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Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel voiced his worries Friday about two vanished sailboats transporting humanitarian supplies and nine individuals to the island nation.

Mexico’s naval forces announced Thursday evening they had launched search operations for the missing vessels, which set sail from Isla Mujeres in southern Mexico on March 20.

The boats’ disappearance occurs during a period when numerous nations and relief groups are delivering aid shipments to Cuba, as American fuel restrictions create devastating power outages and threaten to collapse the Caribbean country’s infrastructure.

“From our country, we are doing everything possible in the search and rescue of these brothers in struggle,” Díaz-Canel said.

Naval officials report no contact or verification that the ships reached Cuban shores, though they were anticipated to arrive sometime between Tuesday and Wednesday this week.

The relief organization Nuestra América Convoy announced Friday that considering the vessels’ reported speeds to Cuban maritime officials, the boats should reach Havana sometime between Friday and Saturday. The group issued a public appeal seeking any details or sightings of the missing craft.

Both ships carry seasoned mariners as captains and crew members, and each vessel contains proper safety systems and communication devices.

“We are cooperating fully with the authorities and remain confident in the crews’ ability to reach Havana safely,” the organization said in a statement.

An initial ship from Convoy Nuestra América successfully reached Havana on Tuesday, delivering 14 tons of food supplies and medications, 73 solar energy panels, and approximately twelve bicycles.

Mexican naval forces have notified maritime commands in Isla Mujeres and Yucalpetén, plus naval search and rescue stations as part of their response efforts. They’ve also coordinated with maritime rescue centers in Poland, France, Cuba and the United States, alongside diplomatic officials from the missing passengers’ home countries.

The rescue mission includes navy ships and Persuader aircraft conducting water and air search patterns along the projected path from Isla Mujeres to Havana. Operations factor in potential route deviations, current weather patterns, and regional ocean currents.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — After 30 days of conflict with Iran, American and Israeli forces are facing an adversary that operates more like a guerrilla movement than a traditional military power — maximizing damage with increasingly scarce resources.

Even while enduring daily bombardments from two of the globe’s most advanced air forces, Iran continues to harass neighboring Gulf states and Israel through missile and drone attacks while maintaining economic leverage over world markets, largely through intimidation tactics.

Iran’s capacity to regulate shipping — and consequently oil supplies — passing through the Strait of Hormuz represents its most significant strategic weapon. This approach mirrors strategies that Iran’s allied groups have employed for years under Tehran’s guidance as head of what it calls the “Axis of Resistance.”

At the same time, Iran’s financial system, already isolated from international markets due to longstanding sanctions, remains largely protected from the economic turmoil it’s creating elsewhere.

The blockade of the strait has triggered soaring oil costs, falling stock values, and increased prices for essential commodities, creating political pressure on President Donald Trump that may push him toward further military action.

Though Iran has achieved some success by closing the strait, domestic challenges remain that Washington and Jerusalem might leverage as the conflict continues. However, the theocratic government’s path to success through guerrilla-style methods stays relatively straightforward — simply endure.

“The Islamic Republic understands that it cannot defeat the United States militarily,” wrote Shukriya Bradost, a Mideast security analyst. “Instead, its objective is both simpler and more strategic: Survive the war long enough to claim victory.”

The Strait of Hormuz, the critical Persian Gulf passage that previously handled one-fifth of global oil and natural gas shipments, now sees minimal maritime activity. Iranian authorities permit only selected cargo to pass, setting their own terms and pricing. Despite losing most of its naval fleet, Iran maintains control over the waterway using decades-old stockpiles of missiles and drones.

Asian nations, which rely heavily on oil transported through the strait, face the most severe impact — but since oil markets operate globally, motorists across Europe and America also experience price increases. Because petroleum costs affect manufacturing and transportation of numerous products, gasoline isn’t the only commodity seeing higher prices.

This situation creates additional challenges for Trump, who already faced difficulties demonstrating to voters that he could reduce living expenses before November’s midterm elections.

Resolving the crisis presents complex options. Negotiating a ceasefire offers one possibility — Trump claims discussions are advancing, though Iran disputes this.

Should diplomacy fail, America and Israel must choose between declaring sufficient progress and withdrawing from the war — or significantly intensifying military operations to force the strait’s reopening. Trump has already deployed additional paratroopers and Marines to the region. He established a new ultimatum — postponed twice already — of 8 p.m. Eastern time on April 6 for Iran to restore strait access. He’s warned that failure to comply will trigger bombing campaigns against Iranian power facilities.

“Trump’s preference remains ‘escalate to de-escalate,’” the risk advisory Eurasia Group said in an analysis Thursday. “The U.S. is moving more ships and ground troops into the region and will be better prepared to escalate in mid-April.”

However, Iran has demonstrated remarkable endurance against the punishment it has sustained so far.

Trump stated Thursday evening that approximately 9% of Iran’s missile stockpile remains operational. Independent confirmation of this estimate proved impossible — but even if correct, Tehran retains multiple methods for causing destruction.

With its aircraft largely eliminated and air defense systems severely compromised, Iran still operates an extensive network of air and naval installations, many constructed decades earlier.

The country has also established underground facilities more recently, which combined with missile systems disguised as civilian trucks, enable concealment of launch positions until deployment. Maintaining mobile launcher movement helps protect them from aerial attacks.

This approach, called “shoot and scoot,” represents a standard practice among numerous insurgent organizations, including Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The Iran-supported group successfully interrupted international commerce in the Red Sea. Iranian-backed Shiite militias in Iraq employed comparable methods against American forces there. Both groups have persisted despite repeated targeting.

Iran’s geographical characteristics and landscape — a mountainous country roughly equivalent to Alaska in size — provide ample space and natural features for insurgent-style concealment.

Nevertheless, underlying problems persist for Iran as well.

Both American and Israeli officials have expressed hopes that Iranian citizens, who confronted their theocratic government during nationwide demonstrations in January, might overthrow their leadership.

No evidence of such an uprising has emerged — and currently, many Iranians remain in shelters avoiding airstrikes.

Iran’s population also recalls the government’s violent suppression earlier this year that resulted in thousands of deaths and tens of thousands of arrests. The Revolutionary Guard’s volunteer Basij militia, which played a crucial role in that crackdown, continues operating despite frequent targeting during the war, with social media footage showing armed members patrolling neighborhoods while broadcasting propaganda through speakers.

Indicating Iran feels pressure on its forces, Guard official Rahim Nade-Ali announced recruitment of children as young as 12 for the Basij. He characterized this as meeting public demand — but it also represents a method for replenishing ranks as checkpoints face attacks.

Uncertainty surrounds Iran’s leadership structure. Mojtaba Khamenei hasn’t appeared publicly since assuming the role of supreme leader, with American officials reporting he suffered war injuries. Guard and other military divisions seem to function without centralized command. Any ceasefire agreement that fails to satisfy Guard and hardline expectations could split the country’s political leadership.

But Trump’s military strategy might not produce intended results.

“Washington seems to believe that an overwhelming display of military power will force the Iranians to the negotiating table,” the New York-based Soufan Center said in an analysis Friday. “But … the U.S. can’t expect to gain in peace what it was not able to take in war.”

State media in Myanmar announced Friday that the country’s military leadership will undergo significant changes following the annual armed forces parade, marking an uncommon public announcement from the secretive organization that controls the Southeast Asian nation.

The timing of this leadership restructuring is particularly noteworthy, occurring just before Myanmar’s recently assembled parliament convenes Monday to begin selecting a new president. Current military commander Min Aung Hlaing has reportedly been eyeing the presidential position for some time.

During a Thursday gathering with former military officers, deputy commander Soe Win told attendees that “leadership changes” would take place after the armed forces ceremony in Naypyitaw, the nation’s capital, according to state media coverage.

This political shift follows a recent election that critics widely condemned as fraudulent, which resulted in victory for a military-supported political party. The outcome creates a pathway for Min Aung Hlaing to assume the presidency within Myanmar’s military-dominated governmental structure.

Friday’s elaborate military display included tanks, missile systems, artillery demonstrations, and aerial shows featuring illuminated aircraft and helicopters. Min Aung Hlaing, wearing his military decorations, reviewed the troops from an open-air vehicle.

In his brief address lasting under 20 minutes, the military chief avoided discussing the upcoming leadership transition. Instead, he emphasized the armed forces’ crucial importance, defended the necessity of the 2021 military takeover, and outlined the military’s ongoing political involvement “to collaborate in the national interest.”

“It must be clearly understood this does not signify ‘leading in politics’ as some pessimists might allege,” Min Aung Hlaing stated during his speech.

The recent election occurred during an ongoing civil conflict that erupted after the 2021 military coup, which removed the democratically elected administration headed by Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aung San Suu Kyi. This upheaval has pushed the already impoverished nation deeper into chaos.

Independent analyst Htin Kyaw Aye noted that Myanmar’s military rarely announces high-level personnel changes in advance, particularly while engaged in combat operations against various armed opposition groups across multiple regions.

“This is a scripted transition, however, such a disclosure of information suggests that there may be underlying anxieties regarding the leadership transition and the redistribution of high-level positions,” the analyst explained.

Min Aung Hlaing, age 69, built his career as an infantry officer before being selected by former military leader Than Shwe to serve as commander-in-chief in 2011. He has not yet publicly identified who will replace him in the military hierarchy.

VAUX-DE-CERNAY, France — Top diplomats from seven of the world’s leading nations issued an urgent plea Friday for immediate protection of innocent people and essential infrastructure during the ongoing conflict in Iran.

Meeting for their second day of discussions in France, the foreign ministers from the Group of Seven countries released a unified statement emphasizing the critical need to reduce the war’s impact on neighboring nations, everyday citizens, and vital facilities.

The diplomatic leaders highlighted their commitment to working together across different partnerships and supporting various efforts to address the crisis. “We focused on the value of diverse partnerships, coordination, and supporting initiatives, including to mitigate global economic shocks such as disruptions to economic, energy, fertilizer and commercial supply chains, which have direct impacts on our citizens,” the ministers stated in their official declaration.

The G7 representatives also emphasized the urgent necessity of ensuring safe passage for ships traveling through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz without requiring toll payments.

The Group of Seven includes the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the European Union as participating members.

DUBAI – Persian Gulf nations are pressuring Washington to ensure that any agreement with Iran extends far beyond simply halting the current conflict, insisting that Tehran’s missile and drone programs must be permanently restricted and that global energy supplies can never again be used as weapons, according to four Gulf sources.

President Donald Trump has given Iran additional time to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway that handles approximately 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, or risk having its energy facilities destroyed.

However, Gulf policymakers say their primary concern has shifted from how the Iranian conflict concludes to what type of regional stability will emerge afterward, the four Gulf sources familiar with the discussions told Reuters.

SIMPLE CEASEFIRE WON’T SUFFICE

Gulf leadership, representing nations that have faced repeated attacks from Tehran during the ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, have informed Washington during private discussions that the Islamic Republic has provided them with no diplomatic escape route, sources indicated.

These officials are demanding that any agreement include enforceable limitations on missile and drone strikes against energy infrastructure and civilian targets, restrictions on threats to oil transportation routes and shipping lanes, and an end to proxy conflicts, sources added.

Any settlement must establish new rules of engagement that guarantee the Strait of Hormuz will never again serve as a weapon of war, and Gulf nations must be included in the framework of whatever follows, they argue.

“The real challenge is not persuading Iran to stop the war, but ensuring the Gulf is not left exposed to the same dynamics that made it possible in the first place,” Ebtessam Al-Kerbi, president of the Emirates Policy Centre, told Reuters.

Yousef al-Otaiba, the United Arab Emirates’ ambassador to the United States, has characterized the conflict not as a crisis to be temporarily halted but as a test of whether Iran can continue threatening the global economy in the future.

“A simple ceasefire isn’t enough,” Otaiba wrote in a column for the Wall Street Journal. “We need a conclusive outcome that addresses Iran’s full range of threats: nuclear capabilities, missiles, drones, terror proxies and blockades of international sea lanes.”

An agreement that merely suspends missiles, drones and proxy conflicts, he argued, would only postpone the next crisis.

Gulf nations’ economies, which depend heavily on energy exports and international travel, have suffered significant damage from the war, which has created shockwaves throughout the global economy. Disruptions in the strait have increased energy costs, disrupted supply chains and contributed to inflation.

The United States can confirm with certainty that it has eliminated approximately one-third of Iran’s extensive missile stockpile, according to five individuals with access to U.S. intelligence information.

Gulf officials say their doubts stem from past experience.

Iran’s nuclear enrichment activities – which are part of nuclear weapons development though Tehran denies pursuing such weapons – were limited under a 2015 agreement, but Tehran maintained its ability to threaten the region through missiles, drones, proxy conflicts and maritime security threats. Gulf states argue this possibility must now be eliminated for regional stability.

In 2018, Trump announced America’s exit from the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement, describing it as a “defective” and “one-sided” deal that failed to serve U.S. interests.

IRANIAN ATTACKS STRENGTHEN UAE-U.S. TIES

Qatar, Oman and Kuwait are privately advocating for a rapid end to the conflict, concerned about economic consequences and potential retaliation, sources revealed.

The UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain indicate they are prepared to accept an escalation of the conflict and will not tolerate a post-war Iran that can still use the Strait of Hormuz as leverage or for what they consider extortion.

Trump has announced he will extend his deadline for Tehran to open the strait until April 7 at midnight GMT, and has stated that discussions with Iran are proceeding “very well.”

An Iranian official has characterized a U.S. proposal for ending the conflict as “one-sided and unfair,” and Tehran has demanded the shutdown of U.S. military bases in the Gulf as a prerequisite for any agreement.

However, UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash stated that Iran’s strikes against Gulf nations have had “profound geopolitical repercussions,” establishing Tehran as the primary threat influencing Gulf strategic planning. The consequence, he said, will be stronger security cooperation between the UAE and Washington.

“This is the cost of Iran’s misguided calculations,” he said.

GULF NATIONS SEEK SECURITY ASSURANCES

Abdulaziz Sager, chairman of the Saudi-based Gulf Research Center, said the Gulf states’ communication to Washington has become direct rather than subtle – that any deal with Iran must specifically address and guarantee Gulf state security.

“The United States protects its interests, and Israel’s. Now it is our turn to protect and defend ours,” he said.

This position was supported by the Gulf Cooperation Council, an organization that includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman and the UAE, which has demonstrated a united stance against any settlement that ignores Gulf security concerns.

Referencing 5,000 missile and drone strikes on Gulf energy installations, civilian infrastructure and maritime traffic, GCC Secretary-General Jasem Al-Budaiwi has declared that Iran has “crossed all limits.”

He stated that the Gulf has shown restraint to prevent a broader conflict but that the region will not tolerate being attacked again, clarifying that while diplomatic solutions are preferred, every nation maintains the right to self-defense.

Trump has been considering whether to deploy ground troops to capture Iran’s strategic oil facility at Kharg Island, which processes 90% of Iran’s oil exports, according to a U.S. official and three individuals familiar with the situation.

Capturing it, analysts suggest, would provide Washington with significant control over Iran’s economy.

Tehran has cautioned that any such action would prompt Iranian strikes against the “vital infrastructure” of any nation that assisted such a U.S. military operation.

Some Gulf partners have been advising Washington against deploying ground forces, including troops to Kharg Island, believing this would expand the conflict, provoke substantial Iranian retaliation, and possibly target Gulf energy and civilian infrastructure, a senior Gulf official stated. However, Gulf states are encouraging Washington to continue weakening Iran’s cruise and ballistic missile capabilities since these have long represented the primary threat to their nations, the Gulf official said.

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania — Torrential rains have sparked devastating landslides in southern Tanzania, claiming at least 20 lives over recent days, according to local officials, adding to a mounting death toll across the broader East African region.

The deadly slides occurred early Wednesday morning in the Mbeya region, destroying multiple homes as intense rainfall combined with powerful winds, according to Jaffar Haniu, who serves as administrator for Rungwe district where the disaster struck.

“The death toll now stands at 20,” he told reporters. “One victim is a very young child, a year and a half old.”

Weather forecasters are predicting additional rainfall in coming days, prompting Haniu to issue urgent evacuation warnings for residents living in areas susceptible to landslides.

The crisis extends beyond Tanzania’s borders. In nearby Kenya, where seasonal flooding occurs annually, the death toll has reached at least 88 people. The deluge has impacted 21 counties throughout the country, with a minimum of two rivers overflowing their banks since intense storms began this month.

The magnitude and severity of the ongoing emergency has sparked fresh discussions about disaster readiness and the precarious situation facing communities situated near waterways and flood-susceptible regions. Military forces have been called in to support emergency response teams.

Earlier in March, southern Ethiopia experienced its own landslide catastrophe, resulting in at least 80 deaths.

The Climate Prediction and Applications Centre, part of the regional organization IGAD, issued a forecast last month indicating the March through May rainy season carries a 45% probability of exceeding normal precipitation levels throughout most regional nations, spanning from Uganda to Djibouti.

BRASILIA, Brazil — Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro walked out of a Brasilia medical facility Friday morning to complete his 27-year prison term for attempting a coup from the comfort of his home in an affluent residential area.

Brazil’s highest court approved the home confinement arrangement earlier this week, citing the ex-leader’s deteriorating medical condition. Court officials said they may reassess this decision within the next three months.

Around 10 a.m. local time, Bolsonaro departed DF Star hospital in Brazil’s capital and returned to his residence in the Jardim Botanico district, where he resides with his spouse Michelle and 15-year-old daughter Laura.

The former president, now 71, was admitted to the medical facility on March 13 after developing pneumonia, adding to a series of health complications stemming from a 2018 stabbing incident that occurred before his presidential victory. Medical staff placed him in critical care for several days as he battled kidney dysfunction and inflammatory conditions.

Bolsonaro held Brazil’s presidency from 2019 through 2022, ultimately losing his re-election campaign by a narrow margin to the nation’s current leader, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

SAO PAULO, March 27 – Brazil’s former President Jair Bolsonaro left the hospital Friday and was moved to his residence, where he’ll remain under what officials are calling “humanitarian house arrest” for a minimum of three months.

The 71-year-old ex-leader has been imprisoned since November, serving a 27-year sentence for his role in attempting to orchestrate a coup following his electoral defeat to current President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in 2022.

Earlier this week, Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes approved the house arrest arrangement for 90 days based on medical considerations. Officials will review the far-right former president’s situation after the initial period to decide if the home confinement should continue.

The former president, who governed Brazil from 2019 to 2022, was hospitalized earlier this month in Brasilia’s intensive care unit after developing severe pneumonia, requiring antibiotic treatment.

Dr. Brasil Caiado, his physician, spoke to media about his recovery: “His progress over the past two days has been what we expected — smooth, without any complications.”

Medical issues have plagued Bolsonaro repeatedly since an assassination attempt during a 2018 campaign rally left him with stab wounds to his abdomen. Dr. Caiado indicated the former president will need to return to the hospital for shoulder surgery scheduled for late April.

Two Chinese cargo vessels abandoned their effort to navigate through the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, according to maritime tracking information, even though Iran had guaranteed safe transit for Chinese ships.

The shipping company COSCO had announced in a client notice on March 25 that it was accepting cargo bookings again for routes from Asia to several Middle Eastern destinations including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Iraq.

Both vessels – the CSCL Indian Ocean and CSCL Arctic Ocean, registered under Hong Kong flags – have remained trapped in Gulf waters since the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran started on February 28.

Maritime data from Kpler shows the ships made their transit attempt at 0350 GMT Friday morning before reversing direction and heading back.

This marked the first time a major shipping company had attempted such a crossing since hostilities began, but the failed passage demonstrated that “safe passage could not be guaranteed,” according to Kpler analyst Rebecca Gerdes.

Earlier this week, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced on social media that his country “permitted passage through the Strait of Hormuz for friendly nations including China, Russia, India, Iraq, and Pakistan.”

Ship tracking data revealed that both Chinese vessels had transmitted messages through their AIS systems indicating Chinese ownership and crew members aboard.

COSCO Shipping, the Shanghai-based parent company, did not respond to requests for comment.

Iran’s maritime attacks and threats have left hundreds of ships and approximately 20,000 crew members stranded in Gulf waters. Critical energy shipments, including Saudi crude oil and Qatari liquefied natural gas, have come to a virtual standstill.

President Donald Trump stated Thursday that Iran had allowed 10 oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz in what appeared to be a diplomatic gesture during ongoing negotiations.

No specific information has emerged about these tankers or whether any successfully completed the transit following Trump’s remarks.

A small number of other vessels have managed to depart recently, including Indian-flagged tankers transporting cooking gas and a Thai oil tanker that coordinated its passage through diplomatic channels, according to Thai officials and the vessel’s operating company.

Recent maritime traffic has primarily consisted of Iranian oil tankers leaving the area and bulk cargo ships bringing grain and other supplies into Iran, based on data from Lloyd’s List Intelligence and maritime analysis.

Iranian officials have maintained their position that certain vessels may receive transit permission, but Tehran reserves the right to make those determinations while blocking ships connected to the United States, Israel, or their allies.

“Aggressor parties – namely, the United States and the Israeli regime – as well as other participants in the aggression, do not qualify for innocent or non-hostile passage,” Iran stated in a March 24 communication to member nations of the International Maritime Organization, the UN’s shipping agency.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi suggested during a Friday phone conversation with his Pakistani counterpart that beginning peace negotiations would help “restore normal navigation” through the Hormuz waterway.

A 23-year-old Russian national will spend four years behind bars after being convicted of attacking a woman in London while President Donald Trump’s youngest son watched the violence unfold through a video call.

Matvei Rumiantsev received his sentence Friday at Snaresbrook Crown Court in east London, following his January 28 conviction for assault causing bodily harm. A jury cleared him of rape and choking charges but found him guilty of obstructing justice for sending the victim a letter from custody requesting she withdraw her accusations.

Justice Joel Bennathan described Rumiantsev as completely unremorseful and prone to jealous behavior during the sentencing hearing.

“Your lack of insight and empathy was apparent at trial,” the judge stated. “You continue to try to blame the complainant for everything that has happened.”

The January 18, 2025 incident occurred when an intoxicated Rumiantsev became envious of the victim’s online friendship with 19-year-old Barron Trump, whom she had connected with through social media platforms.

While beating the woman, Rumiantsev picked up her phone when Barron Trump called via FaceTime and deliberately pointed the camera toward the crying victim on the ground.

The president’s son immediately contacted London authorities from the United States, urgently requesting assistance during what he described as a difficult phone conversation with dispatchers.

“It’s really an emergency … I’m calling from the U.S., uh, I just got a call from a girl, you know, she’s getting beat up,” Barron Trump told the emergency operator.

Officers responded to the location and took Rumiantsev, who worked as a receptionist in London, into custody.

During testimony, Rumiantsev admitted to feeling jealous of Trump while also claiming he pitied him because he believed the woman was misleading the young man.

Defense attorney Sasha Wass argued during proceedings that Trump was unaware the woman had a romantic partner and questioned what he could have observed during such a brief video encounter lasting only seconds. She characterized the relationship as drama-filled and suggested the woman used her connection to Trump to provoke her boyfriend’s jealousy.

Barron Trump, the sole child of Donald and Melania Trump, did not provide testimony during the trial proceedings.

The judge commended Trump’s quick thinking in contacting emergency services, noting his actions likely prevented a more serious outcome. The victim reportedly feared for her life during the attack.

“Mr. Trump properly and responsibly, despite being in the United States, made sure the emergency services here were called, and he told them what he had seen,” the judge remarked.

WASHINGTON – American intelligence officials can verify the destruction of only about one-third of Iran’s extensive missile stockpile as military operations against the nation approach the one-month milestone, according to five sources with knowledge of classified intelligence assessments.

Another third of Iran’s weapons may have been damaged, destroyed, or buried within underground tunnel networks and bunker systems during bombing campaigns, though the status remains uncertain, four intelligence sources revealed. All sources requested anonymity due to the classified nature of the information.

Intelligence officials report similar findings regarding Iran’s drone arsenal, with confirmed destruction of roughly one-third of those capabilities as well.

These internal assessments, never before made public, indicate that while most Iranian missiles are either eliminated or unreachable, Tehran maintains substantial weapons reserves and could potentially recover buried or damaged systems after hostilities cease.

The intelligence findings contradict President Trump’s Thursday statements claiming Iran had “very few rockets left.” However, Trump acknowledged the ongoing threat from remaining Iranian weapons systems to potential U.S. operations protecting the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.

Reuters previously reported that Trump is considering escalating the conflict by sending American ground forces to Iranian coastlines near the Strait.

“The problem with the straits is this: let’s say we do a great job. We say we got 99% (of their missiles). 1% is unacceptable, because 1% is a missile going into the hull of a ship that cost a billion dollars,” Trump stated during a televised Cabinet meeting Thursday.

Pentagon and White House officials did not respond to requests for comment.

Democratic Representative Seth Moulton, a Marine veteran with four Iraq deployments, refused to discuss Reuters’ intelligence findings but challenged Trump’s characterizations of the war’s effectiveness against Iranian capabilities.

“If Iran is smart they’ve retained some of their capability – they’re not using everything that they have. And they’re laying in wait,” Moulton stated.

The Trump administration has outlined goals to diminish Iran’s military strength by eliminating its naval forces, destroying missile and drone systems, and preventing nuclear weapons development.

U.S. Central Command reports that Operation “Epic Fury,” launched February 28 alongside Israeli forces, is meeting or exceeding initial timeline projections.

American strikes have targeted over 10,000 Iranian military installations through Wednesday, with Central Command claiming destruction of 92 percent of Iran’s major naval vessels. Military officials have released footage showing attacks on weapons manufacturing facilities, emphasizing efforts to eliminate not just existing stockpiles but production capabilities.

Central Command has declined to specify exact percentages of destroyed missile or drone capabilities.

Intelligence sources cite difficulties determining pre-war missile quantities stored in underground facilities. The U.S. has not publicly disclosed estimates of Iran’s initial weapons stockpile.

Military analysts estimate Iran possessed between 2,500 missiles according to Israeli assessments and approximately 6,000 based on independent analysis.

Despite intensive American bombardment, Iran continues demonstrating active weapons capabilities.

Thursday alone saw Iran launch 15 ballistic missiles and 11 drones targeting the United Arab Emirates, according to UAE Defense Ministry reports.

Iranian forces have also revealed new capabilities, including their first long-range missile strikes against the U.S.-UK Diego Garcia military installation in the Indian Ocean last week.

Nicole Grajewski, an Iranian missile expert at Sciences Po university in Paris specializing in Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps analysis, suggested the Trump administration may have exaggerated strike effectiveness against Iranian capabilities.

She highlighted Iran’s continued ability to launch attacks from the heavily bombed Bid Kaneh military complex.

“The fact that they’ve managed to sustain this, I think, indicates the U.S. was overstating the success of its operation,” Grajewski explained, estimating Iran retains approximately 30 percent of missile capabilities.

Grajewski noted Iran operates more than twelve major underground facilities housing missile launchers and weapons systems.

“The big question is: have these facilities collapsed?” she questioned.

A senior U.S. official expressed doubt about America’s ability to accurately evaluate Iranian missile capabilities, particularly given uncertainty about underground weapons accessibility. “I don’t know if we’ll ever have an accurate number,” the official acknowledged.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recognized challenges posed by Iran’s tunnel networks during March 19 remarks, stating: “Iran is a vast country. And just like Hamas and their tunnels (in Gaza), they’ve poured any aid, any economic development, humanitarian aid, into tunnels and rockets.”

“But we are hunting them down methodically, ruthlessly and overwhelmingly, like no other military in the world can do, and the results speak for themselves,” Hegseth added, without providing specific destruction percentages.

Cuban government representatives have approached high-ranking Vatican officials, including the Pope, requesting assistance in convincing the Trump administration to relax its oil sanctions against the island nation, according to a Friday report from the Washington Post citing sources with knowledge of the discussions.

The news outlet’s claims could not be independently confirmed by Reuters. Requests for comment from the Vatican’s press office, the White House, and Cuban government officials went unanswered.

The diplomatic outreach comes as Havana and Washington began discussions earlier this month amid mounting pressure from Trump’s oil sanctions that are driving the Communist-governed island deeper into financial hardship. Previous reports have indicated the Trump administration’s goal of ousting Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel from leadership.

New data from British government officials shows the United Kingdom performed nearly 300,000 abortions during 2023, marking the most recent year with complete statistics available. The figures reveal a striking comparison when measured against the roughly 600,000 babies born alive in the UK during that same 12-month period. Pro-life organizations point to these numbers as evidence of what they describe as a growing crisis. At the same time, British lawmakers are considering legislation that would remove criminal penalties for abortion procedures performed at any stage of pregnancy, including up until delivery.

PRAGUE — Czech authorities are investigating an attack where an unidentified suspect hurled multiple firebombs at a Russian cultural facility in Prague late Thursday evening, police announced Friday.

The assault targeted the Russian House, a state-funded facility that promotes Russian culture and history but lacks diplomatic immunity. While the building sustained damage including shattered windows and smoke-stained walls, it did not ignite.

According to facility director Igor Girenko, who spoke with Russian state media outlet Tass, six Molotov cocktails were thrown at the structure, though half of them failed to detonate.

The cultural center describes itself as organizing educational programs, scientific events, and Russian language instruction.

Russian Foreign Ministry representative Maria Zakharova condemned the incident as “a barbaric act,” according to the Tass news agency.

Moscow’s embassy in Prague has requested Czech officials enhance protection for Russian facilities and personnel throughout the country.

Czech Interior Minister Lubomír Metnar denounced the assault, calling it “unacceptable.”

VIENNA (AP) — The Austrian government announced Friday its intention to prohibit children under 14 from accessing social media platforms, becoming the latest nation to implement age-based digital restrictions for young users.

Alexander Pröll, who oversees digitization efforts in Chancellor Christian Stocker’s administration, stated that proposed legislation will be completed by June’s end. Pröll explained that “technically modern methods” for age verification will be implemented, allowing users to confirm their age while maintaining privacy protection.

The timeline for when this age requirement legislation might become law remains unclear, as it requires parliamentary approval.

Australia led this global movement in 2024, becoming the first nation to remove children under 16 from social media platforms to shield them from dangerous content and excessive screen exposure. Indonesia will implement a comparable restriction beginning Saturday.

Across Europe, French legislators passed legislation in January prohibiting social media access for children under 15, with implementation scheduled for September when the new school year begins. Spain revealed plans last month for an under-16 social media prohibition. Denmark announced an agreement last fall for an access restriction affecting those under 15. Britain’s government stated in January it would examine banning young teenagers from social media platforms.

Austria’s three-party centrist government is now embracing this international trend.

“Today is a good day for children for children in our country,” Vice Chancellor Andreas Babler declared during a press briefing. “In the future, we will protect children and young people with determination against the negative effects of social media platforms.”

“We will no longer look on as these platforms make our children addicted and often also sick,” he stated.

Austrian officials plan to supplement the restriction with enhanced educational programs in schools focusing on media literacy and artificial intelligence understanding.

Recent court decisions this week have reinforced long-held worries about social media’s impact on children, yet America continues to operate without comprehensive federal oversight addressing these issues.

A Los Angeles jury ruled Wednesday that both Meta and YouTube bear responsibility for damages to children who used their platforms. The previous day in New Mexico, jurors concluded that Meta deliberately caused harm to young users’ mental well-being while hiding information about child sexual exploitation occurring on its networks.

While parents and child advocacy groups celebrated these rulings, they contend that meaningful reform from companies like Instagram, YouTube and TikTok remains unlikely without federal oversight to control these corporations. Many are placing their faith in the Kids Online Safety Act, legislation designed to safeguard minors from social media, gaming websites and other digital platform dangers. The Senate passed this measure in 2024, but it has stalled since then.

Meanwhile, nations across the globe have enacted or are developing extensive limitations on children’s internet usage, from complete social media prohibitions to mandating that younger teenagers connect their profiles to parental accounts. Here’s an examination of how other countries are controlling youth technology access.

Australia made history in 2024 as the first nation to ban children under 16 from social media entirely. This legislation holds platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X and Instagram accountable for penalties reaching 50 million Australian dollars ($34 million) if they allow users younger than 16 to maintain accounts. Though many parents have applauded this action, some specialists question whether age verification systems work effectively (platforms aren’t mandated to request government identification) and worry about impacts on young people’s freedom of expression, social relationships and privacy. Opponents also worry the restriction will affect privacy for all users who must demonstrate they’re over 16.

Brazil implemented new legislation this month aimed at protecting minors from addictive, violent and explicit online material, with specialists describing it as a significant advancement in youth protection.

The Brazilian law requires children under 16 to connect their social media profiles to a legal guardian for monitoring purposes. The rules also ban platforms from employing addictive elements like endless scrolling and automatic video playback. Digital companies must also establish robust age verification systems that go beyond simple self-reporting.

Indonesia is adopting Australia’s approach with its own social media ban for children under 16 starting this month.

These new rules will prevent children under 16 from maintaining accounts on “high-risk” digital services, including YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live and Roblox.

The rollout begins gradually from March 28 until complete platform compliance is achieved.

Indonesia becomes Southeast Asia’s first country to limit children’s social media access.

Beginning in January 2025, major social media and messaging services with at least 8 million Malaysian users must obtain licensing as part of increased government digital platform supervision. Licensed services must establish age verification, content safety protocols and transparency requirements, demonstrating the government’s commitment to creating safer digital environments. Malaysia also intends to prohibit social media access for children under 16 this year.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez declared in February that his country will restrict social media access for children under 16, aiming to protect young people from harmful online material.

France passed legislation in January prohibiting social media for children under 15, setting the stage for implementation at the beginning of the next academic year in September. This bill also bans mobile phone usage in high schools. The French government had previously enacted laws prohibiting phone use in all elementary and middle schools.

Denmark has passed comparable legislation banning social media access for users under 15, while the United Kingdom announced last month it would explore prohibiting young teenagers from social media platforms as it strengthens laws protecting children from dangerous content and excessive screen exposure.

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah is bringing Lebanon’s vulnerable government and society dangerously close to collapse, creating dangerous rifts along religious and political lines as Shiite Muslims are forced from their homes and hostility grows between the Iran-supported organization and its critics.

Political analysts and leaders from various Lebanese factions believe this renewed fighting, sparked by the broader Iran conflict, may represent the most destabilizing crisis the country has faced since its devastating 1975-90 civil war.

Israel has made threats of Gaza-style devastation and southern occupation, while bitter disagreements persist within Lebanon regarding Hezbollah’s weapons stockpile, which the organization has refused to surrender despite a year-long governmental effort to disarm them through peaceful means.

Israeli bombing campaigns and evacuation orders have forced Hezbollah’s Shiite supporters into Christian, Druze and other communities, where many residents hold the group responsible for initiating warfare to support Tehran just 15 months after the previous conflict ended.

Municipal officials are now screening displaced individuals looking for rental housing, concerned about housing anyone who might become an Israeli target.

Relations between Hezbollah and the government continue deteriorating. The administration under Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and President Joseph Aoun has prohibited Hezbollah’s armed branch, requested negotiations with Israel and ordered Iran’s ambassador to depart.

Hezbollah representative Mahmoud Qmati has drawn comparisons between the government and Vichy France officials who received death sentences for Nazi collaboration during World War Two.

“We are capable of turning the country upside down,” he stated to Lebanese media, though he subsequently claimed his comments were misinterpreted.

Druze parliament member Wael Abu Faour indicates that internal pressures are mounting due to political disagreements over the conflict and population displacement, along with “the defiant rhetoric from more than one side.”

“This exacerbates fears for internal stability,” he stated.

‘TICKING BOMB’

Since Hezbollah launched attacks against Israel on March 2 and Israel responded, more than 1,000 Lebanese have died and over one million people – representing more than 20 percent of the nation’s population – have been forced to relocate, with most being Shiite Muslims.

A foreign diplomat described the displacement as putting stress on community relationships and warned it would become “a ticking bomb” if the displaced cannot return home.

Israeli military forces have ordered evacuations from large portions of southern Lebanon, Beirut’s Hezbollah-dominated southern neighborhoods, and the group’s strongholds in eastern regions.

Israel’s defense minister has announced plans to establish a “security zone” extending to the Litani River, which reaches the Mediterranean approximately 30 kilometers north of the Israeli border. He stated that hundreds of thousands of Shiites will not be permitted to return south of the Litani until northern Israel’s security is guaranteed.

Nadim Gemayel, a Christian legislator who opposes Hezbollah, voiced worries that Israel is intentionally driving Shiites into other Lebanese regions to spark conflicts with different communities.

Hezbollah has maintained longstanding disputes with numerous other Lebanese groups and possesses weaponry superior to the national army’s arsenal.

During a short civil conflict in 2008, when a Western-supported government attempted to ban Hezbollah’s communication systems, Hezbollah fighters seized control of Beirut. The government subsequently withdrew its demands.

Gemayel noted that tension “already exists, but the ignition hasn’t happened yet, and I hope that it will never happen.”

“If the Israelis stay long, very long in the south, this will be catastrophic for everyone … Lebanon cannot assimilate such a displacement of people,” he stated, calling on the Lebanese government to “disarm Hezbollah and terminate this war.”

When asked to respond to accusations that Israel seeks to inflame sectarian tensions, an Israeli official avoided directly addressing the claim but stated that Hezbollah initiated the only conflict in Lebanon and encouraged the country to remove the group.

The Israeli military stated it operates exclusively against Hezbollah, calling any claims it targets specific populations “false and misleading.”

However, an Israeli military representative informed Reuters that evacuation warnings had been sent only to Shiite villages in southern Lebanon, while Christian villages remain inhabited and are not targeted by Israeli forces.

‘SECTARIAN LOGIC’

Hezbollah parliament member Hassan Fadlallah accused some Lebanese of approaching the displacement issue “with sectarian logic.”

“We will overcome this phase because the displaced will return to their land and their homes as soon as the aggression ceases,” he declared.

Highlighting existing tensions, residents of a mainly Christian area north of Beirut fought with displaced people and demanded their departure on Tuesday when pieces of an intercepted Iranian ballistic missile fell on the area.

Attempts to create a shelter for displaced individuals in Beirut’s Karantina district, located in a predominantly Christian area near the port, drew objections from Christian political leaders. Salam later ordered the location be used for aid storage instead.

In the primarily Christian Dekwaneh neighborhood east of Beirut, approximately 2,000 displaced Shiites are taking shelter in a vocational school.

Zeinab al-Meqdad, 50, reported her family has faced no difficulties in the neighborhood since leaving her home in the southern suburbs on March 2.

Antoine Abu Aboud, a community official, said an additional 1,000 displaced people are staying in hotels and rental properties in Dekwaneh.

“There is a war, and the situation is bigger than us. Today, we Lebanese must be patient with one another,” he remarked.

He explained that the local council has intensified screening of rental applicants, forwarding identification documents to security agencies for verification, as residents worry about anyone who might “represent a danger to their building or lives.”

COEXISTENCE BETWEEN STATE AND HEZBOLLAH ARMS ENDING?

Social divisions within Lebanese society are reflected in governmental structures, which have also been disrupted by the war’s consequences.

Hezbollah maintained significant influence over the state until suffering heavy losses from Israeli attacks in 2024. Following that conflict, the government attempted to disarm the group, but the numerous rockets launched by Hezbollah since March 2, along with its quick redeployment of fighters to the south, have undermined confidence in the state domestically and internationally.

Hezbollah expects the government will eventually reverse its decisions, including the prohibition of its military operations.

“All the measures taken by the government will be reversed when Israel fails to achieve its objectives,” Fadlallah stated. “When we finish confronting this aggression, we, as Lebanese, will address our internal problems.”

Israeli officials have suggested Israel’s military campaign will extend beyond the Iran conflict, with much depending on developments in the broader regional war.

A 15-point American proposal for ending the conflict includes Iran discontinuing financial support for allies like Hezbollah, according to Israeli cabinet sources. Iran has suggested that Lebanon must be part of any ceasefire agreement.

Christian legislator Alain Aoun described Lebanon as being in a transitional period, with final outcomes to be decided by the war’s results.

“The coexistence between the state and Hezbollah arms which we witnessed for decades is nearing its end in one way or another, with all the potential repercussions for society and the political system,” he stated.

HAVANA – The island nation of Cuba finds itself at a crossroads as high-level discussions with the United States unfold during a period of escalating tensions. Former President Donald Trump’s administration had implemented what amounts to an oil embargo, creating additional economic strain that has pushed the Communist leadership toward diplomatic engagement.

Cuban leader Miguel Diaz-Canel has emphasized that any negotiations must occur “on the basis of equality” with mutual respect between the nations. However, Trump has made aggressive statements about Cuba, declaring he could do “anything I want” regarding the sovereign Caribbean nation.

Despite the harsh rhetoric, sources within the Trump administration have suggested to news outlets that some form of agreement might be possible. According to The New York Times, which spoke with four individuals knowledgeable about the discussions, Washington’s goal involves removing Diaz-Canel from his leadership position. In return, the United States might reduce economic sanctions while avoiding action against the Castro family members.

Several key individuals hold significant influence over how these negotiations proceed and what Cuba’s future might look like.

FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP

Trump has made increasingly aggressive statements in recent weeks, saying he anticipated having the “honor” of “taking Cuba.” Following military action against Iran, he stated, “We’re talking to Cuba, but we’re going to do Iran before Cuba.”

However, with American military forces occupied in Iran, the commanding general responsible for U.S. operations in Latin America informed senators that the military is not conducting invasion rehearsals or actively planning to seize control of the island nation.

Reports from The Times and USA Today suggest the American strategy would mirror recent events in Venezuela, where the United States removed President Nicolas Maduro on January 3rd. Instead of installing opposition leadership, Trump has worked with acting President Delcy Rodriguez, who was Maduro’s former vice president and assumed control after U.S. forces removed Maduro during an early-morning operation.

SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO

Trump has designated Rubio, a Cuban American serving as both Secretary of State and National Security Advisor, to head the discussions with Cuban officials.

The Miami-born Rubio, considered a potential 2028 presidential candidate, grew up immersed in Cuban exile culture, which has historically opposed the Cuban revolution. Any agreement that allows the Communist Party to remain in control without consequences for the Castros could face criticism from South Florida’s Cuban American community.

However, if Rubio’s strategy involves overthrowing Cuba’s government, it risks triggering violence and potentially massive migration. Additionally, Cuba currently assists in anti-drug trafficking efforts. A sudden collapse of Cuban governance could create opportunities for criminal organizations along the country’s 3,570 miles of coastline, located just 90 miles from American shores.

RAUL CASTRO

At 94 years old, Raul Castro participated in the revolutionary struggle alongside his elder brother Fidel, helping overthrow a U.S.-backed government in 1959. He served as Fidel’s trusted defense minister for many years before becoming president, initially on an interim basis when Fidel fell ill in 2006, then permanently when Fidel stepped down in 2008. Following Fidel’s 2016 death, Raul became the primary unifying figure for revolution supporters.

Despite leaving the presidency in 2018 and Communist Party leadership in 2021, he maintains considerable influence, now holding the honorary title of army general.

When Diaz-Canel informed the nation about entering talks with the United States, he indicated that Castro was co-leading the effort. Diaz-Canel has frequently mentioned Castro’s ongoing involvement in governmental affairs.

In December 2025, as the Communist Party prepared to select Diaz-Canel’s replacement at this year’s crucial party congress, Castro recommended indefinitely postponing the gathering due to Cuba’s economic difficulties. Demonstrating his continued authority, the party’s Central Committee unanimously accepted his suggestion.

MIGUEL DIAZ-CANEL

Cuba’s current president and Communist Party leader became the first non-Castro to govern the country since 1959 when he took office in 2018.

His tenure began with significant challenges, including Trump’s rise to power, which reversed the diplomatic warming between Cuba and the United States that President Barack Obama had established.

The 2020 coronavirus pandemic then devastated Cuba’s crucial tourism sector while the government had invested billions in new hotels that now sit largely empty.

Diaz-Canel’s reputation suffered most severely from his handling of widespread popular demonstrations.

When Cubans spontaneously protested nationwide on July 11, 2021, creating the most significant challenge to Communist rule in decades, security forces swiftly suppressed the uprising after Diaz-Canel called on government supporters to confront demonstrators.

“The combat order has been given!” declared the 65-year-old leader.

The subsequent crackdown, combined with worsening economic conditions, has damaged Diaz-Canel’s standing.

Any Cuban surrender – particularly one requiring Diaz-Canel to step down with two years remaining as president and five years left as party leader – would be without precedent.

RAUL GUILLERMO RODRIGUEZ CASTRO

Rodriguez Castro, 41, nicknamed “El Cangrejo” or “The Crab,” is considered among his grandfather Raul Castro’s closest advisors. As his grandfather’s former bodyguard, he frequently accompanied him throughout his presidency and reportedly holds the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Cuban officials did not respond to inquiries about Rodriguez Castro’s background or potential negotiating role.

Axios reported on February 18, citing three unnamed sources, that Rodriguez Castro was conducting secret discussions with Rubio. The Miami Herald reported on February 26, also using unnamed sources, that Rubio associates met with Rodriguez Castro during a Caribbean Community conference in St. Kitts and Nevis.

Rodriguez Castro is the child of Raul’s daughter Deborah Castro Espin and the deceased General Luis Alberto Rodriguez Lopez-Calleja, who headed the military business empire GAESA.

Under Raul Castro’s leadership, GAESA gained control over the state’s most significant enterprises, including hospitality, banking, transportation, and retail sectors. Rodriguez Lopez-Calleja died from a heart attack in 2022 at 62. Reports indicate Rodriguez Castro may have assumed responsibilities within his late father’s business operations.

This family background positions Rodriguez Castro where Cuba’s political power intersects with its most influential economic institution, potentially making him a valuable intermediary for Washington.

Rodriguez Castro has never made public statements or granted interviews.

MANUEL MARRERO

Appointed prime minister by Diaz-Canel in 2019 and confirmed by the National Assembly, Marrero joined the Politburo, the Communist Party’s governing elite, in 2021, placing him among potential successors to Diaz-Canel.

The former architectural engineer, now 62, served as tourism minister from 2004 to 2019.

According to EcuRed, Cuba’s official online reference source, Marrero previously led Grupo Gaviota, GAESA’s tourism division, where he oversaw the construction of two resort properties.

OSCAR PEREZ-OLIVA FRAGA

Considered an emerging leader due to his expanding responsibilities since becoming foreign trade minister in 2024, he has since gained the positions of deputy prime minister and National Assembly member in 2025.

His family connection to the Castro brothers – his maternal grandmother Angela Castro was Fidel and Raul Castro’s sister – provides him with Castro family credibility without the burden of carrying their surname.

When Cuba introduced an investment program targeting Cuban nationals living overseas, Perez-Oliva Fraga received extensive television coverage on state-controlled media to present the initiative.

Political observers have suggested that Perez-Oliva Fraga might fulfill a function similar to Delcy Rodriguez’s role in Venezuela.

BEIRUT (AP) — United Nations investigators released a harsh report Friday stating Syria has shown “no indication” of examining human rights violations committed by government forces during last summer’s sectarian violence that claimed at least 1,700 lives, predominantly from the Druze minority community.

The damning assessment from the U.N. Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic demanded Syria’s administration examine security force commanders who permitted or orchestrated sectarian violence targeting Druze populations.

According to the findings, approximately 200,000 individuals fled their homes during the bloodshed in Sweida, which serves as the center of Syria’s Druze population. The casualties included nearly 200 women and children.

The violence erupted in mid-July when armed factions loyal to Druze religious leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri fought with area Bedouin tribes, prompting government military involvement that essentially supported the Bedouin side. Sectarian violence initially targeting the minority religious group, then later the Bedouin population, along with multiple kidnappings, worsened community relations.

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa has promised to examine these incidents and prosecute those responsible across all parties, including government troops.

U.N. fact-finders conducted extensive fieldwork in Syria, speaking with over 400 survivors, officials, and suspected perpetrators. Their investigation covered impacted regions, including government-controlled territories and areas under the effective control of an Israeli-supported coalition of local Druze armed groups.

The assessment stated Damascus must determine whether “certain practices are tolerated” among elements within its security apparatus, referencing the brutality. It demanded identification and removal of leadership figures who enabled the violence.

Tribal combatants from distant regions of Syria moved into Sweida to assist government forces, while authorities seemed “unwilling or unable” to stop them, according to the findings.

The multi-day summer fighting in Sweida represented a major challenge for al-Sharaa, who has worked to establish complete governmental control throughout the conflict-ravaged nation and gain support from Syria’s minority populations.

While some prisoner exchanges have occurred, meaningful reconciliation remains elusive. Human rights organizations condemn Damascus for insufficient accountability mechanisms regarding civilian attacks.

The assessment detailed “widespread looting and systematic burning” during the government-backed offensive, plus civilian murders and kidnappings. Tribal forces attacked nearly every residence in 35 provincial villages that had mixed or majority-Druze populations.

“Particularly, the Druze population has been subjected to severe sectarian violence, leading to massive displacement that is expected to persist for an extended period,” the report said.

Investigators found some remains months following the ceasefire, discovered in streets and fields, with others burned or mutilated.

“Nearly all Druze religious sites in those villages … were looted, burned, and vandalized,” the report stated. It noted three worship centers were destroyed by fire, with another ransacked and damaged.

Counter-attacks against Bedouin non-combatants occurred mainly in Sweida province’s western rural areas. While most documented incidents happened during active fighting, many attacks “appeared to be deliberately directed at civilian areas.”

The findings describe Bedouin civilians, including minors and elderly residents, being shot dead while attempting to escape on foot, and one incident where two men’s remains were displayed at a village entrance for days. Four mosques were also attacked.

The violence’s magnitude overwhelmed medical facilities in both Sweida and adjacent Daraa province, as hundreds of victims arrived during the escalating conflict, exceeding morgue capacity. Many remains were severely burned while others left outdoors were “likely scavenged by wild animals before being found.”

“Hospital staff and first responders were forced to allow the burial of bodies before they could be identified; while safeguarding records and images of where the body was found and when, and of remaining clothing or jewelry, body marks or tattoos where available, to aid subsequent identification,” the report said.

The United Nations children’s agency announced Friday that Israel’s military campaign against Hezbollah has resulted in the displacement of more than 370,000 Lebanese children from their homes.

Marcoluigi Corsi, who serves as UNICEF’s representative in Lebanon, revealed the devastating toll on young people caught in the crossfire. According to his report, at least 121 children have lost their lives while 399 others have sustained injuries during the ongoing conflict.

The figures underscore the humanitarian crisis affecting Lebanon’s youngest and most vulnerable population as military operations continue in the region.

VIENNA, March 27 – The Austrian government’s three-party coalition announced Friday its intention to establish a mandatory minimum age requirement of 14 years old for accessing social media platforms.

Alexander Proell, the conservative junior minister overseeing digitization, revealed the proposal during a joint news conference featuring cabinet representatives from all three governing parties. “Austria is introducing a compulsory minimum age of 14 for the use of social media platforms,” Proell stated, noting that officials expect to complete draft legislation by June.

The announcement represents a significant step by the conservative-led government to regulate young people’s access to digital platforms.

MOSCOW – Russian government officials criticized the United States on Friday for requiring a resolution to the Ukraine conflict before pursuing economic partnerships between the two nations.

Dmitry Peskov, who serves as the Kremlin’s chief spokesperson, argued that linking business cooperation to the war settlement is counterproductive for both countries.

“We are wasting time, and American companies, just like our own, are missing out on the profits they could already be making,” Peskov stated during Friday’s briefing.

The Russian official maintained that discussions about potential collaboration remain under consideration, emphasizing that Moscow and Washington “have many opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation” despite current diplomatic tensions.

TUNIS – Family members of imprisoned Tunisian opposition leaders have emerged as the primary advocates for democratic reform, taking up the fight for their detained relatives in what human rights organizations describe as President Kais Saied’s systematic suppression of political dissent.

Over the past three years, Tunisia’s major opposition party leaders have been incarcerated alongside numerous politicians, media figures, business leaders and activists. Authorities have charged them with plotting against national security, financial crimes, and corruption – accusations the defendants claim are completely false.

Youssef Chaouachi, a 35-year-old engineer, transformed into an activist following his father’s arrest three years ago. His father Ghazi Chaouachi, a Social Democratic leader, received a 20-year prison sentence in 2025 for allegedly conspiring to remove Saied from power, charges he vehemently rejects.

“We are now the ones organizing protests, speaking to the media, and putting ourselves on the front lines. We didn’t choose this role,” Youssef Chaouachi explained while holding his father’s photograph during a demonstration in Tunis last month.

The widespread arrests and legal proceedings have silenced nearly all opposition voices in a country that was once celebrated as the Arab Spring’s greatest democratic achievement, according to domestic and international human rights organizations.

“It feels like the revolution never happened,” Chaouachi stated.

Tunisia’s government media representatives did not respond to requests for comment regarding allegations of political persecution and false charges. During recent ministerial meetings at the end of 2025, the president has repeatedly declared he is “in the process of cleansing the country of the corrupt and traitors.”

In 2022, President Saied dismantled Tunisia’s Supreme Judicial Council and removed dozens of judges, citing corruption and obstruction of justice. Opposition leaders argue this action destroyed judicial independence.

Justice Minister Leila Jeffel addressed parliament last December, stating that courts enforce the law, the ministry upholds justice principles, and will not harm innocent people. She emphasized that the judiciary operates independently and judges need not fear reprisals.

Ministry officials were unavailable for additional comment.

The suppression of political opposition motivated four family members of different detainees interviewed by Reuters to expand beyond simple release campaigns. They now organize demonstrations, establish advocacy organizations, and conduct media interviews demanding political reform and the restoration of civil rights.

Currently in Tunisia, most political organizations are either dormant or have leadership in prison.

Family members of detainees have become increasingly prominent in street demonstrations and sit-ins outside courthouses and correctional facilities, joining other civil society activists.

While there’s minimal indication they can achieve their demanded changes, they appear to be gaining public support, evidenced by growing participation in at least three major demonstrations in recent months, as observed by Reuters journalists.

These family-led efforts coincide with Saied’s administration confronting labor strikes, public anger over lost civil freedoms, economic difficulties, and environmental deterioration, according to activists.

Saied disbanded parliament in 2021 and began governing through executive orders to eliminate what he termed widespread corruption and poor governance. A new parliament was elected in 2022 with only 8% voter participation.

“Tunisia has become a huge prison,” Youssef Chaouachi shouted at a February protest, while dozens of police officers watched nearby.

His father is among various imprisoned figures including moderate Islamist Rached Ghannouchi, Abir Moussi (a supporter of former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali), and veteran leftist politician Nejib Chebbi along with his brother Issam.

Defense attorneys claim the cases are fabricated and politically driven, designed to eliminate opposition, arguing no concrete evidence exists to establish guilt.

Reuters did not independently examine the evidence.

Government officials have maintained the charges are legitimate.

The son of prominent attorney Ahmed Souab organized protests attracting thousands before Souab’s release following a successful appeal, while the son of detained politician Chaima Issa regularly demonstrates outside prisons.

Faiza Rahem, wife of imprisoned opposition figure Issam Chebbi, said the absence of opposition leaders motivated her involvement.

“We were not politically active, but injustice forced us to be,” she explained, adding it has brought together families of the imprisoned from various political backgrounds.

She described how the imprisonments now control family routines. When relatives plan gatherings or trips, they must coordinate around prison visiting hours and meal preparations.

The Chaouachi family’s suburban Tunis residence feels unusually quiet. Dining table seats that once hosted spirited discussions remained vacant during Ramadan meals. In the kitchen, Ghazi’s wife Sofia Ben Agla prepared a week’s supply of food for her husband’s prison visits.

Some relatives have faced legal action themselves.

Ghazi Chaouachi’s son Elyes, Youssef’s brother, now lives in exile and faces over 70 years imprisonment after convictions on multiple charges including terrorism, defamation for criticizing Saied and judges on Facebook, and inciting judicial violence, which he denies.

“I could have stayed silent and lived a normal life — visiting my father during holidays. But I chose another path. I chose to be a voice for those who have none,” he told Reuters from France, where he currently resides.

Last year, during a meeting with the prime minister at the presidential palace in Carthage, the president stated that Tunisia guarantees freedoms.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is traveling to France today for a crucial G7 summit, where he plans to seek backing from reluctant European allies for the Trump administration’s ongoing military conflict with Iran.

The high-stakes meeting brings together officials from the globe’s most prosperous democratic nations as the U.S. works to build an international coalition. Rubio faces the challenge of convincing partners who have shown hesitation about supporting America’s military engagement in the region.

The diplomatic push comes as tensions continue to escalate in the Middle East, with the administration looking to strengthen its position through allied support at this critical juncture.

GENEVA – A United Nations investigation released Friday documented devastating violence in southern Syria that claimed over 1,700 lives and displaced nearly 200,000 people during one week last July, with investigators saying multiple groups may have committed war crimes.

The comprehensive 85-page investigation by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic determined that at least 1,707 people died in Suweida Governorate. Most victims were civilians from the Druze religious minority, along with members of the Bedouin population and at least 225 government workers.

According to the investigation, approximately 155,000 people continue to live as displaced persons, creating an ongoing humanitarian crisis that persists months after a tenuous ceasefire took effect.

A separate investigation commissioned by the Syrian government and released March 17 recorded 1,760 deaths and 2,188 injuries “from all sides.” That inquiry also determined there were “many human rights violations” by various parties, including local armed groups and individuals connected to ISIS, as well as government and security force members, many of whom have been detained.

The government-appointed committee, established soon after the violence occurred, stated its work was based on collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses, with results forwarded to the Justice Ministry.

The UN Commission determined that violations occurred across all major conflict participants. Many of these violations could qualify as war crimes, and some instances might rise to the level of crimes against humanity, investigators concluded.

According to the report, tribal fighters who joined government forces during initial operations functioned under direct government oversight, making the state responsible for their conduct, while other fighters were classified as active combatants.

The bloodshed occurred in three distinct waves from July 14 through July 19, 2025, approximately seven months following the rebel overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s government, with each period characterized by civilian attacks and extensive abuses. During the opening phase, government troops and allied fighters conducted executions, unlawful detentions, torture, sexual assault and theft, mainly targeting Druze residents, the investigation found.

The second wave involved Druze armed groups striking back against Bedouin populations, carrying out murders, torture, forced relocations and attacks on civilian and religious locations, resulting in the displacement of virtually all Bedouins from territories they controlled.

The final phase witnessed thousands of tribal fighters organizing and moving into Suweida, where they conducted extensive looting, killings and home burning across dozens of villages, with nearly every structure in 35 villages reportedly damaged or completely destroyed.

Investigators stated that unlawful executions were commonplace, with civilians – including women, children, elderly and disabled individuals – targeted during home invasions and in public areas, frequently accompanied by religious slurs.

The commission also recorded systematic torture, kidnappings, sexual and gender-based violence, attacks on religious buildings and deliberate destruction of civilian property, much of which perpetrators filmed and shared on social media platforms.

Although major fighting ended following the July 19 ceasefire, intermittent conflicts and violations have persisted, and investigators cautioned that without accountability measures and political solutions, conditions remain unstable.

The commission emphasized that addressing violations, delivering justice for victims and restoring trust among communities would be crucial to preventing future violence.

KYIV – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Friday that his country has entered into a defense cooperation pact with Saudi Arabia, establishing a framework for upcoming military contracts, technology sharing, and investment opportunities.

The Ukrainian leader made the announcement while on an official visit to the Saudi kingdom, noting that the pact was finalized before his scheduled meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Speaking through his Telegram social media account, Zelenskyy expressed Ukraine’s willingness to collaborate with the Middle Eastern nation. “We are ready to share our expertise and systems with Saudi Arabia and to work together to strengthen the protection of lives,” the president stated.

The agreement marks another step in Ukraine’s efforts to build international partnerships amid ongoing global tensions.

BEIJING – China’s commerce ministry announced Friday it has opened two investigations examining US trade practices that restrict Chinese goods from entering American markets, choosing to pursue formal inquiries rather than immediate retaliatory action against recent US measures.

The announcement comes as a trade ceasefire between the two economic powers remains intact following the October meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump announced earlier this week plans to visit Beijing in mid-May as part of Washington’s broader strategy to rebuild relationships across the Asia-Pacific region.

According to the ministry’s statement, both Chinese investigations will wrap up within six months, though officials indicated the timeline could be extended if needed. The probes directly respond to two US Section 301 investigations targeting China, with the ministry characterizing their actions as reciprocal measures.

Chinese officials stated they will implement appropriate actions to protect their national interests based on what the investigations uncover.

The US initiated two trade inquiries earlier this month, examining excessive industrial capacity among 16 trading partners, including China, alongside concerns about forced labor practices. During bilateral trade discussions in Paris, Chinese representatives voiced objections to these investigations.

Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reiterated these concerns Thursday while meeting with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer during a World Trade Organization gathering in Cameroon. Despite expressing reservations, Wang indicated China’s openness to enhancing economic and trade partnerships between the nations.

BEIJING – Chinese officials are pushing back against Japan’s response to a security incident at Beijing’s embassy in Tokyo, saying a simple apology isn’t adequate after a Japanese military officer carrying a knife forced his way into the diplomatic facility.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian told reporters Friday that while Japan has acknowledged the Tuesday incident was unfortunate, Chinese leadership wants much more transparency about what happened.

Japan’s chief government spokesman Minoru Kihara had previously called the embassy breach “regrettable” and promised new security protocols to prevent similar incidents.

However, Lin emphasized that Beijing remains unsatisfied with Tokyo’s handling of the situation. “The Japanese side has expressed deep regret to the Chinese side regarding this incident, but this is far from sufficient,” Lin stated during a routine press briefing.

Chinese officials are now pressing for complete details about the security breach. “We once again urge the Japanese side to conduct a thorough investigation as soon as possible and provide China with a responsible explanation,” Lin added.

According to Lin, Japanese authorities have yet to release specific information about how the incident unfolded or the circumstances surrounding the intrusion.

This diplomatic tension adds another layer of complexity to already strained relations between the two Asian powers. The countries’ relationship has grown increasingly difficult since Japan’s prime minister announced in November that Japanese forces could potentially intervene militarily if Chinese actions against Taiwan posed threats to Japanese territory.