year, when negotiations were interrupted by an Israeli assault that resulted in a 12-day conflict and American bombardment of Iranian nuclear facilities. Washington has maintained that Iran has been reconstructing its nuclear capabilities in recent months.

Iranian officials claim they have not conducted uranium enrichment since June, though they have prevented International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors from accessing the sites targeted by American forces.

The 86-year-old Khamenei died during Saturday morning’s bombing of his residential compound. Iranian ballistic missile installations, naval headquarters, and warships were also struck. Iran reports that attacks also hit the Natanz nuclear enrichment facility.

With no designated heir, Iran has established a three-person leadership council. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has indicated that a new supreme leader will be selected within “one or two days.” Limited street celebrations following Khamenei’s death have been reported, though internet restrictions within Iran have made monitoring the situation difficult.

Iranian forces have responded with strikes against Israel, resulting in multiple casualties. Iran has also launched attacks on American military installations throughout the region. Military officials confirmed three service members were killed, marking the first known American losses. Additional Iranian attacks have caused several deaths in Gulf states including the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, while hundreds of flights have been disrupted at major international airports.

The strikes followed a significant U.S. military buildup in the region, representing the largest American presence there in decades. Israeli and American intelligence agencies spent weeks monitoring the locations of senior Iranian leadership. Trump has stated that the “heavy and pinpoint bombing” operations in Iran will continue throughout the week or potentially longer.

American military installations across the region remain vulnerable to potential Iranian attacks.

Washington has indicated willingness to engage in future discussions with Iran’s incoming leadership. Meanwhile, certain congressional leaders have objected to launching the strikes without legislative approval.

Israel views Iran as a fundamental threat and has consistently worked to eliminate its nuclear and missile programs, while also targeting allied armed groups such as Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israeli operations have significantly weakened these organizations following Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that initiated the Gaza conflict.

Early Monday, Israel conducted strikes in Lebanon in response to missiles fired by Hezbollah across the border.

Israel has now committed to “nonstop” attacks and reported that 100 fighter aircraft simultaneously struck targets in Tehran at one point. During last year’s conflict, Israel presented Trump with a proposal to eliminate Khamenei, which has now been accomplished.

Israeli citizens sought shelter throughout the weekend, though most Iranian attacks have been successfully intercepted. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, facing international criticism over the Gaza war, is declaring the outcome a victory for Israeli security.

However, threats persist from Iranian-supported groups like Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who have promised to restart attacks on Red Sea shipping lanes and Israeli targets.

The current crisis has already exceeded the intensity of last year’s Israel-Iran conflict, where the United States became involved near the conclusion by bombing Iranian nuclear sites, leading to Iran’s calculated response against a U.S. military base in Qatar.

Currently, hundreds of Iranian missile and drone attacks have caused widespread alarm across Gulf nations that had previously remained relatively protected from regional instability.

The United Arab Emirates reported disruptions at Dubai’s primary airport, while tourists and residents reacted to the sounds of interceptor missiles. Saudi Arabia confirmed it intercepted attacks and summoned Iran’s diplomatic representative. Senior diplomats from six Gulf states declared their “right to self-defense.”

Oil markets experienced sharp price increases when trading resumed Sunday, as investors anticipated potential supply disruptions from this crucial region. Concerns about attacks near the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most vital oil transit point, are also affecting supply considerations.

In response, eight nations within the OPEC+ oil alliance announced plans to increase crude oil production.

Monday may bring initial information about potential impacts on Iran’s nuclear program as the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Board of Governors convenes a meeting regarding the conflict.

PARIS – French officials declared Monday their willingness to provide military assistance to Gulf nations facing retaliatory attacks from Iran, while criticizing recent strikes against Iranian targets as lacking proper international authorization.

Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot announced the pledge during a press conference following an emergency meeting at France’s Foreign Ministry in Paris.

“Regarding more specifically our partners in the region who have been targeted, deliberately aimed at by the Iranian regime, we stand ready to contribute to their defense,” Barrot stated to journalists.

The foreign minister clarified that any French assistance would come “based on their request, in a proportionate manner and in accordance with the principle of collective self-defence provided for under international law.”

Barrot also criticized Saturday’s military actions by Israel and the United States against Iran, arguing these “unilateral strikes” should have received authorization from the U.N. Security Council to gain proper legitimacy.

The French official urged Iran to cease its current offensive operations and make significant compromises to reach a diplomatic resolution that could bring stability to the Middle East.

According to Barrot, no French personnel were injured in Sunday’s drone strike on a French naval facility in Abu Dhabi, though the attack resulted in minor property damage.

Energy facilities across the Middle East came under attack Monday, forcing the temporary closure of Saudi Arabia’s largest domestic oil refinery following a drone strike, according to industry sources.

The escalating violence has now entered its third day, prompting energy companies to halt operations at facilities throughout the region as a safety precaution. Oil production in Iraqi Kurdistan has been largely suspended, while several major Israeli natural gas fields have also ceased operations, disrupting energy exports to Egypt.

Saudi Aramco’s Ras Tanura refinery, which processes 550,000 barrels daily, was temporarily shuttered after the attack. The facility sits within a crucial energy hub along Saudi Arabia’s Gulf coastline that also functions as a key export terminal for the kingdom’s crude oil.

In northern Iraq’s Kurdistan region, energy companies including DNO, Gulf Keystone Petroleum, Dana Gas and HKN Energy have halted production at their oil fields as a safety measure. The region had been exporting approximately 200,000 barrels per day through a pipeline to Turkey’s Ceyhan port in February. Officials report no damage to the facilities.

Off Israel’s coast, Chevron’s massive Leviathan natural gas field suspended operations Saturday, while Energean also shut down its production vessel that services smaller gas fields in the area.

Saudi defense officials confirmed that two drones were intercepted at the Ras Tanura facility, with falling debris sparking a small fire. The Saudi defense ministry spokesperson told Al Arabiya TV that no personnel were injured in the incident.

“The situation at Aramco’s Ras Tanura refinery is under control,” a source familiar with the matter reported. Saudi Arabia’s state news agency said some refinery units were shut down as a precaution, but emphasized that fuel supplies to domestic markets remained unaffected.

The facility closures are heightening concerns about global energy supplies, particularly as shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has nearly stopped following attacks on vessels Sunday. About 20 percent of the world’s oil consumption passes through this critical waterway. Brent crude oil prices jumped approximately 10 percent Monday, climbing above $82 per barrel.

Energy analysts view the Saudi refinery attack as a major escalation in regional tensions. “The attack on Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura refinery marks a significant escalation, with Gulf energy infrastructure now squarely in Iran’s sights,” said Torbjorn Soltvedt, principal Middle East analyst at risk intelligence firm Verisk Maplecroft.

Soltvedt added, “The attack is also likely to move Saudi Arabia and neighbouring Gulf states closer to joining U.S. and Israeli military operations against Iran.”

This isn’t the first time Saudi Arabia’s heavily protected energy infrastructure has come under attack. In September 2019, drone and missile strikes on the Abqaiq and Khurais facilities temporarily eliminated more than half of the kingdom’s oil production. The Ras Tanura facility was previously targeted by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi forces in 2021.

Qatar successfully stopped Iranian strikes aimed at civilian targets, including the nation’s international airport, according to a foreign ministry spokesperson who spoke with CNN on Monday.

The spokesperson, Majed Al Ansari, warned that these types of aggressive actions “could not remain unanswered” and confirmed that Qatar is currently not maintaining diplomatic engagement with Iran.

The March 2nd statement highlights escalating tensions between the two Middle Eastern nations as Qatar takes a firm stance against what it describes as unprovoked attacks on non-military infrastructure.

Military forces have taken control of two northern Pakistani cities under emergency curfew orders following deadly weekend violence that claimed at least 23 lives, government officials announced Monday.

The lockdown affects Gilgit and Skardu, where thousands of Shiite protesters stormed United Nations facilities on Sunday in response to U.S.-Israeli military operations that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The demonstrations turned destructive as crowds targeted the UN Military Observer Group offices that oversee Kashmir ceasefire monitoring and attacked UN Development Programme facilities in Skardu. Violence also erupted in Gilgit, where demonstrators set fire to a police station and caused damage to a school and local charity buildings. Regional police report 12 fatalities and 80 wounded in the Gilgit-Baltistan area alone.

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric confirmed Monday that protesters vandalized the UNMOGIP Field Station during the violent confrontations. “The safety and security of U.N. personnel and premises throughout the region remain our top priority, and we continue to closely monitor the situation,” Dujarric stated.

Regional government representative Shabir Mir announced Monday that authorities have restored order, with the emergency curfew scheduled to continue through Wednesday. Police commander Akbar Nasir Khan instructed citizens to remain in their homes due to “deteriorating law and order conditions.”

Violence also erupted in Pakistan’s major southern port of Karachi, where angry crowds breached the U.S. Consulate grounds Sunday, shattering windows and attempting to ignite the structure. Law enforcement responded with riot control measures including batons, tear gas, and live ammunition, resulting in 10 deaths and over 50 injuries. Additional violence in the capital city of Islamabad claimed one life as Shiite protesters attempted to march toward the American Embassy.

American diplomatic facilities suspended normal operations Monday, with the U.S. Embassy and consulates in Karachi and Lahore canceling scheduled visa services and citizen assistance due to security threats. Pakistani security forces have increased protection around all U.S. diplomatic properties nationwide, including enhanced security perimeters around the Peshawar consulate facility.

Financial markets reflected the regional instability Monday as the Pakistan Stock Exchange experienced significant losses, with the primary KSE-100 Index dropping nearly 10 percent. Market analysts attributed the widespread selling across all sectors to increased uncertainty following the Iranian attacks and resulting geopolitical tensions.

The violent demonstrations reflect growing fury throughout Pakistan, especially within Shiite communities, following the U.S.-Israeli military operations that eliminated Khamenei and other high-ranking Iranian officials. Although Shiites represent a minority population nationally, they constitute majorities in certain northern districts and throughout Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province along the Afghan border.

These domestic disturbances occurred as Pakistan continues cross-border military confrontations with Afghanistan that began Thursday following Afghan retaliatory strikes responding to Pakistani air operations conducted the previous Sunday. Pakistani forces have maintained ongoing border operations since the conflict began.

MOSCOW – Russian officials announced Monday they are maintaining ongoing communications with Iran’s government following what Moscow describes as unprovoked attacks on the country, expressing significant disappointment over recent developments.

On Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin denounced the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as a calculated assassination. Russia’s Foreign Ministry has pointed fingers at the United States and Israel, claiming their actions are pushing the Middle East toward uncontrolled chaos.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov revealed Monday that Russian officials are examining the circumstances and forming their own assessment after Washington decided to conduct military operations against Iran, despite what appeared to be productive diplomatic discussions.

“Regarding the talks facilitated by Oman between America and Iran, we must voice our profound disappointment that despite reports of meaningful advancement in those discussions, circumstances have still descended into direct hostilities,” Peskov stated during a press briefing.

The spokesperson mentioned that Putin plans to conduct an international phone conversation about Iran later Monday, though he wouldn’t reveal the intended recipient.

“What I can share is that we maintain ongoing communication with Iran’s government and are examining developments affecting that nation. Meanwhile, we’re continuing discussions with leaders of countries impacted by this conflict, including nations in the Persian Gulf region,” Peskov explained.

NAIROBI – An assault by unknown gunmen in South Sudan’s Ruweng Administrative Area on Sunday resulted in the deaths of 122 individuals, with 82 of those being civilians, according to the region’s information minister who spoke Monday.

James Monyliak Majok confirmed the devastating toll to Reuters, stating: “I would like to sadly inform you that among those killed included the County Commissioner and the Executive Director. Eighty two were mostly children, women, and elderly.”

The identity of the attackers and their motives remain unclear as authorities continue investigating the incident that claimed the lives of numerous vulnerable residents along with key local government officials.

Iranian representatives accused the United States and Israel of launching military strikes against the country’s major nuclear facility at Natanz, according to statements made during a United Nations nuclear oversight meeting in Vienna on Monday.

Speaking to journalists at the International Atomic Energy Agency’s board meeting, Iran’s U.N. nuclear watchdog ambassador Reza Najafi claimed the attacks targeted peaceful nuclear operations under international supervision.

“Again they attacked Iran’s peaceful, safeguarded nuclear facilities yesterday,” Najafi stated to reporters gathered at the 35-nation governing board session. When pressed by Reuters about which specific installations were targeted, Najafi confirmed the strikes hit the Natanz complex.

The extensive nuclear installation at Natanz has been a focal point of international attention regarding Iran’s nuclear program activities.

Iranian Americans residing in the Los Angeles area are expressing their viewpoints regarding recent military operations conducted by the United States and Israel targeting Iran.

The Iranian diaspora community in Los Angeles has been sharing their reactions as tensions escalate in the ongoing Middle East conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.

NEW DELHI (AP) — Canadian and Indian leaders announced Monday their commitment to enhancing economic cooperation, marking a significant effort to repair diplomatic relations that have been troubled for the past two years.

Following discussions with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that both nations would work toward completing a “comprehensive economic partnership” designed to boost bilateral trade to $50 billion by 2030.

The two countries resumed progress on trade agreement negotiations that had been stalled, as Carney has worked to rebuild diplomatic communication and stabilize the relationship between the nations.

According to Carney, both governments are targeting completion of the agreement before year’s end.

“This is not merely the renewal of a relationship. It is the expansion of a valued partnership with new ambition, focus, and foresight,” Carney said.

The relationship between the countries became strained when Canadian officials claimed India played a role in the death of a Canadian Sikh activist near Vancouver in June 2023. India strongly rejected these claims and criticized former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s administration for providing refuge to Sikh extremists associated with the Khalistan movement. India has prohibited this movement, which seeks to establish an independent Sikh state.

The diplomatic crisis resulted in both nations removing senior diplomatic personnel and temporarily halting certain visa operations.

The relationship began improving last June when Carney extended an invitation to Modi to attend the G7 summit in Alberta.

Following Monday’s discussions, Modi revealed that India and Canada had signed a nuclear cooperation agreement allowing Canada to provide uranium to India. He also noted that both countries would collaborate on strengthening defense industries and improving maritime domain awareness.

Representatives from both governments also signed multiple memoranda of understanding covering critical minerals, energy cooperation, and cultural exchange programs.

Carney plans to continue his trip to Australia and Japan later Monday as part of his strategy to expand Canada’s trade relationships beyond the United States. His administration has established an objective to double Canada’s non-U.S. exports within the next ten years, citing concerns that American tariffs are discouraging investment.

BEIJING – Chinese officials confirmed Monday that one of their citizens died in Tehran amid escalating Middle East violence, while Beijing has successfully evacuated over 3,000 nationals from Iran.

The fatality occurred as tensions exploded following weekend strikes by U.S. and Israeli forces that resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iran responded with retaliatory attacks targeting Israel and Gulf nations where American military installations are located.

During a routine press conference, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning explained that diplomatic missions in surrounding nations have established working committees to receive and support evacuated citizens, though she provided no details about plans for their return to China.

Ning revealed that Beijing received no advance warning about Washington’s military operations against Iran.

The spokesperson also pushed back against reports suggesting Iran and China were nearing an agreement for supersonic anti-ship missile purchases, stating China remains a responsible major power that “always fulfilled its international obligations.”

Ning repeated Beijing’s condemnation of the strikes and Khamenei’s killing, calling on all involved nations to halt military operations immediately to avoid further escalation.

The Chinese official emphasized that Gulf states’ sovereignty, security and territorial boundaries must be completely respected, adding that China supports enhanced dialogue between nations in the region.

Growing tensions in the Middle East involving Iran are creating significant disruptions to oil shipments destined for Asian markets, as shipping vessels remain stuck in the Persian Gulf while crude oil and transportation expenses climb, according to industry experts and analysts who spoke Monday.

These supply chain interruptions underscore the vulnerability of Asia, which represents the globe’s largest oil-consuming region and relies on Middle Eastern producers for 60% of its petroleum needs, amid ongoing hostilities between the United States and Israel against Iran.

President Donald Trump indicated that the U.S.-Israeli military operations could extend for several weeks, potentially causing extended interruptions to shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway that handles approximately 20% of worldwide oil production and a comparable portion of liquefied natural gas shipments from Middle Eastern suppliers.

Weekend attacks resulted in damage to three oil tankers and claimed the life of one crew member, while earlier strikes prompted roughly 200 vessels to anchor near the Strait as a safety precaution. Insurance companies withdrew war risk coverage on Monday, and industry experts anticipate shipping rates will spike as operators keep their fleets away from the area.

Citi analysts noted in their report: “Iran has not officially shut the Strait of Hormuz but risk aversion from shippers is a real phenomenon. Transit volumes have already declined with vessels parking outside the Strait.”

International oil prices jumped approximately 9% on Monday following earlier increases of up to 13%.

Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara addressed the situation during a briefing, stating: “Some crude oil tankers bound for Japan from the Middle East are waiting in the Persian Gulf, avoiding passage through the Strait of Hormuz.”

Japanese trading company Itochu confirmed it is facing “some impact” on Gulf shipments of crude oil and petroleum products and plans to obtain supplies from non-Middle Eastern sources, according to an email statement.

Japan’s largest refiner, Eneos, indicated it would evaluate effects on future crude oil purchasing while keeping watch on developments.

A prolonged closure of the Strait would drive oil costs higher and potentially create supply shortfalls for China and India, the world’s first and third-largest oil importing nations, compelling these countries to use emergency reserves and reduce refinery activity.

The International Energy Agency, comprising primarily developed nations, mandates that member countries maintain oil reserves equal to no less than 90 days of net oil imports.

Kihara stated that Japan currently has no immediate intentions to release from its strategic petroleum reserves, among the world’s most substantial.

Indonesia’s state energy corporation Pertamina announced it has implemented risk management strategies and is optimizing refinery operations to maintain fuel and liquefied petroleum gas availability. The nation serves as Southeast Asia’s top gasoline importer.

Several Indian refineries have already informed Middle Eastern suppliers they cannot secure vessels to transport crude oil, according to sources from two companies.

India’s energy ministry and refiners conducted weekend meetings to explore options for reducing the crisis’s impact on the nation’s energy security, sources revealed.

The refiners plan to examine all alternatives, including Russian oil pending New Delhi’s approval, if the crisis extends beyond 10-15 days, sources indicated.

One source explained: “Alternative routes to get oil from the Middle East are costly and availability is not there as ships are not willing to go through that route.”

The interruption of LNG deliveries from Qatar, Oman and the United Arab Emirates would most severely affect Asian purchasers, particularly Pakistan, India and Bangladesh, analysts warned.

Rystad Energy analysts observed in their assessment: “Those countries face a choice between attracting LNG cargoes from other producers and reducing gas demand either by fuel switching or outright demand curtailment.”

China and Japan rank as the world’s top two LNG importing countries. However, Japan obtains most of its supply from Australia. Japanese utilities currently hold LNG inventory sufficient for approximately three weeks of domestic consumption, Kihara reported.

Recent military operations targeting Iran may influence North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to restart nuclear discussions with President Donald Trump, according to analysts and former government officials speaking from Seoul.

Previous diplomatic efforts aimed at addressing North Korea’s nuclear weapons program and missile development collapsed after high-level meetings between Kim and Trump during 2018 and 2019, despite initial optimism. However, the recent Iranian situation could change Pyongyang’s calculations.

The military action that resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei occurred two months following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by American special operations forces under Trump’s direction.

“Kim must have thought Iran was attacked like that because it didn’t have nuclear weapons,” explained Song Seong-jong, who teaches at Daejeon University and previously worked for South Korea’s Defence Ministry.

North Korea’s foreign ministry described the military operation as unavoidable, characterizing the United States as “hegemonic and rogue” in a statement released through state-controlled media this past Sunday.

During a recent ruling party gathering, Kim announced plans to expand the country’s nuclear arsenal, though he suggested future discussions remained possible based on Washington’s approach.

“If the United States withdraws its policy of confrontation with North Korea by respecting our country’s current status … there is no reason why we cannot get along well with the U.S.,” Kim stated according to the KCNA news agency.

Trump has expressed interest in renewed discussions, leading to speculation about a potential meeting during his upcoming visit to China scheduled for March 31 through April 2.

“The lesson the Trump administration wants pariah states to take is clear; stop threatening America and its allies and make a deal before it is too late,” said Leif-Eric Easley, who teaches international studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul.

Easley noted that North Korea has developed more sophisticated nuclear capabilities than Iran possessed, including advanced warhead technology and long-range missile systems.

North Korea formally adopted legislation in 2022 authorizing first-strike nuclear attacks, with Kim declaring this made the nation’s atomic status “irreversible.”

Sydney Seiler, currently a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and former U.S. representative in six-nation nuclear talks, believes renewed negotiations haven’t been Kim’s main focus.

“President Trump’s willingness to use military force and threats for negotiating leverage must make Kim nervous and less likely to hastily seek talks,” Seiler observed.

Some experts suggest Kim’s increased security concerns might actually encourage diplomatic engagement.

“Unlike Iran, it’s impossible to denuclearise North Korea,” said Cho Han-bum from the government-funded Korea Institute for National Unification, pointing to the widespread distribution of nuclear facilities throughout the isolated nation.

International estimates suggest North Korea has built approximately 50 nuclear warheads and maintains sufficient materials to construct up to 40 additional weapons, according to last year’s assessment by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

Yang Moo-jin, a professor at Seoul’s University of North Korean Studies, sees potential for discussions if Kim attempts “to leverage his personal rapport with President Trump to explore Washington’s position on North Korea, while at the same time buying time to further advance the country’s nuclear capabilities.”

Nam Sung-wook, who teaches at Sookmyung Women’s University and formerly led a research organization connected to South Korea’s intelligence service, believes Kim might agree to conditional talks if America recognizes North Korea’s nuclear capabilities.

Nam also suggested the North Korean leader likely feels protected by relationships with China and Russia.

Kim traveled by armored train to Beijing last September, where he appeared alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin at a significant military demonstration.

Despite these international partnerships, Ko Young-hwan, a former North Korean diplomat who defected and now advises the South Korean government, thinks Kim may want to reassure Trump about nuclear restraint.

“The incident in Iran must have made him think he should manage relations with the United States better,” Ko concluded.

The upcoming Danish parliamentary election on March 24 will provide crucial insight into whether Greenlanders are ready to pursue independence, as competing political visions for the Arctic territory’s relationship with Denmark create rifts that could benefit US interests.

The current ruling coalition, headed by the Demokraatit party, supports a measured approach to eventual independence while maintaining strong ties with Denmark. However, the opposition Naleraq party demands immediate separation, creating a political split that experts believe Washington may attempt to leverage.

“The American side has begun to look for areas where Greenland has real disagreements with Denmark,” explained Ulrik Pram Gad, who studies the region at the Danish Institute for International Studies. However, he noted that recent US pressure has actually brought Nuuk and Copenhagen closer together.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen scheduled the election hoping to benefit from growing domestic approval of her strong resistance to American pressure regarding Greenland, a position that has earned widespread support across Denmark’s political landscape.

For Greenland, which transitioned from Danish colony status to become part of the Kingdom of Denmark in 1953, the election will determine whether US pressure has accelerated independence desires or increased frustration with both Denmark and the current island government. The territory’s independence movement, which started in the 1970s, has grown stronger in recent years.

Political tensions have intensified since Greenland held its own parliamentary election last March. Following Thursday’s announcement of the Danish election, Naleraq leader Pele Broberg criticized rival parties for “uncritically giving in to the wishes of Denmark and the Danish people for ownership of Greenland” and alleged some seek to “remove our right to independence.”

“As the only opposition party, Naleraq could well attract a lot of dissatisfied voters,” observed Rasmus Leander Nielsen, an associate professor at the University of Greenland.

Adding to the controversy, a Naleraq representative from Greenland’s parliament traveled to the United States over the past year, meeting with Trump administration officials without approval from Greenland’s government, further dividing public opinion among the territory’s 57,000 residents.

Experts suggest that growing frustration with Denmark and increasing demands for self-governance may weaken traditional support for coalition parties like Siumut and Inuit Ataqatigiit, making Greenland’s vote less predictable than in previous Danish elections.

Copenhagen has worked to mend its relationship with Greenland following several recent controversies involving alleged Danish authority misconduct.

Last year, Denmark issued a public apology to Greenlandic women who endured decades of forced birth control procedures. This contraception program was exposed in 2022 when documents revealed that thousands of women and girls as young as 13 received intrauterine devices without their knowledge or permission between 1966 and 1991, when Greenland took control of its healthcare system.

Siumut is demanding immediate publication of an expert report investigating whether this program constituted genocide, and wants voters to see the findings before the March 24 election.

Despite ongoing tensions, many Greenlanders appreciated Frederiksen’s success in securing support from important European allies when Trump renewed his interest in acquiring the island.

“Some have been very angry with Mette Frederiksen, but others have also pointed out that she has been quite good at defending Greenland,” Leander noted.

SINGAPORE – Online prediction markets are facing intense examination following millions of dollars in wagers placed on U.S. military strikes against Iran and bets regarding the removal of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei from his leadership position.

Khamenei died during Israeli military operations over the weekend.

Betting odds shifted dramatically as reports of his death spread, with analysts highlighting a surge of wagers placed on his removal both immediately prior to the strikes and earlier in January. Legal experts are now questioning whether these markets operate within the law.

Approximately $529 million was wagered across multiple Polymarket contracts related to attack timing, with successful bettors who predicted Saturday as the strike date receiving payouts. An additional $150 million was placed across two contested contracts concerning Khamenei’s removal as Iran’s supreme leader.

Data analysis company Bubblemaps reported on social media platform X that six user accounts generated $1.2 million in profits from Polymarket wagers funded just hours before Saturday’s military operations. Meanwhile, Polysights, a separate analytics company, had previously identified unusual purchasing activity in mid-January from newly created accounts with minimal transaction history, focusing on Iran-related contracts and specifically Polymarket bets predicting “Khamenei out” before March ended.

Polymarket did not respond to email requests for comment. The platform’s “Khamenei out” contracts are currently in a “debate period” following disputes from token holders regarding the outcome resolution.

Competing platform Kalshi also operated a “Khamenei out” market but ultimately refunded trader fees and returned payments based on the final trading price before his death, according to the company’s CEO who used social media to justify the firm’s approach to these wagers.

“When there are markets where potential outcomes involve death, we design the rules to prevent people from profiting from death. That is what we did here,” Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour stated on X.

REGULATORY CONCERNS

Prediction markets provide tradeable contracts with yes-or-no outcomes, enabling users to place bets on various real-world events spanning sports, politics, and economic matters. Wager prices fluctuate between zero and 100 cents based on trading activity, typically paying $1 to winning bettors once results are verified.

Federal regulations prohibit betting that conflicts with public interest, potentially including warfare or political assassinations. Last month, six Democratic senators expressed concerns to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) that prediction markets may violate existing regulations.

“It’s insane this is legal… I’m introducing legislation ASAP to ban this,” Connecticut Democratic Senator Chris Murphy posted on X Sunday, responding to Bubblemaps’ analysis of Polymarket activity. Murphy was not among the six Democrats who signed the previous letter to regulators.

These betting platforms gained massive popularity following the 2024 U.S. presidential election, when their real-time probability calculations proved more reliable than traditional polling in forecasting Donald Trump’s electoral success.

Global prediction market trading volume reached $47 billion last year, according to Clear Street brokerage analysts, representing a betting surge that’s drawing both legal challenges and significant Wall Street interest.

ICE, which owns the New York Stock Exchange, has invested $2 billion in Polymarket, while trading platform Plus500 launched prediction markets on its U.S. consumer platform last month through a Kalshi partnership.

These platforms have also encountered insider trading allegations and operate in uncertain regulatory territory, with prediction market operators arguing they should fall under CFTC oversight rather than state gambling regulators.

In January, an unidentified trader earned approximately $410,000 in profits after betting on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s removal from office.