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Cuban demonstrators mounted bicycles and electric tricycles Thursday for a government-organized protest along Havana’s famous waterfront boulevard, with President Miguel Diaz-Canel joining the cycling caravan in opposition to American economic sanctions.

The procession traveled past the United States Embassy in Cuba’s capital city, with riders displaying flags and protest signs condemning the economic restrictions put in place during the Trump presidency that continue to impact the island nation’s fuel supplies.

The demonstration occurred one day following Cuba’s senior diplomat in Washington extending a public invitation for American assistance in rebuilding Cuba’s struggling economy through ongoing diplomatic discussions that have not yet produced concrete outcomes.

Rally participants expressed openness to diplomatic engagement with the United States while insisting on mutual respect between the nations.

“I believe that genuine dialogue between both governments is possible, but international law and our country’s autonomy must be respected,” said Sheila Ibatao, a Havana law student and participant.

President Diaz-Canel participated silently without delivering remarks during the demonstration.

While Cuban officials frequently stage major demonstrations outside the American Embassy, Thursday’s event was notably smaller and more subdued, reflecting the mobility challenges created by ongoing fuel shortages that have severely impacted public transit systems.

Some relief may be coming as a Russian oil tanker arrived in Cuba this week, delivering 700,000 barrels of crude oil that could ease shortages in the near term.

The Trump administration, which has imposed tariff threats on nations exporting oil to Cuba and banned Russian oil imports, stated it permitted the Russian vessel to dock at Cuba’s Matanzas port for humanitarian purposes.

Military authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo announced that 43 civilians lost their lives during a Wednesday evening assault by militants with ties to the Islamic State in the nation’s eastern region.

The deadly incident occurred around 7 p.m. local time in Bafwakoa village, situated in Mambasa territory within Ituri province, close to the town of Niania, according to officials who spoke with Reuters.

Congo’s armed forces attributed the violence to the Allied Democratic Forces, a Ugandan militant organization operating in eastern Congo that has been recognized as an Islamic State affiliate.

The military statement indicated that 44 residential structures were destroyed by fire during the attack.

Christian Alimasi, a local customary official in Mambasa territory, described the brutal nature of the assault, stating that some casualties resulted from machete attacks while others perished when trapped in their burning homes. He also confirmed that two individuals were taken captive by the attackers.

Despite combined military efforts between Congolese and Ugandan forces that began in 2021 to combat the group, ADF assaults against civilian populations have grown more frequent in recent months across portions of Ituri and the adjacent North Kivu province.

Research data from Insecurity Insight, an organization that examines verified violent incidents targeting civilians, indicates that the ADF was responsible for approximately 25% of documented civilian violence in eastern Congo from 2020 through 2025.

Iranian intelligence officers arrested prominent human rights attorney Nasrin Sotoudeh at her Tehran residence during an overnight operation, her daughter confirmed Thursday.

The 64-year-old award-winning lawyer has built her reputation defending political activists, opposition figures, and women charged for refusing to wear mandatory headscarves. Sotoudeh has faced multiple imprisonments and was recently released on bail due to medical concerns.

Her spouse, Reza Khandan, who is also a recognized activist, remains incarcerated at Tehran’s notorious Evin prison facility.

Speaking to The Associated Press from Amsterdam, daughter Mehraveh Khandan explained she learned of her mother’s detention through intermediary messages from relatives in Iran. Communication restrictions and internet limitations implemented since January have made outside contact nearly impossible.

The arrest occurs as Iranian officials have escalated their suppression of opposition voices and political dissidents while conflict with the U.S. and Israel continues. Since hostilities began February 28, authorities have reportedly detained hundreds of individuals, frequently for speaking with international media outlets. Officials have also increased executions of imprisoned demonstrators who received death sentences. Human rights organizations say this intensified repression aims to create fear and prevent future uprisings.

Just prior to her detention, Sotoudeh participated in an interview published Monday by an overseas Persian news organization, discussing the ongoing conflict and stating that the Islamic Republic’s actions “have exposed us to death.” She also criticized government suppression of January protests—the most significant demonstrations against the Islamic Republic in recent decades—which authorities met with severe force.

Khandan expressed concern for her mother, who suffers from heart problems, citing potential U.S.-Israeli strikes on detention centers and noting that “our regime became even more brutal after this war started.”

Sotoudeh’s detention follows reports that Iran’s imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi may have experienced a heart attack.

Mohammadi’s French attorney Chirinne Ardakani informed AP Thursday that her legal team discovered Mohammadi’s condition during a brief prison visit last week.

“She appeared extremely emaciated, pale, weak, and had difficulty moving. In fact, she was even accompanied to the waiting room by a nurse. We learned from Narges Mohammadi that she had a heart attack on March 24th, that she was found unconscious in her cell, and that it was actually her fellow inmates who took her to the infirmary,” Ardakani said.

Beyond health worries, airstrikes occurred near Zanjan Prison in northwestern Iran where Mohammadi is detained, creating additional safety concerns, the attorney noted.

The 53-year-old rights lawyer, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2023 while imprisoned, was arrested in December during a trip to the eastern Iranian city of Mashhad and received an additional seven-year prison sentence. Mohammadi’s health continues deteriorating.

During a brief Thursday phone call, Sotoudeh informed her family that Intelligence Ministry agents detained her—the same agency responsible for her previous arrests, Khandan reported.

Sotoudeh instructed her family to contact prosecutors regarding her detention. Officials have not disclosed the reason for her arrest. Intelligence agents also seized all communication equipment from the residence, including her father’s devices, Khandan added.

The European Union awarded Sotoudeh the prestigious Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in 2012. Her former clients include Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi and numerous activists arrested during the government’s repeated suppression of demonstrations.

Khandan worried that news of the dissent crackdown might be overshadowed by ongoing warfare.

“It is hard for our voice to be heard in this time,” Khandan said. “The regime had (some) limits before. They don’t have (them) anymore.”

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Belarus lawmakers have given final approval to legislation establishing penalties for individuals who advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, mirroring restrictive policies implemented by neighboring Russia.

The nation’s upper legislative chamber completed approval of the measure Thursday after the lower house endorsed it last month. The legislation now awaits the anticipated signature of authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko before taking effect.

Under the new law, promoting what officials term “propaganda of homosexual relations, gender charge, refusal to have children and pedophilia” will result in financial penalties, community service requirements, and potential 15-day detention.

While Belarus removed criminal penalties for homosexuality in 1994 following the Soviet Union’s dissolution, the country does not permit same-sex marriage and provides no legal protections for LGBTQ+ individuals. Lukashenko, who has maintained authoritarian control over the 9.5 million-person nation for more than thirty years, has openly ridiculed homosexuality.

Western nations have imposed multiple rounds of sanctions on Belarus for both human rights violations and permitting Russia to launch attacks on Ukraine from Belarusian territory during the 2022 invasion.

Authorities have already closed LGBTQ+ organizations in Belarus, with security personnel conducting frequent raids on nightclubs hosting private gatherings for gay individuals. Human rights advocates report that the country’s primary security service, which retains its Soviet-era designation KGB, has used intimidation tactics against LGBTQ+ community members to force their cooperation.

“LGBTQ+ people had faced beatings, arrests, persecution and mockery even before the bill’s approval, but now law enforcement agencies have received legal grounds for repressions,” said Alisa Sarmant, the head of TG House, a Belarusian group championing transgender rights.

TG House has recorded what it describes as a minimum of 12 incidents targeting LGBTQ+ individuals in Belarus during the previous three months, including law enforcement action at a Minsk nightclub last month during a private gay gathering.

According to Sarmant, the new legislation has created anxiety among transgender individuals who worry they may lose access to essential medications. TG House reports receiving hundreds of requests from LGBTQ+ people seeking mental health support and assistance with relocation to other countries.

“The Belarusian authorities have lumped together gays, lesbians, transgender people, and pedophiles, creating additional grounds for social rejection and stigmatization,” Sarmant said. “Belarus is copying Russia’s sad experience, creating unbearable conditions for LGBT+ people.”

Russia has similarly implemented restrictive legislation limiting LGBTQ+ rights. Russian law prohibits gender changes on government documents, gender-affirming medical treatment, and any public display of gay or transgender identity. Officials have classified the LGBTQ+ movement as extremist, with participants facing potential six-year prison sentences.

The Democratic Republic of Congo announced Thursday that it has officially ended a devastating mpox outbreak that persisted for two years and resulted in more than 2,200 suspected fatalities across the nation.

Health Minister Roger Kamba informed reporters that officials had determined the outbreak had concluded and no longer constituted a national emergency situation.

The central African nation served as the epicenter of the infectious viral disease outbreak that expanded into surrounding countries throughout 2024, leading the World Health Organization to issue a global health emergency declaration when the disease crossed international boundaries. The WHO lifted its global emergency status in September.

According to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Congo recorded over 161,000 suspected mpox cases throughout the outbreak spanning 2024 into this year, with approximately 37,000 cases verified through laboratory testing.

The Africa CDC reported 2,286 suspected fatalities, though only 127 deaths received laboratory confirmation.

Scientists first discovered mpox, previously called monkeypox, in 1958 during outbreaks of a “pox-like” illness among monkeys. Until recent years, human infections primarily occurred among individuals in central and western Africa who had direct contact with infected wildlife.

In 2022, researchers confirmed the virus could transmit through sexual contact for the first time, sparking outbreaks across more than 70 nations that had never previously documented mpox cases.

According to WHO data, mpox typically presents with rash and fever symptoms, though it may occasionally lead to severe complications. The majority of patients make complete recoveries.

KAMPALA, Uganda — A dozen individuals expelled from the United States touched down in Uganda Thursday, marking the initial group to arrive under a newly established bilateral agreement between the two countries, according to the Uganda Law Society.

Legal representatives condemned the deportation process, stating the individuals were “effectively dumped in Uganda through an undignified, harrowing and dehumanizing process.” The group arrived via private charter aircraft, the law society noted in their statement.

These expulsions are occurring as part of President Donald Trump’s intensified immigration enforcement efforts, aimed at discouraging illegal border crossings and removing individuals already in the country unlawfully, particularly those with criminal backgrounds and others difficult to return to their native countries.

Both the State Department and Department of Homeland Security have justified third-country deportations as an efficient method for rapidly removing individuals residing illegally in America. These deportation practices have sparked numerous legal challenges both domestically and in receiving nations.

The practice draws criticism partly because individuals may be transferred to nations with which they share no cultural connections. Last August, officials briefly contemplated sending Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a prominent figure in an ongoing immigration case, to Uganda.

America has established agreements with no fewer than seven African countries to accept certain migrants. These partnerships span from Ghana in West Africa to Eswatini in southern Africa, with the latter receiving $5.1 million from Washington to accept up to 160 deportees, based on State Department documentation.

Whether Uganda received similar compensation remains unclear.

The law society accused officials of placing deportees at the discretion of “unnamed, private interests on either side of the Atlantic,” while announcing plans to pursue legal action against what they termed “international illegality.”

Neither the identities nor countries of origin of the deportees were disclosed.

Okello Oryem, Uganda’s state minister overseeing foreign affairs, stated he was traveling and unaware of the arrivals.

A representative from the American Embassy in Kampala did not respond to inquiries regarding the deportees’ welfare.

Last month, Oryem informed The Associated Press that Uganda anticipated “planeloads” of deportees from America. He explained the agreement stemmed from pan-African solidarity and humanitarian concerns for Africans unwanted abroad.

Ugandan officials previously indicated their arrangement with Washington involves accepting African-origin deportees without criminal histories.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Three judges have determined that the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court may return to his position after finding that a United Nations probe into sexual misconduct allegations was inconclusive, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press.

The ultimate decision regarding British attorney Karim Khan’s future now rests with the Assembly of States Parties, which oversees the court. On Wednesday, this governing body voted to continue their investigation while dealing with an unprecedented situation that has created turmoil among court personnel and external political pressure.

Khan voluntarily stepped aside in May 2025 while awaiting results from a U.N. Office of Internal Oversight Service probe into sexual misconduct claims, which he has consistently rejected.

The United Nations inquiry concluded there was evidence that Khan engaged in “nonconsensual sexual contact with (the aide) in his office, at his private residence, and whilst on mission,” according to their report.

Through his legal team on Wednesday, Khan told AP that he “firmly maintains that he did not engage in any inappropriate conduct toward the complainant, whether sexual or otherwise.”

His attorneys further stated that Khan “categorially denies both any nonconsensual sexual conduct and the existence of any consensual sexual relationship.”

The ICC has refused to provide comment on the matter.

The judicial panel, chosen by the assembly to conduct a legal review of the UN probe, determined last month that the investigation lacked sufficient conclusive evidence. However, the judges indicated they were obligated to reach a decision, concluding that the findings “do not establish misconduct or breach of duty under the relevant legal framework,” according to their 85-page evaluation.

“The resolution of a number of disputes, which remains outstanding, would be necessary before a proper characterisation of the facts can be made,” the judges stated after examining over 5,000 pages of documentation.

The judicial panel criticized the UN investigators for failing to “indicate which witnesses’ testimony they found credible” and noted they “did not resolve narrative inconsistencies.”

The United Nations team was responsible for conducting the investigation but not for determining whether Khan’s actions constituted misconduct. The three-judge panel was required to apply the criminal standard of “beyond a reasonable doubt,” and their recommendation is non-binding on the assembly.

This situation marks uncharted territory for the ICC, forcing the Assembly of States Parties to continuously develop new procedures to handle the circumstances.

Khan’s legal representatives emphasized Thursday that the judicial panel unanimously concluded the UN investigation failed to establish any wrongdoing or violation of duties. They also highlighted that the UN probe did not reach a final misconduct determination and that their findings needed legal interpretation.

In October 2024, an Associated Press investigation disclosed that Khan was confronting internal sexual misconduct accusations.

Whistleblower documentation reviewed by AP alleged that Khan spotted the woman working in a different ICC division and transferred her to his office. She subsequently became a frequent companion on official travel, the records indicated.

During one overseas trip, Khan allegedly requested she lie down with him on a hotel bed before “sexually touching her,” according to the documents. Later that evening, he reportedly came to her room at 3 a.m. and knocked persistently for 10 minutes.

Additional alleged inappropriate behavior described in the documents included securing his office door and placing his hand in her pocket. He also reportedly made multiple requests for her to join him on vacation.

Two colleagues reported the alleged misconduct to the court’s oversight body in May 2024. The inquiry was terminated after five days when the woman decided against filing an official complaint due to concerns about potential retaliation, AP previously reported.

The situation has significantly impacted the woman at the center of the allegations. The UN investigation noted that she was placed under suicide watch at one point.

“I have been left with little dignity and no privacy,” she stated in an interview. The Associated Press typically does not identify individuals who report sexual misconduct.

A group of employees from the prosecutor’s office sent a letter Wednesday to the Assembly of States Parties, voicing serious concerns about Khan’s possible return.

The document, reviewed by AP, stated the group believed the UN investigation was “incompatible with continued confidence in the prosecutor’s leadership.”

One senior employee indicated “people are deeply afraid” of potential retaliation, while three other prosecutor’s office staff members shared similar sentiments. All requested anonymity as they lacked authorization to speak with media.

The UN investigators’ report stated that before taking leave, Khan was accused of engaging in “retaliatory in nature” behavior toward two staff members who supported the alleged victim.

The original investigation occurred shortly before Khan requested arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding actions in Gaza. In November 2024, a three-judge panel approved those charges.

Subsequently, U.S. President Donald Trump imposed sanctions on 11 ICC personnel, including Khan, for pursuing these investigations. Court officials and prosecutors had their banking privileges revoked and U.S. visas canceled.

These sanctions have severely affected the court’s operations and employee morale.

Russian officials announced Thursday their intention to dispatch another oil tanker to Cuba, as the Caribbean island struggles with a deepening energy crisis that has left millions without reliable power.

Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilyov made the declaration during an energy conference in Kazan, Russia, just two days following the arrival of the sanctioned vessel Anatoly Kolodkin at Cuba’s Matanzas port. That delivery brought 730,000 barrels of crude oil to the island, representing the first such shipment in three months and providing enough fuel to meet Cuba’s diesel needs for approximately nine to ten days, according to energy analysts.

Speaking at the forum, Tsivilyov characterized Cuba’s situation as dire. “Cuba is in a total blockade, it’s been cut off. Whose shipment of oil made it? A Russian vessel broke through the blockade. A second one is being loaded right now, we will not leave Cubans alone in trouble,” the minister stated.

The oil deliveries occur against a backdrop of escalating tensions, as President Donald Trump issued threats in late January regarding potential tariffs against nations providing petroleum products to Cuba. However, Trump recently indicated a more dismissive stance toward the Russian shipments, suggesting they would have minimal impact on Cuba’s government stability.

“Cuba’s finished,” Trump remarked to reporters during his return flight to Washington on Sunday. “They have a bad regime. They have very bad and corrupt leadership and whether or not they get a boat of oil, it’s not going to matter.”

The island nation’s energy infrastructure has been severely strained, as Cuba can only meet approximately 40% of its fuel requirements through domestic production, making it heavily dependent on foreign oil imports to maintain its deteriorating electrical grid.

Venezuela, previously a key supplier of petroleum to Cuba, ceased its shipments following U.S. actions against the South American nation and the arrest of its leadership. Mexico similarly discontinued its oil exports to Cuba after receiving tariff warnings from the Trump administration.

These supply disruptions have intensified Cuba’s economic and energy difficulties, resulting in widespread power outages, reductions in government food distribution programs, and critical shortages of clean water and medical supplies that disproportionately affect the island’s most vulnerable populations.

False claims about the death of Jonathan, a 193-year-old tortoise recognized as the planet’s oldest living land creature, spread across social media this week in what officials are calling an elaborate hoax.

The ancient Seychelles giant tortoise continues to move about — though at his characteristic leisurely pace — on St. Helena island, where he has lived for more than a century.

“It was a hoax,” stated Anne Dillon, the island’s communications director, when speaking with The Associated Press on Thursday. “I can just assure you that he is very much alive.”

False information about Jonathan’s passing began circulating widely on Wednesday across various social platforms.

A fake social media profile, pretending to represent Joe Hollins, a veterinarian who has previously cared for the ancient reptile on the remote Atlantic island located between Africa and Brazil, posted emotional news of the supposed death. The fraudulent message described Jonathan as a “gentle giant” that had “outlived empires, wars, and generations of humans.”

The deceptive post garnered close to 2 million views by Thursday, with most responses expressing grief and sympathy.

However, Hollins clarified on Facebook that he maintains no presence on X and warned of criminal intent behind the false announcement.

“There is a hoax — not even an April Fool — going around,” Hollins explained in his post. “The hoaxer is asking for crypto donations. It’s a con.”

According to Guinness World Records, Jonathan holds the distinction of being both the oldest living land creature and the oldest tortoise in recorded history. Experts estimate he was approximately 50 years old when he arrived at St. Helena in 1882.

Government officials from St. Helena provided a photograph captured Thursday showing Jonathan wandering around the governor’s official residence grounds. The island gained historical significance as Napoleon Bonaparte’s final place of exile after his military defeat at Waterloo in 1815. The former French emperor passed away there in 1821, roughly a decade before Jonathan is thought to have begun his remarkably extended existence.

Federal Bureau of Investigation agents have traveled to Cuba this week to conduct an independent examination of a deadly February incident involving an American-flagged speedboat that resulted in five fatalities.

The shooting took place on February 25 when Cuban Border Patrol forces engaged with occupants of the vessel, which Cuban authorities claim was attempting to infiltrate the island. Ten individuals were aboard the speedboat during the confrontation, with five others sustaining injuries in the gunfire exchange. Cuban officials have characterized the incident as a terrorist operation conducted by Cuban expatriates residing in the United States.

A U.S. diplomatic source familiar with the investigation confirmed to The Associated Press on Thursday that the FBI technical team arrived Tuesday to begin their comprehensive review. The official, speaking anonymously due to lack of authorization for public comment, declined to specify the number of agents involved or the expected duration of their stay in Cuba.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel had previously indicated in March his expectation that FBI personnel would visit the island to assist with the investigation.

According to Cuban military officials, their forces detected the speedboat carrying ten men and military gear in waters north of Cuba. They maintain that those aboard the vessel initiated the gunfire, prompting soldiers to respond defensively. Four individuals died immediately in the exchange, while a fifth succumbed to wounds later. Six others were injured, including one crew member from the Cuban military vessel.

The surviving individuals now face terrorism charges that could result in life imprisonment.

This incident occurred during a period of elevated tensions between the two nations.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously stated that the group was not conducting a U.S. government operation and indicated that American officials would work to confirm the details provided by Cuban authorities.

Following the shooting, senior officials from Cuba’s Interior Ministry and Revolutionary Armed Forces publicly presented military equipment confiscated from the speedboat and acknowledged communication with the U.S. Coast Guard regarding the incident.

The confiscated materials included high-powered rifles, handguns, military uniforms, boots, protective helmets, specialized food rations, an electric generator, satellite communication equipment, and more than 12,000 rounds of ammunition.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Tehran launched additional missile strikes against Israel and neighboring Gulf nations Thursday, showcasing Iran’s persistent capability to attack regional targets despite President Donald Trump’s assertions that the Iranian threat has been virtually eliminated.

Tehran’s assaults on Gulf nations combined with its control over the Strait of Hormuz have severely disrupted global energy markets, creating impacts that extend well beyond Middle Eastern borders. This disruption has become Iran’s most significant strategic weapon in the ongoing conflict. Britain organized a conference call with approximately three dozen nations Thursday to discuss strategies for reopening the vital shipping lane after hostilities conclude.

Trump has maintained that the waterway could be seized through military force — though he stated America should not bear that responsibility alone. During Wednesday evening’s national address, he urged nations dependent on Hormuz oil shipments to “build some delayed courage” and proceed to “take it.”

Prior to the February 28 launch of U.S. and Israeli military operations against Iran, the strategic waterway remained accessible to commercial traffic, with one-fifth of globally traded oil passing through its waters.

Tehran responded with defiance to Trump’s Wednesday speech, during which the American leader declared U.S. military operations had been so effective that “one of the most powerful countries” is “really no longer a threat.”

Iranian military spokesperson Lt. Col. Ebrahim Zolfaghari stated Thursday that Tehran retains concealed weapons stockpiles, ammunition reserves, and manufacturing capabilities. He characterized facilities hit by U.S. attacks as “insignificant.”

Moments before Trump’s address — during which he declared U.S. “core strategic objectives are nearing completion” — explosions echoed through Dubai as defensive systems engaged an Iranian missile assault.

Within thirty minutes of the president’s speech conclusion, Israeli forces reported intercepting incoming projectiles. Warning sirens activated in Bahrain, headquarters of the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet, immediately following Trump’s remarks.

Thursday saw continued strikes throughout Iran, with explosions reported across multiple urban centers.

In Lebanon — where Iran-supported Hezbollah fighters are battling Israeli ground forces — an Israeli attack claimed four lives in the southern region, according to the Health Ministry.

Combat casualties have reached over 1,900 deaths in Iran compared to 19 reported fatalities in Israel. More than two dozen people have perished in Gulf states and the occupied West Bank, while 13 American military personnel have been killed.

Lebanese casualties exceed 1,200 deaths with over one million people displaced. Ten Israeli soldiers have also died in Lebanese operations.

Iranian strikes on roughly two dozen merchant vessels, plus threats of additional attacks, have virtually halted all commercial navigation through the waterway linking the Persian Gulf to international waters.

Since March 1, strait traffic has plummeted 94% compared to the previous year’s corresponding period, according to Lloyds List Intelligence maritime data. The firm confirmed two vessels paid transit fees, while others received passage based on agreements between Iran and their flag nations.

Saudi Arabia redirected approximately one billion barrels of oil away from the Strait of Hormuz during March, maritime analytics firm Kpler reported, while Iraq announced Thursday it had begun trucking petroleum through Syria to bypass the strait.

The 35 nations participating in Thursday’s discussions, including all G7 industrialized democracies except America, plus the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, endorsed a declaration last month demanding Iran cease blocking the waterway.

Thursday’s negotiations centered on political and diplomatic solutions, though British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper indicated military planners from multiple countries would also develop security measures for post-conflict operations, including potential mine removal and commercial shipping “reassurance” efforts.

No nation appears prepared to forcibly reopen the strait during active hostilities. French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking during a South Korean visit, described military action to secure the waterway as “unrealistic.”

However, concerns persist that Iran might continue restricting waterway access even after U.S. and Israeli attacks conclude.

The international coalition concept mirrors the “coalition of the willing” led by Britain and France to support Ukrainian security during potential ceasefire negotiations. This effort partly demonstrates to Washington that European nations are assuming greater responsibility for regional security amid Trump’s frequent criticism.

The conflict continues driving oil and natural gas prices upward, destabilizing financial markets, increasing gasoline costs, and threatening to make various commodities, including food products, more expensive.

Thursday trading saw Brent crude, the global benchmark, rise again to approximately $109 per barrel, representing a 50% increase from February 28 when Israeli and American operations began.

While oil and gas typically transiting the strait primarily serves Asian markets, only Japan and South Korea from that region participated in Thursday’s strait discussions. Jet fuel supply disruptions have also affected global aviation travel.

KAMPALA, Uganda — Authorities in Uganda report that four young children lost their lives Thursday when an armed assailant launched a deadly assault at a nursery school in the nation’s capital.

According to the Daily Monitor newspaper, the perpetrator infiltrated the Gaba Early Childhood Development Program by posing as a parent seeking entry. After initially speaking with school administration staff, the man went outside and secured the facility’s entrance before launching his attack on the students.

Law enforcement officials confirmed in their statement that the suspect “brutally stabbed and killed four juveniles” during the rampage.

Television coverage from local station NTV captured heartbreaking scenes of distraught parents at the scene. Authorities were forced to discharge warning shots to control an enraged mob that had assembled outside the educational facility, with some attempting to take vigilante justice against the alleged perpetrator.

Police spokesman Kituuma Rusoke confirmed to The Associated Press that officers have the suspect in custody. Rusoke stated that investigators have not yet determined what drove the individual to carry out the attack. He noted that such violent incidents targeting children are uncommon in Kampala, which houses approximately 3 million residents.

ASSEN, Netherlands — Dutch law enforcement officials have successfully retrieved an invaluable 2,500-year-old golden helmet from Romania that was taken from a Netherlands museum earlier this year, authorities revealed Thursday.

During a press briefing in the eastern Dutch city of Assen, prosecutors displayed the recovered Cotofenesti helmet, a treasured artifact from Romania’s ancient Dacia civilization, while surrounded by heavily armed officers wearing masks.

“We are incredibly pleased,” Corien Fahner of the prosecution service told reporters. “It has been a roller-coaster. Especially for Romania, but also for employees of the Drents Museum.”

The ancient artifact was being exhibited at the small museum in January 2025 during the final weekend of a six-month display when criminals broke into the facility and stole it along with three golden armbands.

Concerns arose that the helmet might have been destroyed for its gold content since its distinctive appearance and notoriety would have made selling it nearly impossible.

Authorities also retrieved two of the three stolen armbands as part of negotiations with three suspects who were apprehended shortly after the crime. These individuals will face trial beginning in April.

Fahner indicated that efforts to locate the final missing armband will continue.

The helmet sustained some damage during its time away from the museum.

“The helmet is slightly dented, but there will be no permanent damage,” Drents Museum director Robert van Langh said during the news conference. “The armbands are in perfect condition.”

The criminals employed a makeshift explosive device and sledgehammer to force entry into the museum. Surveillance footage released by police following the incident showed three individuals prying open a museum entrance with a large crowbar before an explosion occurred.

The crime created diplomatic tensions between the Netherlands and Romania.

Romanian Justice Minister Radu Marinescu last year called the incident a “crime against our state” and said recovering the artifacts “is an absolute priority.”

DENPASAR, Indonesia — For the second straight day, Indonesian officials have postponed sending alleged Scottish crime leader Steven Lyons back to Spain, as law enforcement continues investigating his suspected criminal associates who may still be in Bali.

The 45-year-old Lyons, whom authorities describe as a high-ranking member of an international criminal organization, was supposed to depart for Spain Thursday evening through Doha after his transfer was already pushed back once without any public explanation.

Officials brought Lyons back from the airport to Bali police headquarters, according to Husnan Handano, who speaks for the island’s immigration department. Handano would not elaborate on the decision, calling the matter too “sensitive” to discuss. Media outlets in the region suggested the most recent postponement stems from an active police probe.

Immigration authorities apprehended Lyons on Saturday when he landed from Singapore, after Indonesia’s border control system flagged him following an Interpol Red Notice that Spain had requested. These international alerts ask law enforcement worldwide to arrest suspects for potential extradition.

Bugie Kurniawan, who leads Bali’s immigration office, revealed that Lyons arrived with two traveling partners who authorities believe remain on the island, even though Lyons claimed he was traveling solo. Kurniawan explained that Spanish Interpol officials have identified these individuals as part of the same criminal organization, though no arrest warrants or Red Notices exist for them.

Both immigration and police officials previously indicated this marked Lyons’ second visit to Bali, leading investigators to suspect he was evaluating Indonesia’s illegal drug trade opportunities. Bali Police spokesperson Ary Sandi would not discuss details of the ongoing investigation.

Law enforcement alleges Lyons heads the Lyons criminal family, operating from Scotland while being pursued by both Spanish and British authorities. Spanish officials have sought his arrest for approximately two years following a homicide that occurred there in 2024.

Bali Police Chief Daniel Adityajaya confirmed that Lyons’ capture resulted from collaborative investigative work between Indonesian, Spanish and Scottish law enforcement agencies.

Investigators claim Lyons controlled an international criminal enterprise based in Scotland that managed drug smuggling operations between Spain and the United Kingdom. Officials also believe his organization cleaned illegal proceeds through fake businesses throughout Europe and the Middle East, including operations in Spain, Scotland, England, Dubai, Qatar, Bahrain and Turkey.

Before Lyons’ Bali arrest, Scottish and Spanish police conducted simultaneous raids connected to their investigation, leading to several additional arrests. More suspects were also taken into custody in Turkey, the Netherlands and the United Arab Emirates.

Scottish news outlets have documented that Lyons escaped a Glasgow shooting in 2006 that claimed his cousin’s life, subsequently relocating to Spain before ultimately establishing residence in Dubai. In the previous year, his brother and another associate were fatally shot in what officials characterized as a suspected organized crime attack at a coastal bar in Fuengirola, in southern Spain.

WARSAW – Polish authorities have launched a formal investigation following a bombing incident that left one of their UN peacekeeping soldiers injured in Lebanon last month, according to Warsaw’s District Prosecutor’s Office announced Thursday.

An unknown assailant detonated an improvised explosive device along the path of a Polish military convoy on March 29 in the town of Bint Jubayl, prosecutors revealed in their official statement. The armored Humvee’s protective features prevented the attack from causing more severe damage, officials noted.

The targeted soldier sustained facial and head wounds from the explosion, according to the prosecutor’s office.

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, has maintained operations in the region since its initial deployment in 1978, continuing its mission throughout multiple conflicts. During the 2024 war, UNIFIL positions faced repeated attacks.

WARSAW – Polish prosecutors announced Thursday they will soon bring three men to trial on sabotage charges connected to a series of fires in Poland and neighboring Baltic countries that authorities believe were orchestrated by Russia.

The charges stem from what Polish officials describe as a Russian “hybrid war” campaign designed to undermine nations supporting Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. This alleged campaign has included both arson incidents and cyber warfare targeting Poland and its allies.

Russian officials have consistently rejected any claims of involvement in these activities.

Prosecutors revealed the upcoming trial will focus on three defendants linked to multiple fire incidents, though they did not specify when proceedings will commence.

The accused include a Belarusian man, identified under Polish privacy regulations only as Stepan K, who faces charges for igniting a fire at an OBI retail location in Warsaw during April 2024.

Two Ukrainian nationals, Daniil B and Oleksandr H, are charged with starting a blaze at an IKEA facility in Vilnius. Additionally, Daniil B faces accusations of plotting to burn down an IKEA store in Riga and filming the destruction of Marywilska 44, one of Warsaw’s largest shopping complexes.

National Prosecutor’s Office spokesperson Przemyslaw Nowak acknowledged significant gaps remain in the investigation.

“The direct perpetrator of the arson attack on the hall at 44 Marywilska Street has not yet been identified as well as the direct ordering party for this arson,” Nowak stated.

“The investigation into this criminal group of arsonists is still ongoing and this does not mean the end of this case,” he continued.

Each of the three primary defendants could receive life imprisonment if convicted.

Nowak also noted that two additional individuals connected to the same organization have been charged with lesser offenses.

This case follows previous convictions, as a Polish court sentenced three other Ukrainians last year for their participation in the same series of fires across Poland and the Baltic region.

Newly released satellite imagery shows Ukrainian drone strikes have destroyed nearly half of the storage infrastructure at Primorsk, a critical Russian oil export facility on the Baltic Sea, according to data analyzed Thursday.

The attacks represent an escalation in Ukraine’s campaign targeting Russian energy infrastructure, with the heaviest bombardments hitting Baltic Sea ports since the conflict began over four years ago.

Commercial satellite data from U.S. intelligence firm Vantor revealed extensive damage to Primorsk’s storage capabilities by late March. At least eight massive storage tanks, each holding 50,000 cubic meters, sustained significant damage in the strikes.

Industry analysts indicate the destruction represents roughly 40% of the facility’s total storage capacity, potentially forcing major reductions in export operations. The damaged infrastructure plays a crucial role in the port’s logistics operations and directly affects oil shipment capabilities.

Primorsk normally processes approximately 1 million barrels daily, representing nearly 1% of worldwide oil supply. Russian pipeline operator Transneft data shows the main depot houses 14 crude oil storage tanks and four diesel storage facilities.

Industry sources report that two of the eight severely damaged tanks were specifically used for diesel fuel operations. Transneft, which oversees port operations, has not responded to requests for comment.

The nearby Ust-Luga port also faced repeated bombardments throughout March, forcing multiple suspensions of loading operations. Russian regional officials confirmed strikes occurred on March 22, 25, 27, 29, and 31.

Satellite analysis indicates eight petroleum storage tanks at Ust-Luga Oil terminal, each with 30,000 cubic meter capacity, were damaged by fires. This represents approximately 25% of that facility’s total storage infrastructure.

The imagery also revealed damage to several dock facilities at the ports.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has denounced the bombardments as “terrorist attacks,” stating Russia is implementing measures to safeguard critical infrastructure facilities.

At one point during March, approximately 40% of Russia’s oil export operations were offline due to the attacks, pipeline closures in Ukraine, and seizure of Russian-affiliated tanker vessels.

MOSCOW – Russian officials announced Thursday they will formally request the United States and Israel guarantee a temporary halt to hostilities while Moscow withdraws additional personnel from Iran’s Bushehr nuclear facility, according to RIA news agency reports.

Alexei Likhachev, who leads Russia’s state nuclear energy corporation Rosatom, stated that Moscow will coordinate evacuation routes with both Israeli and American authorities. “The travel routes will be communicated to the relevant authorities in Israel and the United States, and we will use all channels to request strict adherence to the ceasefire during the convoy’s movement,” Likhachev told RIA.

The Russian nuclear chief indicated that what he described as a “final wave of evacuation” is provisionally set for the coming week and would involve roughly 200 individuals. Russia originally constructed the Iranian nuclear facility at Bushehr, and Rosatom personnel have remained on-site to continue work on additional reactor units under development.

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — A damning new investigation reveals that military forces in Burkina Faso have slaughtered more than double the number of civilians compared to extremist jihadist organizations during a two-year span, as documented by Human Rights Watch in a report that labels actions by both parties as war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The comprehensive study found that among 1,837 civilian deaths recorded in Burkina Faso from January 2023 through August 2025, government troops were responsible for more than 1,200 fatalities. The United Nations estimates that over 2 million residents have been forced from their homes since fighting erupted.

“Most likely a gross undercount because most instances go unreported,” Ilaria Allegrozzi, Human Rights Watch’s senior Sahel researcher, explained to The Associated Press regarding the documented casualties.

Officials from Burkina Faso’s government have not provided responses to requests seeking their perspective.

The human rights organization states that under the leadership of President Ibrahim Traoré, Burkina Faso’s military leadership has implemented “a broad crackdown” targeting political opponents, peaceful protesters and independent journalists, “fostering an atmosphere of terror and severely restricting the flow of information about the conflict and its toll.”

This West African nation of 23 million residents has become emblematic of the security breakdown plaguing the Sahel area below the Sahara Desert in recent years. The country has endured attacks from radical organizations affiliated with Al-Qaeda and ISIS, along with military responses from various governments. The Global Terrorism Index identifies the Sahel as the planet’s most dangerous region for extremist activity.

Both Burkina Faso’s military units and fighters from Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) — an Al-Qaeda-affiliated militant organization active throughout the region — have committed acts constituting war crimes and crimes against humanity, according to Human Rights Watch findings.

“These atrocities, including the government’s ethnic cleansing of Fulani civilians, amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity for which senior leaders on all sides may be liable,” states the 316-page investigation.

The report describes one incident where government troops allegedly murdered 223 civilians, including no fewer than 56 children, after accusing them of working with JNIM in northern Yatenga province during early 2024. In another assault that same year, JNIM reportedly murdered at least 133 civilians, including numerous children, in the country’s central region.

Attacks against civilians, especially members of the Fulani ethnic community, seem to represent official Burkina Faso government strategy, the rights organization concluded, with revenge strikes against communities suspected of supporting JNIM occurring regularly due to assumptions about the group’s allegiance to militant organizations.

“The highest levels of government appear supportive of military action against Fulani people based on these attitudes,” the investigation notes, explaining that obtaining accurate information about conditions within the country remains impossible since military leaders have established effective censorship. Citizens who speak publicly face risks of kidnapping, imprisonment or forced military service.

The military government, which seized control in 2022, has not delivered the promised stability. Conservative projections indicate that more than 60% of national territory now lies beyond government authority, over 2.1 million people have been displaced from their residences, and nearly 6.5 million require emergency assistance for survival.

Armed Conflict Location & Event Data, a conflict monitoring organization, calculates that no fewer than 10,600 civilians have died since 2016.

KYIV, Ukraine — Two civilians lost their lives and at least three others sustained injuries in Russian airstrikes targeting civilian locations throughout Ukraine on Thursday, according to Ukrainian officials. The attacks occurred as both nations continue discussions about conducting a prisoner exchange during the Easter holiday period.

These prisoner swaps have represented one of the rare constructive developments to emerge from extensive U.S.-mediated talks between Moscow and Kyiv that have otherwise yielded little progress. The negotiations have failed to address fundamental obstacles to ending Russia’s military campaign against Ukraine, which has now entered its fifth year.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has proposed implementing a ceasefire during Easter, though Kremlin representative Dmitry Peskov indicated earlier this week that Moscow seeks a comprehensive peace agreement rather than a short-term halt to hostilities.

Last Easter, President Vladimir Putin announced a unilateral 30-hour cessation of fighting, though both nations later claimed the other had violated the temporary truce.

Russia’s human rights representative Tatyana Moskalkova confirmed Thursday that negotiations for prisoner exchanges are underway. “Ahead of Easter, a lot of work is being done today to prepare prisoner exchanges,” Moskalkova told reporters.

Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, expressed hope last week for a “major exchange” of prisoners during this Easter period. Orthodox Easter is scheduled for April 12.

In Thursday’s violence, a Russian attack on Synelnykove in the Dnipropetrovsk region claimed one life and wounded both a woman and a 12-year-old boy, regional military administration chief Oleksandr Hazha reported.

An assault on Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, ignited a fire in a residential building and injured a 61-year-old woman, according to regional head Oleh Syniehubov.

A ballistic missile attack on the northern city of Chernihiv resulted in one death and wounded a 17-year-old girl, city military administration head Dmytro Bryzhynskyi stated.

Authorities also reported another strike targeting the Odesa region, as Russia launched 172 attack drones against Ukraine. Ukrainian air defense systems successfully intercepted 147 of these drones, the country’s air force announced.

Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam delivered a stark warning Thursday that the devastating conflict gripping his nation appears far from over, with more than one million residents already forced to abandon their homes during the past month of fighting.

The country has now entered its second month of warfare between Israeli forces and the Iran-supported militant organization Hezbollah, with Israeli leaders declaring their intention to control large portions of southern Lebanon to establish what they call a protective buffer zone for their northern communities.

“Lebanon has become a victim of a war – one whose outcomes and end date no one can predict,” Salam declared during a press conference following his cabinet’s Thursday session.

The prime minister expressed grave concerns about Israel’s long-term objectives, stating: “The positions of Israeli officials, and the practices of their army, reveal far-reaching goals, including a significant expansion in the occupation of Lebanese territories, dangerous talk about establishing buffer zones or security belts, and the displacement of more than one million Lebanese.”

Israeli declarations about maintaining military control over southern Lebanon have sparked widespread anxiety about a prolonged occupation, reminiscent of Israel’s two-decade presence in the region that concluded in 2000.

Salam announced his administration’s commitment to intensifying diplomatic and political initiatives to bring the hostilities to a close. Meanwhile, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun’s proposal for direct negotiations with Israel has yet to receive any acknowledgment.

The current escalation began after a brief ceasefire from 2024 collapsed, with Israeli forces maintaining positions at five elevated locations throughout southern Lebanon while continuing aerial bombardments.

The full-scale military campaign commenced following Hezbollah’s March 2 rocket attacks into Israeli territory, launched in support of Iran amid growing tensions between Tehran and the U.S.-Israel alliance.

Without directly mentioning Hezbollah by name, Salam criticized the coordinated military actions conducted alongside Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.

The human toll has been severe, with Israeli airstrikes claiming more than 1,300 lives while displacing approximately 20 percent of Lebanon’s entire population. Israeli evacuation directives now cover roughly 15 percent of Lebanese territory.

“I want to direct the biggest salute to our people who are staying in their hometowns and villages in the south, and want to reiterate that we stand by them,” the prime minister emphasized.

Despite the advancing military operations, tens of thousands of Lebanese citizens have chosen to remain in their southern communities, even as Lebanese military units retreat to avoid direct confrontations with Israeli troops. Among those staying are approximately 9,000 Lebanese Christians residing in border communities who have expressed their determination to remain despite the escalating danger.

The prime minister also highlighted the importance of maintaining domestic unity as the ongoing conflict puts pressure on Lebanon’s delicate sectarian political structure. Some communities have shown reluctance to welcome displaced families, prompting the government to explore long-term housing solutions as the war continues.

Mohammad al-Badran, a Syrian resident of Beirut’s southern suburbs for many years, described being rejected when his family sought shelter in mountainous areas outside the capital. Now living in a temporary tent settlement with his wife and four children – including a newborn born just two weeks before fighting began – Badran represents thousands facing similar hardships.

His 10-year-old daughter Nour can hear the explosions from nearby Israeli strikes. “The sound is loud, the children are crying, and I feel like the missiles are flying above us,” she explained.

Ali al-Aziz, another resident who fled the southern suburbs, called for Israeli withdrawal to enable peace and his return home. “We want the war to end once and for all. Not for a war to happen every year or every ten years,” he said.