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A tourism cruise ship carrying 30 passengers became stranded on a coral reef in Fiji waters over the weekend, prompting a safe evacuation of all aboard, according to the vessel’s operating company.

The incident involving the MV Fiji Princess occurred Saturday when the ship became grounded near Monuriki Island, which gained fame as the filming location for the Tom Hanks movie ‘Cast Away’ in 2000, Blue Lagoon Cruises announced Monday.

According to the company’s official statement, the 182-foot vessel was initially anchored in calm conditions when unexpected severe weather moved through the area. “Whilst the investigation is in its early stages, conditions upon the ship anchoring in the area were calm, and it appears a severe squall caused the ship’s anchor to drag towards a nearby reef whereby the ship became grounded,” the statement said.

Rescue operations began at dawn Sunday when a ferry arrived to assist the stranded vessel. All 30 passengers successfully left the ship with their personal items and luggage intact, with no reported injuries during the evacuation process.

The evacuated travelers were transported to Denarau Island for safety.

Environmental protection measures were implemented quickly, with Blue Lagoon Cruises confirming that all removable fuel and oils had been extracted from the vessel by Monday to prevent potential contamination of the surrounding waters.

Recovery operations have been ongoing since Sunday under the supervision of an Australian salvage expert who arrived on scene to coordinate the ship’s removal efforts.

Officials from the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji, the agency responsible for regulating marine operations in the region, have not yet provided comment on the incident.

ATHENS, April 6 (Reuters) — Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis called on European Union prosecutors Monday to rapidly determine whether to bring charges against members of his conservative New Democracy party who are under investigation in a major agricultural subsidy fraud case, as he works to limit political damage from the growing scandal.

The investigation has shaken the government following European prosecutors’ decision last year to charge numerous Greek livestock farmers with fraudulently claiming pastureland ownership to illegally obtain millions of euros in EU agricultural subsidies, reportedly with assistance from government workers and conservative political figures.

Expanding their investigation, prosecutors requested last week that Greece’s parliament remove legal immunity from at least 11 conservative members of parliament, including previous cabinet ministers, to enable investigation into suspected crimes against the European Union’s financial interests.

The charges facing the legislators, who enjoy constitutional protection from prosecution under Greek law, include encouraging breach of trust and computer fraud, based on evidence collected by Greek law enforcement.

Mitsotakis, who has reorganized his cabinet, acknowledged in a public statement that the request represents a significant development but noted the cases differ in seriousness and expressed his commitment to protecting the lawmakers’ right to be presumed innocent.

“I am calling on the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, once (their) parliamentary immunity has been lifted, to proceed swiftly with all investigative acts and to decide whether, how many and whom it intends to prosecute,” he said.

Mitsotakis additionally promised reforms to enhance transparency and combat favoritism, including a proposal that parliament members appointed as ministers be replaced in parliament rather than serving in both roles simultaneously.

EU PROSECUTORS PROVIDE EVIDENCE TO GREEK PARLIAMENT

Parliament received the evidence provided by European prosecutors along with their immunity removal request on Saturday.

The materials, reviewed by Reuters, include recorded conversations between the parliament members — some former ministers or their staff — and high-ranking officials from OPEKEPE, the agency responsible for managing EU agricultural subsidies.

“We’ll be exposed … we certainly need to fix this,” one legislator told an OPEKEPE representative. Prosecutors contend in the documents that the lawmakers used their political influence to pressure agency personnel.

Greek constitution protects lawmakers and ministers from prosecution, requiring parliamentary action to remove their immunity.

New Democracy controls 156 seats in the 300-member parliament. Two former ministers involved in the investigation have rejected any wrongdoing and proactively requested their immunity be removed.

An ethics committee will examine the matter on Tuesday, with parliament anticipated to vote on removing the lawmakers’ immunity next week.

A deadly Israeli airstrike late Sunday targeted an apartment building in a Christian community outside Beirut, claiming the lives of a local political figure and escalating tensions within Lebanon regarding Hezbollah’s involvement in the ongoing conflict.

The attack occurred in Ain Saadeh, a Christian-majority town located in the hills east of Lebanon’s capital. Three people died in the strike – a man and two women who were located one floor beneath the apartment that was actually targeted, according to Lebanon’s health ministry and the town’s mayor.

Among the casualties were Pierre Moawad, a regional official with the Lebanese Forces Party, and his spouse Flavia, the anti-Hezbollah Christian political organization confirmed.

The month-long warfare has intensified existing rifts between those who support the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement and Lebanese citizens who hold the militant group responsible for sparking another confrontation with Israel barely over a year since the previous conflict ended.

“We are paying a heavy price for a war into which we have been dragged by the lawless organisation Hezbollah,” Lebanese Forces parliamentarian Razi El Hage told Lebanese broadcaster MTV.

Israel launched its comprehensive air and ground offensive following Hezbollah’s March 2 rocket attacks into Israeli territory, which the group conducted in support of Iran. Lebanese officials report that more than 1,460 people have died in the Israeli campaign.

The Israeli military’s evacuation orders have affected vast portions of southern Lebanon, eastern regions, and Beirut’s southern neighborhoods, forcing over one million residents to flee their homes. The majority of displaced people belong to the Shi’ite Muslim population that forms Hezbollah’s primary base of support.

Christian area residents and local leaders have voiced worries that displaced populations might be sheltering militants who could become Israeli targets. Some local governments are now screening individuals seeking rental housing in their communities.

Christian legislator Nadim Gemayel, who opposes Hezbollah, expressed concerns to Reuters last month that Israel might be intentionally forcing Shi’ite populations into other Lebanese regions to create inter-community conflicts.

Unlike many previous strikes, Israeli forces issued no evacuation warning before Sunday’s attack. Local residents confirmed that no displaced individuals were residing in the targeted building or nearby structures.

“I’ve been in my house for 20 years, I’ve never even seen this apartment lit. There’s no one in it,” Antoine Aalam, a 70-year-old man who lives across from the targeted apartment, told Reuters on Monday.

Israeli military officials told Reuters they had attacked a “terror target east of Beirut” but provided no additional information.

“Reports that several uninvolved individuals were harmed as a result of the strike are being reviewed,” the military stated.

Military representatives refused to address concerns that attacks on Christian communities were designed to increase sectarian hostilities.

Despite the 2024 ceasefire that concluded the previous Hezbollah conflict, Israeli forces have maintained their presence in southern Lebanon while continuing periodic strikes. Lebanese appeals for new peace negotiations have been ignored by Israel.

The Sunday evening attack occurred just hours after Lebanese President Joseph Aoun delivered his first televised speech since hostilities began, declaring that the nation’s “primary concern is preserving civil peace, which is a red line.”

Additional Israeli strikes on Sunday killed five people in Beirut’s southern suburbs, including a teenage girl and two Sudanese migrant workers. Another attack on a vehicle in southern Lebanon killed a married couple and wounded their two children.

MOSCOW – Russian government officials on Monday accused Ukraine of likely being behind explosive devices discovered near a major gas pipeline in Serbia that transports Russian energy to Hungary, though they acknowledged lacking definitive proof at this time.

The allegations emerged after Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban called an emergency defense meeting on Sunday following the discovery of explosives near the TurkStream pipeline. Orban, who is facing a challenging reelection campaign ahead of Sunday’s vote, has previously stated that Ukraine has spent years attempting to disconnect Europe from Russian energy sources, but stopped short of directly accusing Kyiv of responsibility for this specific incident.

Ukraine’s foreign ministry has categorically denied any connection to the explosive devices found near the pipeline infrastructure.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov described the situation as extremely concerning during a press briefing with reporters. “The situation is potentially very dangerous. This is a vital energy artery, which is currently operating under extreme strain. And prior to this, as we know, the Kyiv regime was directly involved in such acts of sabotage against critical energy infrastructure,” Peskov stated.

“It is highly likely that signs of the Kyiv regime’s involvement will be found this time too,” he continued, expressing Moscow’s expectation that Hungarian and Serbian authorities would take steps to reduce the security threat.

Peskov also referenced recent diplomatic discussions, saying: “We also hope that, during recent talks (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelenskiy held in Ankara, the head of the Kyiv regime was made aware that such aggressive actions against the infrastructure of the South Stream and Blue Stream pipelines are unacceptable.”

A recent worldwide survey conducted by the Pew Research Center examined global perspectives on the moral acceptance of homosexuality, revealing dramatic differences across nations. Nigeria emerged as the country with the highest percentage of residents who view homosexuality as morally unacceptable, with an overwhelming 96% of respondents expressing this view. Indonesia and Turkey also ranked among the countries with similarly high levels of moral disapproval. On the opposite side of the global spectrum, Sweden led nations where homosexuality is widely accepted, with 94% of those surveyed considering it morally acceptable. Within the United States, the survey found that 60% of participants expressed moral acceptance of homosexuality.

MADRID, April 6 – New polling data reveals that Spain’s Socialist Party has experienced a boost in voter approval following Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s firm stance against the U.S.-Israeli military campaign targeting Iran, while the far-right Vox party’s support has weakened, according to two surveys released Monday.

Sanchez has positioned himself among the most outspoken Western leaders condemning what he describes as an unlawful and dangerous military action, taking concrete steps including shutting down Spanish airspace to American aircraft participating in the strikes and prohibiting their use of shared military installations in Spain’s southern region.

The far-right Vox party – which maintains close ties to U.S. President Donald Trump’s MAGA movement – has strongly condemned Sanchez’s position on the conflict.

Recent polling by the state-run CIS organization revealed that 85% of Spanish citizens oppose the military action.

Fresh survey results from Sigma Dos, conducted for El Mundo newspaper, indicate the Socialist Party’s support climbed to 27.7% from the previous month’s 26.4%, narrowing the gap with the conservative People’s Party (PP). A separate poll by 40dB for El Pais newspaper placed Socialist support at 28.6%, representing an increase from 27.7%.

Conversely, Vox experienced a decline to 17.1% in April from 18.3% according to Sigma Dos polling, while the 40dB survey showed a smaller decrease of 0.1 percentage point to 18.7%.

The People’s Party maintained its lead in both surveys, capturing 32.5% and 31.1% of voter preferences respectively, with modest gains of less than one percentage point in each poll. The party has criticized Sanchez for harming Atlantic alliance relationships and has avoided publicly condemning Trump and Israel, although its leadership has adopted the “no to war” message.

Both surveys indicate a notable pattern of voter migration from political extremes toward the two major mainstream parties. The People’s Party appears to be preventing further voter defection to Vox, while the Socialists are attracting previous supporters of Sumar, their hard-left coalition partner.

Despite these shifts, Spain’s divided political landscape continues to require coalition governments, with both polls suggesting a potential right-wing majority if elections occurred today.

The country’s next scheduled general election is set for August 2027.

Both polling organizations surveyed approximately 2,000 respondents, with each study carrying a 2.2% margin of error.

Senior Iranian leadership has rejected President Trump’s ultimatum regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, adopting a confrontational stance as both nations continue to exchange missile strikes.

The dismissal of Trump’s deadline comes amid heightened tensions between the two countries, with military actions escalating on both sides. Iranian officials have maintained their defiant position despite increasing pressure from the United States.

The ongoing conflict has seen continued missile exchanges between the warring nations, with no immediate signs of de-escalation as diplomatic efforts appear to have stalled.

Iranian officials announced Monday they have developed their own counter-proposal to recent ceasefire initiatives that were delivered through diplomatic intermediaries, according to the country’s foreign ministry spokesperson.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei told reporters that Tehran has established a list of conditions based on the nation’s interests, which have already been transmitted through diplomatic back-channels. He noted that previous American proposals, including a 15-point framework, were turned down for being “excessive.”

Baghaei emphasized during Monday’s news briefing that diplomatic talks were “incompatible with ultimatums and threats to commit war crimes.”

“Iran does not hesitate to clearly express what it considers its legitimate demands and doing so should not be interpreted as a sign of compromise, but rather as a reflection of its confidence in defending its positions,” Baghaei stated during the press conference.

When questioned by an Iranian reporter about ongoing diplomatic efforts to establish a ceasefire between Iran and the United States, Baghaei confirmed “We have formulated our own responses” and indicated that specific details would be revealed at an appropriate time.

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian officials reported Monday that a nighttime Russian drone strike on the southern port city of Odesa claimed the lives of three civilians, including two women and a 2-year-old child, as Ukraine simultaneously launched its own drone offensive against Russian oil export facilities along the Black Sea.

The devastating assault severely damaged a residential apartment building in Odesa, prompting rescue teams to work through the night using floodlights to extract four survivors from the debris.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported on X that eleven individuals required hospitalization following the attack, among them a pregnant woman and two young children, with the youngest victim being under one year of age.

Since launching its invasion more than four years ago, Russia has consistently targeted civilian areas throughout Ukraine, resulting in over 15,000 deaths according to United Nations data.

The overnight bombardment extended beyond Odesa, with Russian forces also striking power infrastructure across the Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv and Dnipro regions, Zelenskyy confirmed.

Regional power companies reported that more than 300,000 homes lost electricity in northern Chernihiv after distribution centers sustained damage from the attacks.

Zelenskyy revealed that Russian forces have unleashed more than 2,800 attack drones, nearly 1,350 powerful glide bombs and over 40 various missiles against Ukraine in just the past seven days.

During a recent Associated Press interview, Zelenskyy voiced concerns that conflicts involving Iran are depleting weapon stockpiles Ukraine desperately needs for defense, particularly American-manufactured Patriot air defense systems capable of intercepting missiles.

“Russia has no intention of stopping” its invasion, Zelenskyy stated Monday, emphasizing that the country’s allies “need to strengthen air defense together so that the interception rate of drones and missiles continues to increase.”

Ukraine has responded by developing indigenous long-range drone technology capable of striking targets up to 1,500 kilometers (900 miles) within Russian territory.

These Ukrainian drones have recently focused on Russian oil infrastructure, particularly as Moscow seeks to increase exports following temporary sanctions relief from the Trump administration aimed at easing supply shortages. Ukrainian officials argue that Russia will use additional oil revenues to purchase more weapons for continued attacks.

Russian Defense Ministry officials claimed their air defenses successfully intercepted 50 Ukrainian drones during overnight operations.

Krasnodar Governor Veniamin Kondratyev reported that eight individuals, including two children, sustained injuries during multiple Ukrainian drone strikes on Novorossiisk, a major Russian Black Sea port. The assault damaged six apartment complexes and two residential homes, according to his statement.

Unverified media sources suggested the drones specifically targeted the Sheskharis oil terminal located at the Black Sea port.

Ukrainian drone operations last week successfully struck oil facilities in Russia’s Gulf of Finland region in the northwest part of the country.

Iran’s top nuclear official has sharply criticized the United Nations’ atomic oversight body, claiming its failure to respond decisively to attacks on nuclear facilities is encouraging further aggression.

Mohammad Eslami, who leads Iran’s atomic energy organization, sent a formal complaint Monday to the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency regarding repeated strikes against the Bushehr nuclear power station.

According to Eslami’s letter, Iran’s sole operational nuclear facility has come under attack four separate times, with the latest incident occurring April 4 near the plant. That assault resulted in the death of one security worker and left several others wounded.

The Iranian official expressed grave concern about potential catastrophic outcomes, warning that strikes on an active nuclear reactor could lead to radioactive contamination with “irreparable consequences” affecting both people and the environment across the region.

Eslami characterized these incidents as violations of international law and condemned what he termed the agency’s “lack of decisive action.” He argued that simply voicing concern without taking concrete steps would only encourage additional attacks on nuclear infrastructure.

Iranian military officials announced Monday they conducted a drone attack against American forces stationed on Bubiyan Island in Kuwait, according to a video statement released through state-controlled media.

Ebrahim Zolfaqari, speaking for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, claimed the operation specifically targeted satellite communications equipment and weapons stockpiles on the island using unmanned aircraft. He stated that American troops had moved to this location from the Arifjan military installation following multiple previous Iranian strikes on that facility.

The island represents Kuwait’s largest coastal landmass and sits in the northwestern section of the Persian Gulf region.

Kuwait’s health ministry reported that six individuals sustained injuries from debris that fell into a residential neighborhood in the country’s northern region during the Iranian assault.

Ukrainian military forces have successfully recaptured 185 square miles of territory across southeastern and eastern front line areas since the end of January, according to the nation’s top military commander Oleksandr Syrskyi.

Following a recent front line inspection, Syrskyi reported that Ukrainian forces had restored control over a dozen settlements – eight located in the eastern Dnipropetrovsk region and four in the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region.

However, the military leader warned that Russian forces remain committed to their spring assault campaign across the battle lines.

“Russian troops are not abandoning their plans for further offensive operations and are regrouping their available forces and equipment,” Syrskyi wrote on the Telegram messaging platform late Sunday evening.

“Despite significant losses in personnel and military equipment, the invaders aim to seize more Ukrainian territory and establish a ‘buffer zone’ in the Dnipropetrovsk region.”

Syrskyi emphasized that Ukrainian defenders have successfully held their defensive positions throughout the recent fighting.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy declared last week that the battlefield conditions for Ukraine represented the most favorable circumstances since mid-2023.

Defense experts indicate that Ukraine’s southeastern counterattacks are effectively hampering Russian military operations near Pokrovsk in the eastern Donetsk region, while also disrupting the broader Russian spring campaign along more than 750 miles of front line positions.

“Ukrainian counter attacks in the Hulyaipole and Oleksandrivka directions continue to present the Russian military command with dilemmas that overstretched Russian forces appear challenged to meet,” stated the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War in Monday’s analysis.

Russian forces have maintained their advance in eastern Donetsk territory, particularly north of Pokrovsk, a crucial supply center, according to statements from Russia’s defense ministry reported by state media last week.

The fight for Pokrovsk has continued since summer 2024 as Russian forces attempt to solidify their hold over the Donetsk region.

Syrskyi confirmed he toured the Pokrovsk area and directed additional ammunition and supply deliveries to reinforce Ukrainian positions in that sector.

As diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict remain stalled, Ukraine has escalated its long-distance strike operations targeting Russian petroleum facilities. During the previous two weeks, Ukrainian forces have attacked Russian Baltic coastal ports and oil installations in the Leningrad region.

SEOUL, South Korea — Intelligence officials in South Korea now believe it’s reasonable to consider North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un’s teenage daughter as his likely successor, marking their most definitive statement yet about the girl’s rising prominence in the isolated nation’s power structure.

The teenager, whom North Korean state media has called Kim’s “most beloved” or “respected” child, has been appearing alongside her father at major public events since the end of 2022, fueling international speculation that she’s being prepared to take over leadership.

During a private briefing with South Korea’s National Assembly, National Intelligence Service director Lee Jong-seok told lawmakers the girl should be viewed as Kim’s potential successor when questioned about her political position, according to lawmaker Lee Seong Kweun who was present at the meeting.

When lawmakers asked about potential objections from Kim’s sister Kim Yo Jong, who has long been considered the regime’s second-most powerful figure, the intelligence director indicated she lacks meaningful authority, citing what he called “reliable intelligence” sources.

This represents the intelligence service’s most confident evaluation of the girl’s status to date. Earlier in 2024, the agency first officially suggested she was probably being groomed as her father’s heir. By February, intelligence officials said they believed she was nearly certain to be named the country’s future leader.

However, some experts question this analysis, arguing that North Korea’s deeply patriarchal culture makes it unlikely to accept female leadership. Others point out that Kim, who is 42 years old, may be too young to designate a successor, which could potentially undermine his current authority.

The girl is believed to be named Kim Ju Ae and approximately 13 years old, though North Korean media has never confirmed these personal details. Her suspected name comes from former basketball player Dennis Rodman, who mentioned holding Kim Jong Un’s infant daughter during a 2013 visit to Pyongyang.

Since its founding in 1948, North Korea has been continuously governed by male members of the Kim dynasty. Kim Jong Un assumed control following his father Kim Jong Il’s death in late 2011. Kim Jong Il had previously taken power after the death of his father and the nation’s founder, Kim Il Sung, in 1994.

Recent public appearances by the girl have included operating a tank during military exercises overseen by her father and both of them shooting handguns during a tour of an ammunition manufacturing facility.

During Monday’s intelligence briefing, officials suggested North Korean leadership has deliberately arranged these military-focused events to strengthen her defense credentials and “dispel skepticism about a woman successor,” lawmaker Lee reported.

Park Sunwon, another legislator who attended the briefing, provided similar accounts of the intelligence agency’s analysis regarding the girl’s recent military-themed public appearances.

MOSCOW – A high-ranking Russian military officer perished in a fatal aircraft accident that claimed 30 lives in Russian-occupied Crimea last week, according to statements from Russian officials reported Monday.

Alexander Otroshchenko, who led the 45th Army of the Northern Fleet’s Air Force and Air Defence units, was among those who died in the incident, according to Andrei Chibis, the governor of Russia’s northern Murmansk region where the fleet operates.

The military transport An-26 aircraft struck a cliff in Crimea on March 31. Russia’s Defence Ministry reported soon after the incident that initial investigations pointed to technical failure as the likely cause.

The An-26 aircraft model entered military service in the late 1960s and has also been utilized by commercial carriers for cargo operations, though the aircraft type has been linked to several fatal incidents in recent years.

In 2022, a Ukrainian An-26 went down in Ukraine’s southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, resulting in one fatality. Two years earlier, another aircraft of the same model crashed during a training mission in northeastern Ukraine, killing 26 of the 27 individuals aboard.

An An-26 crash in South Sudan in 2020 killed eight people, including five Russian nationals. In 2017, four out of 10 passengers died when an An-26 crashed while attempting to land in Ivory Coast in West Africa.

Iranian state television confirmed Monday the passing of Majid Khademi, who served as the intelligence chief for Iran’s Revolutionary Guards forces.

Government media outlets made the announcement without providing any circumstances or details surrounding Khademi’s death.

The Revolutionary Guards represent Iran’s elite military force, and Khademi held a senior leadership position overseeing the organization’s intelligence operations.

JAKARTA – Civil rights organizations in Indonesia filed criminal charges Monday against Myanmar’s recently-elected President Min Aung Hlaing, alleging he committed genocide against the Rohingya Muslim minority population.

Myanmar holds membership in the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), though diplomatic ties have deteriorated following Min Aung Hlaing’s 2021 military takeover, which sparked ongoing civil conflict and created a humanitarian emergency that has displaced countless Rohingya Muslims into refugee camps.

Indonesia serves as ASEAN’s headquarters and represents the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, making it a destination for Rohingya refugees escaping Myanmar or overcrowded camps by sea.

Under Min Aung Hlaing’s military leadership, Myanmar’s forces conducted a 2017 campaign that drove more than 730,000 Rohingya people from their communities into neighboring Bangladesh, where survivors reported systematic murders, widespread sexual violence and deliberate burning of villages.

The formal complaint submitted to Indonesia’s Attorney General came from Yasmin Ullah, a Rohingya refugee who escaped Myanmar, alongside prominent Indonesian leaders including a former attorney general and the head of Muhammadiyah, a major Indonesian Muslim organization, according to their Monday statement.

The complainants indicated they would provide documentation of systematic displacement affecting the Rohingya – recognized as the world’s largest population without citizenship – along with evidence of killings carried out by the military government, noting that Indonesian prosecutors have officially accepted their case.

“It is the first time under Indonesia’s new penal code that a case has been officially received and I warmly welcome this historic development as a milestone for all Rohingya people on their long march to justice and accountability,” Ullah said.

The legal team explained that Indonesia’s criminal laws permit “universal jurisdiction” for particularly severe crimes, allowing prosecution without regard to the victims’ citizenship or the location where alleged crimes occurred.

Indonesia’s Attorney General’s Office has not yet provided a response to requests for comment.

Gambia, another nation with a Muslim majority, presented arguments in January before the United Nations’ highest court, claiming Myanmar systematically targeted the Rohingya Muslim minority for elimination and subjected them to horrific conditions in a groundbreaking genocide case.

Myanmar has consistently rejected genocide accusations. The military government did not immediately respond to Monday’s request for comment.

Min Aung Hlaing secured the presidency through legislative voting last week following his military-supported party’s victory in December and January elections that Western nations condemned as fraudulent, cementing his political control.

The 2021 military coup has generated continuous public demonstrations and nationwide opposition movements.

A diplomatic initiative spearheaded by Pakistan has delivered a peace framework to both Iranian and American officials, with implementation potentially beginning Monday, according to a source familiar with the negotiations.

Pakistan developed and transmitted the peace proposal overnight to both nations, presenting a dual-phase strategy that begins with an immediate halt to hostilities and progresses toward a comprehensive settlement, the source revealed.

“All elements need to be agreed today,” the source stated, explaining that the initial agreement would take the form of a memorandum of understanding completed electronically with Pakistan serving as the exclusive communication bridge between the parties.

Earlier reporting by Axios on Sunday indicated that American, Iranian and regional diplomatic intermediaries were exploring a possible 45-day truce as part of a two-stage agreement that might ultimately bring permanent resolution to the conflict.

According to the Reuters source, Pakistan’s military leader Field Marshal Asim Munir maintained continuous overnight communication with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, special diplomatic representative Steve Witkoff, and Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi.

The proposed agreement would establish an immediate cessation of hostilities and reopen the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, allowing 15 to 20 days for negotiating a more extensive resolution. Officials have tentatively named this potential agreement the “Islamabad Accord,” which would establish a regional framework governing the strait and conclude with face-to-face negotiations in Pakistan’s capital.

Neither American nor Iranian representatives provided immediate responses to requests for comment. Pakistan’s foreign ministry spokesman Tahir Andrabi refused to discuss the matter.

Iranian leadership has previously communicated to Reuters their desire for a lasting ceasefire with assurances against future attacks from both America and Israel. They confirmed receiving diplomatic messages through multiple intermediaries including Pakistan, Turkey and Egypt.

The comprehensive agreement is anticipated to include Iranian pledges to abandon nuclear weapons development in return for sanctions relief and access to previously frozen financial assets, according to the source.

Two Pakistani officials indicated that Iran has not yet committed despite intensive diplomatic and military engagement efforts.

“Iran has not responded yet,” one official explained, noting that proposals supported by Pakistan, China and the United States for temporary hostilities suspension have received no firm commitment.

Chinese officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding their involvement.

This latest diplomatic effort emerges as escalating tensions have sparked concerns about potential disruptions to maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial pathway for international oil transportation.

President Donald Trump has recently made public appeals for swift conflict resolution, issuing warnings about potential consequences if a ceasefire agreement is not achieved within a brief timeframe.

The ongoing conflict has created increased instability in energy markets, with commodity traders monitoring developments that could impact oil flows through the strategic waterway.

South Korean intelligence officials say they have reliable evidence that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is preparing his teenage daughter to take over the isolated nation, according to lawmakers briefed on the assessment Monday.

The National Intelligence Service told parliamentary members that their conclusion stems from what they called “credible intelligence” rather than speculation, following a closed-door briefing attended by both ruling and opposition party representatives.

Intelligence officials pointed to recent propaganda footage showing Kim’s daughter operating a tank as evidence designed to showcase her military credentials and address potential concerns about a female successor, lawmakers reported.

North Korea’s official news agency KCNA released photographs last month depicting Kim and his daughter driving a new tank, adding to previous images that showed her shooting rifles and handling pistols at firing ranges.

These military-themed photo opportunities mirror Kim Jong Un’s own public appearances during the early 2010s when his father was preparing him for leadership, noted ruling Democratic Party lawmaker Park Sun-won, who described the scenes as paying “homage” to that earlier succession period.

The intelligence agency’s latest evaluation represents an upgrade from previous assessments that suggested the girl, believed to be approximately 13 years old and named Ju Ae, was simply being prepared for potential succession.

According to lawmakers citing the intelligence briefing, Ju Ae’s frequent appearances at military and defense events aims to reduce skepticism about female leadership while building a succession storyline.

Previous intelligence reports indicated the agency views her growing public profile as evidence she’s already functioning as the second-most powerful figure in North Korea’s hierarchy.

People Power Party lawmaker Lee Seong-kweun said intelligence officials dismissed speculation that Kim’s sister Kim Yo Jong might oppose the focus on Ju Ae, noting that Kim Yo Jong lacks independent authority.

However, some regional experts cautioned against reading too much into the tank imagery as definitive proof of succession planning.

Hong Min, a researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification, argued that Ju Ae’s tank appearance alone doesn’t confirm her status as heir apparent, pointing out that she appeared with her father rather than alone, unlike Kim Jong Un’s independent military demonstrations during his preparation for power.

A senior United Arab Emirates official has declared that guaranteed passage through the Strait of Hormuz must be included in any future agreement between the United States and Iran, cautioning that failure to address Tehran’s nuclear ambitions and weapons programs could lead to greater regional instability.

Anwar Gargash, who serves as diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, emphasized during a weekend press conference that the Strait of Hormuz – the world’s most vital oil shipping channel – cannot be turned into a weapon. He stressed that protecting this waterway represents a global economic necessity rather than a regional negotiating tool.

“The Strait of Hormuz cannot be held hostage by any country,” Gargash stated, emphasizing that navigation freedom through this passage “has to be part and parcel of the settlement of any conflict with clear agreement on that.”

While expressing the UAE’s desire to see the conflict end, Gargash cautioned against a cease-fire that would leave underlying causes of regional tension unaddressed.

“We don’t want to see more and more escalation,” he explained. “But we don’t want a ceasefire that fails to address some of the main issues that will create a much more dangerous environment in the region…notably (Iran’s) nuclear programme, the missiles and drones that are still raining down on us and on other countries.”

President Donald Trump has issued ultimatums to Tehran, threatening to unleash “hell” unless Iran agrees to terms and reopens the Strait of Hormuz by his Tuesday deadline. In a profanity-filled social media post Sunday on Truth Social, Trump warned of additional attacks on Iranian energy and transportation infrastructure, moves that some critics argue would violate international law.

For over five weeks, American and Israeli forces have conducted sustained missile and air attacks against Iran, targeting what they describe as immediate threats from the nation’s nuclear weapons development, ballistic missile stockpiles, and backing of regional militant groups.

CRISIS SCENARIO BECOMES REALITY

Gargash announced the UAE’s willingness to participate in any American-led international mission to protect shipping through the strait.

Approximately 20 percent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments typically move through this waterway daily, but Iranian military actions have dramatically reduced traffic, sparking a worldwide energy emergency.

The current crisis began on February 28, when American and Israeli forces struck Iran following the collapse of nuclear negotiations between Washington and Tehran. Iran responded with successive waves of missiles and drone attacks against Israeli targets, American military installations across the region, and crucial Gulf energy infrastructure, including aviation facilities, ports, and commercial districts.

Regional authorities report that the UAE has endured more intensive Iranian attacks than any other Gulf nation.

Gargash noted that for years, the UAE’s most feared worst-case scenario involved a comprehensive Iranian assault – a situation that has now materialized. Nevertheless, he said his country has shown remarkable strength and adaptability under these challenging circumstances.

He maintained that the UAE’s economic foundations remain solid and position the nation for eventual recovery, while acknowledging the considerable work ahead.

According to Gargash, Iran’s aggressive approach will likely strengthen rather than weaken Gulf state security partnerships with Washington, solidifying America’s military presence in the region and expanding Israel’s influence. He confirmed that the United States will continue as the UAE’s primary security ally and that Abu Dhabi plans to deepen this partnership as regional dangers grow.

Regional analysts view Iran’s attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure and shipping routes as a deliberate strategy to increase costs for Washington’s Arab allies. By targeting oil installations, ports, and critical waterways including the Strait, Iran hoped that Gulf states, concerned about economic damage and regional consequences, would pressure the United States to end its military campaign.

This approach built on years of Gulf efforts to maintain balanced relationships with both Washington and Tehran, contain regional tensions, and prevent direct military confrontation. Many Gulf countries had reestablished diplomatic ties with Iran and attempted to protect their economies from regional disruptions, believing that engagement would reduce risks.

Gargash argued that Iran’s leadership is battling to save the “regime, not the country,” contending that no responsible government would accept such devastation merely to claim resistance. He said the UAE does not desire conflict with Iran, but cautioned that trust remains impossible under Tehran’s current leadership.

The UAE official expressed appreciation for international support his country has received, specifically highlighting France as a reliable ally and commending Washington for its extraordinary assistance, especially in enhancing the UAE’s air defense systems.

Weekend military strikes across multiple Iranian cities resulted in over 25 deaths from Sunday through Monday, according to reports from the ongoing conflict zone. Meanwhile, Israeli rescue teams continue searching through debris in Haifa where two people died and two remain unaccounted for following Sunday’s Iranian missile attack.

President Donald Trump escalated his warnings against Iran on Sunday, threatening devastating attacks on the nation’s essential infrastructure unless Tehran reopens the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane before his Tuesday ultimatum expires.

In a profanity-laced social media message, Trump declared that Tuesday would mark “Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran.”

The military conflict, which started with combined U.S.-Israeli operations on February 28, has resulted in thousands of casualties, disrupted international markets, blocked crucial maritime trade routes, and driven fuel costs higher. Both nations have targeted civilian areas, prompting United Nations officials and international legal experts to warn about potential war crimes violations.

Recent developments include:

Iranian drone forces struck a telecommunications facility in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, on Monday, according to the state-operated WAM news service. The assault focused on a building owned by the government-backed du telecommunications company. Fujairah authorities confirmed no injuries occurred in the incident, WAM reported.

South Korea’s intelligence officials told parliament members Monday that North Korea shows no evidence of supplying weapons or military assistance to Iran. Agency representatives suggested during a private legislative briefing that Pyongyang may be avoiding involvement to keep diplomatic options open with the Trump government, according to two attending lawmakers.

While North Korea’s Foreign Ministry has criticized the U.S.-Israeli military actions against Iran as unlawful, intelligence sources noted that Pyongyang hasn’t issued formal condolences for the death of Iran’s former supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has recently promoted “new Cold War” concepts and sought expanded partnerships with nations opposing U.S. policies, including sending a trade delegation to Iran in April 2024.

South Korea announced plans to deploy at least five vessels to Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu port over the coming weeks, establishing alternative oil shipping pathways through the Red Sea. The Trade, Industry and Resources Ministry stated Monday that ship deployments will begin in phases starting mid-April, with potential fleet expansion based on Saudi partnership agreements.

Ministry officials declined to name participating companies but indicated some domestic oil refiners might contract with foreign shipping firms. South Korea also intends to dispatch special diplomatic representatives to Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Algeria to strengthen efforts securing backup fuel sources, according to ruling party representative Ahn Do-geol.

Iranian authorities executed another individual convicted on charges related to January’s nationwide protest movement. The judiciary’s Mizan news outlet identified the executed person as Ali Fahim in Monday’s report, though execution timing remained unclear. Fahim faced conviction for allegedly raiding a military installation to obtain weapons.

Amnesty International stated that Fahim and co-defendants “were subjected to torture and other ill-treatment in detention, including beatings, floggings, prolonged solitary confinement, and death threats at gunpoint before being convicted in grossly unfair trials that relied on forced ‘confessions’ extracted under torture and lasted only a few hours.”

The Human Rights Activist News Agency reported that Fahim and others had entered a Tehran facility belonging to the volunteer Basij militia, a Revolutionary Guard branch, after the building was already burned, then were coerced into confessions.

Israeli emergency services reported Monday morning that Iranian missiles targeted several locations across central Israeli cities. In Petah Tikva, medical personnel treated a woman with serious chest wounds from shrapnel fragments before transporting her to Beilinson Hospital. City firefighters worked to extinguish vehicle fires while conducting searches to ensure no individuals remained trapped beneath rubble.

Tel Aviv medics evacuated a man with minor glass fragment injuries to Ichilov Hospital. Magen David Adom rescue service footage documented residential building damage from the assault.

Israeli military forces issued their fourth public warning Monday morning about incoming Iranian missile volleys.

Emergency response teams in the northern port city of Haifa reported multiple Iranian missile impact sites early Monday. Four people sustained minor injuries at one location, including two children. The missile strikes damaged residential neighborhoods and an industrial facility, with the factory suffering shrapnel damage from defensive interceptions.

Officials could not confirm whether all reported damage resulted from interception debris or direct missile impacts. Magen David Adom video footage from affected areas showed active fires and destroyed vehicles in what appeared to be residential districts.

These latest missile attacks followed Sunday’s Iranian strike on another Haifa residential area that killed two people and wounded others. Two additional individuals remain missing beneath Sunday’s rubble, with their status unknown.

In Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, local authorities reported that a Ghanaian man sustained shrapnel injuries after Iranian missile interception over the city’s Musaffah district. This area sits close to Al Dhafra Air Base, which houses U.S. military personnel and has faced repeated Iranian targeting throughout the conflict.

German defense officials are rushing to provide clarity on a newly implemented regulation that mandates men of military age to obtain government approval before departing the country for extended stays.

The provision became active in January as part of revised military service legislation, but the requirement affecting potentially millions of German men between ages 17 and 45 remained largely under the radar until a local news outlet brought attention to it on Friday.

A defense ministry representative emphasized that Germany maintains voluntary military service and noted the ministry is “currently drafting specific regulations for granting exemptions from the requirement for approval, also to avoid unnecessary bureaucracy.”

The updated military service legislation was enacted last year as part of Germany’s effort to strengthen its armed forces and fulfill NATO obligations, responding to growing concerns that the nation has depended too heavily on U.S. military support while tensions with Russia have heightened calls for enhanced European defense capabilities.

According to the defense ministry representative, the law aims to establish a comprehensive and dependable military registration framework.

“In the case of an emergency, we must know who may be residing abroad for an extended period,” the spokesperson explained in written comments.

The official declined to provide additional details about how the approval process might ultimately function.

German leadership aims to expand active military personnel from the current 183,000 to 260,000 by 2035, with Chancellor Friedrich Merz previously emphasizing to military commanders the urgent need for the country to develop self-defense capabilities and recruit additional soldiers.

Political opposition figures criticized the government over the weekend for generating uncertainty through the legislation’s implementation.

KYIV, April 6 – A deadly Russian drone assault struck Ukraine’s major Black Sea port city of Odesa in the early morning hours of Monday, leaving three people dead, including a child, and injuring ten others, according to regional officials.

Oleh Kiper, the regional governor for Odesa, announced the casualties on the messaging platform Telegram, stating that “Overnight, Odesa came under another heavy attack by the enemy.”

The drone strike caused extensive damage across the city, with Kiper reporting that “Residential buildings, critical infrastructure and administrative facilities were hit. There is significant damage.”

As the conflict enters its fifth year, Russian forces have intensified their targeting of Odesa, which serves as Ukraine’s primary port and a crucial logistics center in the country’s south. The city handles the bulk of Ukraine’s grain shipments and other maritime trade.

A mining operation in the war-torn Luhansk region has left 41 workers stranded underground after an attack damaged critical electrical systems at the Bilorichenska coal facility on Monday, according to Russian-appointed regional authorities.

The strike targeted infrastructure that powers the mining operation in the Moscow-controlled territory, cutting off normal evacuation routes for the trapped workers, officials reported.

“All the relevant services are taking steps to rescue the miners and restore power to the mine,” said Leonid Pasechnik, who serves as the Moscow-installed regional administrator.

Pasechnik confirmed that rescue teams have successfully made contact with the stranded workers and verified they have access to drinking water while emergency crews work to restore electrical power needed for safe evacuation procedures.

South Korean officials revealed Monday that North Korea’s recent rocket engine testing is part of an effort to develop advanced intercontinental ballistic missiles using carbon fiber construction capable of delivering multiple warheads.

The March ground test involved a solid-fuel rocket engine that intelligence analysts believe is being designed for North Korea’s newest long-range missile system.

According to South Korean lawmakers, this latest engine appears to generate more power than the version tested in 2024, which military experts already determined could reach any target across the continental United States.

North Korea typically launches its long-range missiles on high-arcing paths that end with the weapons landing in ocean waters near its eastern coastline or beyond Japan, rather than testing them at their full intended range.

Parliament member Park Sun-won told reporters that North Korean media displayed the missile’s carbon fiber construction during the engine test. “North Korean media showed the airframe of the missile at the new engine test that was built with carbon fibre, which is lightweight while strong, allowing the projectile to carry multiple warheads,” Park said.

Park made his comments after attending a private intelligence briefing conducted by South Korea’s National Intelligence Service.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attended the March 28 testing and described it as a major enhancement to his nation’s strategic military capabilities.

Despite United Nations Security Council prohibitions on missile and nuclear testing, North Korea continues to advance its development of increasingly sophisticated and powerful missile systems.

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — The upcoming Hungarian elections scheduled for April 12 could send major ripples throughout the European Union, as numerous officials within the 27-member alliance are hoping to see the end of nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s tenure, viewing him as a threat to the bloc’s future stability.

Currently trailing in polling data, Orbán has maintained control for 16 years as the EU’s most tenured leader, challenging the union’s governance framework designed to maintain peace through economic and political cooperation following the devastation of two world wars. His challenger Péter Magyar informed the Associated Press that he would work to restore Hungary’s relationship with the EU should he win the election.

The European Union currently faces massive challenges including the growth of right-wing populist movements, ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Middle Eastern regions, Russian interference operations, China’s economic expansion, and a White House administration that has disrupted longstanding transatlantic partnerships.

However, Orbán’s blocking tactics have hampered EU responses to these issues. Political experts and lawmakers indicate he has exploited his veto authority and developed an intricate knowledge of how the union distributes member funding to consolidate his authority and wield disproportionate influence by obstructing decision-making processes to secure favorable deals.

“He entered a club, read the rules, figured out how he can rig the rules, and then started to be a free rider and blackmail all of the other club members,” said Dániel Hegedűs, deputy director with the Berlin-based Institute for European Politics. “The question is, how long will the club members tolerate it?”

The relationship wasn’t always contentious. Following the Cold War’s end, Hungary became an EU member alongside nine other nations in 2004 during the bloc’s most significant expansion. There was considerable optimism surrounding Hungary’s membership, according to Jim Townsend, a fellow at the Center for a New American Security.

However, following economic downturns, Orbán gained power by pledging economic prosperity for all social classes, explained Gábor Scheiring, a former Hungarian parliament member currently teaching at Georgetown University in Qatar. He also forged relationships with conservative leaders throughout the union.

Orbán subsequently began attacking the EU, frequently drawing comparisons between Brussels and the Soviet Union, despite receiving substantial EU financial assistance, while resisting demands to halt democratic deterioration.

Between 2014 and 2022, “Hungary was one of the biggest beneficiaries of EU funds,” Scheiring said. “Orbán could navigate the EU system really well: get all the money and get away with his political shenanigans.”

The EU became increasingly frustrated with Orbán’s inability to guarantee judicial independence and press freedom while controlling corruption. The union started withholding billions in funding from Budapest in 2022 due to violations of rule-of-law principles.

Following Russia’s comprehensive invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Orbán repeatedly employed his veto authority to obstruct efforts supporting Kyiv and imposing sanctions on Moscow. His close relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin drew significant attention.

Last month, when Orbán backed out of a December agreement to provide Ukraine with a 90-billion euro ($104-billion) loan, the typically diplomatic European Council President Antonio Costa displayed visible frustration: “Nobody can blackmail the European Union institutions,” he said.

Many view the EU’s requirement for unanimous agreement on major decisions as a significant weakness. Critics argue this has prevented the bloc from taking stronger positions on other crucial matters like the Gaza conflict.

Internal European Parliament documentation reveals that Orbán has used his veto more frequently than any other leader in EU history, according to German lawmaker Daniel Freund.

“It’s staggering. No one else even comes close,” Freund said. “This is the biggest design flaw in the EU that he has exposed.”

Orbán’s obstructionist tactics have sparked discussions about reforming the union’s founding treaties to protect against future authoritarian leaders — or Orbán himself, should he secure reelection.

Several options exist for addressing this issue, though each comes with constraints.

The EU could decrease the number of matters requiring unanimous approval. This would enable measures to pass with simple majority support from the 27 national leaders representing approximately two-thirds of the bloc’s population.

Hegedűs suggested the European Commission “could play even more hardball” by developing sanctions targeting specific violations of EU regulations.

Some officials have even suggested invoking Article 7 of the EU Treaty, a legal mechanism that could strip Hungary of its voting privileges within the bloc.

Such action would need approval from all other EU leaders, but Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has indicated he would block such a proposal.

Additional tools remain available to the EU.

The European Commission has withheld approval for Hungary’s request to access approximately 16 billion euros ($18.4 billion) from an EU program designed to enhance member nations’ defense capabilities. The 18 other countries that submitted funding proposals have received approval.

Should Orbán win reelection, the EU could leverage this funding as negotiating leverage to secure concessions such as removing his veto of the 90 billion euros for Ukraine, Hegedűs suggested. However, there’s no assurance he won’t identify other policies to obstruct once Hungary receives the funds.

“What will the EU offer in two to three or four months when the next strategic decision will come and Orbán will block again?” Hegedűs said.

Orbán’s behavior has triggered a reassessment of how the EU evaluates new member applications and oversees existing members.

Current membership discussions with Moldova, Montenegro and Ukraine are increasingly influenced by the challenging experience with Hungary.

In February, European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos noted that the 12 countries including Hungary that joined the EU from 2004-2007 “led to a new era of stability for our continent and an impressive level of economic convergence.”

Without specifically mentioning Hungary or other nations, Kos stated that a key lesson from 2004 is that “we need to have safeguards that ensure new members stick to the rules.”

“If countries go backwards on our fundamentals, such as democracy and rule of law, the safeguards must bite,” the commissioner said, adding: “No Trojan horses.”

KYIV, Ukraine — When darkness began settling over a nature preserve outside Ukraine’s capital, families gathered to witness volunteers carefully opening fabric pouches to set bats free into the evening sky.

Over 1,000 onlookers — including families, soldiers taking a break from duty, and wildlife lovers, some sporting Gothic clothing — erupted in cheers and clapping as each winged creature darted through the air.

The Saturday evening celebration featured the release of hundreds of bats, many of which had been saved from conflict zones in eastern Ukraine, as part of several springtime events happening across the nation.

“This is important for us as an organization because these are on a red list of endangered animals. Preserving them is very important,” said Anastasiia Vovk, a volunteer at the Ukrainian Bat Rehabilitation Center, which organized the release.

Ukraine’s 28 different bat species all receive protected status because their numbers continue dropping.

The gathering provided much-needed comfort and family entertainment following a brutal winter filled with freezing temperatures, constant Russian aerial bombardments, and devastating electrical grid failures.

During Saturday’s event, youngsters wearing bat-themed clothing watched volunteers use tweezers to feed the animals mealworms before setting them free. Some children were permitted to put on protective gloves and hold the creatures themselves.

“Life goes on despite the war,” said Oleksii Beliaiev, a 54-year-old Kyiv resident who attended with his family. “The war is the main thing right now, but there has to be something else as well.”

Beliaiev operates a small printing company and volunteers his time supporting military initiatives.

The ongoing conflict has forced both people and animals from their homes. Bombing destroys the shelters where bats live, while explosions frighten these small creatures, according to wildlife specialists.

“In winter, bats hibernate, and if they are disturbed, they can die. They reproduce slowly — one or two offspring per year — so populations recover very slowly,” said Alona Shulenko, who headed Saturday’s release.

“As natural hibernation sites disappear, bats move into cities, into cracks in buildings and balconies. But repairs or destruction of these places can kill entire colonies,” she said.

Ukraine’s bat population consists entirely of insect-eating species that receive legal protection, and the nation sits along a crucial eastern European migration pathway.

The rescue organization reports saving over 30,000 bats in total, including 4,000 during this past winter alone.

“We are all living in wartime, and everyone has their own struggles,” Shulenko said. “But we are doing what we know best. … If we stop what we are doing, thousands of bats will die.”

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A coordinated military campaign by Israel and the United States resulted in more than 25 deaths across Iran on Monday, while Tehran launched retaliatory missile strikes against Israel and neighboring Gulf states. The escalation comes as President Donald Trump’s ultimatum for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz approaches its Monday night deadline.

Throughout the night, explosions echoed across Tehran as low-altitude aircraft conducted sustained operations over Iran’s capital city. Dense black smoke billowed near Azadi Square following a strike that damaged Sharif University of Technology facilities.

Israeli officials confirmed two fatalities in Haifa after debris from a residential building collapse, with search teams continuing efforts to locate two additional missing persons amid ongoing Iranian missile bombardments targeting northern Israeli communities early Monday.

Both Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates deployed their air defense networks to counter incoming Iranian missiles and unmanned aircraft as Tehran maintained pressure on regional allies. Iran’s continued assault on energy infrastructure throughout the region, combined with its control over the Strait of Hormuz—a waterway that typically handles one-fifth of global oil shipments during peacetime—has driven worldwide energy costs dramatically higher.

Facing mounting domestic pressure from worried consumers, Trump established a Monday night deadline for Tehran, warning that failure to negotiate the strait’s reopening would trigger American attacks on Iranian power facilities and infrastructure, potentially setting the nation “back to the stone ages.”

“Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran,” Trump declared in a social media message, warning that Iran would be “living in Hell” if the strait remained closed.

Tehran has demonstrated no indication of abandoning its control over maritime traffic through the strait, which operated without restrictions before the February 28 U.S.-Israeli assault that initiated the current conflict.

After Trump’s profanity-filled Easter Sunday social media posts, Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf condemned the infrastructure targeting threats as “reckless.”

“You won’t gain anything through war crimes,” Qalibaf posted on X. “The only real solution is respecting the rights of the Iranian people and ending this dangerous game.”

Brent crude oil prices climbed to $109 during early Monday trading, representing approximately 50% growth since hostilities began.

While Iran has permitted limited vessel passage through the strait since fighting commenced, no ships from the United States, Israel, or nations perceived as supporting them have been allowed through. Some vessels have secured passage through payments to Iran, though overall maritime traffic has declined more than 90% compared to the same timeframe last year.

Despite Trump’s military ultimatums, diplomatic initiatives continue seeking solutions to restore waterway access.

Oman’s Foreign Ministry announced meetings between deputy foreign ministers and specialists from Iran and Oman to explore proposals ensuring “smooth transit” through the strategic passage.

Egypt reported that Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty conducted discussions with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, along with officials from Turkey and Pakistan. Russia confirmed that Araghchi also held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Monday morning’s strikes included an attack on Tehran’s Sharif University of Technology, where Iranian outlets documented damage to campus structures and an adjacent natural gas distribution facility.

The specific targets within the university grounds remained unclear, as the institution has suspended in-person classes for online instruction due to the conflict. Multiple nations have previously imposed sanctions on the university due to its military collaboration, particularly regarding Iran’s ballistic missile development program overseen by the Revolutionary Guard paramilitary forces.

An attack near Eslamshar, located southwest of Tehran, claimed at least 13 lives according to the semi-official Fars news agency. The state-run IRAN daily newspaper reported five additional deaths when residential areas in Qom were struck, with six more fatalities in strikes across other cities.

Iranian state television confirmed three more deaths when an airstrike destroyed a Tehran residence.

Iranian casualties have exceeded 1,900 since the conflict began, though government officials have not provided updated figures in recent days.

In Lebanon, where Israeli ground forces have conducted operations, more than 1,400 people have died and over 1 million have been displaced. Eleven Israeli soldiers have lost their lives while engaging Iranian-supported Hezbollah fighters.

Additional casualties include more than two dozen deaths across Gulf Arab states and the occupied West Bank, 19 reported deaths in Israel, and 13 U.S. service members killed.

SIDON, Lebanon — Dr. Mohammed Ziara witnessed firsthand how Israeli forces devastated Gaza’s medical infrastructure two years ago, bombing hospitals, targeting ambulances, and forcing patient evacuations.

Today, Ziara — alongside fellow healthcare professionals, human rights organizations, and civilians — cautions that an identical situation is developing in Lebanon.

Israeli forces are advancing deep into Lebanon’s southern regions during their offensive against Hezbollah, the Iranian-supported militant organization and political entity that has maintained effective authority over significant portions of Lebanon’s Shiite population.

When describing its military approach in this conflict, Israel’s armed forces reference the destruction they caused in Gaza following Hamas’s October 7, 2023, assault. Israeli aircraft distributed pamphlets over Beirut recently, stating that following “great success in Gaza, a new reality is coming to Lebanon, too.”

“I’ve lived this before,” said Ziara, a burn specialist originally from Gaza City, speaking to The Associated Press Thursday at the public hospital in Lebanon’s coastal city of Sidon. “I cannot go back to Gaza now,” Ziara explained. “But I can be here, in Lebanon.”

Similar to its accusations against Hamas in Gaza, Israel claims Hezbollah operates from civilian locations and utilizes hospitals and ambulances for military operations. Israeli forces have increasingly struck emergency responders and medical facilities, compelling multiple hospitals to evacuate.

“I was besieged in a hospital,” Ziara recalled about his Gaza experience. “I lost my brother in an airstrike. I feel what these people feel.”

Since fighting between Israel and Hezbollah resumed on March 2, Israeli bombardments have claimed the lives of at least 54 healthcare professionals through Sunday, Lebanon’s health ministry reports.

Israeli forces have conducted 152 strikes targeting emergency medical personnel and ambulances, while forcing six hospitals and 49 health clinics to close through direct attacks or intimidation, ministry officials state.

In Sidon, Ziara and his colleagues from the UK-based charity Interburns have established Lebanon’s public healthcare system’s first dedicated burn treatment center — an essential facility in this crisis-affected nation where the Israel-Hezbollah conflict has already claimed 1,461 lives and injured 4,430 people, ministry data shows. Israeli officials claim to have eliminated hundreds of Hezbollah fighters during recent bombing campaigns and ground operations.

Israel’s military contends that Hezbollah’s utilization of medical infrastructure renders these sites valid military objectives under international law. However, it provides no evidence supporting these assertions.

Hezbollah rejects claims of conducting military operations within civilian locations. While the organization’s presence in residential neighborhoods is well-established, no independent confirmation exists regarding its use of hospitals for military activities.

Interburns, which provides burn treatment training to local medical staff worldwide, started developing the Sidon unit during the 2024 Israel-Hezbollah conflict. Lebanese officials requested the team’s return when hostilities resumed last month.

As the first major city north of Israel’s evacuation zone encompassing nearly all of southern Lebanon, Sidon receives increasing numbers of wounded individuals daily.

Twenty-seven-year-old Kamal Fakih dislikes when people inquire about March 17 events.

His reluctance stems not from emotional pain but from complete memory loss. He regained awareness a day later at Sidon’s hospital, his body burned and cut by shrapnel from an Israeli airstrike.

After stabilization, Fakih attempted to contact the paramedic who rescued him and his friend Hassan from burning debris, hoping to learn details and express gratitude for saving their lives. However, by the time Fakih obtained contact information, Muhammad Tafili had perished alongside a fellow paramedic in an Israeli strike on ambulances in Kfar Tebnit village on March 28, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.

That identical day, Israeli attacks killed seven additional medics across four other villages, World Health Organization records show. The casualties included a medic struck while responding to an Israeli airstrike that killed three journalists from pro-Hezbollah television networks. Video evidence reveals two consecutive strikes — the first targeting journalists in their vehicle, the second hitting paramedics rushing to assist.

Israel’s military labeled the two medics and two of the three deceased journalists as Hezbollah operatives. This assertion concerned watchdog organizations that observed similar justifications for killing over 260 journalists and 1,700 healthcare workers in Gaza, United Nations humanitarian officials report.

While Lebanese medical personnel and journalists died during the 2024 Hezbollah conflict, “this time is different,” stated Ramzi Kaiss, Human Rights Watch’s Lebanon researcher.

He referenced a shocking pledge by Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz last week that Israel would demolish all southern Lebanon houses to protect border communities from Hezbollah rockets “in accordance with the model used in Rafah and Beit Hanoun in Gaza” — two cities Israel nearly completely destroyed during its Hamas offensive in the territory.

“There’s a new kind of brazenness in declaring an intent to commit unlawful attacks,” Kaiss observed. “It appears impunity has emboldened the Israeli military.”

Extensive Israeli evacuation directives in recent weeks have displaced over one million Lebanese northward. As southern regions faced intense bombardment, medical clinics closed or halted services. Nabih Berri Hospital became overwhelmed with casualty influxes. To create space, it evacuated dozens of patients.

Such transfers require coordination between Lebanon’s army, health ministry, and UN peacekeeping forces — a communication chain that doctors say creates potentially fatal delays. Patient admissions present additional challenges; the Sidon burn unit must discharge patients to accommodate new arrivals.

However, referrals continue arriving, straining a healthcare system already devastated by economic collapse.

“The health system is on its knees,” Ziara said, as the hospital lost power until backup generators activated ten minutes later, reflecting Lebanon’s ongoing electricity crisis. “Now front-line hospitals are lacking staff and supplies. They’re overwhelmed.”

Lebanese civilians report that Israeli bombs strike without warning and hit randomly, creating a growing sentiment that Palestinians in Gaza understand well — that no location offers safety.

Fifty-three-year-old Mohammad Qubaisi said his Zuqaq al-Blat neighborhood in central Beirut had received no Israeli evacuation notice before March 18, when Israeli explosives struck his seventh-floor apartment.

While carrying his wife from the smoking wreckage, he called for his sons. His oldest, Adam, responded. But he heard nothing from Jad.

Qubaisi rushed back into the burning heat searching for his 15-year-old. When he awakened at the hospital hours later, his face scarred with second-degree burns, he understood his son was dead.

Israeli military officials stated they were targeting Hezbollah. Qubaisi disagreed.

“These are civilian buildings, not military targets. They hit us and we still don’t know why,” he said from the Sidon hospital. “We were sleeping safely in our home, and look what happened to us.”

(This story contains strong language in paragraph 7)

WASHINGTON/CAIRO, April 6 (Reuters) — President Donald Trump has issued an ultimatum to Iran, warning of severe consequences if the nation fails to negotiate and reopen the Strait of Hormuz by his Tuesday deadline, while simultaneously commending American special operations forces for their successful rescue of a downed airman in a dangerous mission deep within Iranian territory.

For over five weeks, American and Israeli forces have conducted sustained missile strikes and aerial bombardments against Iran, targeting what officials described as urgent threats from the nation’s nuclear weapons program, ballistic missile capabilities, and backing of regional proxy forces.

Iran has responded by effectively shutting down the Hormuz waterway, which serves as a crucial passage for approximately one-fifth of global oil and natural gas shipments, while launching attacks against American military installations and other strategic targets throughout the Gulf region.

Monday morning brought fresh explosions to Tehran, with a joint U.S.-Israeli attack on a residential structure south of the capital reportedly claiming at least 13 lives, according to an Iranian state media official. Reuters could not independently confirm this information.

Using his Truth Social platform on Sunday, Trump posted an expletive-filled message threatening additional strikes against Iranian energy and transportation infrastructure, actions that critics argue would constitute war crimes.

“Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran,” he declared.

“There will be nothing like it!!! Open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah. President DONALD J. TRUMP”

Demonstrating the contradictory communication style that has confused allies, adversaries, and financial markets, Trump simultaneously told Fox News on Sunday that Iran was engaged in negotiations, with a potential agreement possible by Monday.

Sunday evening brought an Axios report indicating that the United States, Iran, and regional intermediaries are discussing terms for a potential 45-day ceasefire that could pave the way for a permanent resolution to the conflict, according to four sources with knowledge of the discussions from U.S., Israeli, and regional circles.

Reuters was unable to independently confirm this reporting. Neither the White House nor the State Department provided immediate responses to requests for comment.

According to the report, mediators are working on a two-stage agreement, beginning with a 45-day cessation of hostilities, followed by comprehensive terms for ending the war.

IRAN CONDEMNS ‘RECKLESS’ US, HITS GULF

Tehran is insisting on a complete halt to hostilities, with parliamentary speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf criticizing Trump’s threats and accusing him of being influenced by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“Your reckless moves are dragging the United States into a living HELL for every single family, and our whole region is going to burn because you insist on following Netanyahu’s commands,” he wrote Sunday on X.

Despite the sustained U.S.-Israeli bombardment, Iran demonstrated its continued military capacity by expanding attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure, deploying drones and missiles against petrochemical facilities in Kuwait, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates.

The Revolutionary Guards also announced Sunday that they had struck an Israeli-connected vessel at Dubai’s Jebel Ali port.

In Kuwait, drone attacks ignited fires and caused “severe material damage” at petrochemical plants operated by Kuwait Petroleum Corporation subsidiaries, the company reported.

These attacks highlighted Iran’s continued ability to conduct cross-border operations and disrupt infrastructure across multiple Gulf nations, revealing weaknesses in energy and maritime security systems.

Israel also faced continued attacks, with media coverage showing search-and-rescue teams working through debris in the northern city of Haifa on Sunday following an Iranian missile strike on a residential building. Israeli emergency responders reported treating nine individuals, with media later confirming that rescuers had recovered two bodies from the wreckage.

COMMANDO OPERATION

Trump revealed the airman’s rescue in the early Sunday hours, characterizing the mission as “one of the most daring” operations in American military history.

The rescued airman, who served as weapons officer on an F-15 fighter jet downed on Friday, sustained injuries but “will be just fine,” Trump stated in an X message. The aircraft’s pilot had been recovered previously.

Operating under nighttime cover, American commandos penetrated deep into Iranian territory undetected, navigated a 7,000-foot (2,100-meter) mountain ridge, and successfully extracted the stranded American weapons specialist before Sunday dawn.

Two MC-130 transport aircraft that had delivered approximately 100 special operations personnel to the challenging terrain south of Tehran experienced mechanical problems and became unable to depart, a U.S. official informed Reuters.

Military commanders faced a critical decision, authorizing additional aircraft to enter Iran for a staged extraction of the forces.

The rescue teams were evacuated in phases, with U.S. forces destroying the disabled MC-130s and four additional helicopters within Iran to prevent sensitive equipment from falling into enemy hands.

Iranian officials confirmed that several American aircraft were destroyed during the operation.

The conflict, which began with coordinated U.S. and Israeli air strikes throughout Iran on February 28, has resulted in thousands of casualties, primarily in Iran and Lebanon.

Lebanese health ministry reports indicated that Israeli airstrikes claimed another 11 lives in Lebanon on Sunday.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung declared Monday that his nation must tolerate some level of risk to maintain crude oil imports from Middle Eastern countries, even as shipping disruptions plague the Strait of Hormuz.

During a cabinet meeting, Lee explained the difficult position his country faces. “There are not many alternative routes, and if shipments are cut off altogether because of heightened risk, it could have a serious impact on South Korea’s crude supply and pose a major risk to the public, so we need to strike a balance and accept a certain degree of risk,” the president stated.

South Korean officials have been working with oil-producing nations including Saudi Arabia, Oman and Algeria to establish backup supply channels, according to ruling Democratic Party lawmaker Ahn Do-geol, who spoke to reporters Monday.

Ahn revealed that diplomatic initiatives led by the foreign ministry could include sending special envoys to facilitate these discussions.

The Industry Ministry is advancing plans to send five South Korean-flagged ships along the Red Sea shipping route, Ahn noted. Government officials have also considered releasing oil from strategic reserves to private refineries initially, then replacing those supplies once alternative shipments reach the country.

Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol held discussions Friday with representatives from Gulf Cooperation Council nations to maintain consistent deliveries of oil, liquefied natural gas, naphtha, urea and other essential materials, the ministry announced Sunday.

South Korea, similar to other Asian nations, depends heavily on energy imports, including shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. Before U.S. and Israeli air strikes targeted Iran on February 28, this waterway carried 20% of global oil supplies. Iran has since essentially blocked the passage, causing energy costs to surge and raising concerns about worldwide economic recession.

The Energy Ministry outlined plans to achieve a goal of generating 100 gigawatts of renewable energy by 2030 ahead of schedule, while increasing renewable power generation to over 20% of the total energy mix.

Border regions with North Korea will be designated for solar power development, and residents living near new high-voltage transmission lines will have opportunities to invest directly in these projects and receive income from them, ministry officials said.

South Korea has also established objectives for hydrogen-based steel production, which substitutes hydrogen for coal or gas. A 300,000-ton demonstration facility is scheduled for completion by 2028, with full commercial implementation planned for after 2037.

The leader of Taiwan’s primary opposition party departed Tuesday for China on what she describes as a diplomatic peace effort, with a possible meeting scheduled with Chinese President Xi Jinping during escalating tensions between the two nations.

Cheng Li-wun, who heads the Kuomintang (KMT) party, is making this journey while Chinese military activities around Taiwan have intensified and as the opposition-controlled legislature blocks government proposals for an additional $40 billion in military expenditures.

Both Taiwan’s ruling and opposition parties have launched competing social media campaigns surrounding this visit, each using contrasting themes of conflict versus harmony.

“Peace is the only foundation for prosperity, and the hope for Taiwan’s future,” the KMT declared in a Sunday statement, accompanied by a promotional video showing young citizens enjoying leisure activities and gazing at stars.

Taiwan’s governing Democratic Progressive Party responded with sharp criticism on Facebook, accusing the KMT of attempting to “cooperate with the Chinese communists’ scheme to weaken Taiwan’s defence capabilities,” referencing the stalled defense budget that has U.S. support.

During a press briefing with international media last month, Cheng stated that “peace cannot possibly be achieved through defence capabilities alone” and emphasized that diplomatic solutions are equally crucial.

Her China visit occurs one month ahead of a planned summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Xi Jinping in Beijing.

Although both sides might reach cooperative agreements on agricultural trade and aircraft component commerce, discussions are anticipated to address contentious issues including Taiwan, where meaningful advancement appears unlikely.

During a February phone conversation, Xi urged Trump that the United States “must carefully handle arms sales to Taiwan.”

This marks the first visit by a KMT leader to mainland China in ten years, though Chinese officials have not confirmed whether Xi will definitely meet with Cheng during her Beijing stay beginning Thursday.

Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council, which oversees cross-strait policy, stated last week that Cheng should urge Beijing to cease military intimidation and acknowledge Taiwanese citizens’ right to determine their own destiny.

Beijing refuses diplomatic engagement with Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, labeling him a “separatist.”

China has never ruled out military action to gain control over Taiwan but maintains that “peaceful reunification” remains its preferred approach.

Chinese authorities have intensified recent campaigns attempting to convince Taiwanese citizens of potential advantages, including energy security guarantees, which Taiwanese officials have dismissed.

Last Friday, China’s Eastern Theatre Command, responsible for any potential Taiwan military operation, released an illustrated image depicting how “Taiwan province” would appear during the traditional Tomb Sweeping Festival if unified with China.

The illustration showed people placing flowers at a “Monument for the complete reunification of the motherland” located at Taipei’s Machangding Memorial Park, where alleged communist operative Wu Shi was executed by KMT forces in 1950.

KMT troops retreated to Taiwan in 1949 following their defeat in a civil war against Mao Zedong’s communist forces.

Taiwanese public opinion surveys consistently demonstrate minimal support for accepting Beijing’s authority under its “one country, two systems” framework.

When questioned by international reporters about her position on “reunification,” Cheng indicated that such discussions remain premature.

“What we need to deal with now is how to create peaceful and stable cross-strait relations,” she explained.

Diplomatic negotiations involving the United States, Iran, and several regional mediators are reportedly focusing on a potential 45-day temporary ceasefire agreement, according to a report published Sunday by Axios.

Four sources with direct knowledge of the discussions – including U.S., Israeli, and regional officials – provided details about the ongoing talks to the news outlet. However, Reuters was unable to independently confirm these reports.

Neither the White House nor the State Department provided immediate responses when asked to comment on the negotiations.

According to the Axios report, the diplomatic framework being discussed involves two distinct phases. The initial stage would establish a 45-day pause in hostilities, creating a window for negotiators to work toward a lasting resolution to the conflict.

The second stage would focus on reaching a comprehensive agreement to permanently end the war, sources indicated.

Officials noted that the temporary ceasefire period could be lengthened if negotiators need additional time to finalize terms for a permanent settlement.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump established a firm deadline in comments to the Wall Street Journal on Sunday, stating that Iran must reopen the Strait of Hormuz by Tuesday evening or face potential strikes against key infrastructure targets.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung issued a formal apology to North Korea on Monday following unauthorized drone flights that crossed into North Korean territory, which he described as the work of individual actors operating without official government authorization.

During a cabinet meeting, the president stated: “Although it was not our government’s intention, we express our regret to the North over the fact that unnecessary military tensions were caused by the irresponsible and reckless actions of some individuals.”

According to Lee, a government investigation revealed that a National Intelligence Service worker and an active military officer were connected to the unauthorized flights. The president emphasized that South Korea’s constitution prohibits individual acts of aggression toward North Korea.

Earlier this year in January, North Korean officials claimed that drones launched from South Korea had breached their airspace, characterizing the incident as a serious act of aggression and stating they had destroyed the aircraft.

Initially, South Korean officials rejected claims of military participation and initiated a combined military-police investigation. The probe resulted in prosecutors filing charges against a South Korean man in his thirties for breaking aviation regulations and national security statutes related to the unauthorized drone operations.

Tensions between the two nations have escalated in recent months, with North Korea designating South Korea as its primary adversary and rejecting diplomatic overtures from Lee’s government.

SINGAPORE – Financial markets across Asia displayed volatile trading patterns Monday morning following President Donald Trump’s ultimatum to Iran regarding the critical Strait of Hormuz shipping lane.

Trump has issued stark warnings promising devastating consequences if Tehran fails to reopen the strategic waterway by his Tuesday deadline, specifically threatening to target civilian infrastructure such as electrical facilities and transportation networks.

The president’s aggressive stance has created anxiety among financial traders who fear Iran may launch retaliatory strikes against Gulf region targets in response to any American military action.

Trading volumes remained light Monday due to regional holidays, with S&P 500 electronic futures declining 0.2%. Meanwhile, MSCI’s comprehensive Asia-Pacific stock index excluding Japan gained 0.5%, Japan’s Nikkei 225 climbed 1.2%, and South Korea’s Kospi jumped 2%.

Energy markets saw significant movement as Brent crude futures increased 1.4% to reach $110.58 per barrel. This followed Sunday’s OPEC+ decision to boost production quotas by 206,000 barrels daily for May, though several key producers behind the Strait of Hormuz cannot meet these targets due to war-damaged facilities and infrastructure.

Investment analyst Ed Yardeni from Yardeni Research noted the week’s focus on Middle Eastern developments, stating: “This week will continue to be dominated by developments in the Middle East, though a heavy slate of data releases — including the FOMC March minutes, February personal income, and March CPI — will compete for attention.”

Yardeni further explained Trump’s position in his research analysis: “Trump warned Iran that unless the Strait is opened immediately, Monday will be Obliteration Day, when the U.S. will bomb Iran’s electric power plants.”

Friday’s positive employment data showed stronger-than-anticipated job growth, with nonfarm payrolls adding 178,000 positions in March – the largest monthly gain in over a year. Unemployment dropped to 4.3% from 4.4% as workforce participation declined.

These employment figures create complexity for Federal Reserve policy decisions ahead of their April 29 meeting. Market indicators suggest traders don’t anticipate any central bank rate changes until September 2027, according to CME Group’s monitoring tools.

Currency markets showed the dollar index holding steady at 100.23 against major trading partners. U.S. 10-year Treasury yields rose 1.4 basis points to 4.3584%.

Japanese government bonds reached their highest yields since February 1999, with rates climbing 2.0 basis points to 2.4% amid inflation concerns. The dollar remained unchanged against the yen at 159.635.

Precious metals declined with gold falling 0.8% to $4,638.54. Digital currencies showed gains as bitcoin rose 1.9% to $68,915.85 and ethereum increased 2.4% to $2,117.61.

DATONG, China (AP) — When Yang Haiming reached retirement age at 60 after decades in coal mining, he didn’t slow down. Instead, he launched himself into an entirely different field.

Yang represents a generation of laborers who fueled China’s economic expansion by extracting coal from deep underground mines in Datong, a city recognized as China’s coal capital located in northern Shanxi province. Today, as China shifts its focus toward renewable energy sources instead of coal, Yang has gotten ahead of the transformation that his former colleagues are now being compelled to navigate.

He currently operates a restaurant serving lamb skewers to tourists who visit the Yungang Grottoes, an important historical site from the 6th century featuring Buddhist stone carvings in caves that attracts millions of annual visitors.

If Shanxi province operated as an independent nation, it would rank as the globe’s largest coal producer. Its approximately 800,000 miners extracted 1.3 billion tons in 2025, representing nearly one-third of China’s total coal output. Several million additional workers hold positions that depend indirectly on coal, spanning from transportation to food service. The province faces significant transformation as China expands renewable energy at such a rapid pace that it satisfied almost all of the country’s increased power demand last year, while developing tourism has become a primary objective.

Specialists emphasize the importance of ensuring coal workers aren’t abandoned during this transition — a concern for many.

“It doesn’t feel like money’s coming into this industry,” said Zhou Hongfei, a coal miner.

Following the standard practice for China’s state-owned enterprises, the coal company constructed Yang’s village directly adjacent to the mine — designated No. 9 — where residents would be employed. The location once buzzed with thousands of workers and their families, featuring a school, daycare facility, and sports complex. An elevated railway line runs through the area to transport coal throughout the country.

Currently, the No. 9 mine functions primarily as a museum, although one section remains operational. The school stands vacant with locked gates. Many of the low-rise apartment buildings are only partially occupied, often housing people drawn by affordable rent rather than miners.

Yang remembers profitable times before nearby villages were demolished.

“There were so many people, especially during the new year days,” he said. “It was crowded everywhere. Now the bustling scenes have gone, and so has the feeling.”

Those who remained, like Yang, have attempted to profit from visitors to the Yungang Grottoes. During a visit by Associated Press reporters, one retired coal miner walked the streets engaging in conversations hoping to attract customers to his noodle restaurant. Primarily elderly residents strolled the streets, enjoying the sunshine.

Yang belongs to the small group of workers who have successfully made a career change.

There are many “who don’t know what to do, who say they don’t have the right skill sets for anyone else. All they know is to be a coal miner, or the easiest fallback option is for them to go back to farming,” said Tom Wang, a Shanxi native, environmental activist and founder of People of Asia for Climate Solutions.

Zhou, 36, mentioned considering a move to tourism but was unsure how to proceed. He also worries about providing for his wife and 8-year-old daughter.

“To really be able to make contact with and then switch into a new industry is very hard, and the truth is, I don’t dare,” he said. “If you leave this industry, you don’t know if it’ll work out. Can I adapt? And what if this ends up being a burden for my family?”

Mining salaries fluctuate with market demand. Before Yang’s retirement eight years ago, he could earn up to 10,000 renminbi (approximately $1,450) during profitable months. He reports that his restaurant now generates higher income.

The province is working to cultivate various alternative industries, from investing in coal-to-hydrogen initiatives to promoting its local “youmai,” an oat variety that residents use to create a distinctive type of noodles.

However, Shanxi’s primary emphasis and greatest achievement for post-coal life has been tourism. Hang Kan, who leads the Yungang Research Institute overseeing the grottoes and serves as a representative in the National People’s Congress, last year advocated for accelerating development of the culture and tourism sector into “a strategic pillar” that “promotes people’s welfare” in Shanxi.

His statements followed the popular video game Black Myth: Wukong, where the main character explores the grottoes and numerous surrounding locations, creating a surge in visitors. The total increased to 4.5 million in 2024, rising from 3 million the previous year, according to state media.

Yan Jiali, a tour guide in the area, reported that this boom has generated increased interest in positions like hers, which requires passing a government examination to obtain licensing.

“Even my mom’s friends would come ask me about taking this test,” she said.

Wang, the activist, hopes that the high-technology industries now receiving national priority will assist Shanxi’s transition by creating employment opportunities. After all, he noted, the province’s coal powered China’s development into an economic giant.

“What if DeepSeek comes over to Shanxi and says, OK, we will start a data center here? What if Baidu comes over to Shanxi?” he said, referencing China’s domestic technology companies.

Few believe Shanxi can completely abandon coal mining. Experts view coal as an essential backup for China’s security requirements, and the Iran war has again demonstrated how susceptible energy supply networks are to interruptions.

The government recently refused to establish limits on coal usage, stepping back from its pledge to gradually decrease coal consumption, according to analysts at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.

“The confidence hasn’t grown to the point where they can entirely depend on renewable energy,” said Qi Qin, an analyst at CREA.

Actually, China has continued expanding coal power facilities on a massive scale, activating 78 gigawatts in 2025, exceeding what India accomplished in an entire decade. One gigawatt can supply power to approximately 320,000 Chinese households annually.

Even if demand remains stable, workers must also consider that their mines may become depleted. Some of the older mining operations in Datong are approaching the end of their productive life. When this occurs, workers can be transferred to other mines that might be distant and offer lower compensation.

Another coal mine employee, Xu, has secured a second position as a ride-share driver, spending roughly 5 hours daily driving after completing his primary job. Xu — who refused to provide his complete name due to concerns about consequences from the state-owned mine — expressed doubt that the advantages of industries replacing coal would be distributed fairly, whether tourism or renewable energy.

“This tourism industry, how do I get in there?” he asked. “For Datong, those who can enjoy the benefits of this tourism boom, it’s mostly the big hotels and maybe some restaurants, noodle shops, but what do you think regular people can get?”

President Donald Trump is preparing for a significant diplomatic trip to Beijing in May, where he will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping for the first time in eight years. The highly anticipated visit occurs against the backdrop of escalating economic tensions between the United States and China over the past year.

The economic dispute between these global superpowers has transformed from initial retaliatory tariff exchanges into a complex series of negotiations involving multiple high-level meetings, phone conversations, and presidential discussions throughout the previous year.

Recent Developments in 2025

In March, the United States initiated fresh Section 301 investigations targeting unfair trade practices within Chinese industries. Beijing responded by launching similar reciprocal probes. Originally planned for earlier in the spring, Trump postponed his China visit to mid-May due to ongoing conflicts in Iran.

During the same month, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer conducted negotiations with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and senior trade official Li Chenggang in Paris. Both delegations characterized these sixth-round discussions as “constructive.”

February saw the U.S. Supreme Court striking down Trump’s comprehensive global tariff program, though the President indicated his intention to continue utilizing tariffs as a policy tool.

In January, China concluded 2025 with an unprecedented trade surplus, benefiting from strategic trade diversification toward Southeast Asian, African, and Latin American markets as shipments to America continued declining.

Major 2025 Trade Events

October marked a significant escalation when China expanded its control over essential minerals, broadening restrictions on rare earth element exports while increasing oversight of semiconductor consumers. The U.S. responded by imposing additional 100% duties on Chinese products and implementing new export limitations on crucial software. Both nations also targeted maritime shipping operations.

Later that month, Trump and Xi held talks in Busan, South Korea, reaching a new trade agreement. The deal involved American tariff reductions in exchange for Chinese commitments to combat illegal fentanyl trafficking, restart soybean imports from the U.S., and temporarily halt rare earth export restrictions.

September featured discussions regarding TikTok ownership changes, while Washington sought expanded trade opportunities in chemicals, aircraft components, and engine parts with Beijing.

From June through August, Trump declared progress in trade relations after certain Chinese rare earth magnet manufacturers obtained export permits. The U.S. began approving licenses for Nvidia to ship advanced artificial intelligence processors to China, while Trump called for China to increase American soybean purchases fourfold. The tariff suspension received a 90-day extension.

May’s inaugural trade negotiations in Geneva produced a 90-day ceasefire that reduced elevated tariffs. However, three weeks later, Trump accused China of breaking promises regarding mutual tariff rollbacks and mineral export restriction relief. Chinese officials countered that America had implemented numerous “discriminatory restrictive” policies targeting China.

April began with Trump’s return to office, implementing a 10% penalty tariff on Chinese merchandise. Early that month, he announced comprehensive “Liberation Day” tariffs affecting all imports, further straining Chinese relations. China retaliated, leading to escalating tariff battles exceeding 100% on both sides. Beijing simultaneously began limiting certain rare earth exports.

Concerns about expanded conflict are growing throughout the Middle East as tensions between the United States and Iran reach a critical juncture. Regional leaders are now worried not just about continued airstrikes, but about the possibility of American ground forces entering Iranian territory.

Though U.S. officials haven’t announced plans for a major invasion, military options previously considered off-limits are now under consideration. These include covert operations, special forces missions, and targeted seizures of key locations. For countries throughout the region, this shift provides little reassurance as they prepare for potential widespread consequences.

Any visible American military presence within Iran’s borders, regardless of duration or scope, could disrupt the region’s delicate balance. Leaders are assessing potential impacts ranging from critical Suez Canal shipping routes to vulnerable Persian Gulf energy infrastructure. Such escalation could spark extensive militia responses, disrupt global energy supplies, and overwhelm already struggling regional economies.

Nations throughout the area aren’t preparing for full-scale occupation scenarios, but rather for unpredictable consequences. Even limited American ground operations could significantly worsen current energy market disruptions, activate militias across multiple regions, and eliminate remaining diplomatic options for neighboring countries. The primary concern involves crossing a significant escalation boundary that could fundamentally alter engagement rules and potentially trigger widespread retaliation.

Egypt faces primarily economic rather than military threats from such developments. The country is currently struggling with severe financial difficulties, including reduced Suez Canal revenues due to Red Sea instability, declining foreign currency reserves, and dependence on strict International Monetary Fund reforms. Expanded warfare involving American troops in Iran wouldn’t draw Egypt into combat, but could devastate its economy through reduced maritime trade, increased import expenses, and further weakening of the Egyptian pound.

Samir Ragheb, former Egyptian military general and president of the Arab Foundation for Development and Strategic Studies, described Cairo’s situation as fundamentally about survival. “While Egypt is not adjacent to the battlefield, it would be adjacent to every consequence of it,” he warned. The immediate impact would affect the Suez Canal directly. “Egypt is already bleeding revenue under current regional tensions,” with ongoing American military preparations freezing investment and unsettling markets. “A full-scale ground invasion would push the Canal toward near-total collapse in traffic,” Ragheb explained, noting that shipping companies avoid war zones and would “reroute to the Cape of Good Hope.”

This situation could create what Ragheb termed a “double-fisted” shock. With the Strait of Hormuz potentially closed, rising oil costs would increase Egypt’s energy import expenses precisely when canal revenues—the country’s traditional buffer against such crises—disappear. “Egypt would not be enduring a short crisis resolved by a ceasefire,” he warned, referencing the chaotic aftermath that would follow extended combat. “The economic bleeding would not be a temporary wound; it would be a sustained hemorrhage.”

Domestic consequences would emerge quickly. The Egyptian pound, stabilized through significant social costs, already faces pressure before a crucial IMF loan review scheduled for the year’s second quarter. Broader regional conflict would eliminate any remaining economic protection. “For the average citizen, this would translate to a singular, dangerous reality: inflation,” Ragheb said. He ultimately cautioned that “it is inflation—not geopolitics—that has historically pushed Egyptian streets to the breaking point.”

Saudi Arabia’s strategic considerations differ significantly. While Riyadh has less exposure to canal revenues, it confronts serious geographic vulnerabilities: the possibility that open American ground campaigns in Iran could prompt Tehran or allied militias to launch widespread attacks against Gulf energy infrastructure, export facilities, and crucial maritime passages. The concern extends beyond managing current hostilities, as direct U.S. military presence in Iran could fundamentally change Tehran’s targeting approach, making Arab neighbors central conflict points.

Saudi leaders must carefully balance their response to these threats. Abdulaziz Alshaabani, a Saudi political analyst, emphasized that Riyadh’s cautious approach shouldn’t be interpreted as supporting American offensive action.

“In Saudi Arabia, the general reaction is cautious rather than supportive of escalation. The priority remains avoiding a wider regional war, especially given the direct risks to energy infrastructure and internal security,” he explained.

Beyond domestic stability concerns, Alshaabani highlighted tangible fears of becoming collateral damage in an uncontrolled U.S.-Iran confrontation. “There is also clear concern about potential spillover effects, including missile attacks, disruptions to oil flows, and threats to maritime routes such as the Strait of Hormuz,” he warned.

Turkey’s position reflects less abstract neutrality and more firm rejection of joining U.S.- and Israeli-led military action against Iran. While Ankara maintains its NATO framework membership, it has no interest in direct military confrontation with Tehran.

Barın Kayaoğlu, chair of the Department of American Studies at the Social Sciences University of Ankara, observed that domestic sentiment strongly opposes escalation. “The general mood and public opinion surveys are quite negative toward the war and the US and Israel,” he told The Media Line. Referencing public anger over ongoing Gaza conflict, he added, “Israel is already in the doghouse for the genocide in Gaza. Iran is becoming the icing on the cake.”

Therefore, Turkey’s strategic approach remains focused on maintaining distance. Kayaoğlu recalled his early conflict assessment: “At the beginning of the conflict, I said something to the effect of ‘As long as the Iranian attacks are less than a week and no Turkish citizen is hurt, and no property is damaged, we’ll be fine.’”

However, complete detachment proves difficult. Housing alliance infrastructure increases Turkey’s exposure even without direct combat involvement. “Turkey’s NATO role makes full neutrality difficult, because even if Ankara stays out politically, its infrastructure is still part of the Western security architecture,” Kayaoğlu pointed out.

Beyond military complications, Ankara faces significant domestic vulnerabilities. “The economic costs of escalation—especially energy prices and trade disruptions—are a major factor behind Turkey’s cautious stance,” Kayaoğlu explained. Additionally, he warned that “instability in Iran could also affect border security, particularly in Kurdish areas, which is another reason Ankara prefers containment over confrontation.”

Turkey’s reluctance to target Tehran also connects closely with its coordination with Azerbaijan. Both countries manage complex networks of trade, transit routes, and border security alongside Iran. Military alignment against their neighbor could destabilize these relationships and expose critical logistics pathways.

“Turkey and Azerbaijan are not joining the Iran war because it is not their fight,” Kayaoğlu said. “Both countries are trying to avoid turning their territory into a staging ground for escalation, while still maintaining ties with Western partners.” Ultimately, he concluded, “Both Ankara and Baku are prioritizing regional stability and energy security over participation in a conflict that could undermine their own strategic interests.”

While Egypt fears economic collapse and Saudi Arabia prepares for infrastructure attacks, Iraq confronts much darker, existential concerns: reliving its own devastating history in warfare where battle lines won’t respect borders.

For Iraqi citizens, memories of the U.S. invasion remain prominent. Mustafa Saadoon, head of the Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights, explained that 2003 memories still shape how the country views current escalation. “I believe Iraqis today live with a genuine obsession over a repeat of the 2003 tragedy, but with a doubled sense of fear this time,” he told The Media Line.

The fear stems from how deeply Iranian-aligned groups have penetrated the Iraqi state. “Iraq is no longer just a potential battlefield; it has become a ‘defensive backyard’ organically intertwined with the Iranian interior through armed factions possessing vast military and political influence,” Saadoon warned. Because these proxy networks wield such power, he argued that Baghdad’s neutrality attempts are largely meaningless. “This renders the ‘disassociation’ policy the government attempts to promote a mere diplomatic ambition, clashing with the reality of ‘ideological weaponry’ that may act independently of official state decisions.”

Open U.S.-Iranian conflict, Saadoon cautioned, would immediately destroy the country’s fragile security, cut energy supplies, and shatter civil peace. “The conflict will not be viewed as a passing regional event, but as a political and economic earthquake that will violently reshuffle internal cards, placing Iraqi sovereignty between the hammer of international obligations and the anvil of cross-border loyalties.”

Importantly, for Middle Eastern states, the danger threshold falls well below full-scale American occupation. As these regional viewpoints demonstrate, even limited U.S. ground operations in Iran would serve as a devastating force multiplier, overwhelming already fragile systems. Whether Egypt risks losing its economic safeguards, Saudi Arabia anticipates energy grid attacks, Turkey fears neutrality collapse, or Iraq faces becoming a proxy battlefield again, the concerns are universally intense. The region isn’t simply preparing for continued warfare, but for crossing a volatile new escalation boundary—one that could trigger an unstoppable chain reaction across global shipping lanes, energy markets, and political divisions, leaving neighboring governments virtually no capacity to absorb the consequences.