Category: World News

CARACAS, Venezuela — For the first time in five years, the Stars and Stripes flew over the United States Embassy in Venezuela on Saturday, marking a significant diplomatic milestone between the two nations following dramatic political upheaval that saw former President Nicolás Maduro detained by U.S. military forces in January.

The embassy’s restoration follows public endorsements from President Donald Trump for acting President Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro’s replacement, who has worked to maintain diplomatic dialogue with Washington.

Embassy officials marked the occasion on social media, stating the flag was raised “exactly seven years after it was taken down.”

Local Venezuelans gathered to witness the historic moment expressed optimism about renewed diplomatic ties.

“It’s a good thing, really, what a joy,” said Caracas resident Luz Verónica López. “Other countries must come back too because that’s what we need; progress, to move forward with good relations with the rest of the world, as it should be.”

Fellow resident Alessandro Di Benedetto observed the celebratory mood among onlookers. “I found several people here surprised and happy because today they raised the U.S. flag at the embassy,” he said. “This is positive; this is another step.”

However, the diplomatic progress faces resistance from significant portions of Venezuelan society and political circles who oppose Trump’s military intervention that resulted in Maduro’s removal and imprisonment in New York alongside his spouse, as well as increased U.S. involvement in Venezuela’s petroleum sector.

Medical officials at a Brasilia hospital report that imprisoned former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s kidney problems have deteriorated since his transfer to intensive care earlier this week. The 70-year-old ex-leader is battling pneumonia, and doctors describe his condition as serious yet stable.

Hospital staff moved Bolsonaro from his prison cell to DF Star Hospital on Friday after he developed concerning symptoms including high fever, difficulty breathing, excessive sweating, and chills. Medical tests revealed he has bronchopneumonia, which doctors believe developed from aspiration.

The former leader, who held office from 2019 to 2022, is currently serving a 27-year sentence for orchestrating a failed coup attempt in 2023. Medical staff noted that inflammatory indicators in his blood have risen since beginning treatment.

Bolsonaro’s family members have repeatedly petitioned Brazil’s Supreme Court to allow him to serve his sentence at home, arguing that prison medical care has been inadequate. Prison officials moved him from federal police headquarters to more spacious accommodations in January.

This latest hospitalization continues a pattern of medical issues stemming from a 2018 stabbing incident during his presidential campaign. His son, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, who is preparing to challenge current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in upcoming elections, addressed reporters about his father’s condition.

“Unfortunately we have to learn how to live with this. It is not the first, the second or the third time my father is hospitalized because of the problems coming from the stabbing,” Flávio Bolsonaro told journalists in Brasilia. “He is stable, he did not improve, but he is stable.”

The former president faces additional convictions related to leading an armed criminal organization and attempting to violently overthrow democratic institutions. Bolsonaro maintains his innocence on all charges.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has dismissed suggestions that the nation’s new Supreme Leader is facing health issues, according to a Saturday interview with MS Now.

Araqchi’s comments came as a direct response to statements made Friday by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who alleged that Mojtaba Khamenei had sustained injuries and possible disfigurement.

The Iranian foreign minister stated during the interview that there are no concerns regarding Supreme Leader Khamenei’s condition.

The Trump administration has declined diplomatic overtures from Middle Eastern partners seeking to broker peace talks and end the ongoing conflict with Iran that began two weeks ago following a large-scale U.S.-Israeli military operation, according to three sources with knowledge of the diplomatic efforts.

Iranian officials have similarly dismissed any possibility of a ceasefire while American and Israeli military strikes continue, two high-ranking Iranian sources revealed to Reuters. They noted that multiple nations have attempted to facilitate negotiations between the warring parties.

The unwillingness of both Washington and Tehran to engage in dialogue indicates both nations are preparing for a prolonged military confrontation, despite mounting civilian deaths and Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz causing global oil prices to spike dramatically.

Friday evening’s American military strikes against Iran’s Kharg Island, the nation’s primary oil export facility, demonstrated Trump’s commitment to continuing the military campaign. Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has pledged to maintain the Strait of Hormuz blockade and threatened to escalate attacks against regional nations.

The conflict has resulted in over 2,000 deaths, primarily Iranian casualties, and has created an unprecedented disruption to global oil supplies as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has ceased. This critical waterway normally handles one-fifth of worldwide oil transportation.

DIPLOMATIC CHANNELS REMAIN CLOSED

Oman, which previously facilitated diplomatic discussions before hostilities began, has made repeated attempts to establish communication channels, but the White House has indicated no interest, according to two sources who requested anonymity to discuss sensitive diplomatic matters.

A senior White House official verified that Trump has rejected these diplomatic initiatives and remains focused on advancing military operations to further diminish Tehran’s defense capabilities.

“He’s not interested in that right now, and we’re going to continue with the mission unabated. Maybe there’s a day, but not right now,” the official stated.

During the conflict’s initial week, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform claiming Iran’s leadership and military forces were so damaged by U.S.-Israeli attacks that they sought negotiations, but declared it was “Too Late!” His track record of unexpected foreign policy reversals makes it difficult to completely dismiss the possibility he might explore diplomatic options.

“President Trump said new potential leadership in Iran has indicated they want to talk and eventually will talk. For now, Operation Epic Fury continues unabated,” a second senior White House official commented when asked about this report.

The Iranian sources indicated Tehran has refused mediation attempts by various countries to arrange a ceasefire until the United States and Israel halt their air campaigns and satisfy Iran’s conditions, which include a permanent cessation of U.S. and Israeli attacks plus financial compensation as part of any ceasefire agreement.

Egypt, which participated in pre-war mediation efforts, has also attempted to reestablish communication channels, according to three security and diplomatic sources. While these initiatives appear unsuccessful, they have achieved some military restraint from neighboring countries targeted by Iran, one source reported.

Representatives from Egypt’s foreign ministry, Oman’s government, and Iran’s government did not respond to comment requests.

ESCALATING TENSIONS ON MULTIPLE FRONTS

The conflict’s effects on international oil markets have substantially increased costs for the United States.

Some U.S. officials and Trump advisers advocate for rapidly ending the war, cautioning that rising fuel prices could create significant political consequences for the president’s Republican Party as midterm elections approach.

Other advisers encourage Trump to continue the offensive against the Islamic Republic to eliminate its missile capabilities and block its nuclear weapons development, according to Reuters reporting.

Trump’s dismissal of diplomatic initiatives suggests the administration currently has no intentions of quickly concluding the war.

Both the United States and Iran now appear even more reluctant to negotiate than during the war’s early days, when senior U.S. officials contacted Oman about reducing tensions, multiple sources confirmed.

One source revealed that Iran’s top security official, Ali Larijani, and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had attempted to utilize Oman as an intermediary for ceasefire negotiations that would have included U.S. Vice President JD Vance.

However, those discussions never occurred.

Instead, Iran’s stance has become more rigid, a third senior Iranian source indicated.

“Whatever was communicated previously through the diplomatic channels is irrelevant now,” the source explained.

“The Guards strongly believe that if they lose control over the Strait of Hormuz, Iran will lose the war,” the source continued, referencing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, an elite paramilitary organization that controls significant portions of the economy.

“Therefore, the Guards will not accept any ceasefire, ceasefire talks, or diplomatic efforts, and Iran’s political leaders will not engage in such talks despite attempts by several countries.”

The European Union announced Thursday it will continue sanctions targeting supporters of Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine for another six months, despite ongoing resistance from Hungary and Slovakia.

The decision by the Council, which represents all 27 EU member nations, keeps restrictive measures in place until September 15 against those accused of undermining Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.

While maintaining the bulk of sanctions, EU officials did make some adjustments to the list. Two living individuals had their sanctions lifted, including Dutch national Niels Troost, who had been sanctioned for involvement in Russian oil trading, according to diplomatic sources. Additionally, five deceased individuals were removed from the sanctions roster.

Currently, approximately 2,600 people and organizations face these punitive measures, which include travel bans, asset freezes, and prohibitions on providing financial resources to those listed. These sanctions have grown progressively since Russia launched its military offensive against Ukraine in February 2022.

The extension faced hurdles from Hungary and Slovakia, both countries having previously pushed for the removal of several Russian oligarchs from the sanctions framework, EU diplomatic sources revealed.

Adding to the tension, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban called on the European Union Monday to halt sanctions targeting Russian energy, citing rising prices driven by the conflict in Iran. Both Hungary and Slovakia have also clashed with Ukraine regarding Russian oil shipments flowing through the Druzhba pipeline system.

JERUSALEM – According to two knowledgeable sources cited by Israeli publication Haaretz on Saturday, Israel and Lebanon are preparing for face-to-face negotiations in the upcoming days, marking their first direct diplomatic contact since the Iran conflict began and subsequently drew Lebanon into the broader regional fighting.

The discussions are anticipated to take place either in Paris or Cyprus, with Jared Kushner, son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump, participating in the process. Ron Dermer, a close ally of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is slated to head Israel’s negotiating team, according to the Haaretz report.

The diplomatic efforts are planned to concentrate on halting the violence in Lebanon and dismantling the Lebanese militant organization Hezbollah, the newspaper indicated.

The Lebanese armed faction began attacking Israeli targets on March 2, stating they were responding to the assassination of Iran’s supreme leader when the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran commenced.

Following these attacks, Israel initiated a comprehensive aerial bombardment campaign targeting the influential Lebanese militant group. This military action has resulted in over 770 fatalities and forced hundreds of thousands of civilians from their homes. Meanwhile, Hezbollah has launched hundreds of rocket strikes into Israeli territory across the border.

Rwandan officials announced March 14 that they may pull their military forces from Mozambique’s troubled Cabo Delgado province if international financial support continues to fall short of mission requirements.

Since deploying at Mozambique’s invitation in 2021, Rwandan forces have successfully helped stabilize territories once controlled by Islamic extremist groups, according to government spokesperson Yolande Makolo in a social media statement.

Reports from Bloomberg indicate the European Union’s mission funding will end in May without current plans for extension. EU representatives in Brussels have not yet responded to requests for comment on the matter.

Makolo emphasized that continuing the deployment depends on “adequate, predictable funding” and referenced the Bloomberg coverage in her remarks.

“Should the RDF (Rwanda Defence Force) Command assess that the work being done by Rwandan Security Forces in Cabo Delgado is not appreciated, they would be right to urge the government to end this bilateral counter-terrorism arrangement and pull out,” she stated.

Mozambican officials were not available for immediate response to the announcement.

European Union contributions have totaled approximately 20 million euros ($23 million) so far, which Makolo described as only a small portion of actual mission expenses. She noted Rwanda’s government has spent at least ten times that EU amount on the operation.

The violent insurgency began in 2017 in the natural gas-rich region, forcing TotalEnergies to suspend work on its $20 billion liquefied natural gas facility. The French energy giant and Mozambican authorities reached an agreement in January to restart the project’s construction.

Officials report significant security improvements throughout Cabo Delgado, especially near Total’s Afungi construction location where Rwandan forces maintain a presence. While considerably weakened, the Islamic insurgency remains active in the area.

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s medical condition has taken a concerning turn while he remains hospitalized in intensive care, according to doctors treating the imprisoned leader.

Medical staff at DF Star hospital in Brasilia reported Saturday that while the 70-year-old politician’s overall condition remains steady, recent laboratory work reveals declining kidney function alongside elevated inflammation levels. Hospital officials have not provided a timeline for when Bolsonaro might be released from medical care.

The former leader was admitted to the hospital Friday following a bronchoaspiration incident that developed into bronchopneumonia, a serious lung infection that begins in the airways before spreading deeper into lung tissue and can severely impact breathing.

Medical teams are providing comprehensive care including antibiotic medications, intravenous fluid therapy, breathing treatments, physical therapy for movement, and preventative measures to avoid blood clots, the hospital reported.

Bolsonaro is currently incarcerated while serving a 27-year prison term for his role in orchestrating a coup attempt following his defeat in the 2022 presidential race against current leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Legal representatives and family members of the former president have repeatedly petitioned the courts to allow him to serve his sentence under house arrest rather than in prison since his incarceration began last year. However, Justice Alexandre de Moraes, the judge overseeing the case, has consistently rejected these requests, with higher court panels supporting his rulings.

Israeli forces have issued a warning that they may target ambulances and medical facilities in Lebanon, alleging that the militant group Hezbollah is exploiting these services for military operations, though no evidence was provided to support this accusation.

Avichai Adraee, the Israeli military’s Arabic language spokesperson, posted on X that “As part of its terrorist activities, Hezbollah is using ambulances extensively for military purposes,” demanding this practice cease immediately.

“If this practice does not stop, Israel will act in accordance with international law against any military activity carried out by the terrorist group Hezbollah using these facilities and ambulances,” Adraee stated.

A representative from Hezbollah rejected the allegations, stating that the organization was not utilizing ambulances or medical facilities for military operations.

When asked to provide proof of their claims regarding Hezbollah’s alleged misuse of medical infrastructure, Israeli military officials did not respond immediately.

According to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, no fewer than 26 healthcare workers and emergency responders have lost their lives in Israeli attacks since March 2. Israeli military leadership maintains they implement safeguards aimed at minimizing civilian casualties.

The Iran-supported Hezbollah began attacking Israeli targets on March 2, claiming the action was revenge for Iran’s supreme leader’s death during the beginning of the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran.

Following this escalation, Israel initiated a comprehensive aerial bombardment campaign targeting the influential Lebanese militant organization, resulting in over 700 deaths and forcing hundreds of thousands from their homes, while Hezbollah has launched numerous rockets into Israeli territory.

On Friday, Israeli warplanes scattered leaflets across Beirut, warning of potential destruction comparable to the devastation inflicted on Gaza throughout Israel’s two-year conflict with Hamas militants. Large portions of Gaza have been demolished, with most residents forced to flee their homes.

Throughout its Gaza operations, Israel conducted multiple raids and strikes against hospitals, claiming militants were operating from these locations. Hamas has rejected accusations of hiding among Gaza’s civilian population, although portions of their tunnel system have been discovered running underneath medical facilities.

Under international law, civilian infrastructure including hospitals are designated as protected locations. While both attacking medical facilities and using them for military purposes typically violate international law, they may lose their protected designation under specific circumstances.

Israeli forces bombed a bridge in southern Lebanon on Friday, stating Hezbollah was utilizing the structure, while Defense Minister Israel Katz warned of potential strikes against national infrastructure that Hezbollah exploits.

Israel has increased troop deployments along its northern Lebanese border and has indicated preparations for an extended military campaign.

A senior Israeli official informed Reuters on Friday that operations against Hezbollah would likely intensify and persist beyond any strikes against Iran.

The official revealed that targeting civilian infrastructure remains under consideration by leadership.

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem announced Friday that his organization was ready for a prolonged conflict.

BERLIN — Jürgen Habermas, a towering figure in philosophy whose groundbreaking research on communication and rational thought established him as one of the most important thinkers of our time, passed away at age 96.

The German scholar died Saturday at his home in Starnberg, a town located near Munich, according to his publishing house Suhrkamp.

Throughout his career spanning multiple decades, Habermas regularly offered commentary on major political developments. His scholarly writings spanned multiple academic fields, offering insights into contemporary society and how people interact with one another. Among his most celebrated contributions was his comprehensive two-part work “Theory of Communicative Action.”

The philosopher, who was just 15 when Nazi Germany collapsed, later described how witnessing the beginning of a new chapter in 1945 and confronting the horrific truth about Nazi atrocities shaped his intellectual journey into philosophy and social analysis. He remembered realizing “you saw suddenly that it was a politically criminal system in which you had lived.”

During the turbulent student protests of the late 1960s, Habermas maintained a complex stance toward the left-wing movement in Germany and elsewhere. While he participated in discussions with activists, he also cautioned against what he termed “left-wing fascism” — a response to an inflammatory address by a student organizer that he later acknowledged was “slightly out of place.” Years afterward, he would credit the movement with spurring a “fundamental liberalization” throughout German society.

During the 1980s, Habermas played a central role in what became known as the Historians’ Dispute, where Berlin academic Ernst Nolte and his colleagues advocated for a revised interpretation of the Third Reich and German national identity. These historians sought to draw parallels between Hitler’s regime and brutalities committed by other nations, including Stalin’s mass killings in the Soviet Union. Habermas and his allies argued that these conservative scholars were attempting to diminish the severity of Nazi atrocities through such historical comparisons.

The philosopher endorsed the election of center-left leader Gerhard Schröder as Chancellor in 1998. He later criticized the “technocratic” governing style and apparent absence of political imagination under Schröder’s conservative replacement, Angela Merkel, lamenting in 2016 about the numbing impact on public discourse of “the foam blanket of Merkel’s policy of sending people to sleep.”

He expressed particular frustration with the “limited interest” demonstrated by German political figures, corporate executives and journalists in “shaping a politically effective Europe.” In 2017, he commended newly inaugurated French President Emmanuel Macron for presenting comprehensive European reform proposals, noting that “the way he speaks about Europe makes a difference.”

Born June 18, 1929, in Duesseldorf, Habermas spent his childhood in the neighboring town of Gummersbach, where his father served as director of the local chamber of commerce. At age 10, he joined the Deutsches Jungvolk, the Hitler Youth division for younger children.

A cleft palate condition at birth required multiple surgical procedures during his youth, an experience that significantly influenced his later theoretical work on language and communication.

Habermas described discovering the significance of verbal communication as “a layer of commonality without which we as individuals cannot exist” and remembered his difficulties in making others understand him. He also discussed the “superiority of the written word,” explaining that “the written form conceals the flaws of the oral.”

His spouse, Ute Habermas-Wesselhoeft, passed away last year. The couple raised three children together: Tilmann, Rebekka, who died in 2023, and Judith.

BERLIN – Juergen Habermas, the influential German thinker whose theories on democratic dialogue helped guide his nation’s moral awakening after World War II, passed away Saturday at age 96 in Starnberg, Germany, according to his publisher Suhrkamp.

For seven decades, the renowned philosopher’s public commentary – ranging from harsh criticism of fascist ideology in the 1950s to recent concerns about growing militarism and nationalism in Germany – influenced his country during pivotal moments in its history.

His enduring impact and the continued relevance of his work stand out particularly as Germany grapples with declining post-war pacifism and the far-right Alternative for Germany party’s rise to become the nation’s second-largest political force in parliament.

FORMATIVE YEARS AND EARLY INFLUENCE

Habermas entered the world on June 18, 1929, into a middle-class family in Dusseldorf. Born with a cleft palate that required multiple surgeries during infancy and childhood, he developed a speech impediment that scholars often point to as a formative influence on his later work examining human communication.

His upbringing occurred in a devoutly Protestant home where his economist father became a Nazi party member in 1933, though Habermas later described him as merely a “passive sympathiser.” Like most German youth of his generation, he joined the Hitler Youth organization. When he turned 15 near the war’s end, he successfully evaded military conscription by hiding from authorities seeking to draft him into the Wehrmacht.

During his studies at the University of Bonn, Habermas met fellow student Ute Wesselhoeft, with whom he bonded over their shared love of contemporary art, film and literature. The pair wed in 1955 and remained married until her death last year. They are survived by their children Tilmann and Judith. Their daughter Rebekka, who worked as a modern historian, passed away in 2023.

Habermas gained recognition as both a journalist and scholar during the 1950s, drawing inspiration from the Frankfurt School and Marxist philosophers including Theodor Adorno and Max Horkheimer.

His groundbreaking academic work traced how public discourse evolved from the elite salons of 18th-century Europe into the mass media-dominated public arena of the 20th century.

This analysis struck a chord with West Germans who were learning to engage in open political discussion following their liberation from Nazi rule, particularly as they lived under a conservative government that showed little patience for opposing viewpoints.

According to Philipp Felsch, author of the biography “The Philosopher,” Habermas essentially became a “public educator” for post-war Germans, maintaining both optimism and skepticism about their capacity to maintain democratic institutions.

CONFRONTING HISTORICAL RESPONSIBILITY

In 1986, Habermas sparked a major national discussion about the Holocaust after historians such as Ernst Nolte suggested that Nazi atrocities were not exceptional and should be viewed within the broader context of European warfare and violence.

Arguing for the singular nature of Third Reich crimes, Habermas insisted that “Vergangenheitsbewältigung” – the process of confronting and processing the past – must remain fundamental to German national identity.

“It was extremely important that Germany took a clear position on the question of guilt,” former foreign minister Joschka Fischer explained. “I was only able to understand the full implications of [Habermas’s contribution] later on.”

The distinctive German culture of Holocaust remembrance that emerged from this debate faces renewed challenges today, as the far-right AfD minimizes Nazi crimes and claims the Holocaust is weaponized against their movement.

EUROPEAN VISION AND RECENT CONTROVERSIES

When German reunification appeared likely in 1989, Habermas re-entered public discourse, though his wariness about recreating a unified German nation-state angered many of his countrymen.

He subsequently became a passionate supporter of European integration, viewing it as protection against renewed German nationalism. Following the millennium, he worked unsuccessfully to advance the adoption of a European constitution.

In a notable shift, Habermas gradually embraced religion as a significant and potentially positive influence in contemporary society. Having previously championed secularization, he eventually advocated for peaceful coexistence between secular and sacred elements. “Religion,” he contended, “is still indispensable in ordinary life for normalising intercourse with the extraordinary.” When asked about his personal faith, he responded: “I am, religiously-speaking, rather unmusical.”

Habermas’s final major public statement came in 2022 when he supported then-Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s measured approach to military assistance for Ukraine.

He subsequently advocated for diplomatic talks with Moscow, prompting Ukraine’s then-ambassador to Germany, Andrij Melnyk, to denounce him as a “disgrace for German philosophy” who would make fellow philosophers Kant and Hegel “turn over in their graves.”

Habermas later explained his stance: while he viewed the assault on Ukraine as “a fateful violation” of Europe’s post-World War II restraint regarding “the archaic violence of war,” he worried that this confrontation with a nuclear-armed nation “did not trigger any anguished reflection, but instead immediately prompted a highly emotionalised war mentality.”

FINAL CONCERNS

When biographer Felsch visited Habermas at his Bavarian residence in autumn 2023, he found a “very gloomy” individual who feared his political and philosophical contributions were in jeopardy.

Habermas voiced concerns that the Ukrainian conflict would lead Europe to “gambling away the last remnants of its geopolitical credibility” and worried about militarism’s resurgence in Germany, Felsch told public broadcaster rbb.

“What fascinated me during the visit was this encounter with a still very lucid thinker in whom I saw the embodiment of the country I grew up in, but that no longer existed,” Felsch reflected.

Anti-government demonstrators violently stormed a Communist Party headquarters in northern Cuba during the early morning hours of Saturday, according to state media reports, marking an unusual display of public unrest sparked by deteriorating power outages and worsening U.S. economic sanctions.

The demonstration began as a peaceful gathering Friday evening in Moron, a coastal city located approximately 250 miles east of Havana near the Cayo Coco tourist destination, but escalated into violence by Saturday morning, the state-controlled Invasor newspaper reported.

Social media footage captured large flames and individuals hurling stones through building windows while voices could be heard calling out “liberty” in the background. Reuters could not independently verify the authenticity of the videos purportedly showing the disturbance in Moron.

The escalating tensions come as the United States has intensified economic pressure on Cuba throughout this year following the January capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who serves as Cuba’s primary international ally and economic supporter.

President Trump has eliminated Venezuelan petroleum deliveries to Cuba and issued threats of imposing tariffs on any nation that provides oil to the island nation, creating additional strain on an economy already facing severe shortages of food, fuel, electricity, and medical supplies.

Trump has recently made multiple public statements suggesting Cuba is approaching economic collapse or seeking negotiations with the United States. Cuban officials announced Friday that discussions with Washington have commenced in an effort to ease the current crisis.

Violent public demonstrations are extremely uncommon in Cuba. While Cuba’s 2019 constitution provides citizens with demonstration rights, specific legislation defining those rights remains stalled in the legislative process, creating legal uncertainty for street protesters.

“What initially began peacefully, and after an exchange with local authorities, turned into acts of vandalism against the headquarters of the Municipal Party Committee,” the Invasor newspaper said.

“A smaller group of people stoned the entrance of the building and started a fire in the street with furniture from the reception area,” it added.

The vandalism extended to multiple other government-operated facilities in the surrounding area, including a pharmacy and a state-run market, according to the report.

One unconfirmed social media video captured what appeared to be gunfire, with the camera showing someone on the ground. However, the state media outlet Vanguardia de Cuba refuted online claims that police had shot the individual.

“The image circulating shows the scene of the protest, but it’s important for the public to know the truth: no one was injured by gunfire,” Vanguardia de Cuba said on X.

“Media manipulation seeks to sow fear and confusion among our people. Let’s not fall for provocations,” it added.

Authorities arrested five individuals, while one intoxicated participant suffered injuries from falling and received treatment at a nearby hospital.

Throughout the past week, small groups of Havana residents have engaged in pot-banging protests against extended power outages.

University students conducted a sit-in demonstration Monday on the University of Havana steps after officials canceled in-person classes, citing the U.S. oil embargo as the cause. Fuel shortages have severely limited public transportation, creating significant obstacles for educators and students attempting to attend classes.

Moron previously experienced substantial protests during the July 11, 2021 anti-government demonstrations, which represented the largest civil unrest since Fidel Castro’s 1959 revolution.

KAPIKOY BORDER CROSSING, Turkey (AP) — When explosions struck close to her residence in Golestan, a city in eastern Iran, 32-year-old hairdresser Merve Pourkaz made the difficult decision to abandon her home.

The young woman journeyed approximately 1,500 kilometers (932 miles) to reach a mountainous border checkpoint, hoping to find refuge in the Turkish city of Van.

“If they let me, I will stay in Van until the war ends,” she told The Associated Press recently while waiting at the crossing. “If the war doesn’t end, maybe I’ll go back and die.”

According to United Nations refugee agency estimates, Pourkaz represents one of 3.2 million Iranians who have been forced from their homes since fighting began between the U.S.-Israel coalition and Iran. While many are finding temporary refuge in more secure areas within Iran or in adjacent nations, some individuals are actually traveling back from overseas, determined to defend their loved ones and property.

The number of people choosing to leave remains relatively small thus far: U.N. data shows approximately 1,300 Iranians cross into Turkey daily since hostilities commenced, with some days seeing more people return to Iran than depart. However, Iran’s neighboring countries and European nations are expressing growing alarm about a potential refugee emergency if the conflict continues, prompting preparations for various scenarios.

While Pourkaz made her way into Turkey, 45-year-old Leila Rabetnezhadfard traveled in the opposite direction.

Rabetnezhadfard had been in Istanbul making wedding plans with a German university professor when the conflict erupted. She delayed her marriage ceremony and departed for her hometown of Shiraz in southern Iran.

“How can I feel safe in Istanbul when my family is living in Iran during the war?” said Rabetnezhadfard, explaining that bringing her family to Istanbul wasn’t an option because her apartment is small, her brother needs medical care, and life there is expensive.

“I will not leave Iran until the war ends,” she said.

United Nations officials have cautioned that ongoing hostilities will probably force additional Iranians to abandon their residences.

Similar to the 12-day military action from the previous year, numerous Iranians are currently remaining in their homes, either lacking funds to evacuate or responding to U.S. President Donald Trump’s February 28 advisory.

“Stay sheltered. Don’t leave your home. It’s very dangerous outside. Bombs will be dropping everywhere,” he said.

While massive numbers of Iranians have not yet departed the nation, residents have been moving from major urban centers to the comparatively safer rural areas near the Caspian Sea north of Tehran, the capital, according to the International Organization for Migration.

“Movement out of Iran appears limited mainly because people are prioritizing staying with their families, as well as the safety of their families and property, and due to security conditions and logistical constraints,” said Salvador Gutierrez, chief of the IOM’s mission in Iran.

Should Iran’s essential infrastructure face destruction, this could trigger mass movements of people attempting to enter one of Iran’s neighboring nations: Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Turkey and Iraq.

“If Tehran, a city of 10 million people, doesn’t have water, they’re going to go somewhere,” said Alex Vatanka, a fellow at the Middle East Institute in Washington.

The country already hosts one of the globe’s largest displaced populations: approximately 2.5 million forced migrants primarily from Afghanistan and Iraq.

Should the situation worsen, humanitarian organizations indicate the most probable destinations for displaced people would be Iran’s frontiers with Iraq and Turkey, spanning roughly 2,200 kilometers (1,367 miles) across challenging mountainous landscape inhabited by numerous Kurdish populations and difficult to monitor.

Turkey previously maintained what officials called an open-door policy that permitted millions of Syrian displaced persons to enter during Syria’s prolonged civil conflict. However, the country has since abandoned this strategy for multiple reasons.

Turkish officials have instead developed plans to house Iranian refugees in “buffer zones” near the frontier, or in temporary camps or housing within Turkey, according to the country’s Hurriyet newspaper quoting Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci.

Iranians who have escaped the fighting will probably not pursue official refugee recognition in Turkey because asylum applications could require years to resolve, if approved at all, according to Sara Karakoyun, an aid worker at the independent Human Resource Development Foundation located near the border.

“They don’t want to wait in limbo for years for a refugee status they might not get,” she said.

Turkey’s defense ministry announced in January that the nation had strengthened its Iranian border by constructing 380 kilometers of concrete barriers, 203 optical monitoring towers and 43 surveillance positions.

Turkey will probably deploy military forces to patrol its frontier and strictly regulate the movement of people entering the country while requesting European Union funding to assist with refugee management, according to Riccardo Gasco, an analyst at the IstanPol Institute.

The Syrian refugee emergency from ten years ago fundamentally changed EU-Turkey relations. Almost two-thirds of the 4.5 million Syrians escaping civil war settled in Turkey. Many subsequently traveled to Europe using small watercraft.

Brussels and Ankara negotiated a migration agreement in 2016 where the EU provided Turkey incentives and up to 6 billion euros ($7.1 billion) in assistance for Syrian refugees within its borders to convince Ankara to prevent tens of thousands of migrants from departing for Greece.

Humanitarian groups criticized that agreement for creating outdoor detention facilities with deplorable conditions. However, EU leadership viewed the deal as life-saving, preventing many migrants from reaching EU territory while improving refugee conditions in Turkey.

The agreement’s renewal comes up this year, but Turkish public opinion has turned against Syrian refugees and anti-immigration right-wing political movements have gained strength across parts of Europe.

Additionally, another displacement crisis is already developing even nearer to Europe, with combat in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah forcing more than 800,000 people from their homes so far.

“We’ve got a situation (in the Middle East) that could have grave humanitarian consequences right at a time where humanitarian funding has been completely slashed,” said Ninette Kelley, chair of the World Refugee & Migration Council, pointing to the Trump administration’s gutting of USAID. “Is the world ready for another humanitarian disaster?”

CAIRO, March 14 – In an unprecedented public statement about Iranian policy, the Palestinian militant organization Hamas has urged Tehran to exercise restraint with neighboring nations while backing Iran’s right to defend itself against U.S.-Israeli strikes.

This marks the first occasion Hamas has openly weighed in on Iran’s strategic decisions. The group has shown support for Iran throughout the ongoing conflict but has previously avoided making threats about potential retaliatory measures.

“While the group affirms Iran’s right to respond to this aggression by all available means in accordance with international norms and laws, it calls upon our brothers in Iran not to target neighboring countries,” the organization stated.

Hamas also urged regional nations and international bodies to work toward an immediate end to the current warfare.

A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza took effect in October, though sporadic violence has continued to erupt. Israeli military operations in Gaza initially decreased when the conflict with Iran began but have subsequently intensified.

Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah launched attacks against Israel on March 2 in response to the assassination of Iran’s supreme leader at the conflict’s outset. Israel has since conducted extensive strikes against Lebanon and targeted the militant group.

The Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen, who initiated a maritime campaign against vessels they believed were connected to Israel in the Red Sea during the Gaza conflict, have also demonstrated strong support for Tehran. However, they have not yet indicated plans to restart their attacks.

KAMPALA, Uganda — Popular Ugandan opposition figure Bobi Wine announced Saturday that he has escaped the country while evading a military manhunt following January’s contested presidential race.

The opposition leader, born Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, disappeared from public view after the January 15 election results. Official tallies showed incumbent President Yoweri Museveni secured 71.6% of votes, but Wine denounced these numbers as fraudulent.

For several weeks, Wine’s whereabouts remained a mystery, sparking widespread worry about his wellbeing as army commander Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba issued repeated warnings against him on social media platform X.

The general, who is Museveni’s son and expected successor, has implied Wine faces criminal charges without providing specifics. However, Ugandan police officials deny actively pursuing him.

Speaking in a video message shared on X Saturday, a bearded Wine confirmed his departure from Uganda without disclosing his destination.

“Fellow Ugandans and friends of Uganda all over the world, by the time you see this video I will have left the country for some critical engagements outside Uganda,” he said. “And at the right time I will come back and continue with the cause. I thank all of you fellow Ugandans who have concealed and protected me for all this time when the regime was looking for me.”

Wine credited ordinary citizens for his ability to evade capture, stating security forces couldn’t locate him “because the people have protected me.”

Government troops stormed Wine’s residence one day after the January 15 voting concluded, but the candidate had already vanished, concerned for his safety after weeks of campaigning while wearing protective gear at events heavily monitored by security personnel.

Kainerugaba has spearheaded efforts to locate Wine, labeling him a “baboon” and “terrorist” in social media posts. The general frequently shares inflammatory content online, which he typically removes afterward.

Among seven challengers to Museveni’s rule, Wine gained significant support from younger voters in cities, many facing unemployment or frustrated by government corruption and limited economic prospects. These supporters desire political transformation after four decades under the same leadership.

The 81-year-old Museveni is scheduled for inauguration in May, beginning a seventh term that would extend his rule to nearly five decades.

Museveni’s backers praise him for maintaining relative stability and peace, making Uganda a refuge for hundreds of thousands fleeing conflicts across the region. Critics, including former allies, argue his administration has become increasingly authoritarian.

BERLIN — A leading Belarus democracy activist finally collected a prestigious European award on Saturday, four years after she was imprisoned for challenging her country’s authoritarian government.

Maria Kolesnikova received the International Charlemagne Prize during a ceremony in Aachen, Germany. The award was originally given to her in 2022, but her sister Tatsiana Khomich had to accept it on her behalf while Kolesnikova remained behind bars.

The 43-year-old became a central figure during the massive demonstrations that swept through Belarus in 2020. She worked closely with opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who was forced to flee the country after mounting an electoral challenge against longtime dictator Alexander Lukashenko.

Kolesnikova became instantly recognizable during the protests with her short haircut, bright smile, and signature move of forming a heart shape with her hands while leading marches. Her status as a resistance icon was cemented when government forces attempted to force her out of the country in September 2020. At the Ukrainian border, she managed to escape her captors momentarily, destroyed her passport, and deliberately returned to Belarus, where she was immediately arrested.

The former professional flute player faced conviction in 2021 on charges that included plotting to overthrow the government, resulting in an 11-year prison term. During her incarceration, she became severely ill and required surgical treatment.

Her freedom came in December when she was among dozens of political prisoners released as part of an agreement with the United States that resulted in the removal of harsh American sanctions on Belarus’s fertilizer industry.

The honor Kolesnikova received takes its name from Charlemagne, the medieval Holy Roman emperor who governed much of western Europe from Aachen. Past winners of this award include French President Emmanuel Macron, former President Bill Clinton, Pope Francis, Pope John Paul II, and former German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The prize committee honored Kolesnikova for her “extraordinary courage” in advocating for democratic principles, fair elections, and fundamental human rights.

BAGHDAD – Security officials confirmed Saturday that three fighters from Iraq’s Popular Mobilisation Forces died during an attack on the militia group’s headquarters in Baghdad early Saturday morning.

The casualties occurred when the Shi’ite militia organization’s compound came under fire, according to security officials who spoke about the incident.

Authorities have not provided additional information regarding the circumstances surrounding the deadly attack.

American military forces carried out a major bombing campaign against Iranian military installations on Kharg Island Friday evening, according to an announcement from U.S. Central Command on Saturday.

The operation targeted more than 90 Iranian military facilities on the strategic island location, with CENTCOM stating that “U.S. forces successfully struck more than 90 Iranian military targets on Kharg Island, while preserving the oil infrastructure.”

According to military officials posting on social media platform X, the bombing campaign eliminated facilities used for storing naval mines, destroyed bunkers housing missile stockpiles, and took out numerous additional military installations.

The military action followed President Donald Trump’s warning issued Friday, in which he threatened to target Iran’s critical Kharg Island oil operations if the Iranian government continued its attacks on shipping vessels traveling through the Strait of Hormuz.

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian officials report that Russian forces conducted a coordinated aerial bombardment targeting the capital region, using both missiles and unmanned aircraft to strike multiple locations.

The assault impacted four separate districts within the Kyiv region, causing widespread destruction to civilian infrastructure. Residential buildings, educational institutions, commercial establishments, and essential services facilities sustained damage during the offensive.

The attack represents the latest escalation in Russia’s ongoing military campaign against Ukrainian territory, with the capital region continuing to face regular bombardments despite Ukrainian air defense efforts.

Pakistan’s president delivered a sharp rebuke to Afghanistan’s Taliban leadership on Saturday, declaring they had overstepped acceptable boundaries by conducting drone strikes against civilian targets within Pakistani territory.

President Asif Ali Zardari stated that the Kabul administration has brought serious repercussions upon itself through these actions. His condemnation comes amid the most violent exchanges yet between the two neighboring nations.

Pakistani military forces successfully intercepted the unmanned aircraft launched Friday, but debris from the destroyed drones wounded four people, including two children in Quetta and two others in different locations across the country.

The Taliban government in Afghanistan countered by alleging that Pakistan conducted aerial bombardments in Kabul and eastern regions of Afghanistan on Friday, resulting in six civilian deaths and 15 injuries.

Kabul subsequently claimed its air force retaliated by striking military facilities near Islamabad and in Pakistan’s northwestern territories.

Pakistani officials rejected accusations of targeting non-combatants, insisting their military operations focus exclusively on Pakistani Taliban fighters and their support structures. Islamabad has characterized the situation as an “open war,” heightening international concerns about regional stability while conflicts involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran continue affecting the Middle East.

Taliban government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid reported that Pakistani aircraft also bombed fuel storage facilities owned by private carrier Kam Air near Kandahar’s airport, infrastructure he said serves both civilian and United Nations flights.

Pakistan maintains that Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers are providing sanctuary to Pakistani militant organizations, particularly the Pakistani Taliban, who exploit the unstable border to launch attacks on Pakistani security forces. Islamabad also accuses Kabul of partnering with India, Pakistan’s primary regional rival. Afghan authorities deny sheltering extremist groups.

A roadside explosive device killed seven police officers in Pakistan’s northwestern Lakki Mawat district on Friday.

Zardari condemned Kabul’s leadership, stating: “While the Afghan terrorist regime seeks negotiations with our friendly countries, it crossed a red line by attempting to target our civilians.”

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called for diplomatic resolution of the Afghanistan-Pakistan tensions on Friday, cautioning that military action intensifies hostilities and endangers regional peace. China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency reported Saturday that Wang had discussed the crisis with Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.

Wang revealed that China’s special representative is traveling between both nations to encourage moderation and promote a cessation of hostilities. Muttaqi emphasized Afghanistan’s desire for regional harmony and opposition to armed conflict, maintaining that diplomatic dialogue offers the sole path forward while requesting greater Chinese involvement.

A ceasefire mediated by Qatar temporarily eased tensions in October, but follow-up discussions in Turkey have failed to establish a permanent resolution.

NEW DELHI, March 14 – Tehran’s Ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, confirmed Saturday that Iran has granted permission for certain Indian ships to navigate through the Strait of Hormuz, marking an unusual exemption to the maritime blockade that has affected worldwide energy shipments.

Speaking at the India Today broadcaster’s conference in New Delhi, Fathali declined to specify how many ships have received safe passage authorization.

Following the commencement of U.S. and Israeli bombing operations against Iran, Tehran has significantly restricted vessel movement through the strategic waterway that borders its coastline. The strait serves as a crucial route for approximately 20% of the world’s petroleum and maritime liquefied natural gas transportation.

LONDON – Representatives for Prince Harry issued a scathing response Saturday to a recently published biography that alleges Queen Camilla accused Meghan Markle of having “brainwashed” her stepson, calling the work a “deranged conspiracy.”

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have maintained distance from Britain’s royal family ever since they withdrew from their official roles in 2020 and relocated to California, though they remain subjects of intense public fascination in the UK and internationally.

Author Tom Bower, known for his royal family biographies, published excerpts from his latest work in the Times newspaper, claiming that conflicts between the Sussexes and other royals emerged soon after their spectacular 2018 wedding ceremony.

The couple now maintains minimal communication with other members of the royal family, and Harry has had few encounters with his father King Charles in recent years.

According to Bower’s account, Prince William and his wife Kate became concerned about Meghan’s influence on Harry and viewed her as a potential danger to the family.

The author claims that Camilla, Harry’s stepmother, confided to an acquaintance: “Meghan’s brainwashed Harry.”

The book’s excerpts also suggest that Harry felt disturbed by the downfall of his uncle Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who lost his royal titles and residence due to connections with deceased convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and worried his brother might similarly cast him out.

Harry and Meghan’s spokesperson delivered an unusually forceful rebuttal, stating that Bower’s analysis has “long crossed the line from criticism into fixation.”

“Those interested in facts will look elsewhere; those seeking deranged conspiracy and melodrama know exactly where to find him,” the spokesperson declared.

Buckingham Palace refused to provide commentary on behalf of King Charles and Queen Camilla, while representatives for Prince William and Kate have not yet responded.

Students at Venezuela’s Central University took an unprecedented step in mid-February when their demonstration moved beyond campus boundaries and onto the streets of Caracas for the first time in years.

Prior to the January 3 U.S. military action that led to Nicolas Maduro’s capture, Venezuelan students faced severe consequences for public activism. While university grounds provided some safety, those who demonstrated in public areas faced beatings, imprisonment, or worse treatment. International organizations including the United Nations have documented torture methods used against Venezuelan detainees, such as electric shock, suffocation, and forced sleep deprivation.

The sight of students marching beyond campus walls while chanting “free them all” alongside family members of political prisoners represented a bold new stance.

“I was born in 2003 and all I knew was fear…until today,” 22-year-old Paola Carrillo, a student union representative, told the assembled crowd. “We are fighting for the freedom we want.”

Venezuelan college students became symbols of resistance during massive anti-government demonstrations ten years ago, often appearing bloodied from confrontations with authorities while carrying their national flag.

Those earlier movements collapsed under government pressure that included student and faculty arrests, violence from pro-government motorcycle groups that resulted in hundreds of deaths, and economic hardship that forced many to leave school for work. Smaller demonstrations in 2019, 2024, and early 2025 were rapidly suppressed.

Today’s student activists represent a fresh wave of opposition. Ten student leaders from universities across Venezuela told Reuters they feel more optimistic following Maduro’s removal and safer expressing dissent than they have in recent memory.

These students, between ages 22 and 27, have experienced only the socialist ‘Chavismo’ system established by former President Hugo Chavez in 1999.

“I hadn’t done anything like this before, and I think now is the moment even though it’s frightening,” said Carrillo, who is completing law school and was barely a teenager during the previous major student uprisings.

Her mission, she explained, involves encouraging participation “to let people who feel like I do know that they have a voice, that there is someone who feels the same and is still here, trying.”

Neither Venezuela’s communications ministry nor the attorney general’s office provided responses to inquiries about this story.

The student movement’s objectives extend well beyond prisoner releases. They seek elimination of hate speech and terrorism laws they view as oppressive tools, legitimate democratic elections, and what they term “reinstitutionalization” – rebuilding state institutions they believe the socialist party has dismantled.

Students also demand increased university funding and professor salary improvements, as educators currently earn only $4 monthly.

Miguelangel Suarez, 26, who leads the Central University student federation, directly challenged Interim President Delcy Rodriguez during her January campus visit, creating a viral moment on Venezuelan social media.

“I told the group: ‘Look, I’m going to confront Delcy Rodriguez.’ About 20 others stood up and decided, ‘We’re going with you.’ That says a lot about how the paradigm has changed since January 3,” he recalled.

This represented an unusual unplanned interaction for the 56-year-old Rodriguez, a Central University alumna and lawyer who rarely grants interviews or accepts questions, typically appearing only at government-supporting events.

“She told us we weren’t letting her speak. On the contrary, we were — and still are — willing to engage in dialogue,” said Suarez, who will graduate in December with a political and administrative studies degree. “As a graduate, and as someone with such important responsibilities, she should come and talk with us about the many problems facing universities.”

While opposing the government, many students remain unaffiliated with formal opposition parties and haven’t focused on upcoming elections promised by the United States.

Approximately 1.3 million students can vote, according to Carlos Melendez, a sociologist directing the non-governmental Observatory of Universities, potentially creating a significant voting bloc in the nation of 28 million.

“We are seeing a group of students who not only want to study, but also to engage in the country’s political agenda,” said Melendez, who has tracked Venezuela’s higher education system since 2018. Their involvement stems “not due to party indoctrination, but rather a reaction to the government and its policies, as they seek to push for democratic restoration.”

Students nationwide expressed appreciation for Maduro’s departure while remaining skeptical of U.S. involvement and wishing his removal had occurred through alternative methods.

Maikel Carracedo, 27, studying law at the University of Zulia in Maracaibo, learned about the U.S. operation when a friend’s phone call awakened him saying “They’re invading Caracas!”

“The first thing I did was make myself a cup of coffee. My first coffee in freedom,” he recalled.

Despite celebrating the potential conclusion of the Chavista period and hopes for rebuilding, Carracedo shared other students’ concerns about the intervention method.

“We truly hoped that change would come in a much more democratic, peaceful way,” he said. “Nobody wants their country to be bombed or attacked, but that’s what happened. Most people weren’t injured, it was surgical. And I’m genuinely glad because the dictator’s departure was quite significant.”

Carrillo, the Caracas student leader, noted that young Venezuelans generally “would have preferred to reach this point differently.”

“Deep down there is frustration that it couldn’t be done by us and that the situation, the circumstances, the regime, led us to this point where someone else had to do it for us,” she explained. “Furthermore, there is practically indirect administration by a third country over our country and especially over our resources.”

President Donald Trump has consistently praised Rodriguez for stabilizing Venezuela after Maduro’s removal and for opening the country to oil and mining opportunities.

Maduro consistently rejected claims of running a dictatorship and maintained he won his third term fairly in 2024, though opposition groups and international observers assert the opposition coalition candidate actually won.

Some students have personal connections to prisoner releases.

Jose Castellanos, a 22-year-old economics student at Lisandro Alvarado Central Western University in Lara state, spent nearly four months in detention after his October 2025 arrest on terrorism, hate incitement, and treason charges, all of which he denies.

Officials accused Castellanos of displaying a banner reading ‘Freedom… it’s happening’ on a university building.

He was detained with his brother, a communications student and journalist, and their mother. All three have since been freed.

“Being in prison made me mature. It gave me more courage and strength to fight for the country’s freedom, for democracy,” Castellanos said during a February march in Barquisimeto. “We will continue peacefully in the streets, with the truth on our side, demanding our rights as Venezuelans.”

At least two Central University students and two professors gained release from detention in February, according to student leader Suarez. Among them was Jesus Armas, a professor, human rights advocate, and opposition figure arrested in December 2024 on terrorism charges he denies.

“We are basically going through a personal transition — from uncertainty and fear of speaking out to feeling freer,” said Luigi Lombardo, 26, a social sciences education student at the University of Carabobo, noting that Maduro’s capture represented “the end for us of a long and painful era.”

“It’s the freedom to say what you feel, to express the circumstances you’re living through today or the needs facing the university, such as lack of transportation funding, increases in student grants and decent salaries for professors,” Lombardo explained. “Now there is space to express that discontent…to understand that the country is moving toward reconciliation.”

Greek maritime officials are sounding the alarm over Iran’s continued blockade of a critical shipping passage that handles roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas transportation.

For the fourth consecutive day Tuesday, vessel movement through the Strait of Hormuz remained at a standstill after Iranian Revolutionary Guards officials threatened to attack any ship attempting to navigate the waterway, according to Iranian media reports.

Greece’s Maritime Minister Vassilis Kikilias expressed deep concern about the developing crisis during an interview with Reuters, emphasizing the need to protect international shipping operations and maritime workers.

“This is alarming and worrying, and I wish that global shipping was left out of war conflicts,” Kikilias stated when discussing crew safety and protective measures.

The minister stressed the importance of keeping commercial shipping separate from military conflicts, noting that “Global shipping has to do with global commerce, which everybody needs. And sailors, of course, are not to blame.”

Greece maintains one of the world’s most extensive commercial shipping fleets, making the country a major player in international maritime trade.

According to Kikilias, approximately 15 Greek-registered vessels are currently positioned in and around the Persian Gulf, with Greek crew members among those aboard. Additionally, more than 325 ships with Greek commercial ties are operating in the broader region.

Since Saturday, Greek maritime authorities have issued advisories recommending that ships avoid the area, with crew safety remaining the government’s primary concern.

“We’re in communication with them day and night, 24/7, I’m happy they’re okay, but I’m worried, and we are worried, of course, because the area is in danger,” the minister explained. “We cannot dismiss the possibility of bigger problems.”

Greek authorities announced Tuesday they have developed a contingency plan to evacuate thousands of Greek citizens currently stranded in the region, though implementation remains challenging due to airspace restrictions over the affected area.

Massive numbers of travelers find themselves trapped throughout Gulf nations with limited escape routes as escalating Middle Eastern warfare creates a transportation crisis affecting tens of thousands.

Qatar’s airspace shutdown has left approximately 8,000 transit passengers stranded after U.S.-Israeli military operations against Iran commenced. The United Arab Emirates has permitted only restricted flight departures beginning Monday, forcing vacationers and foreign residents to search desperately for alternative exit strategies while Iranian forces conduct regional strikes.

The aviation hubs of Dubai and Doha serve as critical connection points for international travel between European and Asian destinations, processing thousands of daily passengers under normal circumstances.

MARATHON TRIP TO GERMANY

A Dubai resident named Sara, who declined to provide her surname, has arranged an exhausting 33-hour trek to Germany scheduled for Wednesday to guarantee her attendance as best-woman at her brother’s upcoming wedding ceremony.

“I was supposed to have a flight next week, but I just really cannot risk it being delayed whatsoever,” she said.

Sara explained that an online driver she researched thoroughly will collect her at 5 a.m. Wednesday for transportation across the border into Muscat, Oman. Her itinerary includes flying to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for an overnight stay, followed by connections through Amsterdam before reaching Dusseldorf.

“So it’s a very long journey, but for me, it was just important,” she said.

President Donald Trump originally estimated the military engagement would span four to five weeks but has subsequently defended an expanded, indefinite campaign. The warfare has involved Iranian missile and drone attacks targeting not only Israeli and American military assets but also multiple U.S.-aligned regional nations.

Iranian forces struck American diplomatic facilities in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, prompting the State Department to urge immediate American evacuation from more than twelve regional countries.

Multiple nations have initiated citizen evacuations, including Britain, Spain, Italy and Germany, which arranged two charter flights from Riyadh and Muscat to extract particularly at-risk individuals from roughly 30,000 people currently stranded regionwide.

Slovenia coordinated four police-escorted buses transporting its nationals from Dubai to Muscat airport, though evacuation methods for other nationalities remain uncertain.

Throughout the UAE, typically a thriving tourist and commercial center, many desperate travelers like Sara have turned to shuttle transportation and private vehicle services for border crossings into Oman.

EIGHT-HOUR OMAN JOURNEY

Oman has experienced fewer attacks than neighboring countries and maintained open airspace, with flights to non-Gulf destinations continuing largely uninterrupted despite recent cancellations to other regional airports.

National carrier Oman Air and budget operator SalamAir have organized shuttle services from Sharjah station, located north of Dubai, providing Tuesday through Thursday transportation to Oman’s capital Muscat during approximately eight-hour trips.

Social media platforms including Facebook groups and Reddit discussions reveal numerous inquiries from UAE expatriates seeking Muscat airport access routes.

A travel industry representative reported receiving roughly 30 calls since Monday from individuals requesting private transportation to the Hatta border crossing, a UAE mountain community situated one hour from Dubai.

Previously, the 150-kilometer (93-mile) route primarily served Omani visitors enjoying Dubai’s luxury attractions or outdoor enthusiasts traveling opposite directions to experience Oman’s unspoiled mountain terrain.

The agent noted he now transports Ukrainian nationals attempting to depart the UAE, explaining that Omani taxi services and private drivers await travelers on the border’s opposite side, since UAE-registered vehicles cannot operate in Oman without full owner possession.

SAUDI ALTERNATIVE

Saudi Arabia provides another evacuation route for individuals stranded in neighboring territories seeking Middle Eastern departure flights.

A British resident of the kingdom informed Reuters he was visiting Dubai when strikes commenced and successfully returned to Riyadh following an 11-hour Monday evening journey he characterized as seamless.

“I got driven to the Saudi border (Al Ghuwaifat) from my hotel in Dubai…I had a driver lined up on the other side to take me back home in Riyadh,” the British expatriate said, adding WhatsApp groups to coordinate ride shares had been set up to arrange trips via Saudi Arabia or Oman.

The Dubai-Riyadh transportation exceeded $1,000 total cost, representing a dramatic increase from typical economy-class one-way flight tickets between the Gulf centers averaging approximately $200.

Maritime workers from India find themselves in a dangerous predicament, trapped for weeks at Iranian ports while military drones and missiles target vessels in surrounding waters. Among them is 26-year-old Ambuj, a sailor who hasn’t seen his family in half a year and desperately wants to return home.

Speaking to Reuters from his stranded vessel, Ambuj represents roughly 23,000 Indian crew members currently working on commercial and offshore ships throughout the Gulf region, an area now experiencing intense warfare involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.

The sailor, who requested his full name be withheld for safety concerns, remains stuck at Bandar Abbas port with 15 fellow crew members, surrounded by more than 50 other vessels awaiting clearance.

Hundreds of commercial tankers and freight ships have been queued up, hoping to navigate through the Strait of Hormuz, where Iranian military actions have resulted in three Indian sailors’ deaths and one person reported missing. The dangerous situation facing Indian maritime workers has become a significant concern in their home country, with New Delhi officials coordinating with various international authorities, including Iranian representatives, to protect their citizens.

“We understand the extreme risks of sailing without naval protection or proper authorization,” Ambuj explained during a phone interview from his ship.

“My employer has officially relieved us from our duties, and we’re currently awaiting secure transit options since flights departing Tehran have been suspended. Once we receive approval to sail toward the Middle East or any nearby safe harbor, we plan to dock and catch the first available flight back to India,” he added.

The crew was originally headed to a Southeast Asian destination when panic struck in early March. Their ship’s captain received a threatening radio transmission from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, warning that attempting passage through the Strait would result in serious consequences.

Initially, the crew remained hopeful for sailing permission, but authorization never materialized. Ambuj noted they’re now preparing mentally for the possibility of remaining stranded for additional weeks or even months.

India ranks as the globe’s third-largest source of maritime personnel, with over 300,000 sailors employed across international shipping operations, based on official government statistics.

Another crew member, M. Kanta, serving aboard a vessel bound for India, described witnessing military drones and fighter aircraft overhead, creating fear among his fellow sailors. The situation worsened when Iranian officials mandated the disconnection of their Starlink internet service in early March.

“We’ve heard warning sirens. We witnessed flames on a distant vessel and received threatening radio messages,” Kanta reported.

“Permission to restore our Starlink connection was granted after March 6, allowing us to contact our families and access reliable news updates. Every time we spot or hear approaching drones or military jets, our hearts race with fear,” he continued.

Kanta explained that both his shipping company and government officials from India and Iran have instructed crew members to avoid sharing specific details about their vessel’s identity or current position for security purposes.

A third sailor, who chose to remain anonymous, said his ship was transporting bitumen and crude oil to a South Asian nation. His vessel was positioned just miles from the strait when he witnessed a drone strike on another ship.

“We’ve developed a routine of trying to identify different aircraft, jets, and drones visible from our deck. Getting proper sleep has become extremely difficult due to constant anxiety,” the unnamed crew member shared.

Recent developments show Iran permitted two Indian-flagged liquefied petroleum gas vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz on Friday. Mohammad Fathali, Iran’s ambassador to India, has also provided assurances regarding safe passage for Indian commercial ships.

A Greek oil tanker sustained minor damage after being struck by an unknown object while waiting outside a Russian port early Saturday morning, according to the ship’s operator.

The Maran Homer was positioned outside Russian territorial waters near the Caspian Pipeline Consortium Terminal at Novorossiysk when the incident occurred at around 4:35 a.m. local time. The vessel had been waiting for permission to enter the port to collect a shipment of Kazakh crude oil.

Maran Tankers, the ship’s management company, released a statement confirming the incident. “There were no injuries and the crew is safe,” the company stated, noting that only minor material damage was observed on the ship’s deck and equipment.

The company reported that the vessel has since departed from Novorossiysk. The nature of the object that struck the tanker remains unknown.

Two major Asian economies announced Saturday they’re prepared to take action as their national currencies continue sliding against the U.S. dollar amid escalating Middle East tensions.

Following their yearly conference in Tokyo on Saturday, Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama and her South Korean counterpart Koo Yun-cheol issued a joint statement declaring they “expressed serious concern over the recent sharp depreciation of the Korean won and the Japanese yen.”

Both the yen and won have weakened significantly as escalating conflict between the U.S.-Israeli coalition and Iran has pushed investors toward the dollar as a safe investment, particularly hurting nations that depend heavily on oil imports.

“Furthermore, they reaffirmed that they will closely monitor foreign exchange markets and continue to take appropriate actions against excessive volatility and disorderly movements in exchange rates,” their joint statement declared.

The Japanese yen hit its weakest point in 20 months on Friday and is approaching the 160-to-dollar threshold that market analysts believe could trigger Japanese intervention to strengthen their currency. Meanwhile, South Korea’s won crossed the significant 1,500-per-dollar mark this month for the first time since March 2009.

During a news conference following their discussions, Katayama acknowledged that both nations recognized substantial instability had developed in financial markets, particularly in currency trading.

“The Japanese government is fully prepared to respond at any time, bearing in mind the impact that currency moves may have on people’s livelihoods amid surging oil prices, and I believe both sides share that understanding,” she stated.

While Katayama frequently indicates Japan stands ready to address yen fluctuations, some officials privately acknowledge that attempting to strengthen the yen at this time might be ineffective, since dollar demand will likely continue growing if the Middle East conflict continues.

Oil loading activities at a crucial United Arab Emirates port facility were halted Saturday after a blaze erupted when falling debris from an intercepted drone ignited a fire, according to industry and trading sources.

The incident took place in Fujairah emirate, which serves as a significant fuel supply hub for the region. Officials from the emirate’s media office confirmed that while debris from the drone interception caused the fire, no casualties occurred.

“Civil defence forces are handling the incident to contain the fire,” the media office stated.

Government officials have not confirmed details regarding the reported halt in operations at the facility.

Earlier reports from Bloomberg News indicated that petroleum loading activities at Fujairah port, located beyond the Strait of Hormuz, were temporarily stopped following the drone incident and resulting blaze.

ADNOC, Abu Dhabi’s state-controlled energy company that maintains operations in the emirate, has not yet provided a response to requests for comment.

This incident follows Tuesday’s closure of ADNOC’s Ruwais refinery after a drone attack triggered a fire at one of the complex’s facilities, according to an informed source. The recent attacks represent continued disruption to regional energy infrastructure amid ongoing tensions related to the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran.

Italian government officials are considering providing military defense equipment to Gulf nations that have requested assistance amid escalating Iranian airstrikes in the region, according to two unnamed sources who spoke Wednesday.

The sources indicated that while no final determination has been reached, Italy would most likely deploy one of its SAMP/T missile defense batteries capable of stopping ballistic missiles. Officials declined to specify which nation would receive the equipment or which particular battery Rome might redeploy.

Iranian forces have conducted retaliatory attacks targeting ports, urban areas, and petroleum infrastructure across the Gulf region following military actions by Israeli and American forces against Iran. The Gulf serves as a crucial energy production zone globally. Although Italy does not heavily depend on Gulf energy imports, the nation’s energy minister stated Wednesday that coal power plants could be restarted if the regional conflict triggers an energy shortage.

Defense Minister Guido Crosetto revealed Monday that Rome had received multiple requests from Gulf countries seeking air defense equipment and anti-drone technology, including the SAMP/T system developed jointly by France and Italy.

A third source mentioned that Italy might also supply anti-drone equipment that could be deployed rapidly, though technical evaluations are ongoing.

Italy currently provides SAMP/T systems to Ukraine as part of its defense against Russian invasion forces, and the third source emphasized that no equipment would be diverted from Ukraine’s air defense capabilities to assist Gulf states.

When questioned about potentially supplying defense equipment in response to the expanding Middle East conflict, Cabinet Undersecretary Alfredo Mantovano told a Rome gathering that the administration was “evaluating requests.”

As the conflict spreads into the Mediterranean region, Britain, France, and Greece announced Tuesday their intention to deploy air defense units to Cyprus following drone attacks on the Royal Air Force Akrotiri facility there.

Italy maintains U.S. military installations within its borders. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stated Tuesday evening that Rome has not yet received any requests to utilize these bases for operations targeting Iran, but would assess any such requests if they arrive.

Federal authorities in Brazil have taken Daniel Vorcaro, the businessman behind Banco Master, into custody once again as part of an expanding criminal investigation into the failed financial institution.

Wednesday’s detention marks the second time Vorcaro has been arrested since November, when he was initially taken into custody over allegations that his bank issued fake credit securities. He had been released from that earlier arrest but was required to wear electronic monitoring equipment.

According to Brazil’s Supreme Court, federal investigators launched coordinated raids as part of their probe into what they described as “investigating the possible crimes of threats, corruption, money laundering and invasion of computer systems carried out by a criminal organization.”

While authorities did not specifically identify Vorcaro in their public statement, his legal representatives have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the latest developments.

The operation involved executing four pre-trial detention orders and 15 warrants for searches and property seizures across the states of Sao Paulo and Minas Gerais, all authorized by Brazil’s highest court. The nation’s central banking authority is providing support for the ongoing investigation.

Court documents reveal that Paulo Sergio Neves de Souza, a former director at Brazil’s central bank, was also targeted with a search warrant and has been ordered to wear an ankle monitoring device. According to the ruling, Neves de Souza had been providing “informal consultancy” services to Vorcaro.

Neither the central bank nor Neves de Souza or his legal team have responded to requests for comment about these latest developments.

Banco Master, which controlled less than one percent of Brazil’s total banking assets, was shut down permanently in November following what regulators described as a critical shortage of funds, rapidly declining financial health, and significant regulatory violations.

The bank’s closure occurred on the same date that law enforcement officials launched their initial operation that resulted in Vorcaro’s first arrest.

President Trump announced Friday that American forces had completely destroyed military installations on Kharg Island, Iran’s crucial oil export facility, stating the U.S. military had “totally obliterated” the targets.

The strategic location serves as Iran’s main terminal for processing oil shipments to international markets. The military action occurred as authorities confirmed that all six crew members aboard a refueling aircraft that crashed in western Iraq had been killed.

The President’s announcement marks a significant escalation in military operations targeting Iran’s energy infrastructure, with Kharg Island representing a critical component of the country’s oil export capabilities.

Paraguayan opposition legislator Leidy Galeano came back from a fully-funded journey through six Chinese metropolises with a new perspective: her nation was potentially forfeiting significant economic opportunities by maintaining its alliance with Taiwan instead of pursuing ties with Beijing.

“Everything I saw there, I wanted for my country,” Galeano stated. She belongs to the recently established Yo Creo party, whose leadership has expressed positive views toward China.

Her journey, along with similar excursions that sources indicate were sponsored by China’s consulate in São Paulo, featured elaborate dining experiences, accommodations at high-end hotels, and visits to the Great Wall. Paraguayan officials view these as part of a systematic campaign to pull their nation away from democratic Taiwan, which Beijing considers its territory.

Despite having only 6.4 million residents and being landlocked, Paraguay holds significant symbolic importance as Taiwan’s final diplomatic partner in South America. Should Paraguay switch sides, it would hand Beijing a meaningful victory in its effort to diplomatically isolate Taipei. This campaign also demonstrates China’s determination to strengthen its presence in Latin America, where former President Trump also sought American dominance.

President Santiago Peña’s administration, with over two years remaining in office, has limited motivation to alter the Taiwan relationship that has long defined its international affairs. Political experts suggest the future remains uncertain, as internal power struggles could fragment the governing Colorado Party or force partnerships with opposition factions that have historically favored Beijing recognition.

Peña has openly confirmed his support for Taipei. “All the Latin American countries that switched from Taiwan to China and fell into the arms of the promise of the Chinese dream – every single one of them is worse off than Paraguay,” he declared in December during his podcast. The presidential office declined to provide additional comments.

The foreign ministry issued a statement saying Paraguay’s Taiwan relationship “are founded on principles and values of freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.”

China’s increased involvement conflicts with intensified efforts from Taipei and Washington to maintain current relationships. Paraguay established a defense agreement with the United States in January, became part of Trump’s “Board of Peace,” and attended a White House summit on critical minerals this year. Washington also removed sanctions from former President Horacio Cartes, who previously faced corruption allegations and serves as Peña’s advisor.

Conversations with six trip participants, including three legislators and three media professionals, plus Reuters’ examination of travel documents, reveal China’s influence campaign in Paraguay has intensified over the past year. Reuters documented at least 19 Paraguayan lawmakers, five journalists, and one emerging opposition presidential candidate visiting China since late 2023, with activity accelerating significantly last year.

China’s foreign ministry stated that “siding with Taiwan authorities holds no future,” noting that increasing numbers of Paraguayans across various sectors believe establishing Beijing diplomatic relations would benefit both nations’ “fundamental and long-term interests.” The ministry rejected claims of lobbying, describing people-to-people exchanges as mutual efforts requiring no persuasion.

Taiwan’s foreign ministry responded that Beijing was trying to “poach” its partners and confirmed it was “actively working to maintain ties with all of Taiwan’s diplomatic partners.”

A U.S. embassy representative in Asunción expressed hope that Paraguayans participating in Chinese-organized tours would “understand the degree of information manipulation” present in such visits.

Beijing’s Paraguay outreach mirrors regional patterns. Panama, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and recently Honduras all shifted recognition following persistent Chinese lobbying and promises of trade and infrastructure development.

Opposition legislator Roya Torres described how Chinese officials during her October 2025 visit highlighted advanced healthcare services and technology, guiding her through medical facilities and high-speed rail systems while suggesting trade and investment could increase if Paraguay recognized Beijing. The healthcare demonstrations particularly impressed her.

The comparison with Paraguay’s situation reinforced her concern that the country was “running out of time” – a message Chinese officials repeatedly emphasized – and risked falling behind in medical technology access and Chinese market opportunities by maintaining Taipei ties.

Paraguay, traditionally among South America’s less wealthy nations, has experienced recent growth driven by beef exports, manufacturing, and construction. The country achieved investment-grade rating in 2024, though persistent corruption and educational and infrastructure investment gaps continue limiting broader economic benefits.

Trip participants indicated invitations came from China’s São Paulo consulate, though Reuters couldn’t independently confirm the source or funding. China’s foreign ministry didn’t verify the origin in their response.

Last October, Galeano, Torres, and fellow lawmakers stayed at Beijing’s luxury Shangri-La hotel before touring Chongqing’s massive manufacturing complex and meeting regional officials, according to itineraries Reuters reviewed.

Interviewed lawmakers described the tours as exceptional opportunities to witness China’s technological ambitions and political confidence firsthand.

Liberal Party Deputy Billy Vaesken, who spent 15 days in China during late 2024 alongside two Colorado Party colleagues, now supports stronger Beijing relationships.

“We must not miss our chance,” he emphasized, citing potential Chinese infrastructure investment. Reuters contacted at least six Colorado Party members who declined discussing their China visits. Several prominent opposition participants also refused to comment on their trips.

China’s massive Belt and Road Initiative has expanded throughout South America, recently including Peru’s Chancay mega-port, a logistics center reducing Asian shipping times and serving as Beijing’s regional gateway.

In Paraguay, the discussion increasingly centers on economics. While the country’s primary exports are soybeans and beef, direct Chinese sales are impossible because Beijing refuses trading with Taiwan-recognizing nations. Instead, shipments travel through Argentina and Brazil, reducing profits. Meanwhile, Chinese imports flood Paraguay, reaching a record $6 billion in 2025 according to official statistics.

Taipei has funded various projects including the parliament building and a university campus under construction. However, local research center CADEP found Paraguay’s Taiwan ties have produced only limited economic benefits. Public opinion may be changing: a recent Metro consultancy poll showed growing support for Chinese relations. Metro declined identifying who commissioned the survey.

Taiwan embassy officials in Asunción confirmed they’re actively lobbying against China through television appearances and inviting Colorado Party lawmakers to Taiwan.

Nevertheless, Beijing’s strategy appears effective with some officials.

“More people in parliament are already looking toward mainland China,” said lawmaker Vaesken, who plans returning to China this year. “Before long, Taiwan will end up like Hong Kong—it will become part of China, be annexed, and Paraguayans will be left with nothing.”

NEW DELHI (AP) — A diplomatic dispute has erupted between Washington and Tehran following the submarine attack that destroyed an Iranian naval vessel in the Indian Ocean, with both nations presenting conflicting narratives about whether the ship carried weapons.

U.S. Indo-Pacific Command dismissed Iranian assertions on Sunday that the warship IRIS Dena lacked armaments when it was torpedoed in international waters near Sri Lanka on March 4. Military officials used social media platform X to label Iran’s claims as “false.”

Tehran has consistently maintained that the destroyed vessel posed no threat, describing it as defenseless while returning from participation in multinational naval drills.

An unnamed Indian naval official, who spoke without authorization to discuss the matter publicly, indicated the Iranian ship wasn’t “entirely unarmed” and had participated in exercises with vessels from multiple nations.

Defense experts note that ships attending such international events typically don’t carry full ammunition loads unless live-fire training is planned. During maritime exercises, vessels usually transport only restricted munitions designated for specific training purposes.

Independent defense analyst Rahul Bedi, based in India, explained that while the ship might have carried limited non-combat ammunition during the naval exercises, standard procedures demand “the participating platforms to be unarmed.”

“The precondition of participating in such a parade, or such a ceremony, is that it (the vessel) comes unarmed. That is the precondition of the Indian Navy and it’s a precondition of most navies when they hold such similar sort of fleet reviews,” Bedi said.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh declared Friday that the warship, destroyed by an American torpedo, carried no weapons and criticized Washington for attacking a ceremonial vessel.

“That vessel was by invitation of our Indian friends, attending an international exercise. It was ceremonial. It was unloaded. It was unarmed,” he told reporters in New Delhi.

The IRIS Dena went down March 4 in Indian Ocean waters near Sri Lanka after a torpedo strike from an American submarine, according to officials from both countries. Sri Lankan naval forces saved 32 crew members and retrieved 87 bodies from the water.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called the IRIS Dena a “prize ship” and remarked it “died a quiet death.” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the attack as “an atrocity at sea” and emphasized the vessel had been “a guest of India’s Navy.”

Arguments over the ship’s armament status have escalated tensions surrounding the incident, which happened as the vessel traveled home from India’s multinational naval exercises, sparking debate about whether it operated in a non-combat capacity during the attack.

India’s defense ministry noted in post-exercise statements that “live firings as part of surface gun shoots, as well as anti-air firings, were also undertaken” by participating vessels.

The warship’s destruction demonstrates how the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran is expanding beyond Middle Eastern boundaries.

Two additional Iranian ships — the IRIS Bushehr and IRIS Lavan — remain docked at ports in Sri Lanka and India after requesting aid from both nations.

BEIJING (AP) — China’s top legislative body has commenced its yearly gathering in the country’s capital city.

The Associated Press photography team has assembled a visual collection showcasing the proceedings of this annual governmental session.

Iranian authorities issued a stern warning Monday that citizens living overseas could face property seizure and legal action if they show support for the United States and Israel during the current conflict.

The announcement from Iran’s prosecutor general’s office comes after some Iranian expatriates seeking political change in their homeland celebrated in European and American cities following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during the U.S.-Israeli military operations against Iran. On Monday, Iran appointed Mojtaba Khamenei as his father’s successor.

State media reported the prosecutor general’s office as stating: “A warning has been issued to those Iranians living abroad who in different ways sympathise, support or cooperate with the American-Zionist (Israeli) enemy.”

The office added: “They will be met with the confiscation of all their properties and other legal penalties in accordance with the law.”

New Telegram channels have begun documenting information about notable Iranian expatriates who have posted statements condemning Iran’s religious leadership while expressing backing for the U.S.-Israeli military operations that started February 28.

Iranian government statistics indicate between 5 and 10 million Iranians reside outside their home country, with most concentrated in the United States and Western European nations.

KYIV, Ukraine — An overnight assault combining missiles and drones targeted Ukraine’s capital region, resulting in four deaths and injuring at least 15 people by Saturday morning, regional officials confirmed.

Regional administrator Mykola Kalashnyk reported that three victims remain in critical condition, with two currently in surgery. The bombardment affected four separate districts, causing damage to homes, schools, businesses, and vital infrastructure, Kalashnyk stated in his social media update.

This latest assault follows the United States’ decision to delay planned peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine that were set for this week, with officials citing ongoing Middle East conflicts as the reason for postponement.

While U.S. and Israeli forces conduct operations against Iran, Russia has offered only verbal criticism without providing military support to its ally. Moscow’s inability to assist Iran, following similar situations with Syria’s Assad regime in 2024 and Venezuela’s Maduro earlier this year, demonstrates the boundaries of Russian global influence, though the Kremlin anticipates gaining advantages from the Iranian conflict.

Russia is currently benefiting from increased worldwide energy costs and may hope the Middle East situation will shift focus away from Ukraine while reducing Western military supplies.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized Friday’s U.S. decision to grant a 30-day exemption on Russian oil sanctions during the Iran conflict, calling it misguided and unhelpful for ending Russia’s invasion that has lasted more than four years.

“This easing alone by the United States could provide Russia with about $10 billion for the war,” Zelenskyy said. “This certainly does not help peace.”

Both Russian and Ukrainian military leaders claimed territorial gains this week, with Ukraine reporting successful pushbacks against Moscow’s forces while the Kremlin maintains its invasion continues advancing.

Russia’s near-daily bombardments of Ukrainian civilian targets persist throughout the ongoing conflict.

Ukrainian forces conducted overnight drone attacks on Russian infrastructure in the Krasnodar region, targeting both an oil processing facility and a major port, according to Russian officials who reported the strikes on Saturday, March 14.

Regional authorities in Krasnodar announced through social media that three individuals sustained injuries during the attack on Port Kavkaz, a critical shipping hub that handles grain exports and liquefied petroleum gas. The facility sits along the Kerch Strait directly across from Crimea.

The drone strike damaged both a service ship and the port’s pier infrastructure, officials confirmed in their public statement.

In a second incident, regional leaders reported that Ukrainian drones ignited a blaze at the Afipsky oil refinery after striking the processing plant.

Russia’s military command claimed its air defense systems successfully intercepted 87 Ukrainian drones during the nighttime operation, with 31 shot down over the Sea of Azov waters and another 16 destroyed above the Krasnodar region itself.

DENPASAR, Indonesia — Three Australian nationals received significant prison terms Monday from an Indonesian court for the murder of a compatriot on the resort island of Bali, following their claims that an anonymous individual paid them for the deadly attack.

The Denpasar District Court convicted Mevlut Coskun, Paea I Middlemore Tupou, and Darcy Jenson in the June killing of 32-year-old Melbourne resident Zivan Radmanovic. Another victim, 34-year-old Sanar Ghanim, survived gunshot wounds and a beating during the same incident.

The court imposed 16-year prison terms on both Coskun, 22, and Tupou, 27, while sentencing Jenson, 24, to 12 years behind bars. Both Coskun and Tupou maintained the fatal shooting was accidental amid the confusion of that evening.

Radmanovic had traveled to Bali for his wife Jazmyn Gourdeas’ birthday celebration, accompanied by her sister and Ghanim, who was dating the sister. Medical examination revealed Radmanovic sustained three bullet wounds along with injuries from physical assault.

According to prosecutors, Jenson masterminded the assault while his co-defendants executed the plan. Authorities apprehended Jenson at Jakarta’s Soekarno Hatta airport in June as he tried to flee Indonesia. International law enforcement agencies assisted in capturing Coskun and Tupou in Singapore and Cambodia respectively.

Throughout the October trial proceedings, all three defendants testified they accepted payment to travel to Bali and intimidate Ghanim into settling an outstanding debt. They claimed an unidentified Australian man made this arrangement but refused to reveal his identity, citing concerns for their families’ safety.

Law enforcement officials testified that the group took orders from a mysterious “Mr. X” whose true identity remains unknown. The judicial panel acknowledged the defendants acted in exchange for “a promised payment.”

The prosecution had requested 18-year sentences for both Coskun and Tupou, and 17 years for Jenson.

Although the three-judge panel acknowledged the defendants inflicted “deep trauma” on both victims’ families, Presiding Judge Wayan Suarta emphasized the men had clean criminal histories and cooperated fully during the investigation and court proceedings.

“They are still young and have the chance to improve themselves in the future,” he stated, explaining that the punishment “is not intended as revenge, nor to degrade their dignity, but as a preventive measure so similar acts do not occur again.”

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea launched approximately 10 ballistic missiles into eastern waters on Saturday, according to South Korean military officials, marking the latest display of military strength as US and South Korean forces continue joint training exercises.

The missiles originated from an area close to Pyongyang, North Korea’s capital city, though South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff did not immediately release details about the distance traveled. Japanese Defense Ministry officials confirmed the weapons splashed down in waters beyond Japan’s exclusive economic zone.

South Korean military leadership announced increased surveillance measures and maintained combat readiness for potential additional launches while coordinating closely with American and Japanese counterparts.

The missile tests occurred during the annual spring military drills between American and South Korean forces, involving thousands of service members, while the Trump administration simultaneously manages an intensifying conflict in the Middle East.

The Middle Eastern conflict has sparked worries about possible security vulnerabilities in South Korea, as domestic news outlets have suggested through security footage and other evidence that America may be moving missile defense equipment from the country to support Iranian operations.

When The Associated Press inquired this week about whether US Forces Korea was transferring interceptor missiles from its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, installation in Seongju to Middle Eastern operations, President Lee Jae Myung’s administration stated it could not verify specifics regarding American military activities.

The administration emphasized that any potential movement of US military equipment would not compromise the alliance’s defensive capabilities against nuclear-equipped North Korea, while highlighting South Korea’s conventional military capabilities. Officials provided similar statements regarding reports about possible Patriot missile defense system relocations from South Korea.

North Korea has consistently characterized the allied exercises as preparation for invasion and frequently uses them as justification to escalate its own military displays or weapons development.

In past years, the North has executed multiple coordinated launches of missiles or artillery while characterizing them as practice runs for nuclear strikes against South Korean locations.

The recent launches followed criticism from Kim Jong Un’s influential sister on Tuesday, who condemned Washington and Seoul for continuing their exercises during a dangerous period for international security, warning that any threat to North Korea’s safety would result in “terrible consequences.”

Without explicitly mentioning the Iranian conflict, Kim Yo Jong stated the US-South Korea exercises damage regional stability during a time when the international security framework is “collapsing rapidly and wars break out in different parts of the world due to the reckless acts of outrageous international rogues.”

North Korea’s Foreign Ministry has issued separate declarations condemning joint US-Israeli operations against Iran and expressing solidarity with Tehran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei.

The 11-day Freedom Shield exercise, scheduled through March 19, represents one of two yearly command post training programs conducted by American and South Korean military forces. The primarily computer-based simulations evaluate the allies’ combined operational readiness while incorporating developing warfare scenarios and security threats. Freedom Shield will operate alongside a field training component called Warrior Shield.

North Korea has consistently rejected appeals from Washington and Seoul to restart diplomatic negotiations focused on dismantling its nuclear capabilities. Discussions stalled in 2019 after Kim Jong Un’s second meeting with US President Donald Trump during his initial presidency ended unsuccessfully.

Kim has prioritized Russia in his international relations, deploying thousands of soldiers and substantial military supplies to assist Moscow’s Ukrainian campaign, potentially in return for assistance and defense technology.

On Monday, Kuwait conducted military funeral ceremonies honoring two interior ministry personnel who lost their lives “in the line of duty,” according to government officials.

The Gulf nation, which houses American military bases and has experienced Iranian drone and missile attacks during Tehran’s ongoing conflict with Israel and the United States, reported that both men perished early Sunday morning without providing additional specifics about the circumstances.

Kuwait’s military forces confirmed separately that regions close to the country’s international airport came under attack Sunday, with their units successfully stopping incoming missiles and unmanned aircraft.

Sunday’s statement from the Interior Ministry expressed grief for “the martyrs of duty, Lieutenant Colonel Staff Abdullah Emad Al-Sharrah and Major Fahad Abdulaziz Al-Mejmed, from the General Administration of Land Border Security, who were martyred at dawn.”

The ceremonial service took place at Sulaibikhat Cemetery, with First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef Al-Sabah presiding alongside other high-ranking officials.

Government sources report that the ongoing Iranian crisis has claimed five lives total, including four service members and one young girl, while injuring dozens more.

Regional authorities in Ukraine report that a deadly Russian aerial bombardment during nighttime hours has claimed four lives and left 15 people injured in areas surrounding the capital city of Kyiv.

According to Mykola Kalashnyk, who leads the regional military administration, the bombardment struck homes, schools, businesses and essential infrastructure across four separate districts in the Kyiv region.

Kalashnyk indicated that casualty reports continue to be updated as damage assessments proceed, with the death toll potentially climbing higher.

These aerial bombardments represent part of an ongoing pattern by Russian military forces, which have consistently launched strikes against Ukrainian population centers and cities located well away from active combat zones throughout their four-year military campaign, frequently targeting power systems and vital infrastructure.

AMSTERDAM – A blast struck a Jewish educational facility in Amsterdam during the early hours of Saturday morning, causing property damage in what city leadership has characterized as an intentional assault on the local Jewish population.

Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema confirmed the incident occurred at a school located in an affluent residential area on the city’s southern side. The damage remained minimal due to the swift response of law enforcement and emergency personnel who quickly arrived on scene.

Authorities reported no individuals were harmed in the incident.

The attack comes as Dutch officials had already increased protective measures around Jewish houses of worship and community centers throughout Amsterdam following a separate arson incident at a Rotterdam synagogue that took place overnight Friday.

Similar violence has occurred across the region, with a blast triggering a fire at a synagogue in Liege, Belgium earlier this week on Monday.

“This is a cowardly act of aggression against the Jewish community,” Halsema stated in her official response.

“Jewish people in Amsterdam are increasingly confronted with antisemitism. This is unacceptable,” the mayor added.

Global Jewish communities have faced growing security threats amid escalating tensions following recent military exchanges between the United States, Israel, and Iran.

Marion Soulet navigates her bicycle through Paris City Hall via a street that previously overflowed with automobiles but now serves as a dedicated cycling path, representing the French capital’s environmental makeover that will be evaluated in this Sunday’s mayoral contest.

The cyclist advocacy leader from Paris en Selle appreciates the approximately 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) of bicycle infrastructure developed under progressive Mayor Anne Hidalgo’s administration during the past ten years, noting that close to half of all Parisians now use bicycles weekly.

“The more the city is redesigned to accommodate it, the more cycling increases,” Soulet explained to Reuters following her journey down Rue de Rivoli. “People like it because it’s easy, inexpensive, and fast.”

The campaign to convert Paris from a contaminated urban center into a “15-minute-city” featuring extensive cycling infrastructure and increased greenery stems from initiatives by Hidalgo and her progressive predecessors, who have controlled City Hall for decades.

This environmental record now confronts judgment in Sunday’s voting, as Hidalgo steps aside while conservative opponents hope to capitalize on citizen exhaustion regarding the increasingly automobile-restricted metropolis, construction-related disruptions, and growing municipal debt.

Polling data indicates the victor will likely be either Socialist Emmanuel Grégoire, who advocates intensifying environmental policies, or conservative former minister Rachida Dati, who claims Paris’s traditional charm is being eroded.

Far-right nationalist candidate Sarah Knafo, age 32, shows increasing poll strength and might complicate Dati’s prospects if she advances to the March 22 runoff. Knafo’s support exceeds the 10% minimum required for second-round qualification.

Current polling shows Grégoire, 48, leading with approximately 33%, while Dati, 60, follows at roughly 30%.

“We’re not fighting an ideological battle on mobility issues,” Dati stated to Reuters while meeting shoppers in northern Paris. “We just want things to be organised.”

During Hidalgo’s tenure, municipal officials have worked to prepare Paris for climate challenges while improving livability for its 2 million inhabitants within the broader metropolitan area of 10 million people.

City administrators have added 130,000 trees and eliminated thousands of street-level parking spots. Roadways alongside the Seine River have been converted to pedestrian areas.

Municipal statistics show automobile traffic has decreased more than 60% since 2002 while bicycle usage has increased threefold. Air quality has also improved.

“There aren’t many major cities in the world that have known such a spectacular transformation,” commented Patrick Le Gales, an urban planning expert at Sciences-Po University in Paris.

“But there’s been strong criticism over cleanliness and the debt,” he added, referencing municipal obligations totaling approximately 10 billion euros ($11 billion), representing a 42% increase since 2020.

Pierre Chasseray, director of the motorists’ advocacy organization 40 Million Motorists, accused Hidalgo of creating a “Berlin Wall” separating affluent central Paris residents from automobile-dependent citizens in economically disadvantaged suburbs who lack influence over municipal policies.

“We’ve ended up with a caricatured image of the capital: motorists on one side, cyclists on the other — the good guys versus the bad guys,” he explained.

Hidalgo has additionally encountered widespread social media criticism using the #saccageParis hashtag that showcases urban problems ranging from persistent construction projects to litter-covered walkways.

Grégoire attributed these issues to Hidalgo’s excessive ambition.

“We did too many things at the same time,” he acknowledged. “I would have chosen a different timetable, above all for reasons of implementation quality.”

Dati, an attorney with North African heritage, has softened her opposition to well-received cycling lanes, instead emphasizing concerns about unsanitary streets, and published footage of herself wearing safety gear while accompanying sanitation workers.

“The city is increasingly dirty — it hasn’t escaped anybody,” she observed.

Dati’s evolving moderate position on transportation matters — combined with her upcoming September corruption trial on charges she disputes — has created opportunities for Knafo.

Knafo has presented an Artificial Intelligence-developed proposal to restore automobile access to Seine riverbanks and conducted interviews from vehicle passenger seats while traveling through Paris.

Soulet considers Knafo’s influence restricted to “a very small group of Parisians who…want to turn the clock back.”

BUDAPEST, Hungary — The Hungarian Prime Minister is calling on European Union leadership to eliminate sanctions against Russian energy imports as fuel costs soar amid ongoing Middle East warfare.

Viktor Orbán, widely regarded as Moscow’s strongest ally within the EU, announced through a social media video Monday that he had written to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen following what he described as explosive growth in oil prices.

The conflict involving Iran, now entering its second week, has affected key regions vital to Persian Gulf oil and gas production and transportation, driving up costs in international markets.

In his video message, Orbán declared that the 27-member European Union should “review and suspend all sanctions on Russian energy across Europe.” He also announced calling an emergency cabinet session Monday to examine ways to prevent additional increases in Hungary’s gasoline and diesel costs.

Orbán’s nationalist administration has consistently resisted EU initiatives to reduce Russian energy dependence, and together with Slovakia has continued and even expanded Russian oil and gas purchases since Moscow began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022.

Both nations received temporary waivers from EU restrictions on Russian oil imports and had been receiving Russian crude through the Druzhba pipeline crossing Ukrainian territory until recently.

However, Druzhba pipeline deliveries stopped on January 27, creating growing disputes between Hungary and Ukraine. Ukrainian officials attribute the halt to Russian drone attacks damaging pipeline facilities, while Orbán has blamed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for intentionally blocking oil shipments.

As a result, Orbán blocked new EU sanctions against Russia and is preventing a massive 90-billion euro ($106 billion) EU loan to Ukraine until deliveries restart.

With polls showing him behind just one month before crucial elections, Orbán has claimed Zelenskyy is attempting to trigger an energy crisis in Hungary to affect voting results — a key element in his administration’s extensive anti-Ukraine messaging campaign before the April 12 election.

Adding to the diplomatic tensions, Hungary temporarily held seven Ukrainian state bank workers Thursday and confiscated two Ukrainian armored vehicles transporting millions of euros in cash and gold through Hungary on suspected money laundering charges.

Ukraine has maintained the cash transport was routine banking business and firmly rejected the money laundering accusations.

A unique sporting tradition brought together approximately two dozen couples in southern England this weekend, where relationships faced the ultimate endurance test on a challenging hillside course.

Partners gripped tightly as they were hauled up and down a slope during the U.K. Wife Carrying Race, marking another year of one of Britain’s most unusual annual competitions.

Finnish competitors Teemu Touvinen and Jatta Leinonen claimed victory on Sunday with a time of 1 minute and 45 seconds, earning themselves a barrel of locally brewed ale as their reward.

The peculiar race held in Dorking, Surrey draws its origins from a 19th-century Finnish tale involving raiders who would storm villages and abduct women.

Today’s event focuses purely on entertainment and humor. Participants are encouraged to don amusing outfits, and the competition welcomes male or female carriers transporting anyone aged 18 or older who weighs at least 50 kilograms (110 pounds). Those below the weight requirement must add a backpack filled with flour or water to meet the minimum standard.

“You do not have to carry your own wife. It could be someone else’s. Or a mate, girlfriend, boyfriend, sister or brother,” organizers said. “They should ideally weigh less than you do.”

Teams may select their preferred carrying method, although most participants opted for the classic “Estonian Hold,” positioning the carried person upside-down across the carrier’s back with legs wrapped around their face.

Participants navigated up a moderately inclined hill and returned downward, maneuvering around barriers including low hay bale rows while enduring water bucket splashes along the way. The 380-meter (416-yard) track presents “a long way under the circumstances,” according to event organizers.

Though remaining a specialty interest, this Scandinavian-origin sport has gained popularity across the U.K., United States, Australia, Poland and additional nations. England’s version of the competition began in 2008.

British champions Edward Nash and Kathryn Knight, who finished merely 4 seconds after the winning team, earned the right to compete for the U.K. at July’s World Wife Carrying Championships in Finland.

Security concerns are mounting across Europe following two separate explosive incidents that rocked Belgium and Norway over the weekend, with authorities treating both as potential acts of terrorism.

In Belgium, Interior Minister Bernard Quintin condemned Monday an overnight explosion that occurred outside a synagogue in Liege as “a despicable antisemitic act” while federal investigators launched a probe into the incident.

Authorities in Liege reported the detonation took place during the early morning hours on Monday near the religious building. While no injuries occurred, the blast shattered windows in a structure facing the synagogue.

Investigators cordoned off the surrounding area as they searched for evidence, according to an official statement.

“The explosion in front of the Liege synagogue was a despicable antisemitic act that directly targeted the Jewish community of Belgium,” Quintin wrote on X. “Security around similar sites will continue to be strengthened.” The minister did not connect the incident to the ongoing Iran conflict.

Multiple European nations including Belgium, France and Germany have announced plans to increase security measures in response to Middle Eastern hostilities, while emphasizing they remain uninvolved in active combat alongside the United States and Israel.

Belgium’s transportation chief has called for enhanced protection of the country’s railway system.

The Belgian federal prosecutor’s office announced Monday it was assuming control of the investigation “given the possible indications of a terrorist offense.” Officials provided no additional details about the explosion or potential suspects.

In a separate incident, Norwegian authorities in Oslo reported they are examining security footage while searching for whoever detonated an explosive device outside the American Embassy early Sunday.

Law enforcement released surveillance images showing an individual dressed in dark clothing and carrying a backpack, with their face concealed. The suspect remains unidentified, police stated.

Oslo officers responded to reports of a “loud bang” or explosion near the US Embassy around 1 a.m. Sunday. No casualties were reported, though the embassy’s entrance sustained damage, officials confirmed.

“We are early in the investigation, but we are working based on multiple hypotheses,” said Frode Larsen, who leads Oslo police’s joint investigation and intelligence unit, in a Sunday statement. “Given the current security situation, it is natural to consider whether this was a targeted attack on the American Embassy. However, we have not committed to any single hypothesis.”

On Monday, investigators determined an improvised explosive device had been positioned near the embassy’s entrance area.

Police also said they were examining a video uploaded to Google Maps around the time of the blast. Norwegian media outlet NRK previously reported the video, which appeared at the embassy’s location on the mapping platform, featured Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

DHAKA, Bangladesh — Two men wanted in connection with the murder of a Bangladeshi activist have been captured in India, with diplomatic negotiations now underway to bring them back to face charges.

Indian authorities apprehended the two Bangladeshi citizens, identified as Faisal Karim Masud and Alamgir Hossain, during a police operation in Bongaon, located in West Bengal state’s North 24 Parganas district on Sunday.

A judge in India has ordered the pair to remain in custody for interrogation, according to reports from PTI news agency.

Bangladesh’s top police official, Inspector General Mohammed Ali Hossain Fakir, announced Monday that the country’s Foreign Affairs Ministry is pursuing the suspects’ return using the existing extradition agreement between Bangladesh and India.

The case centers on the December 12 shooting death of Sharif Osman Hadi in Bangladesh’s capital city of Dhaka. Following the attack, Hadi was transported to Singapore for advanced medical care but succumbed to his injuries on December 18.

Hadi had played a significant role in the 2024 political movement that toppled former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government after 15 years in power. He served as both a student organizer and spokesman for Inquilab Mancha, a youth organization focused on cultural transformation.

The activist’s death triggered widespread demonstrations throughout Bangladesh. Angry crowds gathered in Dhaka and targeted the headquarters of two major national newspapers during the unrest.

Those supporting Hadi have pointed fingers at both India and the former prime minister for his death. The activist had been an outspoken critic of both India and Hasina, who sought refuge in India following the August 2024 uprising that forced her from office. However, some liberal voices in Bangladesh had criticized Hadi for what they viewed as extremist rhetoric that resonated with young people and Islamic groups.

Bangladesh law enforcement had previously confirmed they had identified the shooting suspects but believed the men had escaped across the border. Indian officials reported that the arrested individuals had been hiding near the Bongaon border crossing while planning their return to Bangladesh.

BEIRUT (AP) — After Israeli forces issued a mass evacuation directive for Beirut’s southern districts, Fatima Nazha and her family found themselves homeless, spending two nights sleeping outdoors.

With government-operated shelters at schools completely filled and no money for hotel rooms or rental apartments, Nazha and her spouse ultimately settled into a tent at Lebanon’s largest sports venue. Their children and grandchildren managed to secure accommodation near Sidon, a coastal city in the south.

Within a mere 10-day period, the current conflict has forced more than 800,000 Lebanese citizens to abandon their residences, occurring just over 12 months after the previous confrontation displaced over one million people. According to the Norwegian Refugee Council, a humanitarian organization, this represents approximately one out of every seven residents in the small nation. Countless individuals lack proper accommodation, while Lebanon’s financially struggling government has managed to house only around 120,000 people despite efforts to establish additional shelters and increase supply deliveries.

For Nazha, who relies on a wheelchair for mobility, this forced displacement has proven significantly more challenging than during the previous Israel-Hezbollah conflict that occurred more than a year earlier. The current military strikes against the Iranian-supported militant organization have been more severe and unpredictable, with Israel’s evacuation directive arriving suddenly and preventing her from collecting all personal possessions.

“Previously, the bombardments focused on particular locations, but currently they’re striking everywhere,” she explained while smoking a cigarette. Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported Friday that the conflict has claimed more than 700 lives, including 103 children.

Israeli military operations against its northern neighbor intensified after Hezbollah launched multiple rockets into Israeli territory following the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei at the conflict’s beginning.

The majority of Lebanese citizens had hoped Hezbollah would refrain from retaliating against the Iranian attack, since the militant group’s backing of Hamas, another Iran-supported organization, in 2023 resulted in Israeli military action against Hezbollah within Lebanon. Anti-Hezbollah sentiment and opposition to its supporters has grown throughout Lebanon, while existing tensions and divisions within the fractured nation continue to intensify.

Property owners have been increasing rental prices to discourage new tenants, worried about becoming targets themselves. Hotels have implemented stricter guest screening procedures since Israel attacked two hotel rooms, claiming it was pursuing Iranian Revolutionary Guard operatives conducting activities in Beirut.

Those without family or friends to accommodate them, or who cannot afford apartments or hotel accommodations, have resorted to sleeping outdoors or in vehicles throughout central Beirut, choosing safety over comfort. However, this perceived security was destroyed when an overnight Israeli attack resulted in at least eight deaths and over 30 injuries in the capital’s Ramlet el-Bayda district, where numerous displaced individuals had established tent camps along the coastline or slept on mattresses along the waterfront promenade.

Relief organizations, constrained by years of insufficient funding, are finding it difficult to meet demands. They caution about an impending humanitarian disaster.

“Requirements are growing much more rapidly than our ability to address them,” stated Mathieu Luciano, who leads the International Organization for Migration in Lebanon, during a recent media briefing.

The government has converted Lebanon’s primary sports stadium into an emergency shelter, housing Nazha, her husband, and over 800 additional people who sleep in the partially enclosed walkways beneath the seating areas. The facility provides restrooms and washing stations but lacks shower facilities and has unreliable electrical service.

“Simply providing food isn’t sufficient… A can of fish or bread loaf or water jug isn’t adequate,” Nazha stated Thursday from her portable bed.

In the stadium parking area where Lebanon’s national football team typically competes during peaceful times, children engaged in an informal match while an Israeli surveillance drone circled above, identifiable by its distinctive buzzing sound. From this location, observers can witness and hear the explosions occurring daily in surrounding neighborhoods.

Naji Hammoud, who manages athletic facilities for Lebanon’s Youth and Sports Ministry, said he never anticipated assuming such significant responsibilities.

“We’re working against the clock,” Hammoud commented as relief workers and volunteers hurried to erect tents.

The previous conflict displaced over one million people, but that occurred near its conclusion after a year of limited combat that slowly intensified. This time, developments that previously required months have happened within days.

Hezbollah’s initial rocket assault followed by Israel’s immediate overnight bombardments shocked Lebanon, and the widespread evacuation announcements caught residents unprepared. Israel initially directed dozens of villages south of the Litani River to move northward. Subsequently, it advised residents to evacuate Dahiyeh, a predominantly Shiite suburban area on Beirut’s southern periphery that ranks among the country’s most densely populated regions.

Every major highway connecting the capital to southern Lebanon experienced severe traffic congestion as people rushed to locate safe accommodations.

“We traveled for two days before discovering this location that would accept us,” explained Seganish Gogamo, an Ethiopian worker who escaped from the southern city of Nabatieh and found refuge in a Beirut church sheltering migrant workers from Asia and Africa. She departed during nighttime hours following intense aerial bombardments.

The fighting shows no signs of concluding, as approximately 100,000 Israeli soldiers have gathered along the U.N.-established Blue Line separating both countries in preparation for an expected ground offensive. Many worry the Israel-Hezbollah confrontation might extend beyond the Iran conflict.

Joe Sayyah was among numerous residents who stayed in their border village, Alma al-Shaab, during the war’s initial days, hoping evacuation wouldn’t become necessary. As a Christian community, Israel has primarily targeted Shiite areas where Hezbollah maintains operations.

Sayyah and others contacted the Vatican and the United States, presenting themselves as uninvolved parties in the conflict and emphasizing the absence of military personnel or activities in their area. They also spent several days taking shelter within a church.

However, when his friend died in an Israeli drone attack while tending to his garden, they realized departure was essential. He and the remaining residents rang the church bell one final time before traveling to the capital in a convoy protected by United Nations peacekeeping forces.

Upon reaching a church in Beirut’s northern outskirts to conduct a funeral service for his friend, Sayyah said the relief of arriving somewhere secure was quickly overshadowed by the sobering understanding that this conflict might differ from the previous one.

“This time, there’s a significant chance we might never return to our village,” he said.

BANGKOK, March 14 – Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn will formally inaugurate parliament on Saturday while the nation’s Constitutional Court examines potential legal violations from last month’s general election involving ballot security features.

The country’s Office of the Ombudsman has raised concerns that barcode technology on voting ballots could compromise voter anonymity and has asked the Constitutional Court to review the matter.

Although Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s Bhumjaithai Party secured a decisive win in the February 8 election, the ombudsman announced Friday that 21 public complaints have been filed alleging that barcodes and QR codes on ballots might enable identification of individual voter choices.

This scrutiny carries significant weight, as the court previously invalidated a 2006 election due to violations of ballot secrecy requirements.

Election officials have defended the barcode system, stating it serves security functions and that voter identification would only be possible with access to the top portion of ballots, which remain in secure storage.

Bhumjaithai secured at least 191 seats in the 500-member legislative body and plans to establish a governing coalition with the third-place Pheu Thai Party along with smaller political groups. This alliance would control more than 290 seats, potentially providing governmental stability following years of political upheaval.

Parliamentary sessions will resume Sunday with lawmakers selecting a new house speaker and two deputy positions.

Veteran Bhumjaithai politician and Deputy Prime Minister Sophon Zaram announced to media Thursday that his party has put forward his name for the speaker position. The newly elected speaker will then schedule parliamentary proceedings to select the prime minister.

According to Bhumjaithai deputy leader Siripong Angkasakulkiat, the prime ministerial vote is anticipated for Thursday.

American military forces launched strikes Friday against Kharg Island, Iran’s critical oil export facility that handles nine-tenths of the nation’s petroleum shipments, raising concerns about global energy supply disruptions.

Former President Donald Trump announced on social media that U.S. forces “totally obliterated every MILITARY target” on the strategic island and warned that oil facilities could become targets if Iran continues disrupting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

The island facility, located 16 miles off Iran’s coastline and approximately 300 miles northwest of the Strait of Hormuz, serves as the primary export point for Iranian crude oil due to its deep-water ports capable of accommodating large tankers.

Data from TankerTracker.com and Kpler indicates Iran has maintained oil shipments between 1.1 million and 1.5 million barrels daily, even after increasing production before the February 28 conflict launched by Israel and the United States.

Energy markets closely monitored whether the military action affected Kharg’s complex system of pipelines, loading terminals and storage facilities. Any operational disruption could further strain already tight global oil supplies and increase market volatility.

“You take out Kharg infrastructure, then you take 2 million bpd out of the market for good – not until the Straits get fixed,” explained Dan Pickering, chief investment officer for Pickering Energy Partners.

Iran’s military responded Saturday through state media, warning that attacks on the country’s energy infrastructure would trigger retaliatory strikes against oil company facilities belonging to U.S. regional partners.

Patrick De Haan, an analyst with fuel price tracking service GasBuddy, expressed alarm about escalating tensions. “I’m very concerned it elevates the temperature and Iran has less to lose and it seems to escalate. Iran when backed into a corner is highly emboldened to act,” De Haan stated.

Iran has effectively blocked shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway that carries 20% of global oil supplies, primarily to Asian markets.

China represents the largest destination for Iranian crude exported through Kharg Island. According to Kpler tracking data, Iranian oil comprises 11.6% of China’s seaborne petroleum imports this year, with independent refiners drawn to previously discounted prices resulting from U.S. sanctions.

Export figures show Iran shipped 1.7 million barrels per day of crude oil this year, with 1.55 million barrels flowing through Kharg facilities. Before the current conflict, Iran had increased exports to approximately 2.17 million barrels daily in February, including a record 3.79 million barrels during the week of February 16.

The island’s storage infrastructure can hold roughly 30 million barrels, with approximately 18 million barrels of crude stored there as of early March, according to JP Morgan analysis of Kpler data. Satellite imagery from Wednesday showed multiple large crude carriers loading at Kharg terminals.

As OPEC’s third-largest producer, Iran supplies about 4.5% of global oil, with current output reaching 3.3 million barrels daily of crude oil plus 1.3 million barrels of condensate and other petroleum liquids.

An accomplished Belarusian journalist received a nine-year prison sentence Monday after being found guilty of treason charges, marking another blow to press freedom in the authoritarian nation.

Pavel Dabravolski, 36, was convicted during a private hearing at Minsk City Court, according to the Belarusian Association of Journalists. The award-winning reporter, who contributed to both international and local news organizations, most recently worked for BelaPAN, a news agency that Belarusian officials have labeled as extremist.

This conviction represents the fifth journalist to receive prison time within a two-week period, highlighting the government’s ongoing assault on media independence.

Alexander Lukashenko has maintained his grip on power for more than thirty years through systematic suppression of opposition voices.

The country erupted in widespread demonstrations after the disputed 2020 election results, which international observers condemned as illegitimate. Authorities detained over 65,000 individuals and physically assaulted thousands during the unrest. Following these protests, officials forced the closure of hundreds of independent news organizations and civil society groups.

Opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, now living in exile, accused authorities of pursuing fabricated accusations against Dabravolski.

“Dabravolski’s only ‘crime’ was doing his job and covering the 2020 protests after the stolen elections,” she said. “We see that the conveyor belt of repression inside Belarus continues unabated.”

Media advocates report an intensification of government harassment targeting news professionals.

“Repression is escalating and Dabravolski’s sentence shows that the authorities are increasing pressure on journalists in a country that already has the worst freedom of speech in Europe,” Andrei Bastunets, the head of the journalists’ association, told The Associated Press.

The organization reports that 28 media workers are currently imprisoned throughout Belarus.

“It contradicts the idea that the human rights situation in Belarus has allegedly improved due to the release of prominent political prisoners,” Bastunets said.

During Lukashenko’s rule, Belarus has endured extended diplomatic isolation and economic penalties from Western nations due to authoritarian practices and for permitting Russia to launch attacks on Ukraine from Belarusian territory in 2022. Recently, the leader has attempted to rebuild Western relationships by freeing hundreds of political detainees.

Nevertheless, many others remain incarcerated, with human rights group Viasna calculating that 1,140 political prisoners are still held captive.

Extremist fighters launched devastating simultaneous assaults across northeastern Nigeria early Monday, claiming the lives of 15 people in what military sources and local residents describe as carefully orchestrated attacks.

The casualties included 12 military personnel and three civilians who died during the overnight raids that struck three different locations, highlighting the persistent threat posed by terrorist organizations in the region.

For nearly two decades, extremist violence has plagued northeastern Nigeria, resulting in thousands of deaths and forcing 2 million people from their homes, according to humanitarian organizations. This devastation continues despite extensive military operations aimed at eliminating the threat.

The Monday morning strikes targeted Kukawa, Dalwa, and Goniri, occurring just days following a comparable assault on military forces in Ngoshe. These incidents demonstrate the terrorist organizations’ capability to execute simultaneous operations across multiple locations.

Fighters affiliated with Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province launched their assault on Kukawa district in Borno state just before sunrise Monday, advancing toward a nearby military installation in what became a three-hour firefight, according to soldiers who participated in the battle.

Military personnel eventually regained control of the facility, but not before losing their commanding officer and five additional soldiers, a military source reported. Karta Maina Ma’aji Lawan, the legislative representative for Kukawa, verified both the attack and the commanding officer’s death.

The assault on Dalwa resulted in two military deaths and three civilian fatalities, while militants destroyed more than 250 residences by fire, according to Shetima Isa, a local resident and traditional leader.

In the adjacent Yobe state, insurgents successfully captured the Goniri military installation, killing four soldiers and destroying vehicles and structures through arson, another military member reported.

Army officials have not provided responses to requests for official statements regarding these incidents.

Nigerian military forces have increased their operations against insurgent strongholds throughout this year as part of an intensified campaign. However, both ISWAP and Boko Haram continue to take advantage of challenging geography, poorly secured borders, and limited government presence throughout the northeastern region’s dry territories.

These most recent attacks occurred mere hours after military intelligence had issued warnings about a probable ISWAP offensive operation.

American military forces destroyed key targets on Iran’s Kharg Island Friday, according to President Donald Trump, striking at the heart of the nation’s oil export operations. Iran’s parliamentary leadership had previously cautioned that attacks on such facilities would trigger unprecedented retaliation measures.

The Pentagon is deploying an additional 2,500 Marines along with an amphibious assault vessel to the Middle East region as the conflict with Iran enters its third week, according to a U.S. defense official.

Iranian forces have maintained extensive missile and drone bombardments against Israel and neighboring Gulf nations while successfully blocking the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway that carries twenty percent of global oil shipments. American and Israeli aircraft continue intensive bombing campaigns targeting Iranian military installations and strategic sites.

These developments suggest the two-week military confrontation is far from reaching a resolution.

Early Saturday morning, an aerial strike targeted a residential building in Baghdad’s Karrada neighborhood, resulting in one fatality and two injuries, according to security sources and officials connected to Iranian-backed militia organizations who requested anonymity due to authorization restrictions.

Iraqi military leadership issued a statement denouncing the attack as “a blatant violation of all humanitarian values and a disregard for international conventions.”

This incident preceded a separate missile assault on the U.S. Embassy complex in Baghdad.

Iran’s Fars news agency documented at least fifteen explosions accompanied by heavy smoke clouds over Kharg Island following the American military strikes.

The news outlet reported that the bombardment focused on air defense systems, naval installations, airport control facilities, and helicopter storage areas belonging to offshore petroleum companies, while claiming no damage occurred to oil production infrastructure.

Iranian military command renewed warnings about potential attacks on American-connected energy assets throughout the region should their oil facilities face targeting.

Speaking for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, Ebrahim Zolfaghari issued threats early Saturday through state television channels.

“All oil, economic, and energy infrastructures belonging to oil companies across the region that have American shares or cooperate with America” would become targets if Iran’s energy and economic facilities face attack, he warned.

The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad provided no immediate response following the missile strike on its compound.

Embassy officials reissued their highest Level 4 security warning for Iraq on Friday, noting that Iranian forces and affiliated militia groups have historically conducted attacks against American personnel, interests and facilities, with the potential for continued targeting.

The massive embassy facility, ranking among the world’s largest American diplomatic installations, has faced repeated rocket and drone attacks from Iranian-aligned militant groups in previous incidents.

These organizations have recently intensified their assault campaigns against military bases housing American and coalition personnel.

A drone attack in northern Iraq Thursday resulted in the death of a French soldier and injuries to several others serving with the international coalition forces.

Security officials confirmed that a missile impacted a helicopter landing area within the U.S. Embassy grounds in Baghdad.

The projectile struck inside the embassy perimeter after targeting the Green Zone, the heavily secured central Baghdad district containing Iraqi government buildings and international diplomatic missions, according to security personnel who requested anonymity due to speaking restrictions.

Associated Press footage captured smoke rising from within the embassy compound following the attack.

Iraqi security officials reported Saturday that the United States Embassy in Baghdad came under missile fire, with the attack generating visible smoke from the diplomatic compound.

According to the security sources who spoke with Reuters, the missile strike targeted the American embassy facility in Iraq’s capital city. While smoke was observed rising from the embassy building following the attack, officials have not yet released information regarding the extent of damage or any potential casualties.

The incident occurred on March 14, marking another security challenge for American diplomatic personnel stationed in the volatile region.

Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te defended his administration’s massive defense spending proposal on Saturday, arguing the island’s strong economic performance justifies the $40 billion military investment amid growing tensions with China.

Speaking during commemorations of Taiwan’s first direct presidential election three decades ago, Lai addressed criticism from opposition lawmakers who have stalled the eight-year defense package in parliament. Opposition members, who hold a majority, argue the spending details lack clarity and refuse to approve what they call “blank cheques.”

“With Taiwan’s economic growth, we can absolutely afford it,” Lai stated during his address. “If we look at the United States’ National Security Strategy, the U.S. emphasises collective defence and burden-sharing.”

The island nation has experienced remarkable economic expansion, driven largely by its semiconductor industry and surging demand for artificial intelligence technology. Taiwan’s economy grew at its fastest rate in 15 years during 2025, benefiting from its position as the world’s leading producer of advanced computer chips.

Lai’s defense spending push aligns with pressure from the Trump administration for allies to increase their military budgets, a policy the Taiwanese president has publicly supported.

The president outlined plans to integrate artificial intelligence into Taiwan’s defense capabilities while strengthening domestic military manufacturing. “In other words, our defence budget is not only a budget for national defence, but also a budget for economic and industrial development,” he explained.

Despite parliamentary resistance to the broader spending plan, lawmakers on Friday authorized the government to proceed with approximately $9 billion in arms purchases from the United States to meet contract deadlines.

Beijing considers Taiwan part of Chinese territory and maintains it will use military force if necessary to bring the island under its control. Lai has consistently rejected China’s territorial claims, insisting that only Taiwan’s citizens can determine their political future.

Chinese military forces conducted their latest war exercises near Taiwan in December, and Beijing regularly deploys naval vessels and military aircraft around the island as part of ongoing pressure campaigns.

Federal prosecutors in Manhattan are standing firm on their decision to prevent Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela’s ousted president, from accessing state funds to pay for his legal defense against drug trafficking charges.

In court documents filed Friday, prosecutors argued that Maduro should not have access to Venezuelan government money, emphasizing that the United States has refused to recognize him as the country’s legitimate leader for several years.

The legal dispute began last month when Maduro’s attorney Barry Pollack petitioned U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein to throw out the criminal charges. Pollack claimed the Treasury Department wrongfully canceled a sanctions exemption that had previously allowed Venezuela’s government to fund Maduro’s legal representation.

The defense attorney contended this action violated Maduro’s Sixth Amendment right to legal counsel. Pollack explained that according to “Venezuelan law and custom,” the government is responsible for covering legal expenses for the president and his spouse. Court documents from last month show that an official from Venezuela’s attorney general’s office confirmed the government’s willingness to cover these costs.

Manhattan federal prosecutors countered these arguments, telling Judge Hellerstein that the original exemption was simply an “administrative error.” They emphasized that both Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, remain free to use their own personal assets for their legal defense. Flores’ attorney, Mark Donnelly, has also requested dismissal of charges against his client based on the funding restrictions.

“While both defendants claim that they are entitled to funds under the Venezuelan constitution … both defendants also surely knew that the U.S. Government did not consider them to hold legitimate positions,” prosecutors stated in their filing, pointing out that removing Maduro and Flores from power was a key objective of U.S. sanctions.

Venezuelan government officials did not respond to requests for comment through the communications ministry, which handles all media inquiries.

Both Maduro and Flores were taken into custody on January 3 during a U.S. military operation at their residence in Caracas. They have entered not guilty pleas and remain detained in Brooklyn while awaiting trial.

Their legal representatives have not yet commented on the latest court filings.

Judge Hellerstein is scheduled to address the legal funding dispute during a March 26 hearing in Manhattan federal court.

Federal authorities have accused Maduro, who assumed the presidency in 2013 as a socialist leader, of manipulating election results in both 2018 and 2024. Maduro has consistently denied these allegations.

Since Maduro’s arrest, his former Vice President Delcy Rodriguez has taken control of Venezuela’s government. According to a March 11 State Department court filing in an unrelated case, the United States now recognizes Rodriguez as Venezuela’s official head of state.

A projectile hit the helicopter landing zone within the United States embassy complex in Baghdad on Saturday morning, according to reports from Iraqi security sources.

Witnesses observed a plume of smoke ascending from the diplomatic facility following the Saturday morning incident, as reported by the Associated Press.

Two Iraqi security officials confirmed the strike on the embassy compound’s helipad to news outlets.

Multiple sources in Brazil report that Finance Minister Fernando Haddad will likely resign from his cabinet position within the next week to launch a gubernatorial campaign in São Paulo state, following encouragement from President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

According to four sources who spoke with Reuters on Monday, while Haddad and Lula haven’t held final discussions about the gubernatorial run, the two officials have been in regular contact regarding the potential campaign.

The Brazilian newspaper O Globo first broke the story earlier Monday. Officials at the finance ministry have refused to provide comment on the reports.

Political analysts suggest Lula’s encouragement stems from his need to establish a stronger foothold in São Paulo, a state where right-wing opposition candidates typically perform well. Party officials believe a poor showing in São Paulo could damage the president’s chances for reelection.

The finance minister had originally planned to avoid seeking office this election cycle, instead expressing his desire to help coordinate Lula’s presidential reelection effort.

However, sources indicate that concerns about the president facing a difficult reelection battle have created pressure for Haddad to enter the São Paulo race.

Recent polling data from Datafolha reveals that a hypothetical runoff between President Lula and Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, would essentially result in a dead heat.

Separate Datafolha polling focused on the São Paulo gubernatorial race shows Haddad capturing 31% support in a first-round matchup, trailing incumbent Governor Tarcísio de Freitas at 44%. De Freitas, who has backing from the Bolsonaro political family, previously defeated Haddad in the 2022 election.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Monday from Kyiv that his nation stands prepared to engage in U.S.-supported peace negotiations immediately, though he acknowledged that international allies are currently preoccupied with the escalating Iran situation.

The Ukrainian leader revealed that the United States has requested to delay a scheduled diplomatic meeting due to the shifting focus toward Iranian activities in the region.

In a post on social media platform X, Zelenskyy accused Russia of attempting to exploit the Middle East tensions for strategic advantage. He warned that Moscow seeks to transform Iran’s attacks on neighboring countries and American military installations into “a second front of Russia’s war against Ukraine.”

LIMA – A new survey reveals that two conservative politicians are currently leading Peru’s crowded presidential contest scheduled for April 12, though widespread voter uncertainty suggests the race remains wide open.

Keiko Fujimori and Rafael Lopez Aliaga have emerged as frontrunners among a historic field of 36 candidates, according to polling data from Datum Internacional released Sunday evening on Peruvian television. Fujimori captured 10.7% support while Lopez Aliaga garnered 10%, making them the only contenders to reach double-digit backing.

The narrow margins reflect deep political uncertainty in the South American nation, with approximately two-fifths of survey respondents either refusing to select a candidate or indicating they won’t participate in the election at all.

These modest approval ratings make a June 7 runoff election highly probable, continuing a pattern for the Andean country where no presidential candidate has secured a first-round victory since the late 1990s.

Peru’s presidency has experienced remarkable instability, cycling through eight different leaders since 2018. Currently, four former presidents are incarcerated, and the nation’s unpopular conservative-dominated legislature ousted the most recent president last month following revelations of undisclosed meetings with a Chinese business figure.

The Datum survey, conducted between February 27 and March 4, found that over 38% of voters had not made a decision or planned to abstain from voting. Company CEO Urpi Torrado noted that many participants who do intend to vote will likely make their final choice just one week before the election.

Fujimori, whose father Alberto Fujimori served as president before receiving a 16-year prison sentence for human rights violations including authorizing death squad operations during his ten-year rule, is making her fourth presidential bid.

Her polling position has fluctuated with Lopez Aliaga, an ultra-conservative former Lima mayor who has adopted the campaign nickname “Porky” due to his resemblance to an American cartoon character. Two weeks earlier, a previous Datum survey showed Lopez Aliaga leading with 13.4% compared to Fujimori’s 9.7%.

Additional candidates polling around 5% include leftist Alfonso Lopez-Chau, who previously served as a central bank official; wealthy entrepreneur Cesar Acuna; Carlos Alvarez, a well-known comedian famous for impersonating past presidents; and Wolfgang Grozo, a retired military general and former intelligence director.

President Donald Trump announced Friday that American forces carried out devastating attacks on military installations located on Iran’s Kharg Island, a strategic location that serves as the nation’s primary oil export hub, while issuing stern warnings that petroleum facilities could face bombardment if Tehran persists in disrupting maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

In a social media statement, Trump revealed that U.S. military forces had “obliterated” strategic positions on Kharg Island during Friday’s operations. The island serves as Iran’s main oil export terminal, making it a critical component of the country’s economic infrastructure. Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf had previously cautioned that such military actions would trigger unprecedented retaliation from Tehran.

Defense officials confirmed that an additional 2,500 Marines along with an amphibious assault vessel are being deployed to the Middle East region, marking nearly two weeks since hostilities began with the Islamic Republic.

These developments suggest the two-week conflict shows no signs of reaching a resolution anytime soon.

Tehran has maintained its barrage of missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and neighboring Gulf nations while effectively blocking the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that facilitates one-fifth of global oil trade. This continues despite intensive bombing campaigns by U.S. and Israeli aircraft against Iranian military installations and other strategic targets.

The crisis in Lebanon has worsened dramatically, with casualty figures reaching nearly 800 deaths and 850,000 people forced from their homes as Israeli forces conduct repeated strikes against Hezbollah forces backed by Iran, with Israeli officials stating the campaign will continue without pause.

Military sources speaking anonymously to discuss classified operations confirmed that components of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and the USS Tripoli amphibious assault ship have received orders for Middle East deployment.

Marine Expeditionary Units possess capabilities for beach assault operations while also specializing in embassy security reinforcement, civilian evacuation missions, and emergency response operations. This deployment doesn’t necessarily signal imminent ground combat operations.

The Wall Street Journal initially broke news of the Marine deployment.

The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and the Tripoli, along with accompanying amphibious vessels carrying the Marines, operate from Japanese bases and have spent recent days in Pacific waters, according to military photographs. Satellite imagery captured the Tripoli sailing independently near Taiwan, positioning it over a week’s journey from Iranian coastal waters.

Naval forces earlier this week included 12 vessels operating in the Arabian Sea, featuring the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and eight destroyer escorts. The Tripoli’s arrival would create the region’s second-largest naval presence behind the Lincoln.

While exact numbers of American military personnel stationed throughout the Middle East remain classified, Qatar’s Al-Udeid Air Base alone typically accommodates approximately 8,000 U.S. service members at one of the region’s largest installations.

Trump’s social media announcement detailed how American strikes against Iran’s Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf focused on military targets while deliberately avoiding petroleum infrastructure.

However, he cautioned that interference with shipping through the Strait of Hormuz by Iran or other parties would force him to reconsider his current policy avoiding attacks that would “wipe out the Oil Infrastructure.”

Thursday saw Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf issue social media warnings that strikes against Iran’s southern maritime border islands would prompt Tehran to “abandon all restraint,” highlighting these territories’ crucial role in the nation’s economic and security framework.

Iraqi security personnel reported that a missile impacted a helicopter landing area within the U.S. Embassy complex in Baghdad.

Associated Press video documentation captured smoke plumes rising Saturday morning above the embassy grounds.

The extensive embassy facility, ranking among the world’s largest American diplomatic installations, has faced repeated rocket and drone attacks launched by Iranian-supported militant organizations.

U.S. Embassy officials in Baghdad provided no immediate response. Friday saw the embassy extend its Level 4 security warning for Iraq, alerting that Iran and affiliated militia organizations have conducted previous strikes against American citizens, interests and facilities, with potential for continued targeting.

Friday afternoon in Iran’s capital, a massive blast shook a central plaza where thousands had assembled for the government’s annual pro-Palestinian demonstration calling for Israel’s destruction. No injuries were immediately reported.

The Tehran explosion occurred at midday in the Ferdowsi Square vicinity, where crowds had gathered for the annual Quds Day demonstration, shouting “death to Israel” and “death to America.”

Israeli forces had issued evacuation warnings through a Farsi-language social media account shortly before the explosion. However, few Iranians likely received the message due to authorities’ near-complete internet shutdown. Video footage showed crowds chanting “God is greatest” as smoke filled the area.

Israel’s military subsequently posted additional Farsi messages, noting Iran’s judiciary chief attended the rally while criticizing Tehran for preventing citizens from accessing their warnings.

Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the hardline judiciary leader, was conducting a state television interview at the demonstration when the attack occurred. Security personnel surrounded him as he raised his fist, declaring Iran would “under this rain and missiles will never withdraw.”

Israeli officials announced another round of Iranian infrastructure strikes, reporting their air force had struck over 200 targets within 24 hours, including missile systems, defensive installations and weapons manufacturing facilities.

From Washington, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that more than 15,000 enemy positions have been attacked—exceeding 1,000 daily since combat operations began.

Addressing concerns about Strait of Hormuz disruptions, he told media representatives: “We have been dealing with it and don’t need to worry about it.”

President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to Iran on Saturday, threatening to target the nation’s crucial oil export infrastructure if Tehran continues interfering with international shipping routes through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.

The ultimatum came after American forces conducted military operations against Iran’s Kharg Island, which serves as the departure point for approximately 90% of Iran’s petroleum exports. The island facility sits roughly 300 miles northwest of the contested waterway.

While U.S. operations deliberately avoided damaging oil-related infrastructure, Trump made clear this restraint could end quickly. “Should Iran, or anyone else, do anything to interfere with the Free and Safe Passage of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz, I will immediately reconsider this decision,” the president declared in a social media statement.

Trump also dismissed Iran’s military capabilities, writing that the country “had no ability to defend against U.S. attacks.” He added: “Iran’s Military, and all others involved with this Terrorist Regime, would be wise to lay down their arms, and save what’s left of their country, which isn’t much!”

Iranian military officials responded swiftly on Saturday, warning through state media that any assault on their energy facilities would trigger retaliatory strikes against regional oil companies working with American interests.

According to Iran’s Fars news agency, witnesses reported hearing more than 15 explosions during the American assault on Kharg Island. Sources indicated the bombardment focused on defensive installations, naval facilities, and airfield infrastructure while sparing petroleum operations.

Global energy markets are closely monitoring whether the island’s complex system of pipelines, storage facilities, and export terminals sustained any damage. Even minimal disruptions could worsen an already strained worldwide supply situation.

The regional conflict has expanded beyond Iran, with the Revolutionary Guard announcing additional collaborative strikes against Israel alongside Lebanon’s Hezbollah organization, according to Iran’s Tasnim news outlet.

Israeli military forces reported conducting extensive air operations Friday, hitting over 200 Iranian targets including missile systems, defensive installations, and weapons manufacturing sites across western and central regions of the country.

American military personnel have suffered losses in the escalating conflict. The Pentagon confirmed Friday that six crew members died when their refueling aircraft went down in western Iraq. Additionally, The Wall Street Journal reported that Iranian missiles damaged five U.S. Air Force tanker planes at a Saudi Arabian base, with repairs currently underway.

Energy markets have experienced dramatic price swings based on Trump’s varying statements about the conflict’s expected duration. The fighting erupted February 28 with coordinated American and Israeli bombardments against Iran and has since expanded into a broader regional war affecting global financial and energy markets.

Lebanon has emerged as another major battleground, with Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants exchanging attacks in and around Beirut, further escalating tensions.

Beyond missile and drone assaults on Israel and U.S.-allied Gulf nations, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has actively worked to disrupt commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which handles approximately 20% of global fossil fuel transportation.

Trump announced Friday that American naval forces would “soon” begin providing security escorts for tanker vessels navigating the waterway.

Despite previously suggesting the conflict would conclude within weeks, Trump declined Friday to offer any timeline for resolution. “I can’t tell you that,” he told reporters. “I mean, I have my own idea, but what good does it do? It’ll be as long as it’s necessary.”

Iran has maintained crude oil shipments while other Gulf producers suspended operations due to security concerns about potential Iranian attacks.

Satellite monitoring by TankerTrackers.com showed multiple large oil tankers loading cargo at Kharg on Wednesday. Iran’s daily exports have ranged between 1.1 million and 1.5 million barrels from February 28 through Wednesday.

Energy analyst Bob McNally of Rapidan Energy Group said Trump’s Friday remarks “will focus the market’s mind on pathways that this energy disruption, already history’s largest, could expand and last longer.”

Some industry experts questioned the strategic value of avoiding oil infrastructure. “Bombing Kharg Island but not the oil infrastructure is like going to McDonald’s and getting a hamburger with no meat,” said Josh Young of Bison Interests. “What’s the point?”

Iran’s newly appointed supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, made his first public statements Thursday, promising to maintain the Strait of Hormuz closure and warning neighboring nations to shut down American military installations or face potential attacks.

European nations are developing strategies to protect their interests, with France leading discussions among European, Asian, and Gulf Arab partners about potentially deploying warships to escort commercial vessels through the strait.

After nearly two weeks of warfare, casualty figures have reached 2,000 deaths, with the majority occurring in Iran but significant losses also reported in Lebanon and Gulf states now experiencing frontline combat for the first time in decades of Middle Eastern conflicts.

Several million people have fled their homes due to the fighting. As Israeli aircraft continue pounding Beirut’s surrounding areas, Lebanese interior officials report being overwhelmed by hundreds of thousands of displaced residents seeking shelter in the capital city.

WASHINGTON — American intelligence officials concluded in a classified report that military action against Iran would fail to bring about a change in government, even if key leaders were eliminated, according to two sources with knowledge of the February assessment.

The National Intelligence Council’s analysis determined that both targeted airstrikes and extended military operations would be unlikely to install new leadership in the Islamic Republic, the sources revealed on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the document.

This finding challenges the current administration’s claims that its goals in Iran could be achieved rapidly, possibly within weeks. Although officials have stated they are not pursuing regime change, President Donald Trump has openly discussed his preferred candidates to lead Iran.

According to those briefed on the report, intelligence analysts found no strong or unified opposition group ready to assume power should Iranian leadership be eliminated. The assessment predicted that Iran’s establishment would work to maintain governmental continuity if Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei were killed.

The intelligence community’s predictions have materialized, as Iranian religious authorities on Sunday selected Mojtaba Khamenei, the late leader’s son, as the new supreme leader following his father’s death in the initial military strikes. The younger Khamenei is considered more extreme than his predecessor, signaling the regime’s defiance and unwillingness to surrender power easily.

The Washington Post and The New York Times previously reported details from this intelligence assessment.

Administration officials have offered varying explanations for the military campaign that commenced February 28, citing the need to disrupt Iran’s nuclear weapons development or prevent Iranian missile attacks. While Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth maintains the conflict does not aim for regime change, Trump has expressed his desire to see new Iranian leadership.

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence did not respond to requests for comment Monday. Director Tulsi Gabbard previously dismissed the council’s acting leader last year following the publication of a declassified report that contradicted administration statements used to justify Venezuelan immigrant deportations.

Throughout his presidency, Trump has maintained deep suspicion toward U.S. intelligence agencies, regularly rejecting their conclusions as politically driven or part of efforts by a “deep state” to sabotage his administration.

As military operations involving Iran, Israel and Lebanon continue for a second week, Associated Press photographers are capturing images from across the conflict zones.

The visual documentation shows conditions on the ground as tensions remain high in the region. Meanwhile, political changes are occurring with leadership transitions taking place.

The collection of photographs has been assembled by Associated Press photo editors to provide a visual record of current events in the affected areas.

A London courtroom became the stage Monday for allegations against Gerry Adams, the former head of Sinn Féin, as three bombing victims claim he held leadership positions within the Irish Republican Army during deadly attacks in England.

The civil lawsuit filed in London’s High Court alleges Adams bore direct responsibility for Provisional IRA decisions to carry out explosive attacks in England during 1973 and 1996.

Attorney Anne Studd, representing the three injured men, told the court that Adams made false distinctions between his roles. “The defendant carefully draws a distinction between being a member of ‘the Army’ and being a member of Sinn Féin,” Studd stated. “That was a distinction without a difference.”

While these accusations against Adams have circulated for years, this marks the first instance where a court will determine their validity.

Adams served as a pivotal figure during Northern Ireland’s violent era, heading the IRA-associated Sinn Féin party from 1983 through 2018 and playing a crucial role in negotiating the 1998 Good Friday peace agreement. Despite consistent denials of IRA membership, several former associates have claimed he held leadership roles within the organization.

“There is no doubt that the defendant contributed to the peace in Northern Ireland, but the claimants say that on the evidence, he also contributed to the war,” Studd argued.

The three plaintiffs seek acknowledgment rather than financial compensation, pursuing damages of just one pound ($1.33) from Adams.

Their lawsuit claims Adams served on the IRA’s governing Army Council and shares equal responsibility with those who physically planted explosives during “the Troubles” – three decades of bloodshed involving Irish republican militants, British loyalist groups, and UK military forces. This period claimed approximately 3,600 lives, primarily in Northern Ireland, though IRA operations extended to England.

Police officer John Clark sustained shrapnel wounds to his head and hand during the 1973 Old Bailey courthouse attack in London. Jonathan Ganesh experienced psychological trauma from the 1996 London Docklands explosion. Barry Laycock suffered 50% disability, emotional distress, and financial hardship following the 1996 Arndale shopping center bombing in Manchester.

Defense attorney Edward Craven stated that Adams, who plans to testify during the jury-free trial scheduled to end next week, “emphatically, unequivocally and categorically denies that he was ever a member of the IRA.”

Craven emphasized that the 77-year-old was never formally charged with these bombings or even detained on suspicion of involvement.

Adams faced IRA membership charges in 1978, though prosecutors later abandoned the case due to insufficient evidence.

Last year, Adams secured a £100,000 ($116,000) libel judgment against the BBC regarding a television documentary’s assertion that he approved killing an informant within Irish republican circles.

Craven described the plaintiffs’ burden of proof as insurmountable, saying they “had a mountain to climb to prove their case and they had not even arrived at the foothills.”

The defense acknowledged that Adams supported IRA objectives and attempted to rationalize their actions, though he didn’t endorse every operation.

“That makes him, in the eyes of some people, a deeply controversial figure,” Craven explained. “It does not mean he was factually responsible for the bombings.”

China’s top diplomat has called on Afghanistan and Pakistan to pursue peaceful negotiations instead of military action as tensions between the neighboring nations continue to escalate.

During a telephone conversation on Friday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke with Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, emphasizing the need for diplomatic solutions over armed conflict, according to an official statement from China’s foreign ministry.

Wang stressed the importance of both nations maintaining composure and showing restraint while working toward immediate face-to-face negotiations. He advocated for an urgent ceasefire and emphasized that differences should be settled through diplomatic channels.

The Chinese foreign minister warned that continued military actions would only worsen the current crisis and heighten regional instability.

This diplomatic intervention follows Pakistan’s Friday bombing of a Kam Air fuel depot located near Kandahar airport in Afghanistan, representing a major escalation in what has become the most serious conflict between these neighbors in recent years. The attack occurred despite ongoing Chinese mediation efforts.

The two foreign ministers also discussed developments in Iran during their conversation, with Wang expressing Beijing’s readiness to collaborate with Afghanistan and other international partners to promote stability in Iran.

ROME (AP) — Historic treasures beyond Michelangelo’s renowned marble Moses sculpture are getting much-needed attention at Rome’s San Pietro in Vincoli basilica.

European Union pandemic recovery dollars are driving an intensive wave of restoration work at religious, cultural and historic landmarks throughout Rome.

Restorer Melanie Khanthajan scaled multiple ladders Monday, carrying her equipment to scaffolding positioned 65 feet above the basilica floor near the ceiling. With surgical precision, she used a scalpel to carefully remove plaster layers from decorative serpentine elements surrounding a coat of arms on the vaulted ceiling, employing a method known as “descialbo.”

“Every removal of a layer surprises us because it allows us to understand what it is like, what emerges,” she explained. “So for us it’s wonderful, it’s a discovery every day.”

A $2.3 million EU recovery grant is funding comprehensive cleaning and restoration of the basilica’s ceilings, altar, tombs, marble columns and ornamental features, providing work for Khanthajan and 10 additional restoration specialists.

Rome secured $579 million in European funding for “Caput Mundi” initiatives covering more than 100 cultural renovation projects citywide. Ancient Romans used “Caput Mundi” to describe their city as “the head of the world.” European Union agreements require these funds to be spent by late 2026.

Located steps from Rome’s Colosseum, the basilica derives its name “vincoli” from the Latin “vincula,” meaning chains. Ancient chains believed to have bound St. Peter in Jerusalem are displayed in a glass case at the main altar. According to religious tradition, these chains miraculously joined with those used to restrain Peter during his imprisonment at Rome’s Mamertine prison.

Built during the 5th century under Eastern Roman rule, the basilica underwent partial reconstruction in the 16th century when Pope Julius II ordered renovations. The pope added his Della Rovere family crest featuring an oak tree throughout the ceilings, arches and chapels. These heraldic symbols and accompanying decorative elements are the restoration’s primary focus.

Michelangelo’s Moses sculpture, created in 1513 for Julius’s funeral monument, remains the basilica’s star attraction. While not included in the current restoration work, the statue will receive cleaning once the project concludes.

“The works started about eight months ago and will end by May 2026,” said Ilaria Sgarbozza, the scientific director of the restoration project. “Let’s say it’s a very fast pace.”

BRISBANE, Australia — Five players from Iran’s women’s national soccer team have received humanitarian protection in Australia, according to Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, who announced the decision on Tuesday.

Australian federal police relocated the women from their Gold Coast hotel to a secure location during the early morning hours on Tuesday. Burke met with the players there and completed the processing of their humanitarian visas, he informed media representatives in Brisbane later that day.

The Iranian squad had traveled to Australia last month to compete in the Women’s Asian Cup, arriving before conflict erupted in their homeland. After being eliminated from the competition over the weekend, the team faced the possibility of returning to Iran amid ongoing bombardment.

Iran’s head coach Marziyeh Jafari stated on Sunday that her players “want to come back to Iran as soon as we can,” as reported by Australia’s AAP news service.

President Donald Trump had strongly criticized Australia’s handling of the situation on Monday, posting on social media that Australia was “making a terrible humanitarian mistake by allowing the … team to be forced back to Iran, where they will most likely be killed.”

Trump urged Australia to provide asylum for the team, stating: “The U.S. will take them if you won’t.”

Within two hours, Trump posted again praising Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, writing: “He’s on it! Five have already been taken care of, and the rest are on their way.”

The specific measures being implemented by Australia’s government remained unclear at the time.

Trump also noted that some players “feel they must go back because they are worried about the safety of their families, including threats to those family members if they don’t return.”

This asylum offer marked a notable shift for Trump, whose administration has worked to reduce the number of immigrants eligible for political asylum.

Throughout the tournament, team members largely avoided discussing the crisis in their country, though forward Sara Didar became emotional during a Wednesday press conference while expressing worry for their loved ones and fellow Iranians affected by the conflict.

The squad’s quiet stance during the national anthem before their opening defeat to South Korea was interpreted by some as defiance and by others as grief. The team has not clarified their intentions. During their final two games, they participated in singing and saluting during the anthem.

A Palestinian actor featured in an Academy Award-nominated film announced Friday that he will miss this weekend’s Oscars ceremony due to current U.S. travel restrictions affecting Palestinian citizens.

Motaz Malhees stars in “The Voice of Hind Rajab,” which earned a nomination for best international feature film. The movie tells the story of a five-year-old Palestinian girl who was killed by Israeli military forces in Gaza during 2024.

In his role, Malhees portrays a call center worker who tries to assist the young girl. However, he revealed on social media that he cannot travel to the United States for the ceremony.

“I am not allowed to enter the United States because of my Palestinian citizenship,” Malhees posted on Instagram, expressing that “it hurts” to miss the prestigious event.

The travel restrictions stem from a December proclamation by President Donald Trump that limits entry for individuals carrying Palestinian Authority travel documents. Trump stated he had “determined to fully restrict and limit the entry of individuals using travel documents issued or endorsed by the Palestinian Authority.”

Officials cited security concerns as the reason for the entry restrictions affecting certain countries.

The State Department has not yet provided a response regarding the actor’s situation.

The film draws from a tragic real-life incident where five members of Rajab’s family and two ambulance workers attempting a rescue were also killed by Israeli gunfire. Israeli authorities have indicated the incident remains under investigation.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s political party emerged as the top vote-getter in weekend congressional elections, though the results fell short of providing the clear mandate needed to push through sweeping government reforms.

The Historical Pact secured nearly 25% of Senate positions and approximately 15% of House seats in Sunday’s voting, outpacing all rival parties. However, conservative opposition forces also strengthened their position, with the Democratic Center party of former President Álvaro Uribe claiming 17 of the Senate’s 103 seats.

Centrist political groups, including traditional Liberal and Conservative parties, saw their influence diminish, while the Green Party also experienced reduced representation.

“The country seems to be turning away from voices in the center, and it’s becoming more polarized,” observed Carlos Arias, a Bogota-based political consultant.

Jorge Restrepo, an economics professor at Javeriana University in Bogota, characterized the electoral outcome as evidence that Colombia is abandoning its historical resistance to populist movements after decades under technocratic, center-right leadership.

“The Petro administration has taken a series of measures that are popular in the short term” but lack long-term viability, Restrepo explained.

He cited substantial minimum wage increases, reduced fuel costs, and workplace law modifications that boosted overtime compensation as examples of policies designed for immediate political appeal.

“These decisions have helped to increase the popularity of the Historical Pact,” Restrepo noted. “And make its critics more unpopular.”

The legislative contest occurred two months ahead of Colombia’s presidential race, which will determine the future of current security strategies and economic policy directions.

Throughout Petro’s four-year tenure, his government has pursued diplomatic solutions with remaining insurgent organizations while implementing labor reforms, including a 23% minimum wage boost despite 5% annual inflation.

The president has advocated for government control of Colombia’s healthcare system, removing private insurers from social security administration. His administration has also promoted pension system modifications that would expand state oversight of retirement fund management.

Political opponents have vowed to reverse these policy changes, arguing they contribute to irresponsible government expenditures.

Critics have also indicated they would take a more aggressive stance against rebel organizations that continue threatening citizens through extortion, abduction, and violence while competing for territorial control and drug trafficking profits.

Sunday’s elections included a primary contest among center-right coalition parties, which selected Democratic Center Senator Paloma Valencia as their presidential nominee.

The coalition’s 5.7 million votes established Valencia as a formidable contender in the upcoming presidential campaign, according to Bogota political risk analyst Sergio Guzmán.

Constitutional restrictions prevent Petro from seeking reelection, but his party’s nominee, Senator Iván Cepeda, currently leads polling data. Ultra-conservative attorney Abelardo de la Espriella, who has expressed admiration for Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, holds second place.

Valencia’s strong primary performance suggests she may now challenge De la Espriella for conservative voter support.

“Abelardo’s candidacy seems shaky now,” Guzmán assessed, noting that the attorney’s congressional slate received approximately 600,000 votes Sunday, representing just one-tenth of Valencia’s primary total.

May’s presidential election will feature at least six candidates, including representatives from smaller leftist parties.

A runoff between the top two finishers will occur in June if no candidate achieves a 50% majority.

Yan Basset, a political science instructor at Rosario University in Bogota, predicted that a conservative presidential victory would end current efforts to rewrite Colombia’s constitution.

Petro has maintained that constitutional revision is necessary to strengthen democratic participation and advance economic reforms previously rejected by the judiciary. However, opponents characterize the initiative as an attempt to consolidate power and reduce judicial supervision of executive actions.

Basset suggested that even if Cepeda wins the presidency, constitutional changes would face significant obstacles given Congress’s new composition.

“The left won, but they only had a quarter of the seats,” Basset explained. “I don’t think that there is the appetite among their potential coalition partners” to pursue constitutional reform.

OTTAWA, Canada (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will travel to Norway this Friday to witness a major NATO military training operation, followed by a visit to the United Kingdom, according to an announcement from his office on Monday.

Officials said Carney will observe the Cold Response exercise, which Norway leads for NATO. This biennial training event brings together approximately 25,000 military personnel from 14 different nations to conduct coordinated land, air and naval operations in harsh Arctic environments.

Participating countries include Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, France, Sweden and Finland.

“Canada is, and forever will be, an Arctic nation. In the face of new threats, we are deepening defense collaboration with our Arctic partners to create a stronger, more prosperous, and more secure world for Canada and for all,” Carney stated.

During his time in Oslo, Carney is scheduled to hold discussions with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre covering topics such as trade, investment, clean energy initiatives, critical mineral resources and aerospace industry cooperation.

The Canadian leader will also participate in the Canada-Nordic Summit, where he will engage with other Nordic government officials to explore opportunities for strengthened geopolitical partnerships.

Following his Norway visit, Carney will travel to London for discussions with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer focusing on defense matters and ongoing conflicts in the Middle East before returning home to Canada.

NONTHABURI, Thailand — An unconventional festival in Thailand encourages attendees to face their own mortality while providing hands-on services and spiritual guidance for life’s final chapter.

This distinctive gathering, currently in its second year, tackles a topic many find difficult to discuss. The festival also reflects core Buddhist principles that influence Thai culture, addressing life’s unavoidable hardships: birth, aging, illness and death.

Sangduan Ngamvinijaroon brought her mother to the three-day festival on Friday in Nonthaburi province, located near Bangkok. She explained that discussing death was once challenging for her family, but after more than two decades of caring for sick relatives — including her stroke-affected husband and family members battling cancer — she has witnessed multiple deaths and now feels comfortable addressing the subject.

“It’s not just about dying well. It’s also about the present moment and taking good care of our lives while we’re still here,” she said about why she appreciated the festival.

The gathering united specialists and organizations from healthcare, financial planning, end-of-life care, burial services and memorial technology. Presentations and activities emphasized both death preparation and maintaining life quality through one’s final days.

“Death involves everybody. It’s not just about you,” explained Zcongklod Bangyikhan, The Cloud magazine’s editor-in-chief and a primary event organizer. “Instead of wondering what dying will be like, maybe we should think about how to make things easier for the people who remain after we’re gone.”

A widely visited display called “Test Die” allows guests to rest inside various coffins while viewing themselves in an overhead mirror. The activity aims to encourage contemplation rather than create fear.

Office employee Phinutda Seehad described the experience as peaceful.

“I don’t think I’m scared of death,” she shared. “I also don’t want to die, but when the time comes, I don’t think it will be that frightening.”

One business showcased an eco-friendly coffin constructed from mycelium — fungal root-like structures — which assists natural decomposition processes.

Company founder Jirawan Kumsao explained the design represents a more sustainable burial method. While she brought a human-sized version to the festival, her business primarily creates pet coffins.

“It gives people comfort to know they’ve cared for their pets until the very end,” she noted. “It looks like a spacecraft, a capsule, for sending them to another world.”

Noppasaward Panyajaray, who created the digital memorial service Sharesouls, has observed similar emotional connections. Her platform enables users to upload photos and share memories of deceased loved ones, establishing online spaces where friends and family can leave tributes and honor their memory.

She said she initially designed the platform to preserve family member memories. However, she was amazed to discover many users were building memorial pages for their pets.

“Many people sent me a message to say thank you, because nowadays we don’t really have any space to store stories or memories about their pets,” she explained. “Every pet is meaningful to their owners as much as a family member.”

Iranian missiles damaged five American Air Force refueling aircraft during a recent attack on a military installation in Saudi Arabia, according to a Wall Street Journal report published Friday.

The refueling planes were struck while stationed on the ground at Prince Sultan air base, sustaining damage but avoiding complete destruction, the newspaper reported, citing information from two U.S. officials. Military personnel are currently working to repair the damaged aircraft.

No fatalities resulted from the missile attack, according to the Wall Street Journal’s sources.

The Reuters news agency noted they were unable to independently confirm the details of the reported incident at this time.

WASHINGTON – The United States has formally condemned Afghanistan’s Taliban government for holding American citizens captive, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio announcing Monday that this action could trigger a complete travel prohibition for US passport holders visiting the nation.

In his official statement, Rubio classified Afghanistan’s current leadership as a “state sponsor of wrongful detention” and called for the immediate release of all detained Americans, specifically naming Mahmood Habibi and Dennis Coyle among those being held.

“The Taliban continues to use terrorist tactics, kidnapping individuals for ransom or to seek policy concessions. These despicable tactics need to end,” Rubio declared, explaining that he had determined the country poses too great a risk for American travelers due to the threat of unjust imprisonment.

According to sources with knowledge of the situation, Washington is also demanding the return of Paul Overby’s remains, a writer who disappeared near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border in 2014.

Officials indicated that passport restrictions for Afghanistan travel could be implemented if the Taliban fails to comply with US demands. Currently, only North Korea faces such travel limitations for American citizens.

This marks the second such designation under President Trump’s executive order from September, following a similar classification of Iran on February 27. While Rubio issued comparable warnings about potential Iran travel restrictions, no such measures have been enacted yet. The announcement preceded the US-Israel military action against Iran by one day.

The Afghan government could not be contacted for response to these developments.

Taliban officials have previously rejected claims that they are holding Habibi, who formerly served as Afghanistan’s civil aviation director.

CBS News initially broke the story about the potential designation earlier Monday.

Six people were wounded Monday when a Russian drone attack hit near a residential high-rise in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, according to local officials.

Mayor Ihor Terekhov confirmed that a young child was among those injured in the strike. The attack shattered windows throughout the area and ignited multiple vehicles.

The city of Kharkiv sits just 18 miles from the Russian border and has endured repeated aerial bombardments since successfully defending against Russian ground forces during the initial invasion that began in February 2022.

In a separate incident Monday, artillery fire targeted the southeastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro, wounding seven civilians, according to regional Governor Oleksandr Ganzha, who shared the update on Telegram. Ganzha published images showing debris scattered across streets and significant damage to building exteriors.

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump announced Friday that American military forces launched strikes targeting military installations on Iran’s Kharg Island, a critical oil export facility in the Persian Gulf.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump stated he deliberately refrained from destroying the island’s oil facilities. “For reasons of decency, I have chosen NOT to wipe out the Oil Infrastructure on the Island,” the president wrote.

Trump issued a warning about potential future military action, writing: “However, should Iran, or anyone else, do anything to interfere with the Free and Safe Passage of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz, I will immediately reconsider this decision.”

The president described the operation as strikes against “every military target” located on the strategically important island, which serves as Iran’s primary oil export hub.

A spontaneous demonstration unfolded Monday on the campus steps of Havana University, where a small gathering of college students voiced frustration over how Cuba’s severe power shortage is disrupting their academic experience amid ongoing U.S. sanctions that have worsened the island’s energy supply problems.

Frequent electrical blackouts and transportation breakdowns have compelled the university to cancel numerous in-person classes or move them to virtual formats, though many students face additional challenges with Cuba’s sluggish and unreliable internet service.

“We aren’t martyrs for any side; we are university students. So, none of us intended to be here, but there has been no other way,” said one of protesters, who didn’t want to be identified by name due to fear of government reprisals.

First Deputy Minister of Higher Education Modesto Ricardo Gómez came outside to address the demonstrating students. He recognized the budget constraints impacting Cuba’s higher education system and blamed the current tensions with the Trump administration for making conditions worse.

“Today we have been tremendously affected by the criminal and genocidal blockade of the United States government, which, without a thought for the people or our youth, is truly massacring an entire society,” Gomez said.

Throughout Havana’s primary thoroughfares Monday, residents were forced to travel on foot to reach their jobs or complete errands. Fuel distribution is limited to 20 liters per vehicle, and obtaining gasoline requires a complex scheduling system that can stretch for weeks.

At a weekend gathering in Florida with conservative leaders from Latin America and the Caribbean, President Donald Trump indicated the U.S. would focus on Cuba following the conflict with Iran and hinted his administration might negotiate an agreement with Havana, highlighting Washington’s increasingly confrontational approach toward the island’s communist government.

“Great change will soon be coming to Cuba,” Trump said at the summit.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel on Saturday described the summit as “small, reactionary and neocolonial.”

Trump also said there are high-level talks happening between Cuba and the U.S. government.

The Cuban government hasn’t confirmed that meetings are happening.

The Florida conference, which the White House termed the “Shield of the Americas” summit, occurred just two months after Trump authorized a bold U.S. military mission to apprehend Venezuela’s former president, Nicolás Maduro, which ended Venezuela’s petroleum exports to Cuba.

After Maduro’s capture, Trump issued an executive directive imposing tariffs on imports from nations that sell or supply oil to Cuba, a decision that further devastated the island already facing a worsening energy shortage.

Since that time, Cuba has received no oil deliveries, despite producing only one-third of its domestic energy requirements.

Intelligence officials across the Persian Gulf region have uncovered extensive Iranian spy networks that are providing Tehran with sensitive military information and documenting attacks as they happen, according to a new report.

Tehran’s recent aerial bombardments targeting Gulf infrastructure have sparked worries that hidden networks operating within these nations may be supporting Iran’s military campaigns. These covert groups have been functioning in Gulf territories before current hostilities began, supplying Iran with precise locations of defense installations, recording military defensive measures, and capturing footage of Iranian ballistic weapon and unmanned aircraft operations.

An unnamed military intelligence official speaking to The Media Line confirmed that “Iranian sleeper cells in the Gulf belong to several nationalities, including Arab and Asian nationalities, as well as Sh’ite citizens of the Gulf.”

The official further specified that these operatives include “Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi, in addition to several citizens of Algeria and Tunisia.”

The most compelling proof of Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) operatives working within Gulf territories comes from video recordings of aerial bombardments captured before the actual strikes occur.

Multiple recordings have emerged showing the exact moments of attacks before the weapons reach their intended locations. These recordings appear on social media platforms including X and Instagram immediately following strikes, often before government officials make any public announcements about attacks.

The footage, captured using both mobile devices and professional recording equipment, suggests advance knowledge about target selection, and this information did not come from security camera systems. Since military actions against Iran began, hundreds of new social media accounts have appeared on X, Instagram, and other platforms broadcasting similar live footage alongside false information and propaganda.

These activities have been documented in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, particularly across multiple Gulf urban areas.

Interior and Defense Ministry officials in Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia have released multiple public warnings against recording the results of Iranian bombardments or discussing target locations. These government agencies also cautioned against filming air defense systems, missile installations, military operations, or any related footage.

Multiple verified social media accounts connected to Bahraini opposition groups, which have represented their interests for years, have shared images of what they describe as “electronic operations rooms” with masked personnel.

According to these accounts, their purpose is to “support the Islamic Republic of Iran.” These opposition-affiliated accounts share attack footage and work to circulate various false claims that are later proven incorrect.

“Simultaneous investigations are currently underway in the Gulf states, and cooperation is taking place in these investigations to uncover all espionage and support networks operating on behalf of Iran in the Gulf,” the intelligence source added.

These Iranian operatives have shared precise coordinates of defense facilities and petroleum processing plants in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE, Kuwait, and Qatar, along with various significant military and civilian structures.

They have also revealed locations of American community members in Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, and Kuwait, resulting in attacks on apartment buildings, hotels, and other properties. Intelligence regarding crucial economic locations, financial institutions, oil processing facilities, and other important industrial and manufacturing sites has also been compromised.

Numerous Shi’ite residents in Gulf nations have not maintained neutrality but have instead shown support for Iran and defended its attacks on Gulf countries.

Mohammed Hassan, a Bahraini Shi’ite currently residing in Iraq, told The Media Line, “We support the Islamic Republic of Iran. If it falls, Israel will swallow up all the Arabs, and we know that the missiles were launched from the Gulf states toward Iran.”

He added, “We must avenge everyone who contributed to the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and they must meet the same fate. We cannot remain silent, even if it is my country.”

A Gulf media personality, identified only as A., who refused to reveal his nationality or complete name, told The Media Line, “We publish these videos to demonstrate Iran’s strength. It’s ridiculous to arrest people and accuse them of spying for Iran. Everything the military wants to know is available on Google Maps. This targeting of Shia citizens is simply an act of revenge.”

He continued, “This is unacceptable. Our opinions cannot be suppressed. We support the Islamic Republic of Iran, and that is our opinion. No one can confiscate it or accuse us of treason or being agents.”

Badr al-Aji, a Saudi military analyst, told The Media Line, “The Gulf states have known about the existence of such cells for some time, and some Gulf states have already taken steps, but the entire network only began to fall apart recently.”

He explained, “The network is large and far-reaching, and it operates in a decentralized manner. Most of its members are known only to their leader, for fear that the rest of the network will reveal their identities if one of them is arrested.”

Al-Aji noted, “These people are ideologically driven and consider Iran to be their spiritual father, and therefore they have no fear of punishment if they are arrested.”

Abdullah al-Khalidi, a Gulf political analyst, told The Media Line, “Now they will try to exert pressure through more operations within the Gulf states, attempting to distract security efforts to achieve the greatest possible outcome from these security strikes.”

He continued, “Iran’s missile stockpiles will soon run out, but the focus will remain on the fifth column—Iranian agents in the region—who will seek to sabotage. However, the fall of Iran will certainly mean the fall of these agents as well, for they do not plan; they merely execute orders.”

Multiple Gulf nations, including Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar, have detained various cells and individuals on espionage charges. Qatar officially announced the capture of two spy networks working for the Iranian Revolutionary Guard (IRGC). One network possessed photographs and coordinates of military locations, while the other was planning multiple bombings and hostile operations targeting critical infrastructure and aiming to destabilize security and stability, according to the Qatar News Agency.

Kuwait also announced in separate statements the detention of multiple individuals accused of recording and sharing footage of military movements and Iranian bombardment of Kuwait.

The Bahraini Ministry of Interior announces almost daily the detention of individuals accused of recording and sharing footage of Iranian missile and drone attacks on Bahrain, glorifying these actions that harm Bahrain’s interests, and publicizing military movements on the Gulf island.

The most notable announcement from the Bahraini Ministry of Interior was the arrest on Sunday of multiple individuals of Asian nationalities, including five Pakistanis and one Bangladeshi national, who had documented and shared information about the Iranian bombing of Bahrain and praised these actions.

On Thursday, March 12, the Bahraini Ministry of Interior announced the arrest of four Bahrainis and the identification of a fifth fugitive abroad, after they were found to be spying for the IRGC through terrorist elements located in Iran.

The Ministry of Interior statement listed the names of the four, aged between 22 and 36, including a woman named Sarah Abdulnabi. It indicated that they used high-resolution photography equipment and sent images and coordinates to the IRGC via encrypted software.

As trials began for those arrested by Bahrain, the Bahraini Public Prosecution, in the first session held on Monday, March 9, charged the detainees with espionage for Iran and demanded the maximum penalties, which under Bahraini law can reach the death penalty. This is considered an aggravating circumstance due to the state of war. The hearings will continue until a final verdict is reached.

The laws of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries generally stipulate the death penalty for espionage or the leaking of important information, especially during times of war. Therefore, it is expected that these individuals will receive what is called the maximum penalty, which is execution, as the Gulf states are currently considered to be in a state of war.

A ballistic missile launched from Iran made a direct impact on the northern Israeli community of Zarzir during nighttime hours, leaving approximately 60 people wounded and causing structural damage to close to 300 residential properties, according to reports from Ynet.

Medical officials report that one individual required hospitalization for moderate injuries, while the remaining casualties suffered minor wounds from the direct strike on the northern community, based on accounts from local residents. The projectile impacted a residential neighborhood, resulting in widespread destruction to houses, automobiles and nearby infrastructure.

Local residents reported receiving three emergency notifications from Israel’s Home Front Command alerting them to missile launches from Iranian territory, with warnings sent to mobile devices throughout the Galilee region, Golan Heights and surrounding valleys during the overnight period. The missile made direct contact with Zarzir just minutes following one of these emergency alerts.

The community, home to numerous young people who serve in the Israel Defense Forces, experienced significant destruction across multiple residential streets. Local residents described finding broken windows, damaged doorways and rooms covered with glass fragments and rubble after the explosion occurred.

Vehicles parked close to where the missile landed suffered severe damage, and property across the entire neighborhood felt the effects of the blast, residents reported to Ynet.

Families recounted frantically looking for their children in complete darkness after the strike knocked out electrical power and filled their homes with smoke and debris. Residents described hearing children crying out as community members navigated through damaged structures to help people who became trapped indoors.

Several residents explained that doorways needed to be broken open after the explosion warped entrances and prevented normal exits. Others described shouting for assistance from their windows while neighbors and family members hurried to provide aid.

According to residents, individuals who had taken shelter in protected areas escaped serious harm, while those who were outside designated safe rooms were among the casualties from the blast.

Pentagon officials announced that joint American and Israeli military operations have severely crippled Iran’s armed forces in what Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called an unprecedented campaign of destruction.

During a briefing at the Pentagon with Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine, Hegseth outlined the extensive damage inflicted on Iranian military infrastructure during the opening weeks of current hostilities.

“The United States is decimating the radical Iranian regime’s military in a way the world has never seen before,” Hegseth stated. “Never before has a modern, capable military … been so quickly destroyed and made combat ineffective.”

According to Hegseth, American and Israeli air forces working together have hit more than 15,000 military targets throughout Iran.

“The combination of the world’s two most powerful air forces is unprecedented and unbeatable,” Hegseth explained. “Between our Air Force and that of the Israelis, over 15,000 enemy targets have been struck.”

The Defense Secretary reported that Iran’s defensive systems, naval operations, and rocket capabilities have suffered extensive damage.

“Iran has no air defenses. Iran has no air force. Iran has no Navy,” he declared, noting that Iranian missile and drone operations have declined dramatically due to the ongoing strikes.

“Iran’s missile volume is down 90%,” he reported. “Their one way attack drones yesterday down 95%.”

Hegseth explained that attacks have also focused on Iran’s weapons manufacturing infrastructure to block the regime from rebuilding its military strength.

“As of two days ago, Iran’s entire ballistic missile production capacity … has been functionally defeated,” Hegseth said, noting that manufacturing plants, research centers, and assembly facilities nationwide have been eliminated.

The Secretary indicated that operations are expanding in scope.

“Today will be yet again the highest volume of strikes that America has put over the skies of Iran and Tehran,” Hegseth announced.

Hegseth also suggested Iran’s political leadership faces internal challenges following the death of the nation’s former supreme leader.

“We know the new so-called not so Supreme leader is wounded and likely disfigured,” he said, characterizing Iranian leadership as chaotic and unable to mount an effective response.

“The military capabilities of their evil regime are crumbling,” he added.

Gen. Dan Caine reported that American forces have now reached the 13th day of Operation Epic Fury and verified that U.S. military units continue targeting missile installations, unmanned aircraft, maritime assets, and weapons facilities across Iran.

“CENTCOM [US Central Command) continues to attack ballistic missile and drone capabilities so that they are no longer a threat to US forces, our bases or our partners,” Caine explained.

According to Caine, American forces have hit more than 6,000 locations and are conducting continuous air operations above Iran.

“CENTCOM is now persistently over the enemy,” he stated.

Caine reported that U.S. forces have also attacked Iran’s maritime forces and mine deployment systems in the Strait of Hormuz to ensure open shipping lanes.

“We’ve rendered the Iranian Navy combat ineffective,” he said.

He noted that America continues targeting ships and port facilities used to endanger merchant vessels.

“The only thing preventing commercial traffic and flow through the Straits right now … is Iran,” Caine said.

The military leaders also discussed an unrelated incident involving American personnel.

Caine verified that four crew members were rescued after a KC-135 fuel tanker crashed in western Iraq while conducting a combat operation.

“The incident occurred over friendly territory in western Iraq,” he said, emphasizing that it “was not the result of hostile or friendly fire.”

Caine said search and rescue efforts are ongoing and military officials will provide additional details when available.

Hegseth commended American military personnel participating in the operation and said the current administration remains focused on meeting its goals.

“President Trump holds the cards,” Hegseth concluded. “He’ll determine the pace, the tempo and the timing of this conflict.”

Senior government officials from Colombia traveled to Caracas Friday for high-stakes discussions with Venezuelan leaders about energy partnerships, border security and commercial relations, marking a new chapter in diplomatic ties between the South American neighbors.

The meeting represents the first face-to-face diplomatic engagement since Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was removed from office in early January, signaling a potential reset in bilateral relations.

Plans for a presidential summit between Colombian President Gustavo Petro and Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodriguez were scrapped due to what both governments described as “force majeure,” though no additional details were provided about the cancellation.

Colombian Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez sat down with Venezuelan counterpart Vladimir Padrino to develop coordinated security approaches for their shared 1,370-mile border. Meanwhile, Foreign Ministers Rosa Villavicencio of Colombia and Venezuela’s Yvan Gil worked on initiatives to “prioritize brotherhood and peaceful coexistence,” according to a statement from Rodriguez’s administration.

Commercial representatives explored opportunities in trade and tourism sectors, while energy officials including Colombian Energy Minister Edwin Palma focused on a recently announced collaboration between state petroleum companies Ecopetrol and PDVSA. The partnership aims to restore a damaged portion of a cross-border pipeline that would enable Colombia to receive natural gas imports from Venezuela.

Rodriguez, who previously served as vice president, has been working to draw investment in oil and mining sectors as she works to bring stability to the nation following Maduro’s detention by U.S. authorities. President Donald Trump has offered praise for her leadership, and she has opened doors to American officials and business interests in Caracas. The United States and Venezuela have also officially restored diplomatic relations.

While Petro maintained friendly relations with the former Maduro government, he has experienced tensions with Trump, though both leaders reported positive outcomes from a Washington meeting last month and held a constructive phone conversation Thursday focused on economic conditions along the Venezuela-Colombia border, Petro’s office reported.

Trump has consistently called for enhanced Colombian cooperation in anti-narcotics efforts. Petro points to unprecedented drug seizure numbers during his administration as evidence of progress.

The two nations share deep historical and cultural connections, particularly in border regions where many families hold citizenship in both countries. Approximately 3 million Venezuelan refugees have relocated to Colombia in recent years, escaping economic devastation in their homeland.

Colombian trade statistics show the country maintained a $973.4 million trade surplus with Venezuela in 2025, shipping products including food items, tobacco, chemicals, plastics and machinery. Venezuelan exports to Colombia totaled $98.3 million, consisting primarily of iron, steel, fertilizer and paper products.

The Venezuelan state petroleum company PDVSA will handle restoration work on the Antonio Ricaurte gas pipeline, which has remained out of service for several years, Colombia’s energy ministry announced Thursday.

The 140-mile pipeline system can transport up to 500 million cubic feet of natural gas daily when operational.

ROME (AP) — Strong opposition has emerged from across Europe after organizers announced Russia would return to participate in the prestigious 2026 Venice Biennale contemporary art exhibition. The European Commission has threatened to cut funding while 22 European nations are calling for Moscow to be excluded once again due to its ongoing military conflict in Ukraine.

The controversy surrounding the world’s most significant and longest-running contemporary art exhibition has placed Italy’s Culture Ministry under intense scrutiny. This diplomatic crisis follows shortly after Italy watched the International Paralympic Committee permit Russian and Belarusian competitors to participate under their own national flags at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics.

Italian Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli is working to address the international backlash, expressing strong disagreement with the Biennale’s choice while recognizing that the governing foundation operates independently from government control and made this decision on its own regarding the 61st arts festival.

Moscow maintains a permanent, traditional pavilion within the Giardini exhibition space, and according to the art fair’s regulations, enjoys a simplified approval process for participation. However, Russia has been absent since the Ukraine conflict started: The Russian pavilion closed in 2022 when its artists pulled out following Moscow’s invasion. During the 2024 festival, Bolivia used the Russian pavilion space for its own display.

On March 4, the Venice Biennale Foundation revealed the participant list for its 2026 festival, scheduled to run from May 9 through November 22. The exhibition will feature 99 countries, with seven making their debut appearance.

Moscow’s comeback to the festival received no special attention from Biennale organizers, appearing simply within the standard list of participating nations with a display called “The Tree is Rooted in the Sky,” featuring approximately three dozen Russian artists.

Following growing criticism, Giuli terminated ministry representative Tamara Gregoretti from the Biennale board this week, claiming she failed to inform the ministry about Russia’s planned participation and had endorsed their inclusion.

Giuli has also initiated an inquiry to assess whether Russia’s involvement complies with European Union sanctions. He specifically requested that the Biennale immediately supply all documents, including communications with Moscow, regarding Russia’s plans for establishing and operating the pavilion during the exhibition.

During a Friday phone conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart Tetyana Berezhna, Giuli “emphasized the Italian government’s dedication to safeguarding Ukraine’s cultural identity, which has faced threats for more than four years due to the Russian invasion, and confirmed his personal and governmental commitment to rebuilding Ukraine’s cultural heritage,” according to the ministry.

Berezhna told Giuli that Russia’s participation was “unacceptable for Kiev and conflicts with the strong Ukrainian support maintained by the Italian government,” Giuli’s office reported.

Biennale Foundation president Pietrangelo Buttafuoco has stood behind the decision, characterizing it as a stance against censorship.

He revealed that this year’s festival will include two special exhibition areas dedicated to “dissident” artwork. He also referenced last year’s Venice Film Festival, which hosted the world debut of “The Wizard of the Kremlin,” a critical film starring Jude Law about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ascent to power.

However, 22 European nations sent Buttafuoco a letter voicing their “deep concern” about Russia’s participation. They cautioned that Moscow might use this opportunity to “present an image of legitimacy and international acceptance that sharply contrasts with the reality of Russia’s continuing war against Ukraine and the devastation of Ukrainian cultural heritage, as well as European and international sanctions.”

The European Commission has criticized the Biennale’s decision and warned of withdrawing EU funding for the fair, which totals approximately 2 million euros across three years.

“If the Biennale Foundation moves forward with its decision to permit Russia’s participation, we will explore additional actions, including suspending or ending current EU funding to the Biennale Foundation,” stated Commissioners Henna Virkkunen and Glenn Micallef.

A senior United Nations humanitarian leader is pressing for safe passage of aid shipments through the Strait of Hormuz as conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran disrupts the critical waterway.

Tom Fletcher, who serves as the U.N. under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, made the appeal Friday as Iran considers blocking the strategically important shipping lane.

“When routes close and costs surge, the help we can deliver shrinks – and the people who need it most are the ones who lose it first,” Fletcher said in a statement.

“So my message to the parties to the conflict and all those with influence over them is simple: humanitarian cargo must be allowed to pass safely through the Strait of Hormuz.”

The military confrontation began two weeks ago after American and Israeli forces launched attacks against Iran, resulting in the deaths of senior Iranian leadership, including the country’s supreme leader. The violence, which started February 28, has claimed hundreds of lives and expanded throughout the Persian Gulf area.

In response to the initial strikes, Iran launched counterattacks and placed approximately twelve naval mines within the strait.

According to Fletcher, vessel movement through the Strait of Hormuz has nearly stopped due to the escalating hostilities. He warned this disruption will increase costs and create barriers to transporting essential items such as medical supplies and food.

“I am speaking directly with key parties, pressing for humanitarian supplies to be allowed to keep moving unobstructed through the Strait,” he said.

GOMA, Congo — Both sides in Congo’s long-running conflict are pointing fingers at each other for breaking ceasefire terms designed to end decades of warfare and establish lasting peace in the war-torn eastern region.

The fragile peace agreement, along with a separate minerals accord that Congo signed with the Trump administration to give the U.S. access to the nation’s valuable mineral resources, now faces serious challenges following renewed drone attacks and ground fighting.

President Trump played a role in brokering peace negotiations between Congo and neighboring Rwanda, which has been viewed as an important behind-the-scenes participant in the conflict. Meanwhile, Qatar and other international partners have supported direct talks between Congo’s government and the M23 rebel movement.

However, both diplomatic efforts have failed to stop the violence.

This Tuesday, a drone attack that M23 fighters attribute to Congo’s military resulted in the death of a French United Nations worker in the strategic city of Goma. The incident occurred less than 30 days after another similar aerial strike killed the rebel group’s spokesperson and wounded multiple others.

Local residents are reporting ongoing battles between M23 forces and Congo’s army, sometimes with assistance from the regional Wazalendo militia. These clashes have forced thousands of people to flee their homes in recent weeks.

Speaking to The Associated Press, M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka stated that his organization remains dedicated to peace initiatives provided Congo’s military “refrains from attacking our positions and assassinating our leaders, soldiers, and innocent civilians.”

Patrick Muyaya, a spokesman for Congo’s government, confirmed that authorities are looking into this week’s drone strike that claimed the life of the French aid worker, though he declined to provide details about other aerial attacks.

While Muyaya accused M23 of breaking ceasefire terms, he emphasized that the government wants to “reaffirm our commitment to respecting the ceasefire” and other negotiated agreements.

The Associated Press was unable to independently confirm events in the affected areas of the region. These attacks have made peace efforts more difficult in an area where mass burial sites have recently been discovered.

The ongoing warfare has created one of the globe’s most severe humanitarian emergencies, with no fewer than 7 million people forced from their homes in eastern Congo.

Even as peace negotiations continue, Congo’s military has been linked to at least 60 drone attacks in 2026, while rebels have been responsible for fewer than 5% of such strikes in the past year, according to research from the U.S.-based Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED), an organization that tracks global conflict data.

“You still have people losing their lives to this crisis, and you still have displacement,” said Christian Rumu, a senior campaigner with Amnesty International, noting that Congolese citizens “do not feel any positive change” from the peace agreements.

“Heavy artillery has been used on densely populated areas throughout the conflict since 2021, and we see that in the latest attack in Goma,” Rumu explained.

VILLA DEL ROSARIO, Colombia — Family members seeking the freedom of Colombian prisoners held in Venezuela faced crushing disappointment Friday when a high-level diplomatic meeting was unexpectedly scrapped.

Javier Giraldo had traveled to an international bridge connecting the two nations, planning to hold up a sign pleading for his father’s freedom during what was supposed to be a face-to-face meeting between Colombian President Gustavo Petro and Venezuelan acting President Delcy Rodríguez.

Instead, Giraldo’s hopes were shattered when both governments suddenly called off the summit Thursday night, citing unexpected circumstances without providing specific reasons.

This marks the third disappointment this year for Giraldo in his quest to free his father. Previous setbacks came after a U.S. military action in January that resulted in former President Nicolás Maduro’s capture, and again when Venezuela’s legislature approved an amnesty measure for mass prisoner releases.

Giraldo’s 70-year-old father, Javier Giraldo García, has been held for four years at El Rodeo III prison in Guatire, located about 22 miles southeast of Caracas. Despite being born in Colombia, the elder Giraldo had resided in Venezuela for 30 years before authorities arrested him in Táchira state on terrorism-related accusations, his son explained.

According to Colombia’s foreign ministry, diplomatic negotiations have led to the gradual release of Colombian detainees from Venezuelan facilities since last year. However, data from Foro Penal, a Venezuela-based prisoners’ rights group, indicates at least eight Colombians and 11 people with dual Colombian-Venezuelan citizenship remain imprisoned.

Family members of those still detained have organized occasional demonstrations.

Ninfa Rebolledo, who participated in Friday’s protest near the Atanasio Girardot Binational Bridge despite the meeting’s cancellation, shared that her son Albeiro Guevara remains optimistic about his upcoming release. She explained he has been incarcerated for more than six years on charges of “aggravated trafficking in transport” — accusations he firmly denies.

“He is under the impression that they were going to bring them over and hand them over right here at the international bridge,” said Rebolledo, who maintains phone contact with her son every two weeks.

Despite expectations, no prisoner exchange or unusual activity occurred at the international crossing between Norte de Santander and Venezuela’s Táchira state following the cancellation of what would have been Petro and Rodríguez’s first in-person encounter.

Both nations released a joint statement late Thursday promising the meeting would be rescheduled for a future date, though no additional specifics were provided.

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — While Hollywood stars may dominate the movie industry spotlight during events like Sunday’s Academy Awards ceremony, Brazilian performers typically begin their journey to fame in television studios rather than on movie sets.

Dating back to the 1960s, Brazil’s telenovelas produced by TV Globo have transformed from basic daily programming into a massive entertainment empire featuring 13 production facilities, three complete set communities, 122 editing suites, and attracting as many as 60 million viewers from Brazil’s 213 million population each week.

Numerous Brazilian performers featured in Academy Award-nominated productions — including “Central Station” from 1998, “I’m Still Here” from 2024, and this year’s four-category contender “The Secret Agent” — initially gained recognition through TV Globo programming. Stars such as Wagner Moura and Fernanda Torres built their national profiles through telenovela appearances.

By comparison, Brazil operates only approximately 3,500 cinema locations, primarily concentrated in metropolitan areas where American blockbusters dominate programming. This environment creates a cycle where television success opens doors to major film opportunities, which then leads back to popular soap opera roles, and eventually returns to cinema projects.

Moura, who headlines “The Secret Agent,” appeared in the telenovela “A Lua Me Disse” (The Moon told Me) two decades ago. Torres, featured in “I’m Still Here,” which earned Brazil its first best international feature Oscar, had already become a cherished performer through two prominent TV Globo comedy programs that audiences consider soap operas.

“Globo’s telenovelas are key for Brazil’s audiovisual production,” stated Amauri Soares, director of TV Globo and Globo Studios, describing them as “a continuous platform of creation and production of content.”

“‘The Secret Agent’ has actors and staffers who worked at Globo, who will work at Globo again and the film itself has Globo investment despite being independent,” Soares explained.

TV Globo airs three telenovelas concurrently from early evening through prime time hours. These productions originate from Rio de Janeiro facilities and typically continue for six-month periods, airing Monday through Saturday with crews exceeding 1,000 individuals. Final episodes of telenovelas become nationwide viewing occasions, with establishments like bars, restaurants and fitness centers broadcasting major installments.

The telenovela business demands flexibility. Since some episodes are written just days ahead based on viewership data, these programs enable audiences to indirectly influence storylines. Their financial influence is substantial: a remake of the successful “Vale Tudo” (Anything Goes) allegedly produced more than 200 million reais ($38 million) in advertising revenue — four times “The Secret Agent’s” worldwide box office earnings.

TV Globo annually brings in up to 70 new performers from theater, cinema and regional productions. According to Soares, they develop their abilities using advanced equipment and fresh methods for one year. Many then depart for different projects, while others remain with the network for additional soap operas and limited series.

Dira Paes, an experienced performer and regular TV Globo commentator during Oscar broadcasts, observes that Brazil’s soap opera and film sectors are becoming more connected, allowing professionals to transition between mediums for creative and financial opportunities. She recently starred in the popular telenovela “Pantanal” (Wetlands) and appeared in “Manas,” a movie that received praise from Julia Roberts and Sean Penn.

“Soap operas are not only about ratings, but also heart and affection. When you do it on prime-time, you experience the power of an entire nation watching you. When the public loves your character … it is a very special popularity,” Paes commented, referring to her role in “Tres Gracas” (Three Gracas), a telenovela filmed in Rio but depicting an impoverished São Paulo neighborhood.

Mauricio Stycer, a television culture author and critic, believes Brazil’s economic disparity strengthened free television networks like Globo in ways that diminished public interest in movies. He contends this situation resulted in “Brazilian cinema holding a grudge for not having the same reach of soap operas.”

Stycer noted that performers often face a difficult choice when offered telenovela roles.

“To be popular and have a sure income every month or to take risks in a career that involves theater and cinema? TV was always a safe haven for most actors,” he observed.

Although competing Brazilian television networks have attempted to challenge Globo’s telenovela dominance, few have succeeded. However, even TV Globo’s programming no longer maintains the commanding position it held through the early 2010s. Network leadership has recognized increasing competition from streaming platforms.

Nevertheless, “Globo is still Brazil’s biggest company for actors,” Stycer noted. “Up until the year 2000, Globo alone was responsible for about 50% of TV ratings in Brazil.”

Actor and director Lázaro Ramos initially joined telenovelas after launching his career in theater and film. He believes Brazilians have developed equal appreciation for both telenovelas and movies when they successfully capture the nation’s vibrant and sometimes somber character.

“Brazilians see themselves in telenovelas, more and more. Our acclaimed writers created many of them based on literature classics,” Ramos said. “They are an investment in a national voice through characters, language and esthetics that viewers greatly identify with.”

Ramos — a longtime friend of Moura — plans to attend the Academy Awards but will return to Brazil immediately afterward to resume work on his new telenovela, “A Nobreza do Amor” (Love’s Nobility).

For him, the capacity to move between theater, cinema and television keeps Brazilian actors financially stable.

“An American actor could get $10 million for a film. That’s not the Brazilian reality,” he said. “But telenovelas are not a lesser product; they are a product of the highest quality.”

An Israeli emergency responder used his own body to protect a newborn infant during an Iranian missile warning that came just moments after the baby’s birth inside an ambulance on a southern Israel highway.

Magen David Adom paramedic Elad Pas recounted the harrowing experience, telling The Media Line: “I shielded the baby with my body.” The incident occurred when his medical team was rushing a 23-year-old expectant mother to the hospital as her labor intensified.

With contractions becoming more frequent and the hospital still far away, it became apparent the infant would arrive before they could reach medical facilities. “There was a very high probability the birth would happen immediately,” Pas remembered.

As Pas explained to The Media Line: “We were notified that there was a woman with contractions that were becoming urgent. We understood there was a very high probability that the birth was about to happen.” When his team arrived, another ambulance crew was already providing assistance, but it was clear there wasn’t enough time to transport the woman safely.

“We saw that she was really at the beginning of delivery,” Pas noted. “So we delivered the baby right there, in the ambulance.” The infant arrived safely and started crying as the medical team quickly cleaned and examined him while caring for his mother.

Within seconds, the circumstances changed drastically.

“Immediately after the baby came out, after we cleaned him a little and made sure everything was okay, the sirens started,” Pas described. Alert notifications appeared on the crew’s mobile devices, warning that an Iranian missile was targeting their area in southern Israel.

While Israeli emergency personnel follow established protocols during rocket and missile warnings, having both a newborn and a woman who had just delivered created an unusually challenging scenario inside the ambulance.

“In general, there are instructions for what to do when there are sirens,” Pas said. “If you are in the ambulance, if you are on the way to a call, or if you are treating someone at the scene. But here the situation was more complex.” Evacuating the patient from the vehicle was impossible due to her post-delivery condition.

“She had just given birth,” he explained. “It wasn’t possible to take her out.” Meanwhile, the infant was completely vulnerable and reliant on the medical team. “The baby is helpless. Completely dependent on you. Those are his first breaths in the world.”

The crew positioned their ambulance in what they determined was the safest available location. They quickly donned helmets and protective gear while securing the mother and her companion. Pas then picked up the newborn and used his body as a shield during the ongoing alert.

“I held the baby and covered him,” Pas said. “You instinctively protect him.”

Though the tense moments lasted only minutes, Pas was struck by the stark contrast between what should have been a joyful occasion and the reality of wartime danger.

“Birth is something very joyful,” he reflected. “Life is coming into the world.” His typical duties often involve the opposite scenario: responding to emergencies where people are critically wounded or ill and struggling to survive. “A lot of our work is dealing with people in very difficult situations,” he said. “When there is a birth, it’s something optimistic. It makes you smile.”

However, this delivery was overshadowed by the ongoing conflict.

“Suddenly it was very mixed,” Pas observed. “On one hand, a baby had just been born, something very happy. On the other hand, we are in a reality of war, and we are being bombarded.”

For Pas, his duty in that critical moment was unmistakable: safeguard the newborn until the threat subsided. The warning sirens eventually stopped, the immediate danger passed, and the ambulance resumed its journey to the hospital.

“It goes into the collection of moments you never forget,” he said, looking back on the experience. Emergency medical personnel frequently encounter the extremes of human existence, witnessing scenes of loss, survival, and occasionally new beginnings.

“Our work deals with extreme situations,” Pas explained. “People in very serious condition who need help.” In this instance, the threat didn’t stem from medical emergency or trauma, but from the surrounding warfare.

“It was something external,” he said. “Missiles falling.” During those critical moments, no medical intervention or procedure was needed. “There was nothing to treat,” Pas said. “Only to make sure the baby would not be hurt.”

The infant’s first moments of life occurred not in a sterile hospital delivery room, but inside an emergency vehicle parked roadside, cradled in the arms of a paramedic shielding him from potential enemy fire.

Three Palestinians lost their lives in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza on Friday, with Palestinian medical officials confirming that two of the victims were 17 years old, as conflicts throughout the Middle East continue to intensify.

Over the past day, Israeli military operations have extended across Iran, Lebanon, Gaza, and the occupied West Bank territories.

Palestinian authorities reported that Israeli forces fatally shot two individuals in the West Bank city of Nablus on Thursday. Meanwhile, Lebanon’s Health Ministry announced Friday that the country’s death toll has climbed to 773.

Following almost two weeks of warfare, casualty figures have reached 2,000 deaths, with Iran bearing the heaviest losses, while millions of residents have been forced to flee their homes.

When contacted by Reuters, Israeli military representatives stated they had no knowledge of the Gaza airstrike.

In a separate Thursday statement, military officials claimed they had eliminated two people who allegedly tried to ram their vehicle into soldiers. The military has not yet provided evidence to support claims of the attempted ramming incident.

Although Israeli attacks on Gaza initially decreased when the conflict with Iran began, strike frequency has since increased. Israeli operations have resulted in 23 deaths in Gaza following the joint U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran on February 28.

Despite a ceasefire that took effect in Gaza last October, sporadic violence has erupted repeatedly since that time.

Reuters previously reported that President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace initiative has been suspended since the Iran conflict commenced.

The West Bank has also experienced ongoing violence. Israeli military personnel and settlers have killed a minimum of eight Palestinians throughout the West Bank since the U.S.-Israeli Iran operations began.

Reuters has documented an increase in settler attacks during this period, coinciding with Israel’s implementation of widespread lockdown measures across much of the West Bank.

MOSCOW (AP) — Foreign websites remained inaccessible on mobile devices throughout central Moscow on Friday as internet restrictions continued to impact Russia’s capital for more than eight days, disrupting daily life for millions and causing severe economic damage to companies dependent on mobile connectivity.

Government officials claim these limitations serve as protective measures against potential Ukrainian drone strikes, though technology specialists believe the actions may be testing procedures for completely severing Russian citizens’ access to international internet if leadership chooses this path.

The sporadic service interruptions, previously documented across numerous Russian territories over recent months, have led some Moscow citizens to resurrect outdated communication devices including walkie-talkies, pagers and portable media equipment.

These connectivity disruptions represent one component of comprehensive government efforts to control internet access. Officials have implemented restrictive regulations and prohibited websites and platforms refusing to comply. Advanced technology has been developed to monitor and control online activity.

Following President Vladimir Putin’s military deployment to Ukraine in February 2022, the administration blocked prominent social media platforms including Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. In the previous year, Russia’s telecommunications regulator announced limitations on widely-used messaging applications WhatsApp and Telegram.

Simultaneously, officials have aggressively promoted a “national” messaging application named MAX, which opposition voices characterize as a monitoring instrument.

The mobile internet blackouts affecting Moscow, initially documented on March 5 in certain suburban areas, expanded into the city center during the current week. Numerous additional regions have experienced connectivity failures since May.

Throughout these interruptions, select government-endorsed Russian websites and digital services remained accessible through “white lists.” However, during this week’s mobile internet problems in Moscow, even approved government platforms, major banking institutions and ride-sharing applications ceased operating.

Companies with fixed broadband connections and residents with home internet service have remained unaffected.

Nevertheless, Moscow cafe, restaurant and retail establishment owners depending on mobile internet have experienced substantial financial damage as patrons cannot complete electronic payments. ATMs and parking payment systems requiring cellular internet connectivity stopped functioning.

Ride-sharing applications have provided customers alternative options to request transportation through telephone calls and cash payments.

At certain times, cellular phone service for voice calls was completely suspended alongside internet access.

During the week, Kremlin-controlled parliament members reported mobile internet was virtually nonexistent within the lower house facility situated mere hundreds of meters from Red Square.

Friday brought restored access to Russian websites and certain mobile applications in central Moscow, while foreign websites remained blocked in what some analysts interpreted as preparation exercises for complete internet isolation.

Business publication Kommersant released calculations earlier this week estimating Moscow businesses lost between 3 and 5 billion rubles (approximately $38 million to $63 million) during five days of service interruptions. Alternative assessments suggested significantly higher losses.

News outlets reported that as blackouts affected Moscow, retailers experienced rapid increases in demand for pagers, portable radios, landline telephones and media devices.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated Wednesday that the recent mobile internet shutdown in Moscow occurred in “strict conformity with the law” and would continue “as long as additional measures to ensure security of our citizens are necessary.”

Recently enacted legislation requires Russian internet service providers to disable mobile internet access when authorities determine security concerns necessitate such action.

When questioned about the timing of Moscow’s current shutdowns, Peskov explained that as Ukraine employs “increasingly sophisticated methods of attack, the more technologically advanced measures are needed to ensure public security.”

He indicated the government would examine methods to reimburse businesses for shutdown-related losses but provided no detailed plans.

OSLO – A Norwegian court has ordered a family of four to be held in police custody for up to four weeks following their alleged involvement in last Sunday’s attack on the United States embassy in Oslo, court officials announced Friday.

The suspects include a mother and her three adult sons, who face accusations of carrying out what authorities have labeled a “terror bombing” designed to inflict casualties or substantial property damage.

Sunday’s early morning detonation of a homemade explosive device struck the entrance area of the embassy’s consular services building, according to Norwegian officials. While the blast caused significant structural damage, no one was hurt in the incident.

Defense attorneys representing the accused have revealed that one of the sons has confessed to positioning the explosive device, while his mother and two brothers maintain their innocence in the attack.

Norwegian police apprehended all four suspects following the bombing incident at the diplomatic facility in Oslo.

Israeli emergency responders treated 16 people for minor injuries Monday afternoon following a rocket barrage launched by Hezbollah that struck multiple locations across central Israel, according to medical officials and police reports.

The majority of those hurt were in the city of Ramle, where emergency medical service Magen David Adom reported treating 14 individuals after a rocket hit a daycare center. All victims in that incident were described as being in good condition by paramedics.

Two additional people sustained light injuries in the Mateh Yehuda Regional Council area from a separate rocket impact, Magen David Adom confirmed.

Law enforcement officials reported that one missile hit “an open area in the Mateh Yehuda [Regional Council] area,” and noted that “damage was caused to infrastructure.”

The Lebanese militant organization claimed responsibility for the attack, stating it had aimed at a communications facility located in the Haela Valley near Beit Shemesh. According to Hezbollah’s statement, the group fired a “barrage of precision missiles” targeting what it called a “satellite communications station.”

However, the targeted facility is actually a civilian operation run by European company SES, not a military installation.

First responders and law enforcement personnel remained on scene following the strikes to evaluate damage and assist with the aftermath, while medical personnel continued caring for those wounded in the rocket attacks.

Tehran launched deadly attacks on critical infrastructure across the Gulf region Sunday, targeting Kuwait’s main airport and a water treatment facility in Bahrain as the conflict enters its second week.

Military officials confirmed that unmanned aircraft attacked fuel storage facilities at Kuwait’s international airport. The Kuwait News Agency stated that firefighters successfully contained the resulting blaze and reported no “significant injuries” from the airport strike.

However, Kuwait’s Interior Ministry announced that two border security personnel died “while performing their national duty,” though officials provided no additional details about how the deaths occurred.

The same wave of attacks also damaged a desalination facility in Bahrain, according to reports from the region.

Saudi Arabia experienced the deadliest incident when what civil defense officials described as a “military projectile” hit the Al-Kharj governorate south of Riyadh. The strike on the residential area killed two people – one from India and one from Bangladesh – while injuring 12 others.

These Sunday operations represent Tehran’s continued expansion of attacks on Gulf region infrastructure facilities.

Data compiled by AFP shows that 18 people have lost their lives in Gulf nations since the conflict began, with 10 of those being civilians.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian issued a warning Sunday that his country might intensify operations if regional governments permit their land to serve as launch points for strikes against Iran.

The Islamic Republic “will be forced to respond” against neighboring nations if their territory becomes a staging ground for attacks, he stated.

Just one day before, Pezeshkian had issued apologies to countries in the region that host American military installations for Iranian operations on their soil.

Leaders throughout the Gulf have maintained that their nations have not provided territory for launching operations against Iran. Prior to the outbreak of hostilities, these governments repeatedly declared they would prohibit such use of their land.

Sunday’s military actions occurred as Tehran maintains its offensive against Gulf targets while the wider regional conflict moves into its second week.

Iran has appointed a new Supreme Leader following the reported death of longtime ruler Ali Khamenei in what officials describe as an Israeli assassination attempt. The Assembly of Experts selected 56-year-old Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the deceased leader, to head the Islamic Republic during its ongoing conflict with Israel and the United States.

The younger Khamenei, a mid-level religious figure with strong connections to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps, has never served in an official government role before this appointment. His father led Iran for 36 of the Islamic Republic’s 47-year history, taking power after founder Ruhollah Khomeini.

The leadership transition occurs just days following an alleged Israeli attack that reportedly wounded the new Supreme Leader. Iranian state media referenced him as “Jaanbaz [injured war veteran] of Ramadan,” seemingly acknowledging his injuries from the current warfare. Tragically, his spouse and reportedly one of his children died on the initial day of what Iran calls the joint US-Israeli conflict.

According to Iranian state broadcasting, the new leader is fluent in English and has completed advanced training in psychology and psychoanalysis. The network also reported his studies include modern technology, military strategy, and security matters.

Ayatollah Mohsen Heidari informed state media that the Assembly of Experts gathered Sunday in Qom, with more than two-thirds of the 88-member religious body present to meet the required attendance for selecting a new supreme leader.

“Some of the members were not informed about the meeting and could not make it to the session even though they were in the city of Qom,” Heidari said.

According to Heidari, Khamenei secured approximately 85% of votes from attending members.

The selection process took place after a March 3 Israeli attack targeted the facility where the Assembly of Experts’ 88 religious leaders were scheduled to gather for choosing a successor.

President Donald Trump responded to the appointment within hours of its announcement, having previously expressed opposition to Khamenei taking control.

“He’s going to have to get approval from us,” Trump told ABC News on Sunday. “If he doesn’t get approval from us, he’s not going to last long. We want to make sure that we don’t have to go back every 10 years, when you don’t have a president like me that’s not going to do it.”

The United States has announced a temporary suspension of certain sanctions targeting Russian oil shipments, a decision driven by worldwide worries about soaring crude prices caused by supply disruptions linked to Middle East conflicts.

This action, designed to calm nervous markets amid concerns about oil and gas supply interruptions from the Middle East, highlights how current conflicts have strengthened Russia’s capacity to generate revenue from energy sales – a crucial component of Moscow’s budget while it continues its military operations in Ukraine.

According to U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s announcement on social media platform X, American sanctions will be suspended for 30 days on Russian oil deliveries that were already loaded onto ships by Thursday. This decision provides hesitant buyers permission to purchase the oil without fear of violating U.S. sanctions regulations.

Previously, the Trump administration had provided a similar 30-day exemption to refineries operating in India.

Bessent described this as a “narrowly tailored, short-term measure” that represents President Donald Trump’s “decisive steps to promote stability in global energy markets” and to “keep prices low.”

The Treasury Secretary explained that permitting sales of stranded Russian oil would not generate additional revenue for Moscow since the Russian government had already collected taxes when the oil was initially extracted. Washington has imposed sanctions on Russia’s largest oil corporations, Lukoil and Rosneft, as part of initiatives to halt the Ukrainian conflict. Apart from the 30-day exception for oil currently at sea, these sanctions continue.

Kremlin representative Dmitry Peskov stated Friday that this decision will contribute to stabilizing worldwide energy markets, noting it was impossible to achieve stability “without significant volumes of Russian oil.”

However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized the action, saying it “does not help peace.”

“This easing alone by the United States could provide Russia with about $10 billion for the war,” Zelenskyy stated. “It spends the money from energy sales on weapons, and all of this is then used against us.”

International benchmark Brent crude prices dropped 1.5% to $98.76 per barrel by 1300 GMT Friday following the announcement. This remains significantly higher than the $72.87 level where Brent was trading on February 27, before the current conflict began.

The ongoing fighting has severely restricted tanker movement through the Strait of Hormuz at the Persian Gulf entrance, a waterway that normally handles 20% of global oil supplies. This disruption has created a substantial energy crisis for the world economy and raised concerns about rising inflation globally.

“In the short term this slightly increases available supply on the global market, which helps contain the current spike in oil prices,” explained Simone Tagliapietra, an energy specialist at the Bruegel think tank in Brussels. “The impact on prices should therefore be modestly downward, or at least stabilizing.”

Industry analysts calculate that approximately 125 million barrels of Russian oil are currently being transported at sea. This amount represents five to six days of typical shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, or slightly more than one day’s worth of worldwide consumption, which totals about 101 million barrels daily.

Following President Vladimir Putin’s order for a comprehensive invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the European Union – previously Moscow’s largest oil customer – ceased purchasing Russian oil, and numerous Western buyers also avoided it.

The oil was then redirected to China and India, where it sold at reduced prices due to efforts by the U.S., EU, and Ukraine’s allies to establish a price ceiling on Russian oil enforced through shipping and insurance companies.

Eventually, Russia managed to circumvent this cap by assembling a fleet of older tankers with unclear ownership and insurance from nations that weren’t following the cap.

In addition to sanctions on Lukoil and Rosneft, Ukraine’s supporters penalized increasing numbers of individual ships in Russia’s “shadow fleet.” Chinese and Indian customers began demanding larger discounts to offset the risk of sanctions violations, the complications of hiding oil origins, or finding alternatives that avoided banks reluctant to process payments for sanctioned oil.

In December, Russia’s Urals blend was trading below $40 per barrel, approximately $25 less than Brent. This reduced the Kremlin’s oil income to its lowest point since the invasion began. Oil and gas exports typically contribute 20% to 30% of the federal budget.

Russian oil prices have increased alongside general oil market trends and now trade above $80 per barrel – improving Russia’s financial position if Strait of Hormuz disruptions persist and maintain high prices while Asian refineries seek replacements for unavailable Middle Eastern supplies.

Russia’s daily oil sales revenue during the Iran conflict has averaged 14% higher than February levels, according to the nonprofit Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. Isaac Levi of CREA reports that Russia has been earning 510 million euros ($588 million) daily this month from oil and liquefied natural gas exports.

However, a substantial discount to Brent prices remains due to sanctions. The recent U.S. decision “likely narrows the Urals discount somewhat” by reducing sanctions risk, Tagliapietra noted. But since it’s limited, the U.S. action “does not fundamentally change the structure of longer-term Russian oil flows or sanctions pressure.”

Former Russian Central Bank official Sergei Aleksashenko said the move “will not be a very significant boost” to Russia’s budget because the oil would have found buyers regardless – particularly given the Strait of Hormuz disruptions.

The Trump administration may not have anticipated such a dramatic price increase or extended conflict, suggested Aleksashenko, who heads economics at the NEST Centre, established by exiled Russian businessman and opposition figure Mikhail Khodorkovsky.

With U.S. gasoline prices rising alongside oil costs, “the president should say something, that ‘I’m dealing with the problem,’” he explained. This includes the relief for India and the coordinated release of 400 million barrels from strategic oil reserves with other nations.

“In my view it’s more rhetoric and perception,” he concluded.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz revealed that Group of Seven democratic leaders discussed Russian oil with Trump this week and that “six members expressed a very clear view that this is not the right signal to send.”

European Union member countries have initiated groundbreaking legislation aimed at prohibiting artificial intelligence systems from creating child sexual abuse imagery, marking the first major governmental action of its kind.

The proposal, announced Friday in Brussels, would expand the EU’s comprehensive artificial intelligence regulations that were enacted two years ago to specifically address this emerging threat.

The legislative push comes as government officials and regulatory agencies across Europe and Asia are taking action against sexually explicit material created by Grok, the AI chatbot developed by Elon Musk’s xAI company and deployed on the X platform. Authorities are particularly concerned about intimate deepfake images produced by the technology.

Currently, technology oversight bodies in the European Union, along with regulatory agencies in Britain, Ireland, and Spain, are conducting investigations into Grok’s capability to generate sexualized artificial intelligence deepfakes.

Before the proposed restrictions can become law, EU member nations must secure approval from the European Parliament. Parliamentary representatives are set to consider their own comparable measure during a scheduled vote on Wednesday.

The competing proposals represent the opening positions as both legislative bodies prepare for upcoming negotiations regarding the European Commission’s plan to modify certain aspects of the AI Act. While technology companies and some business interests have praised the potential changes, civil liberties organizations and privacy advocates have condemned the modifications as capitulating to major tech corporations.

Political observers expect the legislative process to continue for approximately one year before any new regulations take effect.

A devastating drone attack on a marketplace in western Sudan has claimed 11 lives and left more than 20 people wounded, according to the French humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders.

The deadly strike occurred March 12 at the Adikong market located near Sudan’s border with Chad. The attack ignited fuel storage areas, causing victims to suffer severe burns. Medical staff confirmed that 11 individuals died from their injuries in the blaze.

Doctors Without Borders reported treating 23 injured people at a hospital the organization supports in Adre, Chad. Among those hurt were seven children who required medical care following the attack.

This marks the second fatal drone assault in the area within less than 30 days, highlighting the escalating violence in the region. UN High Commissioner Volker Turk revealed Thursday that his office has documented reports of more than 200 civilian fatalities from drone attacks across Sudan since March 4.

The strikes have caused widespread destruction beyond the loss of life. “Many homes, schools, markets and health facilities were damaged or destroyed in the attacks,” Turk stated.

These aerial weapons have emerged as critical tools in the ongoing conflict between Sudan’s military forces and the Rapid Support Forces, a war that started in April 2023. The deployment of drones has enabled the RSF to counter the army’s initial advantage in air power during the early stages of the fighting.

Moscow has added Nina Khrushcheva, a 62-year-old American professor and descendant of a prominent Soviet leader, to its registry of individuals classified as ‘foreign agents’ on Friday.

Khrushcheva, who teaches at The New School university in New York, is the great-granddaughter of Nikita Khrushchev, who governed the Soviet Union from 1953 until his removal by the Politburo in 1964.

Despite Russia’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine that began in 2022, the academic has continued conducting research visits to the country.

When reached for comment, Khrushcheva expressed little shock at her inclusion on the list, which now encompasses 1,164 individuals and organizations including media figures, politicians, artists, and advocacy groups.

‘It would have been sloppy on their part not to do this sooner or later,’ she stated, noting it was premature to determine the real-world consequences of the designation.

The professor acknowledged the historical significance of her situation, referencing the current rehabilitation of Josef Stalin’s image in Russia.

‘There is certainly historical irony but not anything shocking. When Stalin is up, Khrushchev is down,’ she explained.

Her observation points to Stalin’s growing popularity in contemporary Russia, despite her great-grandfather’s historic 1956 Communist Party speech that condemned the dictator’s brutal policies. Russia recently commemorated the 70th anniversary of that pivotal address, reigniting discussions about both leaders’ historical impact.

Nikita Khrushchev notably transferred Crimea from Russian to Ukrainian control in 1954, a decision that President Vladimir Putin reversed through military annexation in 2014. The former Soviet leader also confronted President John F. Kennedy during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, bringing the world close to nuclear conflict.

According to TASS news agency, Russia’s Justice Ministry accused Nina Khrushcheva of spreading misleading information about Russian government actions and opposing what the Kremlin terms its ‘special military operation’ in Ukraine.

The ‘foreign agent’ classification imposes significant administrative burdens and financial limitations on those affected. Designated individuals must identify themselves with the label on all published content and social media communications.

While some government opponents embrace the designation as recognition of their dissent, others find it creates obstacles in their professional activities as fellow Russians often avoid association with labeled individuals.

COLOMBO – Sri Lankan authorities are preparing to send home the remains of 84 Iranian naval personnel who perished when a US submarine torpedoed their warship off the island nation’s coastline last week.

The Iranian vessel IRIS Dena went down on March 4 after being struck by a torpedo fired from an American submarine. The warship was heading back from naval training exercises conducted in India during the current US-Israeli military campaign against Iran.

Two additional Iranian naval vessels that had taken part in the same exercises fled to safety – the IRIS Lavan found refuge at an Indian port, while the IRIS Booshehr made it to Sri Lankan waters.

A Sri Lankan judicial ruling this week directed that the sailors’ remains, which have been kept at the National Hospital morgue in the southern port city of Galle, should be released to Iranian diplomatic officials.

According to Sri Lankan defense ministry sources cited by local media outlets, the deceased sailors will be transported home Friday via a specially arranged aircraft departing from Mattala International Airport in the country’s southern region.

“Arrangements are being made to transport the bodies of the Iranian crew from the hospital to the Mattala airport,” an Iranian embassy source in Colombo told Reuters, declining to specify the exact departure time.

The remains were subsequently transported by truck convoy through the city under police escort.

Sri Lankan health, foreign affairs, and defense officials did not return Reuters’ requests for comment. The nation’s naval forces indicated they were not participating in the transportation and repatriation operations.

An Indian government official revealed that following the aircraft’s departure from Sri Lanka with the deceased sailors, India will permit the plane to land on Indian soil to collect some of the 183 crew members from the IRIS Lavan, along with Iranian civilians who have been unable to leave India.

India’s foreign ministry has not yet responded to requests for comment. The official noted uncertainty regarding the timing of the aircraft’s arrival and departure from India.

Currently in Sri Lanka are 32 survivors from the destroyed vessel, plus 208 sailors from the IRIS Booshehr.

Sri Lankan foreign ministry officials are maintaining contact with Iran’s embassy in Colombo regarding the crew situation, while the embassy coordinates with officials in Tehran, according to defense ministry statements.

Reuters previously reported that Washington has been urging Colombo not to allow the survivors from either vessel to return to Iran.