Category: World News

The Trump administration is exploring the possibility of sending thousands of additional American military personnel to the Middle East as the conflict with Iran continues into its fourth week, according to multiple sources familiar with the discussions.

Military planners are examining various scenarios that could give President Trump more strategic choices as the campaign against Iran progresses, sources told reporters. Among the possibilities being evaluated is ensuring safe navigation for oil tankers through the crucial Strait of Hormuz, a mission that would primarily rely on air and sea power, though it might also require positioning American forces along Iran’s coastline.

Administration officials have also explored the potential deployment of ground forces to Iran’s Kharg Island, which serves as the central hub for approximately 90% of the country’s oil exports. However, one official characterized such an operation as extremely dangerous, noting Iran’s capability to target the island using missiles and unmanned aircraft.

American forces conducted military strikes on the island on March 13, and Trump has warned of potential attacks on Iran’s critical oil infrastructure. Military analysts suggest that gaining control of the island might prove more strategically valuable than destroying it outright, given its economic importance to Iran.

The deployment of American ground forces, even for restricted missions, could create substantial political challenges for Trump, particularly given limited public support for the Iran campaign and his previous campaign pledges to avoid new Middle Eastern military entanglements.

Sources also revealed that administration officials have considered deploying forces to secure Iran’s highly enriched uranium reserves, though experts describe such an operation as extremely complicated and dangerous, even for elite special operations units.

While sources indicated that no ground force deployment appears immediate, they declined to provide details about specific operational planning.

A White House spokesperson, speaking anonymously, stated: “There has been no decision to send ground troops at this time, but President Trump wisely keeps all options at his disposal.”

The official continued: “The president is focused on achieving all of the defined objectives of Operation Epic Fury: destroy Iran’s ballistic missile capacity, annihilate their navy, ensure their terrorist proxies cannot destabilize the region, and guarantee that Iran can never possess a nuclear weapon.”

Pentagon officials declined to provide comment on the matter.

These strategic discussions are occurring as American forces continue targeting Iran’s naval assets, missile and drone arsenals, and defense manufacturing capabilities. Since initiating military operations on February 28, the U.S. has conducted over 7,800 strikes and damaged or destroyed more than 120 Iranian vessels, according to data released Wednesday by U.S. Central Command, which manages approximately 50,000 American troops stationed throughout the Middle East.

Trump has indicated his objectives extend beyond weakening Iran’s military capabilities to include ensuring safe passage through the Strait and preventing Iranian nuclear weapons development. Ground forces could expand his strategic options but would involve considerable risks.

Even without direct combat operations inside Iran, 13 American service members have died in the conflict so far, with approximately 200 wounded, though military officials report most injuries have been minor.

Throughout his political career, Trump has criticized predecessors for foreign military involvement and promised to avoid overseas conflicts. However, he has recently declined to rule out the possibility of deploying ground forces in Iran.

A senior White House official told reporters that Trump has multiple approaches available for obtaining Iran’s nuclear materials but has not determined how to proceed. “Certainly there are ways in which it could be acquired,” the official explained, adding: “He hasn’t made a decision yet.”

In congressional testimony Wednesday, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard reported that Iran’s nuclear enrichment program had been completely destroyed by June strikes, with underground facility entrances “buried and shuttered with cement.”

The reinforcement discussions go beyond next week’s scheduled arrival of an Amphibious Ready Group in the Middle East, which includes a Marine Expeditionary Unit with over 2,000 Marines. However, one source noted that the military is losing significant capabilities with the decision to send the USS Gerald R Ford aircraft carrier to Greece for repairs following an onboard fire.

Trump has shown uncertainty regarding whether America should secure the Strait of Hormuz. After initially suggesting Navy escort missions for vessels, he called on other nations to help reopen the vital waterway. With minimal allied interest, Trump questioned the approach Wednesday.

“I wonder what would happen if we ‘finished off’ what’s left of the Iranian Terror State, and let the Countries that use it, we don’t, be responsible for the so called ‘Strait?,’” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

BANGKOK, March 19 – Parliamentary lawmakers in Thailand will cast ballots Thursday to determine whether Anutin Charnvirakul can secure another term as prime minister, potentially bringing an uncommon stretch of political calm to a nation historically marked by governmental upheaval and instability.

The 59-year-old politician’s Bhumjaithai party achieved an unexpected breakthrough in February’s national election, riding a surge of patriotic fervor sparked by armed clashes with Cambodia in the previous year. This marked a dramatic reversal of fortune for a political organization that had previously struggled to establish significant influence in Thailand’s complex political landscape.

Anutin’s political success stems largely from his strategic timing in exploiting the weakening position of the previously powerful Pheu Thai party, first by withdrawing from their coalition arrangement and then quickly assembling his own governing alliance.

Following February’s electoral results, Bhumjaithai has forged an agreement with the politically weakened Pheu Thai party and joined forces with various smaller political groups to create a coalition commanding 290 seats out of the current 499-member parliament.

OPPOSITION CANDIDATE EMERGES

To secure the prime ministerial position, Anutin requires backing from more than half the legislative body, meaning he needs at least 251 votes to prevail.

However, Thursday’s proceedings may feature a competitive race, as the People’s Party, which finished second in the election, has indicated plans to put forward their 38-year-old chairman Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut as an alternative candidate to challenge Anutin directly.

The extent of Natthaphong’s support remains uncertain beyond his party’s 120 parliamentary seats, and it’s unknown whether he has secured backing from other political factions. The young leader stated last week that his goal was to use the voting process as a platform to outline his party’s policy agenda before parliament.

As a devoted monarchist, Anutin has maintained a consistent presence in Thai political circles for two decades, successfully navigating periods of significant turmoil by positioning Bhumjaithai as a bridge between competing elite factions locked in ongoing power disputes, which secured the party’s participation in multiple coalition governments.

Should Anutin succeed, he would gain his first clear governing mandate to lead a nation grappling with economic stagnation, overwhelming household debt burdens, urgent need for structural reforms, and external pressures from trade disputes and consequences of the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran.

STABILITY ON THE HORIZON

Political observers suggest that Anutin’s adaptability and skill at navigating political divisions could serve as his greatest strength, noting that Bhumjaithai has avoided confrontation with Thailand’s influential military and judicial institutions, which have historically orchestrated the collapse of numerous administrations and political parties.

Napon Jatusripitak, who studies politics at Singapore’s ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute, observed that with Bhumjaithai positioned to influence both parliamentary chambers and Thailand’s key institutional powers apparently supporting Anutin, conditions appear favorable for sustained political stability.

“People have strong reasons to believe that this government can last, particularly because it’s the first time in a long while that the referee and the players are on the same side,” Napon said.

“There’s control,” he said. “And we have a highly fragmented opposition.”

Emergency medical services in Israel confirmed Thursday morning that a foreign worker lost their life during an Iranian missile strike that hit central Israel’s Moshav Adanim community.

The deadly incident occurred as part of broader missile attacks that also claimed the lives of three Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Wednesday, according to Israeli ambulance authorities.

ATHENS, Greece — A heartwarming rescue mission unfolded Wednesday as Greece organized a specialized evacuation flight that brought home citizens along with their cherished pets from the conflict-torn Middle East.

The Aegean Airlines flight from Abu Dhabi transported 101 Greek nationals and 45 beloved animals back to Athens International Airport, where touching reunions took place as small dogs jumped excitedly after being released from their travel carriers.

“Our pets are not luggage, they are part of our families,” declared Nikos Chrysakis, the Greek Interior Ministry’s Special Secretary for the Protection of Companion Animals. He explained that both the interior and foreign ministries collaborated for several days “so we can have this good result, for the animals and people to return home safely.”

The ongoing Israeli and U.S. military action against Iran has severely disrupted air travel throughout the Middle East region. Nations have been compelled to close airspace repeatedly and ground thousands of flights at major aviation centers like Dubai and Qatar as missiles crossed overhead, leaving hundreds of thousands of passengers stranded.

For traveler Danai Koukoulomati, securing passage for her feline companion Muay Thai was absolutely essential.

“To me, my pet, my cat is my family. There is no chance I’m going to leave him behind,” she explained. However, she discovered that no available flights would accommodate animals either in passenger cabins or cargo areas. “It is very, very difficult to fly out of the country with your pets.”

Regarding the wartime conditions, Muay Thai displayed remarkable composure compared to his owner. During explosive sounds, “he would hide in the bathroom and that would be all. He was a calm cat,” Koukoulomati shared. “I was not as calm as my cat. I need to take some lessons from him.”

Dubai resident Alexandra Papayanis, who had lived there for five years, returned with her dog Sirtaki — named for a traditional Greek dance — plus a second canine she rescued for a friend. She also encountered significant challenges locating evacuation flights that accepted animals.

“It’s so important. I mean, our pets are part of our family,” she emphasized. “And in these very difficult circumstance, the challenges we are facing is how to bring our dogs and our cats back.” She described bringing Sirtaki back to Greece as “absolutely fantastic.”

Fellow passenger Maria Theochari considered abandoning her dog Matisse completely unacceptable. “Like my kids, I have Matisse,” she stated. “This is important for me. I don’t separate my animal or my kids, it’s the same for me.”

Mediterranean nations are sounding the alarm about a crippled Russian fuel tanker that’s been floating without a crew since suffering damage in what officials believe was a drone strike earlier this month.

The vessel, known as the Arctic Metagaz, belongs to Russia’s unofficial fleet that transports oil and gas despite international sanctions. The ship was transporting liquefied natural gas when it sustained severe damage in waters near Malta.

Leaders from Italy, Spain, Malta, Greece and Cyprus have written to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, describing the situation as urgent. They’re asking the European Union to activate emergency response protocols to deal with what they call an environmental emergency waiting to happen.

Spanish officials and three other European Union representatives, who requested anonymity due to authorization restrictions, verified the letter’s contents on Wednesday.

The Mediterranean countries are pushing for a coordinated response from Brussels, emphasizing concerns about the ship’s deteriorating state and dangerous cargo.

“The precarious condition of the vessel, combined with the nature of its specialised cargo, gives rise to an imminent and serious risk of a major ecological disaster in the heart of the union’s maritime space,” the leaders stated in their correspondence.

While the entire crew was rescued safely, the vessel remains adrift with its volatile cargo of LNG and additional fuels, creating an explosion risk.

The letter also addressed wider concerns about ships that don’t follow international safety protocols, pointing to ongoing dangers for Mediterranean shipping lanes and marine ecosystems.

The five nations plan to discuss these concerns during this week’s European Council session and have expressed readiness to work with EU officials toward what they termed “a swift, European-led resolution.”

Recent reports from Malta indicate the tanker has moved from its earlier position between Malta and Sicily’s Lampedusa island and is now drifting toward Libyan waters.

Italian government official Alfredo Mantovano told radio listeners Monday that Malta has established a 7-kilometer safety perimeter around the vessel, “because the vessel could explode at any moment.”

CARACAS, Venezuela — In a significant government restructuring on Wednesday, Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez replaced the nation’s defense minister, removing a key military figure who had been instrumental in supporting former President Nicolás Maduro’s regime.

Using her Telegram channel to make the announcement, Rodríguez revealed that Gen. Gustavo González López would immediately take over the defense ministry position. The move removes Gen. Vladimir Padrino López, who had been a crucial pillar of military backing for Maduro’s administration. In her statement, Rodríguez expressed gratitude to Padrino López for his “loyalty to the Homeland” while voicing optimism about his future contributions.

This cabinet reshuffle occurs more than ten weeks following Rodríguez’s assumption of leadership after U.S. military forces captured Maduro on January 3rd to face drug trafficking charges in American courts.

The Trump administration has intensified its efforts to pressure remaining Maduro supporters who continue to control the petroleum-rich South American nation.

The newly appointed González López brings significant intelligence experience to his role, though he previously faced American sanctions due to his involvement in suppressing street demonstrations in 2014. Following Rodríguez’s security reorganization on January 6th, he has been leading both the presidential honor guard and the military’s intimidating counterintelligence division.

Padrino López had maintained his cabinet position as one of the most enduring ministers since Maduro assumed power in 2013, serving as defense minister continuously since his 2014 appointment, making him among Venezuela’s longest-tenured defense officials.

TOKYO, March 19 – Japan’s central bank will likely maintain current interest rates during Thursday’s policy meeting as officials monitor how escalating Middle East tensions might influence the nation’s economy, which depends heavily on imports and has already experienced rising inflation pressures.

This policy decision occurs during a busy week of central bank announcements worldwide, including meetings by the Federal Reserve and European Central Bank, with all institutions grappling with complications from Middle East oil market disruptions.

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda is anticipated to reaffirm the institution’s commitment to gradually increasing borrowing costs from their current low levels, though he’s unlikely to provide specific timing details for future rate adjustments, which will largely depend on the duration of regional conflicts, according to financial experts.

“Japan faces two-sided risks from the energy shock,” according to Evercore ISI analysts, who noted in their research that elevated oil prices could simultaneously burden economic growth while accelerating inflation.

“We think the aim (for Ueda) will be to keep the next meeting in April live for a hike without in any way locking it in,” the analysts explained.

During the two-day policy session concluding Thursday, the Bank of Japan is widely anticipated to maintain its short-term interest rate at 0.75%. Board member Hajime Takata, known for his hawkish stance, may again propose raising rates to 1.0%, similar to his unsuccessful January attempt.

Market observers are particularly interested in how Ueda will address the delicate balance between supporting an economy affected by external shocks while preventing the central bank from falling behind on inflation control during his post-meeting press conference.

Even with increased uncertainty stemming from the Iran conflict, financial markets still assign approximately 60% probability to another rate increase in April.

The central bank elevated interest rates to 0.75% in December, reaching a three-decade peak, and has indicated willingness to continue raising borrowing costs as Japan moves toward sustainably meeting its 2% inflation goal supported by wage increases.

Oil price increases resulting from the Iran conflict have compounded existing import cost pressures from a weakened yen, keeping core inflation above the central bank’s target for nearly four years running.

However, Japan’s substantial dependence on Middle Eastern oil supplies may amplify negative impacts on business profits and overall economic performance from rising fuel expenses, potentially giving Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s government additional justification to resist immediate rate increases.

During parliamentary testimony following the February 28 U.S.-Israel military action against Iran, Ueda acknowledged that while higher oil prices could damage economic growth, they might also elevate underlying inflation by raising long-term price expectations.

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian announced Wednesday that the country’s Intelligence Minister Esmaeil Khatib was killed in an Israeli airstrike, as Israeli officials described the attack as part of a broader military offensive targeting high-ranking Iranian leaders.

In a post on social media platform X, Pezeshkian expressed grief over multiple casualties within Iran’s government and security apparatus. The president listed Khatib among several officials who have been killed, including Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani, who died Tuesday, and Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh, who was killed February 28. Pezeshkian also mentioned the deaths of family members, support staff, and military personnel including Basij forces.

The 65-year-old Khatib had served as Iran’s intelligence minister since 2021, when former President Ebrahim Raisi appointed him to the role, according to reports from the semi-official Mehr news agency. He continued in that capacity under the current government. His previous experience included working in the office of Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and directing the judiciary’s protection and intelligence division.

Pezeshkian condemned the attacks, describing them as “cowardly assassinations.”

“I firmly believe that their path will continue with even greater resolve than before,” the Iranian president stated.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed earlier Wednesday that Khatib died in the nighttime air assault on Tehran. Speaking during a security briefing, Katz indicated that Israeli operations are expanding in scope.

“On this day, significant surprises are expected across all arenas that will escalate the war we are conducting against Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon,” Katz said in a statement from his office.

He continued: “The intensity of the strikes in Iran is increasing. The Iranian intelligence minister Khatib was also eliminated overnight.”

BEIRUT – The conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed Lebanese militant organization Hezbollah has rapidly intensified in recent days.

On Wednesday, Israeli airstrikes targeted several neighborhoods in central Beirut, causing a multi-story residential building to collapse along a major street and damaging walls of surrounding structures. These attacks followed Hezbollah’s launch of dozens of missiles into Israeli territory the night before.

Along Lebanon’s southern border, Israeli military forces are gathering for what could become a large-scale ground offensive, with fighting already taking place in certain border regions.

Efforts by Lebanese government representatives to begin direct peace talks with Israel have failed to gain traction. Both Hezbollah and Israel appear unwilling to pursue an immediate end to hostilities.

Israel aims to eliminate the security threat along its northern frontier through this military campaign. Hezbollah views the conflict as a fight for survival. Regardless of how it concludes, the war is expected to have significant impacts across Lebanon and the broader Middle East.

The two adversaries have engaged in several conflicts since Hezbollah emerged in the 1980s as a guerrilla organization opposing Israel’s occupation of southern Lebanon during that period.

Fighting resumed on March 2, just two days after joint Israeli-American strikes against Iran that contributed to expanding regional warfare. Hezbollah fired missiles at Israel, stating the attack was revenge for the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and in response to “repeated Israeli aggressions” in Lebanon.

This renewed hostility between the long-standing enemies began 15 months after a ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States ended their last war. During the ceasefire period, Israel maintained almost daily air operations in Lebanon, claiming these were necessary to prevent Hezbollah from rebuilding its capabilities. Israeli forces also maintained control of five strategic hilltops within Lebanese territory along the border.

During this time, Hezbollah faced both domestic and international demands to give up its remaining weapons stockpile. The organization remained relatively inactive and did not participate in last year’s Israel-Iran conflict. Many observers believed the group had been significantly weakened following substantial casualties in the 2024 fighting.

Hezbollah’s choice to rejoin the conflict surprised and angered many Lebanese citizens, including some within the group’s Shiite supporter base, who criticized the organization for providing Israel with justification to escalate military action.

However, Mohanad Hage Ali, a senior fellow at the Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut, explained that from Hezbollah’s viewpoint, joining the regional conflict made strategic sense.

Iran was confronting an existential danger, and Hezbollah “is backed and funded and trained by the Iranian regime,” he explained. The fall of the Islamic Republic would “basically mean the death of Hezbollah as a project.”

Additionally, Hage Ali noted that even if Hezbollah had remained neutral, the militant organization anticipated that Israel would eventually launch an attack against it regardless.

From Hezbollah’s strategic perspective, he explained, “There’s no point in continuing to be a sitting duck until Israel finishes off your main ally and comes for you. It makes more sense that you join your ally in the war and try to achieve a ceasefire as part of a package.”

Lebanese health ministry statistics show that as of Wednesday, Israeli strikes have killed 968 people in Lebanon since March 2, including 77 women and 116 children, with over 2,400 people injured.

More than one million Lebanese residents have been forced from their homes after Israel issued widespread evacuation orders throughout the country. Many displaced families are living in vehicles, on streets, or in overcrowded schools converted to emergency shelters.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar stated Wednesday that “since March 2nd, Israel has been attacked from Lebanese territory more than 2,000 times with missiles and drones.” Most projectiles were intercepted by defense systems or landed in unpopulated areas. The Israeli military has confirmed two soldier deaths during combat operations in southern Lebanon, though casualty numbers for wounded personnel have not been released.

While no major civilian casualties have occurred in Israel from Lebanese attacks, the continuous barrage of missiles and drones has created anxiety among residents in northern Israel. Many citizens are frustrated that the government has not offered evacuation assistance payments as it provided during the previous war when tens of thousands were displaced.

United Nations peacekeeping forces deployed in southern Lebanon have observed a clear increase in Israeli military presence along the border, according to Kandice Ardiel, spokesperson for the peacekeeping mission known as UNIFIL.

“Peacekeepers are seeing concentrations of IDF (Israel Defense Forces) troops in at least half a dozen locations near the Blue Line in Lebanese territory,” she stated, referring to the international border between the nations.

UNIFIL personnel have monitored combat activity near the villages of Odaisseh and Khiam and “have seen IDF ground incursions in some cases at least 5 kilometers (3 miles) into Lebanese territory,” Ardiel reported.

However, she noted that Israeli forces have subsequently pulled back rather than establishing permanent positions.

An Israeli military official confirmed that several thousand troops are operating inside Lebanon, primarily concentrated near the border area in what he characterized as a defensive mission to protect nearby Israeli communities. He indicated that the operation remains in early phases of a gradual process that might develop into a full-scale invasion with deeper territorial penetration. The official provided information anonymously according to military briefing protocols.

Lebanon’s national army has not actively participated in the fighting, though three Lebanese soldiers were killed in Israeli strikes on Tuesday. The Israeli military stated it is investigating the incident.

Tensions have also increased along Lebanon’s eastern border with Syria.

Last week, Syria’s military claimed that Hezbollah fired artillery rounds across the border at Syrian army positions, which Hezbollah has denied.

Subsequent reports suggested that the United States had proposed that Syria – whose government maintains hostile relations with Iran – deploy forces across the border to combat Hezbollah. U.S. envoy to Syria Tom Barrack denied these reports on Tuesday.

A senior Syrian official also rejected claims that such a proposal had been made, stating that discussions focused solely on preventing cross-border smuggling and Hezbollah’s use of Syrian territory. The official, speaking anonymously due to lack of authorization for public comment, said Syria had notified the Lebanese government that it would not intervene in Lebanon.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told The Associated Press on Saturday that Turkey had “been approached by the Lebanese officials” regarding efforts to reduce tensions “and we talked with our Syrian counterparts” to help facilitate dialogue. Fidan noted that Turkey has not communicated directly with Hezbollah since the conflict began.

LUSAKA, Zambia — Women’s rights advocates and political leaders in Zambia are raising alarms about female election hopefuls being pressured for sexual favors by high-ranking male party leaders who control endorsements.

The troubling pattern gained widespread attention this week when a senior government gender equality official revealed she had fielded 10 harassment complaints from women seeking party support for Zambia’s upcoming August national elections.

Mainga Kabika, who serves as permanent secretary of the government’s Gender Division, disclosed Monday that the complaints detailed how “various political party officials, including chairpersons, youth leaders and those holding senior positions, are asking for sexual favours” as a condition for backing women candidates and funding their campaigns.

“I appeal to all female aspiring candidates to secure evidence against suspects,” Kabika stated. She declined to identify which parties or specific officials were involved in the allegations.

Saboi Imboela, who leads the opposition National Democratic Congress party, told The Associated Press Wednesday that this disturbing cycle repeats during every election period, with qualified candidates frequently pushed aside for refusing to submit to such demands.

“As a result, the wrong candidates are selected while deserving individuals are left out. This must be fought at all costs,” she explained.

Imboela, a former recording artist, revealed that female politicians and advocacy groups including the Zambia National Women’s Lobby have established a special committee to combat what she termed the “sextortion” of women in politics. The group operates a toll-free hotline for victims, she noted.

The August 13 elections will determine not only Zambia’s president but also parliamentary representatives and local council members. The southern African country already struggles with limited female political participation, with women holding just 15% of Parliament seats according to the Inter-Parliamentary Union, a global organization tracking legislative bodies.

Golden Nachibinga, who directs the Zambia National Women’s Lobby, explained that past accusations of officials demanding sexual compliance during pre-election periods have deterred women from pursuing political careers.

Venna Banda, who seeks to run for mayor representing the governing United Party for National Development, acknowledged facing sexual harassment during her own political journey and encouraged female politicians to “refuse,” while recognizing that newcomers and less-established candidates face particular vulnerability.

Women’s advocacy organizations describe Zambia as a stable democracy operating within a predominantly conservative and male-dominated cultural framework.

Last year, Zambia enacted legislation guaranteeing at least 20 parliamentary seats for women while also working to boost representation for youth and disabled citizens. President Hakainde Hichilema has recognized gender imbalances in Zambian politics, though he selected Mutale Nalumango, a woman, as his vice president.

BOGOTA, Colombia — Mexican law enforcement has captured and transferred to Colombia a key figure sought in connection with the 2023 murder of Ecuadorian presidential hopeful Fernando Villavicencio, officials announced Wednesday.

The suspect, Ángel Esteban Aguilar Morales, an Ecuador native, landed in Bogota Wednesday where Colombian immigration officials took him into custody at El Dorado Airport. Officials have not disclosed specifics regarding his legal status or whether formal extradition procedures were followed.

Going by the alias “Lobo Menor,” Aguilar is believed to be among the top leaders of the Ecuadorian crime organization “Los Lobos” and ranks among Ecuador’s most sought-after criminals, with an Interpol Red Notice issued for his worldwide capture.

According to Mexican authorities, Aguilar was monitored from the moment he crossed into Mexican territory, prompting continuous surveillance operations. Intelligence shared by Colombian officials later helped pinpoint his exact whereabouts in Mexico City.

The apprehension in Mexico occurred “without the use of violence,” according to security officials, who placed Aguilar under the supervision of the National Migration Institute to assess his legal standing in the country, though they did not clarify whether deportation proceedings were involved.

“The individual was attempting to evade immigration controls by using a false identity as a Colombian citizen,” the Colombian migration agency said in a statement.

Mexico severed diplomatic ties with Ecuador in April 2024 after Ecuadorian military forces raided the Mexican Embassy in Quito to apprehend former Vice President Jorge Glas, a corruption defendant who had sought refuge there since late 2023.

Neither Colombia’s foreign ministry nor its migration agency immediately provided responses to requests for additional information.

Colombian police report that Aguilar had traveled to Mexico from Medellin, Colombia, carrying fraudulent documentation with the “express purpose of strengthening criminal networks in the region.”

Colombian President Gustavo Petro praised the international law enforcement collaboration on X, calling it “a significant blow against transnational organized crime.”

Last February, Ecuador’s Attorney General’s Office unveiled fresh evidence attempting to formally connect three suspects — Aguilar among them — to the Villavicencio murder case. These individuals reportedly provided logistical and operational support for the August 9, 2023 killing, which occurred as the presidential candidate departed a campaign event in Quito’s northern district.

Beyond the Villavicencio investigation, law enforcement officials indicate that “Lobo Menor” maintains suspected connections to Mexican drug cartels and to Néstor Gregorio Vera, also called Iván Mordisco — who heads a breakaway group from the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrilla movement, comprised of members who rejected the 2016 peace accord with Colombia’s government.

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria — Nigerian military forces successfully defended against an early morning assault by suspected Islamic extremists at a northeastern military installation, resulting in the deaths of at least 80 attackers, according to military officials.

The assault took place at approximately 12:50 a.m. Wednesday at the Mallam Fatori base in Borno state, close to Nigeria’s border with Niger, military spokesman Sani Uba announced. The attackers, believed to be affiliated with either Boko Haram or the Islamic State West Africa Province, deployed multiple weaponized drones during their offensive.

According to Uba’s statement, military personnel had advance knowledge of the impending assault and successfully fought back using both ground forces and aerial assistance, eliminating at least 80 militants, including three senior commanders. The Associated Press was unable to confirm these figures independently.

Earlier military reports had estimated the militant casualties at more than 60.

Uba reported that four military personnel sustained injuries and were transported for medical care. Forces seized an extensive weapons stockpile from the attackers, including automatic weapons, rocket-propelled grenade launchers, heavy machine guns, ammunition, explosive devices, and drone equipment.

This military confrontation follows Monday’s triple suicide bombing attacks in Maiduguri, Borno’s capital city, which claimed 23 lives and injured 108 others. While no organization has taken credit for those bombings, investigators suspect Boko Haram’s involvement. The extremist organization initiated its violent campaign in northeastern Nigeria in 2009, seeking to impose their strict interpretation of Islamic law.

Boko Haram has expanded significantly since its inception, now comprising thousands of fighters across multiple factions. The Islamic State West Africa Province, one splinter group with ties to the Islamic State organization, has intensified its military targeting in recent months.

These ongoing conflicts have severely strained Nigeria’s armed forces, which simultaneously confront various security challenges throughout the country’s troubled northern regions.

United Nations statistics indicate that Boko Haram’s insurgency has resulted in over 40,000 deaths in Nigeria since it began. Security experts argue that government efforts to safeguard civilians remain inadequate.

The United States deployed military advisors to the West African country last month to assist with security operations.

NEW YORK, March 18 – Syria’s new leadership announced Wednesday the launch of a comprehensive initiative to locate and destroy chemical weapons remaining from Bashar al-Assad’s regime, with backing from the United States and international allies.

Assad’s government operated an extensive chemical weapons program for many years, deploying these banned substances against Syrian civilians throughout the nation’s prolonged civil conflict, resulting in thousands of casualties.

Although Damascus became a signatory to the Chemical Weapons Convention in 2013 and reported possessing 1,300 tons of such materials, the prohibited weapons continued to be deployed, and the full scope of the program has never been determined.

According to Syria’s UN Ambassador Ibrahim Olabi, a multinational coalition including the United States, Germany, Britain, Canada, and France will work to locate all remaining components of the weapons program and eliminate them under oversight from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

Chemical weapons experts estimate that approximately 100 locations throughout Syria require examination to assess what dangerous materials still exist and determine appropriate disposal methods.

The operation will demand significant time and resources to prevent weapons of mass destruction from spreading throughout a region already experiencing conflict and instability. Officials note that ongoing tensions, including the expanding U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran and broader security issues, create uncertainty about mission timing while making the work even more critical.

Following Assad’s removal from power in December 2024, Syria’s current administration under President Ahmed al-Sharaa has committed to completely eliminating prohibited chemical weapons and providing investigators unrestricted access.

Olabi described this transformation as Syria moving from a nation that previously concealed chemical weapons usage to one now “leading the resolve” to eliminate them entirely.

Multiple international investigations determined that Assad’s forces deployed sarin nerve agent, chlorine, and sulfur mustard gas, though these probes never uncovered the complete extent of the covert program.

“We don’t know what’s remaining. It was a secret program,” Olabi explained. “The job is on Syria to basically look for these things and then declare them.”

A diplomatic source, speaking anonymously due to the matter’s sensitivity, indicated the 100 locations could include anything from military installations to research facilities or administrative offices.

“It will probably take many months if not years to get it done, and of course the current situation in the Middle East doesn’t help the process to move forward to the actual destruction of any remnants of Assad’s chemical weapons program,” the source stated.

Iceland’s top diplomat believes her nation could become a member of the European Union within four years if citizens vote to restart membership discussions that have been on hold for over a decade.

Foreign Minister Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir shared her confidence during a Wednesday interview with Reuters in Brussels, stating that fishing rights and agricultural policies would likely present the biggest challenges during negotiations.

Voters in Iceland will decide on August 29 whether to resume EU membership discussions through a national referendum. The previous government halted these talks in 2013 after more EU-skeptical leaders came to power in Reykjavik.

“We have seen that it’s beneficial to have a voice at the table,” Gunnarsdottir stated during her Brussels interview.

The minister anticipates that fishing industry negotiations will prove most challenging, given Iceland’s history of disputes with the EU over fishing quotas that significantly impact the country’s economic foundation.

Gunnarsdottir emphasized that renewed negotiations should immediately address the most contentious areas, including fishing rights, agricultural policies, and labor market regulations.

“If we do that, then I’m pretty optimistic then we will be, before the end of the year 2028, a member of the European Union,” she added.

The island nation, with nearly 400,000 residents, helped establish NATO and currently participates in the European single market and Schengen border-free travel agreement.

Polling data indicates that rising living costs and Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine have sparked renewed interest among Icelanders in EU membership.

President Donald Trump’s repeated statements about potentially annexing Greenland, positioned between Iceland and the United States, have also highlighted potential EU membership benefits.

“Iceland is there in the middle, a kind of link between those two continents,” she said.

Citizens would need to approve membership through a second referendum if initial talks receive voter support.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas expressed support, stating: “Should you choose to pursue EU membership, Iceland would certainly be a frontrunner in this process.”

French President Emmanuel Macron revealed Wednesday that his nation’s upcoming nuclear-powered aircraft carrier will bear the name ‘France Libre’ (‘Free France’), positioning the vessel as a representation of national sovereignty while boosting the country’s maritime military strength amid significant naval operations in Middle Eastern waters.

During a visit to the Indret shipyard in western France, where the carrier’s dual nuclear reactors will be constructed, Macron announced the warship’s designation. The France Libre is scheduled to begin operations in 2038 and will accommodate 30 Rafale fighter aircraft along with 2,000 crew members, carrying a price tag of approximately 10 billion euros ($11.5 billion).

This announcement coincides with France’s current naval deployment to the eastern Mediterranean and broader Middle East region, including eight frigates, two helicopter carriers, and the existing nuclear aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle. Macron characterized this extensive French naval presence as having no historical precedent, establishing France as the European country with the strongest military footprint in the area.

According to Macron, the France Libre name pays tribute to General Charles de Gaulle’s resistance organization that fought alongside Allied forces to free France and Europe from Nazi occupation during World War II.

“In this name lives the memory of the women and men who stood up against barbarity, united to save the homeland, determined to defend a certain idea of our nation,” he said. “This name therefore seals a pledge for the future: to remain free, we must be feared. To be feared, we must be powerful.”

The new carrier will measure 310 meters (1,017 feet) in length with a displacement of approximately 80,000 tons, significantly larger than the Charles de Gaulle’s 261-meter (856-foot) length and 42,000-ton displacement.

Despite its impressive size, the France Libre will remain smaller than the world’s largest warship, the USS Gerald Ford aircraft carrier, which displaces over 100,000 tons and stretches 1,100 feet (334 meters).

Macron emphasized that the France Libre will bolster France’s nuclear deterrent capabilities by carrying nuclear-equipped aircraft, similar to the Charles de Gaulle’s current role.

This month, Macron revealed plans to expand France’s nuclear weapons stockpile and, in an unprecedented move, permit temporary deployment of nuclear-armed aircraft to partner nations as part of a new approach designed to increase European strategic autonomy.

Following Britain’s departure from the European Union in 2020, France remains the bloc’s sole nuclear-armed member state.

RIO DE JANEIRO — Eight people died during a major police raid Wednesday targeting drug trafficking operations in multiple Rio de Janeiro favelas, according to law enforcement authorities.

Among the casualties was Claúdio Augusto dos Santos, a high-ranking narcotics trafficking leader affiliated with the Red Command criminal network, Military Police Secretary Col. Marcelo de Menezes announced during a news briefing.

The operation also claimed the life of an innocent local resident who became trapped in the violence, while seven suspected drug dealers were killed during confrontations with police.

Following the raid, criminals responded with acts of revenge, torching a public bus and creating roadblocks throughout Rio’s downtown area, resulting in four additional arrests, police reported.

Bus operator Márcio Sousa described how attackers boarded his vehicle carrying two containers of gasoline before setting it ablaze.

“It all happened very fast,” Sousa told The Associated Press during an interview. “There is no security. Rio de Janeiro is like this — it is not for amateurs.”

The large-scale enforcement action was launched after authorities tracked down dos Santos through intelligence gathering, de Menezes explained.

Approximately 150 military police personnel participated in the coordinated strike across six sprawling neighborhoods: Prazeres, Fallet, Fogueteiro, Coroa, Escondidinho and Paula Ramos. Officers confiscated various firearms including rifles, handguns and revolvers, military police announced on social media.

During the violence, criminals took a local married couple hostage, killing the husband in the subsequent gunfight while the wife was successfully freed by authorities.

Military police forces will maintain an ongoing presence in these communities to preserve safety and ensure residents can move freely, Menezes stated. He characterized the drug traffickers as “narco-terrorists,” echoing terminology employed by U.S. President Donald Trump.

News organization UOL reported March 8 that the current U.S. government is weighing whether to officially designate Brazilian crime syndicates PCC and Red Command as terrorist groups.

A previous major assault on Red Command positions last year led to over 120 fatalities in the Penha and Complexo de Alemao neighborhoods, marking Rio’s deadliest police operation on record. The massive casualty count triggered public demonstrations and demands for Governor Cláudio Castro to step down.

Several of America’s key European partners are declining President Donald Trump’s call to participate in military action against Iran, marking a significant rift in transatlantic relations.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who typically supports strong U.S.-European cooperation, delivered unusually sharp criticism when addressing lawmakers Wednesday about Trump’s request for naval assistance in reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

“To this day, there is no convincing plan for how this operation could succeed. Washington has not consulted us and did not say European assistance was necessary,” Merz stated to German parliament members.

“We would have advised against pursuing this course of action as it has been pursued. Therefore, we have declared that as long as the war continues, we will not participate in ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, for example, by military means,” he added.

European officials are hesitant to become involved in what they view as an unpredictable military campaign with unclear goals that lacks support among their populations.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius echoed his chancellor’s position Monday, declaring: “This is not our war, we have not started it.” French President Emmanuel Macron similarly stated “We are not party to the conflict.”

The European resistance comes despite concerns that refusing Trump could jeopardize American support for Ukraine or threaten NATO relationships, especially after Trump’s earlier suggestions about acquiring Greenland from Denmark.

Trump criticized the European decision as a “very foolish mistake” and specifically targeted British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, saying he was “no Winston Churchill.”

However, public sentiment supports the European leaders’ stance. British polling by YouGov shows 49% opposition to the Iranian strikes compared to 28% support.

Even typically pro-American British politicians defended Starmer against Trump’s criticism. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch called the White House rhetoric “childish,” while Reform UK’s Robert Jenrick said “I don’t like to see our Prime Minister be berated by foreign leaders.”

Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez condemned the Iranian operations as reckless and illegal, dismissing Trump’s trade threats. Deputy Prime Minister Maria Jose Montero declared: “We are certainly not going to be anybody’s vassals, we won’t tolerate any threats and we’ll defend our values.”

Spanish public opinion strongly backs this position, with 68% opposing the conflict according to polling firm 40db. German surveys show 58% opposition versus 25% support.

An unnamed European official explained that American military objectives remain undefined and potentially conflict with Israeli goals, particularly regarding regime change in Iran.

European nations are developing their own response strategies. Britain is collaborating with partners on plans to reopen the crucial shipping lane, through which one-fifth of global oil passes.

France is organizing a coalition to secure the strait once conditions stabilize, deliberately excluding American participation. President Macron explained this approach would involve “discussions and de-escalation with Iran” along with talks involving maritime industries and insurers.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told Reuters the bloc has adapted to Trump’s governing style, saying they are “now more calm, because we are expecting unpredictable things to happen all the time and take it as it is, put some ice in our hats, and be calm and stay focused.”

The dispute highlights growing tensions over Trump’s decision to ease Russian oil sanctions to address rising global energy prices, which European leaders say caught them off guard.

Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodriguez announced Wednesday a major shake-up in the country’s military leadership, naming General Gustavo Gonzalez Lopez as the new defense minister to succeed General Vladimir Padrino, who has served in the role for over a decade.

Rodriguez expressed gratitude to Padrino through a Telegram message, acknowledging his dedication and commitment to the nation while indicating he would transition to different duties within the government.

Padrino’s military career began with overseeing ceremonial duties for the presidential guard during the late President Hugo Chavez’s administration, but he gained prominence under former President Nicolas Maduro, who appointed him to lead the defense ministry in late 2014.

Reuters sources had previously indicated that Padrino’s replacement was anticipated, noting that his continued service following Maduro’s removal was intended to maintain order within Venezuela’s military structure, which includes approximately 2,000 generals overseeing underfunded forces and significant commercial enterprises.

Officials from Colombia and Ecuador are jointly investigating whether international boundaries were crossed during a military operation that left more than a dozen people dead near their shared border.

Colombian Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez revealed Wednesday that 14 individuals perished in explosions at cocaine processing facilities in January. The deaths occurred in the border province of Narino, with 12 people killed on January 22 and two more dying days later under similar circumstances.

The investigation stems from accusations by Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who claimed this week that Ecuadorean forces conducted bombing operations on Colombian soil, resulting in 27 deaths. However, Petro offered no supporting evidence for his allegations.

Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa firmly rejected the claims, stating his nation’s military targeted drug trafficking operations exclusively within Ecuador’s own borders. According to Noboa, the targeted locations served as bases for narco-terrorism organizations primarily composed of Colombian nationals.

“The information we have at this moment is that those people died after being burned alive. The site where they died was a cocaine laboratory, and the causes and who was behind it are under investigation. Two other people died under similar conditions at another site on January 24,” Sanchez explained to reporters.

Adding complexity to the dispute, Colombian authorities discovered what appears to be an Ecuadorean military explosive device on their territory. Sanchez indicated the bomb, which has been safely disarmed, likely originated from Ecuador’s armed forces.

Ecuador’s Foreign Minister Gabriela Sommerfeld expressed caution about the bomb’s origins when speaking to FM Mundo radio. “It is very difficult to speculate, to say that it is so or that it is not,” she stated. “We are open to receiving the diplomatic note … so that we can respond technically, with due importance given to that case.”

Sommerfeld emphasized that all Ecuadorean military actions occur within the country’s own territorial limits and indicated Ecuador’s willingness to engage in diplomatic discussions to resolve the disagreement.

Petro shared imagery from Colombian state television RTVC showing the alleged explosive device – a dark green cylindrical object found in vegetation. The Colombian president claimed the bomb was discovered just across the border from an area bombed by Ecuador and was delivered by a low-altitude aircraft.

The controversy emerges as Ecuador launched a comprehensive two-week security campaign across four Pacific coastal provinces to combat escalating gang violence. Ecuador regularly conducts operations along its Colombian border, which serves as a critical corridor for drug trafficking routes leading to the United States.

Ecuador has secured support from allied nations, including the United States, for its anti-narcotics efforts. President Noboa previously sought backing from former U.S. President Donald Trump for his crime-fighting initiatives.

Tensions between the neighboring countries have intensified recently, with Noboa imposing 50% tariffs on Colombian imports last month. The Ecuadorean leader justified the trade measure by claiming Colombia was not adequately addressing drug trafficking concerns. Colombia has indicated it may implement similar retaliatory trade restrictions.

ROME, March 18 – In a rare departure from typical Vatican diplomacy, the Holy See’s chief diplomat issued a direct public appeal Wednesday for President Donald Trump to bring the escalating Iran conflict to an immediate conclusion.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who serves as the Vatican’s Secretary of State, made the unusually blunt statement while addressing reporters at an event held in Italy’s parliament building.

“I would say to finish it as soon as possible … and to leave alone Lebanon,” stated Parolin, who has served as a key adviser to American Pope Leo since taking his position in 2013.

The cardinal extended his message beyond the U.S. administration, adding, “This message goes also to the Israelis,” specifically referencing Israel’s ongoing military actions in Lebanon.

The public nature of Parolin’s comments represents a significant shift from standard Vatican diplomatic practices, which typically involve quiet behind-the-scenes negotiations rather than public pressure on world leaders. Known for his measured approach and preference for staying out of public attention, the cardinal’s direct appeal signals growing Vatican concern over the conflict’s trajectory.

Pope Leo has similarly intensified his peace advocacy in recent days, though he typically employs more diplomatic language in his public statements.

Earlier this week, the pontiff addressed members of the media, encouraging them to focus reporting on the human cost of warfare while warning against coverage that could serve as propaganda by romanticizing military conflicts.

Expressing fears about continued escalation, Parolin emphasized Wednesday that he wants Trump and other international leaders “to resolve problems … through the peaceful ways of diplomacy and dialogue.”

American intelligence officials released their latest assessment Wednesday indicating that China has no current intentions to launch a military invasion of Taiwan by 2027, preferring instead to achieve control through peaceful means.

The findings appear in the intelligence community’s yearly global threat evaluation, offering a more restrained perspective on what many consider one of the world’s most dangerous potential conflict zones. This comes at a time when Beijing has intensified its pressure campaign against Taiwan through regular military exercises, while President Donald Trump has minimized concerns about potential Chinese military action during his presidency.

Last year, Pentagon officials stated that U.S. military analysts believed China was working toward the capability to successfully capture Taiwan by 2027, marking the 100th anniversary of the People’s Liberation Army’s establishment. Defense officials said China was developing strategies to seize Taiwan through “brute force” if necessary.

According to the intelligence report, “China, despite its threat to use force to compel unification if necessary and to counter what it sees as a U.S. attempt to use Taiwan to undermine China’s rise, prefers to achieve unification without the use of force, if possible.”

The assessment further states that American intelligence “assesses that Chinese leaders do not currently plan to execute an invasion of Taiwan in 2027, nor do they have a fixed timeline for achieving unification.”

The document confirmed earlier evaluations that China’s military continues making “steady but uneven” advancement in developing capabilities that could be used to capture the democratically-run island.

Neither China’s Washington embassy nor Taiwan’s unofficial diplomatic mission in the capital provided immediate responses to requests for comment.

President Trump, who frequently emphasizes his positive relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping, has dismissed concerns about Chinese military activities around Taiwan. Trump claims Xi assured him there would be no attack on Taiwan during his term in office, though Beijing has never publicly confirmed such a statement.

Beijing considers Taiwan part of Chinese territory and maintains that military force remains an option for bringing the island under its authority. Taiwan’s government rejects China’s territorial claims, insisting that only Taiwan’s citizens have the right to determine their nation’s future.

Despite questions about Trump’s commitment to Taiwan’s defense, his administration approved a historic $11 billion weapons package for the island in December, drawing sharp criticism from Beijing, which demands an end to such military sales.

Ukrainian military officials announced Wednesday that their forces successfully targeted two Russian aviation facilities responsible for manufacturing and servicing military aircraft in separate regions of Russia.

According to the Ukrainian General Staff, forces attacked the Aviastar facility on March 16, which operates under Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation umbrella in Ulyanovsk. The facility sits approximately 500 miles from Ukraine’s border.

This particular plant manufactures Ilyushin-76MD-90A military transport aircraft and Ilyushin-78M-90A refueling aircraft, while also servicing “Ruslan” cargo planes, Ukrainian officials reported.

Military sources indicated that the strike damaged hangars and aircraft parking zones, with several planes sustaining damage in the attack.

A second operation took place March 17 at the 123rd aircraft maintenance facility located in Staraya Russia within the Novgorod region, according to Ukrainian military statements.

Ukrainian forces reported via Telegram that this second facility handles comprehensive repair and upgrade services for heavy transport aircraft, including Ilyushin-76, Ilyushin-78, and L-410 models.

The strike hit a hangar designated for servicing Ilyushin-76 and L-410 transport planes, though Reuters could not independently confirm these claims.

“Striking such targets directly reduces the enemy’s ability to restore and sustain combat-ready aircraft,” Ukrainian drone forces stated on social media platform X.

Israeli aviation officials reported Wednesday that falling fragments from intercepted Iranian missiles caused significant damage to three privately-owned aircraft stationed at Ben Gurion Airport outside Tel Aviv.

The Israel Airports Authority announced that the aircraft sustained major damage from the missile debris, with the incidents taking place during recent days. Officials did not release information about who owns the affected planes.

Ben Gurion Airport has suspended regular commercial operations since late February following U.S.-Israeli military strikes against Iran on February 28, which prompted Iran to launch missiles toward Israel. Despite the suspension, Israeli airlines have continued operating special flights to bring home citizens stuck overseas.

The airport has also maintained some departing flights and continues serving as a hub for both Israeli and American military operations.

According to reports, approximately half of the Iranian missiles that penetrate Israeli airspace consist of cluster munitions designed to break apart during flight, releasing hundreds of smaller explosive devices across extensive areas.

WASHINGTON – America’s top intelligence official testified Wednesday that while Iran’s leadership has been significantly weakened by ongoing military operations, the regime continues to function and poses threats to U.S. interests across the Middle East.

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard told senators during the annual Worldwide Threats hearing that Iran’s government “appears to be intact but largely degraded by Operation Epic Fury,” the joint U.S.-Israeli military operation that began February 28.

“Even so, Iran and its proxies remain capable of and continue to attack U.S. and allied interests in the Middle East. If a hostile regime survives, it will seek to begin a years-long effort to rebuild its missiles and UAV (drone) forces,” Gabbard stated in her prepared remarks to the Senate Intelligence Committee.

The congressional hearing centered on the three-week-old conflict, with both Republican and Democratic lawmakers seeking additional details about military operations that have resulted in thousands of casualties, displaced millions of civilians, and caused volatility in global energy and financial markets.

Democratic members have particularly criticized the Trump administration for insufficient congressional briefings about a war costing American taxpayers billions of dollars, pushing for public hearings instead of the classified sessions held over recent weeks.

Wednesday’s testimony from Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe also addressed the surprising resignation Tuesday of a key Gabbard deputy over the Iran conflict.

Joe Kent, who led the National Counterterrorism Center and maintains close ties to Gabbard, became the first senior Trump administration official to step down in protest of the war.

“I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran. Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful lobby,” Kent wrote in a resignation letter shared on social media.

White House officials dismissed Kent’s statements, calling his letter filled with “false claims.”

Gabbard’s intelligence assessment highlighted ongoing confusion about Iran’s nuclear capabilities. While some officials claimed before the conflict that Iran was close to weapons development, Gabbard said Wednesday that U.S. and Israeli strikes in June completely destroyed Iran’s uranium enrichment facilities, with no reconstruction efforts detected since.

Committee Chairman Tom Cotton, an Arkansas Republican, commended President Trump’s actions, arguing they have enhanced global security. Virginia Democrat Mark Warner, the panel’s ranking member, criticized the administration’s limited congressional consultation and questioned Gabbard’s focus on domestic election investigations while reducing staff monitoring Iranian activities.

Intelligence sources indicate Trump received warnings before authorizing strikes that Iran might retaliate against U.S. Gulf partners, despite his Monday claims that Tehran’s response surprised him. Officials also briefed the president that Iran would likely attempt to block the strategic Strait of Hormuz shipping lane.

The House Intelligence Committee will conduct its own worldwide threats hearing Thursday.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel fired back at the Trump administration on Tuesday evening after President Trump indicated he could take any action he chooses regarding Cuba and hinted at possible “imminent action” against the Caribbean nation.

In a post on social media platform X, Díaz-Canel accused the Trump administration of making daily “public threats” to topple Cuba’s government, warning that any aggressive moves “will clash with an impregnable resistance.”

The Cuban leader’s sharp response followed recent aggressive statements from Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who declared that Cuba’s socialist economic system must “change dramatically.”

Cuba’s economy has been severely damaged by decades of American sanctions, even as the Cuban government maintains strict controls over private business operations within the country.

According to sources familiar with ongoing diplomatic discussions between Washington and Havana, the Trump administration wants Díaz-Canel removed from power as negotiations continue with Cuban officials. The sources requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of these talks.

The administration has not revealed who they would prefer to see leading Cuba instead.

These latest Cuban threats follow Trump’s recent military operations that resulted in the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and the launch of military strikes against Iran.

The current administration has essentially stopped crucial oil shipments to Cuba, bringing the island nation to a critical economic breaking point.

The Cuban citizens that Trump and Rubio claim to support have suffered severe consequences from these policies.

International activist organizations delivered five tons of medical supplies and humanitarian aid to Cuba overnight, according to Cuban state media, as the island continues to struggle with widespread power outages.

WASHINGTON – Vice President JD Vance is expected to travel to Hungary within days to demonstrate backing for Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who confronts his most challenging re-election campaign since assuming power in 2010, according to two sources with knowledge of the arrangements disclosed Wednesday.

This journey would follow Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s February travel to Budapest, where he publicly endorsed Orban before his most difficult electoral contest to date. Current polling data indicates the Hungarian leader is behind with less than a month remaining before the April 12 election.

Sources warned that the specific dates for Vance’s trip remain unclear and could be modified, particularly as senior officials might choose to stay in Washington during the ongoing U.S.-Israeli military operations against Iran. President Donald Trump has already postponed his planned China visit due to the conflict.

The White House has not provided immediate response regarding this report.

Orban, among Trump’s strongest European allies, has maintained ongoing disputes with the European Union across multiple issues, particularly regarding Ukraine policy. Going against Brussels’ position, he has preserved friendly relations with Moscow, declined to provide military aid to Ukraine, and maintains that Kyiv cannot become an EU member.

Last month, Trump gave his endorsement to Orban, describing him as “a truly strong and powerful Leader” through social media, while many American conservative hardliners view him as an example for Trump’s strict immigration approach and Christian conservative values.

Trump has backed conservative politicians globally, recently supporting Argentina’s Javier Milei and Japan’s Sanae Takaichi.

Vance has become an influential vice president who frequently plays a key role in international policy matters. He is widely considered the leading candidate to succeed Trump in 2028.

During his Hungarian visit, Rubio stated that Orban’s governance was essential for American interests while suggesting that maintaining strong relationships depended on Orban winning re-election. He also hinted that Washington might provide financial assistance to Budapest if necessary.

As the campaign enters its final weeks, polling shows Orban’s Fidesz party behind the opposition Tisza party, headed by former government official Peter Magyar, although numerous voters have not made their decision.

This election occurs while Hungary deals with sluggish economic growth and ongoing effects from inflation increases following Russia’s February 2022 Ukraine invasion, and will significantly impact Europe as conservative and far-right political movements gain strength.

The United States is working to establish a partnership with Brazil focused on securing critical mineral supply chains, according to U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Gabriel Escobar, even as diplomatic relations between the two nations face significant challenges.

Escobar made the announcement Wednesday following the signing of a preliminary cooperation agreement with Brazil’s Goias state, just ahead of a U.S. embassy event connecting American investors with Brazilian companies involved in critical mineral production. Major firms including Citi and Anglo American participated in the gathering.

“We have a proposal for a deal at the federal level. We are discussing it, we had some preliminary discussions, but we’re still waiting,” Escobar stated during the event.

The push comes as America works urgently to secure access to critical mineral reserves, particularly rare earth elements that are currently controlled primarily by Chinese companies.

However, recent diplomatic friction has complicated these efforts. Brazilian officials withdrew from the embassy event after relations deteriorated when a hard-right U.S. official requested permission last week to visit former President Jair Bolsonaro in prison. Brazil viewed this as interference in its internal affairs and denied entry to the envoy, citing “falsification” of visit purposes.

Sources revealed to Reuters that Brazilian authorities received a memorandum of understanding proposal in February, though it initially contained errors including another country’s name before corrections were made.

Current negotiations involve the U.S. Trade Representative’s office and are being considered as part of a potential visit by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to Washington. However, an anticipated meeting between Lula and President Donald Trump scheduled for this month has been delayed due to the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran and ongoing diplomatic tensions.

Brazilian officials privately expressed frustration over the U.S. decision to partner directly with Goias Governor Ronaldo Caiado, who opposes President Lula politically. One Brazilian official characterized this as an attempt to circumvent federal authority.

The Goias agreement establishes cooperation in multiple areas including mineral mapping, connecting local mining operations with American technology, and regulatory improvements, according to state government statements.

Goias possesses significant reserves of lithium and niobium, and hosts Serra Verde, the only company currently producing rare earths commercially in Brazil with U.S. backing.

State officials said the partnership aims to advance “value-added processing and manufacturing capabilities, including rare earth separation” within Goias.

Developing domestic processing capabilities remains a key priority for President Lula, according to a Brazilian foreign trade ministry official who spoke anonymously about ongoing negotiations.

American officials believe the potential exists for billions of dollars in investment and have identified over 50 Brazilian mining projects that could support international efforts to diversify supply chains and reduce China’s control over critical minerals.

MOSCOW – Russia’s state communications oversight agency declared Wednesday that the widely-used Telegram messaging platform continues to violate the country’s regulations, according to reports from the state-operated RIA news service.

Officials in Moscow have consistently charged Telegram, which ranks among Russia’s most widely-adopted messaging applications, with permitting its platform to host unlawful and radical material.

The messaging service disputes these allegations and has countered that Russian officials are deliberately slowing down its operations in an effort to push users toward MAX, a government-controlled messaging application.

CAIRO (AP) — Already earning less than $100 monthly to support his family, Sayyed Ragheb now faces an even tougher financial situation following Egypt’s decision to increase fuel costs amid regional warfare.

The father of four children who attend school picks up work at coffee shops and construction sites to make ends meet. With meat and vegetable costs spiking in recent days, he’s concerned about providing for his family’s essential needs.

“This means a price increase for everything,” Ragheb commented while serving beverages at a Cairo coffee shop during a recent evening shift. “This is catastrophic for someone like me.”

Among Middle Eastern nations, Egypt remains one of the few countries not directly impacted by the ongoing conflict, which has entered its third week with no resolution in sight. The country isn’t participating in the U.S.-Israeli military operations against Iran, nor has it faced Iranian missile attacks like Gulf states or Israeli strikes like Lebanon.

However, the nation’s 108 million residents are experiencing indirect consequences from the fighting. Rising energy costs have compelled officials to dramatically increase prices for government-subsidized fuel and cooking gas.

This price adjustment is creating a cascading impact throughout Egypt’s already weakened economy. The timing is particularly challenging as it coincides with Ramadan, when families typically host large evening meals, and precedes Eid al-Fitr celebrations, a significant shopping period for new clothing, particularly children’s garments.

Global energy costs have climbed sharply since U.S. and Israeli forces began their campaign on February 28. Iran responded by targeting oil and gas facilities throughout the Persian Gulf region and essentially halting passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway handling one-fifth of global oil trade.

Brent crude prices jumped from under $70 per barrel on February 27 to nearly $120 by early March 9. Wednesday’s trading showed prices around $104.

This increase particularly burdens Egypt since the government allocates substantial portions of its already tight budget to subsidize gasoline, fuel, and electricity costs.

Energy expenses aren’t the country’s sole concern.

Suez Canal revenue, a crucial government income source, had begun recovering following two years of Houthi rebel attacks on Red Sea shipping routes. However, some shipping companies are once again avoiding Middle Eastern routes due to current instability, with officials anticipating additional financial losses.

Egypt’s tourism industry, which generates significant foreign currency from visitors to ancient pyramid sites, expects dramatic decreases as travelers avoid the region.

Should the conflict continue driving up costs while reducing government income, short-term economic difficulties could evolve into broader political and economic turmoil, according to Alexandra Blackman, a Cornell University Middle East politics specialist.

“That will be more challenging for the regime to manage and control,” she explained.

Government officials announced March 10 price increases of 15% for gasoline, 22% for cooking gas, and 17% for diesel fuel commonly used in commercial and public transportation.

President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi recognized the burden on citizens but described the increases as “inevitable” and “the least expensive” approach to safeguard the economy.

“The requirements of the reality sometimes necessitate taking difficult measures … to avert harsher options and more serious consequences,” el-Sissi stated during a weekend Iftar gathering, the daily meal breaking Ramadan’s sunrise-to-sunset fast.

He noted that Egypt’s annual oil product consumption costs $20 billion, including fuel for power plant operations.

According to Petroleum Minister Karim Badawy, the government must import 28% of gasoline requirements and 45% of diesel needs, creating budget strain.

Officials announced several measures to reduce impact, including cutting official international travel and limiting fuel use across government departments. Salary increases beginning in July were also announced.

Egypt’s lower and middle-income populations have already experienced reduced buying power over the past decade due to government cost-cutting policies. These included subsidy reductions and currency devaluation as components of a comprehensive 2016 reform initiative.

Official data shows inflation rose from 10% in January to 11.5% in February this year. Price increases are spreading throughout the economy in a nation where government statistics indicate one-third of residents live below the poverty threshold.

Following the new fuel pricing implementation, meat costs have increased 25% while fruits and vegetables rose 15-30%, according to vendors at three Cairo marketplaces.

Hussein Rashad, who operates a grocery store in a lower-income neighborhood, reports customers have become more choosy, with most reducing vegetable purchases. Some have eliminated fruit buying entirely, he noted.

“Many things have become out of their reach,” he observed.

Ragheb, the coffee shop employee, explained his family has restricted spending, including switching to the most affordable food basics. He won’t purchase new clothing for his children for the approaching Eid celebration.

“One has no other option,” he concluded.

PARIS (AP) — President Donald Trump’s transactional approach to foreign policy is hitting a wall as European allies refuse his demands for military assistance in the Iran conflict. Trump’s message to longtime partners has been simple: after decades of American security protection, it’s time for them to return the favor.

The widespread rejections suggest Trump’s diplomatic capital with European nations has reached dangerously low levels. Since his return to office, the president has antagonized allies through aggressive tactics on trade tariffs, territorial demands regarding Greenland, and controversial statements minimizing their military contributions in Afghanistan.

Trump is now insisting — rather than simply asking — that allied nations deploy naval vessels to assist American efforts in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, the critical waterway that handles one-fifth of global oil trade. Essentially, he wants them to help clean up what many view as a Middle Eastern crisis sparked by Trump and Israeli actions.

French defense expert François Heisbourg characterized the allied response as a “global raspberry.”

Not a single major ally has offered immediate military support. The United Kingdom has categorically declined involvement in the conflict. France insists hostilities must cease before any naval mission begins. Other nations remain uncommitted, while China has completely ignored Trump’s appeals for assistance.

European Union foreign policy leader Kaja Kallas stated plainly on Tuesday: “This is not Europe’s war. We didn’t start the war. We were not consulted.”

Trump has expressed particular frustration with Britain’s refusal. Despite Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s efforts to build rapport with the Trump administration and secure early trade agreements, the UK remains among the nations declining to participate in a regional conflict without clear objectives.

Describing Britain’s traditional role, Trump commented Monday: “The U.K. was sort of considered the Rolls-Royce of allies,” noting he had specifically requested British minesweeping vessels.

“I was not happy with the U.K,” Trump declared. “They should be involved enthusiastically. We’ve been protecting these countries for years.”

Starmer responded that Britain “will not be drawn into the wider war” and emphasized that deploying British forces requires international legal backing and “a proper thought-through plan” — implying these elements are currently absent.

Initially, Starmer blocked American bombers from using British bases for Iran strikes, though he later permitted their use for targeted attacks on Iran’s missile capabilities.

Former U.S. Army Europe commander Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges (retired) observed that allies are “looking at the United States in a way that they never have before. And this is bad for the United States.”

He noted that European leaders who previously tried to appease Trump are “starting to realize that there’s no benefit or value in using flattery.”

Trump’s decision to initiate military action without allied consultation aligns with his America-first philosophy.

“My attitude is: We don’t need anybody. We’re the strongest nation in the world,” he stated Monday.

However, the absence of international authorization — unlike the broad coalition assembled for the 1990 Gulf War — is creating diplomatic blowback.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius explained: “It is not our war; we did not start it. We want diplomatic solutions and a swift end to the conflict. Sending more warships to the region will certainly not contribute to that.”

French President Emmanuel Macron has suggested possible naval escort missions in the Strait of Hormuz — but only after combat operations conclude.

“France didn’t choose this war. We’re not taking part,” Macron declared.

Following contentious tariff disputes in Trump’s previous term, early 2026 has brought additional alliance strain. Trump’s renewed push for American control over Greenland, including tariff threats against eight European countries, combined with his false claims about allied combat participation in Afghanistan, has further damaged NATO relationships.

Former French diplomat Sylvie Bermann, who served as ambassador to China, Britain, and Russia, explained: “Allies, or at least the Europeans, aren’t willing to be at the beck and call of a demand from Donald Trump.”

“And even in asking for a helping hand, he is doing so in a brutal manner, saying: ‘You’re useless, we’re the strongest, we don’t need you, but come,’” she added.

Naval experts warn that forcing military escorts through the Strait of Hormuz during active warfare without Iranian agreement would be extremely hazardous.

France has positioned its Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean and is coordinating with other nations to prepare escort missions once aerial combat subsides. French military spokesperson Col. Guillaume Vernet emphasized that any escort operations would require negotiations with Iran, and Macron has conducted two phone conversations with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian within eight days.

This diplomatic engagement has earned Trump’s approval.

“On a scale of zero to 10, I’d say he’s been an eight,” Trump said Monday regarding Macron. “Not perfect, but it’s France. We don’t expect perfect.”

However, Trump remains angry with other allies.

“We will protect them, but they will do nothing for us, in particular, in a time of need,” Trump complained Tuesday.

European and Asian allies depend on Middle Eastern oil, gas, and other commodities, giving Trump some negotiating power.

Past experience has also shown that opposing Trump can trigger retaliatory measures.

“It really could be anything. Are the Europeans prepared for that?” questioned Ed Arnold, a former British military officer now researching at London’s Royal United Services Institute.

European nations need continued American support for Ukraine, including weapons, intelligence, and financial pressure on Russia. The U.S. has begun relaxing some Russian sanctions by temporarily permitting oil shipments to address shortages caused by the Iran conflict. Allies also want Trump’s involvement in peace negotiations.

Amanda Sloat, a former U.S. national security adviser now teaching at Spain’s IE University, noted: “That was what kept European leaders quiet for a lot of last year in the face of the rhetoric and actions.”

“It is also the thing that is making them a little bit nervous now.”

A high-ranking Iranian government official who helped orchestrate a deadly response to anti-government demonstrations has reportedly been killed in an Israeli military strike.

Ali Larijani, who served as an adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader and held the position of secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, was reportedly killed Monday evening, March 16, during Israeli attacks. Gholamreza Soleimani, who led the IRGC Basij force, also died in the same strikes, according to reports. Initially, there was confusion about whether Larijani had survived the attack, with official confirmation and details about his death remaining unclear.

Larijani had been instrumental in directing the violent suppression of widespread anti-government protests that erupted in January 2026. His leadership during that crackdown led to the deaths of thousands of Iranian citizens and resulted in deadly force being authorized against demonstrators. Estimates suggest between 10,000 and 31,000 Iranians lost their lives during the violence, with the heaviest casualties occurring on January 8 and 9.

The 67-year-old official was born in Najaf, Iraq, in 1957 to an influential Iranian religious family. He completed his education at the University of Tehran, where he focused on philosophy and Western philosophical traditions. This educational foundation helped establish his reputation as one of Iran’s more scholarly political figures, someone who could navigate both Islamic doctrine and broader intellectual concepts.

Larijani’s government career began after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, when he joined Iran’s developing political institutions. From 1994 to 2004, he directed Iran’s state broadcasting network (IRIB), controlling a crucial government communication channel during a time of domestic reform movements and international conflicts.

He subsequently took on the roles of Supreme National Security Council secretary and Iran’s primary nuclear negotiator, positioning him at the heart of the country’s most critical policy decisions. His time in these roles came during intense international examination of Iran’s nuclear activities, and observers often characterized his methods as resolute yet strategic, showing both ideological dedication and awareness of diplomatic limitations.

Between 2008 and 2020, Larijani held the position of Parliament speaker (Majlis), representing one of Iran’s most powerful government roles. Throughout this time, he established himself as a practical conservative, frequently serving as a connection point between hardline and moderate political groups. He significantly supported the 2015 nuclear deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, sometimes working alongside President Hassan Rouhani’s administration despite political divisions.

While some colleagues viewed Larijani as comparatively moderate, he took an uncompromising stance when the government faced domestic opposition, directly supporting Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. He was identified as one of the first senior officials to advocate using force against January 2026 protesters, leading to a crackdown with casualties numbering in the thousands.

His involvement in suppressing civilian demonstrations resulted in U.S. sanctions. On January 15, one week after the latest violent crackdown started, Washington imposed penalties on Larijani, charging him with “coordinating the suppression of protests and issuing orders for the use of force against protesters” in his council secretary capacity. The actions he endorsed were designed to stop what officials called “domestic unrest” and protect the Islamic Republic’s stability.

Larijani’s death creates a substantial leadership void in Iran, where he had functioned as the second-most influential figure following the now-deceased supreme leader. The recently appointed supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has been largely unavailable, both because he must remain hidden during wartime and due to reports of serious injuries from an airstrike.

During this leadership absence, Larijani was commonly viewed as overseeing the regime’s daily functions, including implementing severe actions against protesters and political opponents. Eliminating Larijani represents a significant strategic action that may not completely overthrow the government but will certainly weaken it and raises questions about who will lead Iran while the conflict continues.

MADRID, March 18 – During a Wednesday meeting in Madrid, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez assured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that ongoing Middle East conflicts will not weaken Spain’s commitment to Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression. The leaders formalized military cooperation agreements covering joint production of defense equipment including unmanned aircraft, radar systems, and missile technology.

“We cannot deny that the crisis in the Middle East is monopolising conversation and precisely for that reason, I want to say to the government of Ukraine that nothing and no one will make us forget what is happening in Ukraine,” Sanchez declared. “We will keep our support for the Ukrainian people with the same intensity.”

The meeting comes as Russia’s full-scale assault on Ukraine continues beyond four years, while the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran enters its third week with no resolution apparent.

Zelenskyy announced through his X social media account that beyond his discussions with Sanchez, he also conducted meetings with Spanish defense contractor Sener Aerospace & Defence to finalize manufacturing partnerships for air defense systems and missiles, plus potential collaboration on long-distance drone development.

“We discussed production capabilities and bolstering Ukraine’s air defence,” he stated. “Strengthening air defence and protecting lives are our top priorities. Ukraine has new developments and is ready to scale them up.”

Sener Aerospace & Defence issued a confirmation that their agreements involve Ukrainian defense manufacturers Fire Point, Luch and Radionix.

Looking ahead to Thursday’s European leadership summit in Brussels, Zelenskyy expressed optimism that continental leaders will approve a 90 billion euro financial package for Kyiv covering military assistance and general budget needs, despite Hungarian resistance to the proposal.

“I know most European countries understand this is not a fair blockage,” he commented. “There is no alternative to the 90 billion.”

Israeli military forces have targeted and killed approximately a dozen Gaza police officers over the past week, marking an intensification of strikes against the Hamas-controlled security force, according to Gaza officials.

The fate of Hamas’ roughly 10,000 police officers has become a major obstacle in negotiations surrounding President Trump’s Gaza proposal. While Hamas seeks to incorporate these officers into a future police force outlined in the plan, Israel firmly opposes any involvement of personnel with Hamas connections.

Under Trump’s framework, the militant organization would surrender its weapons and transfer governing authority to a group of Palestinian technical experts who would oversee Gaza’s police operations as Israeli forces pull back. However, discussions about disarming Hamas have been postponed due to the ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, according to Reuters reporting.

Throughout the coastal territory where Hamas maintained authority following the October ceasefire after two years of conflict, largely unarmed officers wearing dark blue police uniforms continue their street patrols.

On Monday, these officers were observed managing traffic flow and monitoring marketplaces and temporary housing camps throughout Gaza City.

Ismail Al-Thawabta, who heads the Hamas-controlled Gaza government’s media department, reported that Israeli forces have eliminated more than 2,800 Gaza police personnel since the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led assault on southern Israel that sparked the current war.

Since the ceasefire began, dozens of officers have lost their lives, with at least 10 killed since the U.S.-Israeli confrontation with Iran commenced, Thawabta stated.

In an effort to minimize additional casualties, he explained that “operational orders and precautionary measures” have been implemented “to reduce risks to police personnel, including reorganizing movements and deployments.” He declined to provide additional specifics.

Israeli officials maintain that their Gaza operations resulting in police officer deaths have focused on neutralizing threats to their military personnel from Hamas. Israeli forces continue to occupy approximately 53% of Gaza’s territory.

In the latest incident, nine police officers died when an airstrike hit their vehicle in Zawayda in central Gaza on Sunday, local medical sources reported. The destroyed car’s bloody remains were abandoned on the street, surrounded by damaged structures.

Israeli military representatives stated they had targeted an armed Hamas unit planning an assault on Israeli troops, claiming six fatalities. Neither Hamas nor the military immediately addressed the conflicting casualty numbers when contacted for comment.

Hamas maintains that Israel is deliberately attacking police officers who are working to preserve public order and security in Gaza after the two-year conflict. Israel disputes this characterization.

Palestinian political expert Reham Owda suggested that Israel’s police targeting reflects concerns about Hamas strengthening its control over Gaza territories under its authority.

“These strikes aim to disrupt Hamas’ security efforts in the territory and convey a clear message that Israel will not accept any expanded security role for Hamas within Gaza,” Owda explained to Reuters.

Gaza’s health department reports that Israeli forces have killed at least 670 individuals since the October ceasefire took effect. Israeli authorities say militants in Gaza have killed four soldiers during the same timeframe.

On Wednesday, an Israeli airstrike eliminated Mohammad Abu Shahla, a local armed Hamas leader, in Khan Younis in southern Gaza, according to Hamas and medical officials. That same night, two motorcycle riders shot and injured a high-ranking Hamas police official in Gaza City. Hamas attributed the shooting to “Israeli collaborators.”

Israeli authorities did not provide immediate responses regarding these events.

Abdallah Al-Araisha, a Palestinian resident of a tent settlement in Gaza City, praised the police for their efforts to combat crime and safeguard civilians throughout Gaza, where most of the territory’s 2 million residents have been forced from their homes.

“Without the police, we would be ruined,” Al-Araisha commented.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi departed Wednesday for Washington, D.C., anticipating challenging discussions with President Donald Trump following his request for Japan and allied nations to deploy naval vessels to protect the Strait of Hormuz.

The planned three-day Washington visit was initially designed to address trade issues and reinforce U.S.-Japan relations amid China’s expanding regional presence. However, the agenda is now dominated by the conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran that began February 28.

“I think the U.S. visit will be a very difficult one, but I will do everything to maximize our national interest and to protect the daily lives of the people when the situation changes daily,” Takaichi addressed parliament Wednesday before her departure.

This marks Takaichi’s second encounter with Trump since their October meeting in Tokyo, which occurred shortly after she became Japan’s first female prime minister. The conservative leader follows in the footsteps of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who maintained strong ties with Trump.

Originally, Takaichi planned to concentrate discussions on China and bolster bilateral relations before Trump’s scheduled diplomatic mission to China. The White House announced Tuesday that trip has been postponed due to Middle Eastern hostilities.

Takaichi faces pressure to determine appropriate commitments to offer Trump. Political analysts suggest demonstrating progress on investment agreements will be crucial for summit success.

Japanese representatives indicate both nations will work to expand collaboration on regional security, essential minerals, energy resources, and China-related concerns.

As a crucial Asian ally, Japan has avoided explicitly endorsing U.S.-Israeli military actions against Iran or committing to warship deployment. This stance reflects Japan’s constitutional limitations, legal concerns about U.S. actions, and domestic opposition.

Speaking to parliament, she expressed Japan’s desire for conflict de-escalation, noting disruptions to oil and gas supplies Japan heavily relies upon.

“Without early de-escalation of the situation, our economy will be in trouble,” she stated. “Early de-escalation is important for both the U.S. and global economy.”

Japan seeks to maintain its longstanding relationship with Iran, a primary source of Japanese oil imports.

Takaichi and her cabinet have disputed claims that Washington formally requested Japanese warships for the Strait of Hormuz. Trump posted on X asking multiple countries, including Japan, to volunteer before later stating he no longer required assistance due to lukewarm responses.

This development reduces pressure on Takaichi.

“We have no plans to send warships right now,” Takaichi informed parliament Wednesday. She indicated reconnaissance and intelligence missions might be possible only after a ceasefire. Japanese analysts suggest minesweeping operations could be feasible once hostilities conclude.

“I will clearly explain what we can do and cannot do based on the Japanese law,” Takaichi said. “I’m sure (Trump) is fully aware of the Japanese law.”

Takaichi aims to address China’s security and economic pressure tactics while securing U.S. commitment to the Indo-Pacific region, particularly as American forces stationed in Japan relocate to the Middle East—a shift Japan views as potentially risky given China’s growing influence.

She plans to reassure Trump regarding Japan’s military expansion, highlighting accelerated long-range missile deployment to strengthen offensive capabilities. This represents a departure from Japan’s post-war defense-only doctrine and demonstrates closer U.S. alignment.

During the summit, Takaichi expects to express Japan’s interest in participating in America’s “Golden Dome” multi-billion dollar, comprehensive missile defense program.

Japan views China as an escalating security concern and has promoted military development on southwestern islands near the East China Sea.

Takaichi has committed to updating Japan’s security and defense policies by December and aims to further strengthen Japan’s military with unmanned combat systems and long-range weaponry.

Her administration plans to eliminate restrictions on lethal arms exports in coming weeks to advance Japan’s defense sector and cooperation with the United States and allied nations.

As a resource-limited country, Japan seeks to diversify oil sources and is completing Japanese investment for expanded Alaskan oil production and domestic stockpiles, according to media accounts. Japanese investment in small modular reactors and American natural gas is also under consideration.

If approved, these projects would comprise part of a $550 billion investment commitment Japan made in October. In February, both sides announced Japan’s dedication to a $36 billion initial project phase—including an Ohio natural gas facility, a Gulf Coast crude oil export terminal, and a synthetic diamond production site—whose advancement will be discussed with Trump.

Japan reportedly intends to suggest joint rare earth development from undersea deposits near the remote Japanese island of Minamitorishima as part of the investment package.

Diplomatic and trade tensions have intensified since Takaichi’s statement that Chinese military action against Taiwan could justify Japanese military intervention.

KABUL, Afghanistan — Heavy machinery carved burial sites at a cemetery in Afghanistan’s capital Wednesday as the nation prepared for a mass funeral ceremony honoring victims of a devastating attack on a drug treatment facility that Afghan authorities attribute to Pakistani forces.

The attack represents the most lethal incident in an intensifying three-week conflict between the neighboring countries. Afghan authorities report 408 fatalities and 265 injuries from the incident, though these numbers remain unconfirmed by independent sources.

Pakistani leadership disputes Afghanistan’s claims that it deliberately struck the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital, maintaining that Monday’s military operations in Kabul and eastern Afghanistan focused exclusively on military targets. Pakistani officials have characterized Afghan casualty reports as false propaganda.

Speaking to The Associated Press from Islamabad Wednesday, Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar stated that Pakistan had “only targeted terrorist infrastructure.”

“We have just gone after the Afghan Taliban regime, their military setups, their terrorist infrastructure, and all the setups which are supporting or promoting terrorists,” Tarar said.

Cross-border violence and aerial bombardments within Afghanistan, including multiple strikes on the capital, have marked this conflict that erupted in late February, continuing despite international appeals for peace.

Pakistani leadership alleges that Afghanistan shelters extremists who launch attacks within Pakistani territory, particularly members of the Pakistani Taliban. This organization operates independently from but maintains close ties with the Afghan Taliban, who assumed control of Afghanistan in 2021 following the withdrawal of U.S.-led forces. Afghan officials reject these accusations.

Wednesday’s somber scene featured steady rainfall as emergency vehicles queued outside the burial ground, removing simple wooden coffins. The ceremony honored victims from Kabul province whose remains had been positively identified. Officials indicated that casualties from other Afghan regions would be returned to their home areas for interment.

The strike targeted the 2,000-bed Omid facility around 9 p.m. Monday. The hospital had undergone renaming and significant expansion approximately one year earlier as part of the Taliban government’s campaign against widespread substance abuse issues plaguing the nation.

Afghanistan’s extensive opium cultivation has supplied much of the global heroin market, and combined with prolonged warfare and economic hardship, has created severe addiction problems that current leadership has pledged to address.

The facility’s location near Kabul’s international airport sits adjacent to the former Camp Phoenix NATO base, previously used by American forces for Afghan National Army training. Current usage of that location remains unclear. The Monday attack triggered a massive fire, with local media footage showing rescue teams searching debris with handheld lights throughout the night while firefighters battled the flames.

Tarar described Pakistan’s military actions as precise strikes “carried out in an ammunition depot in Kabul. In the aftermath of which, we saw fumes and flames in the atmosphere in Kabul.”

He attributed subsequent casualties, without providing specific numbers, to the presence of “ammunition, there were technical equipment, there were arms there in that depot.”

Recovery teams continued extracting bodies from the hospital’s charred ruins Tuesday morning.

Afghan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid denounced the attack, charging Pakistan with “targeting hospitals and civilian sites to perpetrate horrors.” He described the deceased as “innocent civilians and addicts.”

This current violence, representing the most serious confrontation between the nations, began in late February when Afghanistan launched retaliatory cross-border operations following Pakistani airstrikes. The hostilities shattered a Qatar-mediated ceasefire established in October after earlier fighting claimed dozens of military personnel, civilians and suspected militants.

Pakistan declared itself in “open war” with Afghanistan last month. The escalating situation has concerned the international community, particularly given the region’s continued presence of other extremist groups, including al-Qaida and the Islamic State, which have attempted to regain influence.

A decade has passed since terrorists struck Brussels Airport and a metro station, yet Walter Benjamin remains locked in a fight for complete compensation while dealing with lasting physical and psychological wounds from that horrific day.

Benjamin, now 57, was standing in the airport’s departure area when three ISIS operatives entered with luggage packed with explosives on March 22, 2016. Two attackers died in the blast while a third escaped after abandoning his device.

About an hour afterward, another bomber detonated explosives at the Maalbeek metro station. The coordinated assault claimed 32 lives and injured over 300 individuals, with Benjamin among those severely wounded.

“My leg was torn off … right in the middle of the knee,” he said.

The traumatic memories continue haunting Benjamin, who requires medication before entering any airport facility. He believes the terrorists completely destroyed his previous way of life.

“I can still smell the burned bodies,” Benjamin said. “You have to realise this was actually a war zone. People died, people were torn apart.”

Hospital photos from the attack’s aftermath show Benjamin recovering in bed alongside his daughter, with Belgium’s King Philippe and Queen Mathilde visiting during his treatment.

Today, Benjamin maintains his rehabilitation routine, working out on exercise equipment multiple times weekly as part of his ongoing recovery process.

Beyond physical therapy, Benjamin faces continued bureaucratic struggles over his compensation case. His files from a decade of insurance dealings, medical evaluations, and legal proceedings have grown into towering stacks.

“(It) still hasn’t been closed to this day,” he said. “Every day there’s something new that comes up … It weighs heavily on the mind.”

While Benjamin has collected partial payments from MSIG Europe, the insurance company managing his Brussels Airport claim, no complete resolution has been achieved.

MSIG Europe stated: “Discussions are ongoing to reach a final settlement.”

Additionally, Belgian authorities have significantly cut Benjamin’s war pension – a benefit provided to attack survivors – prompting him to challenge the reduction through legal counsel.

According to Life4Brussels, a survivor advocacy group, Benjamin’s situation reflects a widespread problem. The organization reports that victims encounter a complicated and draining compensation system, leading some to give up their claims entirely.

Assuralia, representing Belgian insurance companies, announced that insurers have distributed 88.2 million euros ($101.78 million) in victim compensation since 2016.

A government representative noted that Belgium’s Commission for Financial Aid to Victims has separately allocated 7.9 million euros ($9.11 million) to attack survivors. Benjamin confirmed receiving money from this source as well.

Belgium plans to commemorate the attacks’ 10th anniversary through multiple ceremonies coordinated by airport officials, Brussels transit authority MIVB, and government agencies working alongside victims’ groups, according to the prime minister’s office.

In July 2023, courts convicted six individuals for their roles in the bombings, imposing sentences ranging from 20 years to life imprisonment.

Emergency responders are conducting a rescue mission at a Swiss ski destination following reports that a gondola cabin plummeted down a snow-covered slope amid severe wind conditions on March 18th.

Officials have not confirmed whether passengers were aboard the fallen cable car when the accident occurred at Engelberg, a popular skiing destination located in Switzerland’s central region.

A representative from Rega, Switzerland’s air rescue organization, confirmed that one of their helicopters is participating in the emergency response but declined to provide additional information about the operation.

According to Swiss publication 20 Minuten, the incident resulted in at least one person sustaining injuries.

BET, the company that operates the lift system at the resort, has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the accident.

KIRYAT SHMONA, Israel — When Gila Pahima moved back to her northern Israeli community last spring, she had hoped the worst was behind her. After being forced from her home for a year and a half due to Hezbollah attacks, residents had finally been allowed to return following a ceasefire in November 2024.

Today, warning sirens blare continuously as explosions from incoming missiles and defense systems thunder overhead.

“I feel like we’re in constant war,” she said. “You feel like you’re on a battlefield all day.”

Following their previous conflict, Israel appeared to have severely damaged the Iranian-supported Hezbollah organization. The group’s leadership had been eliminated, hundreds of fighters were injured by explosive devices planted in communication equipment, and large portions of southern Lebanon lay destroyed.

However, Hezbollah has renewed its missile attacks following joint Israeli and American strikes against Iran, its primary backer, which has also fired multiple rounds of rockets toward Israel.

While most Israelis back the conflict with Iran, believing it could bring significant regional transformation, exhaustion is growing, particularly in northern communities where residents continuously flee to protective shelters or live in them permanently. Many question whether aerial bombardments or ground operations can deliver lasting security.

“You brought us here. You said, ‘Hezbollah is weakened,’” said another resident, Avraham Golan, addressing the Israeli government. “Where is it weakened? They are worse than what they used to be.”

The government relocated 60,000 northern residents when Hezbollah started launching rockets and unmanned aircraft in support of Hamas following its October 7, 2023, assault on Israel from Gaza. Citizens began returning only after the Israel-Hezbollah truce more than 12 months later.

While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu maintains strong backing in this conservative community, residents express frustration over the gap between official statements about defeating Hezbollah and their reality of enduring daily bombardment.

Golan, age 79, came to Kiryat Shmona in 1951 when his family left Iraq for Israel. The retiree previously worked in apple groves scattered across the verdant hills encircling the community.

Evening hours bring the greatest terror, he explained while fighting back emotion. The blasts occur so nearby they seem to penetrate your bedroom, and residents haven’t managed more than two consecutive hours of rest, he noted. Between alarm warnings, people briefly leave to purchase essential supplies.

Bruria Danino, 61, relocated to a shelter with her relatives after injuring her nose while rushing there in darkness during the early phase of this conflict.

For most of the last two weeks, they’ve shared their neighborhood shelter with three other families, sleeping on metal bunks that fold from the walls. When missile alerts interrupt her grandson’s virtual schooling, he calmly switches to animated shows on his tablet and settles onto an air mattress.

“They promised us a few years of quiet, but after 10 months, it’s the same situation,” Danino said.

Her daughter, Hodaya, described the experience as resembling a “horror movie.”

“People say Israel’s homefront is so strong, but we’re not strong, we all have post-trauma,” she said.

She wants officials to fund evacuation costs, as occurred during the previous war. All families with financial resources have departed, she noted, abandoning those with fewer means.

Israeli forces have conducted extensive bombing campaigns across southern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern districts, regions with significant Hezbollah presence that also house hundreds of thousands of Lebanese civilians who experienced severe damage in the last conflict. Israeli ground forces have advanced further into southern Lebanon while warning residents to evacuate from extensive areas.

The bombardments have claimed hundreds of Lebanese lives, forcing over one million to abandon their homes. Defense Minister Israel Katz has stated none will return until northern Israel achieves safety and stability.

Iranian rocket attacks have resulted in at least 12 Israeli deaths, while two soldiers have died in southern Lebanon combat operations.

Pahima, who returned last spring, was born in Kiryat Shmona and raised four sons there. She cherishes the natural beauty surrounding her residence and the peaceful atmosphere of the city, distant from Israel’s busy metropolitan areas. She fears the community may never recover its former character.

Numerous evacuated families, particularly those with young children, chose not to return. City officials declined to provide data on returnee numbers, but Pahima and other residents estimate roughly half remained elsewhere.

The community, already challenged by remote location, now offers even fewer prospects for young adults, she observed. She comprehends why families hesitate to come back.

“Maybe it will calm down for a few years,” she said. “But then war will come back.”

CAIRO (AP) — Violent clashes between opposing forces near Sudan’s border with Chad have resulted in 17 fatalities and numerous injuries, according to a humanitarian medical organization.

Monday’s assault in the border town of Tina left 66 individuals in critical condition, reported Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières or MSF) in a social media statement released Tuesday evening.

Sudan’s military forces announced that the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) had broadened their offensive operations targeting military installations in Tina, though army personnel successfully defended against the assault and forced the attackers to retreat.

These violent incidents represent an escalation in border region combat between government troops and the RSF, groups that have been engaged in warfare since April 2023. United Nations data indicates the ongoing conflict has claimed over 40,000 lives, though humanitarian organizations believe the actual death toll may be significantly higher.

The town of Tina represents one of the final strongholds maintained by Sudan’s armed forces within the vast Darfur region, territory that has remained under RSF dominance since October 2025. The adjacent Tine border crossing previously served as the primary corridor for international humanitarian assistance from Chad during periods when the Adre crossing point was temporarily shuttered.

Chad announced last month it had sealed its Sudanese border “until further notice” as a measure to prevent conflict from spreading across its territorial boundaries.

Victims from Monday’s violence received medical treatment from MSF personnel and Chadian healthcare workers at a recently established medical facility in Tine, Chad.

An MSF medical professional working at the facility reported that physicians are providing care without access to running water or electrical power, depending instead on backup generators and solar energy systems. Medical supply reserves are reportedly dwindling due to the sudden influx of new casualties.

Chad had previously closed its border temporarily following Sudan’s descent into chaos in April 2023, when political tensions between military leadership and the RSF erupted into armed conflict throughout the capital city of Khartoum and other regions.

The Darfur and Kordofan areas have become central battlegrounds in Sudan’s civil war, with Kordofan experiencing frequent deadly drone bombardments. Military analysts and aid workers have previously noted that increased aerial attacks in Kordofan have caused mounting civilian casualties and disrupted relief efforts.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Rwanda is demanding Britain pay $115 million through international arbitration proceedings after the UK abruptly cancelled a disputed refugee resettlement agreement, officials said Wednesday.

The arrangement, negotiated in 2022 under former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, would have relocated migrants arriving in Britain by boat or as stowaways to the East African nation. The agreement included financial compensation to Rwanda for associated expenses.

Rwanda’s Justice Minister and Attorney General Emmanuel Ugirashebuja told arbitrators at The Hague’s Permanent Court of Arbitration that his country established an asylum appeals system, built governmental and administrative frameworks, and “prepared reception facilities for the incoming refugees and incurred significant costs in doing so.”

However, when Starmer assumed power, “The new prime minister declared the Rwanda scheme to be dead and buried on his first full day in office,” Ugirashebuja stated. “The United Kingdom did not do Rwanda the courtesy of informing it in advance. Instead, Rwanda was left to read about these developments in the media.”

British officials are asking the tribunal to reject Rwanda’s financial demands, contending that both nations reached an agreement in November 2024 where Rwanda would abandon its payment claims.

Rwanda disputes this assertion. Ugirashebuja informed the panel that the UK “sought to walk away from its legal obligations.”

“A lot of the arbitration is going to turn around on the proof of that agreement,” said Joelle Grogan, visiting senior research fellow at UCD Sutherland School of Law in Dublin, in an Associated Press interview.

The arbitration tribunal at The Hague’s ornate Peace Palace will likely require months or longer to render a verdict following this week’s proceedings.

Sunak originally designed the initiative to transport certain migrants on one-way journeys to Rwanda. When Starmer cancelled the program, his home secretary Yvette Cooper condemned it as the “most shocking waste of taxpayer money I have ever seen.”

Cooper calculated that the plan, which faced legal obstacles and widespread human rights criticism, consumed 700 million pounds ($904 million) in public money, including Rwanda payments, chartered flights that never departed, and salaries for over 1,000 civil servants assigned to the program.

The 2022 agreement stipulated that migrants would be transported to Rwanda for asylum processing, and successful applicants would remain there permanently. Britain’s Supreme Court declared the policy illegal, ruling that Rwanda does not qualify as a safe destination for relocated migrants.

Rwanda initiated the arbitration process in January, stating that Starmer destroyed the deal “without prior notice to Rwanda.”

In the legal proceedings, Rwanda also contends that the UK breached the agreement’s provision requiring London to resettle vulnerable refugees from Rwanda.

MOSCOW – A senior Russian official on Wednesday rejected claims made by The Wall Street Journal regarding alleged military technology sharing between Moscow and Tehran.

Dmitry Peskov, who serves as the Kremlin’s chief spokesperson, dismissed the newspaper’s report as “fake news” during a Wednesday statement. The Wall Street Journal had published an article Tuesday alleging that Russia has been providing Iran with satellite data and enhanced drone capabilities.

According to the newspaper’s Tuesday report, which cited unnamed sources with knowledge of the situation, Moscow has been expanding its intelligence collaboration and military partnership with Iran. The report claimed this cooperation includes providing satellite imagery and upgraded drone technology that helps Tehran target American military personnel stationed throughout the region.

Ukraine’s government is pressing India to free six of its citizens who were detained last week on accusations of illegally entering Myanmar to provide drone warfare training to groups fighting the military junta.

Indian police took the six Ukrainians and one American into custody on March 13 at three separate airports across the country.

Court documents from Monday ordering the seven individuals held until a March 27 hearing reveal they’re charged with unlawfully traveling to India’s northeastern Mizoram state, entering Myanmar without authorization, and instructing anti-junta ethnic militias in drone operations. They’re also accused of smuggling large quantities of drones from Europe into Myanmar through Indian territory.

Mizoram shares a border with Myanmar’s Chin State. Myanmar has been torn apart by civil war and a humanitarian disaster since military forces toppled the democratically elected government led by Nobel Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021.

India’s National Investigation Agency, the country’s primary anti-terrorism organization, is conducting the investigation into the detained individuals.

Ukraine’s foreign ministry issued a statement Tuesday evening asserting that “no established facts proving the involvement of the said Ukrainian citizens in unlawful activities on the territory of India or Myanmar” exist.

Ukrainian Ambassador Oleksandr Polishchuk met with Sibi George, a high-ranking Indian foreign ministry official, on Monday to deliver a formal protest note “demanding the immediate release of the Ukrainian citizens and access to them,” according to the ministry’s statement.

“We draw attention to the fact that there are certain restricted-access zones in India for foreign nationals, entry to which is possible only with special permits,” the Ukrainian statement noted.

“At the same time, proper marking of such areas on the ground is often absent, which creates a risk of unintentional violation of the established rules.”

A representative from the U.S. embassy acknowledged awareness of the situation but stated that “for privacy reasons, we cannot comment on cases involving U.S. citizens.”

Neither India’s foreign ministry nor Myanmar government officials responded to requests for comment.

The court filing didn’t identify which Myanmar-based ethnic armed organizations the group allegedly contacted.

However, the document cited investigation findings suggesting the accused were suspected of providing assistance to “proscribed Indian insurgent groups by way of supplying weapons and other terrorist hardware and training them, thus affecting national security and interests of India.”

Indian officials have reported that militant organizations that sought sanctuary in Myanmar and participated in its civil conflict returned in 2024, intensifying months of deadly ethnic violence in India’s northeastern Manipur state.

India mandates that foreign visitors obtain special entry permits for certain northeastern border states that have experienced ethnic tensions and security challenges.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan confirmed Wednesday that 143 people were killed in Pakistan’s bombing of a drug treatment facility in Kabul, according to a UN official who spoke with Reuters.

Afghanistan’s Taliban government had previously reported much higher casualties from Monday evening’s airstrike, claiming more than 400 people died and another 265 were wounded in the attack.

Pakistani officials have disputed the Taliban’s assertion that they struck a drug rehabilitation center, stating instead that their forces “precisely targeted military installations and terrorist support infrastructure.”

STOCKHOLM, March 18 – Sweden’s intelligence agency has identified Russia, China and Iran as the most significant security threats confronting the Scandinavian nation, according to Wednesday’s release of the annual threat assessment from the Swedish Security Service, known as SAPO.

In recent years, the security agency has documented escalating dangers, particularly from Moscow’s government as it becomes more willing to engage in dangerous operations connected to its conflict in Ukraine, including destabilizing hybrid warfare tactics across European nations.

Iranian activities have similarly been designated as a major concern for an extended period, with Swedish officials observing how organized crime groups within the country – which has struggled with gang violence for the past ten years – have been exploited by foreign governments to execute violent operations.

Security Service Chief Charlotte von Essen stated in the assessment that recent military actions involving the United States and Israel against Iran, along with Tehran’s retaliatory responses, “have increased the threat against American, Israeli and Jewish targets in Sweden.”

TOKYO – Japan experienced its busiest February on record for international tourism, welcoming 3.46 million foreign visitors last month according to government statistics released Wednesday. The figure represents a 6.4% jump compared to the same period last year.

The Japan National Tourism Organization reported these milestone numbers occurred even as Chinese visitor arrivals plummeted by 45% to 396,400 people, reflecting continued diplomatic strain between the neighboring countries.

Tourism officials noted the timing of Lunar New Year celebrations contributed to the strong showing, as the holiday occurred in February this year compared to late January in 2023.

The impact of fewer Chinese visitors was evident at popular destinations like the Kawazu Sakura Festival in eastern Japan, which celebrates early-blooming cherry blossoms beginning in February. Hoshi Mori, who directs the town’s tourism association, observed the noticeable absence of Chinese tourists at the event.

“Still, the festival drew about 630,000 visitors, its highest attendance since 2022, thanks to an increase in domestic tourists and those from Taiwan,” Mori explained.

South Korean travelers dominated February’s visitor statistics, maintaining their position as Japan’s largest tourist market with 1.08 million arrivals – a 28% increase. Taiwan followed as the second-largest source, contributing 693,600 visitors, representing a 37% surge from the previous February.

Security analysts are challenging Nigeria’s president’s characterization of recent terror attacks as desperate acts, arguing instead that coordinated suicide bombings in the country’s most fortified northeastern city demonstrate the continued strength of militant organizations.

The synchronized assault on Maiduguri reveals significant intelligence breakdowns and shows that extremist groups maintain the ability to target urban centers despite continuous government military campaigns against them, experts warn.

The identity of the specific militant organization responsible for the attack remains unclear, highlighting the complicated nature of a widespread 17-year conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions of residents.

Recent weeks have witnessed multiple attacks by both Boko Haram fighters and ISWAP, a faction aligned with Islamic State, leading some security experts to suggest possible coordination between these typically competing groups.

“We have to see this as the groups oozing confidence in their ability to wreak terror in that part of the country,” said Ikemesit Effiong, partner at SBM Intelligence, a Nigeria-based risk advisory company.

“We think this is the start of a spate of bombings, not just in Maiduguri but also less protected urban areas in the northeast,” Effiong added.

President Bola Tinubu announced Tuesday his authorization of additional military equipment and support, promising forces would “completely defeat” the militants – echoing similar commitments made by former leaders.

With violence expanding throughout Nigeria, including northwestern regions, U.S. forces have recently conducted airstrikes and deployed military advisers. Officials have not clarified whether American troops would participate in any response to the bombings.

Nigeria’s battle against Islamic extremists in the northeast began in 2009 when Boko Haram first appeared in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, attempting to establish an Islamic state. A harsh government response resulted in the group leader’s death while in police custody and forced militants from urban areas.

The organization has since fractured into multiple factions, with one declaring loyalty to Islamic State and becoming the most powerful, controlling large portions of northeastern Nigeria.

ACLED, a crisis-monitoring organization, reported Monday’s attack as Nigeria’s deadliest suicide bombing in seven years.

Nigerian military operations have failed to prevent Islamic groups from establishing permanent footholds over the years, according to Vincent Foucher, senior research fellow with the National Centre for Scientific Research in Bordeaux.

“The jihadists control substantial rural areas, the military hold towns which are entrenched,” he explained.

Even when forces target ISWAP strongholds, such as recent operations in the Alagarno forest, Foucher noted that victories are typically short-lived.

“They killed a few people, seized and destroyed some infrastructure, including an ISWAP prison. But the jihadists just move away and wait the military out,” he said.

Nigerian military officials reported preventing four attacks in separate locations outside Maiduguri before Monday’s bombings occurred.

Malik Samuel, senior researcher at Good Governance Africa, explained that while militant groups possess the capability to attack anywhere in Borno state, executing three simultaneous strikes in a city housing military headquarters raises serious concerns about whether explosives were transported into the city or constructed locally.

“It speaks to the intelligence failure and it shows that both factions are still very, very capable,” he said.

Samuel and two additional experts believe Boko Haram militants conducted the actual attack, given their history with suicide bombings, while ISWAP typically avoids such tactics.

However, Effiong and two security sources have not dismissed the possibility of some collaboration between the groups.

“Clearly, it means Maiduguri is not as safe as the authorities would want people to believe,” Samuel stated. “Attacking Maiduguri is symbolic for these groups.”

Extremist fighters have intensified attacks against Nigerian military forces during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, killing numerous troops, including high-ranking officers, and capturing equipment.

Additionally, the Maiduguri attack demonstrated that militants are “not going anywhere, anytime soon,” Samuel observed.

The United States, maintaining a long-standing partnership with Nigeria’s military through training and weapons sales, conducted airstrikes in the northwest on Christmas Day to prevent targeting of Christians in the region.

Approximately 100 American troops have since been deployed to support the military, with U.S. forces providing intelligence through aerial surveillance.

One security source reported that this intelligence contributed to destroying four ISWAP gun trucks on March 11. However, Effiong warned it also exposes the government to accusations of being a Western puppet, potentially encouraging jihadi recruitment.

Neither the State Department nor U.S. Africa Command provided responses to requests for comment.

Foucher noted that the faction targeted by U.S. Tomahawk missiles in December remains active, demonstrating the constraints of American military intervention.

“They can regenerate easily,” Foucher said. “There are so many different fires that are burning throughout Nigeria now. It is whack-a-mole.”

BEIJING, March 18 – Beijing made a strategic proposal Wednesday, promising Taiwan guaranteed energy stability if the island nation accepts Chinese governance, as part of an ongoing effort to persuade Taiwan that unification would benefit its citizens.

The proposal comes as nations worldwide seek backup energy sources due to ongoing Middle East conflicts that have disrupted crucial shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz.

Taiwan currently obtains one-third of its liquefied natural gas from Qatar and receives no energy resources from China. Island officials have announced they’ve arranged backup supply sources for upcoming months, with increased deliveries from the United States, Taiwan’s primary international ally.

Chen Binhua, speaking for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, addressed reporters in Beijing, stating that “peaceful reunification” would provide enhanced protection for Taiwan’s energy and resource needs through support from a “strong motherland.”

“We are willing to provide Taiwan compatriots with stable and reliable energy and resource security, so that they may live better lives,” Chen stated when asked about Taiwan’s energy situation during Middle East hostilities.

Taiwan’s government has not yet responded to these remarks. The island consistently rejects Beijing’s claims of authority and maintains that only Taiwan’s citizens can determine their political future.

During a Wednesday gathering of his Democratic Progressive Party in Taipei, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te confirmed that energy supplies remain secure through this month and next, with expanded U.S. gas shipments beginning in June.

“Taiwan has adopted a diversified and multi-source strategic approach to energy imports,” Lai stated, according to party documentation.

Beijing has repeatedly presented Taiwan with “one country, two systems” autonomy arrangements in exchange for accepting Chinese authority, a proposal that lacks support from any significant Taiwanese political organization.

Last October, China’s state-run Xinhua news service outlined supposed benefits Taiwan would receive following “reunification,” including financial assistance, though requiring the island be governed by “patriots.”

Beijing has consistently maintained that military action remains an option for bringing Taiwan under Chinese control.

China, which leads global oil imports, implemented a fuel export prohibition last week extending through March’s end to prevent domestic supply shortages, according to sources. This restriction affects exports valued at $22 billion in the previous year.

KABUL, Afghanistan – Desperate families gathered at the ruins of a drug rehabilitation facility in Afghanistan’s capital Wednesday, frantically searching for relatives who may be among the hundreds of victims from a devastating Pakistani airstrike two days earlier.

According to Afghanistan’s Taliban government, the Monday night bombing killed more than 400 people and injured 265 others at the treatment center. The attack occurred while patients and staff members were engaged in prayer, just days before the conclusion of Ramadan.

Pakistani officials have disputed these casualty figures, stating they conducted “precisely targeted military installations and terrorist support infrastructure.” This dramatic escalation has deepened tensions between the two Islamic nations during a period of regional instability involving U.S.-Israeli military actions against Iran.

At the bombing site Wednesday, relatives of rehabilitation center patients searched desperately for information about their missing family members who had been receiving treatment at the facility.

Uncertainty plagued many families who remained unsure whether their loved ones survived, perished, or had been relocated to other locations.

“We came here looking for our patient, he is missing,” explained Mazar, a 50-year-old man who provided only his first name. “We came to find out whether he is well, alive, or what has happened to him.”

Mazar explained that his relative had been receiving treatment at the center for the second time, but no information was available about his whereabouts. “We checked the lists, but his name was not in the list of the living. Maybe he is injured or has been killed,” he stated.

RECOVERY EFFORTS CONTINUE

Another family member, who requested anonymity, described attempting to access the facility Tuesday but being denied entry.

“We did not find his body, nor was he among the wounded, and his name is not on the list of survivors,” the man said. “We have come again today for more information.”

A Reuters correspondent observed smoke continuing to rise from sections of the complex as firefighting crews worked to extinguish remaining blazes, approximately 36 hours following the bombing. Destroyed furniture, bedding, and personal belongings were scattered throughout the wreckage.

Afghanistan’s interior ministry announced that funeral services for some victims would be conducted later Wednesday.

“Some of the bodies were not identifiable and are currently at the forensic department. Some bodies were intact and were handed over to their families,” stated interior ministry spokesperson Abdul Mateen Qanie. “Others were completely destroyed, collected almost like pieces of flesh.”

Najibullah Farooqi, who leads Afghanistan’s legal medicine directorate, reported that recovery teams continued extracting bodies from the rubble as late as Tuesday evening, with remains being released to families after identification.

“Some bodies have been handed over after their identities were confirmed. However, a large number of bodies still remain with us,” Farooqi said.

CONFLICTING ACCOUNTS OF TARGET

The two nations have presented sharply different versions regarding what the airstrike was intended to hit.

Afghan officials maintain the attack deliberately struck a well-recognized rehabilitation facility, which had been converted from a former NATO military installation called Camp Phoenix approximately ten years ago.

Pakistani authorities acknowledge targeting Camp Phoenix but characterize it as a “military terrorist ammunition and equipment storage site,” pointing to secondary explosions visible after the strikes as evidence of substantial weapons stockpiles at the location.

The European Union, United Nations agencies, and international humanitarian organizations have condemned targeting civilian and medical facilities during conflicts and urged immediate de-escalation.

The dispute between these former allies began last year when Pakistan accused Afghanistan of providing sanctuary and support to militants conducting attacks on Pakistani soil, allegations the Afghan Taliban government has rejected.

While the conflict had diminished due to mediation efforts by friendly nations including China, tensions resurged last month when Pakistan began directly targeting Afghan Taliban positions rather than limiting strikes to Pakistani Taliban militant locations that Islamabad claims operate across the border.

NAIROBI, Kenya — A casual lunch discussion about a colleague’s menstrual discomfort has led to a groundbreaking workplace policy in Kenya’s capital city. Female government workers in Nairobi can now take two paid days off each month to manage menstrual pain and discomfort.

The pioneering initiative launched in December 2025, making Nairobi the first location in Kenya to implement such a policy. It covers county government staff members, with the goal of enhancing both productivity and employee welfare.

Governor Johnson Sakaja, who championed the program, told The Associated Press that Kenya’s federal leadership and fellow county officials are closely watching the results. His administration employs approximately 18,000 people, with women making up more than half the workforce.

“Your biggest asset is your staff,” Sakaja explained. “It starts with dignifying your own staff, for them to feel that they’re respected and dignified.”

The policy has faced minimal public resistance, though some critics worry it might make employers less likely to hire women. Sakaja rejected this concern, arguing that properly supported women outperform men in the workplace.

Female leaders currently head Nairobi county’s business and health departments.

“A lot of labor policies were written many years ago by men,” the governor noted. “Women’s rights are not anti-productivity. They are an input that creates productivity. It’s actually an investment in your workforce.”

According to Sakaja, the program won’t strain finances since multiple employees handle each function.

“It will not be a train smash if three or four people in a department are not there for a day or two,” he stated.

While Japan introduced menstrual leave in 1947, Spain became the most recent adopter in 2023. Indonesia and South Korea also have similar policies.

Across Africa, only Zambia maintains a nationwide menstrual leave program, granting female workers one monthly day off without requiring medical documentation.

Supporters argue these policies acknowledge menstruation as a valid workplace health concern.

“The feedback we have gotten, especially from the staff that work in public service management, is that it’s very refreshing. And when they come back, they are able to work even better,” explained Nairobi County Human Resource Manager Janet Opiata.

Opiata reported that at least 12 women from her department, including a senior director, used the leave during February.

The program operates as a “no-questions-asked, no-forms-filled” system, providing paid time off in addition to standard sick and vacation leave guaranteed by labor laws. Nairobi established the policy through a cabinet order and human resources department memo.

Marion Kapuya, a 25-year-old county revenue officer, said the policy has already improved her work experience.

“Working with pain or discomfort can lead to mistakes or low productivity,” she shared. “When you take the break and you are relieved from the pain, your performance will be top-notch.”

Kapuya noted that workplace stigma continues to present challenges.

“Before I get to a point of saying, ‘Excuse me, sir, I am on my period and I don’t feel okay,’ it is so hard,” she admitted.

Governor Sakaja acknowledged receiving reports that some employees still find it awkward to request menstrual leave from supervisors.

Christine Akinyi, who works in Nairobi’s private sector, praised the two-day allowance as an excellent beginning but suggested expanding it to four days. She also voiced concerns about potential hiring discrimination.

“People will prefer to employ more men because they don’t have these sick leaves,” she warned.

Dr. Eunice Cheserem, a Nairobi gynecologist, reported that severe menstrual pain affects 50% of her patients. Kenya lacks comprehensive national statistics on menstrual pain prevalence.

“If a woman gets severe menstrual pain, she actually ceases to be functional. Some will get vomiting, severe headaches, they vomit everything, they have diarrhea, they have very terrible cramps,” she described. “Some respond to conventional analgesics, but very many need very, very strong analgesics for them even to be able to function.”

Dr. Cheserem believes Nairobi county’s menstrual leave policy provides essential recovery time and allows women to properly care for themselves.

A college in China has issued an unconventional message to its students: put away the textbooks and focus on finding romance during spring break.

The Sichuan Southwest Vocational College of Aviation announced on its official WeChat platform that the theme for their upcoming spring holiday will be “See the flowers and enjoy romance.” The break runs from April 1 through April 6.

This directive, posted on Tuesday, represents a departure from China’s traditionally academic-focused culture and comes roughly two weeks after the country announced plans to add spring and fall breaks to the school calendar alongside existing summer and winter holidays.

The romance-focused break is part of broader government efforts to increase domestic tourism and consumer spending among China’s 1.4 billion residents. Officials are also implementing staggered paid leave policies to spread out travel throughout the year rather than concentrating it during peak seasons.

Multiple regions are rolling out similar spring break programs, with provinces like Sichuan and Jiangsu, plus cities including Suzhou and Nanjing, scheduling their breaks for April or early May.

Behind these initiatives lies a more serious concern: China’s declining birth rates. The country’s population decreased for the fourth straight year in 2025, with birth rates hitting historic lows that experts predict will continue falling.

Chinese officials released additional guidelines on Tuesday aimed at creating more “child-friendly cities” through improved public services covering education, healthcare, transportation, sports, and entertainment facilities.

James Liang, who co-founded the Chinese travel platform Trip and works as a demographics researcher, supports these new policies but says more action is needed.

“Society needs to have enough time and money to raise children,” Liang stated. He emphasized that “Greater efforts are needed to educate young people on the social and personal benefits of raising larger families.”

Liang suggested the government should create more comprehensive support systems by redistributing resources and increasing financial aid for families.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi indicated Wednesday that the country’s position against developing nuclear weapons will likely remain unchanged, though he noted the new supreme leader has yet to publicly state his views on nuclear policy.

In comments made to Al Jazeera and reported by Iranian media, Araqchi referenced the previous Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s religious ruling from the early 2000s that prohibited the development of weapons of mass destruction. Khamenei was killed during the recent U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran.

For years, Western nations including the United States and Israel have alleged that Tehran is pursuing nuclear weapons capabilities, while Iranian officials have consistently maintained their nuclear program serves only peaceful civilian purposes.

Araqchi explained that religious edicts are tied to the specific Islamic scholar who issues them, noting he cannot yet assess the religious or political positions of Mojtaba Khamenei, who now serves as Iran’s supreme leader.

BANGKOK — Authorities in Thailand have detained a man who illegally broke into the habitat of Moo Deng, the baby pygmy hippo whose adorable antics made her a worldwide internet celebrity, according to zoo officials.

The Thai individual allegedly breached the enclosure Tuesday evening during a time when the animal caretaker was absent and no other guests were present, Khao Kheow Open Zoo Director Narongwit Chodchoy explained to The Associated Press.

Surveillance video that has circulated extensively online captures a person dressed in a black beanie, sunglasses, green tank top, and brown shorts getting close to Moo Deng and her mother Jona while holding a tablet device, seemingly filming or photographing them.

The individual stayed within the habitat for approximately one to two minutes before zoo personnel spotted him, Narongwit explained, noting that the suspect made no effort to escape when the facility contacted law enforcement.

Moo Deng became a global celebrity following her birth in 2024, primarily due to a zookeeper who posted charming images and clips of the infant hippo across social media platforms. Her fame has since attracted massive crowds from both Thailand and international destinations, with visitors eager to experience her appeal firsthand and capture their own photos and videos of her endearing behaviors.

Law enforcement has initially filed trespassing charges against the individual, though the investigation continues and Narongwit indicated the zoo plans to seek all possible legal remedies. Authorities have not revealed the suspect’s identity.

The individual has since been freed on bail, Narongwit reported. He confirmed that both Moo Deng and Jona remained unharmed since the intruder made no attempt at physical contact.

According to a statement published Tuesday on the zoo’s official Facebook account, both animals seemed somewhat disturbed by the incident and will receive close veterinary supervision.

The facility also called on guests to “strictly follow all rules and instructions from staff for the safety of both themselves and the wildlife.”

The Khao Kheow Open Zoo, located approximately 100 kilometers (60 miles) southeast of Bangkok, spans 800 hectares (nearly 2,000 acres) and houses over 2,000 animals.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Following the death of a senior Iranian official in an Israeli airstrike, Iran retaliated Wednesday with missile strikes targeting Israel and Gulf nations, deploying advanced weaponry designed to penetrate defense systems and resulting in two deaths near Tel Aviv as Middle East hostilities continue to escalate.

Israeli forces maintained their aggressive campaign against Lebanon, conducting strikes aimed at Iran-supported Hezbollah fighters and destroying several residential buildings in Beirut, resulting in at least six fatalities.

A projectile struck Iran’s Bushehr nuclear facility complex, though officials reported no casualties or structural damage, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency following Tehran’s briefing. IAEA Director Rafael Grossi renewed his appeal “for maximum restraint during the conflict to prevent risk of a nuclear accident.”

Brent crude oil prices continued trading above $100 per barrel Wednesday morning, representing a more than 40% increase since hostilities began.

Following the February 28 U.S. and Israeli assault on Iran that initiated the conflict, Tehran has systematically targeted Gulf Arab nations’ energy facilities and military installations as part of an effort to inflate oil costs and pressure Washington into withdrawal.

Iranian judicial authorities announced the execution of a man accused of espionage for Israel’s Mossad intelligence service. The judiciary’s Mizan news outlet named the individual as Kourosh Keyvani, claiming he “provided images and information on sensitive locations” to Israeli operatives.

Human rights organizations have cautioned since Iran’s January nationwide demonstrations that the Islamic Republic might initiate widespread executions. Iranian authorities brutally crushed the protests through force that resulted in thousands of deaths and tens of thousands of arrests.

Wednesday morning brought reports of fresh strikes across multiple Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province oil region, along with Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reported that a projectile sparked a minor blaze at Australia’s UAE base near Dubai without causing injuries. His statement appeared linked to explosions heard near Al Minhad Air Base, utilized by Western forces as a regional transit point.

Saudi forces intercepted a ballistic missile aimed at Prince Sultan Air Base, which houses U.S. personnel and aircraft.

Iran continues its tight control over the Strait of Hormuz, the critical waterway carrying one-fifth of global oil shipments, raising fears of an international energy emergency.

U.S. Central Command reported American forces deployed several 5,000-pound bunker-buster bombs Tuesday against Iranian missile installations along the strait’s coastline.

In response to Israel’s assassination of Ali Larijani, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council secretary and a key government figure, the Revolutionary Guard announced Wednesday it had struck central Israel using multi-warhead missiles designed to bypass defense systems and overwhelm tracking technology.

Israeli authorities confirmed at least two waves of incoming projectiles, with the nation’s medical services reporting two deaths in Ramat Gan, located east of Tel Aviv.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard stated it fired Khorramshahr-4 and Qadr multi-warhead missiles to avenge Larijani’s death. Associated Press footage captured at least one missile deploying cluster munitions over Israeli territory.

Larijani, a former parliament speaker, served as a key strategic advisor to the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei during nuclear negotiations with the Trump administration. The U.S. Treasury sanctioned him in January for his involvement in “coordinating” Iran’s brutal suppression of national protests.

Gen. Gholam Reza Soleimani, commander of the Revolutionary Guard’s Basij militia, also died in Tuesday’s Israeli attack. The U.S., European Union and other nations had sanctioned Soleimani for his years-long role in crushing dissent through the Basij.

The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad faced attack for the second consecutive day early Wednesday, according to two Iraqi security sources who requested anonymity due to lack of authorization to speak publicly.

Additional information remained unavailable, though pro-Iranian militia groups have consistently struck American positions in Iraq since the war’s onset. Tuesday saw a drone crash within the Baghdad embassy grounds.

Israeli forces demolished a Beirut apartment complex approximately one hour after issuing evacuation warnings. This marked the fourth targeting of the structure, though three previous attempts last week failed to destroy it.

Israel’s military alleged the building served as Hezbollah storage for “millions of dollars intended to finance its activities,” offering no supporting evidence.

While no immediate casualty reports emerged, other strikes on Beirut residential buildings killed at least six people and injured 24 others, Lebanon’s Health Ministry confirmed.

Israeli forces also announced a new wave of strikes against Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon “in response to firing into Israeli territory.”

Israeli bombardment has forced over 1 million Lebanese residents – approximately 20% of the population – from their homes, according to Lebanese officials who report more than 900 deaths. In Israel, Iranian missiles have killed 14 people, while at least 13 U.S. military personnel have died.

More than 1,300 people have perished in Iran since the February 28 conflict began, the Iranian Red Crescent reported.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Officials from Iran and Russia have confirmed that a projectile struck the Bushehr nuclear facility complex on Tuesday, sparking fears about potential radiation exposure amid ongoing Middle Eastern conflicts involving Iran, Israel, and the United States.

Both nations maintain that no nuclear materials were released during the Tuesday incident, though the event highlights longstanding concerns among regional neighbors about the vulnerability of the Persian Gulf coastal facility to potential attacks or natural disasters like earthquakes.

Understanding this incident requires examining the facility itself and Iran’s broader nuclear activities, which President Donald Trump has cited as justification for the February 28 military action alongside Israel against Iran.

According to Russia’s state-controlled Tass news agency, Rosatom chief executive Alexey Likhachev stated late Tuesday that “a strike hit the area adjacent to the metrology service building located at the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant site, in close proximity to the operating power unit.” The facility operates under Russian technical supervision, utilizing Russian-supplied low-enriched uranium.

“There were no casualties among Rosatom State Corporation personnel,” Likhachev said. “The radiation situation at the site is normal.”

Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization subsequently released its own statement declaring that “no financial, technical, or human damage occurred and no part of the plant was harmed.”

The International Atomic Energy Agency, whose Iranian inspections have faced restrictions following years of diplomatic tensions after Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear agreement, released a cautiously worded statement Wednesday morning.

“The IAEA has been informed by Iran that a projectile hit the premises of the Bushehr NPP on Tuesday evening,” the UN agency stated, using nuclear power plant abbreviation. “No damage to the plant or injuries to staff reported.”

No independent verification of the reported damage exists. Neither Iranian nor Russian authorities have released photographs of the impact site. Russia has previously made unsubstantiated claims regarding nuclear facilities during its Ukrainian conflict, while Iran continues employing military pressure and diplomatic coercion to influence neighboring countries and ultimately pressure America to cease hostilities.

The nature of the “projectile” that struck the complex remains unknown. The U.S. military’s Central Command, responsible for coordinating airstrikes throughout southern Iran, has not responded to requests for comment.

Debris from intercepted missiles and air defense activities has caused regional damage since hostilities began. Bushehr sits approximately 750 kilometers (465 miles) south of Tehran, housing an Iranian naval facility and a dual-purpose civilian-military airport protected by air defense installations.

During the 1970s, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi unveiled ambitious plans for 23 nuclear reactors while maintaining complete nuclear fuel cycle control — potentially enabling atomic weapon development. This concerned American officials, who restricted U.S. company sales to Iran. Germany’s Kraftwerk Union started Bushehr construction in 1975 as part of a $4.8 billion four-reactor agreement.

The 1979 Islamic Revolution suspended the project. Throughout the 1980s eight-year conflict, Iraq repeatedly targeted the site to disrupt Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.

Russia eventually joined the project, connecting the power plant to Iran’s electrical grid in 2011. The pressurized-water reactor produces up to 1,000 megawatts of electricity, sufficient for hundreds of thousands of residential and commercial users, though contributing only 1% to 2% of Iran’s total power generation.

Iranian officials seek to expand Bushehr into a multi-reactor complex. A 2019 initiative aims to add two additional 1,000-megawatt reactors to the site. December satellite imagery from Planet Labs PBC revealed ongoing construction with cranes visible at both expansion locations.

Bushehr’s operational reactor utilizes Russian uranium enriched to 4.5%, the low concentration required for civilian power generation.

During June’s 12-day Israel-Iran conflict, Bushehr remained untargeted as an operational civilian nuclear facility. U.S. forces struck three Iranian uranium enrichment sites during that period, destroying centrifuges and likely burying Tehran’s highly enriched 60% uranium stockpile underground. Since then, Iran has prevented IAEA inspector access to those locations.

A nuclear power plant attack could release environmental radiation. This concern has intensified since Russia’s 2022 full-scale Ukrainian invasion. Ukrainian nuclear facilities, constructed during the Soviet era, have faced attacks and found themselves in combat zones.

Any Persian Gulf radiation leak would create an existential threat for Gulf Arab nations, whose water supplies depend on gulf-based desalination facilities.

HANOI, Vietnam — The United States and Indonesia have finalized a comprehensive trade agreement that significantly strengthens economic relationships between the two nations, connecting Indonesia’s abundant natural resources with America’s strategic objectives.

Under the new arrangement, Indonesia has committed to expanding opportunities for American investors in the critical minerals sector, increasing purchases of U.S. crude oil and liquefied petroleum gas, supporting the creation of an American coal export pathway, and collaborating on small modular nuclear reactor technology.

The United States responded by reducing a proposed 32% tariff on Indonesian exports to 19% and providing enhanced access to American markets, including elimination of tariffs on key Indonesian products like palm oil, coffee, cocoa, spices and rubber.

While the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision challenging President Trump’s tariff policies could affect implementation, the agreement aligns with America’s long-term strategy to strengthen critical mineral supply chains, expand oil and gas exports, and decrease reliance on China.

Other export-dependent Southeast Asian nations currently in trade discussions with the United States, including Vietnam, are monitoring the Indonesian agreement closely for insights into potential tariff rates and concessions Washington might seek throughout the region.

As the world’s leading nickel producer, Indonesia possesses extensive mineral deposits essential for electric vehicle manufacturing and clean energy infrastructure. The country finds itself positioned between competing interests from the U.S. and China, which serves as a major source of foreign investment and a primary market for Indonesian coal and nickel, according to analysts.

China focuses on electrification, renewable energy, and controlling battery supply chains, while the United States combines its push for mineral access with increased fossil fuel exports.

Haryo Limanseto from Indonesia’s Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs stated the agreement’s energy components “balance foreign trade and meet domestic energy needs.”

“The leadership of Indonesia is trying to tread a fine line between the West and China,” explained Putra Adhiguna from the Jakarta-based Energy Shift Institute, noting that Chinese influence remains “inescapable” given China’s position as Indonesia’s largest trading partner.

Indonesia has committed to encouraging U.S. investment throughout its mineral sector, covering exploration, mining, refining, transportation and export operations. American investors will sometimes receive treatment “no less favorable” than local companies.

Export limitations on critical minerals to the United States will be eased to accelerate development of Indonesia’s rare earth and critical minerals industry with American partners, offering “greater certainty” for extraction companies to help increase production, according to the agreement.

Significant policy changes have transformed Indonesia’s mining industry over the last six months, and the trade deal’s new limitations on existing foreign-owned operations in Indonesia will reduce excessive output from processing facilities. International businesses must comply with identical tax, environmental, labor and quota regulations as other enterprises.

China currently dominates Indonesia’s critical mineral processing industry, with Chinese companies operating or funding numerous nickel smelters and industrial complexes.

“Indonesia is absolutely central to this competition because it combines resource endowment with political ambition,” said Kevin Zongzhe Li from the Center for China Analysis within the Asia Society Policy Institute, a New York-based research organization.

As competition for critical minerals intensifies, the agreement “opens the door for U.S. firms to have a real shot” at “modestly leveling a sector where Chinese industries established first mover advantage,” he explained.

Indonesia has agreed to reduce bureaucratic obstacles to help its companies purchase U.S. energy products more easily.

The country plans to acquire $15 billion in American energy commodities over an undetermined timeframe, primarily fossil fuels including liquefied petroleum gas, crude oil and gasoline.

Trump’s campaign to convince Asian nations to increase American LNG purchases has gained traction during trade negotiations, with energy acquisitions becoming a method to reduce trade imbalances. The impact of oil market disruption from the conflict with Iran on this initiative remains uncertain.

Indonesia, among the world’s largest coal exporters, will also invest in creating an export corridor from the U.S. West Coast to enhance American coal competitiveness in international markets, the agreement states.

Indonesia has also promised to collaborate with the United States and Japan on deploying small modular nuclear reactors, beginning with a possible project in West Kalimantan.

The agreement reflects altered U.S. energy priorities under the Trump administration, moving away from cooperation on reducing Indonesia’s climate change-contributing emissions.

In 2022, Indonesia participated in the Just Energy Transition Partnership, a multi-billion dollar initiative where the United States and other developed countries promised support for decreasing coal consumption and expanding renewable energy. The program struggled even before Trump withdrew from it last year.

Despite American withdrawal, Indonesian officials confirmed the $21.4 billion partnership will proceed. As of January, approximately $3.4 billion, roughly 15% of the funds, had been distributed, according to Airlangga Hartarto, Indonesia’s minister for economic affairs.

Adhiguna suggested the deal’s most significant impact could be political, with Jakarta adopting the U.S. focus on fossil fuel utilization.

“There is the risk that the political leadership of Indonesia is going to fall back into that hole,” Adhiguna warned.

This would result in even slower advancement in areas like solar energy development.

During the past five years, tropical Indonesia has installed less than 1 gigawatt of solar capacity — compared to approximately 2 GW in Vietnam and nearly 60 GW in India. The International Energy Agency determined that fossil fuels, including coal, oil and natural gas, comprised nearly 78% of Indonesia’s energy portfolio in 2023.

Indonesia should focus on constructing 100 GW of solar and storage infrastructure and expanding interconnection networks to facilitate renewable energy distribution, recommended Dinita Setyawati from the United Kingdom-based energy research organization Ember.

The agreement’s future faces uncertainty following the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision against Trump’s comprehensive global tariffs, announced shortly after the deal was reached — raising questions about the sustainability of his trade approach. The agreement requires approval from Indonesia’s parliament before implementation.

This creates another “layer of uncertainty,” noted Meha Sitepu from the Washington-based strategic consulting firm The Asia Group.

Certain agreement provisions face criticism, including those perceived as weakening Indonesia’s halal certification standards in the predominantly Muslim nation of nearly 288 million people, Southeast Asia’s most populous country.

“Parliamentary approval could be an uphill battle and added uncertainty from the U.S. side may complicate things further,” Sitepu concluded.

Maritime tracking data reveals that nearly 90 vessels, including numerous oil tankers, have successfully navigated through the Strait of Hormuz since the current Iran conflict began, even as the critical waterway remains largely disrupted.

According to Lloyd’s List Intelligence, a maritime data company, many of these vessels conducted what experts call “dark” passages – operations designed to avoid Western sanctions and monitoring systems, with suspected connections to Iran. Recent crossings have also included ships linked to India and Pakistan following diplomatic negotiations between those nations and Iran.

The conflict has driven crude oil prices beyond $100 per barrel, prompting President Donald Trump to urge allies and trading partners to deploy naval vessels and help reopen the strait in an effort to reduce energy costs.

The Strait of Hormuz serves as a vital corridor for global petroleum and natural gas shipments, handling approximately one-fifth of worldwide crude oil supplies. Since the war’s start in early March, most commercial shipping through the waterway has ceased, with roughly 20 vessels suffering attacks in the region.

Despite these challenges, trade analytics company Kpler estimates that Iran has successfully exported more than 16 million barrels of oil since March began. China has emerged as the primary purchaser of Iranian crude due to Western sanctions and associated shipping risks.

“There has been continued resilience” in Iran’s oil export volumes, noted Ana Subasic, a trade risk analyst with Kpler.

Kun Cao, client director at consulting firm Reddal, explained that Iran has managed to generate revenue from petroleum sales while also “preserve its own export artery” through its strategic control of this maritime chokepoint.

Maritime traffic information supports the oil export estimates from Iran.

Between March 1 and 15, at least 89 ships traversed the Strait of Hormuz, including 16 oil tankers, according to Lloyd’s List Intelligence. This represents a significant decline from the pre-war daily average of 100 to 135 vessel passages. More than 20% of these 89 ships were believed to have Iranian connections, while vessels from China and Greece comprised much of the remaining traffic.

Additional vessels have also managed successful crossings.

The Pakistan-flagged oil tanker Karachi, operated by Pakistan National Shipping Corp., completed its passage through the strait on Sunday, Lloyd’s List Intelligence reported.

Shariq Amin, a spokesperson for Pakistan Port Trust, declined to confirm or deny the MT Karachi’s specific route but stated the vessel would arrive safely in Pakistan soon.

Two Indian-flagged liquefied petroleum gas carriers, the Shivalik and Nanda Devi, both operated by state-owned Shipping Corp. of India, also crossed the strait around March 13 or 14, maritime data shows. LPG serves as the primary cooking fuel for millions of Indian families.

India’s foreign minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, confirmed to the Financial Times that the two ships were permitted passage following discussions with Iran. Iraq has also initiated talks with Iran seeking permission for Iraqi oil tankers to transit the Strait of Hormuz, according to state media reports.

“Vessels may be transiting with at least some level of diplomatic intervention,” explained Richard Meade, editor-in-chief of Lloyd’s List. This suggests Iran may have “effectively created a safe corridor” allowing certain ships to pass near the Iranian coastline.

Earlier analysis from ship tracking platform MarineTraffic found that some vessels near the strait had identified themselves as China-linked or claimed all-Chinese crews to minimize attack risks. Experts believe these ships were leveraging China’s stronger diplomatic relationship with Iran.

Oil prices have surged more than 40% to exceed $100 per barrel since the Iran war commenced, with Iran threatening it will not permit “even a single liter of oil” bound for the United States, Israel, or their allies to pass through the waterway.

In an effort to stabilize energy prices, the United States announced it would permit Iranian oil tankers to cross the strait. “The Iranian ships have been getting out already, and we’ve let that happen to supply the rest of the world,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC on Monday.

While the U.S. conducted bombing operations against military installations on Kharg Island off Iran’s coast – a crucial hub for the country’s oil network and exports – President Trump indicated he has avoided targeting Iran’s oil infrastructure for now.

Recent vessel movements through the Strait of Hormuz demonstrate the waterway is not completely “closed,” Cao observed. “It is better understood as closed selectively against some traffic, while still functioning for Iranian exports and a narrow set of tolerated non-Iranian movements,” he explained.

However, Dutch bank ING strategists Warren Patterson and Ewa Manthey warned in a research note that if Iran’s strategy is to “inflict pain through higher energy prices, the number of tankers it allows through the Strait of Hormuz may be very limited.”

Early Wednesday morning, Iran conducted military strikes targeting Israel and several Gulf nations, with blasts reported in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar while Saudi Arabia intercepted incoming attacks.

These retaliatory strikes followed confirmation from Iranian state media that Israeli forces had eliminated senior Iranian security leader Ali Larijani during a nighttime operation, along with Gen. Gholam Reza Soleimani, who commanded the Revolutionary Guard’s Basij unit responsible for crushing domestic demonstrations.

Simultaneously, Israeli forces bombed a residential building in central Beirut’s Bachoura district at dawn, completely destroying the structure. Earlier Wednesday, two separate Israeli attacks on apartment complexes in other central Beirut areas resulted in six deaths and 24 injuries, Lebanese Health Ministry officials reported.

Recent days have seen Israeli military operations increasingly target central Beirut areas, moving beyond the southern suburbs where evacuation warnings were initially issued when the conflict with Hezbollah began. These newer strikes often occur with little to no advance notice to civilians.

The ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran has resulted in significant casualties: at least 1,300 deaths in Iran, over 900 in Lebanon, and 14 in Israel, based on official counts from each nation. American military officials report 13 U.S. service members killed and approximately 200 injured.

In related developments, Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers stated Wednesday that his government has not received any official U.S. request for military assistance to maintain access through the Strait of Hormuz. His comments addressed President Trump’s criticism that Australia, Japan, South Korea and NATO allies had declined American calls for help protecting the strategic waterway from Iranian threats.

“Not that I’m aware of,” Chalmers responded when asked about formal U.S. military support requests during an Australian Broadcasting Corp interview.

“It’s not something that we’ve been considering, in terms of sending battleships to the Strait of Hormuz,” he told Sky News television separately.

TOKYO – President Donald Trump’s request for allied nations to deploy naval vessels for protecting oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz has sparked renewed debate over Japan’s constitutional restrictions on military involvement and how much support Tokyo can provide to Washington in potential conflicts.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi faces limited legal pathways and must consider historical precedents as she weighs Japan’s response to the American request.

LAW ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS

Following Japan’s World War II surrender, the nation embraced a constitution written by American officials that prohibited using military force to resolve international conflicts.

Despite these constraints, Takaichi has the authority to send Maritime Self-Defense Force ships abroad for law enforcement purposes. Japan demonstrated this approach in 2009 when it joined anti-piracy efforts near Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden, after updating laws to permit Japanese naval forces to safeguard ships from any nation.

In response to Trump’s appeal, Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi informed lawmakers Monday that similar police-style operations might be explored “if further measures by the SDF are deemed necessary.”

However, this legal framework was created for law enforcement rather than military engagement. Using it in situations where Japanese personnel might face a nation-state like Iran would create significant legal complications.

ELEVATED LEGAL STANDARDS

Japan took a notable departure from its postwar pacifist stance in 2015 by enacting security legislation that permits overseas military action under specific conditions. Such action is only authorized when an attack – including one targeting a close security ally – poses a threat to Japan’s existence and no alternative solutions exist.

While these laws allow more extensive use of force than anti-piracy missions permit, the legal requirements for activating them are much more demanding. Takaichi would need to demonstrate that energy supply disruptions from Strait of Hormuz closure represent an existential danger – an argument that would likely encounter strong political and public resistance.

These security laws remain unused, and Takaichi stated this week that Japan would emphasize diplomatic initiatives to reduce Middle Eastern tensions.

HISTORICAL MILITARY DEPLOYMENTS

Japan’s previous Middle Eastern operations provide Takaichi with guidance while highlighting how Tokyo has stayed within constitutional boundaries.

During the 1991 Gulf conflict, Japan provided financial support instead of troops, drawing criticism from America and other countries as ‘checkbook diplomacy.’ Once fighting concluded, Japan sent mine-clearing vessels to the Persian Gulf in the Self-Defense Forces’ inaugural overseas mission.

“Japan’s poor response during the Gulf War remains a scar in the national consciousness. So I suspect her (Takaichi’s) government is looking hard for some way to show the flag,” said Michael Green, a professor and chief executive of The United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney.

Following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Japan deployed naval vessels to the Indian Ocean for refueling and supporting American-led Afghan operations. This eight-year mission excluded combat or escort duties.

In 2004, Japan deployed approximately 600 ground forces to Iraq for reconstruction activities, plus aircraft for supply and personnel transport. These soldiers could only use force as a final option and received protection from Dutch and Australian forces throughout their two-year deployment.

After 2019 tanker attacks that Washington attributed to Iran, Japan redirected a destroyer and patrol aircraft from Somali anti-piracy operations to collect intelligence in the Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea and Gulf of Aden. These vessels remained outside the Strait of Hormuz and Persian Gulf.

INTERNATIONAL LAW CONCERNS

Japan confronts an additional legal challenge: determining whether American military actions comply with international law.

The United Nations Charter typically prohibits force unless the U.N. Security Council provides authorization or it serves as self-defense against armed aggression.

For a nation that has consistently championed international law, this uncertainty could further restrict Tokyo’s willingness to participate.

Legal scholars remain split on whether U.S. strikes against Iran satisfy these requirements, and Takaichi has avoided stating Japan’s official stance on the matter.

Iranian authorities have carried out the death sentence against a man convicted of espionage charges, according to reports from the country’s judicial news outlet Mizan on Wednesday.

The executed individual was identified as Kurosh Keyvani, who officials said was convicted of espionage activities targeting his home country.

According to Mizan’s reporting, Keyvani was determined to be “guilty of providing Israel’s spy agency, Mossad, with pictures and information about sensitive locations in Iran.”

This execution represents the latest development in the ongoing covert conflict between Iran and Israel that has persisted for decades. Iranian authorities have previously put to death multiple individuals they claim were connected to Mossad operations or assisted Israeli intelligence activities within Iranian territory.

Baghdad and Kurdistan Regional Government officials announced Tuesday they have struck a deal to restart crude oil shipments to Turkey’s Ceyhan energy terminal, with flows set to begin Wednesday morning.

Iraqi Oil Minister Hayan Abdel-Ghani told state media that petroleum exports would commence at 10 a.m. local time Wednesday through the regional pipeline system.

Kurdistan authorities confirmed the arrangement in an official statement, explaining that both governments will establish a joint oversight committee to coordinate the export restart. All revenues generated will flow back to Iraq’s federal treasury, according to the agreement.

The deal also includes provisions for enhanced security measures to safeguard oil production facilities and maintain uninterrupted export operations, Kurdish officials said.

Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani announced on social media that the region would permit crude shipments through its pipeline infrastructure as soon as possible “in light of the exceptional circumstances the country is confronting.”

“Discussions with Baghdad will continue to urgently lift restrictions on imports and trade to the region, and to provide the necessary guarantees to oil and gas companies to ensure they can resume production in a safe environment,” Barzani stated.

In a subsequent social media post, Barzani revealed that during a telephone conversation with U.S. envoy Tom Barrack, he had directed his team to provide full support for restarting oil exports to benefit citizens during these challenging times.

The breakthrough follows recent tensions between the two governments. Kurdish leadership claimed Sunday that Baghdad had not adequately addressed security and economic issues affecting the petroleum sector, pushing back against allegations that they were blocking pipeline access.

Those comments came after Iraq’s oil ministry accused Kurdish authorities of implementing unreasonable conditions and refusing pipeline access for alternative crude transport routes disrupted by the Iran conflict.

Earlier Tuesday, Iraq’s presidency called on both the federal government and Kurdish region to work together on resuming petroleum exports.

Parliament also weighed in Wednesday with a seven-point resolution during a special session focused on Ceyhan pipeline exports, urging the federal government to secure alternative outlets for Iraqi crude to prevent economic harm amid current security challenges.

The parliamentary measures appeared designed to strengthen Baghdad’s oversight of the nation’s oil industry and followed a late Tuesday meeting with the oil minister to evaluate the impact of halted exports after Strait of Hormuz closure.

Lawmakers said they stood ready to approve any necessary steps to support export efforts and called on the federal government to assert authority over all petroleum production, transportation and distribution activities.

Parliament also recommended supplying fuel oil to government and private industrial facilities to prevent refinery inventory buildup, and rehabilitating the Iraqi pipeline route from Kirkuk through western Mosul, Zummar and Fishkhabour to Ceyhan.

Oil production from Iraq’s primary southern fields, which generate most of the country’s crude output and exports, has dropped 70% to just 1.3 million barrels daily, sources reported March 8. The decline stems from the Iran conflict effectively closing the critical Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20% of global oil supplies pass.

In early March, Iraq’s oil ministry requested Kurdish authorities allow at least 100,000 barrels per day of Kirkuk crude to flow through the Kurdistan pipeline network to Turkey’s Ceyhan terminal, according to two oil officials.

Kurdish officials say relations with Baghdad have deteriorated after the federal government implemented a new electronic customs monitoring system, allowing oversight of imports and revenue streams. The Kurdistan Regional Government views this as an attack on its autonomous authority and trade control.

International nuclear authorities confirmed that a missile struck the grounds of Iran’s Bushehr nuclear facility on Tuesday night, though Iranian officials say no damage occurred to the plant or its workers.

The International Atomic Energy Agency announced on social media that Iranian authorities had notified them of the projectile impact at the Bushehr nuclear power plant Tuesday evening, stating no facility damage or staff injuries resulted from the strike.

The attack occurred during the ongoing three-week conflict between U.S.-Israeli forces and Iran.

Rafael Grossi, who leads the IAEA, renewed his appeal for all parties to exercise extreme caution during military operations to prevent potential nuclear incidents.

Iran’s nuclear authority verified the strike earlier Tuesday, with the nation’s Tasnim news outlet reporting the projectile struck the nuclear facility’s perimeter in the coastal city of Bushehr around 7 p.m. local time.

Russia’s state nuclear company Rosatom criticized the attack on Tuesday, noting that radiation measurements around the facility remained at normal levels. The plant’s construction began under a German company during the 1970s before Russia took over and finished the project.

SANTIAGO, Chile — Paraguay’s legislature has given final approval to a historic trade agreement between South American nations and the European Union, completing a 25-year negotiation process that will create one of the planet’s most expansive free trade zones.

On Tuesday, all 58 Paraguayan representatives present during the voting session unanimously endorsed the Mercosur-European Union trade pact. The approval came nearly two weeks following the Senate’s endorsement and now awaits President Santiago Peña’s signature to become official.

This milestone makes Paraguay the fourth and last founding member of Mercosur to ratify the comprehensive agreement, joining Uruguay, Argentina, and Brazil in approving the deal. The European Commission has indicated it will provisionally implement the agreement while European lawmakers pursue a legal challenge through the European Court of Justice.

The trade pact encompasses regions housing more than 700 million residents and represents 25% of the world’s total economic output. Bolivia, which recently joined Mercosur, did not take part in the original negotiations but will have the opportunity to participate in future years.

Deputy Rodrigo Gamarra, a member of the governing Colorado Party and current leader of the Mercosur Parliament, called the development groundbreaking. “This is a historic agreement for Paraguay, for the region, and for the world. We are creating what is possibly the largest market in the world,” Gamarra stated.

The legislative session extended beyond nine hours, with lawmakers highlighting the potential benefits the agreement will bring to both trading blocs. Colorado Party Deputy Juanma Añazco described the arrangement as crucial for future cooperation, saying “This provisional agreement is the bridge to full integration.”

Another ruling coalition member, Deputy Alejandro Aguilera, emphasized the significance of reaching this point after decades of discussions. “It was years and years of negotiations and reluctance … achieving this is truly historic,” Aguilera commented.

Opposition lawmakers also voiced support for the trade deal, with independent Deputy Raúl Benítez stating that “where there is isolation, we respond with multilateralism.”

Paraguay’s approval concludes the ratification process for all South American participants in the agreement. Uruguay initiated the approval wave in late February, with Argentina completing its ratification the same day through substantial majorities in both legislative chambers. Brazil, representing Mercosur’s largest economy, followed suit in early March with unanimous Senate approval after lower house endorsement.

Unlike the South American process, the European Union’s 27 member nations do not require individual legislative approval for the major trade agreement. However, the European Parliament will conduct another ratification vote once the ongoing court case determines whether the deal violates EU treaties.

The agreement faces resistance from France, left-wing organizations, and agricultural unions, who contend it will harm European farming interests.

This trade pact emerges during a period of global political division and economic uncertainty, as several European countries confront security threats and navigate strained relationships with the United States.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, working alongside Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, served as a key advocate for the agreement. Von der Leyen has characterized it as “one of the most significant trade agreements of the first half of this century.”

“Mercosur embodies the spirit with which Europe operates on the global stage. Europe is strengthening itself and gaining independence,” von der Leyen declared in her statement.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed Wednesday that an Iranian missile struck near Australia’s Al Minhad Air Base located in the United Arab Emirates, though he reported no injuries among Australian military personnel stationed there.

Speaking to media in Tasmania, Albanese described the damage as limited. “There was minor damage to an accommodation block and a medical facility due to a small fire that was created as a result of that projectile hitting on a road leading up to that base,” the Prime Minister explained.

The incident marks a concerning escalation in regional tensions, with the missile landing close enough to the Australian military installation to cause property damage through the resulting blaze.

MOSCOW – Russia’s defense ministry announced Tuesday that its military forces have seized two Ukrainian settlements, marking the latest territorial claims in the ongoing conflict that has stretched into its fourth year.

According to Moscow officials, Russian troops now control Sopych village in Ukraine’s northern Sumy region and Kalenyky in the eastern Donetsk area. The announcement came one day after both nations made competing assertions about which side was gaining ground along the extensive 1,250-kilometer (775-mile) battle zone.

“The armed forces of the Russian Federation liberated the settlement of Kalenyky in (Donetsk) as well as establishing control over the settlement of Sopych in Sumy region,” the ministry stated in a Telegram message.

Top Russian military commander Valery Gerasimov provided an update Monday regarding his forces’ progress, indicating that troops were working to create protective buffer areas within the Sumy and Kharkiv regions.

The village of Sopych sits directly on Russia’s border within Sumy region, an area where Moscow’s military has spent months attempting to gain a foothold.

Ukrainian media outlet Suspilne reported last week, citing the former director of the nation’s foreign intelligence service, that Russian soldiers had entered Kalenyky and forcibly relocated 19 local residents across the border into Russian territory.

Kalenyky’s location places it to the east of Sloviansk, a heavily fortified city that has become a key defensive position. Gerasimov stated in his military briefing that Russian forces were “actively moving towards Sloviansk.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy countered Moscow’s claims Monday, asserting that his nation’s military had successfully thwarted a planned Russian assault. He stated the attack’s intensity fell short of “what Russia had planned and what its command promised to Russia’s political leadership.”

Russia’s defense ministry also reported intercepting 35 Ukrainian unmanned aircraft between 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. (1000-1700 GMT) in their most recent operational summary, with the majority shot down over the Krasnodar region along Ukraine’s eastern frontier.

The ongoing conflict involving Iran could drive an additional 45 million people into severe hunger by June, according to new projections released Tuesday by the World Food Programme.

The military operations between U.S.-Israeli forces and Iran, which commenced on February 28, have significantly disrupted critical humanitarian supply chains and delayed essential aid deliveries to regions already facing severe food crises.

World Food Programme Deputy Executive Director Carl Skau warned reporters in Geneva that the additional 45 million people facing acute hunger would push global totals beyond the current record of 319 million people experiencing food insecurity. The increase stems from escalating costs for food, fuel, and shipping services.

“This would take global hunger levels to an all-time record and it’s a terrible, terrible prospect,” Skau stated. “Already, before this war, we were in a perfect storm where hunger has never been as severe as now, in terms of numbers and how deep that hunger is,” he continued.

The humanitarian organization reports that transportation costs have jumped 18 percent since the conflict began in late February, forcing aid shipments to take longer, more expensive alternative routes. These mounting expenses come at a time when the World Food Programme has already implemented significant budget reductions as donor nations shift resources toward defense spending, Skau noted.

An Iranian missile bombardment targeting central Israel resulted in two fatalities late Tuesday evening, with an elderly couple in their 70s killed in Ramat Gan during the assault that triggered warning sirens throughout multiple regions.

According to United Hatzalah emergency services, the victims were making their way down a stairwell toward a protective shelter when the strike occurred.

Medical personnel from MDA provided care to a 25-year-old man from Bnei Brak who suffered shrapnel injuries to his hand during the bombardment.

Authorities believe the weapon used was a cluster-type munition, creating more than eight separate debris impact zones throughout central Israel’s urban areas.

Video evidence documented destruction at numerous locations following the assault, with a Tel Aviv railway station among the damaged facilities.

Early assessments indicated that debris from defensive interceptor missiles fell across various locations, including educational grounds in Jerusalem and residential sections of Ramat Gan.

Warning systems activated across Jerusalem, the Dead Sea region, and West Bank territories, along with the Sharon district and Lakhish vicinity, encompassing communities such as Bat Yam, Tel Aviv-Jaffa, Brenner, Hevel Yavneh, and Lev HaSharon. Iranian missile launches prompted two separate overnight alert cycles.

First responders rushed to numerous locations throughout the affected areas to evaluate structural damage and provide medical assistance to injured civilians.

This bombardment represents another escalation in Iran’s ongoing missile campaign against Israel’s heavily populated metropolitan regions, with overnight strikes documented across urban population centers.

New data from the United Nations reveals that approximately 4.9 million children worldwide failed to reach their fifth birthday during 2024, highlighting concerns that global efforts to reduce childhood mortality have plateaued.

The statistics, released by UNICEF, the World Bank, the World Health Organization, and the UN population division, indicate that the majority of these deaths could have been avoided through improved healthcare access and affordable medical treatments for issues such as premature birth complications and diseases like malaria.

While childhood deaths that could be prevented have dropped by more than half since 2000, the international agencies note that advancement has decelerated since 2015.

The 2022 figure also stood at 4.9 million, marking a record low at that time, while 2023 saw 4.8 million deaths. Although the 2024 numbers suggest an increase, officials explain that different calculation methods were used between years, making direct comparisons impossible.

A World Health Organization representative acknowledged a worldwide deceleration in mortality reduction efforts. “However… we do see a global slowdown in mortality reduction,” the spokesperson stated, citing armed conflicts, economic uncertainty, climate-related challenges, and inadequate health infrastructure as contributing factors to the stagnant progress. The representative added that reduced aid funding would compound these difficulties.

“Together, these pressures risk undermining past achievements and could lead to stagnation – or even reversal – in hard-won child survival gains if not addressed,” the spokesperson warned.

The Wednesday data release covers 2024, preceding significant international aid budget reductions initiated by the United States and subsequently adopted by major donor nations including the United Kingdom and Germany.

According to a Gates Foundation analysis from late 2025, worldwide development assistance for health decreased by nearly 27% in 2025 compared to 2024. The foundation cautioned that these funding cuts were causing child mortality progress to reverse course.

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell expressed concern about the trend. “No child should die from diseases that we know how to prevent. But we see worrying signs that progress in child survival is slowing – and at a time where we’re seeing further global budget cuts,” Russell stated. The organizations noted that funding reductions could also hamper progress monitoring due to weakened data gathering capabilities.

The analysis draws from UN statistics and projections provided by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

GULP, Iraq — In a small village nestled at the base of mountains that separate Iraq from Iran, a Kurdish family comes together for their evening Ramadan observance in Gulp, located close to Halabja.

The family prepares their iftar meal — the traditional dinner that ends each day’s fasting period during the sacred month of Ramadan — while children laugh and play around them as extended family members join the gathering.

However, the joyful atmosphere of these closing days of the holy month carries an undercurrent of anxiety about events happening just beyond their border.

Family member Nyan Fayaq expresses deep concern about her relatives living in Saqqez, a Kurdish community in Iran, explaining she has been unable to contact them for an entire month.

The gathering represents both the continuation of cherished religious traditions and the reality of cross-border family connections that can be disrupted by regional tensions.

LIMA, Peru — Peru’s Prime Minister Denisse Miralles stepped down Tuesday before facing a mandatory confirmation vote in the nation’s legislature, where she needed majority support to retain her position.

Miralles received her appointment as prime minister in late February following the removal of Interim President José Jerí due to corruption charges. Congressman Jose María Balcázar took over the presidency after Jerí’s departure.

Under Peru’s governmental structure, prime ministers oversee the execution of government policies but are appointed rather than elected and do not serve as the head of the executive branch, a role reserved for the president.

The former economy minister under Jerí offered no explanation for her departure. Speaking to reporters, Miralles expressed doubt about obtaining the legislative majority necessary for Wednesday’s confirmation vote.

An independent oversight body, the Fiscal Council, recently criticized Miralles’ ministry for failing to oppose 26 congressional laws, leading to substantial increases in government expenditures.

The South American nation will conduct presidential elections on April 12, featuring more than two dozen contenders vying for the position.

Should no candidate achieve a majority exceeding 50% of votes, the two leading vote-getters will compete in a runoff election scheduled for June.

Political instability has plagued Peru with eight different presidents serving over the last ten years, many ousted by Congress following corruption scandals. However, the country’s economic situation has remained relatively steady throughout this period, as successive administrations have maintained conservative financial policies featuring controlled government spending while welcoming foreign investment in sectors such as mining and infrastructure development.

Artificial intelligence technology is fundamentally changing how modern warfare operates, transforming both actual combat and the battle for public opinion in the current Middle East conflict involving Israel, Iran, and the United States.

Military forces are now deploying AI-powered systems to analyze intelligence data, accelerate targeting procedures, and enhance missile defense capabilities. Meanwhile, social media networks have become flooded with computer-generated images, repurposed video content, automated accounts, and algorithm-boosted propaganda designed to create false narratives as rapidly as weapons can change battlefield realities.

The outcome is a war where speed is crucial not only in aerial and naval operations, but also in digital spaces. The competition now centers on who can establish their version of events first, not just who can launch the initial attack.

Technology strategist John Keith King, who previously served as a US government communications engineer working on critical command systems for senior national leadership, explained that artificial intelligence has already become integrated throughout multiple levels of contemporary military operations.

King spoke with The Media Line about AI’s primary military applications. “One of the most important uses is intelligence fusion,” he stated. According to King, AI technology can quickly analyze massive amounts of satellite photographs, drone recordings, radar information, and intercepted communications, enabling military commanders to locate missile facilities, track troop deployments, and discover hidden infrastructure “with much greater speed and accuracy.”

This explanation matches what officials and news reports have disclosed, though the specific systems currently being used remain classified. During Operation Epic Fury, which commenced on February 28, US and allied forces targeted Iranian command centers, air defense systems, missile and drone launching sites, and military airfields. Admiral Brad Cooper, who leads US Central Command, subsequently revealed that sophisticated AI technologies were assisting American forces in processing vast amounts of information more quickly, while emphasizing that human operators retain final authority over shooting decisions. A DefenseScoop report from March 11 noted that the command did not reveal which specific AI systems were being utilized.

King emphasized that AI’s most significant battlefield role involves enhancing rather than replacing military commanders by speeding up their ability to observe and comprehend situations.

“AI is also heavily used for target identification and tracking,” King described, explaining that computer vision technology can recognize vehicles, weapon systems, aircraft, and other equipment from drone or satellite footage and then continuously monitor them in real-time.

This capability proves especially valuable in the type of combat environment currently characterizing the region, according to King.

“The region is characterized by missile arsenals, drone warfare, and dispersed military infrastructure,” King observed. AI technology, he noted, assists analysts in tracking mobile missile platforms, locating drone launch areas, and detecting patterns that might signal an approaching attack, significantly speeding up detection and response capabilities.

Regarding Israel’s AI usage, public information remains limited and disputed. International media reported in April 2024 that the United States was investigating claims that Israel had employed AI to select bombing targets in Gaza. The Israel Defense Forces rejected allegations of using AI systems to identify suspected Hamas members, stating that information systems only served as tools helping human analysts with target identification. Additional reporting in 2025 alleged that US technology companies had supplied AI and cloud computing services to the Israeli military during conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, contributing to a significant expansion in AI and computing support used for faster target tracking. While this doesn’t definitively prove how these tools were applied in the current Iran conflict, it suggests Israel entered this regional escalation with already expanded AI-enabled military capabilities.

King noted that AI is also becoming increasingly incorporated into both offensive and defensive systems that characterize this conflict.

“Another major application is in autonomous and semi-autonomous platforms,” he explained, pointing out that numerous drones and loitering weapons employ AI-assisted navigation, object identification, and threat avoidance to search extensive areas, identify targets of interest, and transmit targeting information while reducing operator workload.

“AI also plays a growing role in defensive systems,” King added. Missile defense networks, he explained, depend on machine learning to detect approaching threats, eliminate radar interference, and prioritize interceptions, often within seconds.

This evaluation corresponds with the broader characteristics of the conflict. CENTCOM has described the campaign against Iran as heavily concentrated on drone and missile infrastructure, and officials have stated that the United States has needed to defend against large-scale retaliatory attacks while rapidly striking launch sites and command centers. Cooper said AI tools were helping leaders “cut through the noise and make smarter decisions faster than the enemy can react,” while stressing that final engagement authority remained with humans.

While AI is accelerating military decision-making processes, it’s producing similar effects in information warfare.

Yael Moshe, who leads an OSINT team and serves as an intelligence product specialist for the Israeli Defense Ministry’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, said the digital aspect of warfare is no longer secondary. It has evolved into its own battlefield, powered by AI-created content and social media virality.

“I call it digital psychological terrorism,” Moshe told The Media Line. She said actors like Iran are utilizing AI and recycled footage to overwhelm platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, targeting younger audiences with manufactured realities, including false images of Tel Aviv in ruins and exaggerated portrayals of Iran’s military capabilities.

Moshe explained that these campaigns operate simultaneously on two levels.

“This serves two distinct arenas: manufacturing a fake ‘victory picture’ for Iran’s domestic audience, while simultaneously sowing fear globally,” she observed.

Multiple reports have documented this pattern. A pro-Iran propaganda network has employed AI-generated misinformation and Epstein-related conspiracy theories to promote anti-US and anti-Israel messages to large online audiences. Fabricated AI content about the Iran conflict has also circulated widely on X, including manufactured visuals of attacks, false battlefield scenes, and manipulated imagery amplified by prominent accounts.

Moshe argued that much of this material is technically basic but operationally successful because it spreads faster than fact-checking can occur.

“When we talk about fake news, we mostly see two simple tricks,” she described: old videos from Syria or even video games are relabeled as current attacks, while AI generates false images of Israeli cities on fire. “It takes them 10 seconds to make, but by the time we prove it’s fake, millions of people have already seen it and believed it.”

The danger increases when such content escapes fringe channels and reaches broader audiences, Moshe warned.

Moshe said she personally remains unaffected by such content because she understands ground reality and recognizes psychological warfare tactics. However, “the true danger arises” when fabricated material spreads across social media and “bleed[s] into mainstream media.” That, she cautioned, is when “a localized lie becomes a dangerous global narrative.”

This dynamic has become more apparent as the conflict has expanded. AI-generated images have falsely claimed to show captured US soldiers in Iran, while old footage has been recirculated as new strikes on Tel Aviv. These examples demonstrate that information warfare involves not only persuasion, but also saturation: flooding feeds so rapidly and extensively that verification becomes reactive rather than preventive.

Moshe also highlighted the role of platform architecture itself.

“Seeing people cheer when missiles are fired at us is frustrating,” she said, but added that platforms like TikTok and X reward extreme and hateful content because it generates views. She also noted that much apparent support for such content is artificially amplified: “A lot of this cheering isn’t just real people—it’s fake accounts and bots pushing this hate on purpose to make it look like the whole world supports it.”

She noted that false reports about Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, being killed are part of the same psychological strategy.

“Spreading fake news about Israeli leaders dying is a classic psychological trick,” she said. The goal, she added, is both to create panic within Israel and to provide audiences in Iran or Gaza with a false “victory” to celebrate.

She also described how unrelated global trends are deliberately exploited to expand reach. “And as for the Epstein files, since everyone in the world was searching for it, they started putting Epstein hashtags on their anti-Israel videos. They did this just to ‘hijack’ or jump on the trend and expose it to millions of completely unrelated people so they could see their propaganda. Plus, it’s a way to connect Israel to crazy global conspiracy theories.”

Many international outlets similarly discovered that pro-Iran networks had used Epstein-related content as part of a broader disinformation system connected to the war.

What emerges from both military and digital fronts is the same fundamental reality: algorithmic acceleration. On battlefields, AI is helping militaries detect threats, identify targets, filter radar interference, and compress the time between detection and action. Online, it’s helping propagandists generate synthetic evidence, capture attention, and create illusions of consensus or victory before facts can be verified.

King cautioned that even on the military side, this speed introduces serious dangers.

“While artificial intelligence can improve precision and situational awareness on the battlefield, it also introduces new strategic risks,” he observed. As AI reduces detection and response times, he said, human deliberation decreases, raising the risk of rapid escalation if systems operate faster than political leaders can intervene.

He described the broader transformation in dramatic terms.

“Artificial intelligence is becoming the central nervous system of modern warfare,” he stated. By combining data from satellites, drones, electronic intelligence, and battlefield sensors into a real-time operational picture, AI compresses “the time between detection, decision, and action,” making wars increasingly influenced by algorithm-assisted decision cycles rather than traditional command timelines.

The same acceleration is now occurring online. On social media, false information can now be created, amplified, and accepted before journalists, officials, or analysts have time to debunk them. On battlefields, AI may help identify launchers, prioritize intercepts, or accelerate strike planning. In both areas, the defining characteristic is velocity.

As King concluded: “AI will not replace military leadership, but it will increasingly shape how quickly leaders must make decisions.”

And as Moshe cautioned, the challenge is no longer only what occurs on the ground, but how rapidly false information about it can become accepted reality.

El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele is advancing constitutional changes that would authorize lifetime imprisonment sentences in a nation where more than one percent of citizens are currently behind bars due to anti-gang operations.

Bukele’s political party introduced the constitutional amendment to lawmakers on Tuesday, and the measure appears headed for approval given his party’s dominant control of the legislature.

The proposal represents the latest in a series of constitutional modifications that critics argue are eroding democratic safeguards and weakening institutional oversight in the Central American country.

“We will see who supports this reform and who dares to defend the idea that the Constitution should continue prohibiting murderers and rapists from remaining in prison,” Bukele wrote in a post on X on Tuesday.

This past August, lawmakers approved another constitutional change eliminating presidential term restrictions, creating a pathway for Bukele to remain in office without time limits. Constitutional scholars widely view Bukele’s current second term, which started in 2024, as violating the nation’s charter that bars consecutive presidential reelections.

The latest reform proposal expands upon Bukele’s existing anti-gang initiatives, including an emergency decree implemented in March 2022 after a surge in gang-related violence swept the country.

This emergency declaration, designed as a short-term response but renewed for almost four years, has suspended fundamental constitutional protections and resulted in approximately 91,300 arrests.

Human rights organizations have documented numerous cases of wrongful imprisonment over several years, with one advocacy group presenting evidence to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights claiming most emergency detainees were unlawfully arrested. While Bukele strongly disputed these accusations, he has acknowledged releasing 8,000 individuals found to be innocent.

Bukele’s administration has also targeted political opponents, arresting critics and activists while increasingly pressuring journalists and opposition figures to choose between leaving the country or facing imprisonment.

Individuals arrested during the emergency period remain in custody with minimal evidence, facing unclear charges from government officials and receiving extremely limited access to legal protections. Many defendants face group trials while their attorneys frequently cannot locate their clients within the prison system.

Government representatives under Bukele have previously declared that detained gang members “will never return” to freedom.

Israeli military forces announced Tuesday they had killed Ali Larijani, a high-ranking Iranian government leader, in strikes that could significantly impact Iran’s governing structure.

The attack also claimed the lives of Basij commander Gholamreza Soleimani and his deputy, Karishi, according to Israeli Defense Forces confirmation.

Uncertainty surrounded Larijani’s fate for several hours before officials verified his death Tuesday afternoon.

Larijani had emerged as a crucial figure in Iran’s government, especially after the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Following that event, Khamenei’s son Mojtaba Khamenei was named as the new leader but has been notably absent from public view amid reports he suffered severe injuries in an Israeli attack.

On March 1, Larijani declared he would lead a temporary governing body to run Iran, though the scope of his power remained unclear. In recent weeks, he became Tehran’s most visible spokesperson, regularly addressing remarks made by US President Donald Trump amid the ongoing conflict.

Throughout his career, Larijani occupied numerous high-level roles, serving as an Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps commander, parliamentary speaker, and head of the National Security Council. Though he was blocked from the 2021 presidential race to clear the path for Ebrahim Raisi’s victory and temporarily lost political standing, he had recently returned to prominence.

His influence expanded after Khamenei’s assassination and the deaths of other top Iranian leaders during both the current fighting and earlier clashes in summer 2025. Many considered him Khamenei’s second-in-command during the former leader’s lifetime, and he held major responsibilities for Iran’s security operations and nuclear talks with the United States.

Should Larijani have been Iran’s de facto leader in recent weeks, his death could have major consequences for the Iranian government’s future stability.

Iraqi security officials report that the American Embassy in Baghdad faced a significant assault early Tuesday morning, with multiple rockets and at least five unmanned aircraft targeting the diplomatic facility in what they describe as the heaviest bombardment in the region since current hostilities between the United States, Israel, and Iran began.

According to a Reuters eyewitness, no fewer than three drones were observed flying toward the embassy complex. Defense systems successfully stopped two of the aircraft, but a third managed to impact the embassy grounds, resulting in visible flames and smoke billowing from the compound.

The Iranian-supported Popular Mobilization Front distributed footage capturing one of the drones approaching the embassy facility.

In a separate incident within Iraq, an attack on a residence in the al-Jadriyah district resulted in four fatalities. An AFP security source reported that preliminary information suggested two of the deceased were “Iranian advisers” working with Tehran-affiliated organizations.

The violence extended beyond Iraq’s borders, with additional attacks reported against energy installations and civilian locations throughout the Middle East.

In the United Arab Emirates, an assault ignited a blaze within the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone. Production at the Shah field continued to be disrupted Tuesday following Monday’s missile strike on the facility, which ranks among the globe’s largest sour gas operations.

Maritime authorities in Oman reported through the British Maritime Trade Center that a projectile hit an oil vessel, resulting in damage though no personnel were harmed.

Kuwait’s Health Ministry announced that two healthcare workers sustained injuries at an ambulance facility due to falling debris, though additional details were not released.

These incidents occur as military actions connected to the current conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran spread throughout several nations in the region, with attacks impacting diplomatic facilities, energy infrastructure, and civilian locations.

Israeli Defense Forces announced Tuesday they executed military strikes against high-ranking Iranian leadership, including senior official Ali Larijani and Basij commander Gholamreza Soleimani, alongside other top Islamic Jihad leaders in an operation that could significantly impact Iran’s command structure.

According to reports from The Jerusalem Post later that morning, Soleimani died along with his deputy, Karishi, when both men were discovered hiding in a temporary shelter designed to evade detection. Larijani’s fate following the attempted strike remains unknown, though the assassination attempt has sparked widespread rumors that he may have been either killed or severely injured.

Larijani has emerged as a key figure in Iran’s government hierarchy, especially after the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Since Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, assumed leadership but has been notably absent amid reports he suffered serious injuries in an Israeli attack.

On March 1, Larijani declared his intention to lead a temporary governing committee for Iran, although the scope of his power remains questionable. In recent weeks, he has become Tehran’s most visible spokesperson, regularly issuing responses to statements made by US President Donald Trump throughout the ongoing conflict.

Throughout his career, Larijani has occupied numerous high-level roles, including commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards, parliamentary speaker, and head of the national security council. While he was prevented from seeking the presidency in 2021 to clear the path for Ebrahim Raisi’s victory and experienced a period of diminished influence, he has recently restored his political standing.

His prominence increased after Khamenei’s assassination and the deaths of other top Iranian leaders during both the current hostilities and an earlier round of combat in summer 2025. Many considered him Khamenei’s second-in-command during the former leader’s lifetime, and he maintained significant oversight of Iran’s security operations and nuclear discussions with the United States.

Should Larijani have been functioning as Iran’s de facto leader in recent weeks, his elimination or serious injury could create major disruptions within the country’s power structure.

Iranian state media outlets confirmed Tuesday that Ali Larijani, the nation’s security chief, has died.

Multiple Iranian news organizations reported Larijani’s death on March 17th, though details surrounding the circumstances were not immediately provided.

The Caribbean island nation of Cuba finds itself in the grip of severe economic hardship and mounting political pressure as President Donald Trump makes increasingly bold statements about potential U.S. intervention.

This week marked the third major power grid collapse since December, leaving the island in widespread darkness and prompting Trump to declare he might have the “honor of taking Cuba.”

“I mean, whether I free it, take it. I think I could do anything I want with it,” Trump stated on Monday.

The island nation faces a crippling energy crisis as U.S. sanctions have effectively blocked oil deliveries for the past three months, creating devastating consequences for Cuba’s 11 million citizens.

Residents battle to prevent food from rotting without refrigeration, medical facilities have postponed surgical procedures, and the country’s premier university has scaled back academic programs due to power failures and transportation breakdowns.

On Tuesday, the State Department characterized the ongoing electrical failures as evidence that Cuba’s leadership cannot meet citizens’ fundamental requirements.

During a White House gathering Tuesday, Trump consulted Secretary of State Marco Rubio, whose parents emigrated from Cuba, about the situation.

Rubio declared that Cuba’s existing governmental structure cannot address the nation’s challenges. “So they have to change dramatically,” Rubio stated.

The current administration is insisting that Cuba free imprisoned dissidents and embrace political and economic reforms before sanctions will be removed.

For several months, Trump has indicated Cuba’s leadership is nearing collapse and has referenced a potential “friendly takeover” following the U.S. removal of former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, though he hasn’t explained what such action would entail.

Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel acknowledged last week that conversations with Washington have occurred.

Though he declined to share specifics about these discussions, he indicated they focused on resolving “bilateral differences between our two nations.”

Trump has implied that Cuban officials should learn from Maduro’s experience, who was detained during a U.S. military action in January.

According to anonymous U.S. officials and sources familiar with Washington-Havana communications, the Trump administration seeks Díaz-Canel’s departure from office, though no preferred successor has been identified.

Cuba’s energy shortage intensified after the U.S. removed Venezuela’s government, cutting off vital petroleum imports. Trump subsequently warned of tariffs against any nation providing Cuba with oil.

The country now depends on domestic natural gas, solar energy, and local oil reserves for its power plants, but these sources cannot satisfy national energy needs.

The consequences have been devastating. Public transportation has reduced service, fuel distribution is severely limited, and Cuban officials report the healthcare system is on the brink of failure.

These problems compound existing shortages of essential items like food and medical supplies.

Cuba’s deteriorating electrical infrastructure has become increasingly unreliable over recent years. Daily power interruptions and frequent major blackouts have become routine.

The nation’s aging power generation facilities receive minimal upkeep. Government representatives say U.S. economic restrictions have blocked purchases of replacement equipment and technical components.

Limited availability of fuel oil and diesel has further restricted electricity generation capacity.

A new Wall Street Journal report indicates that Russia has been deepening its military alliance with Iran through the provision of satellite intelligence and enhanced drone capabilities, according to sources familiar with the intelligence sharing arrangement.

The March 17 report suggests this collaboration is designed to help Iran more effectively target American military personnel deployed throughout the Middle East region.

The expanded partnership between Moscow and Tehran represents a significant escalation in their defense cooperation, with Russia reportedly offering both surveillance imagery from space-based assets and technological improvements to Iran’s unmanned aircraft systems.

Reuters has not been able to independently confirm the details outlined in the Wall Street Journal’s reporting at this time.

A United Nations internal investigation has concluded that Israeli military tank rounds struck a UN peacekeeping facility in southern Lebanon earlier this month, injuring three Ghanaian soldiers, according to a Western military source familiar with the findings.

The preliminary investigation results from the March 6 incident at the al-Qawzah base indicate that three direct strikes came from an Israeli battle tank’s main weapon system, the source revealed. The tank fired 120-mm M339 HE-MP-T ammunition during the attack.

“Israeli involvement in the attack against UNIFIL is undeniable, given that these munitions are manufactured by Israel Military Industries (IMI),” the source stated.

The UN peacekeeping force, known as UNIFIL, operates in southern Lebanon to oversee tensions along the border with Israel, an area that has become a flashpoint for confrontations between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants backed by Iran.

When the incident occurred on March 6, UNIFIL officials described the wounding of Ghanaian peacekeepers during intense fighting as “unacceptable” but did not initially identify who was responsible for the attack.

UNIFIL spokesperson Kandice Ardiel confirmed the investigation remains ongoing. “That investigation is not yet complete. Once it is finalized, it will be shared with the parties, per usual practice,” Ardiel said.

“Nonetheless, we reiterate the obligation of all actors to ensure the safety and security of peacekeepers and avoid harm to civilians. Any deliberate attack on peacekeepers is a grave violation of international humanitarian law and a violation of resolution 1701,” she added.

Israeli military officials have not yet provided a response to requests for comment regarding the incident. Israel Military Industries and Elbit Systems, the defense contractor that owns IMI, also have not responded to inquiries. Lebanese government officials similarly have not commented.

The military source explained that the specialized ammunition used can target personnel, helicopters, equipment, armored vehicles, and structures. The three rounds were fired within a five-minute timeframe, suggesting deliberate targeting rather than an accidental stray shot.

The source emphasized that all military forces in the region know the exact location and coordinates of the UN base, which raises significant safety concerns for international personnel stationed there.

“This escalation, far from being isolated, is part of a worrying dynamic, severely testing UNIFIL’s ability to carry out its peacekeeping mission,” the source explained.

The incident highlights growing dangers facing UN peacekeepers as Israeli military operations continue to expand in the region. Lebanon became involved in the broader Middle East conflict when Hezbollah launched rocket attacks against Israel, prompting Israeli military responses against the group.

UNIFIL reported another concerning incident on Sunday, stating that peacekeepers likely came under fire three separate times from “non-state armed groups,” though no injuries occurred in those attacks.

The peacekeeping mission, scheduled to conclude at the end of 2026, has repeatedly found itself caught between Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters. Israeli officials maintain control of five positions within Lebanese territory and continue conducting airstrikes in southern Lebanon, claiming they target Hezbollah militants.

UN Security Council Resolution 1701 specifies that only UN peacekeepers and Lebanese military forces should operate in southern Lebanon. Israeli officials have consistently accused Hezbollah of attempting to rearm while criticizing Lebanese forces for failing to disarm the militant organization.

WASHINGTON – Trump administration officials assured lawmakers Tuesday that military operations in Iran have not interrupted weapons deliveries to Taiwan or altered American policy toward the island democracy.

“Have we delayed moving things to Taiwan? We haven’t,” Stanley Brown, principal deputy assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs, told members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee during testimony.

The reassurance addresses growing concerns that America’s defense manufacturing sector might struggle to meet increased demand following the U.S.-Israeli air campaign against Iran that began February 28. Some officials worried this could force slower deliveries to nations like Taiwan, which continues facing mounting military threats from China.

Even before the Iran conflict began, Taiwan faced a multi-billion-dollar backlog in American arms shipments. Brown indicated the administration is exploring methods to speed up these deliveries, though he did not elaborate on specific plans.

The congressional hearing occurred on the same day President Trump announced he would postpone his planned summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. Taiwan was expected to be among the key topics during those discussions.

Beijing considers Taiwan part of Chinese territory and has not ruled out military force to bring the island under its control. Taiwan’s government disputes China’s territorial claims, maintaining that only Taiwan’s citizens should determine their future.

Chinese military exercises around Taiwan last occurred in December, while Beijing’s naval vessels and aircraft routinely patrol near the island.

According to recent reports, a significant American weapons package for Taiwan worth approximately $14 billion awaits Trump’s signature. This deal, featuring advanced interceptor missiles, would represent the largest arms sale ever to the democratic island. The postponed China trip may affect the timing of this agreement.

Congressional Republicans and Democrats continue clashing over Trump’s use of national emergency declarations to bypass legislative oversight of international weapons sales. This includes the recent expedited $650 million bomb sale to Israel.

During the hearing, Committee Chairman Brian Mast of Florida and fellow Republicans criticized Democrats for allegedly delaying vital support to key allies facing international threats.

New York Representative Gregory Meeks, the committee’s ranking Democrat, argued that circumventing congressional review of major deals undermines human rights oversight.

A Belgian court made an unprecedented decision Tuesday, ruling that a 93-year-old former diplomat must face trial for his alleged involvement in the 1961 murder of Patrice Lumumba, Congo’s first prime minister and celebrated independence leader, media outlets reported.

Lumumba became the driving force behind Congo’s liberation from Belgian colonial rule in June 1960. The mineral-rich nation’s inaugural prime minister was just 35 when he was murdered, serving only three months in office before being ousted and killed the following year.

The defendant, Etienne Davignon, worked as a young diplomatic intern in Kinshasa during that period and represents the final living person among 10 Belgians suspected of participating in Lumumba’s death.

Davignon, who later became a vice president of the European Commission, has 14 days to challenge the charges and has consistently maintained his innocence.

Belgian federal prosecutors are pursuing charges against Davignon for “participation in war crimes” related to his alleged role in Lumumba’s “unlawful detention and transfer.”

The legal action stems from a 2011 lawsuit brought by Lumumba’s children in Belgium, seeking accountability for their father’s January 1961 killing by separatist forces. While Congolese individuals carried out the actual murder, suspicions have long surrounded potential Belgian and American involvement due to Lumumba’s suspected communist connections.

Lumumba’s remains were never recovered and are believed to have been destroyed with acid.

Iranian state television reported Tuesday that Gholamreza Soleimani, who served as the leader of Iran’s paramilitary Basij organization, died in joint military operations conducted by American and Israeli forces.

Earlier on Tuesday, Israeli officials had announced they had successfully targeted and eliminated Soleimani in the coordinated strike.

The Basij force operates as a volunteer paramilitary organization within Iran’s military structure, reporting to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

LIMA – Peru’s government underwent a major shakeup Tuesday when Prime Minister Denisse Miralles stepped down from her post, according to an announcement from the presidential office, creating uncertainty just weeks before the nation heads to the polls on April 12.

The departure automatically triggers the resignation of Peru’s entire cabinet under the country’s legal framework, which mandates that all 18 ministers must vacate their positions when the prime minister, who leads the cabinet, resigns.

President Jose Balcazar now faces the decision of whether to reappoint the existing ministers or replace them with new appointees as the country approaches its general election.

The presidential office provided no explanation for why Miralles chose to leave her position at this critical time.

In a statement posted on social media platform X, Balcazar’s administration expressed gratitude for her service: “The presidency of the Republic of Peru thanks Ms. Denisse Miralles for the services rendered to the nation as president of the council of ministers during an important period for the country, and wishes her success in her professional career and in her future endeavors.”

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz are scheduled to address the struggling FCAS fighter aircraft program during their meeting ahead of this week’s European Union summit, according to two sources with knowledge of the situation.

The ambitious $100 billion initiative to create an advanced air combat system alongside Spain faces potential collapse as French aerospace giant Dassault Aviation and Airbus clash over project leadership and control.

While Macron’s office has verified the planned meeting between the two leaders before the March 19-20 summit, officials would not confirm whether the fighter program will be part of their discussions.

The initiative was originally launched by Macron and former German Chancellor Angela Merkel in 2017, with Spain becoming a partner at a later date.

The ambitious program envisions a digitally integrated network of piloted fighter aircraft and unmanned combat drones designed to succeed the Dassault Rafale and Airbus-supported Eurofighter beginning in 2040. However, the participating companies have reached an impasse regarding the upcoming phase that includes building a test aircraft.

Dassault is demanding greater authority over the primary fighter aircraft component, including supplier selection rights, while proposing to grant Airbus similar autonomy in areas where it currently leads. Airbus maintains that current agreements establishing equal partnership should remain unchanged.

The relationship between these aerospace companies has deteriorated significantly, with most project participants doubting its continuation. However, the ultimate decision rests with national leadership, and Macron appears to oppose German industry calls to terminate the program.

During a trip to New Delhi last month, Macron rejected the notion that corporate disagreements should influence government decisions regarding strategic defense development.

“There have been frictions between companies; that’s the life of business and of human organisations. But should that decide the strategy of states? The answer is no,” he told a news conference.

Should the French-German-Spanish initiative, known by its French acronym SCAF, fail, it would likely prompt a reorganization of partnerships within Europe’s divided defense manufacturing sector.

Germany has historically collaborated with Britain on advanced fighter development, though Britain is now participating in the rival GCAP fighter program with Japan and Italy.

Sweden, manufacturer of the independent Saab Gripen aircraft, is evaluating its future position in the fighter market and could potentially partner with Airbus if the FCAS program fails.

ROME — Italy’s most famous ancient landmark has received a stunning makeover that brings visitors closer to experiencing what Romans saw two millennia ago.

The Colosseum’s exterior plaza has been transformed through a restoration project that uses authentic travertine marble to mark the exact locations where massive columns once towered 164 feet into the sky. These same quarries supplied building materials to ancient Roman architects.

The arena continues to mesmerize people from around the globe, drawing 9 million tourists in 2025 and maintaining its status as Italy’s top visitor destination. Centuries ago, crowds of Romans gathered in this same space to witness gladiator combat and battles with wild beasts.

The renovation concentrated on the curved plaza area where ancient spectators once congregated beneath two grand arcade structures supported by towering marble pillars. These waiting areas allowed people to queue before entering the arena to find their designated seats.

Natural disasters and ground instability caused these magnificent archways to crumble over many centuries. However, visitors today can rest on substantial travertine blocks positioned precisely where the original supports once stood, while examining replicas of Roman numerals that once guided spectators to their seating areas.

Italian architect Stefano Boeri, who created the plaza design, explained the project’s vision: “These blocks of travertine marble are placed, located exactly where the pillars, the original pillars were based. The idea we had was to give back to the public the perception of the proportion of the arcades and the proportion of the vaults of the arches that were used to enter in the center of the Colosseum.”

The surrounding area had deteriorated significantly, becoming cluttered with rubble fragments and overgrown vegetation.

Workers excavated approximately three feet down to reach the original travertine pavement that once covered the entrance zone. Archaeological discoveries during the dig included ancient coins, sculptural pieces, animal remains, and a golden ring. Further excavation revealed Emperor Commodus’s private underground tunnel, which allowed him to access the Colosseum without encountering ordinary citizens. This hidden passageway opened for public tours last year.

The restoration team obtained fresh travertine slabs from identical quarries that supplied ancient Roman builders. These same stone sources continue providing materials for contemporary religious structures, financial institutions, cultural venues, government facilities, and residential properties.

Fabrizio Mariotti, whose family business Mariotti Carlo has specialized in travertine craftsmanship for four generations in Tivoli, expressed his enthusiasm while seated on one of the new stone pieces: “From the beginning we understood only one thing and that was that we wanted to be involved. For a family like ours that has been working with travertine for four generations, working at the Colosseum, which is the symbol not only of Rome but also of this material, is so important.”

Rome recently inaugurated two additional subway stations this year, including one located deep beneath the Colosseum, completing a multi-billion euro transit expansion. Officials confirmed that funding for the Colosseum’s perimeter restoration came from compensatory money allocated for the metro construction project.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — New space-based photography is providing an initial look at the extensive destruction caused by the ongoing conflict with Iran, revealing burning vessels at Iranian harbors and demolished structures at American military installations.

Details about the extent of destruction throughout the Middle East have remained limited, especially regarding damage within secure military compounds, since hostilities commenced on February 28.

The photographs originate from Planet Labs PBC, a San Francisco-based company that supplies imagery to news organizations, including The Associated Press. Planet Labs implements a two-week waiting period before making its images publicly available due to worries that “adversarial actors” might misuse the footage.

Additional high-quality images have been released by rival companies. Other sources, such as the U.S. Geological Survey, have also made available lower-quality imagery that has proven valuable.

American and Israeli forces have been attacking numerous targets, including key leaders, military installations, missile and air defense locations, and positions belonging to the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard along with its volunteer unit, the Basij. Iran has retaliated using drone and missile attacks aimed at Israel and neighboring Gulf Arab countries.

The following examines what can be observed in selected Planet Labs photographs, along with images from other sources.

Among the most striking photographs from Planet Labs have emerged from Bandar Abbas, which houses a significant Iranian naval facility adjacent to the vital Strait of Hormuz linking the Persian Gulf with the Arabian Sea.

Pictures captured on March 2 reveal vessels on fire at the harbor. The U.S. military’s Central Command has been focusing on Iran’s naval resources and reports it has destroyed or damaged over 100 Iranian ships during the conflict.

The island nation of Bahrain, which hosts the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet, has experienced intense Iranian attacks targeting military bases and petroleum facilities. A March 1 photograph taken by Planet Labs reveals a major structure at the base has been destroyed, along with two radomes — dome-shaped structures protecting radar equipment — presumably from Iranian missile and drone attacks.

The Navy has not provided detailed information about the total damage sustained at the base, though Iran has consistently claimed responsibility for attacking it. Internet videos have also captured incoming fire directed at the facility. During the 12-day conflict in June, Iran struck and demolished a comparable radome at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar that was used for protected communications.

In Abu Dhabi, the UAE’s capital city, damage is visible at France’s Camp de la Paix naval installation. Space imagery from March 3 displays destruction to two large warehouse-style structures at the site. The facility is located near Zayed Port in Abu Dhabi, and in proximity to its Cultural District housing the Louvre Abu Dhabi and other significant museums, both operational and under development.

The U.S. Geological Survey’s Landsat satellites have also proven essential for identifying large fires. Landsat imagery captured on Monday revealed a blaze at Dubai International Airport following an Iranian drone attack that ignited a fuel truck at the world’s most active airport for international flights, creating a cloud of toxic black smoke.

Another fire was observed on Monday at Oman’s southern harbor in Salalah, which was attacked by suspected Iranian drones on March 11, although Tehran has disputed launching them as part of its campaign against Gulf Arab nations. The fire appears to have continued burning since that time.

A tragic construction accident in Vienna, Austria has claimed four lives after scaffolding gave way at a building site, according to reports from the Austrian news agency APA on Tuesday.

The fatal incident occurred in Vienna’s affluent ninth district at a construction location. Emergency responders treated one man with severe injuries from the accident, according to a representative from the city’s ambulance service.

Vienna police officials were not immediately available to provide additional details about the circumstances surrounding the scaffolding failure.

The United Arab Emirates is considering participation in an American-led international coalition focused on protecting the Strait of Hormuz, according to a senior diplomatic official.

Anwar Gargash, who serves as a diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, made the announcement Tuesday during a virtual event hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations, an American policy research organization.

Gargash also revealed that the UAE is not currently engaged in active diplomatic discussions with Iran.

The statements arrive as maritime security threats in the Strait of Hormuz continue to raise international alarm about safe passage for commercial vessels through the strategic waterway.

NAIROBI, Kenya — Two individuals appeared in a Nairobi courtroom Tuesday facing wildlife trafficking charges after being caught with nearly 2,300 live ants packaged in specialized containers.

Zhang Kequn, a Chinese citizen, and Charles Mwangi, a Kenyan resident, were formally charged with illegally trafficking wildlife species and conspiracy to commit a felony following their March 10 arrest.

According to court documents, authorities discovered the men possessing 1,948 garden ants housed in specialized tubes, plus another 300 ants concealed within tissue rolls. Neither suspect held the necessary permits required by Kenya’s wildlife protection statutes for handling or trading such species.

Prosecutors allege Kequn purchased the insects from Mwangi in two separate transactions — paying 60,000 Kenyan shillings ($463) for 600 ants initially, then 70,000 shillings ($540) for a second batch of 700 ants. Mwangi faces an additional charge after allegedly being discovered with more live ants.

Both defendants remain in jail pending further proceedings.

David Lusweti, representing Kequn, told The Associated Press the men were unaware they were violating any laws. “They have seen potential that they are able to sell outside the country, they believe that they can make a living out of it,” he explained.

This arrest represents the latest incident in what Kenyan officials describe as an expanding illegal trade involving ant smuggling to European and Asian markets. Authorities have not disclosed whether the insects are desired as exotic pets or serve other commercial purposes.

In 2023, two Belgian teenagers faced similar wildlife trafficking charges after being caught with 5,000 ants in test tubes. Kenyan authorities estimated those insects’ value at 1 million shillings ($7,700).

The Kenya Wildlife Service previously stated that such illegal exports “not only undermines Kenya’s sovereign rights over its biodiversity but also deprives local communities and research institutions of potential ecological and economic benefits.”

Another case from last year involved a Kenyan citizen and Vietnamese national who were similarly charged with illegal trafficking after being found with 400 ants.

BUDAPEST, Hungary — Two Eastern European nations have reached a new agreement to construct an oil products pipeline in an effort to strengthen regional fuel security, Slovakia’s Energy Ministry announced Tuesday.

The proposed 79-mile pipeline will connect Hungary’s Százhalombatta refinery with Slovakia’s Bratislava refinery, creating capacity to move 1.5 million tons of gasoline and diesel annually, according to ministry officials.

Construction linking the two facilities, both operated by Hungary’s Mol Group, is scheduled for completion during the first half of 2027, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó announced Monday from Brussels, where officials signed the deal.

The fuel connection would “add further value from the perspective of Hungary’s energy supply and diesel supply, while helping to counter the effects of wars around the world,” Szijjártó stated.

The partnership emerges amid ongoing tensions between the two EU nations and Ukraine regarding oil pipeline access. Hungary and Slovakia remain the only European Union members still receiving Russian crude oil imports.

Deliveries through the Druzhba pipeline system have been halted since late January following what Ukraine describes as Russian drone damage to critical infrastructure. Ukrainian officials report that repair work poses safety risks to maintenance crews.

Ukrainian authorities warn that even if repairs are completed, the pipeline infrastructure remains at risk for additional Russian military strikes.

Both Hungarian and Slovak leadership have criticized Ukraine for allegedly blocking Russian crude shipments intentionally, promising strong responses until deliveries restart. Hungary has already prevented a 90-billion euro ($104 billion) EU loan package to Ukraine over the supply interruptions.

Slovakia’s Energy Ministry stated that the supply disruptions have “highlighted the vulnerability of energy infrastructure and the need to diversify supply routes and sources.”

“The new pipeline should therefore improve supply flexibility and enable more efficient fuel transfers between refineries in both countries,” the ministry explained.

BOGOTA, Colombia — Ecuador’s leader has firmly denied accusations that his nation’s military is conducting bombing strikes across the border into Colombia, as diplomatic tensions between the neighboring South American countries continue to worsen.

President Daniel Noboa took to social media platform X on Tuesday to clarify his administration’s position, stating that his government “is fighting narco terrorism in all its forms” and “bombing places that serve as hideouts for those groups, of which many are Colombian,” but emphasized these operations occur exclusively on Ecuadorian soil.

The Ecuadorian president’s statement came in direct response to Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who had made explosive claims the previous day suggesting Ecuador was launching attacks on Colombian territory near their mutual border. During a televised government meeting, Petro declared, “We are being bombed from Ecuador, and it’s not rebel groups who are doing it.” He mentioned that Colombian authorities had discovered explosive devices but offered no supporting evidence for his accusations.

Petro also revealed he had contacted U.S. President Donald Trump, requesting American intervention to convince Noboa to halt what Colombia believes are unauthorized military operations on its territory.

This diplomatic crisis unfolds as Colombia approaches its May presidential elections, with relations between these once-allied nations continuing their downward spiral. The countries previously maintained strong commercial ties and coordinated security efforts.

Earlier this year, Noboa implemented harsh economic measures against Colombia, first establishing a 30% import tariff in January before escalating it to 50%. The Ecuadorian leader justified these duties as a “security tax,” arguing that Colombia has failed to prevent drug trafficking organizations and rebel forces from infiltrating Ecuador. He has indicated these tariffs will remain until Colombia demonstrates more aggressive action against criminal networks.

Colombian officials have pushed back against suggestions they are not adequately addressing drug trafficking, particularly the flow of Colombian cocaine through Ecuadorian ports. In retaliation, Colombia has implemented its own tariffs on Ecuadorian products.

The conservative Noboa has faced significant challenges in addressing Ecuador’s escalating drug-related violence, where murder rates have increased fivefold over the past half-decade. His administration has resorted to implementing nighttime curfews across four provinces as part of broader crime-fighting efforts.

Recently, Noboa’s forces collaborated with American military units in a major operation targeting a drug trafficking facility near the Colombia-Ecuador border, utilizing unmanned aircraft, helicopters, and watercraft in the mission.

Meanwhile, Petro, a former leftist rebel turned politician, has pursued negotiations with Colombia’s remaining insurgent organizations through his “total peace” initiative.

However, critics argue that these ceasefire agreements have actually strengthened these groups’ control over rural areas, as they compete for territories previously held by the FARC guerrilla organization, which signed a peace agreement with Colombia’s government in 2016.

HAVANA — Cuba’s electrical grid failed again Tuesday, marking the third major power outage to strike the Caribbean nation in just four months and highlighting the island’s worsening energy shortage and economic troubles amid escalating diplomatic friction with President Donald Trump.

Power restoration efforts were underway at medical facilities and for portions of Cuba’s 11 million citizens, though government officials cautioned that the deteriorating electrical infrastructure remains vulnerable to additional failures.

The island’s outdated power system has significantly deteriorated over recent years, resulting in routine daily outages and increasingly frequent major blackouts affecting large areas.

Cuban authorities attribute their energy difficulties to what they call a U.S. energy embargo, following Trump’s January announcement threatening tariffs against nations that sell or supply oil to Cuba.

Following Cuba’s latest plunge into darkness, Trump declared Monday that he expects to have the “honor of taking Cuba.”

“I mean, whether I free it, take it. I think I could do anything I want with it,” he said. Trump has characterized Cuba as a “very weakened nation.”

The Trump administration is insisting that Cuba free political detainees and pursue political and economic reforms as conditions for removing sanctions. Trump has also mentioned the potential for a “friendly takeover of Cuba.”

Essential oil deliveries from Venezuela ceased after the United States launched an attack on the South American nation in early January and detained its former president, Nicolás Maduro.

Although Cuba generates 40% of its own petroleum and produces its own electricity, this output falls short of meeting national demand as the electrical infrastructure continues deteriorating.

Cuba’s Ministry of Energy and Mines announced on X that electrical service had been restored in the western municipality of Pinar del Rio and the southeastern Holguin province, with several “microsystems” beginning operations across different regions.

Government-controlled media outlets reported that by Monday evening, power had returned to 5% of Havana residents, affecting approximately 42,000 customers.

Residents of the capital city worry about food spoilage and struggle to navigate their homes without illumination.

“The power outages are driving me crazy,” said 48-year-old Dalba Obiedo. “Last night I fell down a 27-step staircase. Now I have to have surgery on my jaw. I fell because the lights went out.”

The Ministry of Energy and Mines reported earlier that the nation’s electrical system experienced a “complete disconnection,” stating that no equipment malfunctions occurred in the operating units when the grid collapsed.

Lázaro Guerra, the ministry’s electricity director, informed state media Monday that repair teams were working to restart multiple thermoelectric facilities, which are essential for power restoration.

Havana resident Tomás David Velázquez Felipe, 61, said the continuous outages make him believe that Cubans who are able should simply leave the island. “What little we have to eat spoils,” he said. “Our people are too old to keep suffering.”

A deadly dispute has erupted between the leaders of Colombia and Ecuador after bombing attacks along their shared border resulted in 27 charred remains being discovered, according to Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s announcement Tuesday.

The Colombian leader took to social media platform X to clarify his country’s role in the attacks, stating “I didn’t give that order,” and emphasizing that Colombian security forces were not responsible for conducting the bombings.

Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa fired back at his Colombian counterpart earlier Tuesday, writing on X: “President Petro, your declarations are false, we are acting in our territory, not yours.” This response came after Petro had suggested Monday evening that Ecuador had conducted bombing operations within Colombian borders.

According to Noboa, the targeted sites were being used as safe houses by organizations connected to narco-terrorism, with the majority of those involved being Colombian nationals. “We will continue to clean up and rebuild Ecuador,” the Ecuadorean president declared.

Ecuador’s government initiated nationwide operations against criminal organizations beginning Sunday evening, though officials have not provided updates on military activities specifically at the border region.

The South American nation has indicated that its counter-narcotics efforts are receiving assistance from partner nations, including the United States.

Ecuadorean government officials have not yet responded to requests for information about the discovered remains.

DAMASCUS – Washington has urged Syria’s new leadership to deploy military forces into eastern Lebanon to assist in dismantling Hezbollah, though Syrian officials remain wary of such an operation due to concerns about being drawn into regional warfare and sparking religious conflicts, according to five individuals with knowledge of the discussions.

The suggestion to Syria’s pro-American administration demonstrates escalating efforts to neutralize the Iran-supported militant organization, which began attacking Israel in solidarity with Tehran on March 2, triggering Israeli military operations in Lebanon.

According to two Syrian government officials and two other knowledgeable sources, American and Syrian representatives initially explored this concept last year. All sources requested anonymity given the delicate nature of these discussions.

American officials brought up the proposal again around the period when the U.S. and Israel launched their military campaign against Iran. The Syrian officials indicated the American request arrived shortly before hostilities commenced, while a Western intelligence contact said it came just after fighting began.

Reuters consulted ten sources for this report – six Syrian government officials and advisors, two Western diplomatic representatives, one European official, and one Western intelligence contact. All confirmed that Syria’s Sunni Islamic-led administration had been carefully weighing a cross-border military action while maintaining reservations.

Neither American support for Syrian intervention in eastern Lebanon nor Syria’s reluctance to proceed have been previously disclosed.

A State Department representative refused to discuss “private diplomatic communications” and directed inquiries to Syrian and Lebanese authorities regarding their military activities.

DAMASCUS PROVIDES GUARANTEES TO LEBANON

Despite longstanding hostility toward Hezbollah and Iran – both supported Bashar al-Assad throughout Syria’s 2011-24 civil conflict – Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has proceeded carefully since U.S.-Israeli air operations against Iran commenced February 28.

A senior Syrian government source revealed that Damascus and its Arab partners agreed Syria should avoid the conflict and implement only protective actions.

Since early February, Damascus has positioned rocket batteries and thousands of soldiers along the Lebanese border, describing these deployments as defensive measures.

Syria’s foreign affairs and information ministries did not respond to comment requests.

When questioned by Reuters, Lebanon’s presidential office stated it had received no “indication or notification from the U.S., Western nations, Arab countries or Syria” regarding American-Syrian talks about potential cross-border operations.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun conducted a bilateral conversation with Sharaa and participated in a three-way call including France’s president, during which Sharaa affirmed Syria’s respect for Lebanese sovereignty and denied intervention intentions, the presidency reported.

Lebanon coordinates with Syria on border arrangements but has never discussed Hezbollah matters with Damascus, according to the statement.

Lebanon’s armed forces said coordination channels with Syria remain active “within the scope of managing border matters and shared security concerns,” aiming to prevent tensions or incidents while ensuring border region stability.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Sharaa informed him that “the strengthening of military presence along the Syrian-Lebanese border serves only to enhance border security and preserve internal Syrian safety,” emphasizing the importance of ongoing coordination.

Aoun has pursued policies designed to achieve Hezbollah’s disarmament, but Beirut has proceeded carefully given Hezbollah’s powerful weapons arsenal and substantial backing among Lebanese Shiite Muslims.

Sharaa has expressed support for Aoun’s disarmament initiatives.

DAMASCUS PERCEIVES RISK OF IRANIAN STRIKES, MINORITY UNREST

The senior Syrian official revealed Washington had authorized an operation into eastern Lebanon to assist Lebanese disarmament efforts – when conditions are appropriate.

However, Damascus identified risks including potential Iranian missile strikes and possible unrest among minority Shiites, threatening efforts to stabilize Syria following sectarian violence last year.

Two Western diplomatic sources also confirmed Washington had endorsed the concept of Syrian cross-border action against Hezbollah. The Western intelligence source and European official said America had requested Syria’s military take a more aggressive role countering Hezbollah in Lebanon, including through possible eastern incursions.

The Western intelligence source and European official noted Syria’s leadership was cautious about entering Lebanon as this could worsen bilateral relations.

A Syrian military official said no final determination had been made regarding any potential Lebanese operation, but the possibility of intervention during a conflict between the Lebanese state and Hezbollah remained under consideration.

SYRIAN CONTROL UNDER THE ASSADS

Syria extensively controlled Lebanon under Assad family rule, deploying forces in 1976 during the 1975-90 civil war following President Suleiman Frangieh’s invitation and managing Lebanon’s post-war political landscape until withdrawing in 2005.

Any Syrian military action could intensify sectarian conflicts in both Syria and Lebanon, nations containing diverse religious communities including Sunnis, Christians, Druze and Shiites.

During a March 13 interview with Lebanese network MTV, Syrian Defense Ministry spokesman Brigadier General Hassan Abdel Ghani characterized the border buildup as a protective measure. He noted extensive coordination with Lebanon’s military and said Sharaa supported establishing Lebanese governmental control throughout Lebanon.

Recently, Syria’s army reported Hezbollah artillery rounds struck a border village. Hezbollah claimed it had defeated an Israeli infiltration attempt from the same location. Israeli authorities said they were unaware of any such mission. Syria’s military stated it was “evaluating suitable options to implement necessary responses.”

Cuban authorities announced early Tuesday that they have successfully restored electrical connections across most of the island nation, following a complete power grid failure that plunged approximately 10 million residents into darkness on Monday.

The Energy and Mines Ministry reported that power lines have been reestablished from the western province of Pinar del Rio extending eastward to Holguin. However, Santiago de Cuba, the nation’s second-most populous city, continues to experience outages.

The nationwide blackout occurred amid severe fuel shortages stemming from U.S. sanctions that have blocked oil shipments from Venezuela and threatened penalties against nations supplying fuel to the Caribbean island.

Even with grid restoration efforts underway, electricity production remains severely limited due to aging infrastructure and insufficient fuel supplies, offering little respite to Cuban citizens who have endured months of extended power outages.

Prior to Monday’s complete system failure, residents throughout Cuba, including those in Havana, were experiencing daily blackouts lasting 16 hours or longer, straining the endurance of a population long familiar with economic challenges.

“It affects every aspect of our lives,” Havana resident Carlos Montes de Oca explained, describing how the outages have disrupted basic necessities like food storage and water access. “All we can do is sit, wait, read a book… otherwise the stress gets to you.”

Cuban officials have not disclosed what triggered Monday’s system-wide power failure, marking the first total grid collapse since Washington severed Cuba’s Venezuelan oil supply and imposed sanctions on fuel shipments to the island.

Weather conditions may have contributed to the crisis, as overcast skies from an approaching cold front reduced output from solar facilities that provide roughly one-third of the nation’s daytime electricity generation.

Shipping data indicates Cuba has received only two small oil tankers this year, highlighting the severity of the fuel shortage.

The power crisis has coincided with diplomatic discussions between Cuban and American officials aimed at addressing what many consider the most serious tensions between the nations since 1959. While neither government has revealed specifics about the ongoing negotiations, President Trump has suggested Cuba is eager to reach an agreement.

In what appears to be a diplomatic overture during the talks, Cuba extended an invitation to Cuban Americans and other expatriates to invest in and establish businesses on the island, though this announcement was overshadowed by the electrical emergency.

Despite the mounting hardships, Cuban residents are displaying their characteristic resilience in the face of adversity.

“We still don’t have power at my house,” Havana resident Juana Perez noted. “But we’ll take it in stride, as we Cubans always do.”

Slovenia’s leader is pointing fingers at outside interference as the country prepares for a crucial election this Sunday, following explosive allegations about a secretive Israeli intelligence company’s activities in the European nation.

Prime Minister Robert Golob made strong accusations Tuesday about “foreign services” meddling in the upcoming vote after investigators claimed that operatives from Black Cube, a private Israeli spy organization, traveled to Slovenia in December for meetings with his main political rival.

The 8 March Institute, a group comprising journalists and activists, published findings suggesting that Black Cube executives, including company head Dan Zorella and consultant Giora Eiland, who previously led Israel’s National Security Council, held discussions with opposition figure Janez Jansa on December 22 in Ljubljana. Their conclusions stem from airline travel documentation and additional intelligence gathering.

Slovenia’s domestic intelligence service verified Monday that Black Cube personnel did enter the country during December, though they stopped short of confirming any meeting occurred with Jansa, whose conservative SDS party currently leads in polling data.

Neither Black Cube nor Jansa have provided responses to the allegations, with the opposition leader flatly rejecting claims of any such encounter.

The potential political implications extend far beyond Slovenia’s borders, particularly regarding Middle Eastern policy. If Jansa’s pro-Israel SDS party captures victory Sunday, it could dramatically shift the nation’s stance on Palestinian issues, contrasting sharply with Golob’s liberal Freedom Movement party, which has championed Palestinian causes.

During Golob’s tenure, Slovenia formally recognized Palestinian statehood and implemented restrictions last year preventing imports of products manufactured in Israeli-controlled Palestinian areas.

Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Golob expressed outrage over the situation: “The fact that … foreign services are interfering in the elections of a democratic member state of the European Union is something unheard of.”

During a televised confrontation between the two candidates Monday night, Golob characterized the matter as the “biggest scandal we have witnessed in Slovenia since independence.”

Jansa countered by suggesting that Golob was attempting to deflect attention from corruption within his own political circle.

Slovenia’s President Natasa Pirc Musar, who maintains political neutrality, has voiced serious concerns about the revelations.

“The extent of the activities of external actors has not yet been fully disclosed or explained, but the activities presented to date seriously undermine the democratic foundations of the Republic of Slovenia, regardless of who leads the government or who is in the opposition,” she stated.

Black Cube gained international notoriety in 2017 when it issued public apologies for conducting covert surveillance operations for Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, who faced sexual misconduct allegations from more than 50 women. Weinstein has consistently denied all accusations of assault or non-consensual encounters.

LinkedIn reported in 2023 that Black Cube orchestrated a hidden camera operation targeting Hungarian journalists and activists before that nation’s 2022 elections.

The intelligence firm, which describes itself on its website as established in 2011 by former members of Israel’s elite spy agencies, previously stated it exclusively handles litigation matters and white-collar criminal cases while following all legal guidelines.

Borut Mekina, a reporter for Mladina weekly magazine who helped compile the investigation, emphasized the timing’s significance: “It’s important for the politics and the people that this was revealed before the election.”

ANKARA, Turkey — Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand declared Tuesday that Ottawa had no advance warning about the U.S.-Israeli military strikes against Iran that ignited the current Middle East war and will not take part in any offensive combat operations.

Speaking by phone with The Associated Press before meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Ankara, Anand emphasized that Canada’s main focus remains reducing tensions in the region and safeguarding civilian populations.

The Canadian foreign minister traveled to Turkey for regional discussions as fighting continues across the Middle East.

Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump urged NATO members and other major nations to assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, cautioning that the alliance could face dire consequences if they decline to help. Iran has shut down the crucial shipping route since hostilities began, causing fuel costs to surge and creating disruptions in global commerce and transportation.

“Canada was not consulted, did not participate in the military action, and has no intention of participating in the offensive military operation,” Anand stated. “Our foreign policy is focused on de-escalation and the protection of civilians and humanitarianism generally.”

The minister noted that during her discussion with Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz, both officials concurred that “de-escalation is of the utmost priority and that the war in the Middle East needs to end in the interests of civilian lives.”

Throughout the conflict, NATO defensive systems have successfully stopped three ballistic missiles launched by Iran toward Turkish airspace. These incidents prompted the alliance to station an additional Patriot missile defense battery on Turkish soil.

In a separate AP interview earlier this week, Fidan stated that Turkey’s primary goal is staying out of the conflict and dismissed the possibility of a military response for now, noting that NATO’s protective measures have proven successful.

When questioned about whether Canada would respond if a NATO member came under attack, Anand replied: “We will take all decisions concerning the alliance in conjunction with the alliance.”

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney originally supported the Iranian strikes but subsequently said he endorsed them “with some regret” because they exemplified an extreme breakdown of global order.

Anand maintained that Canada’s international policy remains unchanged.

“It has been our long-standing position that Iran is a destabilizing force in the Middle East and in particular, Iran’s proliferation of its nuclear capacity,” she explained. Anand clarified that Carney’s shift wasn’t about changing that position, but rather about promoting regional peace, supporting Gulf nations under attack, and putting civilians and infrastructure first.

The Canadian minister also voiced alarm about the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, noting that Lebanese citizens “are bearing the brunt of the ongoing war.”

On Monday, Canada joined France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom in releasing a joint statement cautioning about the serious ramifications of increasing violence in Lebanon. The declaration warned that a major Israeli ground campaign could result in catastrophic humanitarian impacts and that extended fighting “must be averted.”

“And we very much are concerned with Hezbollah’s attacks on Israel and the targeting of civilians,” Anand said. “We want to ensure that there is meaningful engagement by Israeli and Lebanese representatives to negotiate a sustainable political solution.”

TOKYO – Shigeaki Mori, the Japanese historian who survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and gained worldwide recognition when President Barack Obama embraced him during a landmark 2016 visit, has passed away at age 88.

Mori was just 8 years old in 1937 when he lived through the devastating August 6, 1945 atomic blast while located just 1½ miles from ground zero. Three decades later, he discovered a tragic irony – American prisoners of war detained in Japan had also perished in the bombing carried out by their own nation.

While maintaining his regular job at a company, Mori dedicated himself to investigating both American and Japanese government records. Through his painstaking research, he identified 12 American POWs who died in the attack and reached out to their grieving families in the United States, many of whom had never learned the circumstances of their relatives’ deaths.

The atomic strike on Hiroshima immediately leveled the city and claimed tens of thousands of lives. By year’s end, the death count reached 140,000. The subsequent bombing of Nagasaki resulted in another 70,000 fatalities.

In 2008, Mori published his findings in a Japanese book titled “The Secret of the American POWs Killed by the Atomic Bomb.” The work earned him the distinguished Kikuchi Kan Prize and was subsequently published in English translation.

According to the English edition’s publishers, Mori passed away on Sunday. Japanese news outlets confirmed he died at a hospital in Hiroshima.

His decades of investigation ultimately resulted in official U.S. acknowledgment of the 12 American servicemen’s deaths in the bombing.

“The research I spent more than 40 years was not about people from the enemy country. It was about human beings,” Mori reflected in later years.

When Obama made history in 2016 as the first sitting U.S. president to visit Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park, he referenced “a dozen Americans held prisoner” among the bombing victims in his address. Obama praised Mori for reaching out to the American families, recognizing that their grief matched his own experience, and concluded their meeting with an emotional embrace.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced Monday that his nation will refuse to participate in any military actions aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz during ongoing Middle East conflicts.

Speaking at the opening of a cabinet session focused on Middle Eastern tensions, Macron emphasized France’s neutral stance in the regional disputes.

“We are not party to the conflict and therefore France will never take part in operations to open or liberate the Strait of Hormuz in the current context,” Macron stated.

The French leader indicated his government is instead focusing efforts on building an international coalition designed to ensure safe passage through the vital shipping lane once the current hostilities conclude.

Macron’s comments came during discussions with his cabinet about the escalating situation across the Middle East region.

Somalia’s South West regional government declared Tuesday it would halt all collaboration and diplomatic relations with the national administration based in Mogadishu, marking another fracture in the East African nation’s unstable federal structure.

During a news briefing, regional officials from South West state leveled serious allegations against the central government, claiming federal authorities have been providing weapons to armed groups while orchestrating efforts to remove their president, Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen, from office.

Attempts to reach Somalia’s defense and information ministers for their response to these accusations were unsuccessful, as neither official replied to requests for comment from Reuters.

Political tensions frequently emerge in Somalia due to disagreements about constitutional reforms, electoral processes, and how much authority should rest with the central government versus regional administrations.

According to the South West leadership, their relationship with Mogadishu deteriorated significantly after federal officials forced through constitutional changes that several state leaders had opposed.

The political rift has already created practical consequences, with travel companies reporting Tuesday that passenger flights connecting Mogadishu to Baidoa, South West state’s administrative center, have been suspended. However, humanitarian aircraft, including those supporting United Nations missions, continue operating.

Baidoa holds strategic importance both politically and militarily, situated approximately 245 kilometers northwest of Mogadishu. The city serves as headquarters for federal military units, regional security personnel, and international aid organizations working in an area severely impacted by drought conditions, ongoing conflicts, and population displacement.

This latest dispute reflects broader tensions between Mogadishu and various regional authorities throughout Somalia. The breakaway territory of Somaliland proclaimed its independence in 1991 and has operated outside federal control ever since.

Earlier this year in March 2024, the semi-autonomous region of Puntland announced it would cease recognizing federal authority until controversial constitutional modifications receive approval through a national public vote.

Most recently, the semi-autonomous region of Jubbaland terminated its relationship with the central government in November 2024 following disagreements over how regional elections should be conducted.