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JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Drivers across South Africa flocked to fuel stations Tuesday evening as the nation braced for unprecedented gasoline and diesel price jumps scheduled to begin at midnight, driven by ongoing Middle East conflicts affecting worldwide energy markets.

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana attempted to soften the blow by announcing a 3 rand ($0.18) reduction in fuel taxes per liter on Tuesday, though the relief proved insufficient to prevent sticker shock.

The diesel price surge of 7.51 rand ($0.44) represents the largest single increase in the country’s history, while gasoline climbed 3.06 rand ($0.18), creating widespread concern throughout the southern African nation.

By evening hours Tuesday, multiple fuel stations in eastern Johannesburg had exhausted their supplies of both diesel and gasoline, forcing operators to turn customers away. Other locations offered only gasoline while denying service to diesel customers, with lengthy queues forming at remaining stations with available fuel.

According to Godongwana, the continuing Middle Eastern warfare has elevated risks within international energy markets while applying significant pressure to South Africa’s domestic fuel costs.

The temporary fuel tax reduction for April, implemented before new pricing adjustments are announced in March, will result in lost government tax collections exceeding 6 billion rand (more than $351 million).

Distribution challenges and operational disruptions have compounded the nation’s fuel crisis, with numerous stations running completely dry while others implemented purchase limits ranging from 30 to 50 liters (8 to 13 gallons) per vehicle.

“Even after fuel levies were reduced, these are the largest increases in recent history and would be devastating for consumers,” said Theuns Du Buisson, an economic researcher at the Solidarity Research Institute.

Du Buisson warned that the price jumps, particularly the record-breaking diesel increase, would severely impact logistics and transportation expenses, creating ripple effects on inflation in upcoming months.

Since most South Africans depend on public transportation including minibus taxis and buses, low-income families will likely bear the heaviest burden from these increases, Du Buisson explained.

Public bus operations in Pretoria, the capital city, experienced disruptions Tuesday due to fuel shortages affecting municipal bus facilities, according to city officials.

The Lebanese militant organization Hezbollah launched more than 50 rockets and drones targeting Israel’s Upper Galilee region Tuesday evening, leaving three people wounded and causing damage to the area, according to emergency officials. The northern assault occurred hours after separate Iranian attacks struck central Israel earlier in the day, injuring at least nine additional people.

Israeli emergency medical service Magen David Adom reported that debris from the evening bombardment landed close to a residential structure on a kibbutz. Among the three people who sustained minor injuries was a 6-year-old child. Medical personnel transported two of the victims to a local medical facility for care.

The evening rocket barrage came after morning launches from Iran that included cluster munitions hitting various targets, resulting in casualties and structural damage across central Israel.

In the city of Bnei Brak, six individuals suffered minor injuries from the blast impacts, including one woman who was wounded by flying glass shards. First responders pulled a mother and her two children to safety after part of a building’s roof caved in during the attack. Three other people were also hurt at that same location.

Tuesday’s events represented an escalation of violence affecting both Israel’s northern border region and its central areas, with emergency crews dispatched to numerous locations throughout the targeted zones.

Iraqi security forces are conducting an intensive search operation after freelance American journalist Shelly Kittleson was taken by unknown individuals in central Baghdad on Tuesday, according to Iraqi officials.

Kittleson, who writes for Al-Monitor and has covered conflicts across Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan, was seized near the Baghdad Hotel on Al-Sa’doun Street, local reports indicate. Iraqi security personnel responded rapidly using what officials characterized as reliable intelligence information to begin tracking her captors.

During the search efforts, authorities located a vehicle they believed was connected to the abduction. The car flipped over when those inside tried to escape, leading to the arrest of at least one suspect. However, Kittleson was not in the vehicle and her current location is still undetermined.

Different versions of how the abduction occurred have emerged. Some sources report armed men took her in daylight hours, while other accounts describe individuals wearing masks and civilian clothing conducting the operation, leading to questions about potential connections to local armed groups. So far, no organization has taken credit for the incident.

A US government representative confirmed American officials are informed about the situation and are working alongside Iraqi authorities in ongoing efforts to bring about her safe return. The incident brings to mind the 2023 abduction of researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov in Baghdad, which underscored the dangers that armed factions present in Iraq’s capital city.

Kittleson, who holds American citizenship and lives in Rome, had allegedly received warnings about traveling to Iraq before making this trip.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared Tuesday that his nation has fundamentally transformed the regional power dynamic with Iran through ongoing military operations, speaking during a televised address where he did not accept reporter questions.

“We have enormous, tremendous achievements. There are also painful costs,” Netanyahu stated, referencing recent military losses. “Just yesterday we lost four of our finest sons. I extend condolences to the families. We all embrace the families and our wounded heroes, in body and spirit. We are one people.”

The Prime Minister described how Israel’s military campaign has substantially diminished Iran’s influence across the Middle East and damaged its military strength. “We are systematically crushing the Iranian regime,” Netanyahu declared, explaining that Tehran had previously aimed “to annihilate us and take control of the Middle East.”

According to Netanyahu, Iran had poured approximately $1 trillion into its military objectives across the region. “That trillion has gone down the drain,” he stated, claiming Israel had struck “10 blows to the axis of evil” throughout what he characterized as the “war of resurgence.”

“The campaign is not yet over, but against the 10 blows our enemies have absorbed, we have achieved 10 tremendous accomplishments,” Netanyahu continued. “We have created a strategic reversal. Before the two operations, Iran sought to choke us—today we are choking them. Their regime is weaker than ever.”

The Israeli leader mentioned ongoing coordination with the United States and suggested potential diplomatic breakthroughs ahead. “We have created conditions for expanding alliances and the circle of peace. I hope that soon I will be able to tell the citizens of Israel about our new alliances.”

Netanyahu emphasized that Israel has weakened fundamental terrorist infrastructure in the region. “We have undermined the foundations of the terror regime,” he said. “We have shaken the regime, and I say that sooner or later — the regime will fall.”

“It is true, they still have the ability to threaten us—but they can no longer threaten our existence,” he added, speaking about Iran and its allied groups throughout the region.

The Prime Minister noted that Israel has created security buffer zones outside its borders in Gaza, Syria, and Lebanon, while expressing gratitude to citizens and military personnel. “Israel has become a regional power, and in certain areas, even a global power,” Netanyahu concluded.

TORONTO (AP) — Canadian diplomat and human rights champion Stephen Lewis passed away Tuesday at age 88, following an eight-year fight against stomach cancer, according to an announcement from The Stephen Lewis Foundation.

Lewis served as Canada’s United Nations ambassador and later took on several high-profile UN roles, including special adviser to former Secretary-General Kofi Annan during his distinguished international career.

His son Avi Lewis was just elected to lead Canada’s New Democratic Party this past Sunday, continuing the family’s political legacy.

Throughout his career, Lewis dedicated himself to advocating for human rights, women’s equality, and supporting African families affected by the AIDS crisis, using his powerful speaking and writing abilities as his primary tools for change.

“Stephen spent the last eight years of his life battling cancer with the same indomitable energy he brought to his lifelong work: the unending struggle for justice and dignity for every human life,” his family stated following his passing.

“The world has lost a voice of unmatched eloquence and integrity,” the family added.

Known throughout Canada as a gifted writer and speaker, Lewis spent decades advocating for the poor and marginalized, raising awareness about climate change dangers, and condemning violence against women and children globally.

His political career began with the federal New Democratic Party, leading to his election to Ontario’s legislature in 1963 when he was just 26 years old. He assumed leadership of the provincial NDP in 1970, guiding the party to official opposition status by 1975. Following electoral losses in 1978, he stepped down from party leadership to pursue careers in media commentary, lecturing, and labor arbitration.

Prime Minister Brian Mulroney selected Lewis as Canada’s UN ambassador in 1984, a position he maintained for four years. Subsequently, he served as special adviser to the UN secretary-general on African matters until 1991, followed by roles as UNICEF deputy director from 1995 to 1999, and UN special envoy for AIDS in Africa from 2001 to 2006.

Current Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed his condolences, stating he “joined Canadians in mourning the loss of Stephen Lewis, a pillar of compassionate leadership in Canadian democracy and a renowned global champion for human rights and multilateralism.”

“As a member of Ontario’s legislature, leader of the Ontario New Democratic Party, and Canada’s ambassador to the United Nations, Mr. Lewis moved millions with his appeals for a compassionate and just society,” Carney remarked.

According to Carney, Lewis played a crucial role in establishing Canada as a principled opponent of South African apartheid and maintained that accessible healthcare was essential for poverty reduction and economic development.

Lewis was married to journalist and activist Michele Landsberg. The Toronto-based couple raised three children: Ilana Landsberg-Lewis, Jenny Leah Lewis, and Avi Lewis, who is married to author Naomi Klein.

Attorneys representing Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi report that the imprisoned Iranian human rights advocate may have experienced a heart attack while incarcerated.

The 53-year-old activist’s legal team and sister met with her at Zanjan Prison in Iran’s northwest region on Sunday, according to her French attorney Chirinne Ardakani, who spoke with The Associated Press following briefings from the Iranian lawyers present at the visit.

“When my colleagues saw her, they were shocked because she was very pale and had lost a lot of weight, and she was not alone but aided by a nurse,” Ardakani stated.

Ardakani explained that Mohammadi reported fellow prisoners informed her she remained unconscious for more than an hour on March 24. Following a subsequent medical evaluation at the prison’s health facility, a physician indicated she likely experienced a cardiac event.

“She said she has since been having chest pain more than once a day and she has breathing difficulties and that she is in a very bad state,” Ardakani explained.

Prison authorities have refused to allow Mohammadi’s transfer to a hospital or permit visits with her heart specialist. A correctional officer remained present during the entire brief meeting with her attorneys.

Direct contact with her Iranian legal representatives was unavailable, as they typically avoid media interactions. Government-imposed internet restrictions have severely limited communications throughout the country. Ardakani noted that unauthorized contact with foreign press can result in criminal charges carrying potential 10-year prison sentences.

The human rights attorney received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2023 while behind bars. She was taken into custody in December while visiting Mashhad in eastern Iran and received an additional seven-year prison term.

Her husband, Taghi Rahmani, informed The Associated Press last month that her condition was deteriorating, partly due to physical assault during her December arrest. He described how multiple attackers struck and kicked her head, neck, and torso.

Before her December 12 detention, Mohammadi was already serving a 13-year, nine-month sentence for charges including conspiracy against national security and anti-government propaganda. She had been temporarily released on medical furlough since late 2024.

Throughout her temporary freedom, Mohammadi continued her advocacy work through public demonstrations and international media engagements, including protests outside Tehran’s infamous Evin Prison where she was previously held.

A Revolutionary Court in Mashhad imposed the additional seven-year sentence in February. These specialized courts routinely deliver judgments with minimal opportunity for defendants to challenge accusations.

Supporters indicate Mohammadi has pre-existing cardiac issues and previously suffered multiple heart attacks during imprisonment before requiring emergency surgical intervention in 2022.

“We are very worried that the regime is seeking to exhaust (Mohammadi), to wear her down, slowly killing her,” Ardakani expressed. She noted visible bruising remained on Mohammadi’s body more than three months following her violent arrest.

The Nobel committee issued a statement last month denouncing the “ongoing life-threatening mistreatment” of Mohammadi.

Mohammadi became the fifth individual to receive the Nobel Peace Prize while imprisoned in 2023, elevating her advocacy for the widespread demonstrations that erupted across Iran following Mahsa Amini’s death. Amini died after arrest by morality police for allegedly improper headscarf compliance.

Her Nobel selection infuriated Iran’s conservative Shiite leadership, which extended her incarceration and later deployed guards to physically attack her and other protesting inmates at Evin Prison.

Despite these challenges, Mohammadi maintained her resistance, including calls to boycott the 2024 election won by President Masoud Pezeshkian. She expressed confidence that public pressure would eventually bring governmental change to Iran.

Early Tuesday morning, reports indicated an airstrike targeted a Shiite religious facility in Zanjan, located approximately two miles from Mohammadi’s current detention center.

Iraqi authorities confirmed Tuesday that an American freelance reporter was abducted in Baghdad, prompting an intensive search operation by security forces to locate her captors.

The victim has been named as Shelly Kittleson, a freelance correspondent, according to one of the publications she writes for.

Iraq’s interior ministry released a statement confirming that a foreign correspondent had been taken, though they did not initially reveal the person’s identity.

Two Iraqi security sources, speaking anonymously due to restrictions on public statements about the case, confirmed the abducted reporter is an American woman.

According to these sources, the abduction involved two vehicles. During the chase by authorities near Al-Haswa in Babil province, located southwest of Baghdad, one vehicle crashed and was captured. However, the reporter had already been moved to a second car that successfully escaped.

The interior ministry stated that law enforcement agencies initiated a comprehensive operation to locate the abductors, “acting on precise intelligence and through intensive field operations” following the interception of a kidnapper’s vehicle that overturned during their escape attempt.

Authorities successfully detained one individual and confiscated one of the cars used in the crime, though additional suspects remain free, according to the official statement.

The security sources revealed that Kittleson was taken from Baghdad’s center, specifically on Saadoun Street. They noted that warnings were distributed to all security checkpoints, which led to the pursuit as the kidnappers traveled southwest toward Babil province.

Al-Monitor, a Middle Eastern news organization, confirmed that Kittleson, who contributes articles to their publication, was the journalist taken Tuesday in Baghdad. The outlet expressed being “deeply alarmed” by her abduction.

“We call for her safe and immediate release,” their statement declared. “We stand by her vital reporting from the region and call for her swift return to continue her important work.”

Kittleson has worked as a regional freelance correspondent for many years, providing extensive coverage from both Syria and Iraq.

A representative from the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad refused to provide comment.

The U.S. State Department issued a statement saying, “The Trump Administration has no higher priority than the safety and security of Americans” and confirmed they are “tracking these reports.”

“Due to privacy and other considerations, we have nothing further to share at this time,” their statement continued.

Whether this kidnapping connects to the current regional conflict remains unclear, though Iranian-supported militias in Iraq have consistently targeted American installations since the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran began.

Following the war’s outbreak, the U.S. embassy has issued warnings about abduction dangers and encouraged American citizens to depart the country.

Iraqi militant groups have also taken foreign nationals captive prior to the current conflict.

Elizabeth Tsurkov, a Princeton University graduate student holding both Israeli and Russian passports, vanished in Baghdad during 2023. Following her release to U.S. officials in September 2025, she revealed that the Iranian-affiliated Iraqi group Kataib Hezbollah had held her captive.

The organization never formally acknowledged responsibility for her kidnapping.

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — Europe’s energy chief delivered sobering news Tuesday, cautioning that the dramatic surge in fuel costs triggered by the Iran conflict will persist long after any potential peace agreement.

EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen emphasized that while the 27-nation European Union isn’t facing immediate fuel shortages, the bloc is grappling with strained diesel and jet fuel availability plus growing limitations in worldwide gas markets that are pushing electricity costs higher.

“What I find extremely important is to state as clearly as I can, that even if that peace is here tomorrow, still we will not go back to normal in a foreseeable future,” Jørgensen stated during a press briefing following discussions among EU energy ministers.

The commissioner revealed that European officials are developing a comprehensive package of relief measures to help households and companies cope with massive energy cost increases that have sent gas prices soaring 70% and oil climbing 60% across Europe. The conflict has added 14 billion euros to the EU’s fossil fuel import expenses, Jørgensen reported.

He stressed the need for unified action among all member nations to “avoid fragmented national responses and disruptive signals to the markets.”

The upcoming relief package, which Jørgensen promised would be announced “quite soon,” will feature options to help countries separate gas pricing from electricity rates. Officials are also considering an electricity tax reduction proposed by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

While Jørgensen doesn’t anticipate a repeat of 2022’s natural gas emergency that generated enormous profits for energy companies during price spikes, he noted that a temporary “windfall tax” on such firms remains “a possibility.”

The commissioner highlighted current “good opportunities” for member countries to provide financial assistance to vulnerable populations and industries experiencing “extraordinary stress,” promising the Commission would make “these possibilities even simpler and wider.”

Jørgensen also urged EU nations to adopt the International Energy Agency’s 10-step conservation plan, which features remote work policies, lower highway speed limits, enhanced public transportation, and expanded carpooling programs.

The EU maintains its prohibition on Russian gas imports, designed to decrease Moscow’s energy influence and eliminate funding for Russia’s Ukrainian military campaign. Russian gas dependency has plummeted from 45% before the conflict to just 10% currently, with plans to reach zero once alternative suppliers increase deliveries, particularly from America. European leaders are exploring new energy partnerships with Azerbaijan, Algeria, and Canada, along with smaller producers globally.

Jørgensen cautioned against repeating “the mistakes of the past allowing Putin to weaponize energy against us and blackmail member states.” He declared it “would be totally unacceptable” for the EU to continue purchasing energy that would “indirectly help finance the terrible war that Putin is conducting in Ukraine.”

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Caribbean nation Haiti unveiled strict budget-cutting measures Tuesday in response to rising global oil costs and supply disruptions caused by ongoing conflict in Iran.

The cash-strapped government has prohibited purchasing any new vehicles, mandated reductions in fuel spending across public agencies, and restricted international travel to only essential trips that must receive approval from the prime minister.

Additionally, security details will be reduced to just one vehicle per convoy in a nation where criminal organizations have seized control of roughly 90% of Port-au-Prince, the capital, along with large portions of the countryside.

Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé authorized the new policies in an official statement, explaining they would help the administration “to anticipate serious repercussions on the already fragile macroeconomic balance and public finances in particular.”

“The government has no choice but to further reduce state spending,” the statement said.

Economic hardship throughout Haiti has worsened as criminal gangs have expanded their territorial control following the July 2021 killing of President Jovenel Moïse.

Nations worldwide have implemented various responses to the ongoing conflict, with some adopting four-day work schedules to conserve resources.

HAVANA (AP) — Cuban residents who have been forced to carry bags stuffed with cash due to severe inflation received some assistance Wednesday as the country launched two new high-value banknotes into circulation.

The Central Bank of Cuba released the new 2,000 and 5,000 peso bills, worth approximately $4 and $10 respectively, following their announcement Tuesday on the official government platform Cubadebate.

These bills mark a historic milestone as the first Cuban paper money to showcase women. The violet and pink 2,000 peso bill displays Mariana Grajales, an independence movement patriot and mother to multiple Cuban heroes. The blue 5,000 peso note honors Celia Sánchez, a guerrilla combatant who worked closely with former leader Fidel Castro.

According to Cubadebate, the new currency will “facilitate cash transactions, respond to the real needs of an economy that demands large amounts of cash… reduce the costs of cash logistics, and improve operational efficiency during the current period of inflation.”

Previously, the 1,000 peso bill represented the largest denomination available, but escalating inflation since 2001 has left citizens struggling with bulky stacks of money that exceed wallet capacity.

While government officials have encouraged electronic banking and transfers, cash remains the preferred payment method for many Cubans.

Official data shows annual inflation reached 14% by the end of last year. Price surges over the past five years — which hit a peak of 77% in 2021 — coupled with sharp drops in the nation’s economic output have dramatically affected everyday life.

The island nation faces a deep economic downturn stemming from the coronavirus pandemic, a 2021 monetary overhaul that triggered massive inflation, and expanded U.S. economic sanctions designed to pressure Cuba toward political and economic reforms.

HARARE, Zimbabwe — Violence erupted during a public parliamentary session in Zimbabwe’s capital on Tuesday as lawmakers heard testimony about proposed constitutional changes that could keep the nation’s 83-year-old president in office longer.

The meeting at a Harare sports facility became chaotic when supporters of extending the presidential term physically assaulted prominent human rights attorney Doug Coltart, leaving him injured. The attackers damaged his eyeglasses, stole his mobile phone, and left him with bruises as he attempted to leave the venue.

Coltart was among several critics who walked out of the session to protest the intimidating atmosphere that dominated the proceedings. Supporters of the term extension pushed and struck him while shouting their backing for the constitutional changes.

The proposed modifications would permit President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who previously served as a guerrilla fighter, to continue governing for an additional two years past his scheduled departure in 2028. The changes would also transfer presidential selection authority from voters to Parliament and extend both presidential and legislative terms from five to seven years.

These nationwide hearings represent a required procedural step before parliamentary members cast their votes on the legislation, although public feedback does not legally bind Parliament’s decision.

According to Tendai Biti, who leads the Constitutional Defenders Forum opposing these proposals, critics at multiple hearings that started Monday across Zimbabwe faced hostile crowds who shouted them down, intimidated speakers, or prevented them from participating entirely.

Biti, who previously served as finance minister, gained his freedom on bail last week following his detention for allegedly conducting an unauthorized gathering against the amendments.

Earlier this month, another opposition leader required hospitalization after unidentified attackers beat him following a meeting about the proposed changes. The victim claimed police officers carried out the assault, though law enforcement denied involvement and stated the gathering had been prohibited.

Government officials have dismissed claims they are silencing opposition voices, maintaining that the reform process follows legal procedures. While Mnangagwa has stated he plans to leave office when his second term concludes in 2028, he has not publicly criticized his ruling ZANU-PF party’s efforts to extend his presidency.

Mnangagwa assumed leadership following a widely supported military takeover in 2017 that removed Zimbabwe’s long-serving ruler, the late Robert Mugabe. He subsequently secured victory in contested elections during 2018 and 2023, both of which drew criticism from international rights organizations for alleged suppression of opposition candidates and their supporters.

Opposition voices maintain that any attempt to lengthen presidential terms must receive voter approval through a nationwide referendum.

The resolution of Prince Harry’s remaining legal battle with British newspapers may depend on whether a judge finds a private investigator credible, after the detective previously confessed to surveillance activities targeting the royal family member.

During closing arguments Tuesday, an attorney representing the Daily Mail’s publisher argued that the lawsuit filed by the Duke of Sussex alongside celebrities like Elton John, Sadie Frost, and Elizabeth Hurley falls apart based on testimony from investigator Gavin Burrows, who denied conducting surveillance work for the newspaper or its sister publication, the Mail on Sunday.

In his final argument, defense attorney Antony White stated that a document Burrows supposedly signed — which he later rejected — claiming he “must have done hundreds of jobs” for the Mail from 2000 to 2005 had sparked the legal action.

However, Burrows, who previously expressed regret to Harry in a BBC program for aggressively pursuing him for tabloids during his teenage years, testified he never performed such activities for the Mail. He claimed the document was created by the plaintiffs’ legal representatives and his signature was falsified.

Throughout the 11-week High Court proceedings, Judge Matthew Nicklin repeatedly questioned the plaintiffs’ attorney about the case’s viability if Burrows’ original statement was dismissed. The judge will deliver a written decision at a later date.

Lawyer David Sherborne argued that substantial additional evidence exists showing the newspapers engaged in illegal information collection, including employing other investigators, reporters, and freelance journalists to hack phones, intercept voicemails, and gather information through fraudulent means.

Harry and six additional plaintiffs are pursuing “a substantial award of damages, including aggravated damages,” according to Sherborne. Legal expenses alone are estimated to approach 40 million pounds ($52 million).

This trial represents the concluding phase of Harry’s extended conflict with British tabloid media. He seeks to make newspapers answerable for previous misconduct and transform what he has characterized as a harmful media landscape.

Harry and fellow plaintiffs are pursuing legal action against Associated Newspapers Ltd. for privacy violations. Additional plaintiffs include anti-racism campaigner Doreen Lawrence, former politician Simon Hughes, and John’s spouse, David Furnish.

They allege the publications engaged in “clear, systematic and sustained use of unlawful information gathering” spanning two decades to conduct surveillance on them.

Associated Newspapers rejected the accusations as “preposterous,” maintaining that approximately 50 disputed articles relied on legitimate sources, including friends, royal staff members, and publicists who voluntarily provided information to journalists. The company also argued that claims reaching back to the 1990s were submitted beyond acceptable time limits.

While Sherborne claimed payment records to private investigators corresponded with publication dates of questioned articles, White dismissed this as speculation and argued the case depended too heavily on assumptions.

Harry testified early in the January trial that media intrusions made him “paranoid beyond belief,” damaged his relationships, and affected his mental well-being.

During cross-examination, he adopted a protective stance and became emotional, stating that tabloids had made his wife Meghan’s life “an absolute misery.”

Harry has connected his media hostility to his mother Princess Diana’s death, who died in a 1997 automobile accident while being chased by photographers, and to what he describes as continuous press harassment of his wife that influenced their choice to reduce royal responsibilities and relocate to the United States in 2020.

Harry previously secured a favorable ruling in a phone hacking case against the Daily Mirror’s publisher and received a settlement and apology from Rupert Murdoch’s Sun and the now-closed News of the World.

The Mail trial has proceeded differently from the Mirror case, featuring significantly more current and former journalists and editors testifying to deny using illegal methods for stories about Harry’s numerous relationships — particularly regarding former girlfriend Chelsy Davy — his godfather responsibilities, and his deceased mother.

Several reporters identified their sources and challenged Harry’s claim that his “social circles were not leaky.”

“They were not all tight lipped,” said Katie Nicholl, a former Mail on Sunday editor, regarding Harry’s associates. “I had very good sources in the inner circle.”

HAVANA — In a crumbling Havana neighborhood, Yuneisy Riviaux faces a reality she never thought possible: watching her young daughters go hungry because there simply isn’t enough food.

The 42-year-old mother, currently without work, shares a deteriorating home with multiple families after the building’s upper level caved in years earlier. As she holds her 2-year-old daughter Seinet, Riviaux describes their desperate situation.

“Things have been going very, very badly for me,” Riviaux explained. “Some days I manage to get food.”

“But other times I can’t — like right now, when I have to bite my lip and swallow my tears because I don’t have lunch for the girls.”

Cuba’s worsening financial collapse, now in its sixth year and made worse by energy sanctions implemented during Donald Trump’s presidency, has hit families like Riviaux’s the hardest. Constant power outages, reductions in government food distributions, and critical shortages of clean water and medical supplies have made survival a daily struggle for Riviaux, her 61-year-old husband Cristóbal Estrada, and their two children.

Earlier that morning, Estrada had prepared breakfast for their 7-year-old daughter Edianet: a slice of rationed bread topped with a small amount of butter — a rare treat given to the family by a passing tourist exploring their neighborhood.

After taking Edianet to school, Estrada began the challenging journey to Cotorro, roughly 12 miles away, hoping to collect food and financial assistance from family members. The nationwide power failure on March 21 had destroyed all the perishable items in their refrigerator.

“He has to see if he can find a ride, a bus or whatever it takes to get there,” Riviaux said.

Cuba’s transportation network has nearly ground to a halt due to fuel shortages after the United States blocked oil shipments to the island following January’s attack on Venezuela — Cuba’s primary petroleum source. The island only produces about 40% of its required crude oil.

These fuel shortages have triggered nationwide blackouts that have frustrated Cubans already dealing with years of hardship. The lack of gasoline and essential supplies has devastated healthcare facilities and caused dramatic increases in food costs and availability problems.

Mexico previously provided oil to Cuba during the island’s ongoing energy struggles, but stopped these deliveries when faced with potential US trade penalties, now limiting assistance to humanitarian supplies only.

This Tuesday, a Russian oil tanker arrived at Cuba’s Matanzas port carrying 730,000 barrels of petroleum after the Trump administration allowed the delivery despite the US energy blockade — the first such shipment in three months. However, energy analysts estimate this supply will only meet the island’s diesel requirements for approximately nine to ten days.

Riviaux and Estrada previously operated a small vendor stand outside their residence, selling drink mixes and basic packaged goods.

However, in February, Estrada became seriously ill and required hospitalization for a collapsed lung. The medical expenses proved financially devastating as the couple exhausted their savings purchasing medications on the illegal market when government-subsidized pharmacies had no supplies available.

“We had to sacrifice that business to buy the medicine and save his life,” Riviaux said.

Currently, Riviaux sells sweet baked goods prepared by her sister whenever they can obtain flour — an item not included in the limited monthly government rations that provide rice, beans, sugar, cooking oil, coffee, and daily bread.

Cuba’s previously celebrated universal healthcare system has deteriorated so severely that it cannot deliver basic medical services. Medical facilities face enormous backlogs, with approximately 96,000 surgical procedures delayed, including 11,000 for pediatric patients, based on local government and United Nations data.

Almost 5 million citizens with ongoing medical conditions cannot access necessary medications, while critical treatments including cancer radiation therapy and kidney dialysis have been suspended for 16,000 and 2,800 patients respectively.

The United Nations announced a $94 million emergency assistance program this week to address what officials described as a “life-threatening” situation for Cuban citizens. Francisco Pichón, the UN’s resident coordinator in Cuba, noted the appeal follows Cuba’s historical leadership in Latin American maternal healthcare and immunization programs — achievements now seriously threatened.

By midday, with her husband still away, Riviaux had no option but to feed her 2-year-old a piece of bread and the family’s remaining milk — a donation from Mexico. Riviaux went without eating. Her 7-year-old continues receiving free school meals, as classes persist despite the national emergency.

Riviaux looks back wistfully to the period before the COVID-19 pandemic, when she recalls “Cuba had everything.”

“I know the pandemic hit the whole world, but it hit us much harder,” she said.

Before the pandemic, each family’s ration booklet included rice, beans, daily milk for children, sugar, oil, chicken, ground meat, and approximately 30 food and hygiene items. These supplies typically lasted about 20 days, requiring families to purchase additional items from private businesses using currency tied to the US dollar.

Enhanced US sanctions that began during Trump’s first term, combined with tourism’s collapse during the pandemic and Cuba’s unsuccessful economic strategies, created a severe recession.

Cuba’s economic output has dropped 15% during the past six years, causing a massive population exodus. The island lost over 1 million residents — roughly 10% of its total population — in 2024 alone.

Following the US capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Trump has intensified his statements about Cuba, initially suggesting a “friendly takeover” and recently telling conservative Latin American allies he would “take care” of Cuba after concluding the conflict with Iran.

Riviaux acknowledged that despite attempting to avoid political discussions, Trump’s aggressive language has caused her significant concern.

“We heard the news that Trump wanted to take over. What will happen if the U.S. gets involved?” she questioned as her husband returned late that afternoon.

He brought plantains, chicken, and sufficient money to purchase a kilogram of rice from a neighboring vendor — providing small comfort during an unpredictable week.

Military officials in Burundi report that loud explosions that shook the commercial capital of Bujumbura on Tuesday stemmed from an electrical malfunction at a weapons storage facility within a military installation.

The powerful blasts echoed throughout the city, creating massive smoke clouds visible across the skyline while frightened citizens rushed indoors for safety.

Social media users posted videos and photos capturing the dramatic explosions, showing thick smoke and flames in the distance, though Reuters was unable to confirm whether these images were authentic.

“A serious electrical accident at the (army) ammunition depot in Musaga is the cause of the explosions currently being heard in the economic capital, Bujumbura,” military spokesman Gaspard Baratuza told Reuters when asked about the incident.

Baratuza called on citizens to remain composed and stay away from the affected area, noting that emergency response crews were working to handle the crisis.

Palestinian families in the West Bank are expressing deep anxiety about the safety of their imprisoned loved ones following Israel’s passage of new legislation that establishes capital punishment as the standard sentence for Palestinians found guilty of fatal attacks.

The legislation, approved by Israeli lawmakers late Monday evening, technically applies to all citizens but specifically targets attacks described as those “negating Israel’s existence” – language that critics argue makes it highly unlikely to affect Jewish Israelis.

Legal scholars anticipate Israel’s Supreme Court will overturn the measure after civil rights organizations file their expected challenge, noting the law conflicts with international agreements. The U.N. human rights chief stated Tuesday that the legislation breaches international humanitarian law.

Under the new statute, condemned individuals would face execution specifically through hanging within 90 days of sentencing, with no opportunity for clemency. Legal experts suggest the hanging provision was included due to concerns that Israeli physicians would decline to participate in lethal injection procedures.

While judges retain discretion to impose life imprisonment instead of execution in undefined “special circumstances,” the law otherwise mandates capital punishment.

The Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem reports that West Bank military tribunals, which exclusively handle Palestinian cases, achieve conviction rates of 96% and have documented histories of coercing confessions through pressure or torture – allegations Israel disputes.

Family members of Palestinian detainees gathered for a demonstration in Ramallah Tuesday, demanding the death penalty statute be rescinded.

“I am afraid for my son and for all the prisoners. The news came down like a thunderbolt on the prisoners’ families,” said Maysoun Shawamreh, whose 29-year-old son Mansour faces attempted murder charges.

Abdel Fattah al-Himouni’s son Ahmed awaits trial for his alleged role in an October 2024 combined shooting and stabbing incident at a light-rail station near Tel Aviv that claimed seven lives, including a woman holding her infant.

Al-Himouni expressed concern his son could now face execution if convicted and questioned whether a fair trial would be possible. “I appeal to human rights organizations to pressure the Israeli government so this law does not come into effect,” said al-Himouni.

The 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention, which Israel has signed, requires that death row inmates retain petition rights for pardons and mandates at least six months between sentencing and execution.

Mordechai Kremnitzer, a legal scholar with the Israel Democracy Institute, characterized the law as “a clear case that invites the Supreme Court to strike it down.”

“The likelihood of executions in the near future is not very high,” Kremnitzer explained, noting that judges typically oppose capital punishment as it conflicts with both universal and Jewish moral principles.

The measure has generated international condemnation of Israel, which already faces criticism for escalating settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank and its military operations against Hamas in Gaza.

Israeli settler attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank seldom result in military court charges. The monitoring group Yesh Din reports the most recent case of an Israeli citizen being indicted for killing a Palestinian involved a 2018 incident.

In Israel’s civilian court system, where Palestinians may also face trial, the law similarly mandates death or life imprisonment for homicides intended to “negate Israel’s existence” – terminology unlikely to apply to Jewish defendants.

“That’s how the law will only apply to Palestinians,” explained attorney Debbie Gild-Hayo of The Association for Civil Rights in Israel, which has petitioned the Supreme Court challenging the measure.

Suhad Bishara, whose organization Adalah jointly filed the appeal with ACRI, argued that “military courts have no basic guarantees for a fair trial” and questioned whether Israel’s parliament has authority to create laws for occupied territories.

Palestinian Authority prisoners’ minister Raed Abu al-Hummus estimates 45 to 47 Palestinian detainees currently awaiting murder sentencing could face execution if the law takes effect.

ACRI clarified the statute would only apply to future killings, not past cases, and would not affect the hundreds of Hamas fighters involved in the October 7, 2023 attack that killed 1,200 people in southern Israel, since parliament continues developing the legal framework for their trials.

Israel’s far-right politicians celebrated the legislation as fulfilling a key 2022 campaign promise by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. His Jewish Power party contends capital punishment will discourage Palestinians from conducting deadly attacks against Israelis or attempting kidnappings to secure prisoner exchanges.

However, Amnesty International, which monitors global death penalty implementation, states “there is no evidence that the death penalty is any more effective in reducing crime than life imprisonment.”

Two Indonesian peacekeepers serving with the United Nations died Monday when an explosive device detonated along their convoy route in southern Lebanon, according to preliminary investigation results released by UN officials on Tuesday.

The fatal incident occurred near the village of Bani Hayyan, where the roadside explosion also left two additional soldiers injured. This tragedy followed another deadly attack just hours earlier, when a third Indonesian peacekeeper lost his life Sunday night after a projectile struck close to a UN position.

Speaking at a UN Security Council session focused on Lebanon, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, who oversees UN peacekeeping operations, announced that investigators are working to understand the full details of these attacks. “UNIFIL is conducting investigations to determine the circumstances of these reprehensible developments,” Lacroix stated.

The violence comes as fighting between Israel and the Lebanese militant organization Hezbollah intensified following the outbreak of renewed conflict on March 2nd.

Israel’s UN representative Danny Danon pointed fingers at Hezbollah for the peacekeepers’ deaths, claiming the organization fires rockets from civilian areas adjacent to UN facilities. This practice, he argued, “putting peacekeepers directly in the line of fire.”

When asked to respond to Danon’s accusations, UNIFIL spokesperson Kandice Ardiel replied: “We invite them to share their evidence with our investigative team.”

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric confirmed during a press briefing that the Bani Hayyan attack involved a “roadside bomb, most likely an IED,” referring to an improvised explosive device.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a strong condemnation of the attacks, describing them as “grave violations of international humanitarian law… and may amount to war crimes.” He emphasized that “There will need to be accountability” for these incidents.

Indonesia’s foreign ministry responded Tuesday with its own harsh criticism, condemning the attacks “in the strongest terms” while noting the worsening security situation across the region. The ministry specifically cited ongoing Israeli military actions as creating serious dangers for UN peacekeeping personnel stationed in Lebanon.

During the Security Council meeting, U.S. representative Mike Waltz highlighted the long history of peacekeeper casualties, noting that since 1978, more than 300 UNIFIL personnel have died. This record, he argued, means the council “must think very carefully about the effectiveness of this effort.”

“We can help refocus international efforts on supporting Lebanese state institutions, reducing risk to peacekeepers, and pressing Hezbollah and Iran to cease their destabilizing activities,” Waltz added.

The peacekeeping mission faces a scheduled conclusion, with the Security Council having decided that UNIFIL operations will end in late 2026, followed by complete withdrawal in 2027. Current deployment numbers show 7,505 peacekeepers from 47 different countries serving in the mission as of March.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced Tuesday his decision to retain Vice President Geraldo Alckmin as his vice presidential candidate for the upcoming October election.

The 80-year-old leftist leader faced pressure from political allies to select a running mate from a larger right-wing party, but ultimately chose to stand by the former São Paulo state governor.

Alckmin, 73, represents the center-right and previously challenged Lula in the 2006 presidential race, which he lost. He currently serves as the nation’s industry minister alongside his vice presidential duties.

According to Brazil’s election regulations, Alckmin must resign from his Cabinet position to qualify as a candidate. “Our partner Alckmin will have to leave the Industry Ministry. He will have to leave because he will be candidate for vice president once again,” Lula announced during a Cabinet session in Brasília.

Brazilian electoral rules require government ministers to step down by April 4 if they plan to seek office in the October general election. Multiple other Cabinet members are expected to resign to pursue various political positions.

Alckmin’s conservative background proved valuable in Lula’s tight 2022 victory over former President Jair Bolsonaro. This election cycle, Lula is anticipated to face Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, the former president’s son. Current polling indicates a closely contested race between the two candidates.

Known to many Brazilians as “Dr. Alckmin,” the mild-mannered Catholic politician led Brazil’s most prosperous state on three separate occasions. His 2006 presidential bid ended in a decisive runoff defeat to Lula. In 2018, despite beginning as the frontrunner, he suffered an early elimination in the first round to political newcomer Bolsonaro, who subsequently defeated Workers’ Party nominee Fernando Haddad.

For the 2022 election, Alckmin switched his party affiliation to the Brazilian Socialist Party to join Lula’s ticket, abandoning the center-right Brazilian Social Democracy Party he had helped establish thirty years earlier.

As vice president, Alckmin has played a significant role in Lula’s government, particularly in trade negotiations with the United States and in finalizing the agreement between the Mercosur trade bloc and the European Union.

DENPASAR, Indonesia — Indonesian immigration officials have detained a Scottish national believed to be a high-ranking member of a global criminal organization, law enforcement announced Tuesday.

Steven Lyons, 45, was apprehended by immigration personnel at Ngurah Rai International Airport on Saturday after arriving from Singapore, confirmed Untung Widiyatmoko, who leads Indonesia’s Interpol division.

Airport systems had identified Lyons through an Interpol Red Notice requested by Spanish authorities. These notices serve as international alerts asking law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and arrest individuals for potential extradition.

Widiyatmoko informed media in Denpasar, Bali’s capital city, that Lyons faces charges in both Spain and Britain for organized criminal activity, narcotics trafficking, and financial crimes. Officials plan to transfer him to Spain on Wednesday.

Spanish authorities have pursued Lyons for approximately two years following a homicide investigation that began in 2024. Bali Police Chief Daniel Adityajaya explained that the capture resulted from collaborative efforts between Spanish and Scottish law enforcement agencies.

Widiyatmoko stated that investigators believe Lyons operated a criminal network utilizing fake businesses to launder money throughout Europe and Middle Eastern nations, including Spain, Scotland, England, Dubai, Qatar, Bahrain and Turkey.

Law enforcement agencies in Scotland and Spain conducted coordinated raids last week related to Lyons’ case, leading to several additional arrests with assistance from Europol, the European Union’s law enforcement coordination agency, along with authorities in Turkey, the Netherlands and the United Arab Emirates.

Reports from Scottish news outlets indicate Lyons escaped a 2006 Glasgow shooting that claimed his cousin’s life, subsequently relocating to Spain before establishing residence in Dubai. In May of last year, his brother and another associate were fatally shot in what authorities suspect was a gang-related attack at a coastal bar in Fuengirola, located in southern Spain.

Bugie Kurniawan from Bali’s immigration department revealed that Lyons traveled with two other individuals who remain on the island. While Spanish Interpol officials have identified these companions as suspected members of the same criminal organization, no arrest warrants have been issued for them.

Israeli military officials confirmed that four soldiers died during fierce fighting with Hezbollah militants in southern Lebanon Monday evening, as border operations continue in the region.

Military authorities have identified three of the deceased service members as Captain Noam Madmoni, age 22, from Sderot; Staff Sergeant Ben Cohen, age 21, from Lehavim; and Staff Sergeant Maxsim Entis, age 21, from Bat Yam. All three belonged to the Nahal Brigade’s Reconnaissance Unit. Officials have not yet disclosed the identity of the fourth fallen soldier.

Military investigators report the confrontation took place Monday evening in southern Lebanon’s western region, where reconnaissance troops spotted a group of Hezbollah fighters. The Israeli soldiers confronted the militants in close-quarters combat, opening fire and striking multiple targets.

The firefight resulted in four Israeli fatalities. Three other soldiers sustained injuries – one critically wounded, with another soldier and a reservist suffering moderate wounds. Medical teams transported all injured personnel to hospitals, and military officials contacted the families of those affected.

As troops worked to remove the wounded from the battlefield, Hezbollah forces launched an anti-tank missile at Israeli positions. Military sources say the missile strike caused no further casualties.

Israeli forces retaliated with tank bombardments and aerial attacks against Hezbollah positions in the surrounding area.

The military stated that troops located and confronted terrorist groups as part of continuing missions in southern Lebanon. The Nahal Brigade operates within the 162nd Division’s command structure during efforts to gain military control of the border zone.

Syrian Internal Security Forces have arrested former Major General Muhammad Mansoura in Jableh, located in Latakia governorate, and brought him to Damascus for questioning.

Information from The Media Line reveals that authorities have launched a formal investigation into Mansoura and are ready to accept any complaints or legal actions brought against him.

Mansoura stands out as a key security official who occupied critical roles within Syria’s former government structure. From 2005 through 2016, he directed Syria’s Political Security Directorate, which ranked among the most powerful security organizations under the Interior Ministry.

Throughout his career, he occupied various security leadership roles, including directing the military intelligence division in Syria’s Jazira region from Qamishli, leading the Palestine branch in Damascus, and serving as deputy to Major General Ghazi Kanaan.

Born in 1950 in the village of Ain Qubiya within Latakia governorate’s Hamam al-Qarahleh subdistrict, Mansoura achieved the rank of major general. Sources suggest he managed security operations involving Arab-Kurdish relations in the Qamishli region and supervised issues related to Kurdish political groups and military forces during his time there.

Allegations have connected his name to weapons trafficking and corruption charges, along with claims of connections to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party and its Syrian political affiliates. Mansoura has not responded publicly to these accusations.

This arrest occurs as pressure mounts within Syria to examine suspected violations and misconduct by the previous security establishment. These calls represent part of a comprehensive transitional justice movement that encompasses truth-seeking, legal responsibility, victim compensation, and protecting historical records—measures considered crucial for the nation’s political and social healing.

This action follows dramatic transformations in Syria after Bashar Assad’s government collapsed in late 2024, marking an end to an era characterized by oppression, violations, and security agencies controlling civilian life.

The pursuit of former security and military leaders represents a component of the wider transitional justice initiative, encompassing accountability measures, truth revelation, and safeguarding victims’ rights and collective memory.

Military forces worldwide are grappling with the growing threat of drone warfare, and one Israeli company believes it has found an innovative solution. Rather than developing specialized anti-drone weapons, Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) has created a system that enhances conventional rifles where it matters most – at the trigger.

The company’s new Arbel technology integrates computer processing directly into standard firearms, enabling military personnel to achieve rapid, accurate strikes against small tactical drones during fleeting engagement opportunities. This approach allows soldiers to deliver multiple precise shots in the critical seconds when unmanned targets briefly become visible before vanishing again.

A journalist from The Media Line recently toured IWI’s advanced facility to examine how this anti-drone technology functions. The system represents a shift away from creating entirely new weapon platforms, instead focusing on upgrading existing military rifles with enhanced firing capabilities.

The technology addresses a key challenge in modern warfare: the difficulty of neutralizing small, fast-moving drones with traditional shooting methods. By incorporating computational assistance into the trigger mechanism, the Arbel system aims to improve soldiers’ effectiveness against these increasingly common battlefield threats.

Three United Nations peacekeepers from Indonesia died this week in southern Lebanon during separate attacks, marking some of the most dangerous conditions the international mission has faced as it prepares to conclude operations next year.

The UN Interim Force in Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, has maintained a presence in the region since 1978, weathering multiple conflicts including the current war between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants that erupted in 2024.

According to UN Security Council decisions, the peacekeeping mission will end operations by late 2026 and complete its withdrawal in 2027. The force currently includes 7,505 personnel from 47 different countries.

Two of the Indonesian peacekeepers died Monday when a roadside bomb struck their convoy near the town of Bani Hayyan, according to preliminary investigation findings released by the head of UN peacekeeping operations.

Israel’s UN ambassador claimed that Hezbollah explosive devices were responsible for that attack. UNIFIL spokesperson Kandice Ardiel responded by asking Israel to “share their evidence with our investigative team.”

Hezbollah has not yet responded to requests for comment about the allegations.

The third peacekeeper was killed Sunday when a projectile struck a UNIFIL base close to the village of Adchit al-Qusayr. That incident remains under investigation.

During the 2024 conflict, UNIFIL facilities were repeatedly hit by fire from both sides, though no peacekeepers died in those earlier incidents.

Ardiel described “a great deal of violence” occurring around UNIFIL positions, explaining: “There are projectiles being launched back and forth between the Israel Defense Forces and non-state actors, presumably Hezbollah.”

The most recent peacekeeper death prior to this week occurred in 2022, when an Irish soldier was killed after his vehicle came under fire in southern Lebanon. A Lebanese military court later convicted six Hezbollah members in connection with that killing.

UNIFIL was originally established in 1978 following Israel’s invasion of Lebanon to combat Palestinian militant groups in the south. The mission’s initial goals included verifying Israel’s withdrawal and assisting Lebanon in restoring government control over the area.

As the Palestinian threat to Israel decreased, Hezbollah emerged as a new hostile force following Israel’s 1982 invasion of Lebanon.

Following a 2006 conflict, UN Resolution 1701 significantly expanded UNIFIL’s responsibilities to include ceasefire monitoring, supporting Lebanese army deployment in the south, and assisting with enforcement of illegal weapons restrictions.

“UNIFIL’s mission is to monitor the situation and report on violations of Resolution 1701,” Ardiel explained, noting: “The active conflict has changed what we’re able to do as we’re no longer able to go out and patrol.”

Unlike in 2024 when Israel requested peacekeepers to abandon their positions, no such demand has been made this time, she said. “But of course, they continue to reiterate that they consider this a dangerous situation” and that peacekeepers “should stay out of the way.”

Israeli military officials stated they are coordinating with UNIFIL and have urged “different uninvolved forces and civilians to get out of harm’s way” following Hezbollah attacks.

The decision to end UNIFIL’s mission comes after the 2024 war dramatically altered Lebanon’s power structure, significantly weakening Hezbollah while a new Lebanese government has taken office and begun efforts to peacefully disarm the group, starting in southern regions.

The U.S. ambassador to the UN cited a “radically different” security situation in Lebanon when agreeing to a French-proposed resolution in August that extended UNIFIL’s mandate “for a final time.” Israel’s UN ambassador argued at that time that UNIFIL had “failed in its mission and allowed Hezbollah to become a dangerous regional threat.”

One of Israel’s current objectives is establishing and maintaining security control over the territory between the border and the Litani River, which encompasses UNIFIL’s operational area.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has requested that British diplomatic officials worldwide help combat false information about his city that has been promoted by President Donald Trump.

Speaking to Reuters after meeting with British diplomats, ambassadors and high commissioners on Tuesday, Khan expressed concern about what he termed misleading claims being spread about London.

Trump has previously criticized Khan, whom he has labeled a “terrible mayor,” and has made various statements about London, claiming crime rates are extremely high and suggesting the city wants to implement Islamic law.

Khan acknowledged that London isn’t without problems but emphasized that it remains secure and is actually safer than many major American cities. The mayor, who made history in 2016 as London’s first Muslim mayor and has since won two additional elections, cited recent crime statistics to support his position.

According to Khan, London achieved its lowest homicide rate per capita on record last year, while incidents of phone theft have also decreased recently.

“A lot of this misinformation, disinformation and lies comes from the United States of America,” Khan stated. “It’s really important to counter the propaganda coming from President Trump.”

The White House has not responded to requests for comment regarding Khan’s statements.

Khan emphasized the need to better challenge false narratives that circulate globally. “One of the things that we’ve got to do better is to rebut these lies that exist across the globe,” he said, stressing that diplomatic personnel need accurate information to counter misconceptions about London.

The mayor expressed worry that such false claims spreading through social media platforms might discourage tourism, investment, residency, and educational opportunities in London, potentially damaging the city’s economic future.

The diplomatic meeting included representatives from multiple countries, including the United States, United Arab Emirates, and Japan, along with officials from London’s Metropolitan Police.

The ongoing public dispute between Trump and Khan began around 2017, when Khan criticized Trump’s proposed travel restrictions targeting several predominantly Muslim nations.

Several major European allies are limiting American military access to their territory during the ongoing conflict with Iran, creating friction within NATO as President Trump publicly criticizes partner nations for their lack of cooperation.

Sources revealed Tuesday that both France and Italy have recently declined to support certain US-Israeli military activities, marking a shift in European participation since the conflict began February 28.

Trump took to Truth Social to express his frustration with France’s decision, writing: “The Country of France wouldn’t let planes headed to Israel, loaded up with military supplies, fly over French territory. France has been VERY UNHELPFUL with respect to the ‘Butcher of Iran,’ who has been successfully eliminated! The U.S.A. will REMEMBER!!!”

French officials responded with surprise to Trump’s post, stating their actions align with policies established at the conflict’s beginning. However, diplomatic sources confirmed this was France’s first refusal to allow Israeli aircraft carrying American weapons to cross its airspace since hostilities commenced.

Italy similarly restricted access last week when it prevented US military planes from landing at Sicily’s Sigonella air base before continuing to Middle East operations. The Corriere della Sera newspaper reported that “some U.S. bombers” had planned to use the eastern Sicily facility as a stopover.

Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto downplayed any policy changes or tensions with Washington, explaining on social media that American bases remain operational but require special authorization for activities beyond existing agreements.

Spain has taken the strongest stance among European nations, completely closing its airspace to US aircraft participating in Iranian operations. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has emerged as one of the most outspoken opponents of American and Israeli military actions.

Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles stated her country will only permit base usage for NATO collective defense purposes. Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares dismissed concerns about potential retaliation, telling state television: “We fear absolutely nothing. How could a country possibly fear anything for upholding international law, world peace and the United Nations Charter?”

Trump also targeted Britain in his social media criticism, despite the upcoming state visit by King Charles and Queen Camilla scheduled for late April. He posted: “All of those countries that can’t get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz, like the United Kingdom, which refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran, I have a suggestion for you: Number 1, buy from the U.S., we have plenty, and Number 2, build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT.”

Germany, which hosts Ramstein – America’s largest European military installation – initially indicated no restrictions on base usage early in the conflict. However, debate has emerged following comments by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier questioning the war’s legality.

The restrictions highlight growing divisions within the NATO alliance over the month-long Iranian conflict, with European partners increasingly reluctant to provide military support for operations they view as potentially destabilizing.

BEIRUT (AP) — More than a month after the United States and Israel began military operations against Iran on February 28, the Trump administration maintains it has nearly “obliterated” the Islamic Republic’s armed forces. Last week, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that “never in recorded history has a nation’s military been so quickly and so effectively neutralized.”

However, following weeks of intense American-Israeli air campaigns, Iran’s weakened military continues to pose a persistent threat. The country’s ongoing attacks on Israel and neighboring Gulf states are creating regional instability and generating significant economic and political consequences.

Iranian missiles keep breaching Israeli air defenses and causing civilian casualties. Low-cost unmanned aircraft evade neighboring countries’ defensive systems, damaging the Gulf Arab states’ reputation for security while injuring American service members. Tehran’s warnings to target petroleum vessels in the Strait of Hormuz are restricting shipping traffic and driving up fuel costs worldwide.

President Donald Trump has pursued diplomatic talks while issuing severe threats, aiming to secure Iran’s enriched uranium supplies and force the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. According to analysts, Iran’s strategy involves enduring the current fighting long enough to pressure Washington into seeking a resolution.

“Their strategy is to try to cause sustained pain and to drive up the costs of the war for the U.S.,” said Kelly Grieco, an expert in U.S. military strategy and operations who is a senior fellow at the Washington-based Stimson Center think tank.

From the opening day of the American-Israeli air offensive, leaders from both nations have consistently highlighted a significant reduction in Iran’s ballistic missile launches as evidence their campaign to eliminate launch sites and weapon supplies was succeeding.

Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine reported to journalists on March 4 that Iran’s “ballistic missile shots fired are down 86% from the first day of fighting and their one-way attack drone shots are down 73%.” During a media briefing two weeks afterward, Hegseth announced that Iran’s ballistic missile attack frequency had decreased “90% since the start of the conflict.”

This Tuesday, Hegseth informed Pentagon reporters that Iran had launched its “lowest number” of missiles and drones in the previous day, although neither he nor Caine provided updated statistics. Trump posted on Truth Social Tuesday that “Iran has been, essentially, decimated.”

Independent tracking by Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED), an American organization monitoring global conflicts, supports assertions of reduced Iranian attacks.

March 1, the conflict’s second day, saw Iran execute nearly 100 strikes. The following day, attacks fell to 53 and remained at similar levels for several days. ACLED information indicates Iran hasn’t exceeded 50 strikes daily since March 6, spanning three and a half weeks. Under ACLED’s system, a “strike” may encompass multiple individual attacks at the same location on one day.

Iran has averaged 30 daily strikes over the past three weeks, occasionally increasing its attack frequency.

“That makes me question whether it’s a capacity issue or a strategy issue,” Grieco said of the initial decline in Iran’s strike rate. Iran may be conserving its missiles and drones rather than experiencing ammunition shortages.

ACLED findings reveal approximately 40% of Iran’s regional attacks are penetrating air defenses, indicating stress on American and Israeli interceptor supplies. Iran has deployed fewer missiles while increasing difficult-to-intercept low-altitude drones.

“We are vaporizing billions of dollars in long-range anti-missile defenses, which are scarce national resources,” said Tom Karako, the director of the Missile Defense Project at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Karako warned that America and Israel risk depleting interceptors before eliminating Iran’s remaining missile stockpiles and mobile launchers — a goal proving “maddeningly difficult.”

More than a month into the conflict, Trump administration representatives continue referencing the initial 72 hours when discussing Iran’s diminished capabilities.

“A good percentage of Iranian missiles, at least half of the arsenal, is stored in very hardened facilities that are not easily reachable with air power,” said Farzin Nadimi, an expert on the Iranian missile program at The Washington Institute. “It looks like the Americans and the Israelis have been underestimating some level of complexity.”

Despite Hegseth’s description of Iranians as “flailing recklessly” through attacks on civilian and energy infrastructure throughout the Arabian Peninsula, analysts believe Tehran has carefully calibrated its timing and target selection for maximum impact.

“They have been able to strike targets more efficiently and therefore use fewer missiles to achieve the same result,” Nadimi said.

Iran has increasingly focused its attacks on critical infrastructure including oil pipelines and water treatment facilities across the Persian Gulf, attempting to force American concessions. The United Arab Emirates and Kuwait have suffered the heaviest damage. Last week, Iranian ballistic missiles and drones targeted a Saudi military base, injuring over two dozen American troops and damaging aircraft.

“In this asymmetrical war, the most important thing for Iran is attack the world economy in hopes of coercing the U.S. to stop,” said Assaf Orion, a retired Israeli brigadier general and senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies. This economic warfare has become more significant to Iran than targeting Israel, which considers this conflict existential and won’t be deterred, he explained.

Iran’s ability to maintain current retaliation levels remains uncertain, given limited American and Israeli intelligence regarding Iran’s missile and drone inventories.

Military analysts from both countries provide different estimates of remaining weapons but agree Iran likely retains thousands of inexpensive, domestically-produced drones capable of threatening American allies, even if much of its medium-range ballistic missile capacity has been eliminated.

“Iran built itself to be able to ride a war like this out,” said Karako. “It has been preparing for this.”

KABUL, Afghanistan — Deadly storms and flooding across Afghanistan claimed 14 additional lives during the past day, officials announced Tuesday, pushing the five-day casualty count to 42 fatalities as meteorologists predict continued severe weather ahead.

Afghanistan’s National Disaster Management Authority reported that 66 people have sustained injuries during the five-day period, as powerful thunderstorms and torrential rainfall impacted nearly all provinces throughout the nation. The severe weather has spawned dangerous flooding, deadly landslides, and fatal lightning incidents. Officials warned that additional heavy precipitation is expected to sweep across Afghanistan during the next 72 hours.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Afghanistan posted on X that their initial field assessments indicated 19 fatalities and impacts to more than 900 households from the flooding. UN officials noted that damage evaluations remain underway and casualty numbers may be revised.

Earlier this year in January, dangerous snowstorms and sudden flooding resulted in dozens of deaths nationwide.

The country faces extreme susceptibility to severe weather conditions, where snow accumulation and intense rainfall create sudden flood events that frequently claim dozens or even hundreds of lives simultaneously. During 2024’s spring season, rapid flooding killed more than 300 people.

Years of warfare, combined with inadequate infrastructure, economic hardship, forest destruction, and worsening climate impacts have magnified the devastation from such natural disasters, especially in isolated regions where residences constructed from mud provide minimal defense against rapid flooding or heavy snow.

During the most recent 24-hour period, the extreme weather partially or completely demolished 476 residences, the national disaster authority reported Tuesday. Commercial properties, farmland, and water distribution systems also sustained damage, impacting 603 households.

Lebanon’s government is making contingency plans for a scenario where hundreds of thousands of citizens displaced by Israeli military operations may be permanently unable to return to their communities, according to the country’s social affairs minister.

Minister Haneen Sayed made these remarks following statements from Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, who announced plans to demolish all residential structures near Lebanon’s border with Israel and prevent 600,000 people who evacuated southern Lebanon from going back to their towns.

The conflict has forced more than one million Lebanese citizens from their residences, while another 1,200 have lost their lives in Israeli military strikes since March 2, when the Lebanese militant organization Hezbollah entered the regional war by launching attacks into Israel.

“Long-term displacement is something we are concerned about, of course. We hope it does not happen, but as a government, we have to prepare and think about it,” Sayed stated during her Tuesday interview.

Lebanese officials are exploring various solutions, including rental assistance programs and identifying “physical places where people might go,” though the government has no immediate plans to build refugee camps, the minister explained.

“And it all depends on how much of a land grab the Israelis will insist on, and of course, it’s totally unacceptable for us. I mean, this is a huge violation of our sovereignty, and we will do everything we can to ensure that this doesn’t happen, whatever we have in our means,” Sayed emphasized.

Israeli officials have indicated they plan to maintain military control over southern Lebanon extending to the Litani river, located approximately 30 kilometers north of the Israeli-Lebanese border. This territory represents nearly ten percent of Lebanon’s total landmass.

HUMANITARIAN AID FALLS SHORT OF REQUIREMENTS

Currently, approximately 136,000 displaced individuals are housed in group shelters, while the remaining population stays with family members or, in limited instances, lives without shelter.

Extended displacement could spark social unrest among Lebanon’s varied population groups, as existing political and religious divisions have intensified due to Hezbollah’s involvement in the broader regional conflict.

“We already have a very large number, and the space is getting tighter in terms of where people can go,” Sayed noted.

Several communities that previously welcomed displaced families during the 2024 Hezbollah-Israel conflict, including offering schools and government facilities, have shown less willingness to help during the current crisis, she reported.

“This is another challenge – ensuring the social cohesion, making sure that people still love each other, if you will. And I mean, I fundamentally do believe the Lebanese have that. And with most of the examples, fantastic examples of the hospitality all over. But at the same time, people’s resources are stretched,” the minister said.

Sayed’s department is attempting to develop three-month advance planning to ensure displaced families receive essential services, but insufficient funding continues to pose difficulties.

The 2024 conflict, which lasted slightly more than two months, saw the United Nations collect $700 million for Lebanon’s humanitarian response, while various nations provided over 110 cargo flights of assistance, according to Sayed.

As Lebanon enters the second month of renewed fighting, it has obtained only $30 million from the UN’s current funding request, with an additional $60 million pledged by international donors. Just seven assistance flights have been delivered.

“We’re not even close. In the last war, within the first month, there must have been at least 50 flights that had already come in,” Sayed observed.

She explained that some of Lebanon’s regular Gulf state donors are now directly involved in the conflict in ways they weren’t during 2024, and noted that rising oil costs are reducing the effectiveness of available aid.

The minister indicated that current assistance covers roughly 30 percent of her ministry’s requirements.

“Of course, we’re trying all our efforts to make sure that we can at least cover all those that are in shelters. And then the other question, of course, will be the timing. I mean, how long this will last?”

Israeli military leaders and defense experts find themselves at odds over the scope and duration of operations in southern Lebanon, as ground forces continue reshaping the border region.

The discussion has evolved beyond simply pushing Hezbollah away from Israel’s northern border to considering extended military control of Lebanese territory. With memories of Israel’s previous 18-year presence in the region still fresh, strategists remain split on what measures will actually guarantee security for northern Israeli communities.

Dr. Gabriel Siboni, an IDF reserve colonel and senior researcher at Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, advocates for the most comprehensive approach. When Israeli leadership discusses maintaining a security zone until threats are eliminated, Siboni believes the goal should be crystal clear.

“Removing the threat means that Hezbollah does not exist in Lebanon as a military organization with military capabilities,” Siboni explained to The Media Line. His position represents the most aggressive thinking currently influencing Israel’s northern strategy discussions.

This perspective extends far beyond typical military objectives of restoring deterrence or pushing enemies back from borders. Instead, Siboni envisions completely eliminating Hezbollah’s capacity to function as an armed organization within Lebanon.

Regarding territorial control, Siboni’s vision is equally expansive. Israel must maintain a presence in southern Lebanon, he argues, not just along the immediate border area. “My professional view is that we have to stay on the borders of the Litani River, on the Litani River, and in some points on the east side, even beyond the Litani River,” he stated.

Siboni’s stance puts him among the most hawkish voices currently discussing Lebanon policy. However, he frames his argument through military necessity rather than political ambition. He refuses to avoid the term “occupation,” emphasizing that “occupation is a military term” and that operationally, “we need to occupy, to hold the land” until withdrawal becomes feasible.

His proposed campaign would unfold in distinct phases. Initially, Israel would “occupy, to take hold of the area,” followed by what he calls “purifying the area” through destruction of Hezbollah infrastructure. The final phase involves sustained control preventing Hezbollah’s return.

“All these activities take time,” Siboni noted, adding that Israel must remain “until we think that there is no more threat to our northern villages,” meaning Hezbollah loses all military capabilities.

Siboni sees the October 7 attacks as fundamentally changing Israeli strategic thinking. When asked about shifts in northern doctrine, he confirmed the change “in comparison to what was before Oct. 6, 2023.” He explained that Israel’s current security strategy refuses to allow Hezbollah to build northern threats, with a southern Lebanon security zone being one essential component.

Dr. Harel Chorev from Tel Aviv University’s Moshe Dayan Center offers a more measured perspective. While agreeing that serious action against Hezbollah would require extended, multi-phase operations, he draws clear distinctions between degrading the organization and completely destroying it.

“I don’t think it would be realistic to hope for a full destruction of Hezbollah,” Chorev told The Media Line. This represents a significant departure from Siboni’s maximalist approach.

Chorev’s analysis recognizes Hezbollah as more than just “an Iranian arm,” describing it as “a Shiite Lebanese party, movement, mass movement that represents the desires and motivations of the Shiite sect.” This deeper social and political embedding makes complete eradication far more complex than military rhetoric suggests.

Attempting total destruction would require “the lives of many soldiers” and “an operation that would be extremely expensive, long range, unreasonable in any way,” according to Chorev’s assessment.

Nevertheless, Chorev doesn’t reject the possibility of renewed territorial control. He expects Israel will attempt destroying maximum Hezbollah capabilities while securing “a major part” of southern Lebanon to protect border communities.

However, his vision differs significantly from Siboni’s. “I don’t think it would be in the same pattern as the old security belt,” Chorev explained. “I think it would be something different.” He emphasized that Israel “would love to avoid any stay in Lebanon” but currently sees no viable alternatives.

“None of the Israelis would like a new option of staying in southern Lebanon,” Chorev said. “But the question is always, okay, so what is the alternative?”

Both analysts present renewed Lebanese presence as necessity rather than preference, resulting from strategic failures and post-October 7 intolerance for nearby Hezbollah forces.

Chorev, who served in the 1990s security belt, was particularly emphatic: “No one wants to go back there. They are forcing us to go back there because we cannot bear a situation where Hezbollah and Radwan forces are hanging on our border, threatening our settlements.”

Memories of the previous security zone, which ended with Israel’s May 2000 withdrawal, heavily influence current discussions. Siboni challenges conventional wisdom about that period’s costs.

The earlier presence cost was “not high compared to what we had to pay after October 2023,” Siboni argued, claiming the real strategic failure came when Hezbollah was permitted to rebuild strength.

A future security zone would differ because civilian populations have been relocated northward, eliminating the embedded village environment that complicated previous operations. “Now there will be no population in this area,” Siboni said. “Hopefully, it will be different than before.”

Chorev suggests learning from past mistakes by maintaining mobility rather than static positions, avoiding fixed outposts that make soldiers “sitting ducks.” While acknowledging that effective agreements could eventually allow withdrawal, he remains skeptical based on Hezbollah’s history of using quiet periods for rebuilding.

Both experts reach similar conclusions about Lebanese state capacity but frame them differently. Siboni dismisses possibilities of Lebanese government or military action against Hezbollah by force, concluding that only Israel can dismantle Hezbollah’s capabilities.

Chorev also describes Lebanese government and army as “totally incapable” of military confrontation with Hezbollah. However, he notes recent political shifts in Beirut, including Lebanon’s expulsion of Iranian ambassador Mohammad Reza Sheibani, as reflecting “shared interest and perception of the conflict with Hezbollah.”

Chorev bluntly observed that as long as Israel doesn’t threaten Lebanon as a state, many Lebanese officials “enjoy it” and “encourage it” because Israel performs “the dirty job for them.”

Siboni viewed the ambassador’s expulsion as significant since “Hezbollah is Iran,” calling Lebanese actions against Hezbollah and Iran meaningful. However, he sees this as supplementary to, not replacement for, Israeli force. He also rejects notions of hypothetical Iranian confrontation: “Iran is involved. We are fighting.”

The analytical differences don’t represent simple hawk-versus-moderate divisions. Both accept that previous northern border deterrence models have failed. Their disagreement centers on achievable objectives rather than whether action is necessary.

Chorev doesn’t envision Hezbollah’s complete military disappearance, while Siboni defines this as the only meaningful outcome. For Siboni, anything less leaves fundamental threats unresolved. For Chorev, such ambitions appear unrealistic, with more credible goals involving maximum operational capacity destruction while physically distancing dangers from Israeli communities.

These differences matter for determining any future Lebanese presence duration and justifying political language. Missions defined as temporary prevention can conclude when threats become manageable. Missions targeting Hezbollah elimination may lack clear endpoints.

For northern Israeli residents, the debate carries immediate rather than theoretical urgency. Siboni acknowledges that even with southern Lebanon control, neutralizing Hezbollah’s short-range threats “will take time,” while longer-range capabilities remain problematic. However, he argues the alternative—another cycle of Hezbollah survival, regrouping, and renewed threats—is worse.

“We need to finish the job with Hezbollah and not leave Hezbollah intact so they can recover,” Siboni stated.

Chorev concluded more soberly: “I don’t think there’s such a thing as final,” warning against definitive closure fantasies. Despite damage, Hezbollah remains functional, decentralized, and capable of coordinated operations. The situation isn’t about Israeli preferences, he noted: “None of us would like to be in it. But they left us no choice.”

Israeli forces are already operating in southern Lebanon and advancing. The ultimate outcome remains undetermined, with IDF scope and duration developing in real-time through field operations.